Flowers everywhere

Summers almost upon us and I am so happy to be placing flowers everywhere, some from the super market, some from a friend, some retrieved on a walk and some from my dad's garden. I layered them all up on the table for dinner with friends. Lamb, potato gratin, slow roasted tomato comfit and bitter chocolate cake for dessert. All recipes chosen from Bill Granger's delicious book Feed me now.

A walk today, while the sun was still out, took me past a whole host of new blossoms. Boughs draped in deep pinks, mauves and creamy pale blooms all frothy like just poured champagne. I have been think about flowers so much lately still craving a garden of my own, choosing a list of my favourite varieties to sew once we have an outside space. Top of my list anything pretty that can also be eaten, then lilacs, peonies, and I am feeling a slow rising jealousy at a huge patch of colourful snap dragons in one of my neighbours gardens. I remember how amazed I was as a child when my mum showed me how to pinch the petals and make their little floral mouths open and close.
I will put the envious feelings to a good use and draw up a garden wish list. Hope your long weekend turned out well and I am wondering if you have a favourite flower from your childhood ?

3 day weekend

So, another three day weekend and it's pouring outside, which in my book is a good thing, cosy indoors with a warm spiced lamb salad and cup of lavender tea. Filing the collection of magazine scraps I have gathered over the last few months.

I am hoping these lovely artists studio pictures by Paul Barbera will inspire me to get in that workroom and make something, his site where they create is a treasure trove of creative environments. Hope they will inspire you too.

All images Paul Barbera.

Beautiful Bride!

Today, I woke up feeling so so nervous! I was doing my first ever full on wedding for Fiona and was really freaking out! We've had plenty trials with her and her bridesmaids and I am normally totally confident making other people beautiful, but I guess the responsibility of today kinda got to me!

In the end, everything went swimmingly, everyone looked beautiful and there was not a bridezilla in sight! Was such a lovely, lovely morning and the bride absolutely shone. It was a pleasure and an honour to be a part of Fiona and Stephen's big day and I wish them all the love and luck for their life together as a married couple.

Check out some pics!

I did Fiona's base before her rollers went in, then we finished her off after her hair was done

2 of Fiona's bridesmaids... Lesley on the left and Claire on the right.

On both the girls, I used Bobbi Brown's foundation stick and Benefit Creaseless shadows, with Coralista for the cheeks.

Doesn't she look beautiful?

We used Chanel Pro Lumier in 10, Chanel Bronze Universel, Benefit Coralista, Laura Mercier E/S, Benefit Bad Gal lash (waterproof of course!) and Beaute Girlina on the lips!

And the completed party! Nicola (2nd from the left) was done by Morag, her own MUA but the other 3 were me and I'm delighted with how they all look!

Marrakech create the look

Hopefully you will all visit Marrakech one day but if not or until you get there, these finds should tide you over and add a little Moroccan colour to a corner of your home. Jewel brights and metallic shimmer. Chalky paints and patterned tiles. Soft leathers and pretty accessories.

I also found a great recipe book to download and and an App for the iphone at Maroque.co.uk. So now you can make a round of mint tea or cardamom coffee wherever you are.

Paints and tiles Fired Earth.
Leather Pouffes Graham and Green.
Coloured candle glasses Decorative Country Living.
Brass and glass candlesticks, drawer handles, necklace, sandals and patchwork quilt Anthropologie.
Silver teapot Moroccan Bazaar.
Lanterns Moroccan Decor.

Pro Makeup Shop

Tonight I am quickly extolling the virtues of one of my current favourite websites... Pro Makeup Shop

I know many of you might already by familiar with this site, especially the hobbying and profressional artists amongst you, and I've kind of toyed with the idea of ordering in bulk from them previously, but always sticking to picking up bits in Boots or Sally's etc. But yesterday I received such good service from them, I felt I should give them a shout out! I needed a next day delivery, so rather than ordering through the website, I gave them a call and nothing was too much trouble. The important thing was my order arrived next day. Awesome.

The website is concerned with safe beauty and hygienic practices which you can read more about here. In essence, it equips artists with disposable tools to eliminate the risks associated with cross contamination and infections, bacteria etc. But for those amongst you who only ever do your own makeup, there;'s something for you too! Take your pick from mixing dishes for creating your own shades, colour wheels, false eyelashes, bags, brushes and the infamous Lucas Pawpaw Ointment...

Enjoy!

A xx

Marrakech, hope I'll be visiting again soon.

Snake charmers, crowded boxes of tiny yellow chicks, brass tray topped tables, a refreshing burst of cool summer rain, shimmering sequinned blankets, sultry heat, barbeque smoke, sweet pastries glistening with honey, iced milk with orange blossom, blue walls and green cacti, crisp white sheets, rustling palms, who knew we would find so much to fall in love with all inside the city of faded red walls.

Every time I want to go back I will unwrap the block of Amber Dean bought me in his favourite of the spice shops and breath in the warm sweet spiced scent, and of course I can't wait to brew up some fresh mint tea in the antique silver tea pot that we picked up.

Thanks for taking the trip with me and if you haven't been already, I hope you all one day get the chance to visit all the wonderful people and colours in the red city.

Marrakech the colours

Ultramarine Blue, Fuschia pink, lime green, cinnamon, burnt orange, shimmering silver and gold all on a background of faded red.

Marrakech the streets

I reread one of my favourite books whilst away and it lasted from the first day right up until our plane touched down in London. In my mind the perfect memoir for any holiday where local people and the blistering heat take centre stage. Within the pages I found a passage that described the drama unfolding on the narrow city streets of Marrakech perfectly. I am saddened to say I have no pictures of the hundreds of dusty sun tired Donkey's that we saw.

So from the the chapter The world in a wall, from 'My family and other animals' by author Gerald Durrell.

'It was a fascinating area, the cobbled streets crammed with stalls that were piled high with gaily-coloured bales of cloth, mountains of shining sweetmeats, ornaments of beaten silver, fruit, and vegetables. The streets were so narrow that you had to stand back against the wall to allow the donkeys to stagger past with their loads of merchandise. It was a rich colourful part of the town, full of noise and bustle, the screech of bargaining women, the cluck of hens and barking dogs, and the wailing cry of the men carrying great trays of fresh loaves on their heads.'

Marrakech the flavours

Honey drenched pastries, spiced carrot salad, chilled tomato and coriander soup drizzled with olive oil, sweet buttery onion almond and chicken tagine, baked aubergines, delicately spiced tomato and onion salsa, traditional peasant pancakes for breakfast every morning, ice cold milk with dates and orange blossom, marinated chicken and pork skewers with turmeric couscous and many glasses of super sugary mint tea.

FOTD with Chanel Bronze Universel

Hi lovelies,

Hope you are dandy!

Just a few pics to share some new products I am loving at the mo...

I've a bit of a early summer tan just now, so invested in a summer bottle of Pro Lumier in shade 30. I usually use 10, but 30 matches me much better just now. Whilst at Chanel, I decided to pick up some of the much talked about Bronze Universel to see what all the fuss is about!

I've been a massive fan of Benefit's One Hot Minute bronzer for ages, so didn't think even Chanel could tempt me with a different product, but oh it has been so worth the investment. I can't even write how much I love it! It looks way scary in the pot and it took about 2 hrs of Twitter chat to decide which brush to use to apply it (I settled on a BE Kabuki), but it's absolutely brilliant!

So, this is me with foundation only - Chanel Pro in 30

it looks really solid and orange, but it actually just blends away into a lovely natural glow and is more of a moussey texture. You get a heck of a lot of product for your cash too

This is a Victoria Jackson palette I have and the blusher (looks pale pink here, but is actually a lovely coral shade) is AMAZING!!! I usually use Benefit's Coralisat and this is almost the same colour, but it's matte.

And this is the finished face! The only other products I have on is some Barry M lipgloss and my Eylure lashes.

Loving the more natural, summery look!

What do you think then? Have you tried Bronze Universel? Do you love it or loathe it?

Marrakech the Riad

We stepped from our battered Mercedes cab into a dusty street, solid faded red walls on either side small wooden doorways here and there. From the bustling street you would never know such a tranquil oasis of calm was beyond those sun beaten red walls.
A cool courtyard painted in white with pale marble floor, trickling water feature and a tiny excitable tortoise to greet us, stairs led to our room, decorated with shimmering rugs, colourful soft furnishings, topaz blue velvet, feathers and accessories of tarnished silver, antique painted doors cool tiled floors a roof garden with sun drenched splash pool, and to unwind from our journey to Marrakech a pot of hot sweetened mint tea and honey coated Moroccan pastries on the table of our private terrace.