"Le Jardin", by Sophia Stancer

With twenty-two hours worth of Photography and Art and Design AS exam beckoning this coming week, most sensible people would be spending their weekend avidly annotating and sketching in their work books, ensuring perfection and calculating potential marks. Me? I spent mine straightening my friend's mass of curly dark hair, dusting on pink blusher and taking endless photographs of her among Spring flowers and disowned, pretty white fencing. Whoops.

Never fear, I did catch up with my "real" work after wasting time on my flowery procrastination. And so, I have decided that I shall share my results with you on here. Below, are my favourite shots of Hannah, my beautiful friend, who I have used in prior "Covert and Obscured" related Photography AS shoots. I have titled this shoot, "Le Jardin", as it took place in my own garden at home, in Nether Stowey. I am proud of how most of these shots turned out, and doesn't she look wonderful?

Styling, makeup, hair and Photography by Sophia Stancer

My Swarovski Citra Sphere watch

"Diamonds are a girls best friend." This may well be the case, however, what is one to do if they cannot afford to buy diamonds? My answer? Buy Swarovski instead. 

This £280 Citra Sphere watch, was gifted to me this Christmas just gone, and  I have religiously worn in every day since I peeled off it's wrapping paper. I can vividly remember feeling one hundred times more glamorous whilst on my trip to Paris with Edward for the New Year with it accessorizing my right wrist, the forty hand-applied crystals surrounding the face and index markers, glittering in the cold sunlight. 

There are many things about this particular piece that I love. Its design is modern yet undeniably classical, making it elegant and extremely easy to wear on every occasion, which suits me brilliantly, as I go to Sixth Form five days a week, so a cocktail watch wouldn't be appropriate in the same way as this is. The stainless steel strap is both supportive and exudes a statement feel, providing both comfort and effortless glamour. The strap being plain adds to this piece's versatility, as with a more detailed one, I would probably call it a dress watch and wouldn't be able to pull it off during the day. Similarly, the swan logo at 12 O'Clock makes for beautifully subtle branding, unlike many other popular watch manufacturers, like Rolex and Michael Kors, whose designs I predominantly find slightly less classy, lt down due to the vulgarity of their excessively flashy branding.   

Below are some photographs taken yesterday. Here, you can also see the beautiful box and packaging the watch is presented in. Wonderful. 

Vintage Heirloom gets personal on Instagram

The owner of chic online-boutique "Vintage Heirloom", has just released her own fashionably Chanel collection, via Instagram. 

Having been an avid viewer of her site, scrolling through the endless pages of beautiful Chanel, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Versace, Celine and Lanvin, I was excited to see what the owner had seen worth purchasing for herself. The site makes a huge deal of their "Chanel-selling" status, so it was to no particular surprise that she possesses many of their impeccably elegant 2.55 and quilted classic bags, complete with interlock "C" gold hardware and supple leather. She also owns some vintage gold plated jewellrey pieces as well, such as the Chanel lockets and statement chain bracelets. I am certain I saw a Versace piece in there too! 

I think it is safe  to say that I am excruciatingly jealous of her fabulous finds. If you aren't already acquainted with this website, then please do go and take a long look at Vintage Heirloom . I can promise you that you shan't be disappointed! 

Easter festivities

Similarly to many other families in England, Easter day isn't only an important date in the Christian calendar, but is also a day to be exclusively spent with close family and friends, enjoying each other's company (not to mention indulging in many calorific foods.)

Antonietta, Ugo and Giacomo, our good Italian friends, arrived from Rome two days ago, to spend their Easter day with the six of us, here. I spent yesterday morning in the kitchen, as opposed to at Church with the others, as I had to peel all of the vegetables and prepare a whole leg of lamb for lunch, (which was absolutely delicious) proving much easier than I originally anticipated. I even managed to complete half of my essay on James Joyce's "Dubliners" before they arrived home at

 12 30! 

My Mummy had previously decorated the entire house with Spring flowers, such as daffodils and tulips, fluffy chicks and mini Guerlain chocolate eggs wrapped in mint-green and golden foil. The dining room table looked beautiful with gold napkins and cut glass shining for lunch, which was the first time all of us had sat down together in a very long time, so it was special for that reason. 

Flowers everywhere

Easter chick!

Decorated dining room table

Antonietta's favourite: Homemade trifle

After we'd eaten a beautiful roast dinner, dessert and had coffees, my parents, Antonietta and Ugo made the rest of us sit and wait in the living room with the curtains drawn, whilst they hid Easter eggs in our acre of garden. Despite Charles being almost twenty and myself seventeen, my Mother was insistent that we still participated in an Easter egg hunt with the other three. Most of the spots where my Daddy had hidden my labelled chocolate surprises came with a health warning. In one case I actually had to climb an entire tree!

I ended up with an excessive five chocolate eggs and a Lidnt bunny. My favourite one was the Thornton's "Trifle" egg from my parents, made from white chocolate and raspberry decorations. It is so pretty - I'm not sure if I am even going to be able to eat it! 

As though that wasn't enough food, my Mother prepared a "picnic" buffet dinner, of Easter fairy cakes and sandwiches, where we were then joined by Charles' girlfriend, Hannah. It was sweet of her to go to the trouble, but I think it was safe to say that no-one was particularly hungry. Her feelings were not hurt as my three brothers and Giacomo managed to devour almost everything, which is beyond me...

Anyhow, I had such a wonderful Easter day and I hope that you all did too. 

Sophia

x

My Lidnt bunny

"Trifle" Easter egg

Easter supper