This month on Instagram

My recent life on 

INSTAGRAM

Life has become very full

very busy 

It is exciting and I will let you all know what I have been up to very soon

Unfortunately though it means I have less time to spend updating the blog

I am however still very active on 

Follow @helenjamesdesign

Personalised Wrapping Paper

Yesterday was my Mother's Birthday

It was a significant one

I wrapped her presents in sheets of paper that I photocopied old photo's on to 

making a highly personal wrapping paper

I simply used A4 paper and glued 4 sheets together with glue stick for the larger one

It went down an absolute treat 

x

I twittered this yesterday and while I usually would not repeat myself it got such a huge reaction I thought I would post it here for those who missed it or don't twitter

instagram

My most recent Instagram pics

I know a lot of you who check in here at the blog are still not hooked on instagram

but I have to say I cannot get enough

instant beautiful images

of friends, family, beautiful places and things through the eyes of some of 

my favourite tastemakers

If you are not already addicted ........

get going 

x

Instagram

It has taken me a long time to embrace Twitter

The same for Pinterest, although, I am warming up to it 

but Instagram had me at Hello

Are you an Instagrammer yet?

click on the button below to follow me

helenjamesdesign on Instagram

Food Blogging baking

The loveliest thing about having a few free days 

Is having some time to bake 

The first thing on my list was 

Imen from

I Married an Irish Farmer's

Irish Brown Bread

and I can attest that this is a perfect brown soda bread

moist and crumbly

and full of flavour

I added sunflower seeds to mine

Imen has been nominated for the

Saveur food blog awards

you can vote for her here

It would be a much deserved win in my opinion

Yesterday evening Imen tweeted about 

a baking blog that is also nominated for an award

Call me cupcake

What a beautiful blog!

Maybe you already know about it

and if so .... why didn't you tell me !

The photography is stunning

so late last night I just had to try the recipes

-as great photography is all well and good but if the recipes don't work? 

pufh! well I wouldn't like to send you there and 

not be able to back up my recommendation.

So, in the spirit of blog research and authenticity 

I fired up the stove yesterday evening

As I had an abundance of chocolate left from Easter

I decided to make the 

Perfect chocolate espresso cupcakes

(actually there is no chocolate in the cake, but there is in the frosting)

Oh goodness these were delicious

so moist 

I couldn't believe that I had made them myself

I halved the frosting recipe and still had way too much 

but they were truly delicious cupcakes 

NOTE* in call me cupcake recipes 1dl = 100 ml 

and is a volume measure

in case, like me, you had no idea what is was 

all images Helen James

After a while.........

The problem with not posting for a while is then I get in a tizzy

about breaking the barrier 

thinking that the first post after a hiatus has to be mind blowing

so.... I put it off

and put it off, waiting to have time to create the perfect post

But

the time never comes

Here are 2 beautiful images from 

T magazine

backstage at 

Alexander McQueen

Would you like a bag with that?

Paper "Hermes" bag

by Wonder Anatomie

Is this an instance where a Fake bag is actually ok?

cost $100

via 

5 inch and up

Portrait of Isabella Blow

Portrait of Isabella Blow

Via 

Garance Dore

Garance Dore 

The Blogger extraordinaire

posted this image today from

The National Portrait gallery

It is a sculpture consisting of stuffed animals and feathers

I find the execution of this enthralling

Creating an image from a shadow 

something from nothing

so thought provoking and inspiring

as a creative person I am constantly

Looking, questioning and exploring

I have been reading

THIS

 A book by the insiring

Keri Smith

The journey of the creative mind is a fascinating one

we can be our own worst critic

"Compare and despair"

We need to remember to give back to the well

the creative well

so I have begun my explorations 

i will keep you posted

Danko Steiner

I saw this

Photograph of Hamish Bowles by Danko Steiner

at Little Augury

Which reminded me of This Shoot

Because of this detail

and lead me to
HERE

To Discover 

These

Final 3 photographs by

Danko Steiner

blog blank......

Blog Blank: when you saw an image or an article on a blog

not too long ago that you now want to reference, re-read,

show someone or refer to for some other reason......

but you cannot remember where you saw it and cannot

after too many an hour trawling through familiar blogs,

find that one image/article/christmas present you were looking for

I married an Irish farmer

Imen of I married an Irish Farmer

I am both humbled and flattered that the wonderful Imen of 

I married an irish Farmer

asked me to do an interview for her wonderful blog.

Her questions were truly thought provoking for me

to read it and find out what I am up to here in New York

click HERE

I look forward to the day Imen and I meet in the real world

for proper teatime

A Mothers Arithmetic

coffee

Laptop

Toddler

coffee + computer + cute toddler = very light posting until I replace my Laptop

Thank you for all you emails and comments

We are settling in well

Definitely adjusting to apartment living with 3 kids

but loving NYC and all it has to offer

please bear with me during this crazy time

xx

Wendy Bevan and The Fashionternet

 

Why is it that as digital photography progresses and produces sharper and more vivid images, what becomes appealing are ones that are blurred and faded.

All images Wendy Bevan 

I would like to hang any one of these on my wall.

I do believe that as the world of Fashion changes, with the acceleration of the internet as the heralder of Next seasons "big thing" so magazines will have to change.

No longer does the consumer wait for the September Issue to see the Fall collections, she has already seen the show livestreamed from the Brands website: Prada  

Had all the trends twittered to her by Cathy Horyn, Kiki Georgiou or Liberty London Girl.

Seen how the Fashion crowd have interpreted it, (trends begin to filter through editors and stylists attending the shows, moments after it ends) via The sartorialist or Garance Dore.

So the role of the magazine will have to adapt and evolve.  One thing that I believe will have to happen is that they will become more experimental and daring with their photo shoots. The consumer will buy the magazine because she wants to pore over the images, rip them out, stick them on her wall........... just like this one.

Tag I'm it

I was honoured to be tagged by the ever inspirational Errant Aesthete, a daily source of insight and delight.
How it works
I must divulge 10 things about myself
I must Tag 7 other blogs

So, here goes.....

Chinese embroidered panel from Marla Mallet

1.
I grew up on the grounds of A Museum of Oriental Art and Textiles, where my Father worked. I am sure seeing these ancient works of Art daily, inspired my love and obsession with textiles and is what lead me to study this at Art College.

 

2.
I love to cook and in particular to bake, I read cookbooks like most people read a novel.
I make bread, cakes or cookies almost every other day, but am also partial to chutneys, Roast dinners and curries. I see it as my therapy!

3.

I am very stubborn. This can be an asset but I am trying to learn that sometimes it's good thing to back down. .............. I'm working on it.

image via FLICKR freeparking's photostream

4.
I am mother to 3 very energetic little boys, 2 dogs and 1 cat, so if I am not posting here I am probably changing a nappy, making a ham sandwhich, helping with homework, putting a child to bed, feeding a dog or taking a nap. ............. that is if I am not working.

 5.
One of the most magical experiences of my life was a moonlit horse ride around the Pyramids at Giza, when my parents were living in Cairo.  It all almost went pear shaped when one of the Horses bolted with my younger brother, then 8 yrs old, luckily an Egyptian Olympic showjumper was one of our riding compatriots and he rode to the rescue.

Lalique cuff via Diamonds and Rhubarb

6.
In another life I would have been a Jewelry designer.

painting by me 2002

7.
I have exhibited my paintings in New York, and although I haven't picked up a brush in a few years it is something I aspire to return to.

image from The Newyorker August 7 1995

8.
I was a member of a Theatre Group in New York and acted in "Off Broadway" productions, for a while I thought I might follow this path but the lure of the visual would not succumb to a life of treading the boards.

 

image via indecorous taste

9.
I love colour and am intrigued by colour theory, and while I use it continually in my work, introducing more into my own home and wardrobe is an ongoing project.
 

10.
My Friends are incredibly important to me, I treasure them and hope they know it.

and the nominations are..............

PVE

INdecorous Taste

Katy Elliot

Little Green Notebook

The Newlywed Diaries

Yellsoftly

Living Art and Interiors

 

The Brides Cafe and Yell Softly

photo from The Brides Cafe

Check out the lovely post on the Florica Headpieces over on The Brides Cafe today.

The Brides Cafe is a site about all things Bridal run by the incredibly talented Florist Janie Medley.

I love the features on Real Life Brides, those Brides Cafe Ladies are a beautiful and talented lot.
There is also another chance to win a headpiece! So, hop on over there and leave a comment .

Also Thank you so much to Sariah over at Yellsoftly for the lovely feature.
I love her suggestions of pairing a headpiece with these two outfits.

 Haider-Ackerman

 

LANVIN

photos courtesy of Style.com via Yellsoftly