christmas is a time to be crafty.

well christmas is over (but the snow is still a-falling), the head of santa's vintage-wear division was kind to me and brought me a cream, wool, silk, and leather coat (its very chunky-just how i like it), a lovely tartan scarf and an emerald, gold, and black glitzy number (very new years in the 80s) both finds came from some new vintage store discoveries up in the north, Ding Dong Vintage (who i've yet to find a website for, but I promise you its a treasure trove of goodies with thirty years of stock in the back run by a reet lovely northern dame) and Scarlet Ribbons Vintage and Retro.

For my beloved ones i was crafting some christmas cards this festive period, here are my favourite three. Oh to craft cards for a living...

mertle x

ps.one last chance?

all i want for christmas is you...

i'm a-heading back up home for festive happenings next week-back to the beautiful place where the river runs brown ale and no one owns a cardie!-so i did a bit of a culture vulture to see whats occuring whilst i'm back.i'm definately going to be heading to 'Love Me' at the lovely Side Gallery and Cinema, a touring show of Zed Nelson's photography.i'm currently writing about aging, concepts of beauty and performance so images such as his i find fascinating...

Sally Walker, age undisclosed.
Cosmetic Enhancement Expo,
Dallas, Texas.

Dr. McBride. 64. Oral maxillofacial surgeon.
EasyLift facelift, $8,000.
Dallas, Texas

“I’m resisting being old, of course. I won’t let go. I may die, but I’ll die with no wrinkles.”

Maria Jose-Silva, 71.
Facelift, neck lift, breast augmentation.
Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“Old age is not for sissies.”

Bette Davis

Wendy Ballenden, 61.
Former Miss South Africa Winner 1967.
Sun City, South Africa.

Miss Southampton.
Miss England competition.
Leicester, UK

Zed's website is bloomin' marvelous too i must say, his whole back catalogue is there so have a cheeky peep! (The Fat Nation series i found really amazing too)

Some disapointing news on the north east arts front though is that The Art Works Galleries is having to close, there were some amazing artists showing and selling at this progressive warehouse venue-i fell in love with some jewel coloured rockabilly shots a few years ago-very sad to see it go, but fingers crossed not before next week!

LOVE mertle x


ps.we became just friends this week over some mulled wine.he told me how much he missed how in love we were.x

warm my cockles...

christmas is a-coming and it is officially a time for hibernation, fur hats, and hot port sangarees! feeling thrifty i'm in the middle of crafting my own festive cards at the moment-here is a little peep into my golden december inspiration...

William Holman Hunt

Isabella & The Pot of Basil

.in the depths of her loss she clung to the pot in which she laid his head.

.a compass is needed for matters of navigation.

& i put my heart in a bottle

& i swam out to see

& i sunk to the bottom of the ocean

& i want to be a star

& i want to be as big as the moon

& i want to be as bright as the sun

(also in my christmas thriftyness i'm giving sky lanterns as presents and making luggage tag style personal message holders for them-a romantic gift indeed)

rubies and jewels a-rustling

LOVE

mertle x