After Dark

NewcastleGateshead's weekend of after-hours culture returns in this year's The Late Shows.

Over Friday 16th and Saturday 17th May, Tyneside cultural venues are throwing open their doors for a lil bit longer and hosting some top-notch events for all of us North East culture buffs.

The TLS gang recently released their programme for this year's happenings, and by golly, by gosh, what a line-up it is.

Here's what I've got my eye on:

Printmaking @ Northern Print
I am a bit mad on all things screen-printed at the minute, so what better way to feed this obsession than to see how it's actually done? I love knowing the processes behind things like this so I'll be first in the queue for the event at Ouseburn's print mecca.

Marilyn Monroe: A British Love Affair @ Hatton Gallery
Ah, my old stomping ground. I worked at the Hatton whilst I was at uni, but have actually only been back a couple of times since then, which is just criminal. The HG currently have an exhibition dedicated to the Monroe, highlighting British photographers and personalities who worked with her. I've always been massively intrigued by Marilyn Monroe's lifestyle, so this a must-see for me.

Ginny Reed @ The NewBridge Project
Reed's solo exhibition - closing on 17th May - explores the way we receive and digest information via digital forms. Looking at the idea that we constantly crave information, Reed presents work in the form of Vine videos, memes, gifs and samples. I have a big interest in the age of distraction so especially looking forward to this one.

You can download the full The Late Shows programme here.

Which events have you got eyes on?

*Image cred: The Late Shows

January Girl

January has been jam-packed so far. From a night in Hotel du Vin, to trying out some of Newcastle's new food joints to my birthday, it's been a brilliant beginning to 2014. Here's some of the best bits so far.

1. Cotton Post calendar to keep 2014 in check / 2. Chanel Le Vernis Rouge Rubis - a gorgeous Christmas present / 3. Joe representin' at the match / 4. We lost the battle / 5. Obsessed with all things black, white and yellow at the moment / 6. Seeing my pals in action in Vice Canada's Guides to Newcastle / 7 & 8. A night in the unreal Hotel du Vin in Newcastle. Look at that room! Brilliant food, exceptional cocktails and a little bit of a sore head the following day. All signs of a brilliant Friday night. / 9. Favourite blend from OCC / 10. Going button-up in Celia Birtwell for Uniqlo / 11. Hangin' with my two of my favourites; Oliver and Bella / 12.  Happy birthday to me! Treats from Dover Street Market (underneath the wrapping was an unreal CDG wallet which has been on my wishlist for some time / 13. Gifts from my gorgeous team at work - my favourite espresso martini and a delicate gold necklace / 14. New kicks. / 15. Checking out Coop in Newcastle - just one of the many new food joints which seem to have popped up over night / 16. Perfect patisserie from the Pet Lamb girls / 17. An unreal birthday present; personalised hip-flask *inserts heart-eyed emoji* / 18. Unreal bait at North Shields Fish Quay's latest establishment, The Staith House (on the plate is slow cooked pork belly with langoustines, spinach and cauliflower puree). 

What's been going down.

1. A brilliant new event in Newcastle, which takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of the month. Amazing local food, drinks and music...I give you The Boiler Shop Steamer / 2. Sea salt soap at RE:found Objects in Corbridge / 3. Gifts from America / 4. One of my best evening's I've had in a long while...The Grazer's Supperclub at the Ouse Street Arts Club. Can't wait for the next one! / 5. Espresso martinis from Ouseburn Coffee Company / 6. Retriever doing their thing at The Cluny / 7. Dirty Beaches! / 8. New beauty treats / 9. Cocktails at Toon favourite, Alvinos.

1. Food with Mama and Papa Barnes at Lola Jeans in Tynemouth / 2. A favourite shop of mine in Tynemouth, Boys Like Dolls - a fantastic selection of vintage fashion and homeware pieces / 3. Celebrating my Mama Barnes' 60th birthday in Newcastle / 4. Food heaven courtesy of The Broad Chare / 5, 6, 7. Celebrating the wedding of Beth and Hal at Shortflatt Tower in Belsay. Hands down the best wedding I've been to - filled with so much love, happiness and great memories. Check out their utterly brilliant first dance. / 8. Homemade burger and chips / 9. Nadine Shah being rad.

1. Green goodness to help me get over a horrible cold / 2. Mum's 60th birthday party with the whole family. This amazing cake was made by Becky - check her out if you need some sweet treats for any occassion / 3. Checking out new Tynemouth cafe, Dil & The Bear - I can highly recommend their chorizo homemade baked beans and array of smoothies / 4. Have you seen this bird? / 5. Payday treats from ASOS - the perfect lightweight summertime jacket / 6. Sydney Hale Company candles - a treat for the nose / 7. A summertime essential. Coconut ice cream from Di Meo's, Whitley Bay / 8. Mojito time! / 9. Beautiful King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth. So lucky that this is 10 minute stroll from my flat.

& Other Stories

I know, I know: who hasn't blogged about H&M's new brand this week? But, it's all for good reason.

& Other Stories, created by the teams behind the brilliant high-street collections from H&M and Cos, now bring us this new brand. The brand's collections aren't depicted by trends, but 'stories' which will develop each season. They've integrated some brilliant video 'Shop the Story' sequences, showing the clothes on real people (definately where eCommerce is heading) and this week launched their London HQ on Regent Street.

The ready-to-wear clothes, accessories and shoes are the type of staples which you need in your wardrobe; simple colour, shapes and styles. My idea of utter style heaven. Pass me my credit card - here are my picks:

Block heel sandals £65 / Claire Vivier for & Other Stories Notebook Holder £29

Leather clutch £55 / Sleeveless shirt £39 

Knitted top £29 / Leather belt £29 

What's your favourite story this season?

& Other Stories

256—258 Regent Street

London, W1B 3AF 

Fresh and Clean.

Our Christmas decorations are down, and now the house is looking a bit lacklustre, like it needs an injection of excitement, and maybe some colour to boot.

I can't wait to make some additions to the house in early 2013 - here are some of the things I'm coveting for the home.

Bright neon pink accents
We've decorated our home in a fairly neutral way and I'm ready to brighten it up for Spring. A few neon pink accents are such a modern way of introducing colour to our palette of black, white and grey.

Light Fantastic 
I love an interesting light fitting - planning on including a couple of stand out pieces to our home this year.

Textiles
Even though we're coming out of Winter, I still want to fill our home with gorgeous cosy cushions and curtains. After 6 months of searching, I've finally found some curtains I love - hoping they make our living room feel a bit less chilly!

China
We bought a set of basic crockery when we moved in, but now I'm in the market for some special pieces. I'm absolutely in love with Giles' collection for Matches, Marimekko and Ferm Living china - can't wait for them to grace our flat.

To see more Home Inspiration, pop over to my Home Style board on Pinterest.

To Build A Home

Above: Our gorgeous tiled hallway

Blogging has slipped by the wayside recently due to buying a flat and starting a new job. But I'm back! I had a lot of requests from Instagram and Twitter followers to blog some photos of our gorgeous Tyneside flat, so I though I'd start with something small as the flat is no where near done yet and I want to show it off properly when we have it pristine.

I always knew I wanted beautiful and unique prints up around the flat, and started buying some of my favourites before we even got the keys. Coincidentally, all of the prints below are by North-East based design studios - we have so many talented designers here and I love supporting them.

Here's a quick look at some of the prints we have up around the flat - I've got a lot which are waiting to be framed, so will snap them when they're ready to go up.

My absolute favourite print, Always in England, sits above the fireplace in the master bedroom and is by the brilliant Prefab 77. I'm still longing for one of their amazing Let It Reign prints - the ultimate way to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. In LOVE.

Ben Holland who goes under the alias of Low Moon Over High Town, creates amazing ink drawings which celebrate less revered architectural gems located in the North-East. The above print is of the Crown Posada, one of Newcastle's oldest pubs and one of mine and Joe's favourite places to have a drink in the Toon. The Crown Posada have the best record player and a cosy snug, the perfect place for a quiet drink on date night. Next on my list is Ben's Vampire Rabbit print.

Above (L-R) are prints by WonderStuff Studio and C-Front, both North East based design studios. I love the hidden message in WSS's eye chart print (If You Know Where To Look, You Will Find Happiness) and C-Front's Impossible Love print is a brilliant piece of design. I heart it.