Edwardian Books

Cheating a bit this week with other people's art instead of my own, sorry. I'm working on Sunday. Picked up two 1900s books at a charity sale: Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam ( a poem I really love) illustrated by Hungarian artist Willy Pogany and with lovely Art Nouveau graphics and little Scottish Clans and Tartans book with fun period advertisements in it. I love old adverts, they really bring the past to life for me. Here are some pics...Didn't subject Pogany book to being squished in scanner as it didn't open flat really. Don't break the spines people. Don't you love the Edwardian Lady's Scottish outfit? So natty.

The Red Stuff

Not one for the squeamish as I discover the joys of carving. I could already dissect a roast chicken, but the lamb rack looked quite daunting. A bit of wiggling with a very large sharp knife, however, and it became yummy cutlets, result! Strangely satisfying. My meat board is red to distinguish it from my veg board (which should be green but, disappointingly, is white).

Unexpectedly Appealing

Sometimes the most unattractive things and places have a beauty of their own. These are old lock-up garages, incongruously sited in a small park in Aberdeen. I always wonder what is in these neglected garages...ancient rotting cars, perhaps, rusting machinery, vintage furniture or things far more sinister...

Dress of the Future

The future is now! In Muji (one of my fave shops; always full of interesting things) I found this. A dress, vacuum packed into a tennis ball sized cube. It unpacks to form a comfy nautical striped number. Genius.

Make it retro

I like knitting, but my projects have to be small and involve interesting wool or weird textures, preferably in chunky yarns. I have a short attention span. This is a 70s style nubbly cushion cover from that fine knitting book Stitch and Bitch Nation. Turqoise is one of my favourite colours. I'm planning to cuddle up to this cushion in the long Aberdonian winters.