Four Go Mad in Manchester!

We arrived by train - it rained, the wind blew, the sun came out, we walked, we gawped, we shopped, we ate cake, we saw Urban Stuff - we had a grand time!

Highlights included a newly kindled love affair with the 'Northern Quarter' - indie, boho, crafty, artisan shops, bars, cafes set amongst semi-derelict, red-bricked buildings. So many, many good things but these two come with the highest recommendations:

Astonishingly fab cakes including the 'Brokeback Battenburg', plus Carrot & Toasted Coconut and White Chocolate & Poppy Seed

Probably the best teashop in the Northern Hemisphere - Teacup on Thomas St - where cakes reign supreme, the tea is heavenly and the service, utterly charming. Cannot recommend this highly enough! Go!! If we lived in Manchester we'd probably live here..

Gorgeous Pistachio & Rosebud Tea flavoured sponge and our slab of amazing White Choc & Poppy Seed cake

 Secondly, the fabulous Junk Shop - vintage clothing shop with a sublime retro style and vibe all of it's own. Browse delicious clothes upcycled from vintage fabrics, vintage and vintage styled jewellery and accessories; you can even enroll in a class to make your own lovely clobber!

Divine dresses, pretty vintage styling everywhere! The Junk Shop - sustainable fashion made in Manchester 

Plus, the amazing Afflecks - couldn't get the kids (or me!) out of this place!

Floors of goth, hippie, biker, Teddy Boy and Girl gear, posters, bespoke jewellery, vintage clothing and footwear - so much fun under one roof, including the best, little hairdressers ever - Miss Effie got her barnet styled beautifully at the Northern Cutter. They don't need my recommendation, they are already legends, but I was impressed at the level of care and attention give to one wee scrap of Argyll Attitude, and her lollipop!

Manchester - we love you, and we'll be back!!

View from the top of the National Football Museum - yes, really!

Glasgow's Va-Va-Vintage Voom!

Now in it's 12th year the Merchant City Festival, once again, provided 5 days of spectacular entertainment in Glasgow’s cultural quarter plus the most fabulous addition of Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway's 'Vintage' Festival. 

With Glasgow's reputation as a hotbed of vintage inspired designers and crafty vendors, this promised to be a massive treat for the many Glaswegian fans of all things Vintage - it did not disappoint!

One of the amazing 'Customise your Dr. Martens' Team

The vibrant Vintage Market Place brimmed with clothes, accessories plus cool vintage/retro homewares and tea bags to die for:

Gorgeous, customised vintage clothes and accessories from Vi Nouveau

Stunning vintage homewares from Love Me Again - hand stamped silver
spoons + adorable messages = perfect gift for engagements, weddings,
anniversaries, christenings, anything really!

Tea bags, china cups and saucers, all you need for the perfect
'tea for two' - Tea by Lita, how divine!

There were inspiring businesses aplenty, using strong vintage motif/styling/vehicles at their stalls and pitches:

The lovely 'Félicitié' - delivering flowers to your door from one of Glasgow's best beloved
florists, Ruby Flowers

The Gramophone Djs - one of a number of services by vintage event
hire specialists Butler and Taylor

As they say themselves "Trucking good street food" - all sorts of delicious
food served up from an equally delicious wee van, belonging to Loving Food 

A proper 'Beauty Salon' where you could be primped, curled and powdered to within an inch of your vintage life, in any era you chose: 

Vintage hairstyling in action - those girls were awesome!

Outside the Vintage Wedding Fair venue sat the ultimate Wedding transport to die for - the most gorgeous Routemaster bus complete with cute clippie and gorgeous blooms!

Too cute - Wedding Transport with that extra va-va-voom! Contact
the Red Bus for further details

It was almost too much to bear  - but bear it we did, rounding off the day with bubblegum ice cream and tired, but happy smiles. 

Miss Bubblegum Ice Cream Face

Can't wait for next year!

Lights, Camera....

...Action, during a fun filled, immensely creative two day Workshop for ARC (Arts and Recreation Club - wonderous Summer School for local kids at Glendaruel Village Hall!). Film and Photography Fun was the order of the day, second year for some of the bright young things, and they threw themselves into it with relish.

By the end of the second day the kids had developed, story-boarded, rehearsed, filmed and edited a thrilling, chilling Zombie Horror (Zombie Glen), whilst a Heist Movie is in the can but still getting it's final edits; there were also a multitude of fantastic and inspiring stills images. Can't wait for year three!

For further information on kid's Workshops please contact me at powanmedia@gmail.com and to find out more about my work please visit my website at www.therainboweffect.co.uk. 

Film Festival Unravelled.....

Amidst the interesting films, old favourites, new discoveries, talks, dancing and music at the Dunoon Film Festival was the Unravel Workshop. Held on Saturday, 15th June at the Burgh Hall, this family-friendly workshop contributed to the longest hand painted film in Britain. 

Facilitated by Maria Anastassiou and Jo Byrne, the workshop was enjoyed by all, from the very youngest,

to the oldest, 

and I was luck enough to be asked to capture it for the Burgh Hall archives. 

The 'Unravel' project is creating a hand painted film that correlates in length with the 874 miles between John O'Groats and Land's End. Working in collaboration with groups of people across the UK, the workshops will produce a sixteen hour film, created and manipulated by hand, and made by the diverse communities of Britain. 

We were treated to the section of the film that the Dunoon folk had contributed to - an astonishing spectacle. The entire sixteen hours will be truly mesmerising!

For further information about my work,to order or buy prints, cards or view my portfolio, please visit http://www.therainboweffect.co.uk/ 

Feedback is always gratefully received - thanks for reading!!

Spring? Summer?

Well, something has arrived - sun, warmer weather, light breezes, a proliferation of bluebells, blossoms, wee beasties; green is everywhere. So, sandals on, slow saunters by the river and through the forest and wheeching round and round on the 'big green'. Breathe in, exhale, relax....