Firebird

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noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Answer Machine Message...

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:52:00 +0000

Hi, the Firebird blog is not home right now -

After being stuck in studying for years, I've gone out. Probably on my bike, maybe just walking - but definitely out of the house. A lot. And I'm really enjoying it.

Not that I don't have time to witter on about going outside instead mind you...

My new bike - he's called Thomas (french pronunciation), handsome isn't he?

So please leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Or you can come and see what I am up to instead over at roopaprika.wordpress.com

xxx

Why I love... My Camper Van

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:04:00 +0000

*waves* I'm busy revising for my summer exams at the moment. But, in the spirit of the bank holiday weekend here in the UK, here's a post I originally wrote for Campfire Chic last year...

Last July we made a purchase that has completely changed our camping world - our very first camper van. She's called Freda (everyone gives their cars names right?) and I thought I would share with you why we love her so much...

Don't get me wrong, I am no fair weather camper. For a start I'm British, which means staying in a tent normally means getting wet or cold. Ever seen the TV footage of Glastonbury festival in the mud? Been there, got the t shirt.

While I love the sound of rain drops on canvas, staying in camper van is warm, it is snug, you have proper seats and a proper bed under a proper roof. You can't quite beat snuggling up for the night safe and cosy, knowing the weather can do what it likes outside and you'll be just fine.

This is so important to us. Under Freda's rear seats we have a couple of those plastic boxes that fit under beds and in those we have all the camping essentials: Stove, kitchenwear, lights, the awning, ground sheets, blankets...

We also keep a couple of campsite guide books (if you are camping in the UK, I recommend Cool Camping and All the Aires if you are going to continental Europe), the Good Beer Guide (the definitive guide to the best pubs in Britain) and a couple of road atlases. Then if we fancy an adventure, all we need to do is chuck some some bedding and the food hamper in the van and we can be good to go in about 10 minutes. Plus when you get to your destination, we just park up and we're almost all set.

It's pretty amazing when you can be sitting at your desk at 4pm and then sitting in the Black Mountains in Wales by 6.30pm. Having a camper van means you can be very spontaneous. You just get in and go.

The best thing about having Freda is the overwhelming sense of freedom that she gives us. Every time I see her parked outside our house I am reminded of chance of adventure. Be it a 1000 mile road trip to the south of France or just an overnight jaunt to the coast, the opportunity is always there. There is always something to see, somewhere to go, places to be explored and I'm happy that my camper van reminds me of that every day.

A Musical Interlude #26

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Sat, 26 May 2012 06:24:00 +0000

IT'S EUROVISION!

A Musical Interlude #25

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:55:00 +0000

House music fills my soul with joy, without this lady would it have been the same?

it's the (yarn) bomb

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Source: Black Cat Originals via Pinterest

Exciting times! My photo of yarnbombed lamp post in Moscow has been featured on Sarah's Black Cat Originals blog. Head over and have a look at some of the others - I really really love those yarnbombed weapons.

Two days in Manchester

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:28:00 +0000

Some times you just need to get away, jump on a train and explore somewhere new. I'd only ever been to Manchester before for football matches so it was brilliant to spend some time wandering around the city. It's a really beautiful city, the difference between the Victorian industrial heritage and its modern renaissance is really striking. I'm a little bit smitten.

My favourites:

Imperial War Museum North - an astonishing modern building on Salford Quays and a focus on people and their stories. Make sure you spend enough time there to take in a couple of the 'Big Picture' projections that fill the whole exhibiton space. Possibly the best museum I have ever been to.
57 Thomas Street and Marble beers - fabulous micro-brewed beers and an extraordinary cheese list.
Drinks in the sunshine on the canal side patio at Dukes 92.
Possibly the best veggie sunday lunch ever at Trof.

Just a couple of hours on the train and I have discovered new places that I find really exciting. I need to explore more of my own country.

What's your favourite UK city?

Ps. Congratulations Manchester City, the rare Mancunian blue skies in these photos must have been an omen...

A Musical Interlude #24

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Uni work eh? Just a huge inconvenience when it comes to fun things, like blogging. In the meantime the sounds of this young lady are getting me through. The video is strangely enthralling too. Not that I've been watching it, obviously.

Enjoy and see you very soon x

Furoshiki draw-string bag

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Here's a secret, I have forever avoided doing one of those 'what's in my bag' posts because it is a mess - full of receipts, train tickets and all sorts of 'just in case' clutter. Which means if I want to take a crafty project out with me, I need to keep it safe from getting gnarled up in all the other paraphernalia.

Step forward the furoshiki bag. Furoshiki is the Japanese of wrapping things in cloth, either for gifts, decoration or just for everyday use. Beautiful recycling and avoiding unnecessary waste going to landfill - you know these things float my boat. And gorgeous vintage scarfs are perfect.

Here's how to make a bag from your scarf.

1 - Lay out your scarf

2 & 3 - Tie the adjacent corners together loosely

4 - Tie the corners that are now adjacent to each other together in small tight knots close to the points

You then simply pull the two small knot upwards to form a handle and the loose knots will draw the scarf together in to a bag

The beauty of this is that the scarf in your handbag, you know, the one you keep there just in case, means you will never be without an extra bag - large scarves can become shopping bags, small scarves can hold make up or trinkets. Endless possibilities...

My scarves are from charity shops and the rather amazing Queensland table cloth is from the magnificent Vix. My current travelling crafty project are knitted hexipuffs - I'm obsessed.

How do you use your vintage scarves?

Something for the weekend: The man that fell from space

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

In 1960 Joe Kittinger set the record for the world's highest parachute jump, jumping from capsule at a height of 31 kilometres. Literally from the edge of space. And in over 50 years no one has broken the records that were set.

If you have never seen the footage that he shot on his way down before, it is astonishing. And beautiful. The plaque on the door of his capsule said "this is the highest step in the world"

Have a brilliant weekend x

a little affirmation in the park

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Some months it just rains. And rains. And rains. This is what it has been like this April here in the Thames Valley.

At times like this, in the brief moments of sunshine we need to share a little love. Take some time to appreciate all the beautiful things that the rain helps bring in the Spring and to share a little affirmation with our neighbours in the form of this brilliant poster.

Our local park is a little oasis of nature amongst the suburbs. I enjoyed looking at all the beautiful spring colours and sharing a little love on one of the benches.

I hope all these things made someone else smile.

The beautiful affirmation poster is by the talented Nikki from Flair to Remember

101 uses of a vintage sheet

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:45:00 +0000

I think the humble vintage sheet is a greatly overlooked item, which is a shame because they are so versatile. And if, like me, you are an absolute sucker for a colourful retro print, they are probably the cheapest way to get some genuine vintage fabric in your life. They are available to be picked up for almost pennies.

For obvious reasons, I prefer to buy mine from charity shops or Etsy sellers I implicitly trust the quality and hygiene standards of. But once you find a seller you are happy with, the vintage sheet opens your world up to endless vibrantly coloured fabric possibilities. And, importantly, you are saving perfectly good fabric from going to landfill and/ or avoiding modern unethical fabric manufacture to boot.

So use #1 is to simply to reuse your sheet on your bed. If using them as your actual bedding isn't your thing, we love using them as throws or top sheets - they protect our bedding from our feline friends and they also add some seriously funky patterns and colour. We have this rather lovely 1970s pink and purple Dorma number livening up our bedroom at this moment. It cost £1 from our local charity shop.

So what do you do with your vintage sheets? From bedding to beyond! I'm looking for suggestions to add to my list, I really think we can find over 100 uses and reuses.

Use the comments box below, or send me a tweet.

As an incentive, here's some gratuitous posing from Headley...

It's Only Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:56:00 +0000

My last weekend working in a certain high street handmade cosmetics shop was during Fairtrade Fortnight. It was time to party and I organised an in-store tea party to promote fair trade practices and products.

We were encouraging people to step forward and to change something they probably use everyday (like tea or lotion) to fair trade products. By us choosing fairly traded products through our consumer choice, we can help offer farmers and workers a better chance to work their way out of poverty, through fairer wages, safer conditions at work and investment in projects to improve life for their whole communities.

So we had fair trade tea, we had fair trade cakes and we even had people powered fair trade smoothies. But it's a party, the shop needed decorating. I have been well and truly bitten by the craftivism bug and made this bunting to help decorate the shop and to also enforce the fair trade message.

This was the first time I have made bunting and it was surprisingly easy. To save time I cut the flag shapes from some vintage fabric (I think it was once bedding) with pinking shears to prevent fraying. The letters are made from felt off cuts (so they also didn't need any additional hemming) and were simply handstitched on to the flag shape. The flags were then attached to some bias binding and machine sewn.

I think it was pretty but with an effective and strong message. Plus the eagle-eyed amongst you will also notice that it is grammatically correct...

I'm already embarking on another 'craftivist' project. It feels good to have found an outlet that meets my desire to be involved in craft and activism. Watch this space...

Yarnbombing

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:37:00 +0000


a 'yarn bombed' street light outside Gorky Park in Moscow

I'm a bit obsessed with yarn bombing at the moment. A bit like my cross stitch protest banner, it feels like a fun but also crafty bit of rebellion. As the wonderful Streetcolor Art says,

"some think that yarnbombing is just silly and it is fun but it is also full of soul . Our cities belong to us'

I saw quite a few of these street lights, wrapped up in little knitted coats, around Gorky Park when we went to Moscow. They seemed really incongruous, mainly because I had a (unrealistic) vision in my head of the bureaucracy of Russia never allowing anything like this. But they were also really gorgeous against the backdrop of the snow...

This rather refined gentleman had been given a little woollen beanie to keep him warm in the freezing temperatures.

I'm going to have keep my eyes open for any more yarn bombs on my travels. Maybe I'll have to try a little bit myself and add some much need colour to my suburban surroundings? After all, like Streetcolour says, our towns and cities do really belong to us...

Five days in Moscow

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:48:00 +0000

Just a little taster of the many photos I took when we went to Moscow in January. I love visiting Russia. I'm not sure if it is the difference in our countries' political history, or that - unlike most European countries - I need a visa to get in, or just something as simple as the different alphabet. But Russia completely removes me from my comfort zone and make me feel like I am somewhere very different.

Moscow on the surface seems very hard and very very cold (both figuratively and literally, temperatures reached -25degree centigrade while we were there!) but it is really worth persevering and exploring. It is very beautiful, especially in the snow, and possibly one of the most culturally rich cities I have ever been lucky enough to go to. Wrap up warm and fortify yourself with some strong coffee (and some even stronger vodka) and Moscow in the winter can be very rewarding.

You can see all my Moscow photos on Flickr xx

You could put something really great here?

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:08:00 +0000

I’ve been fascinated with guerrilla craft and craftivism (craft used for activism) for a while now. I like the way it can make people think, how it can prompt conversation. But I also like how it can be used to reclaim the human environment, so full of adverts and the constant bombardment of corporate images, yet being softer than more common street art. A little bit more incongruous.

This was my first mini-protest banner, made from a kit bought from the Craftivist Collective. The area outside of Reading train station is full of empty offices and a poorly designed 1960s arcade and bus station. It is run down and deemed beyond repair. Recently development consultants, employed by the local council, have put together a master planning vision to redevelop the area – to demolish the existing buildings and build flats, offices and shops. Completely uninspiring and a development that appears to not respond to any community needs. This is a town full of empty offices, full of empty shops, full of housing that people can not afford. A problem that isn’t going to be resolved by building more market flats.

Frustrated with the planning processes for the town where I live, my protest banner is a message to ask people to think about what else can be done to regenerate towns. I also hoped it might make someone think about the space around them and what it could be, not just what property developers think it should be… You could put something really great here?

This was my first piece of craftivism/ guerrilla craft. But it probably won’t be my last. I love the way working on it focused my mind, I found it a bit of a release. And, just between you and me, I loved putting it up and reclaiming my little bit of my town.

(I originally published this on a new blog - but I have since decided to 'come home)

Beware of the Leopard

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:38:00 +0000

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,

I'm not sure I'll ever get bored of leopard print.

It can be right amount of retro chic. Or a good healthy dose of trashy. And even provide lashings of rock and roll to the dullest of winter days. And inspired by these pictures I think I am also going to be digging out some turquoise and red accents pretty sharpish.

How do you wear your faux-leopard skin?

(There will be some personal posts coming soon - we are off on a BIG adventure this week. So watch this space x)

Something for the Weekend: Oracle Fox

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

All images from Oracle Fox

I'm sure you must have seen Mandy's blog Oracle Fox by now. But she had to be first in this little series because she steals my heart nearly every time she posts. Her fashion insight combined with the beautiful images of her surfer girl lifestyle makes me flutter. Plus she's just done a clothing collaboration with Billabong... well it must be a real struggle.

Have a look, it really one of the internet's happy places.

London's lost tube stations

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Aldwych station from The Strand

Abandoned tube stations are a bit of a horror movie cliche. Dark, dingy, solitary... Not for me. I make no secret of my fascination with the London Underground, especially it's history and design, so this was an absolute treat. Aldwych underground station opened in 1907 and closed in 1994. While only being on a branch line of the Piccadilly line, it has had a fascinating existence from providing bomb shelter to being a film set and providing storage for works of art.

Occasionally the London Transport Museum open the station for tours and late last year the Aussie and I went to have a look...

The two platforms are now mainly used as film sets, but London Underground also test out tiling and other decorative materials for the stations here.

Aldwych station was originally called 'Strand'. You can still see the original name in some of the wall tiles.

You can see Aldwych on its branch off the Piccadilly (blue) line

One of my favourite things about the tour was the extensive collection of posters still on the station walls. Some were originals, but some were later additions as part of film sets. The beautiful Man Ray 'Keeps London Going' poster dates from 1938

My favourite was this rather magnificent and slightly psychedelic one for the old London Planetarium...

Second world war era poster - many tube stations were used as bomb shelters...

And why did I take a picture of this lift shaft? Because The Prodigy's Firestarter video was shot here. Really!

If you a fancy a trip to Aldwych or one of London's other closed underground stations, keep a watchful eye out on the London Transport Museum's website They book up quickly, but with entrance to the brilliant London Transport Museum in Covent Garden included in the price (and a discount in the magnificent shop) it's an worthwhile excursion for any London-phile.

Sorry about my poor quality photos, for reasons I don't quite understand, LT Museums impose a DSLR ban in Aldwych station. So I had to resort to my trusty phone.

A Musical Interlude #23

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I ummed and aahed about posting this one. A lot. This is genuinely the song that has made me smile the most over the last week. But y'know, it's not very cool, it's some bloke of X Factor for goodness sake...

However, music snobbery is all kinds of vile. If you enjoy it, you should listen to it. So I am. And so should you. It really is rather good, with a fantastic rumbly old school house baseline. Trust me, turn it up. Sing it Olly...

(I know that's two musical interludes in a row. I am working on proper posts, I promise x)

A Musical Interlude #22

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:18:00 +0000

It has been a while hasn't it?

1. Jean 1 by whitelabelstolenvoices

Today's musical interlude is the truly wonderful 'Jean 1' from the White Label - Stolen voices album, which is made of bootleg tracks and rare samples. Jean 1 is a reworking of 5.30 Plane by The Supremes and I think it is wonderfully uplifting. Let me know what you think of it.

Happy new year x

PS. Do you like the graphic? That's the stylus of my beloved Howard (my 1960s dansette record player). I really need to find some 16 and 78 rpm records...

Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:59:00 +0000

For your delectation (and, I have to admit, especially for my lovely Mum who particularly likes these posts *waves*) here are a couple of links to articles and blog posts that I thought were absolutely brilliant this week. Some stuff to provoke a little thought this weekend:

The amazing Craftivist Collective gagged one of Anthony Gormley's statues on Crosby Beach to raise awareness of social inequality

The Ecologist published a great guide to having a greener Christmas. I love love love the idea of radish carving (yes radish carving) too much.

The fantastic Sadie from Lost Boys and Lovers shows how to recreate looks from the Free People catalogue with sustainable, vintage pieces

and the incredibly talented Keri Smith (of Wreck This Journal fame) wrote about how we can all reduce our reliance on big corporations

I hope you enjoy them. Have a fabulous weekend whatever you are up to, I've got Saturday off so the Aussie and I are off to London and the Royal Academy of Art. Can't wait! x

34 things to do before 34

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:29:00 +0000

source

Do you remember back in the depths of beyond (well September, it feels like a long time ago), I started to put together a list of things to do before I turn 34 on 29th August 2012? I was firmly stuck on number 22. Well thanks to your help (thank you!) here is the finished list:

Stand at the top of a volcano
Make chocolate Guinness cake
Go wild swimming
Knit a jumper
Pass my Geosciences diploma
Bake a loaf of bread
Go to a wildlife park
Have a surfing lesson
Try another hair colour
Have a piece of art published
Cycle somewhere impressive
Make a patchwork quilt
Go to a prom concert
Make a film on my vintage Super8 camera
Go to John O'Groats
Paint a picture on a canvas
Play the ukulele with a band
Make a dress
Make a dance record
Start a collection
Try a new sport
Make a margarita
Cycle on a tandem
Learn to play a card game
Have my fortune told
Build a sandcastle
Eat in a Michelin star restaurant
Go to a beer festival
Perform a random act of kindness
Visit a new country
Visit a falconry centre
Make christmas dinner
Give up coffee for a month
Go barefoot for the day

I better get on with it... x

Time Out

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:58:00 +0000

You know blogging is meant to be fun and a little place for self-expression? You need have a certain amount of mojo for it and I'm just not feeling it at the moment. Nothing seems original and it all feels a little monotonous. And if I'm not enjoying it then you are not going to enjoy reading it.

So I've decided to take a little time off, find some new inspiration and think of some new ideas of what direction to take this funny little place in.

Will be back very soon xx

3 Reasons I love my Camper Van

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel - Firebird) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:20:00 +0000

I'm posting over at Campfire Chic today as part of Kam's Around the Campfire blog party. So if you fancy reading some about why I love my camper van so much you can find Freda and I here.

Please stop by and join in the party x