The Happy List

1// Tree Bed by Shawn Lovell. 

2// Love the combination of the turquoise chairs and the dark scuffed floor.

3// Striking Truths on risk... 

4// This beautiful photograph. 

5// This glittery dress. 

6// Such a sweet alphabet print. 

7// Unicorns obviously. 

8// Love Katie's pink clogs and knee socks! 

There's a look at what is making me happy this week... Also in real life happiness I am almost done setting up my Etsy christmas pop-up shop! Can't wait to open my digital doors! Plus some fun design meetings have been happening. Lot's to do but all very exciting. 

What's making you happy this week? 

x Rachel 

A Christmassy Craft Fair

I'm so happy to have done my first craft fair! It was so fun, and amazing to have a chance to set up shop next to some lovely local Derbyshire artists. I thought I'd share a few pictures of my little stall with you all - I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. 

To say thanks to you all for the lovely encouraging comments and tweets over the last couple of weeks I will be holding a big blog sale of everything I have left from the fair, with a special readers discount of course :) So keep an eye out tomorrow for the launch!

x Rachel 

Craft Fair Inspirations

//sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5//

With the craft fair tomorrow I'm having one last sorting out day, which means working out how I'm going to display my products. Pinterest has helped me a lot with this planning of course, and here are a few fun and pretty ideas that I came across. I particularly love the use of suitcases and raw wood to display things - it's amazing how many simple ways there are to create levels of interest on the table!

I better get back to it now, those jingle bell garlands aren't going to pack themselves :) 

x Rachel 

Craft Fair Preparations

I can't believe that my first ever craft fair is this week! Our living room has been a craft explosion pretty much full time for the last couple of weeks, but I've got quite a few pretty christmassy decorations and gifts to show for it...

 I thought I'd share some little peeks of what I'll be selling on Wednesday. I'll be sharing them in full detail after that because whatever I have left I will put on sale for you lovely readers! So if you see anything you like, you'll know where to find it ;) 

Now I'm in full packaging and display mode, so look out for a little shop display inspiration post later on... 

x Rachel 

DIY iPhone Case

I've been wanting to make my own iPhone case since... Well since before I got an iPhone! I finally got round to it, and here's how I did it:

You will need: A clear snap on iPhone case (mine is from Ebay), sturdy decorative paper, craft knife, needle and thread. 

1// Draw around your iPhone case on to the back of the paper, don't forget the hole for the camera!

2// Cut out the paper and make sure it fits into the back of the case. You may need to trim it down a bit.

3// You could even just leave it at that, but because I'm a glutton for punishment I decided to cross-stitch a little heart on there. I advice against this if your paper is really thin as it won't take all the stabbing! 

4// Carefully snap the case back on to your iPhone with the paper slipped inside, check it fits... and you're done. 

The great thing is that because you haven't glued the paper into your case you can change it up as often as you like. Hooray for DIY! 

x Rachel 

P.S. I posted another iPhone case DIY a while ago - if you fancy making one out of felt, take a look!

5 things I love about London

Sometimes I don't think I appreciate living in London enough. I'm really a country bumpkin at heart, but I still want to make the most of my time in the city while I'm here. So I thought I'd start a new series here on the blog; London Living... an appreciation of London's hidden (and not so hidden) gems. I'll be sharing some of my favourite things to do here in good old Blighty's capital, and hopefully find some new favourites along the way. 

I thought I'd start off with five reasons that I love London...

1// The artistic community - it feels nice to be around so many like-minded people. 

2// Every area has it's own identity - you can turn on to another street and be in a completely different world. It's like 100 cities in one!

3// As much as we all like to complain about the transport system... It's pretty amazing to be able to get around pretty much everywhere without needing a car. 

4// Fashion is SO diverse here - it makes everything a bit more interesting! 

5// The green space. I'm so grateful that London is one of the greenest cities in the world - Hampstead Heath anyone? 

Do you live in London or have you visited? What are your 5 favourite things? 

x Rachel 

Wedding Design Inspiration

It's not very often that you get to design the wedding of two of your favourite people... but that's what I'm lucky enough to be doing! The big day is coming up fast (early 2013) and plans have already been in motion for months, but I thought now is the perfect time to share a few wedding design inspirations as things are starting to take shape very nicely.

//source 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7//

So that's what my pinterest is filling up with at the moment... It's a hard life ;) 

x Rachel 

Weekly Art: Su Blackwell

All images by Su Blackwell www.sublackwell.co.uk

Welcome to another edition of Not-Quite-Weekly Art. I've shared my obsession with book sculpture here on the blog before, but I've only just discovered the work of Su Blackwell. As an installation artist and art director, Su Blackwell works predominantly in paper in the realms of fairytale and folklore. 

I find the amount of detail she manages to create absolutely astounding, and I love that she includes tiny light fittings to bring the scenes to life. The delicate swing and tree house in the first image.... There are just no words!!

I made my first attempt at a bit of book art today, it's a surprise for some friends so I won't share it just yet.... but watch this space! 

x Rachel 

23 Before 24

1// Fully support myself financially with my design work - no more "pay the bills" jobs.

2// Stay healthy - eat well. 

3// Keep up yoga and improve my flexibility.

4// Learn to LOVE drawing... I'm nearly there. 

5// Launch my Etsy shop. 

6// Bake lots of bread at home.

7// Make a dress (I mean it this time).

8// Get our prop hire commune plan in motion...

9// Take the blog to the NEXT level.

10// Sell at a craft fair or two.

11// Crochet a granny square blanket.

12// Find my "niche".

13// Go to festivals with a show.

14// Set up a Pointless Pretty Things Facebook page - and use it for promotion.

15// Start our record collection.

16// Learn how to use google analytics.

17// Work through my list of business books.

18// Improve my cooking skills.

19// Pick up the photo-a-day challenge again in the new year.

20// Take more "memory" photos as well as creative/work shots.

21// Learn to use IdeasTap properly.

22// Become more efficient with my time.

23// Plan and schedule my blogging properly and consistently.

Ambitious but do-able I think! Has anyone else blogged their goals? Leave a link below, I'd love to see!

x Rachel 

DIY Letter Organiser

I'm terrible with leaving important letters "somewhere safe" and then forgetting where I've put them. So I made this little hanging organiser for our post to live in! It has an "IN" and an "OUT" compartment, so that I remember to post those pesky birthday cards too! This is possibly the cheapest DIY project I've ever done as it basically uses things I found in the recycling bin - can't get much greener than that :) 

You will need: cardboard (I used a cereal box), decorative paper, brown packaging paper, scissors, glue, string, tape, stamps/paints/anything to decorate. 

1// Cut out a length of cardboard, slightly wider than a standard sized letter (such as a bill). Then cut out two pieces of sturdy brown packing paper - again slightly bigger than your letter. 

2// Cut out 4 strips of decorative paper (about 5cm wide) to make the sides of each slip folder... Then concertina-fold them.

3// Use clear tape to stick down your folder sides, then glue the brown packing paper on top. 

4// Tape down the bottom side of the packing paper to seal your little expanding pockets. I used some decorative paper to hem the edges. 

5// Label and decorate your pockets! I used my vintage floral stamps and some more brown paper to cover the cereal box surface. 

6// Attach some string to the top, and hang up your masterpiece! And a useful masterpiece at that.

x Rachel 

My very own Diana F+

Remember when I posted this on The Happy List a couple of weeks ago? Well my Dad very kindly got me my very own for my birthday! So exciting!! Thanks Dad :) 

She's loaded up with her very first roll of X-Pro 200 film and ready to go. I'm kind of nervous about shooting film as I'm so out of practice.... but can't wait to get my first pictures developed and to play with double exposures!

I'll be sharing a Diana series here on the blog, so toy cameras at the ready everyone - I think a link up will be in order...

x Rachel 

22 Before 23... Revisited

It's my birthday tomorrow (hooray!) - so it's time to see how I got on with my 22 before 23 goals list... Click here to see the original post. 

1. Read 20 books - not quite... maybe this time!
2. Open an Etsy Shop - coming soon....
3. Increase my readership - I've met so many lovely people this year through the blog!
4. Start accepting sponsors - Interested in a free ad-swap? Go here.
5. Get the hang of Twitter - find me @rachelemmagood
6. Continue to improve my photography - I shared some top tips here.
7. Get a table at my first craft fair - more to come later in the month! So excited!
8. Do at least one big set and costume design - I'm pretty happy with the work I've done so far this year. If you want to have a peek at my design portfolio go here.
9. Go to the theatre and exhibitions twice a month - hmmm maybe I managed once a month... I didn't really keep track!
10. Make a dress - still haven't given myself the time to do this! But I'm determined.
11. Learn to crochet - see here.
12. Knit something other than a scarf - no... but I did knit another scarf! I know....
13. Draw every day - still not quite, but I have definitely improved my confidence!
14. Keep my desk tidy and use it more - well now I don't have a desk anymore, so no.
15. Pay off student overdraft
16. Plan and schedule my blogging - I guest posted about this on Hannah's blog.
17. Get an iPhone and start using instagram - @rachelemmagood :)
18. Work on a film in the art department - I couldn't squeeze it in this year!
19. Watch more good films
20. Have a go at some book art - I'm planning some for a very exciting project...
21. Style a photo shoot - here and here.
22. Sort out all of my stuff at home and have a boot sale

Phew, I'm actually quite proud of my efforts... especially as I didn't actually write the list until a couple of months after my birthday last year. Now to start writing my 23 before 24 list. Does anyone else do this? It's really satisfying I have to say - but that is just the list-lover in me. 

x Rachel 

Lately on Instagram...

1// The office (a.k.a my kitchen table). 
2//Rainy sunday morning, very glad to be inside today! 
3// My sewing machine was poorly so I gave her a little make-over. 
4// Our outfits for Longplay - can you guess the theme? More on that later... 
5// Gloomy London... my view from the tube station. 
6// Pancakes and tea.
7// Day of the Dead party at work the other night. I do like my job! 
8// A very autumnal walk in Leeds Castle grounds. 
9// New hair!

One of my favourite things about instagram is how you can see the general colours of the pictures changing with the seasons. Like little insta-leaves...? 

Happy November (my favourite month!) 

x Rachel 

Work in Progress: Theatre MAB

Today I thought I'd share a little insight into one of the projects I'm working on at the moment. Theatre MAB is a collective of theatre makers, artists, designers, puppeteers and performers of which I am a part of, and we are in the developing stages of something really exciting... 

MAB focuses on telling untold stories from around the world in their original languages, and right now we are exploring the tales of Loki: the shady trickster from ancient scandinavian folklore. We're in the devising stages and working up to an immersive storytelling performance in the next few months. Without giving too much away... here's a couple of my first design sketches. And yes we are making a tree - it's going to be big. 

Designing for this kind of project is challenging but so rewarding. We've basically got to create magic - which I think is what got me into theatre in the first place! 

So that's my latest work in progress... I'll be posting more on the show as it draws near. If you'd like to know more about the project, keep an eye on the Theatre MAB blog where we'll be posting news about upcoming performances and such like. 

x Rachel