Nymphic

Saturday, 15 September 2012

Fashion: Autumn Tweed

Jacket; New Look

Dress; vintage

Shoes; Limited Collection, Marks and Spencer

I went shopping today to buy this fantastic tweed jacket. I am a huge fan of tweed (and tweed-clad boys cough) but have never owned any, so I was overjoyed at purchasing this beautiful tailored number for Autumn! I'm looking forward to some nice new ever so English outfits when it gets into the colder months.

When I was out, I had a look in Marks and Spencer and absolutely fell in love with these £5 shoes. Such a bargain!

Friday, 14 September 2012

Film: Grinderman - A Short Film

Grinderman - A Short Film

Interviews directed and shot by John Hillcoat

Additional cinematography by Mark Adcock

Mute 2011

I came across this short whilst researching Mr Cave for my photography project. I love the montage style of the film and the juxtapositions of music video images and interviews. Very insightful and visually interesting. Worth a watch.

Recipe: Cappuccino and White Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

For the cake:

250g pack butter , softened

250g light soft brown sugar

300g self-raising flour

4 eggs (beaten)

100ml hot water

3 heaped teaspoons of instant coffee

50g white cooking chocolate

50g walnuts, toasted and finely chopped (a food processor is easiest) – optional

For the buttercream frosting:

70g butter, softened

140g/10oz icing sugar

1 tbsp milk

few drops food colouring

drop of vanilla flavouring

For the covering:

200g white cooking chocolate

Recipe

1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Prepare coffee by mixing 100ml hot water with 3 heaped teaspoons of instant coffee and leave to cool. Grease 2 cake tins. Beat butter and sugar together until pale and creamy. Add the flour and eggs in one go and keep beating until evenly mixed. Fold in the walnuts (if using) and coffee. Melt chocolate and pour in. Mix. Spoon the mix into the prepared tins and bake for 25-30 mins or until golden and well risen.

2. Leave the cakes in their tins for 5 mins before turning onto a wire rack. Leave to cool completely.

3. While the cakes cool, melt chocolate and leave to thicken whilst making the frosting. To make buttercream: beat butter until soft. Add sugar and beat until pale and creamy. Add milk as appropriate to make frosting smooth. You can add a drop or two of food colouring at this point. Add vanilla flavouring and mix.

4. Spread buttercream frosting onto middle layer of cake. Smooth the melted chocolate when it has thickened and cooled a little onto top layer of cake. If you're making this cake to eat at home, it will keep covered in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Thursday, 13 September 2012

Film: My work

Hello Blogger!

I thought I'd share some of my own work tonight. It is my ambition to work in the film industry in the future (at a point when I'm feeling adequately grown up and sensible and before all of my imagination disappears). I have been veering towards creating music videos as of recent, but I still have such a love for film. I am currently in the process of setting up a Vimeo account, so once I've made that all pretty and professional I'll share the link to that.

I am also currently making a film entitled 'Three Weeks'. I wrote the story two years ago, completed the screenplay last Summer and we've been working on it since December 2011. Filming commences in the next few days!

Dry the River - Thou Art Loosed music video

The Winter of Mixed Drinks - short

Saturday, 8 September 2012

Photography: Stoney Cove, Leicester

Stoney Cove is my favourite place in Leicester. The sunsets here are the most beautiful thing. Unfortunately, today I forgot to pick up my memory card for my camera. However, I did get some nice shots on my phone.

Here's some photos from the last time I went that were taken with my camera.

Beauty: Sixties inspired casual updo

After waking up a little late with crazy hair from an overnight bun, I had to find some form of acceptable hairstyle for public appearance. I wanted something sixties inspired to go with my makeup, and this is what I created.

I already had lots of curls and waves from my bun and I think that's essential for this look.
I brushed my parting back into a beehive shape. I split this layer into 4 or so parts and teased them into oblivion. Then I gently brushed them down into a beehive with my hands.
I pulled the back of my hair up and rolled it upwards messily and pinned it with hair grips.
My hair is still parted down the centre, but I switched up my usual centre parted fringe into a side fringe with some to frame the other side.
I then plaited a small section and messily pinned back other front parts back.

If you give it a go, I'd love to see how it looks!