A series of blog posts documenting cool things I've seen, been inspired by and want to share each week. Instead of filling your inbox with another newsletter or your feed with more stuff.
12th to 20th March
The sun came out and all of a sudden everything was fine. Or at least felt fine.
Sunshine, especially the first after a bleak, bleak winter, is the best medicine. Seeing Spring flowers pop with blooms, blossoms bursting out along hederows and the bright golden yellows of daffodils is heaven. I haven't even mentioned the magnolias, it's all dreamy right now and easy to switch off the news and pretend the nutcase in the big white house isn't going even more nuts.
So, what good human things have inspired me this week ...
I had to pop to Bristol (one of the best and coolest cities in the world) for my yearly mammogram. My hyper vigilance is really an excuse for a lovely day in the city and it really delivered. All across the park in the sun were gorgeous young people hanging out, talking and looking just like it did way back when I was a teenager. I love seeing the skater jeans, with skateboards in tow and all the eclectic styling. Also loved one skater boy voicing his approval of Spain's politics towards the recent war, smart and cool.
Mammogram just took a second, top off, stand very close to machine one side, stand very close to machine other side and away. It's super quick and easy and the Bristol NHS breast clinic is excellent. (all clear by the way)
Check your breasts regularly, any problems sooner found, are sooner fixed.
To celebrate being scanned I went to some great vintage shops near St Nicks market and found some old Carhartts and flares in Flamingos vintage, which made my legs look soo long, so these came home with me.
I also swung by the sweet shop in the market for salty liquorice which I'm obsessed with.
If anyone would ever like to buy me a gift, make it salty liquorice!
It was a Mother's day Sunday and my wonderful Mum wanted to go to the Shepton Antiques Fair. The fair was so so but a lovely day looking at EVERYTHING with my brilliant Mum.
Favourites were a beautiful blanket stall @
Great textiles @
Some stunning ephemera prints and original drawings @
Worked on ...
Deadly Spring Dresses are in!
3 new prints, all very limited edition.
The finished dress to start a new collection. I recently had a conversation with a friend about how hard it was to finish work. It made me wonder how I would work if there wasn't a finish, more an evolving ongoing collection or theme?
It's usually when I come to the end of collection I see more.
Photography, the Spring is always a time I grab my camera and this year it's all about vintage lenses for me. The softness, I think I've found my balance.
What I've been watching
Bridgerton (you know where to find it) - this is always best watched when you're ill but I love the escapism. Also the mix of styling I've noticed with a gorgeous mash up of textiles. My hope is that teenagers watch this instead of shitsex porn. Not just old ladies knitting and loving the romance!
Gone to Earth and Man of Aran - these live on repeat Free on Youtube
Hard Truths by Mike Leigh - I couldn't stop thinking about this afterwards. A sublime piece of work, flawless and a lesson in perspective. I don't ever want to be that sad.
Oscars - well done to all. I love the Oscars, I love the celebration of film and creativity and the dresses. One of those things I'd rather was there, than not.
Reading
After Jessie Buckleys Desert Island Discs I ordered F**k it! by John Parkin
Good lesson for someone like me who ties themselves in knots about getting things right.
Gone to Earth by Mary Webb - for an ongoing project.
Music
Snakeface by Throwing Muses
This song just came to me out of the blue as I hummed 'not another drive in movie' I knew the song just not the band. I enjoyed the album University and had it on repeat this week.
This reminded me of Empire Records - firmly in my top 10 films forever.
and talking of Jessie Buckley - Wild Rose the film and soundtrack are incredible. Free to watch of channel 4 at the moment.
Artwork
Smock by Tessa Silva
Doing with my hands
Other than making dresses - gardening. Spring has Sprung and a seeds were sewn, plants moved to better spots and quickly trimmed, ready to grow, grow, grow.
Still Knitting. Still Photographing.
Smell
Get your nose right into a plant. Magnolias and Plum Blossom. I only just realised they smell! I also LOVE this Rose oil by Officine Universelle Buly
Taste
Salty Liquorice and Ottolenghi's delicious pomegranate rose and lemon harissa paste. I would be happy with this swirled through past and drissledon salads forever. Mix it with mayonnaise, eat it straight out the jar. Wonderful!
Lush Newsletter to read on Sundays
Grace Alexander
Grateful for
Still living in peace and having the privilage to 'ignore' the news for a bit. Realising there loads of really wonderful real people in the world and lots of ok people too. Just a few really bad people and some mad, but the baduns really need to be stopped.
I'm liking 1995 at the moment. 
The Smell of Blossom 
New dress for Deadly is the Female
Dresses Coming up for Deadly is the Female
Sketching and tinkering
Vintage Flares and new vintage style jeans from Deadly is the Female