What's in a room

One of the significant stages in a friendship with someone, for me, is being made privy to their bedroom (don't even go there). A woman's bedroom particularly, is a highly intimate and often a creative space, as Virginia Woolf famously alluded to. Especially a bedroom you've grown up with, it reflects one's interior landscape, it demonstrates how you've grown, matured (or retained that childish spirit if the case may be!)

I've been meaning to post these pictures for a few months, and during this blogging lull seems an appropriate time. Oddly, however many stories I read and movies I watch about vagabond types, when I relocate (which I have done more than a couple of times since I turned 18) I tend to bring a lot of stuff with me. I don't consider myself materialistic for consumerist objects, but for the nostalgia that certain things invoke - books, ornaments, boxes of postcards, certain dresses. I need to create a home around me. I can't think surrounded by bare walls. At some point though, even for an extended period of time, I would like to take a risk and be romantic, and pack my life in a suitcase.

Although my living situation in Glasgow turned out to be less than ideal for the remaining months of my stay, I felt most safe in the privacy of my room.

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

Mucha imitation mirror picked up for £2 in Salvation Army on Dumbarton Rd. Smash Hits 88 record which cost me about 50p (purchased merely for the year of my birth). More lovely postcards, I think these are all from the same person, you know who you are! Crucifix from Glenstal Abbey in Limerick, purchased to remember a great weekend of tree hugging.

My wardrobe with garish colours and questionable lurex suits peeping out, as well as many beloved vintage dresses.

Postcards from friends and picked up from places.

I've had that throw for as long as I can remember, its cozy and homely. The cushions are generic ikea, while the Totoro plush is a gift from a friend and really cheered me up at a time when I needed it.

I've been itching to blog, and have a few ideas for future posts, but after a weighty/academic post such as the last one, I feel a little disingenuous by following those up with a frothier "filler" post. I want to start dealing with some heavier topics but I'm not sure that this is the forum to express them, because I don't want to isolate a potential readership. It's hard to achieve that balance, and maybe that's the secret to successful blogging. I'm not convinced.

Past bedroom posts:
My Sligo/teenage bedroom
My first Glasgow flat

And you say what have I got to lose?

On Sunday night I was faced with a 'what to wear' dilemma. Not uncommon, but this time it was for Curryoke. Curry and karaoke is a Glaswegian institution. I was still hungover from a party the night before so I wasn't in the mood for anything ultra glam. So I reached for this 60s mini dress I recently acquired from eBay. It is super short (in the mood of the time I suppose), so thick, opaque tights are essential. I needed operational hair, so I tied it back with this metal spiked hairband from Topshop which is my recent, favoured hair accessory.





What did I sing?


Prince - Little Red Corvette


All Saints - Never Ever



If I was staying on in Glasgow I would probably make Karaoke nights a regular occurrence to be honest. Let's see if I can convince my Irish pals to join me for a bit of a belter.

Atelier Public, GoMA

"ATELIER PUBLIC is an exhibition that takes the form of a working artist studio – one that everyone is invited to come into, to make artworks there that will become part of the installation. The exhibition, in GoMA’s Gallery 3, will be a space for looking, thinking, exploring and making.

As well as extending an open invitation to the public, the exhibition’s curator has also asked particular artists, thinkers and makers who have a special interest in play, creativity and the imagination to engage with the space throughout the duration of the exhibition. These mini-residencies will help to shape and record what happens."

During the week, a friend and I decided to spend a day visiting some of Glasgow's modern art galleries, admittedly, contemporary art galleries are not something I would go out of my way to visit, but there's such a wealth of them here it would be a sin not to take full advantage!

One of the exhibits my friend was keen to see was Atelier Public, on the top floor of GoMA (Glasgow Museum of Modern Art). The exhibition has been running since November 10th, 2011 and finishes today.

I was interested to see how the exhibition space was presented and how the public had participated, considering it was within an official gallery framework (ie. GoMA). I had good fun wandering around, making my own contribution and taking pictures, which you can see below. It felt very informal and comfortable, like being in playschool again, taking part in something communal and far reaching.






Books for inspiration, much like you'd see in an artists studio.




Some more creative and dedicated folk had even crafted complex kinetic objects! They added more drama and interest to the space.






Irony found a space too.


Some people prefer to make a non-artistic contribution, but to participate in the exhibition.


Some additions were more thought out and symbolic.




My addition to the space, some clumsy celtic spirals.

When I first arrived I didn't know much about the exhibition or its concept at all. I haven't flexed my creative muscles in years so I was hesitant to get involved, preferring to admire everyone else's crafts. Soon however, the participatory and relaxed mood of the setting got me eager to get involved. My addition can be seen above! It was an amateur effort, like the majority of the exhibit itself, which was refreshing to see in a gallery setting. No preconceptions, no expectations, just an invitation to get involved!

The GoMA flickr stream for Atelier Public can be seen here.

Atelier Public is part of the Playable Spaces programme, and the curator has been documenting the project throughout its duration, making interesting observations along the way.

Christmas Outfit

I'm working this Hogmanay/New Years Eve so nae chance of me dressing up to ring in the new year. So here's what I wore on Christmas day instead.




Dress, vintage (1960s). T-bars, Clarks. Belt, ASOS.

Happy new years to you all. I hope you ring in the new years appropriately. I'll probably be just in from work, in my onesie, watching When Harry Met Sally and a bottle of wine to myself. Perfect party of one, in my opinion!

It feels a lot like Christmas...

The view from my bedroom window at the start of the month, when it snowed.


My wee tree!





Snowflake and Nutcracker decorations I picked up at the Edinburgh German Christmas market with my friend Kerstin.



German Christmas market, photo taken by Kerstin.



The table set for dinner. Reindeer from Primark, Jesus (moneybox) from Paperchase. Elle magazines used for placemats (because I had none).


The starter was a Mushroom and Tarragon Paté, made by my friend Claire.


A table piled high with food, the vegetarian main was sweet potato, spinach & hazelnut en croute, with red wine & juniper gravy (that I had spent two hours preparing on christmas eve and boy oh boy was it worth it. It was delicious), from the Cornucopia cookbook.


I made the Hairy Biker's Chocolate Chestnut Pudding for dessert, which was delightfully creamy and rich! We had to wait an hour or so after our main to eat this, because so much as looking at a plate of food made me queasy. My friend Christina went all out and made a fruit cobbler and apple strudel!

Twas the night before Christmas...

... and I've been a busy wee lass, preparing some of my vegetarian Christmas feast for tomorrow. I'm working tonight and the rain is pouring down outside but i'm full of festive cheer (considering my birthday falls two days after Christmas day).

So from me, to you all -



Have a good one! And don't forget to get those stockings out tonight ;)

Winter in Glasgow

Well folks, I am sorry to leave the blog so lacklustre during this festive season! I've mostly been working, eating a lot of delicious food, decorating my tree, writing xmas cards, been frequently rained and snowed on, as well as getting blown about during Hurricane Bawbag and foremostly trying to keep warm in these bitter Scottish months. Here is my armour for the Glasgow winter:









Outer: Coat, Benetton kids (via eBay); Boots, years old Doc Martens; Scarf. H&M; Hat, People Tree; Bag; Kipling x Peter Pilotto.
Outfit: Jumper, COS; Trousers, Uniqlo; Shirt, Mango.

Keep cosy kids!

Double denim?!

On Saturday last I updated my twitter status with "Venturing into the terrain of double denim for the first time today. Using Sissy Spacek in Badlands as my sartorial defense." Well I survived and I think I liked it. What say you?





I bought these socks on sale in Tabio when I was in London and was desperate to show them off but was at a loss as to what to pair them with. I needed something neutral so they would the standout feature of the outfit. So I denim'd it up.


Sissy Spacek working the lone ranger look in Malick's Badlands (1973) alongside Martin Sheen.

A day that began with me intending to buy toothpaste and impulsively buying orange nail polish instead, being late and losing a friend in a gallery, going in search of non existent cafés ended up with an impromptu The Babies gig at the Captains Rest and by the time I got home in the wee hours this shirt smelt of beer and sambuca after a night out on the dance floor at Nice n Sleazy.

Autumn

A photo essay of my October and November -


I finish work late and have bad food cravings, sometimes I get in the mood and make guacamole, with homemade pita chips.



I went to see The Playboy of the Western World, starring Ruth Negga and Robert Sheehan, at the Old Vic at the beginning of November.


I've enjoyed the odd hot toddy.


I was introduced to this delicious dark chocolate, from New Zealand. I won't rest until I acquire a bar all my own!


I purchased new wine glasses, cutesy and ridiculous. Perfect. Disappointed there was no Ariel versions! 3 for 99p though, can't complain.


I've started reading for pleasure again. I have acquired new titles and some editions of old favourites (The Silver Chair was my favourite of the Narnia series, it had a much more eerie atmosphere in comparison to the others. I also rather favoured the first Narnia book over the rest).


I bought some sensible rainboots for the Glasgow winter and picked up my new favourite evening bag for £3 in Salvation Army.