BOOM!

Dear Fashion Industry, I hope you are well and feeling good. Right, I'll get to the point. We need to talk... I know you are changing, Fashion Industry, but in my humble opinion... you are not changing quickly enough. It's true, I gasp and am in awe of your floaty dresses and jewelled creations on your catwalk models... they are truly stunning pieces... Zuhair Murad - stunning but... I want you to create new silhouettes that suit more than the size triple zero model. I don't have a problem that there are triple zero-size models if they are healthily built that way, why should I? We are all beautiful in every single way (I'm gettting all Christina Aguilera on you). But I do want you to design a piece that will probably be called subversive because it doesn't fit the usual mould on someone like me who ain't size 000... As Shakira once sang: "I dare you". I want to see new cuts on the shoulder that hint at elegance yet edginess...

My friends and I are all on different journeys and trajectories and I am proud of them. One of them is Brenda (below centre) who has started a jewellery business called SaraBree , retailing Ghanaian print watches as well as curating an ensemble of cute earring, bracelet and bangle sets. She launched her business yesterday at Africa Live Festival (above) - and what is most inspiring in a way is that she has one boy who is just under one-years-old and has been ploughing away at creating the business while looking after her son on maternity leave. It is inspiring to see new-mum entrepreneurship not only in the media but around me in real life. I asked what spurred her on and she said: "I always wanted to start a business that involved celebration of my Ghanaian heritage but it was only when I had some time away from work (maternity leave) that I had the motivation to start something. How I got going was by investing in my idea. I had some savings that I us...

This is one of those "should I, shouldn't I" posts, but it's something I'm hoping to help not only me, but if it additionally helps just one more person, it'll be worth it... Over the last three or four years my weight has gone up by really really unwanted levels... (NO I'm not disclosing what it says on the scales) but safe to say I want choose less of it! The thing about insidious weight addition (not gain, 'cos did I win a competition? No.) is that it is probably (most likely) about unwise culinary decisions made day by day - I also wonder how it has gone on for so long... It's not great to think you're responsible for sabotaging yourself health-wise. But at the same time, it's empowering when you remember that the power to change is in your scope. Please be clear I'm not inviting anyone to comment on my weight. ( It is not up for discussion. ) What is, is a healthy (pun unintended, really) dialogue about what methods w...

We're in the second half of the year. How has it gone so far for you? Have you achieved all those goals that you set out towards the end of last year to make happen this year? Don't worry if you haven't. It will take time, grace, favour - and help! Take a look at the goals again. Is there anyone you can ask to help who you haven't asked yet? Can you be a bit more strategic about how you spend your time? You may not realise it, but I think you've grown. Your thinking is a little clearer than it was... Take one step at a time. Don't worry about what people think of you. Do you.

I'm a stationery fanatic at the best of times so when I was offered the opportunity to review some Leitz stationery* I jumped at the chance... In my pack I received: Hole punch Stapler Lever arch file Notebook What I really like about the products are the luxurious sheen on them, they look elegant and modern - just what Leitz was aiming to achieve. The hole punch: does exactly what you'd expect, but with probably more ease and glide than you would anticipate The stapler: doesn't snag and get stuck like some awkwards staplers seem to! The lever arch file: is large and spacious The notebook: is the pi èce de résistance - a lovely creamy tone on each leaf that makes you want to write in your best handwriting and your "bestest" pen I shall relis h writing in the notebook - let 's see what literary treasures occur... ;) Thumbs up from me!

I've really enjoyed the The Big Painting Challenge on BBC One . (I did love the one they did in Liverpool funnily enough). They've concentrated on different subjects, scenes and media - it's been quite an inspiring series. Richard Bacon and Una Stubbs were a curious pair aspresenters but I think they worked well together as noted on social media . The judges Daphne Todd and Lachlan Goudie were honest and constructive - not just harsh for the sake of it (looking at you singing talent shows). And well done to the Winner - Paul Bell . I'll be watching next year.

Hi Readers, Thank you for sticking with this blog! As you may be aware... I love fashion illustration and intend to do it a lot. I've done life drawing here and there over the years... and maybe haven't quite got *it*... and I wouldn't say that I have got *it* fully now... but with the Fashion Illustration course at LCF , even more so than the Fashion Drawing one , I am getting *there*... A few weeks ago I did a Dior dress painting in ink (below). Last year I don't think I would ever have explored doing fashion illustration with paint - probably would have stuck to markers and pencils - never mind painting in ink! I love the vibrancy, immediacy and risk of ink... it's a challenge. One thing I have been taught is to not paint in the colours as I obviously see them but to wonder and create. Using inks is something I'm really excited about. I bought my pack from Cass Art . I look forward to creating more. Artists, what are ...