roamkix

Behind The Scenes!

2012-02-25T20:25:00.000Z

Spent the day shooting the spring/ summer lookbook. Here's a little sneak peak. The poor girls were freezing. And yes that's my head that Anna is leaning on. :)

Magnified

2012-02-23T18:25:00.000Z

I wish, wish, wish I was in New York to see this exhibition at MOMA. I found Lovely Daze through the exhibition website, such a beautiful publication.

More from Paris

2012-02-22T15:35:00.001Z

Few more pics from Paris..

Picked up these cute dresses from air noos on Rue du Roi de Sicile. Couldn't decide which one so ended up getting both! oops :)

Love this store on Rue des Rosiers, it smells amazing..Nice yellow door!

French Label Love

2012-02-21T15:51:00.000Z

A few pictures from the weekend, was in Paris for a brief shopping trip with a friend. I don't know what it is about the high end of French high street but I'm in love with all their brands and there's nowhere better to see them all than in Le Marais.

I love everything about Loft, especially their graphic tees and quirky store on Rue des Francs- Bourgeois.

New to Eleven Paris, but love their branding and online lookbook. This store is on Rue des Rosiers next to the best falafel place ever.

I came across ba&sh last year when I was yearning after their navy duffle coat from the a/w collection. The new season is just as cool, awesome window display too at their store on Rue des Francs- Bourgeois.

Big Deal

2012-02-15T17:09:00.000Z

Love it when you find a decent music blog. It's so hard to come across good new music, I tend to relay on 6 music radio but have found lots of cool stuff over on a hymn including Big Deal. Kinda like the Kills and kinda like Slow Club. I love this girl, her hair, her outfit, her lipstick...

Objects of Desire

2012-02-14T17:48:00.000Z

I'm in love with everything over at Love Adorned. Beautiful jewellery and really quirky home stuff. They also have a really cute blog. These amongst others are on my wish list....

Have also been scouring ebay all day for letter press type. Determined to get a set and start printing with them just wish they weren't so expensive.

Dancing Shoes

2012-02-13T23:10:00.000Z

I know everyone is banging on about 'The Artist', but it really is so good and has had me attempting to tap dance at every opportunity (mainly while waiting for the kettle to boil) since. I loved the closing scene..

Not a patch on Bande A Part though, still the best dance scene ever.

Blue Moon

2012-02-11T17:20:00.000Z

For my mum (left) This was her favourite song and was recorded the year she was born.

Drawn

2012-02-10T17:07:00.000Z

Some of my recent drawings. If only you could get paid to doodle. :) I'd love to be a professional doodle bug. I think if money wasn't an issue I would love to just paint all day in a big old studio in old jeans and an old white tee. You can't really tell from these pictures but they're all pretty massive.

Them Bells

2012-02-08T17:56:00.003Z

How nice are these wedding photos by Anna & Mark Strachan. I've been watching an unhealthy amount of 'don't tell the bride' on tv recently which always leaves me secretly making wedding plans, fiance or not! It's so nice to see some well done wedding photography and not the usual cheesy, stiff stuff.

Off The Page

2012-02-06T15:28:00.000Z

At the moment I'm working on some editorial design briefs and creating magazine spreads using the roamkix s/s 11 and a/w 11 lookbooks and also some of the content from this blog. My friend who runs a creative agency pissed himself laughing at my '1980s off the page bleeds' but I like them. Would love to publish a printed version of the lookbooks if it wasn't so expensive.

http://www.roamkix.com/

Brown Bean Times

2012-02-05T14:18:00.000Z

Since leaving London last summer one thing I'm really missing is coffee! I'm not a massive coffee drinker (tea being my daily poison) but sometimes all I wanna do is waste an afternoon sitting around sipping a large frothy one shot latte (unlike Clare who has to have it strong, hot and flat!) It's always been a bit of a dream to open a coffee shop and at the moment the brown beans are on my mind!

I was always really lucky in London to work just around the corner from good coffee shops, Monmouth in Covent Garden above, the coffee here will leave you buzzing! And Coffee Plant in Portobello below, no nonsense and simple but good.

Kitchen and Pantry in Chiswick below. Judging from my dark circles, I'm guessing this was a hangover coffee! This place has awesome comfy sofas and amazing brownies.

Not actually been here, but found this place on Anne Louise Likes, if I ever open a coffee shop it will look exactly like this...

Throw Some Shapes

2012-02-03T10:27:00.000Z

Some geometric shape love...

Son of a Sailor's jewellery has been on my wish list for ages. Based in Austin and run by couple Jessica and William. They have a really cute blog too.

I love Olivia Larrain Heiremans photography and how her portfolio is categorised by colour not subject. I always find myself sorting things by colour. Especially people.

fielguided is one of my favourite blogs and I love everything in her etsy shop too.

I want one of these notebooks from Julia for my never ending to do lists...

This track is currently stuck on repeat. Love a bit of geometric face paint! haha

We'll Take Manhattan

2012-02-02T15:39:00.002Z

Saw 'We'll take Manhattan' last week, a one off drama on BBC four about the relationship between David Bailey and Jean Shrimpton. The script wasn't great but loved the styling around New York and it gave a glimpse into what vogue was like in the 1960s. You can watch it here.

The real Jean Shrimpton...

Hatted

2012-02-01T17:46:00.000Z

Having a bit of a hat moment right now. Especially as it's minus something outside, this big freeze is defo not wanted! But it's a Wednesday which can only mean one thing.... Film Night!

The Public Diary is one of my favourite blogs. This girl has so much style...

Recently came across Palermo Street Style, loving this shot..

These I found on tumblr...

Blanket le Fou

2012-01-31T12:11:00.000Z

So this week didn't get off to a great start. My car broke down at rush hour yesterday morning and with no heating we had a freezing 40 minute wait for help :( However, I did manage to finish my latest project- a blanket/ quilt/ sheet thing. I've never really been much of a textile person but I really enjoyed making this. Although I think it was the typography element that really gave me kicks and the Tracey Emin influence is obvious! The quote is from Godard's 'Pierrot le Fou'. Excuse my messy studio...

I'd sooner forget myself

2012-01-30T21:18:00.000Z

We went to see the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights on Friday and I fell in love with the first hour of Cathy and Heathcliff's innocent ramblings on the Moors. It's shot so beautifully, filled with dark imagery of damp heather, creaky houses and grey skies. However it's delicately modern, with a strong emphasis on the visual rather than script. Just my kinda film, would recommend.

Shades of White

2012-01-29T22:46:00.000Z

Having a white moment over on roamkix.com. Willing Spring to arrive.

Starry heavens above and the moral law within

2012-01-29T18:48:00.000Z

Yesterday we went to see a small Anselm Kiefer exhibition at the Mostyn Gallery. Good art spaces are few and far between up here so it was so refreshing to find a beautifully curated gallery. I've just recently found the works of Kiefer and love his manipulation of surface. There's something very dark but somehow hopeful in his pieces. The Mostyn had a small collection of maybe 12 pieces which uses mixed media and photography. There was something in the space of this exhibition. What intrigued me most was standing in the middle of the room and feeling a sense of the work surrounding you, uttering hidden messages. Mainly in German!

Leather from Lily

2012-01-27T14:46:00.000Z

Last week I headed to Chester for a bit of shopping. Last time I was there, there were no vintage stores in sight but I came across Lily Vintage this time round. Beginning life as a pop-up shop, Keely aka Lily told me it's now to be a permanent fixture on the high street. I picked up this awesome black leather jacket.

Also splurged a little on this pink lacey top from Zara, some new spring shades nail polish and a new eye liner from Mac, which I'm afraid hasn't quite lived up to expectations. How hard is it to find a good liquid eye liner which stays on all day and doesn't smudge?! The search continues....

Some snaps from Lily's shop....

Postcards from America

2012-01-21T15:47:00.000Z

'In May 2011, five Magnum photographers traveled from Texas to California in the first of a series of trips documenting post-millennial America.' I'm loving this idea, you can now buy the 'book' that documents their trip. Although at $250, it's a bit steep. I love the format though, ' 1 Box signed by everyone, 1 Book, 5 Bumper Stickers, 1 Newspaper, 2 fold-outs, 3 Cards, 1 Poster, 5 Zines that combine to represent the idiosyncratically American character that defines this project.'

Print Love

2012-01-17T22:03:00.000Z

Beautiful prints. Love these, by Alexis Snell

Monochrome moments

2012-01-10T22:09:00.001Z

New to Wildfox and not totally convinced, but I love this lookbook and this shot especially.

Still dreaming of road tripping this summer, as far away as that seems in the midst of this dark winter......

Beautifuly illustrated short stories based on Beatles songs by Let It Be Beautiful. I can't pick which one!...

Take me to Portland

2012-01-09T22:40:00.000Z

What is it with Oregon and beautifully printed stationary?! I want to learn to print like this...

Stitch and Sew

2012-01-05T20:59:00.000Z

One of my new years resolutions is to improve my sewing skills. Mainly so I can alter vintage for the site but also so that I can live in hope of maybe one day being able to make one these awesome things!

King Rides By

2011-12-31T15:35:00.000Z

I've been following booooom for years but have somehow missed 'Friends With Both Arms' until now. Full of awesome music, just found Cat Power's new track. Now on repeat. Happy New Year ya'll :)

Time for Tee

2011-12-20T18:00:00.000Z

I'm going through another graphic tee phase and these are all on my wishlist.

Love this sweat by Zoe Karssen, above, and how Kingdom of Style has styled it below. Just recently found their blog, check it out here.

Orphan's Arms tee above right and Le Petit Petit below.

Tunes

2011-12-19T21:40:00.000Z

I've been rather slow in joining the 'slow club' club! But at the moment their current album 'Paradise' is playing on repeat. Along with this awesome tune by Arcade Fire, which I found through Secret Cinema FB page. Kinda reminds me of The Knife.

Christmas Party Dresses Sorted

2011-12-06T15:49:00.001Z

Lots of lovely party dresses on the site now.

Cake

2011-11-10T20:34:00.001Z

I love cake, especially the beautifully printed kind. Just discovered this mag and am loving this shoot by elena kholkina even more.

Down in Balham... continued

2011-10-21T16:24:00.001+01:00

A long silence due to moving house, moving to a house with no internet connection and fleeing the new house to rock and roll in Londres.

Roamkix had a stall at the Vintage Event at Balham Bowls last Saturday. I stayed with a friend in the area and was pleasantly surprised. NB Balham is much nicer than Clapham (my old stomping ground which drove me out of London!)

Had amazing coffee from this little cafe, Bertie & Boo, the cupcakes were tres tempting, I somehow resisted and then instead gorged on a bacon and egg bap from a greasy spoon later on (oops!)

We partied at Hoxton Pony on Saturday eve which was a bit disappointing. Is the east end the new west end?

Sunday was another vintage filled day, wandering around spitalfields and brick lane. Made it to the new vintage dept store Blitz which was well worth the visit although strangely I didn't buy anything. I have however recently indulged in 3 new dresses from Etsy and my friend Clare who has lovingly altered an amazing golden yellow 60s number. Pics soon.

Down in Balham

2011-10-12T17:40:00.001+01:00

If anyone is in London this weekend, roamkix will be having a stall the Balham Bowls Vintage Event.

https://www.facebook.com/TheVintageEvent

Stop by and say hello :)

Autumn/ Winter sneak preview

2011-09-29T22:25:00.000+01:00

A little sneak preview of the roamkix autumn/ winter 2011 lookbook. Should be up by next week. They're really beautiful, am so pleased with all the shots.

Video Games

2011-09-28T20:27:00.000+01:00

There's something I really like about this girls voice.

Vintage wares

2011-09-26T21:27:00.001+01:00

Last Saturday was spent rummaging in the rain. Me plus two sisters and one van ventured deep into anglesey to a friends house in the woods to pick up an unwanted oven. We spent the morning with her horses, blonde haired little girls and a black labrador. The afternoon's loot from the boot sale was two vintage deck chairs (from a German man) and a bag full of eggshell blue enamel kitchenware (from a Scotsman)

These lovely but unnecessary new things are for our new sea front house. Yes, I'm moving again. To a white washed cottage with outdoor shower and indoor bath :)

In Le Bag

2011-09-21T16:16:00.000+01:00

Anthropologie leather bag, Car keys, Aviators, Diary, Blackberry, Lip Balm, Compact mirror from Florence, Leather purse from Dublin, Make- up bag, Song in D Minor perfume by Toyko Milk.

Stuck in the house, full of cold, drizzle outside. So I decided to photograph the contents of my bag.

De Paris

2011-09-18T16:00:00.001+01:00

A few things I picked up in Paris last month.

We got caught in a thunder storm on our way to the airport at 5am. There were kids at the bus stop on Rivoli hiding from the rain.

I finished 'Two on a Tower' on the plane home. I have been thinking about Swithin & Viviette since.

Blue Moon

2011-09-15T08:32:00.001+01:00

This is my mum (right) and her twin sister in 1974. She passed 11 years ago today.

I can't sleep with the window closed anymore.
There's such a dark abyss out there where everyone gets lost.
It looms

My flapper dresses shift in the draft from the window

On the Street

2011-09-13T22:29:00.000+01:00

I am loving Turned Out, finally found a street style blog with style. Beautiful images and I love Maya's comentary.

I've also finally found vanilla tea. A friend introduced it to me in Paris and I have been looking for it over here ever since. Today was the day I found some.... from waitrose.

With trees

2011-09-10T20:44:00.000+01:00

Tea in Beaumaris today and a walk in the woods singing Jim White and wearing a red scarf in my hair.

On the edge of a wonderful field, along a row of corn, where gusts of wind twirled within. Again I had this familiar feeling of what reality might be. That's it's here where the breeze hangs in the trees. And not out there within untruths.

I wish I'd taken a picture of said field and not the tea before.

Whistles A/W 2011

2011-09-08T21:50:00.000+01:00

Whistles Autumn/Winter 2011 from WHISTLES on Vimeo.

Thought the new Whistles A/W campaign video was quite cool. Something a bit different for a high street brand.

On the Road again, in my mind

2011-09-06T12:55:00.000+01:00

Opening this month's vogue, which was waiting for me at home on my doorstep on this wet, blustery day, I came across an article on the new film adaptation of Kerouac's 'On the Road'. This is something I've somewhat dreaded since I first read the book 10 years ago. It actually makes me sad to think it was 10 years ago. It had such a strong affect on my view of the world that the thought of it becoming a Hollywood film has always saddened me. I don't think the feelings and the passion that Jack's words evoke can be translated into film without being portrayed as idle youthful rebellion or a desperately 'cool' nonchalance. The beat generation has had such a hold on my heart for such a long time I don't think any film could do the book justice. The article did however, evoke some nostalgia for my teenage years, filled with visions of open roads and night long conversations over coffee and cigarettes. 10 years later and I've still not done NY to SF via Denver. One day :)

'the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved'

I remember so clearly stumbling upon this letter in my IT GCSE class at school. I remember printing it out and keeping a copy in my school file, which 5 years later I gave to a friend.

Dear Jack:,

I am sitting in a bar on Market St. I'm drunk, well, not quite, but I soon will be. I am here for 2 reasons; I must wait 5 hours for the bus to Denver & lastly but, most importantly, I'm here (drinking) because, of course, because of a woman & what a woman! To be chronological about it

I was sitting on the bus when it took on more passengers at Indianapolis, Indiana -- a perfectly proportioned beautiful, intellectual, passionate, personification of Venus De Milo asked me if the seat beside me was taken!!! I gulped, (I'm drunk) gargled & stammered NO! (Paradox of expression, after all, how can one stammer No!!?) She sat -- I sweated -- She started to speak, I knew it would be generalities, so to tempt her I remained silent.

She (her name Patricia) got on the bus at 8 PM (Dark!) I didn't speak until 10 PM -- in the intervening 2 hours I not only of course, determined to make her, but, how to DO IT.

I naturally can't quote the conversation verbally, however, I shall attempt to give you the gist of it from 10 PM to 2 AM

Without the slightest preliminaries of objective remarks (what's your name? where are you going? etc.) I plunged into a completely knowing, completely subjective, personal & so to speak "penetrating her core" way of speech; to be shorter (since I'm getting unable to write) by 2 AM I had her swearing eternal love, complete subjectivity to me & immediate satisfaction. I, anticipating even more pleasure, wouldn't allow her to blow me on the bus, instead we played, as they say, with each other.

Knowing her supremely perfect being was completely mine (when I'm more coherent, I'll tell you her complete history & psychological reason for loving me) I could concieve of no obstacle to my satisfaction, well "the best laid plans of mice & men go astray" and my nemesis was her sister, the bitch.

Pat had told me her reason for going to St. Louis was to see her sister; she had wired her to meet her at the depot. So, to get rid of the sister, we peeked around the depot when we arrived at St. Louis at 4 AM to see if she (her sister) was present. If not, Pat would claim her suitcase, change clothes in the rest room & she and I proceed to a hotel room for a night (years?) of perfect bliss. The sister was not in sight, so She (not the capital) claimed her bag & retired to the toilet to change ---- long dash ---

This next paragraph must, of necessity, be written completely objectively --

Edith (her sister) & Patricia (my love) walked out of the pisshouse hand in hand (I shan't describe my emotions). It seems Edith (bah) arrived at the bus depot early & while waiting for Patricia, feeling sleepy, retired to the head to sleep on a sofa. That's why Pat & I didn't see her.My desperate efforts to free Pat from Edith failed, even Pat's terror & slave-like feeling toward her rebelled enough to state she must see "someone" & would meet Edith later, allfailed. Edith was wise; she saw what was happening between Pat & I.

Well, to summarize: Pat & I stood in the depot (in plain sight of the sister) & pushing up to one another, vowed to never love again & then I took the bus to Kansas City & Pat went home, meekly, with her dominating sister. Alas, alas ---

In complete (try & share my feeling) dejection, I sat, as the bus progressed toward Kansas City. At Columbia, Mo. a young (19) completely passive (my meat) virgin got on & shared my seat ... In my dejection over losing Pat, the perfect, I decided to sit on the bus (behind the driver) in broad daylight & seduce her, from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM I talked. When I was done, she (confused, her entire life upset, metaphysically amazed at me, passionate in her immaturity) called her folks in Kansas City, & went with me to a park (it was just getting dark) & I banged her; I screwed as never before; all my pent up emotion finding release in this young virgin (& she was) who is, by the way, a school teacher! Imagine, she's had 2 years of Mo. St. Teacher's College & now teaches Jr. High School. (I'm beyond thinking straightly)

I'm going to stop writing. Oh, yes, to free myself for a moment from my emotions, you must read 'Dead Souls' parts of it (in which Gogol shows his insight) are quite like you.

I'll elaborate further later (probably?) but at the moment I'm drunk and happy (after all, I'm free of Patricia already, due to the young virgin. I have no name for her. At the happy note of Les Young's 'jumping at Mesners' (which I'm hearing) I close till later.

To my Brother

Carry On!

N.L. Cassady

Dublin

2011-08-29T17:42:00.001+01:00

A few images from shopping in Dublin last weekend. I found a really cool vintage section in the basement at Om Diva on Atelier Street.

Avoca is Dublin's answer to Anthropologie- vintage props, handmade soap and cute kitchenware.

We had coffee and chocolate at Butlers and got to see Dandelion Daydream's vintage collection at their stockroom (A friend of a friend) I wouldn't necessarily recommend Dublin as a shopping destination as it's so expensive but it's always cool to experience a new city. Especially after being in the country so long.

Studio or Street Style?

2011-08-17T18:51:00.002+01:00

It's a beautiful summer evening and the sun light is hanging over Rhosneigr beach streaming into our living room. Just had a couple of days of entertaining some friends up from London so am enjoying doing nothing while the quiet lasts. I have a super busy month ahead.

Off to Dublin on Friday for the weekend with a friend. After spending pretty much the whole summer in Wales, working, I can't wait to hit the town and do a little bit of shopping and a lot of partying. Looking forward to checking out Forever 21. Next week we're off to Paris to get some new stock for the website. I am so looking forward to ambling around the streets of Paris and drinking wine until the early hours. And of course getting some new vintage.

Last month I launched a roamkix boutique on ASOS marketplace. I thought it would be a good way of driving customers to the website. It's actually proved to be quite a good selling tool. All the photography on market place is done street style. I think when it's done right, this can look really good. Am just debating now whether to shoot all the stock like this rather than studio style with a white back drop. What dya think?

Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus

2011-08-14T22:37:00.000+01:00

Earlier this week I saw 'Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus', a film docu following folk musician Jim White across Texas as he meets up with his weird and wonderful friends. It's a beautiful film filled with images of open roads, hanging vistas, roadside diners and southern paraphernalia. All set against a backdrop of banjos and old folk songs. It really gives you a sense of the deep south and the mind set of the people there. I just don't think you find characters like these in my corner of the world. Least they're few and far between if you do. This song has been on repeat since. I'm daydreaming about an American road trip next summer.

Looking to Autumn

2011-08-07T21:24:00.010+01:00

This weekend was well and truly all about the food. We had a white russian fueled sing song on Friday evening. Saturday began with a pub lunch followed by tea and tarts at the farm shop cafe followed by Mexican night at our place last night.

We polished off the brownies and shortbread the girls brought last night, this afternoon with tea and the latest issue of Elle.

We took a walk along the Menai Straights today and wandered through the woods. Picked some of the wild flowers above. I can definitely feel Autumn in the air, the smell of mushrooms and berries. I'm actually kinda looking forward to September and the start of a new season. The thought of blackberry picking and baking and crisp cold sunny days spent in the woods. Also saw some of the new Topshop Autumn/ Winter range and am starting to think about a new autumn wardrobe as well as an autumn reading list. Thinking lots more Hardy...

Clean room & countryside

2011-08-05T13:20:00.001+01:00

I've been so busy the last few months, working and putting the website together it hasn't left much time for anything else. So I've promised myself August will be a month of easing myself back into reading, writing and drawing in preparation for uni. (wherever I end up!) Spending my day off today cleaning the flat, listening to Gillian Welch and reading Thomas Hardy. I'm cooking Mexican food for some friends tomorrow evening so need to find some recipes too.

Finally put some frames up in my room.

Really digging this mellow folksy stuff at the moment. I think it suits my mood and surroundings. Folk sounds so much better in the countryside.

Decisions, blankets and Paris

2011-08-02T20:18:00.002+01:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been in a somewhat contemplative state thinking about my future. Maybe I should be a mud doctor, checking out the earth underneath? But probably I am going back to college in the Autumn. I have a place on an art course in both London and here in Anglesey, so I've been trying to decide where to go. At the moment I think it's probable I'll stay in Wales. Although I am starting to miss facets of London, the peace and stress-free lifestyle here is starting to take a hold. And I think to be in a creative place you sometimes need a bit of still?

I was in London briefly last weekend after visiting the Isle of Wight. I managed to spend an hour at the new Tracey Emin exhibition at Southbank. It was so great to see her blankets in the flesh. I just love them. I always manage to find some inspiration in her use of colour and layout. I'm hoping to start printing this autumn and these will definitely be a big influence on my work.

Also been busy planning a trip to Paris and Dublin this month. Can't wait to be in Paris again, if only for a couple of days. I've decided to order an Ofr system guide after reading Miss Little Lime's post on it.

road trippin

2011-07-26T15:03:00.001+01:00

A few days spent away down in the Isle of Wight with a friend was just what the doctor ordered. Paddling on the beach and sipping pink fizz in a pretty English garden.

2011-07-19T17:52:00.004+01:00

One of my new favourite bloggers, Lorna from Bookshop folk tells us a bit about herself....

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do 9-5 and more importantly 5-9?!

I'm Lorna, I'm 19 and I'm a keen photographer and film student. Right now I have a free summer, so my time so far has been spent exploring the outdoors, travelling the country and feeding my mind with film, music and literature. If an evening isn't spent with a glass of wine in my hand I'll most likely be making the most of the long, light evenings with my camera.

What 3 things/ people inspire you most?

Sofia Coppola, Chloë Sevigny and Tracey Emin.

What's the best thing you've ever found in a charity shop?

My Olympia typewriter.

What's your favourite thing you own?

Right now, my oversized pastel blue tie dye tee.

And thing you don't own?

Chanel NouvelleVague nail polish.

You obviously have a keen interest in film, if you had to pick 3, which movies would be your favourite?

That's an incredibly difficult question! However my top three are probably The Virgin Suicides, Kids and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind (all cliche but all classic).

What's your favourite film soundtrack?

Marie Antoinette.

Which country would you most like to visit next and why?

France, because well, it's France isn't it?

What's the most inspiring place you've been?

Whenever I'm in London I feel inspired, there's so much life there.

Where would you like to be in 5 years?

I don't think you can think that far ahead, you never know what's round the corner. What I want right now may be totally different to what I want in five years. I just hope for the best.

What are your favourite blogs?

http://misslittlelime.blogspot.com

http://julia.blogg.se/

http://lolitas.se/

http://www.lulamag.com/scrapbook/

What about music?

I love everything from The Strokes to Mount Kimbie. Right now I'm listening to a lot of Summer Camp, Modest Mouse and The Beach Boys.

Please draw a self portrait :)

I can't draw :(

Thanks Lorna! You can check out Bookshop Folk here

2011-07-15T15:27:00.000+01:00

Taking inspiration from Messy Jesse, I've been on the look out for some cute vintage sheets and came across these last week. I think she has cute cushion cover plans for her's but I was wondering whether to use them on my bed. Are vintage bed sheets a vintage step too far?!! This also made me think a home section on www.roamkix.com could be really cool. Hmmm, watch this space....

Above, Jessie's cute cushions.

2011-07-14T22:56:00.002+01:00

Taking a break from all the website stuff, on sunday we had ourselves a little road trip to Cheshire. After months of waiting for Terrence Mallick's new film, we had to journey 50 miles to the nearest cinema showing 'Tree of Life'. It was definitely worth the trip, beautifully shot and with a haunting soundtrack, I would definitely recommend getting lost in this 2 hour movie. Austin looks amazing, full of wide leafy streets and beautiful wooden houses with white washed porches.

Live

2011-07-07T13:54:00.000+01:00

So after 10 long, long months of working endlessly on the website, I can finally write that it's live!! It's taken weekends of vintage buying and sourcing, endless evenings after work of designing and then re-designing and countless emails between myself and my good friend Jacob who helped build the site. Hopefully all the hard work has paid off. There are still a few issues we need to iron out, namely firefox problems. But please take a look and let me know your thoughts! www.roamkix.com.

2011-07-05T19:35:00.001+01:00

Yesterday was the day I climbed the highest mountain in Wales- Snowdon. Haha, which I'm still feeling very proud of and extremely stiff after. Five of us decided to tackle it after feeling slightly ashamed that living so close to it, we've never actually climbed to the top. It wasn't easy I must admit but the satisfaction I felt at the top was amazing and the views really were breathtaking. We reached the top in 2 hours and 10 minutes and had a much needed cup of tea at the summit. We ended the day on the beach with numerous bottles of wine and have now decided to do a coastal walk around the whole of Anglesey... watch this space!

Newness

2011-07-02T16:56:00.002+01:00

So I've been so super busy the last week trying to finish the website. It's so close to being ready now, just a few final tweaks. It's been a long time coming, I started it last October so it's been nearly 10 months. Anyway I have had time to do a little bit of internet shopping. Without London's shops on my doorstep I've been glued to topshop.com. Tan leather sandals, floral bra and new satchel were all on the shopping list. I also ordered a few bits from Anthropologie last week. I'm definitely beginning to miss my employee discount I had there!

Staying in

2011-06-27T22:12:00.002+01:00

The last few days have been fairly quiet and most spent a lot like this one- old films and chocolate! The Red Shoes is such a classic. I saw it for the first time at Secret Cinema earlier this year and fell in love with it. Black Swan eat your heart out, this is so much better. Also on the dvd player this week was The Graduate, Rear Window and Dirty Dancing.

Boris Lermontov: Why do you want to dance?
Victoria Page: Why do you want to live?
Boris Lermontov: Well I don't know exactly why, er, but I must.

Victoria Page: That's my answer too.

2011-06-22T18:43:00.000+01:00

I've recently started listening to Warpaint again. I just got the CD for my drive into work and am currently singing along at the top of my voice every time I get into the car. 'Shadows' being my favourite track to belt along to. (below)

We went to see them at Shepherd's Bush earlier this year and they were amazing live.

I picked up a copy of Jalouse last time I was in Paris which had some wicked shots of the band....

zzzzzzzzz

2011-06-20T21:39:00.000+01:00

Looking through the archives on my tumblr page, I noticed I have a bit of an obsession with pictures of unmade beds. Who knows where this stems from. Perhaps it's my rebellion against constantly being told to make my bed growing up or maybe it's the thought of what has gone on in them beforehand (sleeping of course!). Most probably it's just the pretty bedding, either way, here's some favs...

2011-06-18T16:26:00.000+01:00

I've just started a part time job across the island in Beaumaris and took a stroll around the town on my lunch break yesterday. There's a very old British feel to the place, full of cream tea cafes with floral china, pastel hued cottages and sea side bunting.

2011-06-16T21:23:00.000+01:00

My absolute favourite read at the moment has to be Le Portillon written by 21 year old Madelene Lindqvist. Recently based in Paris, but now returned to Sweden, her dreamy photography and romantic ponderings are full of both intrigue and mystery. Washed out pink, sweet macarons and vintage lace infuse her imagery and leave you with a lingering nostalgia for dusty books and lazy afternoons spent in old museums and leafy parks. Just beautiful.

2011-06-14T21:07:00.000+01:00

The bedroom is finally unpacked.

2011-06-13T21:15:00.000+01:00

So I recently made the decision to move back to Anglesey (where I grew up) for the summer months. I needed a break from London living and thought a few months by the sea side would be an excellent cure for city stress. It was quite a tough decision moving away from my friends and leaving my job working on the web team for Anthropologie EU but my heart lay elsewhere and there just wasn't enough time in the day for both work and trying to start a business. So here I am, living out of a sea side flat, having replaced the sounds of sirens in Clapham for the waves on the beach down the road which I can hear as I write this. Working part time, most of my days are filled like today's- a long, leisurely breakfast, lounging around on the beach and endlessly working on the new website!

2011-06-10T13:07:00.001+01:00

Moving up from London where I had a plethora of vintage markets, shops and carboot sales on my doorstep I was a bit concerned about finding somewhere to get a vintage fix up on Anglesey. My sis and I visited a local carboot sale this week and was thrilled at the vintage on offer. We found some amazing traders who visit every week. So I fear not, turns out you can find vintage treasures in the middle of the welsh countryside as well as the markes of London town. :)

2011-06-08T17:16:00.002+01:00

Favourite images from the week....

Lights, camera...

2011-06-06T21:27:00.001+01:00

Friday saw some perfect weather for shooting the new lookbook for roamkix.com. We hit the beach and the woods to shoot some of the new stock. You'll be able to see them all when the site launches this month but here's a sneak preview taken with my blackberry...

Still at last

2011-06-02T22:09:00.001+01:00

Today was the first sunny day since I moved from London and this evening was a still, pink one. With nothing better to do I wandered to the beach and watched the sunset. It felt a world away from London and all her troubles.

2011-05-29T21:16:00.001+01:00

Maggie Lochtenberg

I just discovered Maggie Lochtenberg on Flickr and love some of her portraits.

Merci Beaucoup

2011-05-26T22:08:00.002+01:00

On a recent trip to Paris, I visited one of my favourite stores in the city. ‘Merci ‘is a cross between Liberty, Urban Outfitters and your local vintage store. It’s an inspiring space over 3 floors with a small courtyard, library and café. Like all things Parisian it’s cool with a very sophisticated edge, selling designer and vintage clothes, perfume and homeware. Most items are a little out of my price range but it’s worth a visit just to see the design and display. I picked up €3.50 merci pendants which go everywhere with me!

2011-05-23T14:49:00.002+01:00

Favourite images from the week....

Last Days

2011-05-21T17:07:00.002+01:00

So my last week in London, for a while anyway, was packed full catching up with friends, taking advantage of the shopping and most unforgetably seeing Sufjan Stevens playing live at southbank. A perfect way to end my London days....

Afternoon Tea with Jessie at Macaron in Clapham. Their china tea cups and cakes are amazing. One of the only decent places to have tea in the area.

A bit of prop shopping for an upcoming shoot!

Couldn't resist indulging in some Chanel before exiling to Wales!

Leaving with a bang. The Sufjan Stevens gig on 13th was incredible and gave me a new outlook on his latest album 'Age of Adz'. If you ever get the chance to see him live, do it, you won't regret it.

New Days

2011-05-17T16:32:00.038+01:00

Welcome to the new and improved roamkix blog. This is my personal blog to document the journey of roamkix.com and share with you my inspirations and creations. I hope you enjoy! Jess xxx

So I’ve not blogged in a good long time but with reason. I’ve been busy busy creating a new roamkix website, finding lots of lovely stock and shooting it all, not to mention moving a van full of stuff up from London to my new place by the sea. (more on that later). The site will be launching later this month (fingers crossed) but in the meantime here’s a sneak preview and a few things we’ve been up to in the last couple of months…..

1. lots and lots of list making.

2. lots and lots of designing and re-designing.

http://roamkix.tumblr.com/

3. gathering all sorts of inspiration.

4. lots and lots of buying new stock for summer.

2010-12-12T21:14:00.005Z

new checks in new shapes

Vesuvius and Snow

2010-12-05T17:00:00.007Z

Walking home after a night out in Carnaby I was listening to this on repeat smoking my first cigarette in a while amongst the last of London's melting snow. They sat very well together. Definitely coming around to Sufjan's new album 'Age of Adz'. Eagerly awaiting some UK tour dates.

this london

2010-11-17T21:58:00.003Z

LONDON

I wander thro' each charter'd street,

Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,

And mark in every face I meet

Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,

In every Infant's cry of fear,

In every voice, in every ban,

The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.

How the Chimney-sweeper's cry

Every black'ning Church appalls;

And the hapless Soldier's sigh

Runs in blood down Palace walls.

But most thro' midnight streets I hear

How the youthful Harlot's curse

Blasts the new born Infant's tear,

And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.

William Blake

new arrivals

2010-11-09T21:05:00.002Z

midi and maxi, the new length for autumn/ winter. all available now.

paris part deux

2010-10-31T17:53:00.006Z

pics from a recent buying trip to paris. see more here by lena

three pleats

2010-10-24T22:20:00.006+01:00

Why do you look so sad? Because you speak to me in words and I look at you with feelings.

2010-10-13T21:53:00.005+01:00

pastel hues and pretty colours contrast against the tragic conclusion of this classic goddard flick.

your temperament and your times are where you're lodged

2010-10-11T21:14:00.019+01:00

MID-TERM BREAK

I sat all morning in the college sick bay
Counting bells knelling classes to a close.
At two o'clock our neighbors drove me home.

In the porch I met my father crying--
He had always taken funerals in his stride--
And Big Jim Evans saying it was a hard blow.

The baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram
When I came in, and I was embarrassed
By old men standing up to shake my hand

And tell me they were "sorry for my trouble,"
Whispers informed strangers I was the eldest,
Away at school, as my mother held my hand

In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs.
At ten o'clock the ambulance arrived
With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurses.

Next morning I went up into the room. Snowdrops
And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him
For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,

Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,
He lay in the four foot box as in his cot.
No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.

A four foot box, a foot for every year.

Revival

2010-10-10T17:58:00.000+01:00

one of those perfect moments when everything sits seamlessly together. sitting on the river at richmond in moonlight.

the city of brotherly love

2010-08-14T18:14:00.012+01:00

betty blue

2010-08-04T01:25:00.000+01:00

my love affair with paris

2010-07-16T15:32:00.007+01:00

Hop Farm

2010-07-04T21:18:00.004+01:00

an amazing line up at Hop Farm Festival on saturday. Bob Dylan (above), Pete Doherty and Sea Sick Steve! Was a magical day with close friends :)

strawberries & cream

2010-06-20T18:17:00.002+01:00

pretty florals and chunky knits.....yes please.

graceland

2010-06-17T22:16:00.003+01:00

i'm loving this small blog, graceland, posted on the urban outfitters blog. Cassie and Clara are driving from LA to NY stopping off at Austin and New Orleans, amoung others on their way. If they'd had started from Portland they'd be on my ultimate dream road trip!

2010-06-15T20:44:00.002+01:00

a shirt for every day, mood and model. all available in store now!

hot feet

2010-06-14T13:28:00.001+01:00

check out this beautiful folk band I saw in Angel last night, http://www.myspace.com/hotfeetband. I love this girls voice and the violin is amazing,

2010-06-06T18:07:00.003+01:00

new items added to the store, perfect pieces for your summer wardrobe.

tickled pink

2010-05-16T16:41:00.007+01:00

my feathery obsessions. i'm in love with this skirt from the new black range at asos.

that old pink & green

2010-05-04T21:55:00.004+01:00

kanchi

2010-05-03T22:38:00.004+01:00

this weekend i saw a jean simmons double bill. i loved her in black narcissus, above.

2010-04-06T22:33:00.003+01:00

cherry gum

2010-03-24T21:36:00.004Z

sketch book pages [4]

2010-03-14T13:56:00.001Z

quilted

2010-02-28T21:29:00.004Z

i can't wait for the quilt exhibition at the v&a. i love tracey emin's, above.

2010-02-19T14:41:00.009Z

4 lovely things from texas- bleubird vintage, tim riggins, lavender blonde and see creatures.

sketch book pages [3]

2010-02-11T23:46:00.000Z

bon sauveur

2009-12-31T23:48:00.007Z

i recently watched 'the september issue' which mentioned grace coddington, creative director of american vogue, (below) grew up in anglesey where she went to a convent school. this is where i grew up and where my mum also went to the only convent school on the island, bon Sauveur. this brought on a sudden nostalgia for my hometown which now seems somewhat fashionable.

namaste

2009-12-29T13:31:00.002Z

this is an old photograph my mum took in the 70's. the first time i saw it, it instantly reminded me of my favourite beastie boys lyric 'And on the horizon the sun light begins to climb,
And it seems like it's been so long since he shined, But I'm sure it was only yesterday'