I don't think we're in Kansas anymore Toto

So, if I were Dorothy and I had to pick red slippers with which to click my heels together three times... these would be the babies I would choose! They're Chanel (check out the little gold Chanel pin on the toe) and they are in the sale. Alas even the sale price is outside Little Miss Wa Wa's price range - but I can dream (and I often do of Chanel). Their beauty made my head spin! Should you wish to visit them before they depart on the feet of a rich lady, they are available for your viewing pleasure at the Chanel shop inside Selfridges!

(Ps. May I apologise for the photo quality. It was snapped under duress whilst pretending to text on my blackberry so as not to look like a crazy lady taking photos of shoes with a Primark carrier bag slung over one arm *cringe*!)

Angel Wing Earrings

For one reason or another I had quite an inspiring weekend and as such my creative juices peaked on Saturday evening when, after a lovely saunter round some chic independent boutiques and (rather conversely) Selfridges (Tiffanys, Dior, Chanel, Fendi) and err... Topshop... I turned my attention to making some more jewelry.

The earrings above are made by placing the beads/wings on a head pin and creating a turn loop to attach it to the fish hook earring. They're incredibly simple to make, they just require a little patience and some nimble handiwork.

I used swarovski crytals for the bottom and top parts. I fear my blackberry camera may not be up to the job of properly capturing just now beautifully they are cut but I hope you can at least get a general idea.

Ellie Goulding Gig - Manchester Academy 2. Tuesday, 8th June 2010

I take my hat off to Ellie Goulding, she absolutely blew me away. I wasn't sure what to expect beforehand - however my cynicism was belted away the second she started singing. In my humble opinion her voice sounds better live than it does on the album. In reality her voice is husky and gutsy but with a charming vulnerability, and absolutely note perfect throughout the set. I was also hugely impressed by her commitment to the performance and the way she engaged with the audience.

I was surprised she was on at Academy 2 rather than its big bother "the proper Academy". I've often thought artists at Academy 2 can suffer from the fact it is situated above the Student Union (in fact it used to be called the Student Union) and sometimes frequented by people who are going to a gig for the sake of it, rather than out of genuine interest in the band. However once again I was proved wrong as Ellie Goulding drew a very strong and dedicated fan base who hung off her every word. I won't bore you with a blow by blow account of the set list, she played her album flawlessly and since I have seen her live I listen to it with different ears!

To summarise, she far exceeded all my expectations of the night. She has a flawless voice and is a beyond talented song writer. So impressed was LMWW that I have bought tickets to see her again in November when she returns to Manchester - this time at the more fitting venue of "the proper Academy"! Snap up your tickets here

A girl can dream ... ahh Vintage Chanel

So this beautiful, exquisite and spine chillingly stunning piece is just £2 shy of £2500. I know. You could literally buy a decent car for that. However you're not just buying a bag, you're buying a piece of history, it already has its own story, it has already seen a different life. The quilted style and chain strap have inspired a million rip offs, testament to the timeless nature of the design.

Its way way out of my price range but if I had the money I would snap it up in an instant. I am however deeply in love with my new DKNY Town and Country tote which is worthy of its very own blog post. I feel almost like I am committing handbag adultery by lusting over vintage Chanel !

So if you have the money - or a very rich friend who loves you a lot, the bag itself is available here...

http://www.asos.com/Chanel/Vintage-Chanel-Medium-Tote-Bag-With-Matching-Purse/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1098637&cid=6940&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=2&clr=Beige

Watch + Pandora Bead Pendant

In my spare time (which isn't often) I like to design and make my own jewellery, which is much more grand that it sounds. More accurately I like to fiddle about with interesting pendants and beads and sometimes I create something pretty! The above watch pendant is my latest creation and I have to say I am rather proud of it.

I wanted the chain to be long to give the wearer (moi) easy access to the watch pendant and I wanted the pandora beads to be loose on the chain to give it some movement.

Hopefully my next creations will be some silver earrings but I lost all patience with them last night (I blame Fabio Capello) so they may be some time!

Make pretend its 1966 forever...

There's no escaping, the world cup is almost upon us. The sheer number of England flags, merchandise and banners adorning every inch of our green and pleasant land is astonishing... and nice to see.

The video above, World in Motion by New Order, was the official England tune in 1990. Miss Wa Wa was 10 years old and experienced her first glimpse of the agony of heartbreak when Stuart Pearce missed a penalty against West Germany in the semi final - the semi bloody final - ouch! Having spent the best part of four weeks of my ninth summer diligently noting every detail of England's campaign I was nothing short of devastated. I couldn't grasp the concept that I would be the grand old age of 14 before England could try again in the World Cup.

So turn it up loud and enjoy what is, in my opinion, the best world cup song ever. This is specially dedicated to those who, although they do not hail from England, are throwing themselves behind the national team with somewhat touching dedication, in particular the lovely Denise, a veritable Princess from "La Isla Bonita", Malta... and also Neil who is throwing his weight behind England since Scotland didn't qualify (and also really likes New Order!).

When the going gets tough... the tough wear their favourite shoes for work!

Ladies and gentlemen, my current favourite shoes (subject to change at any time dependent on mood which is in turn dependent on caffeine consumption). I bought them last year from Topshop (where else). They're called Jump (not sure why). You know when you're having the crappiest week ever and you need a little lift? Well these babies do it for me. They're comfy enough to wear all day for work, and stylish enough to make me feel that little bit more special than usual! Don't judge me, some people hit the bottle, I hit the shoe shops!

As Carrie Bradshaw one said "it is a woman's right to shoes"!

The Editors gig: 16th March 2010

I know this was a while ago but I wasn't blogging back in the time when I went to this gig!

The Editors are, in my hunble opinion, very underrated. Maybe not quite your favourite band but the credible alternative you'd admit to before you'd admit to belting out a Girls Aloud classic in the car (or is that just me - ouch!).

The gig was at Manchester Apollo which is by far my favourite gig venue in all the world. Not solely because I am massively biased towards all things Mancunian, but also because it has bucket loads more character than the Manchester Evenings News Arena, the bars are good and the floor slopes down so even a short person standing at the back can get a decent view. The grandeur and opulence of the main hall is a reminder of the time when the venue was a cinema, and a relatively posh one at that, which my own dear mother frequented back in t'day!

The Apollo is worthy of a blog post all on its own ... but for now back to the gig.

The Editors belted out all their classics and along with a decent selection from their most recent album, accompanied by a hypnotic light show which was absolutely stunning. At times I couldn't quite piece together how the light show fitted in with the music, but it was so captivating that it didn't really matter!

Tom Smith, the lead singer, aims for understated cool, definitely more Chris Martin than Pete Doherty, more technical excellence than charisma. He immersed himself in the performance in a way that reminded me a little of the late, great, Ian Curtis. Only really during Smokers at the Hospital Doors did he really seem to be playing directly to the crowd. This is by no means a criticism, merely an observation!

Big shout out to the Dexmeister General for his excellent photography skills. We're off to see Ellie Goulding next week and if Dex brings his camera you can expect similarly excellent photos!

More about the Manchester Apollo here here
More about the Editors here here

Don't step on my ... erm purple suede boots (cos they're gawwjusss)

I can't walk past a charity shop. I just can't. Well some who know me (Denise) would say I can't walk past ANY shop! Harsh but I have to say fair.

A lot of the time charity shop mooching isn't successful, but sometimes a little gem throws itself into your path and screams "buy me".

Just such an occasion happened in the Sue Ryder shop when I happened across the above purple suede boots, still in their original box, still with the stuffing inside and still with the labels on the bottom. The price - originally £75 and mine for £10! I felt almost apologetic buying them so cheap so bought I my mother some earrings too!

I know what you're thinking! Its June and you'll never get to wear them! Well maybe - but how fabulous will they look in the autumn!

So my new strategy will be to charity shop hunt near posh universities where wealthy students will cast off their Topshop (and hopefully Gucci/DKNY/Dior) in my direction...

.... road trip to Oxford anyone...?

Konad Nail Art

Konad Nail Art kits are a fun and cheap way to jazz up your nails. I bought a starter kit from Ebay which had discs M2 and M3 designs included with three nail polishes, a scraper and a stamper.

Forgive the slight smudging with the nail varnish (I was tired and sunburnt at the time of application!), however I think you'll agree the results are quite funky.

Its fairly simple, if not a little tricky (the less dexterous may need assistance!).

1. Paint nails as usual with your normal colour and wait to dry;
2. Apply the Konad nail polish to the chosen design on the plate;
3. Scrape off the excess polish with the scraper provided (I found an old credit card works just as well!);
4. Roll the stamper over the design. The stamper should pick the design up from the plate. Tip: you have to be really quick between scraping the polish and rolling the stamper;
5. Apply the stamper to the nail.

It is best to apply a decent top coat afterwards to ensure the design stays in place longer.

There are some VERY cheesy tutorials on You Tube which you might want to check out, however they are so cheesy that I felt unable to recommend any!

In my opinion the best place to purchase kits is Ebay, however more information on Konad designs and polishes can be found here http://www.konadnailart.com/

Crochet Skater Dress

Thank God for Asos. How cute is this dress! Ordered it today (free delivery within six working days). Can't wait for it to arrive, think it could become a wardrobe staple over the summer months!

Eng-er-laand

With the World Cup looming (squad announced yesterday), St Georges crosses adorning cars, pubs and supermarkets (has anyone been to Tescos lately!?) I would like to dedicate my post today to our little country, England.

Now, let's be honest, we moan about where we live A LOT! The weather, the economy, working hours, bank holidays (and the distinct lack thereof), price of stuff compared with the US... but let's think about this a little more carefully. This morning I chose what I wanted to wear, not every lady in the world had that choice to make. We live in a culture which celebrates diversity, and in an age where young people are encouraged to develop their own sense of style and identity.

Something I experienced on a recent trip I took (to a country not very far away) has made me appreciate where I live so much more. As reasonably educated people in the 21st Century, should we not have evolved as human beings enough to make racism a long forgotten memory? I will never again take for granted how it feels to walk down the street without feeling frightened. Although it is a human right, we must remember how lucky we really are. The diversity and tolerance we have in England is something to be cherished, and not ever taken for granted.

Guest Blogger…Laura Rimmer, founder of The Silver Giraffe

My good friend Laura is one of the most creative and talented people I know, and she has a great head for business. She is also wonderfully tall (did you detect a note of jealousy!) which earned her the nickname Giraffe! The combination of all of the above recently led her to found The Silver Giraffe, her own business providing everything for parties from invitations to save the date lollipops (pictured above). (...she also makes a mean cupcake...!)

Here Laura talks about her passion for design and aspirations for her business:

“The Silver giraffe was born after finding solace in making birthday cards for people. This gathered momentum with friends and family asking me to make greetings cards and invitations to events. I found that it was the embellishments that people were most excited about - the cuter and sparklier the better! Our newest range uses 'Pandora Style' Charms as embellishments - perfect because they can be kept after the event and placed on a bracelet.

What's Next? Between responding to enquiries and marketing the business I am working on the boutique section of the website enabling customers to buy a single greetings card but have them 100% personalized if they wish to. Our first range will be for Daddy's day this June. We hope the business will continue to grow enabling us to improve aspects such as the website and enable us to advertise in Bridal and Event Magazines.”

For more information visit www.thesilvergiraffe.co.uk or by get in touch with Laura via e-mail at info@thesilvergiraffe.co.uk

Visit to Loch Leven

Last Bank Holiday my boyfriend took me to beautiful Loch Leven in Fife, Scotland. At that time there was still snow on the Lomond Hills although it was a gorgeous sunny day. The Lomonds sweep down to the water's edge which makes for some breathtaking views. In hindsight I should have taken some photos of my outfit too as it was the first outing for my Lilly Cream Skater dress from Topshop!

Loch Level is the largest lowland loch in Scotland and even has a little island in the middle. Also of interest is Loch Leven's Larder, a lovely cafe, farm shop, craft shop and nature trail. More details here http://www.lochlevenslarder.com/

Fresh Herbs!

Another project I finally got to grips over the sunny weekend was planting seeds for some fresh herbs - chives and basil! I took the easy option of buying pots with the compost already in from Asda for £1 each (bargain!). All that was left to be done was to scoop 5mm of compost from the top, sow the seeds, water and place in a sunny spot. Today is Thursday, the seeds were planted on Saturday and already we have little shoots of basil popping through. The chives have yet to make an appearance unfortunately but I haven't given up hope!

I'll report back on their progress soon...

DecoPatch!

The beautiful summery Sunday we had last weekend could not have been in starker contrast to the wintery, chilly and snowy Sunday when my friend Denise and I attended the Needle and Craft Show at Manchester Central (nee G-Mex) last December. We spent all day perusing the various crafty offerings, including a glorious cheese stall (bit random for a craft show yet wonderfully welcome) and ... the DecoPatch area.



I purchased a starter kit which was just enough to cover the box above. Said box was purchased circa 10 years ago from Paperchase and had seen better days - and I think you'll agree the DecoPatch treatment has done it the world of good.



It was surprisingly easy to do - dried very fast (helped by the sun) and for my first attempt there were surprisingly few dodgy bits!



Buy DecoPatch here: http://www.thedecopatchplace.co.uk/page2.htm