How to Create Snow in London.

It's no secret that I'd love it to be a White Christmas. However, living in London it's never really happened. It rarely snows and even when it does, with the people trampling about, any powder just turns to sludge within a few hours. Right now I am sitting in a very DRY London whilst my friends all round the UK seems to be enjoying the snow.

Now those who know me, will know that I am having a super budget Christmas this year. I was made redundant in September, so am now battling it through as a freelance artist and designer. Therefore, the first move I took, when looking for a few cheap Christmas items, was straight to Poundland. Admittedly, a lot of the items on the Poundland shelves are unbelievably tacky looking and I would never even dream of putting it up in my home. Every now and again though you can hit a jackpot- and yesterday I did! I found this pack of 24 pretty snowflake window stickers for the grand price of £1. They really are gorgeous.

There are 4 varied designs so they look great when they are all arranged together. You can't really tell that much in the photo, but each one has a 3D relief snowflake design on them. I think they definitely look more expensive than £1 and undoubtedly add a really classy Christmas touch. Absolutely gorgeous.

I am so happy now that everytime I look out of my window I see the snow. I want to keep them up all year round!

New Start and How to Stay Creative!

So I am beginning to start thinking about 2013 and I have decided that it will be the year of super creativity. I am feeling so motivated and inspired these days and I really plan to make the most of it. This has just led me to have a bit of a rebrand for my blog. I hope you like the new design! Please let me know your thoughts and if you find any links that don't work etc (I am very new to the world of html).

Part of my rebrand is that I am going to begin to focus a lot more on my own work and the work of people I know, rather than that of strangers. I create so many pretty things, but never take the time to get the photos to share. I promise this is about to change! I also have so many talented friends and would love to start sharing their work with you.

Next year I am going to aim to post on here at least once a day and I can't wait to start. I find that writing my blog is really motivating and helps to give my crazy freelance lifestyle a little bit of structure.

For now I will leave you with 29 ways to stay creative! I live by most of these and they really do work!



Tee Design Competition Entry

Hello lovely Bloggers!

 

This is my entry for the Arteecollage TShirt design competition on Talenthouse. There's 1 day left and I'd really appreciate all your votes. Here's the link

 

http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/preview/a14b99f85bb21b47498de8cfbbcf1b09/771

 

My design is inspired by the Silent Movie actress Mary Pickford and how she used to eat roses to stay beautiful.

 

Thanks in advance. If I win (finger's crossed!) I will do a giveaway on my blog. Many thanks.

 

Amy x 

 

 



Top 10 Dance Scenes of all time

Ok so it's Monday and what better way to start the week than with some dance. There's so many to choose from but here are my top 10 movie dance scenes-

The Rockefella Skank from 'She's All That'

Ok this is one cheesy cheese film without much artistic merit, but I was about 11 when this film was released and I wanted to be doing this dance!

 

 Beatnik Dance from 'Funny Face'

 

Audrey Hepburn as you've never seen her before... and I like it!

 

 

Singing in the Rain from 'Singing in the Rain'

 

To be honest every scene Gene Kelly is in is the best, but I had to pick one and this is definitely the most iconic.

 



Pulp Fiction

Well this is just super cool and that's all I need say...

You Make My Dreams Come True from '500 Days of Summer'

This is so sweet and hilarious.

Roxanne from 'Moulin Rouge'

This is the most dramatic scene ever and I get so involved in watching it.

Canned Heat from 'Centre Stage'

As a tween this was my favourite film EVER. I used to literally just watch this film everyday.

 

Beatnik Dda

America from 'West Side Story'

 

Growing up I so badly wanted to be a Shark (I still do!) Watching this I realise that I actually still know most of the moves...

 



Time After Time 'Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion'

I love this because it's weird, yet beautiful and I've never seen anything like it before.

 

Final Scene from 'Bootmen'

 

This film is seriously underated and this is a seriously amazing dance.

 



 

So there it is. My top 10 dance scenes. There were so many others to choose from but I felt these were my creme de la creme. What other dance scenes have I missed out that you like?

 





London Markets in the 60s

Now anyone that knows me will know that I am a sucker for markets and a sucker for the 1960s, so I had to share these photos with you all. :-)

 

The PROPER Avengers

I recently got SO excited when I heard that a new film of The Avengers was being made. Imagine my disappointment when I found out that it was to be a film based on some Marvel comics that I didn't know a thing about :-(

The Avengers is the best ever spy TV series about John Steed and Emma Peel. Diana Rigg played the absolute coolest spy woman in the world. She was intelligent, sexy, kickass, gorgeous and absolutely oozed cool 60s style. Safe to say that when I was a child (and now) she was my idol. As a kid I was so convinced that I would grow up to become a spy. Someone needs to get this show back onto our televisions! I think it would still be just as popular today.

To try and get over my ever growing disappointment that the wrong Avengers is being made into a film I have done some reminiscing. Here are some visual reminders of the best TV show ever...

Little Reminders

I recently Art Directed this commercial 'Little Reminders' for Danone. I am thrilled to announce that it has just been awarded 3rd place and 2000 euro prize in Eyeka's Bonafont competition.

I am really pleased with how this turned out. Despite our very limited budget I think we've managed to make this commercial look really flashy and expensive. I ended up only spending a £50 Art Department budget and managed to beg borrow and steal nearly everything. I was thrilled that designer Emma-Kate Wood let us borrow the gorgeous blue dress which was one of her beautiful creations. It was also great to reunite with director Alex Sufit of Lexitricity productions again.

Now I am just looking forward to our pizza party to celebrate our victory. Woo!

Hidden Treasures in Liverpool

This Georgian terrace house in Liverpool once belonged to photographer Edward Chambré Hardman and his wife Margaret who lived and worked there for 40 years. Little has changed in this flat since the 60s and now luckily for us The National Trust have preserved it and opened it up to visitors. I have rarely seen anywhere like this before. Being inside must genuinely feel like you are going back in time and actually looking round Chambré Hardman's photography studio and living space.

I have looked at many photographs in the past of houses from bygone eras but if I was designing a set I couldn't think of anything that would be as inspirational as this. I am now going to go and seek out a play or a film that will give me an excuse to go and visit this place for set design inspiration. Whether I manage to find that design job or not Liverpool is definitely top on my list of places that i need to visit just to go here!