New followers and photography

I've noticed blog has been gathering new followers despite my extreme lack of posting.

This has been for a few reasons, one of which is that reviewing cakes make you fat. Who knew?

Secondly it's that I now concentrate my blogging efforts on my photography sideline which I like to think is pretty much nearly as sweet.

You can visit my main website (sorry my idevice peeps - it's flash) on www.elliegillard.com or the blog at http://elliegillardphotography.blogspot.com

you can tell a lot about a person....

By karaa007

By CAPTURE photography2010

By * OneLovePhoto.com

By minililimi

...By their Flickr favourites.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellieg/favorites/

A worrying number of pictures of animals, but a distinct theme nonetheless!

Check them out and enjoy them all too. Such an amazing abundance of talent.

an update

I thought it was only fair to post a quick update here about what I've been up to lately.

Firstly, although I originally planned to diet my way through January I failed miserably. In fact after five days of eating tuna omelettes on the attach phase of the Dukan diet I found myself on a wild goose chase in and around a freezing, rainy Oxford Circus and had to get myself a sandwich from Pret, in fact I had their posh cheddar and pickle and a millionaires shortbread, both of which tasted divine and the damp, miserable, hungry me was suddenly revived.

Secondly, I've started a new job; it's been flat out busy and I've been stupidly tired. I've snuck some supermarket cakage in but nothing really to blog about. I've gone flat out against my mantra that if it's not worth getting fat for then don't eat it. A trip to Ottolenghi or similar will soon sort that out.

And then the most exciting development is that I've finally launched my photography website. I've wondered for a while if I could make a little money out of it, I've had really positive feedback from family and friends so I've set up a blog to track my journey. I'm looking to build my portfolio too and looking for anyone who wants a free photoshoot, or to pose for portraits.

Currently I'm planning a couples shoot with my friends Tilly and Lee, which will hopefully be fun and creative, and then one to help my good friend Kathy of 5678 Vintage to promote the work she does selling vintage clothing and accessories.

So please pop over there and say Hi. I just need to work on getting a link embedded into this site too. Let me know what you think about the layout and the design of the blog too, as well as the logo. I'll be getting some business cards printed up soon and need to finalise what the look of the brand will be.

I'm really excited about this new venture but I don't want to neglect LROC like I have been, I'll just be keeping some of the stuff separate; blogging about food (mostly sweet stuff) here, and about picture taking shenanigans over there.

Happy 2011!

It's 2011 and the last time I posted anything was ages ago. There just doesn't seem to be enough time to fit it all in. Although I've been doing a lot of eating, I haven't really been committed to the cake malarkey and what with the new year and everything I'm going to have another concerted effort to loose the weight I've regained since doing this blog and get back into the clothes that fitted me six months ago.

I'm not about to change the title to the London Review of the Dukan diet and although I've been adding lots of unrelated photo posts I've decided that these would be best kept in a separate sphere and so I've set up a Tumblr for it - come and say hello!

http://elliegphotography.tumblr.com

i was trying to think of a more creative title but I've got a raging hangover (what else would you expect!)

I'll drop by from time to time with updates, and should be back on the cakes in about 6 months - maybe.

I hope 2011 brings you all everything you hoped for.

all I want for christmas

It's less than a month until Christmas, so I thought I'd share all of the lovely things I hope are waiting under the tree for me on Christmas morning - not that I'm a greedy girl of course! some of it might give clues to the kind of things I'm planning for my loved ones.

Clockwise: Creative Spaces, Urban Homes of Artists and Innovators; Dream velvet sofa from Graham and Green; framed print of my Julia Boggio vintage boudoir session; Richard Ardagh Pop Goes the Weasel print from Nelly Duff gallery; Eames chairs by Vitra; vintage bus shades from Pedlars; stitched throw from Graham and Green.

Monogrammed drawer of fresh couture chocs from Artisan du Chocolat, Sea salt chocolate wafers from Rococo, Sucre from Laduree.

New London Style; A Perfectly Kept House is a Sign of a Misspent Life; Shutting Up Shop - The Decline of the Traditional Small Shop; Ladies, A Plate; The Domino Book of Decorating.

iPad, Nikkor 24-70mm lens.

Marc by Marc Jacobs satchel; Aubin and Wills Ashwicke snood; Lanvin silk travel set; See by Chloe Monster tote; underwear by 3.1 Phillip Lim; Brian Atwood Balleto shoes.

bonfire night

I'm rather late in posting this, but as most of you will know the weekend before last was bonfire night here in the UK and Mr LROC and I went to stay with his mother in the countryside - in Matlaske in North Norfolk to be more precise.

There's an event locally called the Corpusty Bonfire, it's a massively well known night in the area and is a free firework display and a massive bonfire, lit following a procession of people dressed in an array of ghoulish garb. There's a proper ol' Norfolk boy who acts as a compere, and countryside themed covers of Jonny Cash songs. Generally it's all a bit odd but it did give us chance to get out into the country, sleep somewhere with no light pollution (if only it were the case every night) and for me to run down country roads with a grey hound and take some pics.

I took pics of the fireworks, which are blurred but have a nice feel to them, and even videoed some of the display but I can't work out how to get it from iPhoto to YouTube..

People say that one of the best things about Norfolk is that the skies go on for ever - having seen the skies across the fields from my mother in law's house I think I'm inclined to agree.

pretty things

Recently I bought a copy of a magazine called 'Better Photos Now' which has actually given me some helpful insights into some things I had no idea about on my camera - changing the metering type, suing long settings and various other bits and bobs that have been a mini revelation. To that end I assembled a little selection of plates, bowls and various pretty packaged soap, got out my tripod and remote and had a bash at capturing them in natural light. I even made a bit of a DIY reflector with a plate and some tin foil to bounce back some of the light.

My only complaint is that my 50mm 1.8 lens never seems really sharp - maybe the 1.4 is better?

Anyway, I discovered that my dressing table is actually an excellent place to take pics as it's one of the few places that actually seems to have some light coming into it. The plates and bowls have all been bought with a view to using for cake photography, but they do look sweet in their own right.

I've edited the photos to give them the right kind of look and feel - but it would be nicer if the colours were a bit fresher overall. Below is the image pretty much as RAW out of the camera, a bit more punch and it could be there...

It would also be great to have some willing 'victims' let me take their picture - Mr LROC hates having his picture taken so no guinea pig there....

a cakey hiatus

I don't know how they do it - other food bloggers seem to be naturally slim, beaming and gorgeous but this blog has made me fat. I don't know if it's the fact that I've been using it as an opportunity to chow down on anything sweet and cheerful looking but I'm nearly a stone heavier than a few months ago. This is not a good state of affairs.

Any food bloggers reading this - tips on how not to be huge would be greatly appreciated but to that end I know I need a bit of a cake hiatus - more accurately a diet. This is a depressing thought but it basically means that I need to watch what I eat for the next month in a fairly extreme way so I can fit into the party dresses I have outlined for Christmas.

So, cake fans, look away now, come back in a month, unless you want to hear tales of quorn'n'veg dinners and long gym sessions. Those that are interested in my meandering tour into photography and like the oft-missing Fancy Friday features you're in for a treat - because it will be the only material I've got!

Meanwhile, as mentioned above, tips on keeping trim and eating heartily much needed.

the perfect getaway

By the time you read this, I may, or may not have booked a last minute holiday. Due to budgetary limitations it will probably be cheap and cheerful but in a perfect world I'd take off to the Perivolas hotel in Oia, Santorini and chill out in their infinity pool overlooking the Caldera and drink fine Santorinian wines.

Unfortunately a week in these this boutique hotel, formed out of Oia's traditional cave houses will set me back more than a fortnight in the Maldives. Still one can dream...

Check out their website for more travel porn at http://www.perivolassuites.gr/

a new tattoo?

I've wanted a new tattoo pretty much since I got my first back seven years ago but somehow never found anything I loved enough. Birds have always played a big part but I wasn't sure about committing to a heritage style swallow. When I saw these fantastic bird silhouette tattoos courtesy of Drops of Jupiter's regular Tattoo Tuesday feature I knew I was home.

I just need to find somewhere to get it done - I'm thinking of the Happy Sailor on the Hackney Road. It's a silhouette afterall...

The site's regular feature is great inspiration for anyone looking for inspiration.

happy anniversary

Today is my first wedding anniversary(and just a month after our ten year first date one) - unfortunately we couldn't do anything too romantic as I'm off to Paris on a 5.25 Eurostar tomorrow but hey-ho! Yesterday we went for Mexican at Green and Red in Bethnal Green and on Friday Joss had a gorgeous bunch of flowers sent to my office. They were from Broadway Market's fantastic Rebel Rebel, who did my wedding bouquet, and he sent them a picture so they could try and recreate the look. Although this bouquet is less purple and more pink it's absolutely fantastic and smells sublime. The boy done good in this case so I thought I'd share below.

Happy Anniversary darling!

broadstairs and the end of summer

Last sunday Mr LROC and took a drive down to Broadstairs - in search of fish and chips, the beautiful cliff formations of Botany Bay and a sneaky way to try and extend what was left of the all-too-brief British summer.

We drove to Joss bay, namely because Mr LROC is also a Joss and everyone needs a namesake.

Walking along the beach, underneath the huge chalk cliffs gave me time to ponder on the nature of summer and of the kind of hope it brings. As a child in the school holidays the summer stretches out endlessly in front of us, every day is a new adventure. As an adult we eagerly seize the first warm days of the season, preparing hasty picnics and decamping to London's parks to drink cider and beer. Days in the park meeting friends turn into impromptu dinners out, then into the best evening you've had in ages with no plans made. You feel like this will continue indefinitely and the need to enjoy yourself becomes less urgent, so when the rain starts mid August and you have failed to fully potentialise the summer, the itch to go somewhere warm and sunny kicks in. To this end we are contemplating jetting off somewhere - cheap and cheerful is the name of the game but we are in disagreement with regards exactly where.

Even the word resort brings me out in a rash, anywhere with organised entertainment will have me wondering if the local pharmacy stocks cyanide pills; but Joss doesn't want to travel independently this time and spend a large portion of time riding planes, trains and automobuses. Having said that we can't afford the kind of elegantly arranged, thoughtfully put together trips that Black Tomato offers. So where will we go - we're currently at loggerheads with regards this, so watch this space. What we do know is we're planning on doing a mini tour of Vietnam in the new year - so maybe I can compromise and go bucket and spade this time around?

As you can see from the pics above I came across what felt like a personalised sign scribbled onto the sea defences - Eleanor fatty certainly seems to sum up how I feel at the moment. I'm not sure whether I can keep up with the required amount of cake eating and baking required to keep this blog up to date! I think a two week crash diet is required.

I'm in Paris tomorrow so no doubt will consume copious amounts of macarons and other delectable Parisian pastries but from tuesday onwards I'm having a healthy snack box delivered for my lunch from Graze so I'll feed back on that one if any poundage is lost. Afterall if we do agree on a destination there may be bikini wearing...