Tomorrow it is Candlemas so to celebrate I made a few little tokens for the in-laws. Essentially they are all Spring themed. I’m so over winter now as we didn’t have any of the fun parts i.e. snow deep enough to build a snowman. The bunnies simply have over-sized labels attached to them and the ‘vase’ for the tulips is a jam jar I altered with washi tape, a bit of  acrylic paint and an old magazine. All of them got a smile from those who received them. In this cold weather I get a warm feeling giving gifts ‘just because’.

Today I had a roam around Malton. It was a beautiful, crisp December day and most of the shops were still closed so it was a very peaceful walk. Below are a few photos I took whilst I was wandering.

Despite all the Black Friday nonsense that has been floating around the news channels in recent years, I’m more of a fan of handmade gifts wherever possible. For Christmas this year I made my Dad this Day Trip Kit (to Sunny Scarborough). It’s essentially a more imaginative way of giving money but Dad loved it because of the thought and effort that had gone into it. Also, I took the photograph on the front to personalise it further.

Earlier in the year I also made this for our Mam’s birthday after seeing the idea on Pinterest which also went down a treat:

If you’re short on time or resources then baking (and icing) a cake can also be a hit. I made the cake below for my Father- in-Law because his family hail from Blackpool. Even though it looks a bit like a toddler made it, he loved it.

I relish giving gifts. It’s so rewarding seeing the pleasure other people take in them. Personal gifts, in my experience, mean the most to people and what better way is there really to spend your time than crafting something for somebody you love?

Dreamland, an abandoned theme park in Margate is in the throws of being resurrected by the local council (although just last week another attempt fell through). The old theme park has some lovely features that have been preserved and the original plan was to have it reopened for the summer season in 2015. Although, based on the local newspaper’s account of the council’s dealings I’m not sure if this deadline will be met, it’s fantastic to see that the theme park will return in some format. For now I have captured what it looks like at present – it has been turned into an Expo which charts the park’s history. Well worth a visit and some fantastic merchandise is also on offer.

Today I finally made it out to Margate after months of not quite making the time. I was truly impressed by the town’s sense of independent spirit – as showcased by the quirky vintage shops occupying the old town – and by how welcoming the people were. This is the first of a few blogs I will post about my time there. I will certainly be making a return visit. It’s a truly eclectic place.

For those stumbling across this title for the first time, it is a collection of stories, musings and memories from both myself and people who live in and around Teesside. This is more than just a straightforward history book; it is a volume that examines the cultural significance of the bridge and its impact on the local community.It features over 50 original photographs of the bridge and the Middlesbrough area and, perhaps most importantly, it conveys the bridge’s unique narrative which spans from modernism to the modern-day.

Click here to order your copy of the book today!

The book is 92 pages, printed in full colour and priced at 9.95. Only 100 copies of the second edition will be printed.

THIS BOOK WILL BE SHIPPED WEDNESDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2014
THIS BOOK IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE UK. A KINDLE VERSION IS AVAILABLE FOR OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS.

The lock is being repainted next year so I will probably photograph that process and ensure I get some more shots of her before she gets a makeover.

The Open House guide described her as a piece of ‘functional design’ but as she was built during Victoria’s reign she is also rather ornate.

This is a view looking down into the weir from the walkway. A blend of shapes, textures and sounds.

This is the side of the hut that once contained the toll booth. Once over pedestrians had to pay to cross over the river. It is now redundant as it is now free like all the other crossings in London.

Some of the smaller details are captured in this collage. I particularly like the dark brick work around the Richmond Lock sign.

Over the summer I got married in York. The image above and the collage below contain some of the beautiful shots taken by James Wesley Photographers. The Wedding Industry is very one-size-fits-all so we decided to inject a few personal touches to make the day reflect our personalities a bit more.

Anyone who follows me on Twitter is probably aware of my love for vintage-inspired garb so both my dress and the bridesmaid dresses were based on retro patterns. Lots of the guests gave their outfits a vintage twist, the ceremony was held in an old Tudor hall (Bedern Hall in York) and we held our reception at Castle Museum in York – a venue that comes complete with cobbled Victorian streets for you to dine in. Bags of old-school sweets on the tables for guests to share were also a hit.

Books were something of a theme at our wedding too. One of my lovely students made paper bouquets out of books and craft paper, a very kind friend made our wedding cake in the shape of three stacked books (George Orwell: Why I Write, William Goldman: The Princess Bride and Wilkie Collins: The Moonstone) and we gave away old books as wedding favours (I gave Penguins and Pelicans, the groom gave old Doctor Who volumes from Target). 

Aside from The Princess Bride cake, I did sneak another film reference in there by asking my sister to read Billy Crystal’s closing speech from When Harry Met Sally. “When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

Left to right: hippo stapler (Poundland), NY Library eraser (NYC Public Library), giant pencil sharpners (Jack’s NYC), reward stamps (ebay), dinosaur memo holder, neon binder clips, crocodile ruler (all WH Smith), Wizard of Oz notebook, (Barnes and Noble), rabbit single hole punch (Paperchase), giant fast food paperclips (Tiger), Bic biro range (Poundland), ladybird stapler (Paperchase).

A second black and white edition will be published early autumn before the bridge’s 103rd birthday.

Click here to view your free book sample.

Click here to order one of the last few first editions for yourself.

Above: myself and another local author S-J Clark who was kind enough to send in a contribution for the bridge book.

Above: Myself with Sheila Freeman (nee Horner) who sent a beautiful contribution in for the book.

I wish I could claim to have drawn this but it was actually inked by my auntie, Barbara Cox.

Above: Myself, my ghost signs volume and John Rymer – local Teesside person and curator of the Ghost Signs U.K. Facebook Page

Tees Transporter-themed cakes. These went down a treat, thanks for baking them Mam.