Zoe-Lee Skelton

My Little Ol’Blog Has Been Nominated For A Liebster Award

July 22, 2015 by Zoe-Lee Skelton

So you may have noticed the new Liebster Award Blogger Badge on the right hand side of my blog. Well, I was lucky enough to be nominated by Jen who blogs at http://www.thriftingandgoodliving.co.uk/ – thank you very much, I’m honoured. I couldn’t quite believe that someone loved my blog enough to nominate it for an award.

What is a Liebster Award?

A Liebster Award (apart from having a very strange sounding name) is a nomination given to upcoming blogs as a way to share and profile the blogger and what they blog about.

So once you’ve been nominated, you should answer the questions posed by the blogger who nominated you in their post and then go on to nominate 10 other new bloggers on the scene.

Here are the rules:

The Liebster Award Rules

Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
Answer the 10 questions given by the nominator.
Nominate and link 10 bloggers (with less than 200 followers).
Notify all the bloggers you’ve nominated.
Create 10 new questions for your nominees to answer.

Here are the questions Jen asked me and my answers:

Jen’s Questions & My Answers

1) What do you think are the best things about blogging?

It’s strange really because I don’t really think of myself as your typical ‘blogger’. I’ve always thought of a blog as a great way to document what’s going on in my life, my work and what I’m currently inspired by. I like the passion and effort that so many bloggers put into their blog and I guess in a way I feel like I still have a long way to go until I see myself as a “proper blogger”. But there are certain aspects of the blogging industry I have grown to dislike like the inflated price tag certain bloggers assign to their time and “klout”. So I’m going to keep a watch on myself to ensure I don’t take up any bad habits.

2) What is your favourite book?

I have many favourite books and authors, so it’s impossible for me to choose. I recently read an autobiography by Gillian Lynne, A Dancer in War Time and I just couldn’t stop turning the pages. It follows Gillian’s childhood from loosing her mother to being one of the world’s best ballet dancers at Sadler’s Wells. I picked it up in a charity shop because I felt drawn to it yet it’s not my usual genre of choice. However I’m eagerly awaiting her next installment.

3) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Deep in the woods in a dreamy log cabin with my lovely boyfriend.

4) If a film was made of your life, who should play you?

Probably a young Wynona Ryder. Growing up I aligned myself with a lot of her characters she played early on in her career.

5) What are your 3 fave bands/artists?

Only three?! At the moment I’m listening to a lot of tunes by:

Tiger Army

T-Rex

and Sleep

6) What is your favourite post you have written?

This post about Vivien Maier. I wrote it because I wanted other people to know about her and recognise what a talented, quiet genius she was.

7) If you could go back in time, when would you go to?

The 70s because the times were a-changin’ and revolution was all around.

8) Do you collect anything?

I collect a lot of found objects, namely skulls I come across on my travels if I’m lucky. I’m currently on the look-out for a deer skull with antlers still in tact. I absolutely refuse to buy one because I don’t want to inject the item with any commercial value.

9) Do you have a favourite blog that you follow?

Yes! There are so many and I’m so glad that you asked this question because now I can share my favourite bloggers without looking like a a massive stalker. I absolutely love Corinne at blog.stuckwithpins.com – I take so much inspiration from her photography and we’re both collectors of the macabre.

I’ve recently discovered Jemma’s blog Dorkface and I love her colourful Kaiwaii inspired blog design and beautiful photo compositions in her reviews.

10) If you had to live as an animal which one would you choose?

A tough one. I can imagine everyone will assume I will say a cat for obvious reasons but actually as a species they’re very lazy which just isn’t me. I’d probably be a kleptomaniac magpie. I could soar the lands and still collect things on my travels.

Here are my nominees:

https://handbagsandheartbreak.wordpress.com – a blogger who handles her BPD with a smile and humour. She is also the founder of the 10,000 Kind Minds Campaign!
http://www.twogreenpeas.com/ – this blogger creates yummy vegan food!
http://celineorgill.blogspot.co.uk/ – a brand new blogger who writes in-depth guides and reviews
http://latexluna.blogspot.co.uk/ – a fetish alt girl with a love for latex
http://blogholoholo.blogspot.co.uk/ – a fantastic designer who publishes beautiful imagery
http://www.jaynekitsch.co.uk/ – I love this bloggers kawaii style
http://www.fashionblah.co.uk/ – this blogger collates stunning fashion editorial photography
http://leonnilittleblog.blogspot.co.uk/ – a versatile blogger who writes genuine posts
http://www.thegirlcalledjay.co.uk/ – a filipina blogger based in London who’s written a brilliant thrift shop guide
http://mangamaniacleann.blogspot.co.uk/ – a blogger obsessed with manga and anime

Here are my questions to the nominees

What’s your earliest memory?
What do you think others see as your best quality?
Who do you currently admire and for what reasons?
What’s your most favourite aspect of blogging?
If you could be any fictional book character, who would you be?
What’s you’re ultimate travel destination?
Where do you see your blog in the next year?
If you could go back in time, would you change anything?
Which blogs are you currently inspired by?
What is your favourite film and why?

I can’t wait to read your answers and don’t forget to add the Liebster Award badge to you own blog.

Brand New Printed Themed Bow Ties Added to RagnBow Etsy

July 20, 2015 by Zoe-Lee Skelton

I’m pleased to share a new range of quirky themed bow ties that I’ve added to my Etsy store, RagnBow, featuring cats, bones, old style typography and popcorn!

Click the image above to visit my online Etsy store.

I’m going to be adding more fun prints and styles to the store very soon and I hope to have my new range of girls hair bows and pet bow ties added shortly so watch this space.

Katie Leamon Stationary Review: Perfect For A Grown Up Stationary Addict

July 19, 2015 by Zoe-Lee Skelton

For me, the most exciting part of going back to school was purchasing brand new stationary. At that time, there wasn’t anything more satisfying than adding fresh, sharpened pencils and untouched pens to a shiny new pencil case. Not to mention the thrill of filling up the first page of a notebook with your neatest handwriting.

So when I was given the chance to review Katie Leamon’s brand new stationary range my inner school girl jumped at the chance.

Katie Leamon is a luxury card & stationery brand based in London. Everything is proudly made is England at a design studio in the heart of London, and a family run production studio in the English countryside.

The brand launched in the summer of 2011 and is a reflection of Katie’s love of typography, stationery and vintage curiosities. In other words, it’s perfect for a grown up who is still obsessed with stationary.

I can see that the utmost care and attention to detail is paid to each item as all of the products are hand-printed with an delicate finish. This is especially true of the notebook and sketchbook that the ladies over at Katie Leamon were kind enough to send me.

As soon as they arrived, I couldn’t wait to start scribbling and note taking. I’ve been using the Kraft Zig Zag Sketchbook to doodle some new designs I’d like to make into prints and I’ve been really impressed with the grain and quality of the paper. Never has doodling looked so good in this sketchbook. The navy zig zag design is crisp on the kraft paper front cover and the paper inside is 120gsm so there’s no chance of lines bleeding through onto the other side.

I’ve also been using the sketchbook to create some new bow tie designs for RagnBow, my online bowtie and accessories Etsy store.

The Kraft Pink Notebook is just a little smaller than A4 sized, expertly bound and contains 32 sheets of 120gsm paper. It’s lightweight but sturdy so there’s no chance of it bending oe creasing if you take it with you in your luggage this summer (which is what I plan to do!)

I’ve been using the notebook to plan RagnBow’s social media strategy and experiment with some new text based prints for an upcoming project. I’ve used a stamp and ink set on the paper which hasn’t shown up on the other side.

As well as the notebooks, team Katie Leamon were also kind enough to send me three sheets of gift wrap which I’ve been using to wrap international shipments of my bow ties.

My favourite by far is the “Hello Deer Wrap” featuring a stag and a robin within a round crest. The design is digitally printed but manages to retain the charm of Katie Leamon’s hand printed style. As it’s my most favourite piece of Katie’s range, I’m almost too sad to use it, but I love sending my bow ties wrapped in a unique outer layer as it makes a great first impression and a memorable experience.

Katie Leamon’s stationary is so refreshing in an industry which has become saturated by consumerism and conventional gift giving. For these reasons I shied away from giving cards or even wrapping presents for birthdays and Christmases for many years. But on seeing Katie’s range and appreciating all of the effort and attention to detail that goes into the manufacture right here in the UK, I’m starting to warm up to the greeting cards industry once more.

I’ve got my eye on the new marbled range, so once I fill up my sketchbook and notebook I know where I’ll get my next set from.

If you’ve fallen in love with Katie’s designs too, you can follow her updates on Tumblr and Instagram.

*Katie Leamon kindly sent me the sketchbook, notebook and three gift wrapping papers to review. All of the views expressed here are my own.

The Pet Safe Campaign: Could Your Garden Poison Your Pet?

June 30, 2015 by Zoe-Lee Skelton

With warmer temperatures coming our way, it’s likely you and your pets will be spending more time outdoors. But did you know that your garden might contain plants that could poison your pet?

According to MORE TH>N, 78% of British gardens contain plants that are toxic to cats and dogs. I admit it, even I didn’t know all of the plants that are toxic to cats and dogs. And I’m not alone; one in every three pet owners (31%) admitting they have no idea if the plants and flowers in their gardens are toxic.

That’s why MORE TH>N Pet Insurance has set up their Pet Safe Plant Campaign; a campaign which is raising awareness to the clear and present dangers that lurk in your garden and homes. They are directly campaigning for plant producers, manufacturers of garden products and retailers to provide clearer labelling to help pet owners easily identify if items are safe or harmful to cats and dogs.

As a pet owner, I’m sure you’re with me on wanting to help protect your precious fur babies from being poisoned – and worse still, from death. MORE TH>N has enlisted the help of a number of famous faces to help to promote the campaign, like Charlie Dimmock and this year’s RHS Gold Winner, Ian Drummond, who has made a rather unusual creation called the Poisonous Pawtanical Garden, to try to hammer home which plants could potentially kill your pets.

The creation of the world’s most dangerous garden to cats and dogs

To kick start the campaign, MORE TH>N has commission the RHS Gold medal winner, Ian Drummond to create the world’s most dangerous garden to cats and dogs.

Launched at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in London at the beginning of June, the garden will be taken to different locations throughout the capital by the charity Core Landscapes – so look out for it coming to a town near you!

I had no idea that some of the flowers planted in the poisonous garden could be toxic to my cat. I’m ashamed to admit that I have one of them in full bloom in my garden! And sadly, I’m not alone. According to research, Almost 10% of cats and dogs have ingested poisonous plants or flowers. Of those, 43% subsequently needed urgent veterinary care, while 15% sadly passed away. It’s a painful statistic but something that could be avoided if green fingered pet owners were more aware of.

So which plants are the most dangerous to cats and dogs?

A few of the plants in the poisonous garden include: Begonia, Buxus Pyramiden, Chrysanthemum, Clematis, Cordyline, Daisy, Dahlia, Elderberry, Foxglove, Grape plant, Hydrangea, Hedera Ivy, Lilies (variety), Cherry Laurel, Marigold, Nerium Oleander, Paeonia mix, Papaver Poppy, Tomato plant and Wisteria.

But if you’re particularly concerned here’s a summary list I pulled from MORE TH>N’s website which cites the common toxic plants to avoid in the garden:

PLANT NAME	POISONOUS FOR CATS	POISONOUS FOR DOGS
ALOE VERA	✔	✔
AMARYLLIS (BULBS)	✔	✔
ANGELS TRUMPET (BRUGMANSIA)	✔	✔
APPLE (SEEDS)	✔	✔
APRICOTS (KERNELS)	✔	✔
ASPARAGUS FERN	✔	✔
AVOCADO (FRUIT, PITH, LEAVES)	✔	✔
AZALEA (ALL PARTS)	Rare	✔
BABY’S BREATH	✔	✔
BEGONIA	✔	✔
BIRD OF PARADISE (PODS)	✔	✔
BISHOP’S WEED	✔	✔
BLEEDING HEART (DICENTRA FORMOSA)	✔	✔
BLUEBELL	✔	✔
BUXUS / BOX (ALL PARTS, MOSTLY LEAVES)	✔	✔
CARNATION	✔	✔
CLEMATIS (ALL PARTS)	✔	✔
CORDYLINE (GRASS PALM)	✔	✔
CROCUS (ALL)	✔	✔
CHRYSANTHEMUM (ALL PARTS)	✔	✔
CYCLAMEN (FOLIAGE, FLOWERS, STEMS)	✔	✔
DAFFODIL (ALL PARTS)	✔	✔
DAISY	✔	✔
DAHLIA	✔	✔
DAPHNE (BERRIES, BARK, LEAVES)	✔	✔
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE	✔	✔
DELPHINIUM (ALL PARTS ESPECIALLY THE SPROUTS)	✔	✔
ELEPHANTS EARS (LEAVES, STEMS, ROOTS)	✔	✔
ELDERBERRY (LEAVES, BARK, ROOTS AND BUDS)	✔	✔
EUCALYPTUS (ALL PARTS)	✔	✔
FOXGLOVE / DIGITALIS (LEAVES, STEMS, FLOWERS, SEEDS)	✔	✔
GARLIC	✔	✔
GARDENIA	✔	✔
GERANIUM (ALL PARTS)	✔	✔
GLADIOLA (BULBS)	✔	✔
GRAPE PLANT/VINE	N/a	✔
HELLEBORE	✔	✔
HIBISCUS	✔	✔
HOLLY (LEAVES, BERRIES & STEMS)	✔	Rare
HOSTA	Rare	✔
HYACINTH (BULBS, LEAVES, FLOWERS)	✔	✔
HYDRANGEA (ALL PARTS)	✔	✔
IRIS (BULBS)	✔	✔
IVY (ALL SPECIES – LEAVES, BERRIES)	Rare	✔
JAPANESE YEW (NEEDLES, SEEDS, BARK)	Rare	✔
LABURNUM (LEAVES AND SEEDS)	✔	✔
LARKSPUR (ALL PARTS)	✔	✔
LILLIES (ALL PARTS)	✔	N/a
LIME	✔	✔
LILY OF THE VALLEY (ALL PARTS)	✔	✔
LEOPARD LILY	N/a	✔
LOBELIA	✔	✔
LUPIN (ALL PARTS)	Rare	Rare
MALLOW	✔	✔
MARIGOLD (NEW LEAVES, STEMS)	✔	✔
MISTLETOE	✔	✔
MONKSHOOD/ ACONITE (ROOTS, FOLIAGE, SEEDS)	✔	✔
MORNING GLORY (ALL PARTS)

What could happen to pets if these plants are ingested?

According to vet and consultant on the garden, Robert White-Adams, “As a nation of animal lovers we’ll do anything to not put our pets at harm. What this campaign reveals is the hidden dangers many of us wouldn’t even be aware of. Each plant has been chosen to show just how many common varieties can make our pets ill, or worse still, die if not treated immediately by a vet.”

What can you do to stop pets from being poisoned?

Firstly, check the summary list above to see if you have any of these plants in your home or garden. I also recommend taking this list with you when you go to buy seeds.

And finally, if you want to raise further awareness to stop more unsuspecting owners from loosing their pets, why not share the video and this list on your own blog.

Thanks for reading.

Glassblowing at Creative Vibe Studios Ampthill

June 24, 2015 by Zoe-Lee Skelton

Instead of going up the pub or binge watching stuff on Netflix I decided to do something completely different last weekend; I went glassblowing.

I was lucky enough to be invited along to Creative Vibe Studio, tucked away in Ampthill and taught a new skill by artist and glassblowing master Ricky Keech.

Me and a few friends headed over on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon to learn his trade.

I’ll start off by saying I was not a natural. I was scared of the crucible (aka a pit of burning fire and molten glass) as well as being terrified of tripping over something and burning someone else or myself! But Ricky is very safety conscious and ensured we were wearing all of the correct safety gear and went through health and safety practice before we even touched any of the equipment. This put my mind at ease and I quickly let go of my fears.

Ricky regularly runs glassblowing courses for no more than two people so that you can develop your skills at your own pace with Ricky’s full supervision. This is how my day went.

A beginner’s experience of glassblowing 101

Before we made anything that we could keep, Ricky wanted us to get to grips with picking up liquid glass using the rod, cooling it and then finally releasing it from the rod. So, to begin, you need to hold the glass blowing rod at an angle and carefully place it into the crucible.

You must be turning your stick slowly at all times to keep the glass from dripping and going out of shape. Once you pick up a blob of glass, you then take it through to a steal surface and gently roll it along the top to cool it down.

Once there is enough glass on the end, we then had to sit on the bench, roll the rod back and forth whilst using pinchers to make a circular line around the glass to help to ease it off the end of the rod.

At this point, we hadn’t actually used any puff. This came next. Along with adding colour. It had already been a complex process but I’d managed to master picking up and shaping molten glass in less than an hour so you could too!

Adding colour to blown glass

Just as we collected glass from the crucible, we gathered a blob of glass; turning and rolling as we sat on the bench. But this time we blew down the rod. Quickly and sharp. This caused a bubble of air to be trapped in the glass and expand the molten.

You need to keep collecting more liquid glass as you continue to blow down the rod and expand the glass. As the glass grows you can then begin to add colour in the form of powered material – I think it was powdered glass!

Here’s what the glass looks like with colour whilst it’s cooling:

I can’t believe we managed to get to this stage in under two hours but we did it!

And we even managed to make these paperweights by following the same process

Image courtesy my mate Gina Hutchings

In less than three hours we had managed to make something useful and attractive. And that credits Ricky’s skill as a tutor. I definitely impressed myself that day and really enjoyed being back in the workshop – it felt like I was back at art school.

If you would rather do something different with your weekend and pick up a new skill, I highly recommend glassblowing. Ricky’s glassblowing classes comprise beginner level, paperweight making classes and full day glassblowing experiences – all of which are affordable for either a present or as a treat to yourself.