Xmas Cards

Bristol graffiti hunting...

On Friday I went graffiti hunting in Bristol with Milo's camera and here some photographs of what I was inspired by. Afterwards I went out a-walking with the lovely Lucy, took some pictures, walking on Brandon Hills, ate yummy (yet expensive Thai food) and went to the art museum. I felt so inspired when I returned, but a combination of procrastination and running low on supplies made me give up on creating anything for the weekend.
Today Milo and I went to Hobbycraft so I could pick up some new blank cards and while I was there I picked up a few chipboard albums, one of which I'm using to create my art journal for the 52 week deck of me challenge.
This weekend I've been feeling like I've gotten nothing accomplished... no creating, no studying, no blogging....

Art Journal inspiration

I've been finding tons of inspiration over at this blog here , especially with the art journal challenges. I've decided to start the art journal 52 week Deck of Me challenges, which requires you to answer a question per week for a whole year in an artistic way. This weekend I want to get a nice spiral bound notebook to journal in. I'm planning on taking pictures of the challenges to show what comes out of my mind and on to the paper.
I've also been spending some time look at this website Imagination Prompt Generator , when I need something to write about. The prompt for right now is short and sweet "You have to bring some food for a party? What is it going to be"
Answer: I'd probably bring some yummy Mexican food like beans and rice and tortillas with some guacamole on the side. Yummmmmmmmmmmmm! I want some right now but it's only 9:35am.

I'm actually about to leave for my yoga internship/yoga class. Yesterday I went walking around Gloucester Road here in Bristol with Katie and I picked up some amazing multicoloured wool that I want to use to make legwarmers and some bits of scrapbooking paper with Xmas themes. I was a xmas card making fool yesterday and started thinking about how nice it'll be to decorate our flat for christmas.

xN

I'm thinking....

Get 'em while they last!

On November 29th, I'll be taking all of my goodies with me to the Bath Christmas Craft Fair to sell, that's why I've been holding back on putting new items on my Etsy shop. This is just a little reminder that if you see anything on Etsy that you are interested in buying, get it now because I can't guarantee that after the 29th any of the items will still be available.
x Nicole

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade ForEsmeWithLove.etsy.com

Today. What I Love....

Today, it's sunny outside and I feel rejuvenated and alive. It always amazes me what a little bit of sunshine in my window will do for my mood. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night to get some water and opened the blinds and the window. The sky was so clear, I could see the stars and a bright, bright moon. I opened the window and stuck my head out breathing in fresh, clean, moon charged air. As I got back into bed, I just watched the light from the moon spill in through the window into the bedroom and I didn't want to go back to sleep. I just wanted to stay up watching this beautiful night scene that was playing out in my bedroom. It's made me realize how much I've been missing my communion with nature, being immersed totally in the nature that's around me, being in an environment that totally inspires me. Sleeping outside in a tent, so close to the earth. Feeling dirt and earth on my fingers, feelings the sunshine on my face, looking at the moon and stars, swimming in the sea. I know that I'll have this all back someday, it's just that I feel so out of touch with myself at the moment and I know that part of it is not being inspired by what surrounds me. So I took some photographs of what inspires me around my flat.
Baby mung bean sprouts.... the magic of creating life from dried beans that were sitting in my pantry.


Our plants that we've recently recovered from Milo's parents', aloe vera and cactus from his sister and Mr. Bud Pleasedontdie, a fuschia plant given to me from his mom as a little present. When I first got Bud, he was so tiny and fit in a little planting pot. Over the summer I've moved him three separate times and he's grown so big and strong. I can't wait to eventually plant him in the earth and have him grow to the size of a bush.



Today, I love my colored pencils and I love that my colored pencils say "The Spectrum Sings" on the side of them.

I Heart secret blogs!

My bestie Emma just created a secret blog for the two of us to share our creations and private thoughts. It's like passing notes back and forth in grade school <3 <3 <3 I can't actually share the blog with you, but I had to post my love for the idea.
Here's my homage to my Fantastical Fried Egg from Gummi Bear Girl... Long live Moussaka!