Life & Living Archive

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Reminding myself to live in the moment

 

Hello boys and girls,

I’m back!

After a rather long few weeks of working, travelling and holidaying I am finally getting settled back in at home. It’s been a really long slog these past few weeks and months, with so many things planned, my life has been very full. I can’t complain though as it has been so incredible with many amazing achievements and experiences, all of which I shall be sharing over the coming weeks.

So, now that my crazy few months are out of the way I’m back home and looking at piles of boxes, paperwork and just general ‘stuff’ all around me, and it’s making me feel a little bit sad and overwhelmed. Not just sad but annoyed too, it feels like everything is a mess and that I can’t focus because of it. Do you ever feel like this? Like your surroundings reflect how you’re feeling inside, or vice versa? It’s so frustrating for me as I am such an organised person in my professional life that I need my personal space, my home and workspace to feel organised too.

But with all this time spent focused on other things recently I feel like I have neglected my home somewhat and I am now slipping back into the territory of falling out of love with it once again. Last year I set myself a little goal to give my home the TLC it so desperately needed and makeover all the rooms in my house. I have to admit I have failed at this task, and failed big-time. I got as far as the kitchen before ‘life’ took over and distracted me from the task at hand. And even that’s not finished.

Image credit: From one-happy-mama.com

It’s a never ending battle though and I’m sure many will agree with me here, that we put ourselves under so much pressure to do everything, see everything, say yes to all those brilliant social experiences, work hard to have a rewarding and fulfilling career or business, whilst maintaining a beautiful haven at home. Many of you adding having kids into the mix too.

Today I have sat back and wondered ~ why do we do it to ourselves?

But then I gave myself a big ruddy slap across the face and reminded myself that I am so privileged to be in this position. To have the luxury of a beautiful (if slightly messy) home, to be able to make my own choices and live the life I do.

I guess what I am saying is, pressure can be a good thing, we do need some of it in our lives to push ourselves to be better. But sometimes we just need to ease it off a little bit and give ourselves a break. See the positives in life, savour the brilliant moments and not just focus on that never-ending search for fulfilment, or striving to be or have the best of everything.

Sometimes the best moments are the most simple ones. I feel very lucky as I sit here and reflect on the past few months as there have been many, many moments I can recall that will stay with me forever as my most precious memories of a wonderful life, and those moments are not the ones filled with material gratification but true love, happiness and fulfilment.

What a wonderful feeling.

Image credit; From etsy.com

It’s good to sit back and take stock of what’s going on around us and realise that life is pretty friggin wonderful as it is ~ despite the chaos. So I urge you, take a moment to reflect on the great things happening in your own life right now, I promise it will bring a smile to your face.

Giving myself this time to reflect has certainly brought a smile to my face, and also a renewed focus and vigour. I’m no longer feeling overwhelmed but excited about the tasks that lie ahead. The first one being un-cluttering and re-organising my home, with tiny baby steps towards starting my bedroom makeover project. You can see the inspiration behind that one tomorrow.

Michelle xx

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Photography Advice: How to capture natural reactions ~ By Wedding Photographer Fiona Kelly

 

Today folks I have some great advice from someone who knows a thing or two about great photography. I am so lucky in my job as both a blogger and as a wedding planner too that I get to work with some of the most talented and creative photographers around. And I get to drool over their delicious images too.

But I am often sat wondering how they do it, how do they capture those incredible images, how do they expertly freeze that brilliant moment on film, the ones that are so natural and full of emotion that you actually feel like you were there yourself just by viewing the photograph?

Well a creative eye, a lot of skill and years of practice is the answer, but to give you a little more insight, Fiona Kelly a London-based wedding photographer and proud member of my Dream Team, has some great tips on how you too can grasp the art…..

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

“Most people don’t enjoy having their photo taken, and yet everyone reacts positively and loves photos that capture something of the essence of a moment. An image that shows the real person, not overly posed; a natural reaction. Capturing that emotion is not straightforward, especially when someone is aware that they are being photographed. Its one thing managing to grab an amazing photo of someone laughing, smiling or even crying, when they aren’t aware that image is being taken. Quite something else when you have a rather camera shy person stood in front of you! This is when its up to you, as the photographer, to gain that persons trust and help them relax in front of the camera. Here are some great ways to get those great ‘natural reactions’ with just a little assistance…

Reach out to the person & put your camera down
I know, the irony isnt lost, but just think of how much of a wall that camera can be, especially to someone a bit uncomfortable about having a photo taken. Its a great black lump that stops your rather nervous model from seeing your eyes and connecting with you. Im not suggesting packing the camera away, but lower it a bit every now and again. Have a conversation, ask questions and find out about what makes the person you are photographing tick. Once they trust you and have connected with you a little they will relax. Once they have relaxed you will start to see the real person, and while you are chatting you can start taking a few pictures. The conversation will make them more animated and you can begin to capture some real reactions and show their personality.

Keep taking photos
Once you have put the person at ease then take the time to take a few more photos than you think you might want or need. As with any new situation, most people take a little while to get into the swing of it so keep taking those shots. Make sure you try a few different angles and crops. Most people have a ‘good side’ or a pose or position thats more flattering than others so try out some options. Don’t be afraid to direct them, after all they can’t see how they look through the camera.

Have a bit of fun, and be a little silly
You may find some people leap into the whole ‘photoshoot’ thing quicker than others. One way of figuring out the persons comfort level is to have a little fun and get them to play around with different expressions. Can they be a bit silly, serious, sad or cheeky? (Feel free to join in and help them get into the swing of it!) This isn’t the be all or end all, as some people will immediately feel really self conscious, but at the very least they might start giggling at how silly they feel and you have immediately helped them relax and the ice is broken.

What happens in between the ‘shots’ is the key
These are the times when you can see the real person you are photographing. These moments are the ones that happen right after the shot that the person was waiting for. They relax, they stand or sit the way they would naturally and this can make for wonderful photos that reflect the true personality of your subject. What this means for the photographer is that you should be ready to shoot at all times. Be prepared, anticipate the unplanned and look for those perfect shots that capture your subjects natural reactions.

Do a bit of homework before the shoot
Its amazing how much you can find out about someone before the shoot by asking a few simple questions and chatting a little, even over email. The more you can find out before the easier it will be to get a feel for the person you are shooting and what makes them tick. It also means they will feel more comfortable with you as they will get to know you a bit through this process too. This can help you to work out what to say or do that will make them relax and allow you get those fab shots.

When it comes down to it, there are no hard and fast rules. Nothing is going to guarantee that you get that killer shot that just truely sums up the person you are shooting, but you can certainly help things slightly. Be yourself, be friendly and chatty and above all be ready, prepared and constantly watch whats happening because you never know when that perfect shot is going to happen.

 

Thanks so much to Fiona for these helpful tips, I know as someone with a keen interest in photography I love to hear from the pro’s about how they do it and I still remain in awe. As a blogger the ability to take good photo’s is a must and great photography is something that really inspires me and I hope to continue to learn more about this fine art, sharing my learnings with you as I go, and moving away from the trusted iPhone to my DSLR which sadly remains a dustcatcher at the back of my office.

So tell me, do you have an interest in photography, do you know your ISO from your Aperture? Would you like to know more about the basics of photography or is there any burning questions you have for our resident experts? I know many photographers who read the blog so if you do have any questions get them in now.

Much love,

Michelle xx

 

 

 


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Dream Stay: Places to stay in Paris

 

Today folks I am heading off for a girlie weekend in Paris with my cousin Shelley.

There’s around 8 years difference between me and Shelley, her being the older of the two of us and we’re really more like sisters having grown up very closely.

I have so many fond memories of our summer days spent playing on the beach at Abersoch under the watchful eye of our grandparents. As we’ve grown older there has been less play ~ more work for both of us so this trip is a chance for us to get back to our youthful ways, spending real quality time together, having fun, laughing and joking around, the kind of time we just don’t seem to get in our hectic lives nowadays.

I am told that I’ve always been the bossy one of the two of us, I like to think of it as organised and knowledgeable, so Shelley has taken great advantage of my bossy organised nature and put me in charge of our entire Paris itinerary. A challenge I have relished in, even seeking the support of you my lovely readers in my task. And of course enlisting the help of a rather fabulously fashionable Florence Finds to help me with my packing for Paris nightmare.

Said itinerary is looking fabulous, we have plumped for two magnificent hotels for our stay as we couldn’t settle on just the one. Now then, I don’t know about you but when I stay somewhere I want the stay to be an amazing experience and for my surroundings to reflect the City or Country I am visiting. I want forward-thinking design with plenty of local influences. There are literally hundreds of faceless hotels, even magnificently designed ones that if you shut your eyes you could be anywhere, you know the ones I mean?. And they are just not for me. I am going to Paris, city of chic grandeur and seduction, when I think of this City I see gilt and glamour, art and style, and I want to stay somewhere that embodies all of those things.

So we will be spending two nights in the rather fabulous and eclectic Christian Lacroix designed Hotel Du Petit Moulin in the Le Marais district and one night in the rather cool and art-deco-ish Hôtel Thoumieux in the Left Bank. I’ll be giving a full review of those as soon as I’m back on home soil.

Before I head off though I thought I’d share some of the research I conducted on places to stay in Paris as there are a few which really caught my eye that have made it into my Dream Stay list. Maybe I’ll get to sample them on the next visit……

Hôtel Daniel

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This was top of my list of dream stays when I started planning my Paris trip, alas though it was not meant to be as it was fully booked for the duration of our stay. Which only proves the point that if you have your heart set on somewhere then get in there early. Hotel Daniel shall always now be know as “the one that got away”. This one ticks all the boxes for me and is deliciously ‘Parisienne’ with it’s Chinoiserie styling, hand-painted wallpaper by de Gournay and 18th-century-style toile de Jouy. It has been described as fanciful, luxurious and exhuberant, what more could you want from this chic Champs-Elysées boutique hotel.

Find out more about the Hotel Daniel at Mr and Mrs Smith.

Pont~Neuf Residence

 

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If you’re more of a home from home girl (or guy) then I have just the place for you, the Pont~Neuf Residence is a real hidden gem, right by the River Seine ~ one of the chicest spots in the City. A bold baroque style self-catering apartment, which is quite unusual accommodation in the City so I am told, is perfect for cosy couples or honeymooners. Considering the multitude of magnificent eateries at your fingertips then self-catering really isn’t too bad an option and I doubt you will spend much time in the kitchen anyway. But if you do oh what a kitchen, oh what an apartment. With the frescoed ceilings, gold leaf bathroom and vast collection of designer furniture and eclectic curios this is one chic bolthole.

Find out more about the Pont-Neuf Residence at Mr and Mrs Smith.

I am so flipping excited now for my Parisian adventure and can’t wait to share all the details with you very soon.

Au revoir.

Michelle xx


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Press: DIY Project featured in Apartment Therapy and others

I absolutely love writing the Pocketful of Dreams blog and getting my hands dirty crafting and creating the DIY projects I feature on the blog. I love it even more when the hard work I put into these features is recognised and rewarded by others too.

Craft, DIY, Featured on Rock n Roll Bride, How-To, Light Garland, North West Wedding Planner, Party Decor, Pocketful of Dreams, Tutorial, Twine Ball, Wedding Craft Project, Wedding Decor, Wedding DIY, Wedding Stylist Michelle Kelly (1)

Image credit: Katy Lunsford

One of my recent DIY projects: How to craft a twine-bal light garland has been such a popular post that it has been pinned on Pinterest over 12,000 times and viewed approx 85,000 times. Thud. That’s me falling off my chair.

Seriously  I cannot even begin to describe how happy that makes me. I am imagining hundreds of POD inspired twine-ball light garlands decorating your houses, offices, gardens, kids playrooms, maybe even your wedding venues. It’s a light-filled pretty-fest and I love it.

So here’s a virtual high-five to everyone who has shared the love for this project recently:

Featured, Recent Press, Pocketful of Dreams, Wedding Blog, Wedding DIY, DIY Posts, DIY Tutorials, How-To

  • Rock n Roll Bride ~ A UK wedding blog that “promotes individuality and general awesomeness within a cookie cutter, pastel and puke-worthy wedding world”. Read the full post here.
  • Apartment Therapy ~ An amazingly brilliant site that aims to help people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online. Read the full post here.
  • Curbly ~ a web community for people who love where they live. Curbly is the best place to share pictures of your home, find design ideas, and get expert home-improvement advice. Read the full post here.
  • Callooh Callay ~ Design, Fashion, Food and Travel blog. Read the full post here.
  • Willard and May ~ Outdoor living inspiration.  Read the full post here.
  • Discover Create Live blog. Read the full post here.

I must also say a huge thank-you to  North West Wedding Photographer Katy Lunsford who helped make these projects look very pretty by capturing them on camera.

Michelle xx

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Be a part of Oxfam’s first ever online weddings auction ~ And bid on a Pocketful of Dreams Wedding Design Package

 

Hello folks,

No mood board for this Monday morning folks as today I wanted to share with you a concept that is very close to my heart and something I passionately believe in. 

Oxfam is a Charity I have long supported and now I am super-pleased to announce I will be donating a Wedding Design package to their forthcoming online weddings auction. The concept behind it is to give future brides and grooms the chance to bid on exclusive items for a fraction of the normal retail price, whilst raising vital funds for Oxfam.

The Oxfam online wedding auction, supported by leading bridal blog Love My Dress, will run from Sunday 29th April to Wednesday 9th May on eBay. The auction will feature up to 100 one-off gifts with a total  value of £70,000, including a John Nassari photography and celebrity hair-styling package worth £15,000, wedding gowns by designers such as Claire Pettibone, Charlotte Balbier, Sassi Holford and Tammam, a fabulous eco-chic Sawday’s honeymoon to the Lake District and much, much more.
If you are looking for unique wedding items and the opportunity to support a great cause then please do head on over to the auction and take a look at what’s on offer:
www.ebay.co.uk/oxfam

The package I am offering is worth over £2,000 and includes….

Pocketful of Dreams Wedding Design Package

To help you create that cohesive and one-of-a-kind design concept for your wedding. Pocketful of Dreams will work with you to brainstorm ideas and create inspiration boards that will show you how your concept will work in harmony throughout the event. Providing recommendations and ideas for unique and creative favours, decor, flowers, props, linens, stationery, signs and tableware, presented to you in an online wedding lookbook to guide your event planning.

Pocketful of Dreams will also support you in the sourcing of those unique little details and special touches that make your event yours. Creating a working plan to use when briefing suppliers to ensure your design concept is faithfully executed by all concerned.

The Oxfam online wedding auction

Annabel Beeforth, ambassador for Oxfam Weddings and owner of Love My Dress – a UK Wedding & Lifestyle Blog, has helped the charity to pull together prizes from the best wedding suppliers in the UK. Annabel says “Oxfam has always held a place close to my heart and therefore it is a total privilege to have been able to line up donations from some of best in the wedding industry, which will raise vital funds for their very important work.”

The exclusive auction also includes a private consultation with Ian Stuart and a pick of any of his Killer Queen dresses, flowers from florists such as By Appointment Only, Hayford & Rhodes and Philippa Craddock, free venue hire at Senate House and a luxury marquee worth £5,000. This is the perfect opportunity for couples to get their hands on items that may normally be out of reach and help raise vital funds to help support Oxfam’s work with people living poverty around the world.

Sassi Holford, bridal designer says: “I’ve been a long term donor to Oxfam’s successful network of bridal shops, so I am thrilled to be able to donate a dress for this exciting online auction. There are some truly amazing items that have been donated and everyone has the opportunity to bid on any (or all!) of them!”.

Since launching a weddings range Oxfam have raised over £1 million to help change the lives of vulnerable people living in poverty around the world. The online wedding shop, which launched last year, offers a huge range of items needed for the big day including Oxfam Unwrapped wedding lists and favours. Brides can visit one of Oxfam’s 11 bridal boutiques to buy dream designer and vintage dresses all for bargain prices. The online shop also includes a special ethical 100% silver jewellery line, including elegant bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

Lucy Tammam, ethical bridal designer adds: “I was delighted to design this exclusive dress for Oxfam. We have incorporated many traditional crafts done by our fair-trade producers in India to create this spectacular gown in various peace silks, organic and sustainable fabrics. We are sure the bride who wins this will be overjoyed.”

ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION

For more information on the fabulous items available and details of the auction go to: www.ebay.co.uk/oxfam

PHOTOSHOOT ~ ALL THE DETAILS

All images featured in this blog post were created by an exceptional team:

Photography -  Eliza Claire + Annamarie Stepney
Beauty & Fashion Retouching – Chanelle
Segerius-Bruce  at Retouch Me
Film Production –
Mintyslippers
Stylist –
Tiffany Grant Riley
Photoshoot Curator –
Annabel, Love My Dress, supported by my Intern, Franky
Venue – Drapers Hall, London
Models –
First Model Management
Male Model –
Jack Rooney
Hair Stylist – Severin Hubert,
Hepburn Collection
Makeup Artist –
Lucy Baker
Make-up (for 70′s look)
Frontcover Cosmetics, via PR agency Gloss Communications
Nails –
Gemma Timms

For the full shoot see this post on Love My Dress.

 

 

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Are you inspired by Pocketful of Dreams blog?

Want to help get me onto the definitive list of the 99 Most Inspirational Wedding Sites in the World?

…..if the answer is yes then would you please show your support and vote for me here…..

vote_for_me_ZIWA, blog awards, ZIWA 2012, Vote for Pocketful of Dreams, Wedding Blog Awards, Wedding Blogger, Inspirational Blog

Zankyou International Wedding Awards 2012
~ sponsored by Etsy.

The awards are Zankyou.com’s opportunity to celebrate innovation, creativity and style in the world of weddings from international bloggers. With the help of over 40 wedding experts from around the world a list of 180 international nominees has been collated. And Pocketful of Dreams is one of them. Erm wow!

Being listed alongside prolific wedding bloggers such as Rock N Roll Bride, Love My Dress and Rock My Wedding, to name just a few, is kind of blowing my mind a little. And with a UK judging panel made up of Mark NiemierkoBoho Weddings and EventsAll Wrapped Up and Forever & Ever Events I can tell you I’m feeling very proud of Pocketful of Dreams today.

So now it’s over to you dear readers  ~ If you find my content inspiring and creative (and I really hope you do) then I’d be delightfully happy to receive your votes.

To cast your vote all you need to do is this:
  • Visit this page
  • Click on Europe
  • Click on Pocketful of Dreams ~ near the bottom of the right hand column
  • Click VOTE
  • Simples!

Voting will take place from 16th April to 11pm on the 23rd of April with the 99 international winners announced on the 25th April.  You can vote for up to 10 sites in each continent and you can vote once a day, every day during the voting period.

For up-to-date news about ZIWA 2012, you can follow on Twitter via @Zankyou_UK and with the hashtag #ZIWA2012.

About Zankyou.com

For those who don’t know Zankyou is a comprehensive site for all things wedding. With the Zankyou Wedding Magazine, helping couples plan the wedding of their dreams and their Online Wedding List and Wedding Website service which allows couples to register for honeymoon activities, a dream project or charitable donation, as well as household goods – and receive the contribution to their list in their regular bank account.

Happy voting peeps and THANK-YOU in advance for your votes.

Michelle xx


11

A request to my readers: Share your Paris travel tips…..

 

Well hello lovelies,

I have a little request to put to you my super-stylish and chic readers. You see I have a few little trips planned in May and I really need your help.

As I am a planner at heart, I love to do plenty of research before I visit anywhere. Yes I have even been known to use spreadsheets to plan my trips away, it’s just good to be organised ~ I think.

I’m always keen to seek out the highly recommended places, the hidden gems and the chic hangouts, especially if they’re off the well-trodden tourist path.

For me the thrill of visiting somewhere new is in discovering that backstreet cafe that does the world’s best coffee, the restaurant on the hill that only the locals know about and those quant little markets brimming with handcrafted delights. It feels like I’m part of a secret club, rather than a foolhardy tourist paying over the odds for something that’s more mundane than marvellous.

So I am reaching to you, my Pocketful of Dreams readers, to ask you to kindly share your travel tips with me for my two springtime jaunts. And of course it’s not just me that will benefit from the advice, I will be blogging all about my experiences and sharing all my research and recommended hotspots with you too.

Paris is always a good idea

Europe, European Break, Honeymoon Ideas, Paris, Paris Bars, Paris Culture, Paris Hotels, Paris Life, Paris Shops, Recommendations, Romantic Breaks, Short Breaks, Travel Guide, Travel Tips

Moodboard by Pocketful of Dreams Image credits: paris2london.tumblr.com, chictopia.com, thecherryblossomgirl.com  

My first stop is a girls weekend in Paris, the most chicest of Cities and somewhere I have always dreamed of visiting but have never quite managed to venture to. Until now.

I will be travelling to Paris early May with my cousin as we belatedly celebrate a milestone birthday for her and the beginning of a rather exciting new chapter in life for me. We will be travelling by Eurostar and have 4 days and 3 nights to explore the City. As yet we haven’t booked a hotel but we’re looking at the Marais district and potentially the Murano design hotel.

Now I already know that this fascinating metropolis is home to many cultural attractions and familiar landmarks, and I will no doubt be adding them to my itinerary. However, it’s the enchanting avenues and bustling backstreets I’m so very keen to explore more of so I can soak up the real culture of Paris.

So come on guys, get commenting in the box below and share with me those hidden gems: I want to hear about the coolest places to stay, the most interesting areas to see, gastronomic delights, chic and unique cocktail bars and must-visit shopping destinations. Or perhaps you’d like to recommend your go-to travel guide, magazine or blog that will tell me all I need to know.

Whatever you have to share I’d love to hear from you. I will be posting my review on the blog later in May so do check back if you too are planning a trip to Paris.

My next stop is a rather romantic destination, one which I shall be revealing next week and of course inviting you to again share all your destination delights with me.

Michelle xx

 

 

5

London Blogshop 2012: My Experience

 

Hello folks,

I’ve been meaning to write-up this post about my recent experience at Blogshop.

The weekend before last I spent in London, Shoreditch to be exact, helping the founders of Blogshop teach a room full of students all about the wonders of Photoshop.

Well not all about it as that would take far longer than two days, more like how to get the best out of it for blogging, including some nifty shortcuts, templating tricks and tips on making your images just that little bit more interesting.

The focus is all about speed, as for most of us bloggers, blogging is something we do as an add-on to our already hectic lives, so the need for speed is paramount.

The Blogshop was held at Curtain Road studios which is this amazing all-white, warehouse style space with whitewashed wooden floors and tall windows running the length of the room, throwing some rather pretty sunlight across the room once we opened the curtains during breaktimes. The guys there were also super helpful throughout the two days.

I wasn’t a student at the course but an intern, which basically means I was there to help the teachers, Bri Emery of Design Love Fest and Angela Kohler of Angela and Ithyle, ensure the class ran without a hitch and the students had the very best experience from their two days.

I’ve always wanted to try out Blogshop myself just for the experience, having followed Bri’s blog for some time now so when she announced the London class I got in touch to see if there was any way I could help out and landed the role of intern. The classes always look so inspirational, creative and full of fun ~ in reality they are an incredibly intensive learning experience and a heck of a lot is crammed into the two days.

My role as intern was to ensure the students never felt left behind, to be available and by their side to help them and guide them through the teaching, oh and to help set-up the all-white studio space into a creative environment that reflected the Blogshop ethos and also keep everyone fed, watered and generally feeling comfortable. I felt like I walked a million steps that weekend, I literally did not sit down for about 48 hours, apart from a few precious hours spent cocktail in hand with some of the students in The Hoxton Grill following day 1 of the class. The Hoxton is a really cool hotel where I was lucky enough to squeeze in a quick drink with my friend Rebecca who also happened to be in town that night, if you want to know more about her visit to The Hoxton as well as reviews of Shoreditch and Notting Hill, pop over to Florence Finds.

One thing the experience taught me is to have more confidence in my own abilities, I taught myself how to use photoshop, just like I have taught myself how to blog and so many other things, I just didn’t realise quite how much I already knew about photoshop. Everything Bri and Angela presented to the class I already knew how to do, and so I felt really comfortable and confident helping the students get to grips with it all, in fact it was actually the most enjoyable part of the weekend. My initial perceptions were that this would be a learning experience for me, but it was less about learning something new and more about sharing my skills and helping others to learn and develop.

As well as learning, my other aim for working with the Blogshop team in London was to come away feeling inspired. When presented with such creative geniuses and prolific bloggers as Bri and Angela how could you not come away feeling inspired? Their work is often talked about across the blogosphere, from what they share on their own blogs, Bri’s graphic design work, Angela’s incredible photography and their input to Rue Magazine, these girls are multi-talented and frequently push creative boundaries.

But as I said earlier, the weekend is so incredibly intense, for both students and teachers, that we didn’t get to spend as much time with them as hoped. Understandably they had a lot to cram into their London visit too with so many experiences to fit into such a short space of time, so it was really nice once the teaching was over that Bri, Angela and Jen (Gotch) joined us for a quick drink and we got the chance to get to know them a little bit more outside of just their tutoring roles.

I was also really thrilled to meet Jen that weekend too, Jen Gotch is a prop stylist, photographer and co-owner of Ban-Do accessories, and was in town with Bri to give a behind-the-scenes photographic account of their trip. And trust me when I say this she is just as much fun and lovely in person as her online persona portrays her to be. Please do go take a look at her website, I promise you will come away feeling happy.

So whilst I may not have learnt anything new about photoshop I did learn a heck of a lot about myself. I learnt that people find my teaching style approachable and helpful, that I should trust my abilities and skills and believe in myself a little bit more and that despite how fun it looks ~ learning on this level is intensive ~ but it will give you so very much back in terms of skill and ability to take your blog or business to a whole new level.

I want to say a massive thank-you to a few people who helped me to make the space look all colourful:

    • Bold, experimental London florists Rebel Rebel for their retro-cool flower arrangements in vintage bottles
    • Peach Blossom for suppling us with their tissue garlands and honeycomb ball decorations which looked so pretty as the sunlight streamed through the windows of the studio

And of course I met lots of lovely new bloggers too, please do check out their blogs, twitter and flickr sites you never know what you’ll discover:

This weekend I shall be having a much deserved and so very much needed REST! After several weeks of working right through without days off I am feeling like I need it. It’s no good pushing yourself creatively if you dont have time to absorb the inspiration and let your creative juices flow. So that is my priority for this weekend.

I do hope you have enjoyed my account of my Blogshop experience, it was really wonderful to connect with so many new people and to see them pushing themselves forward and learning a new skill.

Happy weekend folks.

Michelle xx

All images in this post were taken by me either on my trusty iPhone or with my Canon 400D and adapted in Photoshop.

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Afternoon Tea and Cake ~ Saturday 17th March Otley

Fancy yourself an afternoon enjoying tea, cake and friendly chatter in recognition of the recent International Women’s Day?

Then get yourself over to Otley (Near Leeds) to join these ladies for this…..

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Its Blogshop Weekend in London

Today and tomorrow I will be here

Images: Curtain Road Studios

Doing things like this…..

Maybe even this….

And meeting people like this….

Images via: Designlovefest

Oh yes I am excited, the Blogshop is in London Town.

I am ready to learn lots of new things, feel inspired and meet all those other crazy-excited and creative friends from this ol world of blogging. Full report coming soon.

Have a wonderful weekend folks.

Michelle xx

 

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