Geek is the new chic

Celebrating #PinItForwardUK

2013-05-20T00:18:00.001+01:00

It feels like I've been on Pinterest forever....

But what I mean is that I can't or don't want to recall a time without it! I like nothing more than losing a few hours discovering new and exciting things to add to my boards. Things that I'd one day like to own and many that I know I will never. That's the joy of Pinterest for me. The thrill of tracking down new and exciting, beautiful things. The same thrill I get from a flea market or vintage fair, just knowing that the next hour is full of possibilities!

My boards are an eclectic representation of the the things I love, including, Fashion, Big Eye Art, Morrissey, Vintage Kitsch, Cats and Drawers.

I plod along following random boards I love, rather than people I'm already connected with on other social networks and it works for me!

#PinItForwardUK

When Pinterest asked if I'd like to take part in #PinItForwardUK, I jumped at the chance. My task and my very own piece of #PinItForwardUK is to introduce a fellow campaign Pinner for you to go and check out.

I clearly pulled the short straw because I bagged my pal Claire from Bad-Fiction.com!

Being friends, we have a shared love of many things and her Pinterest boards are some of my favourites.

She loves Orange, Yellow and Chairs but the board I'm shouting about for her today is her Painted Furniture Inspiration. This feels very apt following our morning painting stools at Home Barn a couple of weeks ago!

Go follow her - she has great taste! She's also running a Pinterest workshop at Cybher in two weeks time! Pinterest.com/ClaireArchie

If you haven't yet joined the Pinterest revolution.... here's how you can!

Silent Sunday : May 19 2013

2013-05-19T16:51:00.003+01:00

For Silent Sunday.

Cybher Scrabble Art by Scrabbleart.co.uk

Silent Sunday 12th May 2013

2013-05-12T21:26:00.002+01:00

For Silent Sunday - simply the best Sunday thing that's silent since... whenever she started it.

Annie Sloan Paint Workshop at Home Barn

2013-05-09T19:32:00.001+01:00

A proper, tech free day off is a real rarity for me lately but last Saturday I left my Mac behind and drove down to Home Barn in Little Marlow to spend the morning having fun at an Annie Sloan paint workshop.

Home Barn is quite simply my favourite vintage destination right now. I'd actually just like to move in there and potter around re-arranging stuff as the mood takes me... but on this occasion, I was there to paint.

My company for the session included two of my all-time favourite lifestyle bloggers, Will of Bright Bazaar and Natasha of Candy Pop Images as well as two of my best pals Claire of Bad-Fiction and Lizzie of Mummy in Manolos.

We listened, we talked, we painted wall hangings, we drank gin (at 11am.... on a Saturday) and we giggled away.

Then things got competitive - even though we were told that it wasn't a competition.

Give a blogger a vintage stool and a selection of paints and the pressure's on. Who was going to create a masterpiece?

I went for yellow. Not sure why, as I don't have anything else that's yellow but it seemed like a good idea to me.

We painted, sanded, aged, waxed and left to dry, before styling and shooting.

The result. A pretty awesome pile of stools. Yes that's mine on the top.

Top stool...

A very big thank you to the guys at Home Barn for such a fab morning and to Lizzie for being - well for just being Lizzie.

Home Barn are showcasing their very first pop-up at Cybher™ on 1st June and Natasha of Candy Pop will sharing her expertise in the 'Living the Lifestyle Dream' session. There are a few Cybher™tickets still available - but only a few.

I've already spotted our fabulous stools popping up on Bright Bazaar and Candy Pop. I think we will be seeing a lot more of them!

Here's mine...

Vintage kitch galore : Car Boot season is here!

2013-04-21T13:40:00.002+01:00

I'm so happy that it's car boot season. Last year was a bit of a wash out but this morning the sun was shining as we set off to our local treasure trove.

By the second isle I'd made all of my purchases. Here's a few of them...

I LOVE the set of vintage vanity cases. They were a £3 bargain. Never used, the insides are immaculate!

Manky little lamb £3. I struggle to leave such dog-eared finds behind because all toys have a soul right? And I can't bear to think of a little lamb such as this not being loved...

Kitsch cat, £1. He matches the one that @SuperAmazingMum bought me - so I now have the pair and this makes me very happy indeed.

On the same stall as the little lamb was this awesome Chad Valley Sooty Puppet, £2. He quite possibly passed through my mums hands as she was quality controller in their Shropshire factory for many years. He's quite rare so was a fab find for that price!

Set of pictures £1.

Then I dropped my iPhone out of the car. It landed face down on the drive with a smash. Gutted.

Awesome Illustrations from Tolly Dolly Posh

2013-04-18T13:32:00.000+01:00

I love supporting young bloggers, my daughter Biba has herself been blogging away for three years and she's still only 11.

One of my favourite young blogs to visit is TollyDollyPosh. An eclectic mix of fashion and beauty from the stylish 12 year old Tolly. I love her confident writing and opinions and the fact that she has a dream that she is reaching for.

In her 'spare' time, Tolly illustrates and she's just created these amazing pics for my blog. She does take new commissions. You can get in touch via her blog at tollydollyposhfashion.com

What do you think? Amazing aren't they?

Thanks Tolly x You rock xx

Northern Line at Home Barn

2013-03-29T17:55:00.002Z

I spotted this on my recent trip to Home Barn. I didn't buy it there and then and as soon as I got home I was regretting it.

Luckily when I called them it was still for sale and so I snapped it up. It arrived yesterday, I'm in LOVE!

Win a Photowall Mural worth up to £500

2013-03-24T16:55:00.000Z

I haven't had a giveaway for a while but I have something pretty awesome for you...

The chance to give your pad a fresh spring makeover in the form of a Photowall mural.

The winner will be able to pick the design of their choice for their domestic dwelling, up to £500. It's an awesome giveaway and the most difficult part about entering (by far), is choosing from all of their awesome designs.

I'm loving Wander Trees Green from the Scandinavian Surface Collection.....

And just about everything from the Michael Mullan Collection but especially Spring Tulip (it's quite Charles Rennie Macintosh and I LOVE Macintosh).

So what do you need to do to enter? Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. Please note that Rafflecopter may not work on a mobile device.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's some more inspiration for you...

Is Morrissey Retiring?

2013-03-19T11:38:00.000Z

I logged on this morning to see a Tweet from an old friend, with a link to a newly uncovered early The Smiths rehearsal tape.

I obviously dropped everything and went for a listen, only to be met with an accompanying news story that Morrissey was hanging up his touring boots.

In an official statement, Morrissey writes,

"It takes a lifetime to find the right words, and at the moment, I haven't got them. I've been a colossal pain where this continuously unpredictable illness is concerned, and now the physical limits have been reached. The tour had, in fact, been fantastic for all of us - a new slice of life full of concentrated power. The audiences everywhere have given so much, although I know that neither of us will ever receive our due. I hope this isn't the end, and I hope there will be other chances, minus the heavy burden of illness. Knots of grief today, but full of resolve for tomorrow."

All Morrissey fans knew that the time would come, sooner, rather than laster, especially after his last few tours have been plagued with illness, postponed gigs and cancelled dates.

The sadness that I feel at the thought of never seeing him live again, I know is shared with each and everyone who has been shaped by his music over the last 30 years.

I'll leave you with this amazing rehearsal tape. 39 minutes of The Smiths rehearsing tracks intended for their first album. The version that Troy Tate rejected. It's pure and awesome.

Loving Home Barn Antiques

2013-03-15T19:38:00.000Z

I get a bit twitchy over the winter months when I can't get my regular Sunday morning vintage fix. Around here the boot sales shut up shop in October and don't reappear until Easter so any passing opportunity is too good for me to miss.

I was on my way to a meeting when I spotted a sign for Home Barn in Little Marlow.

Packed with the stuff that sets my heart racing. Drawers, plan chests, picture frames, carved letters, Ladybird books, London Underground signage.... yes, London Underground signage.

I seriously NEED those drawers in my life and the Transport for London poster and the school cloakroom bench - obvs.

You can find Home Barn just off junction 4 of the M40, in Little Marlow. If you're a lover of vintage / antiques, you really do NEED to make a visit. You'll love it.

Home Barn have an online store so you can feed your need from the comfort of your own sofa, www.homebarnshop.co.uk and you can find them on Twitter and Facebook.

I'm trying to reign myself in here but Home Barn is my new fave store!

See website for address and opening hours.

C is for Covent Garden : The Gallery

2013-03-13T22:49:00.000Z

Blogger extraordinaire, Tara Cain has a spangly new blog... Yes she fought the dot.com switch over like a good 'un but she's finally made it to the other side and mighty fine it looks too.

Pop over for a visit and lose yourself in this weeks The Gallery : The Letter C...

Covent Garden - one of my favourite stations on the London Underground. Yes, I have favourites.

Opened on April 11th 1907, I love the spooky 193 step spiral staircase. Never - ever think it's a good idea to walk when you've been on the cocktails. For more London Underground Geekery visit my little photography project, www.londonundergroundlover.com - it's a labour of love.

New Look plays homage to Geek is the new Chic!

2013-03-02T20:05:00.000Z

I suppose it had to happen at some point - after all I've been saying it for years. Well now the high street are saying it too and the lovely people at New Look have designed a T-shirt in homage to my blog!

You see.... Geek really IS the new chic!

Available from New Look in grey or pink, in sizes 8 to 14, £12.99

Love is... A Cambridge Satchel and a Yan To dress

2013-02-27T13:22:00.001Z

Doesn't a new dress make you feel like a million dollars? Actually this new dress makes me feel like ten million dollars because I'd watched for days as my husband Yan To made it just for me.

It was supposed to be for Cybher™- but what can I say? It was simply an unrealistic expectation on his part for me to leave it hanging in my wardrobe until June. It was never going to happen and I had a meeting yesterday that needed that dress in it!

A bright, new dress calls for a new satchel so after my meeting I popped into the newly opened Cambridge Satchel Company Store in Covent Garden to buy their beautiful new Emerald Satchel that I've been lusting over.

Dress and satchel in perfect harmony.

If you are in London, you will find the new Cambridge Satchel Company store on Seven Dials, Covent Garden. A must visit for satchel freaks:)

www.yan-to.com
www.cambridgesatchel.co.uk

New Agyness Deyn for Dr Martens SS13 Collection

2013-02-20T13:44:00.001Z

I'm loving the new Agyness Deyn for Dr. Martens collection. This second collaboration for two of England's brightest fashion icons draws inspiration from the fiercely individual Harajuku Girls of Tokyo with their mash-up style that is, in full circle, heavily influenced by the British of punk and goth.

Clever, I like it.

Floaty summer dresses, chunky awesome sandals and a cool eye print bag. I know of one girl who will be over the moon that she didn't blow all her birthday money on rubbish come tomorrow when the collection hits the stores.

In Aggy's own words...

"As with the A/W-12 range, I wanted the collection to be accessible. It will appeal to girls who are confident and have a strong personal expression of style and identity in the way that they dress and what this says about themselves."

www.drmartens.com

5 of the Best Lomography Cameras

2013-02-17T19:35:00.001Z

I've just spotted this awesome Lomography Camera sale over on FAB. It's too awesome not to share, with prices from just £24. Don't hang around though... the sale ends in 5 days!

Pictured clockwise from top left :

Diana F+ Mr.Pink, Diana Baby 110 + 12mm lens, Lomoking with Lomokinscope, Colorsplash Camera Chakra, Fisheye Baby 110 Bauhaus.

www.eu.fab.com

Silent Sunday : Feb 17th 2013

2013-02-17T11:50:00.002Z

For Silent Sunday...

How To Add PeerIndex Badge to your blog

2013-02-14T21:02:00.001Z

Want to show off your influence by adding a PeerIndex score badge like the one below to your blog or website? Here's how!

To install PeerIndex Badge on a Blogger site :

Copy the code below. Go to Layout ? Add html > Paste the code into the box and replace YOURTWITTERNAME with (yes, you've guessed it), your Twitter name > Save and you are done.

To install on Wordpress sites :

Copy the code below. Go to Appearance > Widgets > Grab the Text Widget option and drag the widget into the sidebar location you would like your badge to sit.

Paste the code into the widget, replace YOURTWITTERNAME with your Twitter name > Save and away you go.

Any problems installing, give me a shout and I'll help you out.

My Infographic Resume

2013-02-12T11:55:00.001Z

I spent some time at the weekend geeking out with the aim of creating my very own Infographic Resume. I'm pretty chuffed with the result - even if I do say so myself!

What do you think?

Digital Postcard from TeamHonk

2013-02-05T11:37:00.001Z

Hurray.... it's arrived. My digital postcard sent from TeamHonk (mammasaurus, aresidence and mummybarrow) during their travels with Comic Relief in Ghana celebrating #goodwork.

For the past 25 years the money raised through Red Nose Day has been changing the lives of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa. Let’s Keep Up the Good Work. Find out how at rednoseday.com

For other digital postcards please do check out the linky on www.teamhonk.org

Silent Sunday : 3rd February 2013

2013-02-03T17:20:00.002Z

For Silent Sunday

Like a diamond in the sky : Chanel

2013-01-29T12:35:00.003Z

I love this... Chanel and the diamond

"Beauty is not an obligation or a convention but simply a way of being - an allure"

Silent Sunday : 27th January

2013-01-27T09:49:00.002Z

For Silent Sunday

Katie Bunny and Cool Kitty iPad and iPhone cases

2013-01-23T13:40:00.002Z

I've developed a bit of an iPhone case problem - to go with my iPad case and satchel problems. It seems that one single addiction is never enough for me.

In the last week I've been tagged twice on Pinterest by friends who came across this awesome iPad case.

I quite simply love it. After a quick search I tracked it down to the Marc Jacobs Winter Cruise collection. Alas, it's not available for the iPad mini (sad face). After a bit more digging I found it as an iPhone case :) and then I found this.... exclusive to Shopbob.com a kitty version.

But which one do I choose?!

To soothe my addiction, I've started a new iPhone / iPad case board on Pinterest. You can follow it at pinterest.com/sianto/iphone-ipad-cases/

Silent Sunday : 13th January

2013-01-13T12:10:00.000Z

For Silent Sunday

Get a Klout Badge for your Blog

2013-01-11T12:52:00.001Z

< /iframe >

I was reading a post about blog layout over on Geekalicious today and it dawned on me that I wasn't displaying a Klout badge. I'm sure I did at one point but who knows?

Despite a good old search on the Klout site it took me ages to find the badge grab code. So for those of you wanting to add the badge the correct html code is below.

To install on Blogger sites :
Copy the code below. Go to Layout > Add html > Paste the code into the box and replace YOURUSERNAME with your Klout name > Save and away you go.

To install on Wordpress sites :
Copy the code below. Go to Appearance > Widgets > Grab the Text Widget option and drag the widget into the side bar location you would like it to appear, Paste the code into the widget, replace YOURUSERNAME with your Klout name > Save and away you go.

<center><iframe src="http://widgets.klout.com/badge/YOURUSERNAME" style="border:0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" width="200px" height="98px">< /iframe ></iframe></center>

Any problems, give me a shout!