Brooches that look like rocks & minerals

Maria Lóbez: Brooch, L'invisible 1 2008
Silver, methacrylate (via Klimt02)

Marielle Ledoux: Brooch, Untitled 2008
Rubber (via Klimt02)


Célio Braga: Brooch, Untitled 2007 (via Klimt02)
Textile, felt, glass, hair
Looks like it's covered in Boulangerite crystals.


Yu-Chun Chen: Brooch, Flowerness of the bird II 2007
Iron, paint, horn, steel (via Klimt02)


Flora Vagi: Necklace, Untitled 2007
Wood, silk (via Klimt02)

Update: I thought I should include some real minerals too...

Ferberite from Bolivia via Mineral Classics


Ferberite (rare doubley terminated twin) on matrix from Bolivia via Mineral Classics

Nature's sculpture

Malachite via Palagems


Barite (botroidal) via About.com:Geology


Galena pseudomorph after pyromorphite via Crystal Classics


Goethite (Botroidal) via Crystal Habits


Magnetite- No Mag Bol 5071 from Mineral Classics

My work + olympic pool

2008 Olympic Swimming Pool designed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation jointly with Australia's PTW Architects and Ove Arup Pty Ltd (more images)


3 layered papercuts 1991 based on The 4 Day Sketchbook, 1991

The roof and walls of the new Olympic pool reminds me of much of my work, and made me realise I haven't posted any of my old work since the 1st of May. So let's remedy that right now...


Drawing from The 4 Day Sketchbook, 1991


A print (recent) of a drawing from The 4 Day Sketchbook, 1991


Papercut (1992) based on a drawing from The 4 Day Sketchbook, 1991



Several papercuts, 1991-'92, layered together

If you are new to my blog you can see more of my work in this style such as this felt brooch, this & this papercut, this book, this crochet. Or see more work in general by clicking the My Work tag at the end of this post.

I miss the Western Isles

This is either Barra or Benbecula, 1992 or '93.

When I was at college I used to like walking/camping my way round the Western Isles whenever I could. I hope I can do these things again sometime. Above was one of those days when you looked around and couldn't believe the intensity of the sky, though though looking at this I can't help but wonder if maybe I had a polarizing filter or something on the camera, though I'm sure I didn't own one. If only there were digital camera's back then, I used a roll of film every day and it still wasn't enough to capture all the beauty of the islands and their ever changing weather and isolated beaches.

Just before it rained

I never cease to feel lucky at having this view 5 minutes from my house.

Blu - street wall animation

Oops, I said the Power Monkey was waterproof, but it's actually water resistant. Sorry.
No pics today, I keep getting an 'internal error' message. Hope to be fixed tomorrow. Until then, here is a link to an incredible, bigger than life size, on street animation by Blu. I first watched it with no sound, then in the last 30seconds I realised it was off and turned it on, but I preferred it silent since it made the visuals seems stronger. I found it via Simon Pascoe's lovely blog. So good to find a bloke's blog that I like as much as women's ones.

Solar charger & other power saving items

We had no power yesterday, the perfect day to enjoy the benefits of the new toy I bought (well, he had to pay!) for Mr P's birthday recently, a Solar Power Monkey eXplorer. I was really impressed with the quality and usefulness of my brother's regular Power Monkey when we were in LA, he was able to charge his phone, iPod, GPS and numerous other gadgets from it. The solar one, though much more expensive, has all the same attachments & adaptors, but can also charge from a pocket sized solar panel. He loves it, I love it! It's the best bit of kit for anyone who wants to be greener without giving up their gadgets because it works on lots of things.


Solar Power Monkey with lots of adapters and connectors

It's water resistant and the 'solar slave' will even work on cloudy days or beside incandesent house lights. Once you have charged the Monkey (by solar, mains or USB) just pop it in your pocket (genuine pocket size, unlike some lumpy ones that claim to be) and you have a charge ready even if you are up a hill or on a beach. Mr P uses it to charge his iPod, mobile phone and PDA - all for free.

There are lots of similar chargers on the market but the Power Monkey consistently gets the best reviews and least complaints in buyers feedback. If the connector you need isn't included there's a good chance you can buy o. Given their track record for quality, I am very eagerly anticipating the new Power Gorilla which is being developed to power laptops, and yes, there will be a Solar Gorilla, finally solar power for the laptop, no more guilt... if you can afford it (assuming it'll be much more expensive than the solar monkey).


Freeplay radio Wonder Wash

My old wind up/solar radio used to be my favourite hand crank item, but I finally got my Wonder Wash (washing machine) last month on Ebay. It was touch and go, I noticed Ebay prices were suddenly rising and have since found it it's because the man that makes them is unwell and hasn't found anyone else to fill the orders yet. It uses no electricity and it's easy to collect the waste water for the garden on dry days or for the toilet cistern on rainy days.

Heavenly hellebores

The shy Helleborus, a flower I normally associate with winter (hence the common name Christmas Rose), looking quite splendid in early June (after being coaxed to look skywards). I have 2 hellebores in my garden, neither of which has ever produced much flower, but I think next year may be different as the changes in the garden have produced a healthy looking flush of growth this year. Keeping my fingers crossed. As far as I know they are the kind with yellowy green flowers. I'd love to have some of these darker ones that were growing at Malleny Gardens. Below, it looks even lovelier with light from the weak evening sun shining through it's leaves...



See my garden in detail here.

Formal edges

When I worked at the Botanic Gardens I used to enjoy edging the grass, it immediately made things look tidy and tended to, not like my own gardens which have most often had a looser more cottagey feel with plants spilling into one another. I love both looks. At Malleny garden my eye was really drawn to the formal neatness wherever a plant edged a pathway or lawn. Lots of different colours and textures in both foliage and path surface. These will going into one of my wee books...one day, nothing creative going on beyond the lens while I'm tired.

Fresh air, flat space

Harlaw, in the Pentland Hills

I've finally transferred my recent pics onto the computer so will show more through the week. Lots of nature. On Sunday we had a trip in the car to nearby Malleny Garden which I always enjoyed as a peaceful place with usually very few people around and lots of places to sit. Last year, whenever Mr P was free for a trip in the car, it was either raining (June to September) or I just wasn't able to manage it physically.

On Sunday we both needed it, the weather was right and I was feeling tired but keen so off we went. We were only out for an hour in the garden but it was really nice. Then before heading home we drove up a road we'd never noticed be fore (I am all about spontaneous navigation) and found ourselves on a bit of the Pentlands I never knew existed. A really high up flat area (pictured) with more peaks in the distance. I was too tired to actually walk it but nipped out of the car for a few pictures. Andy suggested we could put my, as yet unused, folding bike in the car so I could cycle the flat bit one day. I'm very keen.

Summer food memories

LA Dormobile (like the one we lived in years ago, but ours was yellow)



La Blues March 2008

Anna sent me in the direction of What the World Eats: Part II.
I'm always fascinated by how other people eat, particularly in other cultures or other countries. Of the 11 they show in Part II I'd opt for the diets of the families India, Guatemala and Turkey.

I'm pretty sure my time in Turkey was the healthiest time I ever had food-wise without making an effort. So much was organic purely because it was grown locally in gardens and people grew things suited to the soil and climate. Everything tasted like it should, not bland like supermarket food. You could taste the sunshine in the vegetables. I definitely think Mediterranean food is closest to what naturally suits my body. At the time I struggled a bit with the cheeses, I didn't know about my lactose problem so I was still a cow's cheese lover and found goats cheese really sharp and unpalletable (though I forced it down out of politeness). Now I adore it (unless it smells or tastes fishy) and long for all those gorgeous meals my boyfriend's mum used to make full of her homemade goats cheese.

Lime snap

These looked snappier on photoshop, I forget that things get paler in blogger. The flowers up top looked especially zingy with the pink and green really intense beside each other. You are all creative minds, you can visualise it. Not sure what the flowers were, they are not mine.

Grey thoughts clouding my mind

Old Dairy (as seen last week)

Have you noticed all the grey on my blog recently? Partly it's all the rain we're having (but interspersed with sun so the gardens are very happy). Partly it's my glum feelings after the family visit. 5 days of trying to fake being well. I don't know why I bother, in all the time I've been ill (15 months for this recent bout of M.E.) my family has never once asked how I am. I think that's pretty weird and I'm finding it more upsetting than usual this month. I'm not sure why. More on this in the comments for this post.


Lucy by a farm door

Trend de la Crême

The Christopher Kane Fall 08 collection reminded Jill Sherman (Trend de la Crême blog) of jellyfish. See them all here on Coutorture where you can link to the full sized images, so much better than the tiny snippets I'm showing you. If you liked those, you should visit her blog since many of her posts are like the jellyfish one above & below that she did for Coutorture.



I always link things visually and it's been a great pleasure and to see someone else who not only looks at things the same way, but has the time and skill to find wonderful images which match the connections her brain is making. Plus she often has personal stories or memories of what made her think of the links, like a childhood visit to Roseville Telephone Museum for her post on Telephones...

Derek Lam's fall/winter collection (2008 I assume)

Seriously, her blog is full of these and I've gone a bit mad with links to them here, but it's because I think they are great. Here are a few favourites highlighting recent collections and the things that they remind her of - Sea slugs, Sea squirts, Siamese fighting fish, Octopusses, Beetles, more Beetles, Butterflies, Birds, more Birds, Humming birds...

Kristian Aadnevik designs for The Protégé Collection 2008

Lighting, Medieval armour, T'ang Dynasty, Cathedral ceilings, Electric Canvas Architecture, Spires & Pagodas...

Marchesa's fall/winter 2008 collection

Fancy Cakes, more Cakes, Orchids, Irises, Endangered Wild Cyclamen...

Diana Bobar's Spring’08 ready-to-wear collection

There are more, but my eyes are going fuzzy so I'd better stop. Thanks Jill for letting me post your great pairings, I love the way you mind works and can't wait to see more!

Faces on brooches

Constantinos Kyriacou: Brooch, 2008


Inês Almeida: Brooch- Diálogos e monólogos 2 2004-2005
Wood, silver and coins (via Klimt02)


Fabrizio Tridenti: Brooch- F. Guelfi 2007 (via Klimt02)
Plastic, oxidized silver, paper, electric wire


Bettina Speckner: Brooches, 2007+2004


Eija Mustonen: Brooch (via Hibernate)