As featured in UK Elle magazine, February 2011

{words & images via Elle}
on putting on a brave face: “It’s very much a perception. And that can be frustrating at times, especially when somebody you’ve never seen before approaches you in a restaurant toilet with an opinion on your marriage. Nobody knows what I went through behind closed doors. Nobody knows what it was like when I was on my own. Of course I held myself together in public. Who wouldn’t? Do people want me to throw myself on the street and weep?”
on her self-perception: “My confidence has never hit such an all-time low as it has this year. It feels really bad. I’ve always been self-critical but… I don’t look at pictures of myself. I can’t. I used to be able to, back in the beginning. It’s not about how you look, though, but how you feel inside. I’m getting there again, but it’s a process. At least I can say I’m happy with my morals and with myself as a person.”
on life after divorce: “People who have been in my situation tell me that it’s taken them a long time, it’s been a long struggle and by no means are they over it – but they know why it happened. I can’t wait to get to that point. I’m sure there are reasons. I don’t know what they are yet, but I’ve got to believe it. I’ve got to! The one thing I would love is to just feel settled one day.”
on her personal style: “I’m high maintenance when it comes to beauty. I never dress for men. That’s just not me. Never have done. I want to feel nice as a woman – and for women to think I look nice, too. Fashion is armour, isn’t it? And I need the power of that armour.”

There was a lovely article in this week’s Stylist magazine (the commute home on a Tuesday night is now a pleasure thanks to this little gem) about the rise in women “crafting their own businesses”, and making a living from the homemade, such as cupcakes, ceramics and soft furnishings. It’s incredibly inspiring that so many of these entrepreneurs have taken a leap of faith in order to change their lives by using old-fashioned skills to start a business, many of them becoming hugely successful (cases in point: Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater who have yearly turnovers of millions).

{Cotton Reels print by Lola’s Room via Folksy}
There are a number of websites that showcase such items, full of unique creations and a far cry from the mass-produced high street market… and on which I can happily trawl for hours. Reading the Stylist article prompted me to revisit them (*sound of arm being twisted*); here are some of the arts and crafts on offer at three of these websites, all clearly handcrafted with love:

All Things Original:
1. Spring Garden Gigi Purse by Bagatelles & Co – £28
2. Twiggy Cushion by Clare Nicolson – £45
3. Knot Flower Shoe Clips by Sun Studio – £15.50
Folksy:
4. Lollypop Soap by Little Green Caravan – £1 each
5. Circus Thrills Chair by Kelly Swallow – £650
6. Camembert Dish by Caractacus Pots – £16.99
From Britain With Love:
7. Shetland Blanket by the Atlantic Blanket Company – £187.50
8. Eden Glass Jugs by Maggie Williams – from £35
9. Couture Cupcakes by Ella’s Bakery – £2.75 each
Do any of these inspire you to ‘make do and mend’?

We’re not long into 2011 and trends are being launched at us from left, right and centre. As much as I don’t think that trends should necessarily dictate how we dress or how we decorate our homes, they’re a useful indication of how high street stores will be decked out. One of the SS2011 catwalk trends that is making a splash in the interiors world is the colour blue:


There’s something incredibly soothing and tranquil about blue rooms, accents and accessories – perhaps it’s the notion of turquoise seas and cloudless azure skies (for me, anything that provokes memories of sparkling Greek islands and the bedroom from Mamma Mia has got to be a good thing):


The beauty of blue is that isn’t faddy, it’s incredibly versatile and according to which hue you use, you can set the mood accordingly. Darker tones can suggest formality or a modern touch, and brighter, more aqua blues, can add character and energy. Here is a selection of rooms guaranteed to banish the January blues (including chez Carrie Bradshaw):

This image that I came across makes me want to make a beeline for a junkyard and find some old doors to use as a headboard. I’m not sure what it is about this picture (my money is on either the gorgeous chandelier, the patterned ceiling or the crisp white sheets), but it has Sunday-morning-lounging-in-bed-with-papers-and-toast written all over it:

{image via the style files}

Natalie Portman and Colin Firth continued to dominate the 2011 award shows, once again scooping best actress for Black Swan and best actor for The King’s Speech, respectively. The Social Network came out on top as best motion picture (drama) once more, also bagging best director and best screenplay – that’s got to be a happy bunch of geeks! Talking of geeks, or Gleeks in this case, they too had cause for celebration with Glee winning best television series (comedy or musical), and Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer winning best supporting actress and actor in a television series. For a full list of winners, click here. Other highlights of the night included Ricky Gervais cutting close to the bone with his quips (surely you know what you’re going to get when you hire him?!), and a very distinct set of trends on the red carpet:

{Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace / Catherine Zeta Jones in Monique Lhuillier / Mila Kunis in Vera Wang / Megan Fox in Armani Privé / Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham / Scarlett Johansson in Elie Saab / Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé / Olivia Wilde in Marchesa / Dame Helen Mirren in Badgley Mischka / Claire Danes in Calvin Klein / Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier / Emma Stone in Calvin Klein}