Stationery Addict

Hi, my name is Emily and I am a stationery addict! Ever since the first time I ever went ‘back to school’ I have loved getting new stationery. You would always find me with the biggest, most colourful of pencil cases. With pens that were fluffy, ones that had fleece cows on top, every single colour you could imagine to write in. My favourite colours to write with are green ink in a fountain pen, Pink with a gel pen and you can’t beat a good black roller ball fine liner sometimes.

With about the third or fourth of last years notebooks almost at the end and all my good pens drying up, it was time to upgrade the notebook and pens.  Also with The Blogcademy just around the corner, it really is like going back to school. What good timing with the sales on, I was straight to Paperchase to check out what they had! I was lured in by the reductions (Brad and I have taken to calling them seductions now!) I love those pen stations where they give you the smallest post-it note in the world, to test out the rainbow of colours on offer, and all the brightly coloured notebooks in different shapes and sizes to decide between.

I had an idea at Christmas when I got my Polaroid Pogo Printer out and used it to print all the photos mum had taken of us all from her camera. Last year my notebooks were pretty boring aesthetically, full of content but pretty much your standard lists and notes. This year I decided to combine all my ephemera that I normally stash in a Memory Box with all my photos I normally stored on some digital device, with my notebooks. I knew I wanted a blank cover notebook to stick all the photos on to, even though I loved a lot of the designs, I wanted something like a school book. I found one that suited but also a plastic wallet with pencil case combined. It felt like something truly off of the 90s, covering my workbook and carrying a pencil case. LOVE IT! I also found an amazing glittery silver flamingo to go with my pink stag in the office, they’re friends now!

I filled the pencil case of my newly decorated and covered workbook with the new scented gel pens and started to write lots of notes with and sticking things in. Combining all my questions for The Blogcademy from various devices of Apple Notes. Filling the pages with to-do lists. It’s been a few weeks now and its started to feel used, I don’t like a new note pad with nothing in it and like to fill it from top to bottom of each page, never wasting a space. With a week to go I thought my stationery kit was complete and ready to go BLOGGING..! Until I stumbled upon these beauties in the shop of the castle we visited at the weekend…!! The most amazing Pink dyed pen feathers! Its like they were plucked straight out of a Pen Bird.. LOVE THEM! Although they don’t fit in the pencil case but I thought I could just poke them in my hair for safe keeping!

But wait… What do I read today… We only have to bring PENS!!?? What do you mean we only have to bring pens? aren’t using our own notebooks?? But …But mine is so special!! I know Blogcademy Head Mistress, Nubby Twiglet has gone to a lot of trouble to create what I can only imagine to be magnificently branded pads of paper… But I do love my own notebook…. Ok so I could use both! Yes that’s it, i'll use the Blogcademy pads and then STICK THEM IN to my Notebook! Mwahaha!! Yes just like off of junior school! I could even make paper pockets inside...! ...Ok I know I took it a bit too far then.

Do they run Stationery anonymous anywhere.?.. I think I have a problem!!

Wedding Wednesdays // I feel like I am planning my own Wedding!

Since I got involved with Ali from Bristol Vintage and we came up with the Weird and Wonderful Wedding World show, I have been endlessly searching for wedding suppliers that I love, the show has basically turned in to me planning my wedding in the guise of a wedding show. I would probably have a hard job persuading Brad to agree to a lot of the things I love but I am starting my "Wedding Scrapook" today to share it all with you, so that when I finally get a ring on my finger I will have done all the research!

Here's some of the things I have TRULY MADLY DEEPLY fallen in love with

From the top down, anti-clockwise;

• I have never seen a dress closer to my mind than this, Florence Dress by Oh My Honey
• Most girls want Louboutins for a different reason on their wedding day, I on the other hand want these Christian Louboutins Studded Sneakers!! I haven't been able to walk in heels for years, why should I start on my wedding day?!
• I do love lots of hand drawn and typographic wedding stationery but this Tattoo style stationery holds a warm place in my heart. Shorties Designs are designed and drawn by a good friend and favourite tattoo artist, Lucille from Scribe in Pokesdown, Bournemouth.
• I love the idea of having these cute Taxidermy mice throughout the reception by Death and Glory Taxidermy. This little fella is perched in a bowlers hat but I think they would look great as table centre pieces.
• I love the colours, the design a the sentiment of this Black Cherry Cake Co. cake. Wish I could taste it!

Tuesday Twinkles // iPhoneography Rocks!!

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

Brad and I Iike to try and take at least a day a week to do something together, "quality time" you might say. Today we decided to explore somewhere new and crossed the border in to the land of sheep (and boy did I see a lot of sheep!) over to Wales, to visit a castle near Abergavenny, Raglan castle. Brad picked the location, I love to go out for drives and walks gentle strolls in the country, he was interested in seeing the castle but I just wanted to take some cool shots of the place as it was a beautiful day and spend some time with him. 

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

He likes to read all the information boards and takes his time digesting it all, I, on the other hand, ran off like an excited school child on a school trip, immediately taking photos of the beautiful old ruins of the castle against the bright blue backdrop of the sky and winter country sun. The low lying sun made for some truly gorgeous shots of the exposed walls silhouette. I ran up and down all the different staircases excited by what view there was to behold next. Brad was probably still in the first information room and I was king of the castle with a view over, what felt like the whole of Wales! 

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

Not only did I achieve some of my best photographic work today but I fell truly madly deeply in love with... Yup my iPhoneography! The quality of some of my shots were so great, i amazed myself. Who needs a dslr when you can get photos like this with you iPhone! 

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

I have been in love with iphoneography for ages now, well since I got my first iPhone. I have always downloaded editing apps and have such fun editing instantly on a day to day basis. I very rarely edit photos taken on my iPhone on my Mac, however today I was so excited by the photos id managed to capture (and the fact I wanted to use the photos for the blog peice and didn't want to give anything away) I wanted to get them open on the laptop and edit them all individually with photoshop. I thoroughly enjoyed editing every single one stamping my style on them. I didn't learn anything about the castle itself today but I got captured in its beauty and the beauty of what I had captured!

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

I Don’t Write for the Writing // I Write for the Thinking and the Feeling.

As I have said in previous posts, I have never been a natural writer. In fact it is one of the reasons I dropped out of Uni after only a year. I have always been creative in arts and design and have a good eye for photos and graphics. After loving the freedom and success I had at college, I went on to Uni to continue to study Graphic Design. I was then faced with lectures, reading and writing essays, which I hated. When I went to see someone about struggling with it all, I also discovered that I was actually dyslexic but had been clever enough to deal with up to that point. I shied away from any writing for a long time after that and stuck to what I do best in taking photos and producing graphic design.

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs

 I took me ages to get in to the blogging frame of mind after I had started the business, I always had lots to say and share but felt like I had to write in a certain way, which I didn’t feel was me. When I over came that and just started to write how I wanted to write, it felt so much more natural. My writing skills and use of words might not be up to scratch but I love to share my life in photos and share the feelings I go through. I hope to inspire girls just like me through the best way I know how, to share my life and just to write what I am thinking and how I feeling. You know what they say practice makes perfect and the more I do it the better I become.

I hope people read my posts and get an understanding for who I am and what I like. I hope my customers read this and get to know me before they hire me. I hope young people, in my position at the beginning of their creative career, can read my posts and be inspired to know that anyone can achieve success if they put their mind to it.

Post Festive Blues // Feeling a little Blurgh?

It’s 2013 people WUHOO. We have all made New Years resolutions, we all have so many new plans and goals for the year ahead, but who is struggling to get back in to full swing? I certainly am. I can’t put my finger on why though. Is it the pressure I have put on myself? ..so many goals and only a year to achieve them… Is it the post holiday slump? I have nothing in my life to complain about, yet I feel so ‘Blurgh’ and ‘complainy’. That get up and go I had last year has all fizzled out and I need a way to get it back. It was so great to get back in the office after Christmas after such a busy festive season and I was excited to put out my first couple of blog posts for the new year… But now I think I am scared. Scared that I want to achieve so much from the business and the blog, but worried I won’t have anything to say… What if I run out of words???????? (I know such a drama queen right!)

Image courtesy of Freeimages.co.uk

I have lots of Photo Booth bookings lined up for this year already but none of which start until the start of the wedding season in March so the fear of being stuck in the office for 3 months without getting my glam on.. well actually, I won’t lie, sounds pretty good (there’s the problem already!) but I fear I may well wear this unicorn onesie out and possibly turn in to a hermit. There’s a fine line between ‘working from home’ and ‘recluse’!

Image courtesy of Freeimages.co.uk

It is that quiet time of year for many of us in the wedding industry. I am sure more bookings will start to come in thick and fast when all the newly Christmas engaged start their planning, but it is definitely that time of year when you doubt yourself. ‘The enquiries have slowed down’, ‘Am I marketing myself correctly?’ ‘What am I doing wrong?’ And truth be told, nothing has changed since lots of bookings were coming in last year, it’s just everyone is probably feeling the same, a little post festive season glum. All those in full times jobs, a chore to go back to work after all those nights in drinking in front of the family with sparkly lights all around you! Even in a job I love, in the comfort of my unicorn onesie, working in my own pretty office, I still feel it but not in a chore kinda way, I do love sitting in my office, probably too much! Maybe that's the problem, I do always feel inspired when I get out and about exploring. I am going to challenge myself to go somewhere new every week! This week Sunday is my day off and Brad and I have already said we are going to get out and do something. Check back on Tuesday Twinkles to find out what/where we explored!

Image courtesy of Freeimages.co.uk

I think it’s only natural to feel like this at this time of year. A lot of people say it is March when the spring equinox falls that is truly the New Year. I tend to find Spring is when I come alive and the period between now and then is kind of my awakening period. (Maybe I really am a witch!)

So for now I just wanted to share for all those out there feeling the same, to let you know you aren’t alone. Roll on a couple of weeks to get the The Blogcademy where I plan on being so motivated and so inspired it will kick start me in to the new year with a bang!!

Feel free to share if your feeling the same... Let's pick each other up together!

10 Money Saving Style Tips

I know most of us are a bit skint after the Christmas period and I have reading about some great tips to save a little extra cash at this time of year and added a few of my own tips too. Here are some of the best I have come across.

Dry Skin
Instead of spending a fortune on fancy night creams, use Vaseline on problem dry areas. It is inexpensive and works miracles through the winter months when our skin is a bit more sensitive. Leaving you moisturised and your skin feeling soft.

Cheap Mascara Issues
I am always on the hunt for a good mascara and have never found one that matches up to the quality of an expensive Lancome Hypnose I used to buy. But usually it isn't much to do with the liquid, it is the shape of the brush when applying that makes a difference. Why not save the brush from a mascara that you get on with and use it with a cheaper product?

Cleanse your Hair
For shiny hair and to rid you of product build up, mix 1tbsp of cider vinegar with water. After shampooing, conditioning and rinsing, apply the cider vinegar mix over your hair on the last rinse. Also rinse with cold water for extra shine.

Luscious Locks

For soft luscious hair, try massaging Olive Oil in to your hair a couple of times a month and leave over night. Makes sure you rinse well in the morning though as it will take some to get rid of the excess oil.

Emergency Degrease

If you had an unplanned night out last night and your hair is a little greasy and smelly but you didn't bring your dry shampoo, try using good old fashioned talcum powder to the roots, I have even been known to use a bit of spray deodorant! Make sure your brush out after a few minutes though.

Beautifully Buffed
If your body is feeling a little dehydrated and you have run out of your favourite body scrub, why not try a little granulated sugar mixed with some honey, and get scrubbing! Not only will your skin feel soft and buffed, it will be left smelling sweet and gorgeous.

Frock Swap
If your feeling the pinch but like me have a weakness for continued new clothes, why not advertise on social media a get together of girlies. Each can bring a selection of items they don't wear any more and swap for new items. Ones persons rubbish is another persons treasure!

French Faux Pas
If you had your nails done recently and they have started to chip, why not just touch up with a bit of Tip-Ex on the corners to prolong another trip to the beauty salon.

Plump it Up
If you have run out of your favourite lip plumping gloss, why not try using a Cinnamon Oil which is the main ingredient in most lip plumping products. Mix a little of your lipstick with some vaseline and apply over the top of the Cinnamon Oil for Plumped up lips!

Multi purpose Pepto Bismol 
We all love that familiar smell of Pepto Bismol, was my favourite thing as a kid to settle your stomach. Well if you have some lying around after a night out. Take the recommended amount to settle your dodgy stomach but then whilst your hanging around, smear some over your face like a face mask and wait for it to dry and they soak it off with a hot towel. It works like a salicylic acid to tighten your skin and reduce redness.

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One for Luck..
I heard a little rumour, although I am yet to test the theory, that if you recycle your old lipstick tubes, some companies such as MAC will give you new lippy for FREE!!!! Just need to wait for mine to run out now!!

Tuesday Twinkles // Treasures to behold in Bristol.

I went home this weekend, back to my old haunt in Boscombe. It was so lovely to see everybody and it allowed me to gain some perspective. Although having only been away three months, I went back and nothing had changed, it was so nice to be welcomed back with open arms as if I still lived around the corner. Everyone was of course asking how I was and how I was getting on living in Bristol, I found myself repeating the words "well I don't get out the office much" and it dawned on me I have become very comfortable behind my screen in the online world but I haven't been making the effort to become acquainted with my new city!

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs. Corner of The Old Bookshop on North Street, Bristol.

I took the afternoon out of the office this afternoon for "research purposes" with Lauren. We decided just to go have a 'Look' around. One of my worst skills in life is to 'just have a look'! But off we went down to North Street, somewhere I have heard mentioned a few times since I moved here, but haven't got around to visiting yet. I love to explore new parts of town and spontaneously exploring is even better. Bristol has so many different quirky areas and every time I go out I find such amazing places and I am going to make it my mission to inform you all of the fabulous places I find. Do you have any suggestions for me to check out and report back on?

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs. North Street, Bristol.

We got a bit lost between West Street, South Street and North Street but eventually we found somewhere to park at the bottom of South Street. I didn't know if I was coming or going, up or down! It was quite late in the afternoon by the time we got out so we just casually wondered with no real goal in sight. We trundled in and out of a few charity shops, finding some lovely bits. We had tactfully come out with very little cash between us to avoid breaking the 'Only Looking' rule. One great place I will definitely be going back to check out, when I have some pennies in the back pocket, was the very jammed packed but very well organised Vintage shop, Rachel's. She stocked everything from beautiful antique furniture and chairs to hats and accessories. Although you may have to have a slow and careful browse to find the really good bits its a delight in the process.

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs. The Old Bookshop.

We stumbled across a brilliant bit of graffiti and realised it was actually a bar people had mentioned to us both, The Old Bookshop.

     "...the newest port-of-call for the discerning ladies and gentlemen of Bristol. Enjoy fine food and drink, an intimate musical experience and the artistic talents of our local community."

Unfortunately it was closed when we passed by but we have made a mental note to get down there soon for an evening of wine and food or Saturday Brunch.

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs. Bed by The Bed Workshop, The Old Pickle Factory, Braunton Road, Bedminster, Bristol.

All within a couple of roads, I was drawn in by a big vintage looking sign quoting antique beds. As Brad and I have been struggling a little sometimes to adapt, going from each having a double bed and duvet to ourselves to having to share it every night. But thats adapting to live together after 3years long distance I guess! I have had my eye on a few vintage metal framed beds so I thought it worth having a look. And OMG! I have never seen more beautiful beds in my entire living life. They looked liked they belonged in the most luxurious of hotels. Hidden away in the attic of The Old Pickle Factory at  The Bed Workshop, were these stunning Louis IV beds that had been lovingly restored to their former glory. We both fell in love with about 3 each and each picked the bed we were going to have in our bedrooms.. In our wildest dreams! With each bed at a price tag around £1500, obviously not a bad price at all for such beauty but just a price tag somewhat out of our reach, for now.

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs. Bed by The Bed Workshop.

iPhoneography by Fishee Designs. Bed by The Bed Workshop.

We were so overwhelmed with the finding of the bed shop, we came out to darkness not realising how long we had been in the dream land.. Had we actually got in to the beds and gone of to sleep?? Were we dreaming? Nope it had just got dark and the shops were closing. We wandered along a bit further getting more aware it was starting to get a bit cold and we were hungry, but we popped in a couple more charity shops. To top off the the most curious day, in the last charity shop we browsed in I found the a gorgeous sweetheart neckline dress with almost pink leopard print type design on the silky silver material. Ok, i'm not sure that sounds great in writing with my poor description, you have to see it really.. I'll update a picture when I wear it! It was luckily in my size, well a tad big but nothing a belt won't fix... AND IT WAS ON THE £1 RAIL! Steel! I haven't had a steel like that since my Lanvin vintage blue shirt dress I got at a car boot last year, also a £1! God, I love a good bargain!

It just proves its good to get out the office and discover places!

Where have you discovered lately? I'd love to hear about your great finds!

xx