Day Out: Hermes Festival Des Metiers

Les Festival de Metiers avec Les Saachi Gallery... that's about as far as my french goes, in translation the festival of craft at the Saachi gallery. I over heard the guy say that Hermes wanted to remind people that their products are hand made, that there are people that dedicate their lives to the craft of hand making the items that we now so desire.

If your a lover of designer labels this is a good place to understand where the money you so eagerly parted with for that one scarf or hand bag is going too. The process that is undertaken and it optimal environment. As the man was screen printing the scarf the translator said, as much as we love the Saachi this is not the best condition for printing the scarf like in their factory, the humidity, dust, lights, all affect the material and the printing process.

You get to talk, ask questions, and even look through the binoculars to see diamonds being placed into its setting. I did have a small chat about how the practise of craft has now changed, from what I would have originally imagined a factory of older men, has now changed with a new generation to keep the art alive and that its new hands are of women. The lady said that with new people comes new atmosphere and the age range of new staff is now 20-30. 

If I had more time I would go every day to see the progress of the bag at its stages as they made them there at the Saatchi. Hoping to see it finished.

Ends: Monday 27th May 2013 
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 18:00
Location: Saatchi Gallery
Nearest station: Sloane Square
Entry Fee: Free

Wish List: Get Your Geek On

This month there hasn't been many events form me to add to the facebook fan page apart from concerts that are to happen in the near future. May has been a month in movies. A few weeks ago was the premier of Iron Man, then Star Trek, that was on general release not so long ago, next was the premier and release of Fast and Furious 6, now The great Gatsby, and next week is The Man of Steal. I think I have been in the cinema almost every week! so to continue with my geekness as these movies are of true sci-fi/comic nature (I even caught myself talking to a man at a computer store about external hard drives and other computer jargon) I thought why not create my wish list as well as a geek-chic outfit.

Bringing the geek varsity to the street:

• The obvious Geek t-shirt, but in the boys fit (for the "I'm wearing my bf's tee" sexy feel)
• A pencil skirt (get it "pencil skirt" told you geek!)
• Customised converse which I want!!!! well it is a wish list!
• You can always add a varsity jacket for that school look and get your Gatsby look with the 20s hair, make up and heals. 

• The Nerd t-shirt from Amazon in forest green if you like
• Chinos for that american boy look but street it up from g-star
• For some reason I think guys are better in high tops, converse or supra?!

Printerpix vs Printed

Ever wanted to print your instagram pictures?

I often feel that pictures should be looked at in person at your time not on a screen that can be different depending on what screen you use, graphics card, screen brightness etc. With working on my gallery wall and so many pictures taken last year from Japan and my time with my vdb love, I decided to look up printing my instagram.

I had deleted some pictures from my phone, so the only way was to use a site that could connect to my instagram account. I didn't want stickers or a poster. I'm looking for a small 4x4 that I could turn into a multi window frame, or just a small jem to hang.

Originally I opted with printerpix.co.uk 5x4 prints are 14p a pic. I ordered about 26, they charged £2.99 for postage. Total £7.55 arrived over a week later.

The paper was thin & print glossy finish. I would have kept them if it wasn't so dark compared to the original. 

So I contacted them to see what they could do. Had to send them pictures of what they sent me and explain what was wrong before they asked me to send back the batch to their free post address and tell them what outcome I would like. By this point I just felt like they didn't care about the quality of prints and asked for a refund.

Printed.com is £8 for 18 prints, free delivery, total £9.60 inc vat. (For some reason both sites advertise mins vat)

The paper is thick like card, but I am dubious on the "silk" finish, and smaller then printerpix. The important part is the print is closer to the original photo. So keeping them.

If printerpix had done some kind of quality control before sending them to me I would have been happy. As machine toners can differ or not set up right. I even had to email them a week after sending, to see if they had received the returned prints. Not to say printed is perfect as both companies look like they manually cut out the paper since the prints don't seems straight. Both qualities looking nothing like they advertised on line.

Just happy I have a print of the fab pics.

kEar Bling

SS2012 saw Chanel bring back ear cuffs, which I remember back when I was in high school 17-18 years ago, setting the trend in school and cementing my rock edge style. FW2013 sees it as a trend getting stronger with Roberto Cavali and Dries Van Noten.

It has grown and evolved from 18 years ago where it was just a simple cuff to what is now extended right round your ear with the possibilities of gems, pearls and feathers. Just how I love my knuckle rings (that I rocked out last summer) these bad boys will dress up and rock out any outfit, bringing you edge with femininity in a statement.

ASOS and top shop had a few but the ones I bought had to be more ear-bling.

Here's the haul..

FW2013 and the past few collections might be more obvious about necklaces, but I like my statements to be more under the radar, making a bigger impact. Can't wait to use these for a shoot!