An update, a quiz and Easter holidays!

Quick! A test! when you look at numbers 1 & 2.. what well known logo's do you see??

Okay, so, that was random, I apologise! What you're looking at here is my current (and last for this year!) project for my degree (Fine Art in case you didn't know...). I chose the subject of this project myself, which is a lot harder to do than I thought! Anyway, I'm nearing the end of it now, tomorrow begins my 2 week Easter break and then another 2 weeks to finish up then it's d-day! A.k.a Deadline Day! I also have a research folder to finish, a visual test to study for and a lengthy essay to write (yuck). So not that much of a break really, but that's okay :)

I get to see all of my family, so just like Christmas there will be copious amount's of travelling, but I'll be blogging at least every other day to keep me sane ;) Also! Hello, I'm getting my macbook pro next weekend, I am SO excited for that, expect me to get more and more giddy as the week goes by!

(Incase you'd like to know, my project is about taking an image and stripping it down to it's "bare bones" so to speak, the very basics, the core. For example, above I used the Photoshop on two well know logos and reduced them down. Are they recognizable now? do they still have the same meaning?)

Answers were #1 was Google, #2 Coca Cola!
xo Annabel

All artwork posted here is my own, please refrain from taking these images without crediting me and linking back here, Thank you.

Guest Post from Melanie at My Billie!

Hi my beautiful blog readers! hoping the weather is just as fantastic where you are as it is where I am!! Today I have a sweet little guest post from my friend, Melanie! She's going to be sharing with you a lovely little DIY that'd be the perfect project to sit in the sun and do with a nice ice cold smoothie (Or beer if you like! :P). Make sure you check out her blog at the end, because she has some a-maazing content! xo Annabel

Hi guys! This is Melanie from My Billie! Me and sweet Annabel have been blog friends from the beginning and I'm so honored to guest post for her today. A lot of my blog's content revolves around fashion, styling and handmade so today I wanted to show you how I made a super cheap jewelry organizer!

    

Its actually as simple as it looks! I had this huge framed print that no longer went with the decor in my apartment, so I covered it with a neutral wrapping paper (I used double-sided tape to secure it) and stuck small clear hanging mounts on it in random spots (the kind with the adhesive backing). Then you hang your frame and jewelry up! That simple! : )

I also have an Etsy shop that you can check out here. Most of the jewelry in these pictures is available in my shop! Thanks so much for taking a peak at my DIY and go to My Billie to see what else I'm crafting up!

A wonderful weekend

Today has been such a lovely day, filled with sunshine, shorts and a nice walk around town. It may not sound all that warm to you wherever you are but today it reached 19°C in my town! (actually it's a city but let's not get technical) That doesn't sound warm at all really does it, but I swear it was ;)
I also wandered into boots and got the most adorable sample bottle of benefit foundation I have ever seen. The woman practically threw it into my hands and ran away, so it's not the correct shade, but oh well! That was all I got on my travels today, except for some milk and pears on the way home (odd combo I know).

Anyway, today I thought I'd share with you just some of the lovely blogs gracing my sidebar that have supported me this month! I definitely think you should check them out.

1. My Billie - DIY's, creative goodness, style & more fill up this amazing blog, plus the lovely chick who runs it is a star! (My favourite post)

2. Modern Buttercup - A sugary sweet blog filled with macarons and inspiration (My favourite post)

3. Charlottes web - A fellow English lady who has a fantastic writing style that I love to read! (My favourite post)

If you'd like to be there next month, all spaces are free and are ad-swaps only, email me if you'd like to be part of the action! All blogs who sponsor me have the opportunity to guest post on my blog if they so wish (no pressure!) :)

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend!
xo Annabel

An Insta-a-day keeps the doctor away

1. Modelling my new necklaces  2. The uni library  3. He was reading Harry Potter on the train

4. Passing fields  5. Baby face (M's Nephew)  6. The clouds on the way home

7. GIANT book!  8. Easter treat (I love their sugar shell best)  9. Blog.

This past week or so has been a little boring, then a little dramatic and not-so-nice, full of expensive travelling and a lack of will to go through that huge Art Theory book (3000 word essay be gone!). But fear not, next week will be so much better, I've promised myself that.

Anywaaaay!
That was my week and a bit more in an odd disjointed pile of 9 images, just 9. I don't make these posts unless I have 9 images, is that weird? ;)

Happy Thursday!  (It's actually Friday in 11 minutes, I'm cutting this a little close!)
xo Annabel

A new mission

I have decided to start taking more care of my skin, mainly because it's annoying that people with nice flawless skin make me jealous. Also because I'm 20, and it's about time! 

Okay so my skin isn't the worst, It's certainly got a lot better in the past few years, but it's picky, it's oily one day and dry the next, and I've got quite a lot of redness and a few scars of old spots hanging around, it's a good look...

SO! I subscribed to glossybox last month because I like expensive miniature things.. & It's been a No7 love-fest at boots with me receiving a £5 off voucher every time I go in. This all seemed to spark something inside me and suddenly I'm reading every beauty blog I can get my hands on (Thank you kindly bloglovin) and writing lists of things I'd like to buy and try (£££££!!)

Anyway, I ended up purchasing two products from the new No7 beautiful skin range with my vouchers (I saved £10 because I bought them on separate occasions! woo!) and falling in love with two lovely products from February's glossybox (granted one is a hair product but that okay) & I thought I'd introduce a little monthly feature on my blog so I can keep track of what I'm using, how my skin is doing and share my love for all things beauty! :) This is in no way going to turn my blog into a beauty blog, don't fear, I'm still a little crafty artist inside, I just wan't the outside to be a little more well kept ;)

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream - Normal/Oily  

This stuff is like magic for me, I swear. I'm sure there's better out there, but I haven't used a moisturiser in years and for now I think I want my skin to propose to the little plastic tub.

It applies easily, takes a few minutes to sink in and then hey preto, my skin is soft, matte (For a good portion of the day) and ready for action!

No7 Beautiful Skin Purifying Exfoliator 

This is a nice fine grain that still manages to give my face a good scrub, I've only used it once so far as it's my most recent purchase, but that one use left my skin so fresh and soft.

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Relaxing Balm

I've used this on my hair every single time I've had a shower since I got it, it's a lovely non-greasy gel formula, almost like water that goes on damp hair. I'm actually almost out of my sample now and am going to have to see how my hair is without to justify buying a new one! It does I think.. make my hair dry a little faster and smooth my frizz (okay so that's a definite) so instead of a wild mess once dry, my hair is calm, cool and collected.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

Another glossybox mini. This has lived in my shower and I love it, the smell is nice, like a sweet orange. I put a few drops on my scrunchie and it creates a soft foam that leaves me seriously squeaky clean, honestly.. I think my skin squeaked. I also have been using it to wash my face, 1 drop diluted and rubbed between my hands makes a light foam but leaves my face feeling so clean. I'm not even half way through the bottle yet so we'll have to see If I repurchase, but I do really like it! :)

Phew that was long winded, I am sorry! maybe only 2 or 3 products next month instead? 

Any new products or beauty blogs you've been loving this month? share them with me a fuel my new addiction! ;)

xo Annabel

Mini moo

Hello! Today I finally got around to designing some business cards! I have decided to go with moo mini cards because they're amazing quality, super sweet, and I could if I had the patience design every single card to be different (I don't but hey). Plus I also had a 20% off code! yay!

I've been pining for cards for such a long time, I need them to send out with my jewellery, I feel so unprofessional without any cards ;)

I ended up designing 16 different cards, 2 of which will be special ones with scratch off discount codes on :) 

I'm so excited! I can't wait for them to arrive! Here's a little preview ... 

I'll show you more when they arrive soon
Happy Monday! xo

Brand new

I FINALLY got around to taking pictures of my new pieces today, the light was just about okay, it's been depressingly cold and cloudy round these parts for far too long...

Anyway, yes! new! as you can see my obsession with natural stones is off the charts and continuing to grow, I have some beautiful raw turquoise and quartz pieces coming next time! ;) 

What we have here are some fierce collar necklaces, 3 tier opalite beauties and triangle-ametrine love. I'm so proud of all of these, and probably a little too in love, eh.

How about taking a proper look?

(PS, don't forget there's a 10% off code in my sidebar!)

Oh and, happy Friday m'dears!
xo Annabel

Inspired

Can you believe it's Wednesday already?! I sure can't. I'm not entirely sure where Tuesday went... I know I made spaghetti bolognese for tea, but the rest of the day tumbled away into oblivion, and by that I mean procrastinating. Ack!
I wasn't sure what to blog about today, but then I realised I hadn't done a post for my "Inspired" series in such a long time. Which got me thinking about what has been inspiring me lately... and the answer? other than the beautiful geo trend that's going on, there's not that much. Soooo... I'm digging down deep and sharing with you one of my favourite artists. Rafael Lozanno-Hemmer. I went to see a solo exhibition of his in Manchester a few years ago (Twice actually) and it just took my breath away, I was obsessed. I wrote my main Essay from last year on the exhibition, and have included his work as research in 2 of my projects since. (I did say obsessed didn't I??)
If you ever hear his work is in town, just go. It's not something I can write about without rambling on for hours about the experience.

This was the Pulse room, my favourite. A machine takes your pulse and then plays it to you in the form of a flashing light bulb, it's quite mesmerizing because the whole room is glowing with pulses, all different, even mine for a while until it moved out of the system. This picture I took (excuse the blurry old camera-ness) shows my pulse glowing bright at the top, and Michaels' at the bottom about to join the rest.
I also saw (& took part in) while I was there "33 questions per minute", "Microphones", "Empty your pockets", "Pulse Index" and a few more.

Hope you have been inspired to visit and experience some alternative art forms!
xo Annabel

It's that time again

It's instagram Monday! Is that a thing? no? oh...

1. Percy!  2. Sparkle again  3. Necklace made by yours truly

4. The mess hidden behind my laptop  5. D.I.Y converse!  6. More cat clothing for my collection ;)

7. M's slightly insulting tee  8. My dads' dog, Douglas.  9. painting with a very cracked brush

And that was my week, sort of! If you want to follow me on instagram my username is FragmentedSplendour. My ever so slightly beat up looking converse got a mini makeover that I'm going to share with you this week! I also noticed that cat top in H&M & even though I'm trying to be good with my money this month I made an exception, it was £8 I think, but it cheered me up immensely, so I say good purchase! 

I have also been including a lot of gemstones and brass bits in my jewellery lately, I absolutely love it, the more interesting/quirky looking I can make a piece the better, though I think Mikey thinks I'm just an oddball. I want to try and make pieces you can't get anywhere else! too much to ask maybe? ;) I've got a little shop update coming this week hopefully, if the lighting is good for pictures :)

Happy Monday! xo

Fab friday

I was going to make this post yesterday, as I usually name the feature Fabulous Thursdays (even though I know Fab Fridays sounds better) ... but then life happened and then the rest of the evening was just lots of episodes of Modern Family (We have just started watching, love it!)

I have been rather busy with my current project work and I still have plenty to do! so short and sweet posts will be a common thing for the next week or two until I find time to focus more. The blog won't be bare though, posting keeps me sane! ;)

This amazing tape from seventytree is on my wishlist and teetering into my must buy right now list! I also discovered the Seventytree blog, which I love!

This ring, oh my gosh this ring! Vintage, my birthstone (opals) and sparkle! dreamy!! Shame it's £900...

Elsewhere:

+ Melanie shares tips on a style I wish I could pull off!

+ These gifs are sweet, I wish I got to see how I slept during the night :)

+ Sarah posts about inspiration and blogging, an interesting read.

+ I love anything ombre, from ombre Napkins (found via oh the lovely things) to ombre jeans!

Have a lovely weekend! xo

Font faves

I'm a bit of a font geek, really! I had a mini break down last night when I realised I wouldn't have all my fonts when I got my new mac! but Michael assured me it would be okay and that I can transfer the folder.. I'm obviously sceptical about this because it's a whole different operating system. I foresee myself sat with both laptops going through my fonts on my Dell and then hunting them down on the internet to download on my mac... one by one... *le sigh*

Anyway! I compiled a little list of my favourites at the moment! They should all be free, because as far as I know I've never paid for any fonts, though there are some I'd gladly buy for my collection if I could! ;)

1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6.

Happy Wednesday!

xo Annabel

Today I bought...

I thought I'd share with you what I've bought today, because I don't usually buy this much at any one time! also, as usual, I didn't come away with what I originally planned, but doesn't that happen to everyone?? :)

It was actually only a quick trip into town, to which I spent

• Over £12 on art supplies (canvas boards, paints and brushes) 
• A FORTUNE on ink for my printer :( (It was the first time buying full size cartridges for it so I had to I guess...) 
• and some veggie percys! They are so tasty, I really like their texture compared to regular percy pigs! :)

All in all I spent over £60 yikes! & I didn't even get the right colour paint!
xo

Instantly Monday update

1. Smurfs! Actually an awesome film :) 2. Fringe necklace 3. Editing

4. I like making patterns 5. It's Seth! yes I know, he's adorable 6. Sunshine

7. My threadless Harry Potter top 8. Us :) 9. Some work in my sketchbook on possession.

So that's what's been going on this week! My parents came up at the weekend with Seth, we smuggled him into my halls, it was... interesting.

They also told me about an opportunity for me to get a new laptop, a macbook pro! I think I died inside from joy when those two words came into the conversation. I love my little Dell a lot, I purchased him all by myself nearly 3 years ago now and he's an excellent trooper, but come on, a mac?? a mac is my dream baby! So we'll see!! :)

Happy Happy Happy Monday folks! xo

Red shoes are taking my fancy today, especially these 3 all from modcloth!

Flats // Heels // Wedges

+  These lovely watercolour fashion illustrations by Ioana Avram, I love how they fit the colour theme of my blog.

+ I've seen a few DIY's on creating your own thread and nail typography, but I think this is the winner! 

+ This is the perfect Mother's day gift for my momma (mother's day is this month in the UK!)

+ Aztec tribal style prints in my clothing make me happy.

Happy Friday! 

Month #3

Hello to the new month!

This month I aim to:

1. Have at least 1 week where I post every single day.

2. Share a little DIY I have planned!

3. Visit everyone who leaves a comment and spread the love! <3

Hope your march is filled with lots of spring flowers and happiness!
xo Annabel