Have a Topshop Christmas..

Fashion illustrator Margot Bowman and blogger Bip Ling have teamed up and designed these super stylish christmas cards to help Topshop raise money for a charity called Age UK.

Each pack of 8 costs £4 and £2 from that goes to Age UK. I think thats worth a little purchase, and I really like these cards, they could have been just standard christmas cards but they're definitely different, and I know I'm looking forward to scribbling my own messages into the empty speech bubbles :-) cute.

Source: Topshop Facebook

Denim..

I just found my denim piece from a quick 24 hour project I did at uni last year, and thought it may be worth a post. We got given an a3 sample of denim and basically could do anything we wanted! The brief was to 'revive' the denim.. make something new with it. Everyone at uni seemed to turn up with wripped/distressed denim.. so I did feel mine was a little different, I used the reverse side of the denim as I didn't like the cheap blue colour, I used paints, spray paint, and the laser cutter to cut in ''denim old and denim new, the art of denim is always you''.

Inky Skull

A quick photo of my new ink illustration.

Want!

Another addition to the never ending christmas list. This photo made my day... cute!



Source: KRISATOMIC at blog.krisatomic.com (its lovely)

xo

I'm an Uptown Twirl Girl

... It's offical. Look at this little treat from the lovely Cara! I'm officially an Uptown Twirl Girl, Thankyou!



Check out her illustrations of her followers on her facebook page www.facebook.com/UptownTwirl


xo

knit knit knit..

After finding those lovely knitted shorts I blogged about earlier this month, knits have been catching my eye everywhere.. from chunky cable knit cardigans to cropped sweaters.
My friend came in yesterday with the best pair of knitted socks from ASOS.com, They're oversized, chunky, warm and cuddly, perfect for winter!
I'm VERY much into knitwear right now, oversized borrowed-from-the-boyfriend styles, the chunkier, the bigger.. the better. (and not forgetting the knitted shorts!) A winter must have!






...a very small selection of ASOS knits.

grrrrrr

After the animal attraction post I decided to draw a tiger. :) Here it is! It's only a photo and my camera isn't the best but I'm going to scan it in and create something wonderful as soon as my computer gets back on track... scanner won't scan and illustrators stopped working :( not happy! So back to the drawing board for now. Feels good to actually sit down pencil to paper and just draw again :)




xo

Animal Attraction

Had to share these prints.. quite funny that I just found these as 2/3 weeks ago I was playing around with creating animal prints for Playful Promises. I was using pastel colours and I love how the colours change the outcome of the animal prints, a whole different mood! I will get mine posted up asap!


'Stylesight Original Prints' from the brilliant www.stylesight.com

Mario Testino..

..Vogue & Emma Watson.

A preview of Emma Watson for Vogue's December Issue... shot by the one and only Mario Testino, and it's nothing short of amazing, is it? I've always loved Mario Testino after studying A-Level photography, I have to say I am a huge fan of his work and the real character and beauty of the person he manages to capture with the lense. I was over-joyed when I saw his Emma Watson shoot for next months issue of Vogue.

I'll be honest, I never really noticed Emma Watson.. until she chopped all her hair off into that beautiful pixie crop. Now, how can you not notice her? She's transformed herself from her Harry Potter alter ego and is quickly becoming a style icon.

These photographs say it all..... wow.







Photos from www.fashiongonerogue.com (... a brilliant website)

UptownTwirl

So, I blogged earlier today a short but sweet post about the wonderful invention that is twitter.. and I decided to recommend a few lovely people I have found on there.
Although, probably the loveliest I have found so far is a pretty lady called Cara Gray - Uptown Twirl.
Not only is her website amazing, Cara is so friendly, and lovely! I now follow her on twitter, constantly check Uptown Twirl's website and I'm her friend on facebook.

I had to dedicate a post just to Uptown Twirl as she's my fave follower on twitter.. and definitely deserves it! :-)

Cara created her website to "discuss, review and celebrate fashion. From the latest looks off the catwalk, designer news, reviews and trends – I wanted to create a fashion hub where you will find everything you need to stay ‘in style’. My aim is to bring the fashion news to you". - A little message from the Uptown Twirl girl herself off her website.. just to let you know what she's about!

You should all go and take a look at the website, www.uptowntwirl.com

Follow her on twitter www.twitter.com/uptowntwirl

and find her on facebook.. www.facebook.com/uptowntwirl

xoxo

Sinister Lace

I'm just browsing StyleSight.com looking at the forecasts for prints and graphics.. S/S 2012, just wanting to be inspired!

Rebels - Sinister Lace, definitely caught my eye.

''Traditional lace patterns will benefit from mysterious, embedded motifs like skulls and crossbones. Look to a variety of lace styles to create irregular, allover patterns with a mixture of stitches, motifs and openwork. Subtly blend unusual motifs to maintain a refined and highly worked look''.

Taken from Stylesight.com.. had to share!

Tweet Tweet

Twitter... I loooooove it :-)

www.twitter.com/AmySmallsxo

Follow Meeeeeeeeee...

Also, a few highly recommended lovely people to follow too,

GOGO_PHILIP
abbyillustrator
stacie_swift
UptownTwirl
ProtegeFashion

xoxo

Winter Shorts

Many years ago, a pair of shorts were thought to be nothing more than essential holiday and summer wear.
Oh how things change.. no longer are shorts thought of in this way - they are everywhere. From high street to couture, from silk to denim. They are now an iconic wardrobe must for fashion forward girls.
''Just like the mini skirt and jeans, they've transcended mere fashion to become a wardrobe staple that can be worn (almost anywhere) and - even more significantly - all year round''.

It's the all year round part that excites me. Team a good old pair of high waisted denims with thick tights and boots and there we have it - your summer must have instantly transformed into winter style.
So, when I found this picture of these knitted shorts, I couldn't help but get very excited. I think they look amazing! I find them refreshing, a nice quirky piece of clothing for our winter wardrobes. You see I'm all for knitted skirts as I now have a few that I have collected from various vintage shops on my travels, (Blue Rinse in Leeds is a must to visit) and they serve me so well in winter with a good thick pair of tights.. so I'm keeping my eyes open for knitted shorts to be a big trend as the cold continually creeps in on us all.
AND.. I'm also going to spend some time with my mumsy and ask her for a masterclass in knitting. I'm going to have a go at making my own! :-)



Picture and quote from the WGSN 'What's in Store' Blog... Take a look :-)

MADE

Having just purchased Novembers issue of Marie Claire Magazine.. there was a 'freebie' gift inside. When 'freebies' are in magazines I sometimes assume that it might be cheap crap.. or watered down products from various companies promoting themselves, (such a nail varnish, cheap versions that smell like diesel and peel off as soon as they dry) BUT.. I have just recieved a beautiful bracelet in a little brown envelope which tells me about an exciting jewellery brand called 'Made', by the people for the people. A small paragraph on the back of the quaint envelope tells me that 'This jewellery has been made by Kenyan Artisans using recycled or sustainable materials. All 'made' workers receive a fair wage and support at every level. By purchasing this unique product you are helping us break the cycle of poverty by empowering developing communities through the support of fair trade''.

Lovely. It's so refreshing to see this being given away in a magazine. I know sustainability and recyling are huge topics and we're always seeing and hearing about ethical fashion, but this little gift really brightened up my day and made me smile.
My little treat is made of 2 gold bracelets attatched together with a heart shaped pendant and a deep blue bead.
I love it that much that I had to visit the website to find out more... and I think you should too! I have just purchased myself another bracelet.. this one :-)



visit them at www.made.uk.com