Day 2: A favourite movie

I have blogged about my love for Romy and Michele before so I will spare you that... can I tell you about a film I went to see the other day and LOVED?

It was Kick Ass. I hadn't seen anything about it anywhere except for a photo of Jonathan Ross' wife at the premier, withBrad Pitt.  Can't find the exact photo, but something similar to this. Replace Jonathan with Brad.

Image from here

Then I noticed a lot of my friends updating Facebook with 'Kick Ass really is Kick Ass'!... Anyway, I went to watch and I love it...

It had everything (images from Rotten Tomatoes):

Geeks

A purple bob-wig worn by a child

Baddies

And a bit of romance but I can;t find any photos of that I'm afraid!

I am a love comic style anything (if you can't tell by looking at my jewellery?!)... I could watch this again and again...

What's your favourite film of the moment?

xoxo

30 Days

I thought this was quite a sweet idea that I saw over on the Ladybastard blog.  Hopefully it will make an interesting read...

Day 01 — A favourite song
Day 02 — A favourite movie
Day 03 — A favourite television program
Day 04 — A favourite book
Day 05 — A favourite quote
Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 — A photo you took
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 — A fictional book
Day 14 — A non-fictional book
Day 15 — A fanfic
Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 — A talent of yours
Day 20 — A hobby of yours
Day 21 — A recipe
Day 22 — A website
Day 23 — A YouTube video
Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
Day 27 — This month, in great detail
Day 28 — This year, in great detail
Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Picking one favourite song is well tough!! I'm going to go for this: 'Galaxy of the Lost' by Lightspeed Champion. Anything that mentions sick in your mouth gets my vote! Also I love the video... it's colourful, a bit kitschy and definitely funky and fun :) It's a favourite song of the moment, not a favourite song ever. It will take a few more years to see if it sticks and makes it to the 'ever' list.

Enjoy :)

xoxo

Leg love

I am loving day dresses at the moment and am building up quite a gorgeous selection.  I do have very pasty skin and refuse to paint it orange (yes, I believe even just the orange tone of level 6 looks ridiculous) and so tights are the way forward for me.  Currently loving my white tights (have ribbed and lacy) and bright  red ones (just plain)... but just check out these top picks by independent designer/maker/retailers. Lust!

Sexy White Octopus Tattoo Tights - Tattoo Socks and More

Topaze Tights - Zukale and Huoviala

Bebaroque Oceana Tights - Boudiche

Want! Want! More to add to my 'must buy' list...

Hope you love... xoxo

Great feedback makes me happy :)

I'm not sure there's anything better than the feeling when you see someone excited about what you made! 

Not entirely sure why it's Thumbalizr'd in German...

I got a lovely mention from Pixie, as she's known on Twitter, on her blog. Yay! Thanks so much :)

It's a lovely personal blog about all things girly. I have added it to my reader!

People have told me a lot lately that the standard of my resin work is very good, which is great to hear, as I don't come across much other handmade resin work. Great stuff :)

 

xoxo

It's there! KitschenSink in Supermarket Sarah @ SELFRIDGES

The time has come! I did begin to wonder if it was all a dream...

Clash Mash

A little closer...

Eek!

Double eeeeek!!

All photos by Hannah Golding of Sweet Trash

I think the only thing better than this would be to open an actual KitschenSink concession in Selfridges. Maybe one day... ahhhh... :)

xoxo

Kate P wins Y Factor 2010!

You all know how Kate P is now right? If you don't already she's my creative friend, the one who I am featured with on page 88 of Company's Annual Model-free Issue (May 2010).

Kate's always sang really well (I met her in school choir / Glee club) but never had the confidence to sing solo until very recently (crazy shit). So she entered a local competition, The Y Factor (Y is for Yorkshire...) for some experience. Here's some videos of the final, she blew us away!

Kate Priestley sings El Cuarto de Tula and plays guitar (Spanish! No end to talent)

Van Morrison's Moondance

It got a bit tense... Baildon is well known for being cliquey and we did worry that she would be discounted on the grounds she is from a different area of Bradford but fortunately sense prevailed and she won!!

Here's her final performance after finding out she won... there's a little crafting mention at the beginning too! Love it, go on Lynne P.

I keep watching it because I couldn't see on the night. Enjoy, she's the next big thing :)

xoxo

Recent indie snaffles and buys

I'll keep it brief, I want to go eat my Covent Garden Carrot and Coriander soup. Mum makes it better but she's not brought me any in a while (don't think I am neglected...)

Entered giveaway by the superb Magasin (KitschenSink-approved, cross-stitched coolness) via their Facebook page.

Won.

Received awesome package :)

Nice brooch :)

I wear it with my navy shift dress and everyone loves it

I also indulged and bought the Love From Hetty and Dave Swallow Headband. 

See how well I rock it?

I like my hair more today. What I have found is that I should not straighten it. It looks much better.

xoxo

Preparing for festival chic

Now, you'll find this really difficult to believe, but, even though I am really cool I have never been to a proper sleepover festival before. The closest I have got in my 27 years of festival-less existance is B-Fest (or Bingley Music Live, as it's formally called).

So even though the line-up isn't as cracking as it's been in the past, Natalie and I have tickets to Leeds Festival this year. I am very excited about seeing the Cribs because I was poorly last time!

Here's some festival glamour lusts:

Nautical silk kaftan dress - Pixie Market

Nautical and kaftan? What a combination!

Tribal feather earrings - Wild Spirits

Pretty feathers :)

Woodchip Boutique Bow Satchel - Woodchip Boutique (available at Manchester Fashion Market, Tib St)

Will be buying one of these, eye them up every time I go to Manchester!

So I best get saving! If anyone has any toilet tips I'd love to know (She Wee?)

xoxo

And the winner is....

The entries have been counted and verified and the winners of the KitschenSink 500-Facebook-fan Celebratory Give-away are:

Chrissy Runt and Zoë Ellis! 

I picked numbers using Random.org and then counted to each comment.  Thanks to everyone who entered!

And a massive thanks to everyone who invited their friends to the fan page.  KitschenSink has cleared 800 fans now! Craziness

Love you xoxo

Rowan, Kate P and KitschenSink in Company Magazine!!

I can't believe I kept this a secret for so long!! You may remember in March I took a few trips to London. On the 8th March, Kate P and I went for a photoshoot with Company Magazine, having had just a few days' notice.

I had responded to a call on Twitter for friends who loved each other's look to talk about it. I immediately emailed them saying 'I'll do it!'. Emails were exchanged every few minutes until they asked for a photo of us both. I picked carefully, none of those where I'm gurning or generally being a div after a few vodkas.  I have never felt as self-conscious as when I waited for the reply email after sending the photos. How deflating would it be to get a reply 'after careful consideration we decided not to bother'.... anyway, three hours later and we had got the go-ahead!

I barely told anyone. I don't think I have ever kept a secret before but I wasn't really willing to believe it was happening until the train tickets were in my hand 20 minutes before our locamotive departure.

The folks at Company were all really lovely. I found the shoot quite exhausting. They wanted us to have straight faces but I kept laughing. That wore thin quickly. We also had to stand leaning forward which was a bit weird. We ended up resting out bums against a wall with our feet a foot away to make it easier.

Even after the event I didn't want to talk about it in case they decide not to publish us! Anyway, I hope you agree that the photo looks really good. We are wearing KitschenSink and the website gets a mention in the article too. Here's the photo they used, I hope you agree it's lovely and Kate P looks most fabulous!

Credit to Company Magazine

What's the article about? You'll have to look at the May issue of Company Magazine (out today) page 88 to find out :)

xoxo

KitschenSink tip for Craftrepreneurs: Distance Selling Regulations

A friend of mine just bought something handmade online (I wish I could go into more detail, but, unfortunately I can't...) and wanted to return it because it ended up not looking as good as she'd have liked on her, even though in the photos it looked lovely and the piece itself was lovely.

She mentioned it was a good job she didn't buy it off the girl's Etsy page as she didn't accept returns there. Instead she had bought it from one of her stockists. Hang on a minute... she doesn't accept returns???

Erm.  What about the Distance Selling Regulations? I'm actually not sure if these don't have to apply when you're selling on a foreign (Etsy) site, but being clued up on the DSRs would be a good thing for any online seller (plus, this seller was from the UK selling to the UK)...

Surely knowing an item's true colour, texture, quality, etc, etc, is an unfair expectation on a buyer who is looking at just your (touched up) photos for reference. It's pretty poor customer service too!

xoxo

Gorgeous spring vintage finds

Salivating! ...or 'salivatating', as I would normally say, but it turns out I made up that word... vintage gorgeousness. Lust

Vintage Anne Klein for Riviera sunglasses - Barefoot and Vintage

I'd so rock these!

Emilia Sunday Dress - Bleubird Vintage

Love this. Don't think I am skinny enough. Must stop with the Nutella.

I know why the caged bird sings... Decades Baltimore

I'd rock this too. Tied around my head.

Hope you love! Happy Wednesday

xoxo

Give a-way-hey!

Another of my goals this year was to participate in a give-away. I'll have no goals left by then end of the month! I am too giddy.

Anyway. It's all going off on Facebook. I basically said when I get to 503 fans I'll do a give-away. It was like the Ferrari 0-60 in six seconds* of Facebook fan adding. Thanks to all my fans!

What's up for grabs? Two kawaii Japanese pendant necklaces, like this:

How do I enter? 

• Go the the Facebook fan page
• Become a fan (if you're not already!)
• Find the special give-away update
• Tell me what your favourite KitschenSink item EVER is. Get inspiration from the Flickr pages
• Leave your choice as a comment on the special give-away update
• Earn an extra entry by Tweeting about my giveaway! Add @kitschensink to the tweet and leave an extra comment to tell me you tweeted
• Earn an extra entry by blogging about the KitschenSink giveaway! Remember to link through to the KitschenSink fan page! Leave a comment with a link to your blog post!

All comments will be numbered 1-whatever, and an internet-based number randomiser will be used to pick a winner.

The prize is one-of-a-kind because it's made from a genuine graphic novel!

Good luck!

xoxo

*this is not a real fact and may not even be exciting. But it sounds fast to me.

Resin Swap!

It was one of my goals this year to get involved in a swap and I saw the Resin Swap organised by PennyDog and thought that would be my best bet!

I'm sure my partner has her gift by now, so here's what I sent. She mentioned she liked kawaii and punky stuff...

One-of-a-kind Japanese comic decoupage necklace. I thought this would appeal to the kawaii lover in her

Starlight... Starbright! Studs - hoping these appeal to her punky side!

I also sent a refresher sweet and a postcard from Leeds! Quite a package I hope you agree?

I haven't got mine yet. My partner is running a little late. Will no doubt blog when received :)

xoxo

KitschenSink clearout! Everything must go!

I'll tell you a couple of secrets. Come closer. Boys must not know this information (if you're a boy... leave now).  The truth of girls and boys is that girls want boys to be able to put up shelves, and boys want girls to be clean and tidy and all wifey.

I am very untidy. It's worse since KS got busy and I work full-time too.  Anyway. When the photographer from the T&A came around he was like 'can I take a photo of you where you work?'.  I was like

NO WAY!

All other areas of The Penthouse were spic n span... I should have seen this coming. So I am now in the process of mega KitschenSink studio clear-out!

First on the agenda is to get rid of the bulky telly of my ex's.  The daft twat owes me £2100 and is refusing to pay up. Taking this to the tip will feel good!

Second is a couple of computer monitors that have gone on Freecycle. One is being collected tomorrow :)

Third... and a little more exciting... destash!

My second secret... I have made the first baby-step towards selling supplies! Thread Candy is now open on Folksy and for now will just feature KitschenSink destash. Snap up some bargains!

The first listed are some Vintage Comic Sack o' ScrapSwag. 

A destash of vintage (probably one-off) comic scraps for all kinds of projects: scrap booking; card making; magnets; jewellery; collage.

Keep your eyes peeled for more destash delights!

xoxo

Sources of inspiration

I have been spending such a lot of time making the vintage comic bubble hearts that there's been little time to design anything.  Some days I get hit with an idea(s) but at the minute, it's more that I know how I want to make something.... but not really what it looks like. Not used to this way of working.

So I went through my old ideas book from when I did a course in jewellery making.  This is what I found...

A favourite: colourful, kitschy, funky and fun, wouldn't you say?

A girly page: sparkle, glitter, florals, pretty

A bit burlesque: sexy, pouty, decadent, delicious

Lustre: radiant, crisp, glossy, lavish

Glamour: retro, hues, curvacious

I spent some time collecting images to brainstorm more, but, I am soooo not impressed by what's in magazines right now! Taupes, greys, black (it's spring?!)... 'sorbet' colours... where's the colour? Where's the fun?

I'd love to know what you're loving right now?

xoxo

London... again

As soon as I heard about the Lady Luck Rules OK Trade Secrets seminar, I knew I had to go.  I have been spending a lot of time getting to know business ropes but all the sources are so generic. Craft business books are always so USA-centric. This seemed perfect.

I know a few folks wanted me to tell them what I learned there. Sorry, no can do. So please don't ask me any questions as I'd hate to seem ignorant, but they shall go ignored... Leona spent seven years building up a business and if anyone should make anything from it, it's her. So if you want to know anything, there's still a couple of dates left! Book a ticket :)

What I will say is that Leona is lovely, clearly very intelligent. enterprising and can spot gaps in the market and has fun realising her ambitions.  It was really inspiring and definitely well worth me travelling down for the night from Leeds!

I stopped with Samantha and it was great to catch up! We stayed up late talking all things creative and she cooked me some delicious vegetarian faire that was so good I went straight to the supermarket when I got home to stock up on Quorn and Linda McCartney related products. And sweet potatoes. Yum! I also took the tube on my own for the first time too! Just two stops mind, because Marco drove me to the station! But I feel like I have come of age or something... haha!

xoxo

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

On my way back from London Town today (will blog that next) I got a text from our Jen saying 'Front page news Mrs! Well done you!'. Well. I didn't expect that!

My local rag wanted to run a story on some of my jewels being selected for Supermarket Sarah's concession in Selfridges so I had a photographer come around earlier in the week. I had been eagerly awaiting the story being published but I never expected front page! How exciting!

I went to my local ASDA to buy the paper (two copies) and the checkout guy recognised me... it caused quite a stir and I blushed quite a lot. It was fun though. So future trips to the supermarket may have to involve some sort of camouflage, shades and a baseball cap.... ha!!

Did I tell you how peed off I am with my hair? I had it cut by some old-school hairdresser because I left it too late to get an appointment with my usual... and I am really paranoid about it. I just thin it's awful but want to let it grow a bit before I have it re-done. So I'm not overly happy with how I look but the article isn't about me it's about the jewels, which I think have been captured magnificently!

xoxo

New stockist! itsKitsch, Aberdeen

I am so excited to announce my newest of stockists, itsKitsch in Aberdeen (20 Belmost Street)!! As if there could be anywhere more appropriate!

As soon as I got the email from itsKitsch's proprietor I checked out their website (I'm quite picky about who stocks KitschenSink) I loved it straight away! The design of the site is super cool for a start, and their goods are awesome too!  itsKitsch will sell a selection of my Vintage Comic Bubble Heart Necklaces, gift boxed. Here's some other wicked lusts from itsKitsch:

Edelweiss Diana £50

"Wild & Wolf" Trim Phone £40

Buddy Glasses Blue £10 £5

Like what ya see? Fan 'em on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter for competitions and updates. My stuff will be on the website soon :)

I'm off to London in an hour and half. Woo!

xoxo

I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. We must be over the rainbow!

Are you getting bored of all this Alice in Wonderland themed stuff? I know I am. I do love the whole Alice stuff but it's getting a little commercial. So here's an alternative: The Wizrd of Oz! I do love that story too.

Here's some WoO themed goodies made from independent designers, far and wide.

RubySparkles 8x10 Print Matte by Linda Boucher

Where is Toto Bangle Bracelet - by Frosted Willow

There's No Place Like Home // Original Framed Artwork on vintage book page by Wall Envy Art

 

Hope you love 

 xoxo

A few mentions and the Easter break

My iPhone has been going crazy with emails over the past few days.  I like the convenience of having them delivered straight to me, anywhere, but then again... I hate my mobile phone going off all the time and that's why it's constantly on silent, and the added emails to texts and phone calls makes me feel even more harassed popular.

Anyway... some of the emails were lovely! I had a couple of mentions on some Folksy Friday blog posts, one of which was Wizard of Oz themed on 'It's the little things' (I have a avery similar post scheduled for Wednesday!), and one was a pink and green selection over on Dizzy Izzy. Thanks :)

I got a heads up from my pal Amanda that I am featured on Hannah Zakari's front page which is pretty cool. Here's a visual as it won't be there forever...

Have you had a lovely Easter break? I finished at 12.30 on Thursday and immediately met my friend Hannah who showed me the delights of Tampopo and East Asian cuisine. It was lovely, even Hannah's hairy bananas.

I came to a realisation on Thursday that I get too easily distracted by Facebook. The Penthouse is in a bit of a state, and I made a decision that if I'm not actively promoting KitschenSink there... I must stop myself and do chores. It's getting there... except I ran out of bleach on Friday. I just bought more :)

So on Friday I also cleaned, tidied, cleaned and then went for lunch with more friends. Now, look at these silly chips.

They aren't chips, to be fair. That's a large potato trimmed at right angles.

Saturday/Sunday was spent in Manchester on a hen do. What happens in Manchester stays in Manchester, although I will say that I seemed to have formed a generic appeal - I pulled a 15 year old, a 50 year old and a bisexual married man in one day.  No ta.

Today I visited more friends. It's a sociable time. Anyway, I must go tidy and clean more. I am finding it fairly theraputic.

Back soon with more exciting news!

xoxo

A little mention in a random place

I just noticed a little mention of my 'Story of Wild Jezebel' necklace on the 'Blingdom of God' blog.

It's "a site dedicated to the fusion of faith and fashion--not just in Christianity, but all forms of religion and metaphysical belief. We'll explore the link between adornment and religion in the human mind, the evolution of religious jewelry throughout history, legal issues, where to buy stuff and, of course, CELEBRITIES!"

The blog post says:


"Whatever happens in this story, I can't imagine that it ends like the original:


When Jehu arrives in Jezreel, where Ahab has a royal residence, Jezebel prepares to greet him. She “paints her eyes with kohl and dresses her hair” and appears at an upper window, apparently hoping to seduce Jehu (2 Kings 9:30). Instead, Jezebel is thrown down from the window. “Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her” (2 Kings 9:33)."

I wouldn't be so sure... those stories in the 50s love comics are pretty sinister!

Either way... I just hope the necklace design was liked!

Love finding KitschenSink in random places.... let me know if you spot some anywhere!

xoxo

Questions

Not sure how I missed this on Samantha's blog. My RSS feeds may be playing up.  I thought I'd do it too cos I like this kinda thing sometimes:

1. What is your current obsession?

I don't really have an obsession right now. My latest 'thing' is the realisation that I am in my freedom years: no kids, got job, got growing business, the world is my oyster, and I am embracing that. I'm doing what I want todo and not hanging around for the approval of anyone else!3. What do you see outside your window?

Factories and the railway line. It goes right past my flat. From the other windows I see the canal and out over Saltaire. It's really nice living here.

4. What is your favorite color?

Green, green, green. I also love bright cobalt blue.
5. What is your weakness?

 Drummers. It's always the drummers.

Where is Six??? 

7. What would you like to learn how to do?
Sew and make clothes and handbags. But I need a sewing machine so I can practice in between lessons8. What do you want to never happen in life?
What an awful question... I don't see the point in thinking about negative things that will never happen
9. What is on your bedside table?
A book about running your own business by the guy that runs startups.co.uk, a bobble, a glass of water, vaseline lip balm.
10. What's the last thing you bought?

I bought milk, bread, tea and swiss rolls from the central Sainsbury's in Leeds.15. What did you dream about last night?
For a change I didn't dream last night, but at the weekend I believed I was stuck in a submarine (that left from London Kings Cross station) and punched my friend who was visiting.17. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your closet?
I love my (faux) fur coat. It's a statement piece that strangers always want to try on and have their photo taken in.  Also someone at the bus stop this week said to me 'you usually get the train don't you? I recognise your coat'.
18. What's your plan for tomorrow?
Tomorrow is Saturday. I am going to Manchester for my friend's hen night. It's going to be lots of fun!
19. What is your must-have of the moment?
My iPhone. I just like how I can get all my emails and social networking sites for KitschenSink whilst I am out and about.
21. What's your favorite tea flavor?
Just tea tea. I tend to have PG Tips, Tetley's or Yorkshire Tea, with milk and one sugar/sweetener.22. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

New York I think. I have never been, always wanted to go but just never really had the chance. It's on my list.

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!

It's all about Alice at the moment, isn't it?! I went to watch it last weekend and I loved it. I haven't made any Alice or White Rabbit lockets in a while. I should do really.  Look at who found the White Rabbit Locket!

Image by Samantha

These were taken at the Ideal Home Show, which I couldn't make unfortunately. I'm not that bothered, like.

xoxo