My sister had the pleasure of seeing Night Beds live a few weeks ago and promptly text me with the message: ‘Listen to Even If We Try immediately.’ I did. It’s absolutely gorgeous. I will definitely be getting tickets when they next return to the UK.
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Author Archives: Stevie
Helen Oxenbury
One of my favourite picture books is Michael Rosen’s We’re going on a Bear Hunt, so when Picture Book Picnic recently posted a video of it’s Illustrator, Helen Oxenbury, I simply had to watch it. I love hearing about illustrator’s processes, and Helen Oxenbury is a delight to listen to.
Picture Book Month
It’s been Picture Book month this November and reading all the posts on picturebookmonth.com reminded me of a post I wrote almost two years ago on battling homesickness with picture books.
Picture books really are special. They can cheer you up when you’re down, make you laugh time and time again, and more often than not they make you look closer, not just at the page but at life itself. They’re a way of seeing the world through another’s eyes; through picture book’s pages we’re introduced to the illustrators imagination and nothing can be as personal and important as that.
Picture books really did get me through my homesick blues, and they still do.
Shaun Tan and Oliver Jeffers are firm favourites, but I would also like to mention Rob Ryan, Polly Dunbar, Shirley Hughes (Dogger will forever and always hold a very special place in my heart), and the multi talented Alhberg’s for their upstanding picture books.
I’ve asked for Children’s Picture books – The art of visual storytelling for Christmas, I can not wait to delve through and discover even more picture books to add to my already overflowing shelves.
Bon Iver featuring The Staves
Two of my favourite artists doing what they do best. Absolutely breathtaking. Enjoy!
2013 Diary Choices
I have a big decision to make this week… Which one should I choose?!
Top left to right:
DELFONICS 2013 DIARY – A5 (15X21CM) – WEEKLY VERTICAL – POUCH – YELLOW
DELFONICS 2013 DIARY – A6 (10X15CM) – WEEKLY NOTEBOOK – LINEN – NATURAL
MOLESKINE 2013 DIARY – CAHIER WEEKLY HORIZONTAL – POCKET (9X14CM) – MAIS
Bottom left to right:
MOLESKINE 2013 DIARY – WEEKLY NOTEBOOK – LIMITED EDITION ‘LE PETIT PRINCE’ – LARGE (13X21CM) – BLUE – HARD COVER
O-CHECK 2013 DIARY – SMALL (9X14CM) – RED
FRANKIE 2013 DIARY – WEEKLY HORIZONTAL – 15X19CM
Moleskin Audio Cassette Notebook
This weekend I added yet another notebook to my collection*, the Moleskin Audio Cassette Notebook. Released to tie in with the cassette tape’s 50th anniversary this limited edition Moleskin beauty is perfect for any other avid playlist creators out there – I can’t wait to fill it’s pages with themed mixes!
*I counted, and I currently have 29 unused notebooks on my bookshelf. I have a problem. A very lovely, organised, paper-based problem.
A.C. Newman: I’m Not Talking
I heard this song on Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour today. It’s an absolute gem.
Autumnal Charms
1. The Goldilocks Variations by Allan and Jessica Ahlberg. This pop up book is absolutely delightful and had me grinning ear to ear.
2. Patterned Canvas Loafers GAP.
3. Drawn In by Julia Rothman. I love sketch books, this book is illustration heaven.
4. Shark Pencil Case. Storing pencils just got super cooooool.
5. Boo Boo Bear Dress. I need this in my life, just watch this space…
Taylor Swift and Dancing Years
I’ve been listening to the same two sets of music this week: T Swizzle’s new album and a delightful discovery in the form of Dancing Years.
Taylor Swift’s new album Red has been on constant repeat in the Hopwood household. We’ve been big fans for years now and openly so. My favourite songs on the album thus far are:
- I knew You Were Trouble
- All Too Well
- We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (it took me a while to appreciate this one, now I’m slightly obsessed)
- The Last Time (the perfect combination of Snow Patrol and Taylor Swift, so lovely!)
Dancing Years have everything I look for in a band; jumpers, facial hair, trumpets and a chorus of all the above singing their little lungs out. Here’s a little live snippet of them performing live – I absolutely love the way this track builds.
Lu Flux: Craft Fashion
My sister and I are having a little craft party this weekend and I can’t help but hope that everyone looks as happy as these lovely ladies in their Lu Flux craft gear…
I really really want the Carpenter Dungarees.
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