Tessa's Pillows

Handwriting embroidery reads: "Even as a girl she never 'ad any elastic in her knickers"

Dot Cotton, Eastenders

Both embroidered by Tessa, I got this gem for my birthday

An inch or so above the bed

My birthday present from West Polar, embroidered by her own fair hand.

Glittery Jacket

I love being bought clothes as I spend a lot of time thinking about outfits for other people, and this week Tessa outdid herself in the surprise gift stakes. I have long envied a little red glittery jacket she's had for years.

 I knew something exciting was afoot from the speed in which Tessa came running up the stairs to my room....with this in hand!

A silver version of my own, found in a second hand shop in Notting Hill. I am over the moon! Now we can be matching... Wouldn't be the first time.

Winter Essentials

Last weekend I hopped on a train with Tessa and spent a couple of days on the Isle of Wight. It was very wintery weather and the coastline looked dramatic as we watched the rain blow in.

Of course Tessa and I debated high brow topics all weekend, but in between and especially on the platform at Southampton station we discussed what items we most need (want) in our wardrobes this winter. This discussion was prompted by my favourite jeans which basically fell apart as I was wearing them over the weekend, and are now sadly too embarrassing to wear due to a rather large rip in an unfortunate place.

Jeans shopping is never fun in my book, and now sadly I am forced to seek some out. R.I.P £12 Primark jeans I have worn for 3 years.
 We agreed on the notion that jeans were an essential winter purchase. We also discussed boots, trainers, coats...
We decided this was not an essential:

 But for me, these definitely are and have been for many years running now:

Another great winter comfort is my massive fleece lined parka that I got a couple of years ago in Manchester. It really means business.

I tend to think the things to spend money on over the winter months are on pieces that you wear on the outside, i.e shoes, boots, coats etc... Everything else seems to be covered up the rest of the time. There's a lot of talk about knitwear at the moment. I've been a jumper lover for years and years. You can read my knitwear musings here, here and as well as an attempt to save a beloved knit here.

NYC Beads

Tessa went to the US of A and all I got was THIS AMAZING BEADED STATUE OF LIBERTY BOX!!

Apparently when she bought it her company at the time were full of disbelief that anyone would actually want such a thing. That person is ME and once the toffees inside have been demolished I am looking forward to finding a use for this piece of art. Other USA souvenirs already featured on What's She Like? include Hannah's great homemade eNYa T-shirt, see here. Am also reminded of a recent trip to White Cube to see Liza Lou. Thank you West Polar.

Sunny Southbank

New unexpected discoveries today - the first a mini city made out of plastic milk bottles

 

Artist Gayle Chong Kwan created 'Wasteland', which is described as an 'immersive contemplative environment' to encourage visitors to reconsider the role of waste on everyday life. The project was inspired by Moravia, a district of Medellin in Columbia, built on top of a rubbish dump after people were displaced from their homes. If you're passing by and have the time, duck in and see it because it is quite striking. 'Wasteland' is part of a series of installments going at Southbank this summer, and there's lots to see.

 

This colourful sand pit reminded me of a recent post by West Polar, where crowds were dispersed with coloured water. Great mix of concrete and colour.

In contrast to Kwan's plastic world, on my way out of the little high up corner of Southbank I ambled into its rooftop garden, which is so beautiful and lovely and quiet too.

 

Can't wait to go back and enjoy a drink there.

Hide Out

Tessa in her new camo coat.

Chilly?

Not in this weather but I really love Tessa's chilli print skirt, especially with her electric blue suede platforms.

More Ice

In relation to the ice post below:

Tessa with new ring from Shepherd's Bush pawn shop, and necklace from me for her birthday. (Pope Julius would be proud.) This outfit was thrown together in 5 minutes before rushing out the door for lunch, and after a very late night celebrating her birthday, I was in awe.

 

(Quite enjoying 'The Killing' box set - yet to be watched - propped up outside Tessa's room)

The Garden Island

This was waiting for me when I got home from work yesterday

A postcard from Tessa, and the Isle of Wight - 'The Garden Island.' The reverse assures me that 'all the flowers and trees surrounding the map were photographed on the Isle of Wight', phew!
About three or four summers ago Tessa and I had a dreamy, sun bleached few days on the Island, staying at her parents and cycling to beaches and pubs.

 

Tessa's bike complete with a sprig of some sort of flower and pink ribbon.

 

We strapped a little suitcase bought in a charity shop nearby to the back of our bikes, and filled it with supplies for the beach. It was the best time, partly due to the fact that it did kind of feel like we were two parts of the Famous Five - intrepid island explorers with flasks of tea at the ready.

Tequila Sunrise

It might be getting slightly boring how regularly I mention that I love Shepherd's Bush, but... I only went out to buy a battery (for this amazing watch, no luck sadly), when I spotted:

Tequila sunrise air freshener... Ironically I think air freshener is typically used to remove the smell of spilled tequila.
I was reminded of Tessa's lighter post by these

Granted, Tessa's lighters had some cultural context - I was just bowled over by the variety on offer here. There was even fuego for the more intellectual type:

 

Bright spark, Einstein. (sorry).

Blast from the Past

Tessa's CD's are famous, but stopped being made sadly a few years ago.....UNTIL NOW:

It was a merry Christmas indeed with some new music from West Polar.

(Googled 'polar bear with heaphones on')

Bermondsey

Tessa is interning at White Cube in Bermondsey at the moment, and so took Rosa and I along to the Anselm Kiefer private view last week. I'm not sure if I enjoyed it or not, but the space is amazing and Kiefer's creations worked nicely there. My favourites were

Tempelhof 2010-11

Alkahest, 2009
It was good to go to a new gallery in a new area, I haven't been to Bermondsey in years.

 The lighting does get a bit much after a while, but maybe that's just because we were forced to shelter and drink our free beer under it while it poured with rain. The book shop was fun too

Collage

I wrote a post about Tessa's collage skills earlier this summer, with her CD cases. Her talent doesn't stop there - here is the card she made me for my 21st birthday

 Its looking quite shrine like in my room at the moment.

Tessa in 7days

A lot of what I wear is stolen/inspired by Tessa, especially because we live together. I am waiting for the day when Tessa creeps into my room after I've left for work, and steals something of mine (like I do to her all the time), it would be a big compliment. Here are her 7 days:
Tuesday 11th October

Army Jacket - Portobello (have worn it solidly for about five years)
Jumper - H&M
Jeans and socks - Topshop
Necklace - Topshop
Bag - Louise Gray Show
DMs - Second hand
Wednesday 12th October

Fluffy Jumper - H&M. I spent the whole day in a world of fluff and my eyes got really itchy
Dress worn as skirt - H&M
DMs - as before
Necklace - Parts collected by Tessa - Shiva and baby Jesus. There used to be a policeman and Shakespeare too but they've fallen off :-(
Thursday 13th October

Jeans - Topshop
Stripey top - H&M
Knitted jumper - Charity shop
Black and white gingham socks - H&M
Lousie Gray bag - as before. I bought the black ghoul from the co-op but it fell off within two days.
Friday 14th October

Skirt - H&M

Tshirt - from Venice, turned inside out

Necklace - Topshop

DMs - as before

Saturday 15th October

Nirvana Tshirt - old ebay

Jeans - Topshop

Rucksack - H&M

Jacket - Portobello

Union Jack socks

DMs - as before, polished in Brighton!

Sunday 16th October

Oatmeal roll-neck jumper - Charity shop

Black Tshirt and Jeans - Topshop

Red velvet DM boots - Gumtree

Watch - Casio

Rucksack - Kipling

Necklace - Shiva and baby Jesus (as before)

Monday 17th October

Shirt - A friend

Jeans - Topshop

Red suede DM Boots - as before

Tuesday 18th October

Oatmeal roll-neck jumper -Charity shop

Tie-dye striped dress - Peacocks

Loafers - Russell & Bromley

Coat with leather arms - Zara

Bag - Grandpa's

Necklace - as before

Thank you Tessa!

For More 7days:

Rosa: http://whatisshelike.blogspot.com/2011/09/rosa-in-7-days.html 
Fran: http://whatisshelike.blogspot.com/2011/09/fran-in-7days.html
Hannah: http://whatisshelike.blogspot.com/2011/10/hannah-in-7days.html
Daisy: http://whatisshelike.blogspot.com/2011/11/daisy-in-7days.html