World of Butterflies @ the British Museum

Been meaning to talk about this lovely exhibition I went to near the beginning of June. Usually you have to pay for this but I managed to get two free tickets to any exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London. I have been to something similar to this but it was quite a long time ago and it was nice to take my SLR Camera. Here is just some of the amazing colours and closeups of the butterflies

Such amazing Colours

Two HUGE caterpillars

 At the beginning of me and Neil going in I made a friend quite quickly who did not want to leave my side until the very end! You could say he was my personal guide to the butterflies.

The dress I am wearing is one of my favourites from Collectif Clothing Summer 2015 collection. Here is just a little action shot Neil took of me.

Hampton Court

The weather on Sunday was lovely, 26 degrees! Me and Neil did not really have anything planned to enjoy the sunshine, so as a last minute decision we went to Hampton Court for a little stroll around the gardens. I can not remember the last time I went to Hampton Court but I know it was before my teenage years. There was plenty of people around enjoying picnics out in the summer sunshine; I wish we thought of that. We took a stroll through what is called the Kitchen Gardens, the flowers was just stunning and very brightly coloured.

We came across a little archway of yellow flowers. I fell in love and was almost a nice little escape from the outside.

We plan to go again but next time, if I am up for it, we will take the bikes and cycle from Richmond Park. Did I say I have taken up cycling? I blame Neil for that has he loves his bikes and enjoys a cycle ride.

Little Road Trip to Hastings

Last weekend was one of the hottest weekends so far of the year. With it being such lovely weather, me and Neil decided to take a little road trip to the coast, Instead of going for the usual Brighton we decided to go somewhere we both had never been before; Hastings.

The weather started a little gloomy to begin with so we decided on taking a little ride on the pedelo and having a little fun in the arcades. The sun eventually appeared and we then sat on the cobble beach with a portion of chips and enjoyed a crazy flavoured ice-cream.

As the sun was looking to stay instead of hiding behind the clouds we took a walk along the seafront and dipped are feet in the not so very warm ocean. It was freezing! As much as we are both not a couple to do the usual romantics we both enjoyed are little walk.

Followed after are little walk and slight more of a chill in the air we continued to have a little game of crazy golf. I did not win but Neil tried his hand and doing the 'Lucky shot' in which we won a free game! It was getting late by this point so we decided we would visit Hastings again as we loved it. We will enjoy are free game of crazy golf and maybe even go visit the battle field.

 

Update Time!

It has been a very long time since I have updated the blog but I really want to get back into itagain. Particularly as seen as there is going to a few changes in my life this year. Just a couple to mention I have a new partner in crime, my parents will be moving away to the states and fingers crossed a change of career or progression in my current job.

I want to document all the things I do with or without my partner. All my new crafting adventures I plan as well as new photographic projects and dealing with my parents moving away to America. I should be back again blogging on Monday officially. But this is just a quick memo to keep you guys posted on whats happened.

Jasmin

Devils Lake State Park

First whole day in Madison, and we took a trip to Devils Lake State Park and wow! The scenery was lovely particularly with all the autumnal colours. The photos do not do it justice. But here is just a few I took on my phone, I have plenty more photographs on my camera which will soon be uploaded.

Autumnal Holiday

I have been meaning to mention this on the blog but I am currently in Madison, WI!

We landed in Chicago yesterday afternoon after a long 8hour flight from Manchester airport. We then had a 2hr drive to Madison. The area we are staying in is lovely and full of autumnal trees! One of my favourite seasons. 

View from my bedroom window

We took a little stroll around the town yesterday and me and my mum loved all the pumpkins on the porches and houses decorated ready for Halloween. Even this house with 3 giant inflatable pumpkins on the front garden.

While on our walks we even saw a racoon. Sadly no picture as it was dark. This trip is going to involve seeing a few open houses, walks around Madison and even Pumpkin Patch! More to follow soon.

Pumpkin Loaf Receipe

I did try and plan a weekly segment within my blog but it has not really happened. So instead I will just post a recipe every now and again.
I love autumn and the majority of food has to contain pumpkin of course! This is a recipe that tastes very similar to the pumpkin loaf in Starbucks. Hope you guys enjoy my recipe.

Ingredients

210g Plain Flour                        2 Eggs

200g Caster Sugar             115ml Vegetable Oil

3/4 tsp Salt                         1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Baking Soda              230g Pumpkin Puree

1/2 tsp Nutmeg                   60g Pumpkin Seeds

1/4 tsp Cardamom                1/4 tsp Allapice

1/2 tsp Cinnamon                 1/4 tsp Clove

Method

• Preheat oven to 180c
• In a large bowl sieve the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, salt and spices.
• In a smaller bowl mix together 2 beaten eggs, the vegetable oil, pumpkin puree and vanilla. Once mixed well pour into the dry ingredients.
  
• Mix well
• Pour mixture into chosen loaf tin with your choice of a non stick method. I used a little unsalted butter.
  
• Sprinkle the Pumpkin Seeds on tops
• Bake for 50-60mins or until the knife comes out clean.
  
• Cool for approx 5mins in the loaf tin and then place on a cooling rack to cool completely to be served. 
  

Hope you liked my Autumn Fall Pumpkin Spice Loaf recipe. 

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Screen Printing Workshop

I've been meaning to blog about this just have not got round to it. A couple of weeks ago I went to one of my favourite places for some crafting, Dink Shop Do. This time I thought I would try my hand at screen printing. I have done screen printing before but it was a long time ago back when I was doing GCSE art. This time I screen printed on fabric rather than paper which I am use to. 

The class was taken by Zeena Shah, a well known screen printer, you can view her website via the link below. She was very lovely and introduced me to another group of girls to help socialize a little bit. With me being a shy person it was very helpful. The photos are not very clear and subtle as this tea towel I made is a gift for my mother so I don't want to give away too much as she reads my blog.  

The Fun Part

The Final Out come

I had so much fun taking this class that I have booked another to make a tea towel for my Nan.  I am looking forward to! 

www.zeenashah.com

Friday Recipe- Red Pepper and Wensleydale Soup

I thought I would try a new weekly occurring theme on the blog. I love to cook and I love to bake from receipts and adjust accordingly to my own tastes, So with this in mind I thought of sharing a receipt every Friday. I do need to think of a new name though so I'm up for any suggestions. Anyway this is my first receipt. I have loved this soup since being in my first coffee shop making the soup. I adjusted the recipe to give it a little kick and it is very comforting and warming, particularly now we are moving into Autumn.

Red Pepper and Wensleydale Soup

Ingredients

• 1 onion
• 1 red pepper
• 1tsp Paprika
• 1/4tsp chili powder or flakes
• Tin of chopped tomatoes
• 250ml vegetable stock
• 150g Wensleydale Cheese.

Method

1. Chop onion and red pepper and add to a pan with a small amount of oil. Cook gently till soft
2. Add paprika and chili powder
   
3. Add chopped tomatoes and vegetable stock and simmer for 20 mins
   
4. Once simmered blend 
5. Add Wensleydale to your blended soup. 
   
6. Enjoy with a lovely slice of homemade bread or just any good crusty bread.

I hope everyone likes the recipe it is one of my favourite soups to make. 

Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an icon

I have been meaning to blog about this exhibition but I have been a little busy and ill recently.
As many people know Audrey Hepburn is an icon through films and her acting skills. Her most famous being in 'Breakfast at Tiffanys'

I did not know much about this famous icon but I learnt a lot from this exhibition. For example I didn't realise she was a ballet dancer to begin with. The exhibition went from her childhood all the way through to when she died not to long ago. Even from a very young age she was beautiful.

Through the exhibition there was a variety of photographs that stood out to me one of them being a image featured in LIFE magazine.

Philippe Halsman- Taken for LIFE Magazine 1955

There is a series of photos linked with this one, all taken in the Italian Countryside. Her cropped hairstyle and very chic yet informal clothing shows her energy yet elegance from her ballet days. Her stare straight into the camera is very enticing again showing beauty with very little makeup. 

Norman Parkinson: 1955

Another image I fell in love with at the exhibition not just by the stunning tones of pinks but the beauty of the image along with Audreys' iconic stare, again enticing and beautiful. In this photo she wears a Givency dress, her glance responding to modes of femininity during the 50s. Plus I am a 50s girl at heart and this dress is stunning! 

Howell Conant- Breakfast at Tiffany's

A very iconic image of Audrey Hepburn in one of her most noticed roles on the big screen. Seeing the original photo was stunning created with a dream-esque yet sophisticated style of the photo draws you in to Audreys' natural beauty straight in the centre. The rose to the left of her again symbolizing not only romance and love but again beauty.  

If you get a chance go see this exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery, there is a few photos that know one has ever seen even a pair of her ballet slippers she once owned before doing films. It is on until the 18th October. 

Teds Round London 2015

As everyone knows I love the Vintage scene and rock n roll and this event as always is always a fun to go to. Organised by Uncle and his friends this event has been going on for 5 years. This event was no exception great atmosphere and lovely people to be with.

For the event I wore my new Collectif dress I brought when it was 50% of everything! Come on I can ot resist a bargin! But I will try and photograph myself in this dress has I have loved this print for a long time. I also wore my new necklace on the day as well from Punky Pins for everyone that did not know my secret. I got quite a lot of comments on both the necklace and the dress.

As always I had my camera at the ready to capture moments through out the day.

To find more of the photos plus ones from previous years just check out my website 

Life Captured Moments

Going Down the Rabbit Hole

Wednesday I was treated to a special gift from my parents for my birthday. I trip to wonderland to visit the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit. This was a very different performance set in the vaults under Waterloo station, an immersive theatre production. Before the performance begins it is recommended that you buy a 'cork' for the The Mad Hatters tea party. The beginning of the performance you are lead in to what seems a library and a photography dark room combined in which you see a mysterious girl, Alice, trapped in the mirror trying to talk and all of sudden you fall down the rabbit hole until you meet the White Rabbit and you can decide between either 'drink me' or 'eat me' Me and my mother decided drink me in which we drank a delicious drink from a bottle. I don't want to spoil the performance for anyone but what I will say once you have decided which choice to make you get given a SUIT in which you split up again. Me and my mother was split up but both experience something different within the different rooms so it was nice to talk about it all afterwards. But we did see each other again in the mad hatters tea party.

What I will say the trip to the Caterpillar was lovely, going through the mushroom field up the stairs into a little Moroccan style tent were the caterpillar was obviously smoking shisha. Going into the Mad Hatters tea party, was fun and interesting particular drinking an alcoholic drink out of a tea cup; this is what the cork is needed for. The  all of sudden we are shouted to court in which the mad hatter grabbed my hand and we ran! Ran as quickly as we could to the courtroom to see the Queen. Once in we had to find out who ate the tarts. In which the White Rabbit gave me the evidence given to him by the Diamonds. Hooray for Fraptious Day! We went to go celebrate in the bar, with some drinks and flamingo croquet.

The performance was brilliant and you get involved in the performance in little ways along with taking some souvenirs home as well. I would recommend to anyone and it is on until the end of August.

I'm a chiptuner!

Well I'm not but these guys are!

I photographed this event for my friend, who organized the whole event and is the owner of Hyperwave records, Shirobon. I have only just heard about Chiptune music from Shirobon and this was my first Chiptune gig. If not many people know, Chiptune is music produced by vintage computers, games consoles and arcade machines as well as other methods. Even though I like my rock and vintage music this was really good and different. If you love playing games this is definitely something to listen to,

Here is just a couple of pictures I took

Check out more on my website by clicking the link below

HYPERWAVE

Revelations in PhotographyExhibition

I decided to take a little trip to the museum today. I was going to go to the Audrey Hepburn exhibition at The National Portrait gallery. However, i found I need to pre-book a ticket so instead I knew of another exhibition on at the Science Museum; Revelations in Photography.

Now I'm not really into the whole science thing but these photos was mysterious and beautiful. The exhibition was split into 3 different sections. Once Invisible, the new vision and after the future.
The first section Once Invisible explores new forms of vision made available through experimental work through the early days of photography.

Image 1: Andrew Ainslie Common- The Orion Nebula (1883)
Image 2: John and George-The Moon daguerreotype (1851)

My favourite out of this section of the exhibition was the daguerreotype of the Moon photographed by both John Adams Whipple and George Phillips Bond. The selection of photos are beautiful yet eerie due to the shine of the daguerreotype.

The New Vision investigates artists changing use of early scientific photography. I was very much captured by the work of Berenice Abbott. Her elegant pictures lend understandable reality to many complex concepts of physical science. Her photographers taken for a science thing (can't remember what) revisit visual types adding aesthetic refinement and technical innovation inspired by European Avant Garde.

Image 1: Wave Pattern with glass (1972)
Image 2: Light through Prism (1958
Image 3: Multiple exposure of swinging ball (1958)

After the Future focuses on the way in which artists today are looking back both nostalgically and critically. This section of the exhibition I probably enjoyed the most particularly the first photo you see instantly strikes you.

Sarah Pickering-Muzzle Flash (2013)

This photograph by Sarah Pickering was on a very large scale. The photograph is of a revolver being shot to produce the exposure, The image is very beautiful and visual but plays with the conception of beauty by yet showing destruction of what a revolver can do.
The next image again is very visual and has the same concept of the last image. Ori Gersht image again was on a larger scale so you could pick up the little details of the frozen floral arrangements like the few butterflies that can be seen in the destruction. Flowers are a symbol of peace, and yet have become victims of terror in an uneasy beauty of destruction.

Ori Gersht-Blow up No11 (2007)

Even though science isn't my thing I appreciated this exhibition, and enjoy seeing how photography has developed with science and using science. The exhibition is definitely worth a look at. If you want to read more on the exhibition just check out the link.

Revelaions On Photography