Jigsaw Log #6

 

Welcome back to my jigsaw log series. I had a long period of not really doing much jigsawing so around the start of the month, I challenged myself to a five-hundred-piece puzzle which wasn’t too difficult in comparison to one thousand pieces. I love the cosy feel to this design with the pets on the couch, and I found it to be well made, as well as a nice difficulty level for me.

If you are just starting the hobby, this would be a good one to complete. My Nan was gifted it after having a jigsaw related chat to a friend. I noticed the box had a charity shop sticker, and in my experience, they are a good place to shop as lots of people tend to donate them after completion. It was originally from The Works, and they are online if you fancy a browse.

I found this article on the Gibson’s game blog and it’s a really lovely read:

https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/blogs/news/mental-health-benefits-of-jigsaw-puzzles

Here are a few quick quotes from the article:

‘Puzzling reduces stress by occupying and engaging the mind to create a sense of calm and serenity’

‘Completing a jigsaw works both sides of your brain, the left hand-side that thinks logically and the right, the creative, intuitive, and emotional side. So, when you piece together a jigsaw puzzle, you harness both brainpowers.’

‘Completing a jigsaw puzzle is a fun and entertaining pastime that is enjoyed without any kind of electronic involvement.’

‘Completing a jigsaw with a friend or family member promotes discussion and interaction as teamwork is essential for finishing a tricky puzzle!’

Do you feel like trying a jigsaw too?

What pastimes have you been interested in lately? :-) Xx

The Body Shop Matte Lipstick in Honolula Pink

 

Hi – I’m back with a beauty product review. My make-up bag is fairly minimal, but I wanted to update it as well as having a bit of a sort though, getting rid of expired items. I tend to gravitate towards matte lipsticks as they seem to stay put longer so The Body Shop colour crush matte lipsticks looked interesting to me. 

I did some research on the different shades, and Honolula Pink seemed lovely. I found this shade very wearable, and flattering. I have fair skin, and would recommend it to others with pale skin. The staying power is great and I like the formula enough to buy other colours. The Body Shop is cruelty-free which is important to me. The packaging is simple, elegant and well made. Link here.

Does this shade appeal to you?

Do you have any recommendations from The Body Shop? :-) Xx

These are a few of my favourite things #6

Books:

Light in The Landscape: A Photographer's Year by Peter Watson

I enjoyed this because of its autobiographical style, taking us through the 

photographer’s year; I learnt a lot about what to expect from the different

 seasons and gained some tips on different aspects of the field.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

There has been quite a bit of hype around this one and I went in thinking it

 wouldn’t live up to my expectations. I was pleased to find a beautifully

 illustrated book about friendship and kindness with a universal appeal.

Winnie The Witch by Valerie Thomas

This was without a doubt one of my favourite picture books as a child. 

We follow Winnie the witch and her cat that blends into its surroundings. 

I found it just as wonderful reading it as an adult.

Peggy and Me by Miranda Hart

I’m a big Miranda fan as well as having a love for dogs, and this book combines

 the two. It reads like a light autobiography, but Miranda includes musing from her

 wonderful dog Peggy. I enjoyed hearing about some of the behind-the-scenes

 stuff and getting to know Miranda that bit better.

Simply Country: Creating Comfortable Style for Cottage Living by Liz Bauwens

I found this book to be just the ticket for something light, and escapist. 

Featuring lots of wonderful photos of cottage style, and tips to recreate it.

Simpsons Comics: Hit the Road! by Matt Groening

I haven’t watched The Simpsons in years, but since getting into comics

 lately, I thought I would try this. I absolutely loved it, the humour, 

the illustrations; it reminded me just how great The Simpsons are!

Films:

The Sound of Music

‘A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a 

Governess to the children of a Naval officer widower.’

Starring Julie Andrews, this musical is loved by so many. This was 

the first time I watched it from start to finish, and I really enjoyed

 it. I love the song these are a few of my favourite things.

Lifestyle:

A red admiral butterfly on some great hyacinths

The weather has been just beautiful lately so I went in the garden

 to take a few photos. This time of year, is perfect for spotting red

 admiral butterflys, and I found one on some great hyacinths. 

Have you read any of the books mentioned?

Do you like the sound of music too? :-) Xx

These are a few of my favourite things #5

Lifestyle:

Spotting a Broom Plant

I found this bright yellow, happy looking plant in bloom on a recent walk. 

My Mum told me its name, and I did some research into it when I got home.

‘Broom plants golden vanilla-scented flowers appear for a couple of months from late spring to early summer. As an evergreen, it should be planted more often in gardens, as it is easy to grow and beneficial to local wildlife. It is a bright and cheery plant that gives pleasure to onlookers with its beautiful yellow flowers, in stark contrast to the rough windswept places where it is often found growing, such as moors and heaths.’

Books:

Vintage Fashion by Emma Baxter-Wright

This is a stunning coffee table book, taking you through different eras in fashion from 

the 20’s to the 90’s. The information included is very extensive, yet the writing is kept 

readable and interesting. If you appreciate the topic of fashion history, this is a must read.

The Usborne Book Of Pop-Ups by Ray Gibson

It was a wonderful surprise when a friend lent me this as it was one of my 

childhood favourites. The crafts are fairly straight forward, showing different 

ways to create pop-up cards. One of the nicest card-making books I know of.

Joy by Corrinne Averiss

A beautifully told and illustrated children’s picture book about Fern, a young girl 

who is worried about her Grandma, and wants to capture some joy to give it 

back to her. Lovely, heartfelt, and perfect for family reading time.

Hello, is this planet Earth? by Tim Peake

Written by Tim Peake the astronaut, he shares his experiences while on 

the international space station and the collection of photographs 

he has taken of earth from above. This is one of those books that 

really makes you appreciate how wonderful and fragile planet earth is.

101 Ways to Save the Earth by David Bellamy

This is a picture book introducing environmental topics to children in the style 

of a friendly magazine, with lovely illustrations. I found the tips helpful in 

making positive changes around the home, garden and beyond.

Films:

Dan In Real Life

'Comedy starring Steve Carell as advice columnist Dan Burns. In his column, Dan appears to be an expert on relationships, but in real life he struggles to succeed as a brother, son and single parent to three precocious daughters. Things get even more complicated for Dan when he discovers the woman, he has recently fallen in love with is already in a relationship with his brother.'

This was a really interesting film, and I enjoyed the look into family life on a vacation. At times it felt a bit melancholy but there were bursts of hope as the main character finds his way. Steve Carell is a good actor; I’ve seen him in a couple of other films.

Have you picked up a good book recently?

What have your favourite things been this month? :-) Xx

A Beginner's Guide to Botanical Illustration

 

Botanica by Howard Schatz

I recently finished reading this coffee table book, featuring close-up photographs of plants, which are colourfully edited. While the book was just a starting point, I would recommend it for its beauty.

Botany is the science of plants, but botanical illustration is its own artform. I didn’t previously know a lot about botanical art but after reading this book, I became more interested in researching the topic. 

Some information I found from articles online:

• Right back to the early botanists, the artist was often the first to officially document many of the                        plants we know today.

• An illustration is used to support the work of botanists and horticulturists, describing the plant for                        the science records.

• It is one of the most specific, and vital artforms that plays a major part in botanical discovery.

• Botanical artists are in fact scientific professionals. 

• Many early botanists were artists themselves, or hired an artist to accompany them in the field as                        sending the specimen back home risked damage or decay.

• The attention and care, often done under a microscope or camera lucida, can lead botanical artists                      to make discoveries of their own.

What's the difference between botanical art, 

botanical illustration and flower painting?

In botanical illustration:

The emphasis is on the scientific record and botanical 

accuracy to enable identification of a plant.

In botanical art:

Artwork is always scientifically and botanically correct 

but not necessarily complete. More emphasis is 

placed on the aesthetic value 

In flower painting and "plant portraits":

The emphasis is much more about a pleasing painting 

and much less on the botanical accuracy

Images found on Yahoo search engine.

Key words for searching online:

Botanical drawing, botanical illustration, botanical gardens, 

botanical art, botanical art patterns, botanical watercolour art.

Questions to ask in a search engine:

What is botanical art and illustration?

What is the history of botanical work?

What is a botanical plate?

Articles I read that I would recommend:

https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/what-is-botanic-art

https://www.botanicalartandartists.com/what-is-botanical-art.html#

Did you find this topic of any interest?

Would you like to read the book that was mentioned? :-) Xx

Books for Dog Lovers

 

The New York Dog by Rachael Hale McKenna

This was quite a recent read for me which I thoroughly enjoyed. The author sets out to document (through both photography and stories) some of the many dogs and owners living in New York City. A beautifully presented coffee table book, giving glimpses into what it’s like living in the big city through the eyes of a dog lover.

How to Photograph Pets by Nick Ridley

This book has more of a traditional flair, coming from an author who clearly has a passion for dogs. As well as giving insights to photographing pets, the book covers some advice into animal behavior as well. Great for beginners wanting to improve their photos of much-loved pets.

Underwater Puppies by Seth Casteel

As the title suggests, this is a photography book full of puppies being captured underwater. This is a bit of a niche idea, but I found the images to be arty and full of life.

Dogs in Cars by Lara Jo Regan

Another niche type of book, the author who is a photographer, captures dogs while they are traveling in cars. I liked that the dog breeds were included as well as their names. The photography is really outstanding, and a perfect read for dog lovers.

Pugs in Costumes by unknown author

This is a short humour book, including images of pugs in various fancy dress with captions. There are some really funny pages that anyone can appreciate, but particularly pug lovers.

The Three Little Pugs and the Big Bad Cat by Becky Davies

This is a children’s picture book of a retelling of the three little pigs but instead it’s the three little pugs. The mix of illustration and photos of pugs was done very well. There’s a lovely feel-good sentiment to this fictional story.

Are you a dog lover too?

Do any of these books interest you? :-) Xx

These are a few of my favourite things #4

 

Books:

Wallpaper by Lachlan Blackley

This is a graphic design book focussing on innovative ways to 

produce wallpaper. I found both the text and images fascinating. 

The Thrifty Forager by Alys Fowler

This was one of the most interesting books I’ve read this year so far. 

The author talks us through living off your local landscape by foraging. 

A surprisingly accessible read, that looks into the basics as well as 

how to set up a community orchard and more.

Much Loved by Mark Nixon

Nixon developed a project to photograph and document stories of very loved teddy 

bears. Initially it might come across a bit weird, but the stories included were so 

heart-felt and his photography really captured something amazing.

Films:

The Wedding Planner

I was short of things to watch, so I gave this a try to pass the time. I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be funny and heart-warming. It’s a feel-good film that I would recommend.

‘Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez) is a successful wedding planner whose creative ideas make her clients' weddings a dream come true. She is unlucky in love and is desperate to meet the perfect man, before it is too late. When she meets Dr. Steve Edison (Matthew McConaughey) Mary is instantly smitten. But there is one problem, he is about to get married and his wife-to-be wants her to organise the wedding. This causes problems as the more time she spends with her clients organising their big day, the more she falls in love with the groom.’

The Three Amigos

I have memories of watching this as a child, and finding it funny. I re-watched it this month, and found it to be both clever and entertaining.

‘Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short travel a dusty road to adventure in this zany mix of sharp one liners and clever sight gags. The Three Amigos are a silent screen comedy act who have seen better days. So has a remote Mexican hamlet, which is being threatened by a fierce bandit gang. Finally, in desperation, a naïve villager sends the actors a telegram asking for help. Thinking they’re being offered a fortune for a personal appearance, the hapless trio arrives in Mexico, only to discover that this time they’re facing a real rival!’

King Kong (2005)

This film was out of my comfort zone, but I warmed to it as I got into it. It’s a very well-made film that I would recommend.

‘Epic remake of the adventure classic from acclaimed director Peter Jackson. In Depression-era New York, unscrupulous filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black) is desperate to find a leading lady for his new picture. After a chance encounter, naive actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) takes the role, and travels with Denham and sensitive scriptwriter Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody) to the mysterious Skull Island, deep in the Indian Ocean. 

There the filmmakers discover a secret, civilisation that time forgot, and that worships a terrifying, gigantic ape called Kong. When Ann is brought to Kong, the ape becomes obsessed with her. Denham uses this obsession to help capture Kong and transport him back to New York, where he hopes he can make a fortune from exhibiting the creature. But after Kong escapes, the ape unleashes his awesome power against the city in an attempt to find Ann, the woman he truly loves, leading to a tragic conclusion atop the Empire State Building.’

Lifestyle:

Sand dunes on the beach

On a recent visit to the beach, I was amazed to find a large sand dune. I took a photo and did a bit of research into how they form. Link here for an interesting article.

Did you find anything mentioned interesting?

What have you been loving this month? :-) Xx

Hygge Activities for Springtime

Spring is almost upon us, look to nature for the clues...

The Spring Equinox Definition: 

'20th March 2021.' 

'Spring Equinox celebrates the renewed life of the Earth 

that comes with the Spring. It is a solar festival, celebrated 

when the length of the day and the night are equal 

(this happens twice a year, at Spring and Autumn Equinox).'

Hygge isn’t just for winter it can be practiced all year through... 

Hygge Definition:

 

'A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that 

engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being 

(regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)'

Tips & Ideas for Things to Do:

1.) Create a spring baking/cooking bucket list on Pinterest. You don’t necessarily

   have to include unhealthy recipes as there’s all sorts of themed ideas.

Photos above found on Pinterest.

2.) Plant some seeds in your garden. March/April is a good time to plant 

poppy, sunflower or cosmos seeds.

3.) Photograph the daffodils whether in your garden or while out on a walk.

4.) Have a springtime afternoon tea; you could make your own using 

triangle sandwiches and homemade cake.

5.) Cut some flowers from outside and put them in a vase, 

somewhere you will see them every day.

6.) Have a hygge spring clean. Put on some lovely music, and dust, organize, etc.

7.) Collect easter cards from previous years, you can cut them up and make recycled 

designs. Other crafts you could try include sewing or painting.

8.) Jigsaws can be very hygge, do a little work on one every day. Look 

out for seasonal designs like cottage gardens or easter chicks.

Which of these tips do you think you might try?

Does the ‘hygge’ lifestyle appeal to you? :-) Xx