Backyard Bird Song

i n s p i r a t i o n - Peace, Love and Mud

2011-06-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

The summer festival season is fast approaching, and I just can't wait to don some wellies and splash about in some Glastonbury mud. The line-up this year looks AMAZING, good ol' Mr Eavis, he's come up trumps again. There's just one thing I need to buy... a tent. But why go for the same ol' same ol'? Etsy crafty cats have inspired me once again to go for somehting a little different. Maybe my new tent idea is a little crazy, but judge yourself and see below...

First Glastonbury essential: Wellies. These are from Coral Vintage $32

Second? Accessorizzzee. Daisychain headband from Blushing Dove Boutique £5.30

The piece de resistance... camping in style. Splash out a little and Stand out from the rest with a handmade playtent from Miss Pretty Pretty for $305. Not entirely practical, but don't deny it: you want one.

i n s p i r a t i o n - 1950s U.S.A.

2011-06-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

Vinyl Revival

2011-06-01T05:16:00.000-07:00

I've been getting all nostalgic with my music lately, and to be honest, these mp3s just aren't cutting it for me. Let's bring back some vinyl; you cant beat the crackling intros, the oaky ambience. iTunes can take a hike, I've found some right gems on Etsy...

Gorgeous record player in red leather carry-case from Ark's Endeavors for $75

Portable record player in black carry-case from All Unique for $169.95

Niiice. From Haus Proud at $48

Goes without saying. Beatles record $80 from Hourglass Archive.

2011-05-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

I have just got my mitts on some bloody lovely cat-eye glasses. Coming to my Etsy shop very very sooooon!

The Future of Farming?

2011-05-06T04:13:00.001-07:00

Tackling the problem of how to feed the cities' growing population is a massive issue. However, in Manchester this summer, as part of the Manchester International Festival, Dickson Despommier will be delivering a talk on his solution; the Vertical Farm. Think of a high rise greenhouse, or parking lot with carrots for cars? Or just check out the plan below.

The Vertical Farm seeks to revolutionise the way in which food is consumed in inner city areas; reducing air miles, pollution and utilising abandoned buildings. The Vertical Farm no doubt raises about as many questions as it answers, but it's certainly worth checking out. Despommier has also delivered lectures on TED talks if you can't make it to his Manchester appearance.

Royal House of Choke

2011-05-04T02:11:00.000-07:00

In Manchester, England, something big is going down. The Royal House of Choke is a massive up and coming project which started with a humble improv performance in an old victorian swimming pool. The result was more than music; it was creative energy, a vitality which spanned music, art and performance.

Royal House of Choke will be releasing a short film, vinyl + cd, and are planning a summer tour. Keep an ear out for these guys, i've a feeling there will be some great things coming from this project...

2011-04-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

coming soon...

BYBS is BACK

2011-04-28T08:08:00.001-07:00

After a year out of travelling and general procrastination, I'm finally back on etsy. I've saved up all sorts of vintage goodies on my travels, some pieces coming from as far away as South Africa! I'll be putting them online over the next few months, so keep you ear to the ground and listen out for new tweets form the BYBS shop. Follow this blog for a heads up for new pieces i'll be putting up, and any other shiny things which take me fancy. Music, art and DIY projects will all be flashing in the radar, and to get the ball rolling, anyone who lives in Manchester i urge you to get your skates on, and get down to the City Gallery to catch Anish Kapoor's exhibition FLASHBACK.

This is the first exhibition of Kapoor's to be held outside of London for a decade. His engaging sculptures negotiate new relationships between art and life, space and time, and by manipulating the viewer's perspective Kapoor creates feelings of movement and energy in static objects. ace.

coming soon on my etsy...

2010-05-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

woo!

Toucans

2010-05-27T08:09:00.001-07:00

After centuries of folk songs written on acoustic guitars, where do you begin to write something that stands out from the rest? i believe that to write a new song which is all at once both fresh and nostalgic takes a hell of a lot of talent. And lucky me, i have one right here.

Toucans is a one man band fuelled by coffee, beer and a love of analogue,and this track God Knows I Tried is what i hope to be the first of many new recordings.

God Knows I Tried is a song which we've all had in our heads, but never had the heart to sing. Luckily, Toucans sing it with enough heart for all of us. The gritty distortion pushes country folk into new pastures, whilst deep, rhyming lyrics and rythmic acoustic guitar bring it back to that genre that we all know and love.

Don't think it's going to stop at the lo-fi folk- this guy is full of surprises. with a background of writing spanning from hard-core glitchy math rock to folk rock to stripped down country folk; This is a Toucan of many talents...

Keep your ear to the ground, Toucans are going places.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/jllju0mgzyn/God knows i tried.wav

Download, put it on, and turn it up.

follow at http://toucans.tumblr.com/

New homeware items on etsy!

2010-05-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

Im branching out into the wonderful world of homeware... its all bout the kitsch and the cute.

Gotta love these 1920's typewriters

2010-05-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

2010-05-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

postcard from st.ives... happy days

2010-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

If you havn't been to St.Ives i urge you to go, its lovely... almost too lovely.

2010-05-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Postcards from Paris... check out my etsy for prints of these lovely pics

2010-05-18T07:28:00.001-07:00

postcards from scotland

2010-05-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

I think this London charm bracelet is just ace. Iv just put it up on my etsy and i'm so in love with it! Ishould be able to name all the famous monuments on it, but unfortunately my British trivial knowledge is not up to scratch, The queen would be disappointed.

2010-05-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Exclusive!! My first handmade item coming up soon on B.Y.B.S.... i think i have just created the very dress i have always wanted since i was about 6 years old. made from a vintage sequin boob tube and a pink tutu i made, this is the kind of party dress that fairytales are made from. please excuse my thunder thighs in the picture... will definately have to get a model for my shop sooon...

2010-05-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

New bag up on etsy! i'm still fiddling around trying to get the look of my shop right, so everytime you have looked at it it's probably different... it's really been a struggle to get it looking right! anyway.. i think i'm getting there now.

Next gig.... Thee Oh Sees

2010-05-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

Me and a group of friends will be heading up to london on 5th June to see Thee Oh Sees, should be awesome. They're the kind of band that you listen to, then pick up the phone and your guitar, call your friends and insist that you start rehersing again. I will post a blog about how the gig goes when i get back for people who cant make it.

2010-05-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

My most prized post on etsy. A lush pair of heels. You know, if they fittted me there is no way i would be letting them go...

find them at http://www.etsy.com/shop/backyardbirdsong

My new shop

2010-05-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

I have just set up an Etsy shop called Backyard Bird Song, to share all my vintage gems and handmade goodies. find me at http://www.etsy.com/shop/backyardbirdsong and check it out!