Edinburgh Christmas lights 2013

Shop Cally Creates - Art Print - Italian Gas

Italian Gas - Art Print/Mini 8"x 9" $16. Other sizes available.


Italian Gas - Framed Art Print/Scoop Black Mini 10"x 12" $33. Other sizes & Frames available.

The original photograph was taken in Italy in 2008 (on the 6hr mad dash visit) and has been combined with a printed textile I designed at college in the early 90's to make a more textured graphic image.

Fine art print on natural white, matte, ultra smooth, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using an advanced digital dry ink method to ensure vibrant image quality. Custom trimmed with 1" border for framing.

Halloween inspiration - black white grey & stylish

Mummified drink bottles by one charming party


Marshmallow goody bags by one charming party


Crushed Oreos adorn the top of the cake to resemble dirt, inside is red sponge. By one charming party


Halloween table display with pumpkin painting tutorial on Apples & Onions


Black lace candles on Family Chic


Table setting for Black Halloween in Sweet Paul Magazine


Black Pumpkin styled by Paul Lowe for Black Halloween in Sweet Paul Magazine


Framed Embroidery by Paul Vitale for Black Halloween at Sweet Paul Magazine


Spanish Moss tealight holders and white Ranunculus with wording make more grown up table decorations via One Charming Party.


Chiharu Shiota - In Silence - 2008


Sweet Paul's scary portraits tutorial is here.

So you have some ideas for the house, but what about you? I always think about how I'll do my hair, or my wigs. Here are some tamer than usual ideas for a more stylish party...


Désirée Dolron - Xteriors VI - 2003 (via Alain Truong, see more on Artnet)


Dusan Jaukovic working with Morpheum Couture for Best Shop (via Haute Macabre)


A Tribute to Dorian Gray. Shot by Vincent Alvarez for Soon International. Found via Haute Macabre.

Next up, what to wear? Perhaps that should have been before the hair, but I usually start with hair and work a look around it. When you are going for something stylish that shouldn't mean giving up on the costume side of things, dressing up is half the fun. One option is to think Couture or Avante Garde catwalk style take some Halloween fashion tips from the runway shows and magazines.


Gareth Pugh via About a Girl.


Gareth Pugh - Spring Collection, Women's 2010 via Million Looks.


Gareth Pugh - Spring Collection, Men's 2010 via Homme Times.


Gareth Pugh via About a Girl.


Peter Pilotto Franken-Fashion mask for model Guinevere van Seenus on Dazed Digital.


Chic Gothic Glam, shot by Craig McDean for Vogue Italia. Found via Haute Macabre.




Photographed by Jerry Bennet :: Modeled & MUA by Manchester
Wardrobe and Styled by Alex London. Found via Haute Macabre.


Photos from Max.Tan’s F/W 2010 collection via Haute Macabre.


Iris van Herpen - Capriole - Paris Haute Couture Show

I have so much more but don't have time to find the links, perhaps another time? FOr now I need to get on with my own Halloween arrangements, like dusting off Mr P's green lady painting 'Tina' by J.H.Lynch which is perfect for Halloween in a mobile home since it oozes kitsch. I'll try and get a photo if I have time.

Six Days in France - My first public book

'Six Days in France' - Front cover


'Six Days in France' pages 12 + 13


'Six Days in France' pages 48 + 49


'Six Days in France' pages 54 + 55


'Six Days in France' pages 36 + 37


'Six Days in France' pages 28 + 29


'Six Days in France' pages 60 + 61

By now you'll have guessed my M.E. got worse rather than better hence my long blog absence, which makes me even more happy that I've finally managed to collate some of my photo's from France 2006 into a book that can help me travel in my mind, even when I'm confined to my bed. Unlike my previous books this one is available to buy, just click here to preview or order a copy. The photos above give a flavour of what's inside. And to tempt you even more you can get 20%* off using the code ADBLURB by 31st December 2011.

*Offer valid through December 31, 2011 (11:59 p.m. local time). A 20% discount is applied toward a minimum product total of $12.95. Maximum discount is USD $200.00 off product total. This offer is good for one-time use, and cannot be combined with other promotional codes, gift cards, or used for adjustments on previous orders.

With my muscles and mind in slow motion these days my old photographs really help to slow the worrying leakage of memories from mind and putting them together in a way that satisfies my eye provides a creative outlet. With that in mind, watch this space towards the end of the year for news on the companion book, Six Hours in Italy.

So what else has happened since my last post? Mostly gentle gardening to keep my muscles working. Mr P's garden has reaped the benefits and with my energy so low he has been amazing at helping with any heavy digging that was needed to transform his plot. He now loves it as much as I do and gets endless pleasure from the plants, animals and insects that now fill it in all seasons.

Oops, I've wilted! Was planning to write a bit more and add more pics but my energy has just evaporated, that's how it is these days. Perhaps another time. So let me just wish you all a Happy New Year and say how much I miss all your blogs that I used to read so much. I want to again in the future. I hope all your lives have had plenty of highs to keep you going through the tough times that most people are having these days. Enjoy the little triumphs as much as the big ones.

Six Days in France by C. Daniels | Make Your Own Book

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.

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.

Blue stays, red fades to pink

LA has an abundance of blue walls changing tone with the passing of the day. If we'd had time I'd have loved to do a series of the same walls over the course of a day to see how much those blues change.

Touches of red

LA Trip, March '08, Venice parking sign

LA Trip, March '08

I've no internet access until Tuesday so I'm scheduling photo's for each day I'm away.