new in: whale measuring cups by anthropologie

I like whales so much that I knitted one, once. He sits on the end of my bed with my pile of cushions, and was affectionately named Hector, which has stuck, despite me generally just using him to wedge against my stomach when I was ill.

I have a whole board on Pinterest for my love of all things whale-related, so when I was in the Anthropologie during the sale, I had to pick up these little guys.

They were reduced in the sale, down from £28, to a bearable £16, and come in four sizes, each with a cute face, and the measurement marked in the base. I don't know if they'll get used for this intention, as I would worry about washing them too much, but they're certainly adorable.

These innocent creatures were also an odd catalyst - I was stood in the queue, these ceramic whales clutched in my hands, so proud of my Sale find, and realised that this is what I wanted. A little place of my own, that smells of the grapefruit candles they sell in there, with cushions and soft furnishings galore, colourful mugs and plates to serve things on. I've been putting away chunks of my earnings for quite some time now, sacrificing pay-day treats and my bonus for several years, and recently I've started a new job that pays well, and has more prospects.

So it can all be a reality, soon. A place of my own. Now I just need to get the bank statements out, and work out how much I can afford... then I get to start looking? Wish me luck...

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a day in the country: royal berkshire county show

A few weeks ago now I won tickets to the Royal Berkshire County show from the wonderful Ruth over at intoruth.com - I remember seeing her previous blog about it and thinking it was really fun looking day-out, so when I won the tickets I was really psyched. However, things didn't go to plan as such on the day, I had to work until 1PM and it rained! 

However, I did get to stuff my face with bread, sausages, cheese, jams, curds and chutney, ice-cream, flavoured liquors and all other kinds of amazing food. I also got to pet some llamas, watch a guy train one to jump over a fence like horses do, pet many, many, many sheep and goats, admire chickens.. I also got to watch some sheepdog trials, see some show-jumping, and get to see some gigantic bulls being judged. Despite the set-backs, it was an amazing day, obviously the llamas and alpacas were my favourites, they're absolute beauts of animals, so soft and friendly and full of personality, I really cannot wait until I've got my own little bit of land in the future and I can keep one.. 

Anyway, this post is to say a giant thank-you to Ruth, who is fast becoming one of my favourite blogger-friends, for the tickets, and to encourage you all to seek out your county show next year! I was worried it would be full of farmers buying tractors, haha, and although there was a bit of that, there is so much other stuff to see, I'm definitely going to try and keep the day free next year so hopefully I can experience the show a bit better! 

blue racoon summer shirt

At Christmas, my mother bought me a metre of this beautiful Tula Pink fabric from John Lewis - from the Acacia collection. For six months I uhm-ed and aah-ed over what to make with it that wouldn't cut up the racoons too much - then my mum bought me another metre for my birthday, and we came across an article in an old magazine about how to draft a "boxy tee" pattern for yourself.. and, amazingly, it worked! I can knit things from patterns but I never thought I'd be able to sew myself a shirt. Admittedly, it did involve a lot of help from my mother (like one of the instructions just said "sew a bias tape" and I had no clue how to do that from the fabric I had...). 

The pattern tells you to measure your bust, shoulders, arms, the length you want the shirt and the circumference of where it will sit, and the drop of the neckline, and it told me exactly how to cut it out.. We made a trial from an old sheet, adjusted sleeves, lengths, necklines etc, and then made the real thing! It was so cool to try it on for the first time. 

I went with a high neck in front, with a dipped neckline in back to keep it cool for summer, long enough to cover the top of my jeans (something I find permanently frustrating in store-bought t-shirts, I'm forever tugging them down because I'm too tall!) and with sleeves that are currently just rolled up, but I am planning on making a little tab and button for them... once I can figure out how to do a button hole (mum will probably have to help there, too!). But, basically, I am in love with it. It's cotton, which makes it really cool for the summer, and I've been wearing it everywhere, with my cut off jeans, faux-Birkenstock sandals and sunglasses - I feel like a kid who won't take off their favourite dress, because I want to wear it all the time.

My next step is to try and make a shift dress from the same pattern - I'm going to go look for some fabric today. There is a foxy print one that I've had my eye on at a local quilt shop for a while.. I never thought I'd be into dressmaking, thinking I wouldn't be able to find nice patterns for my size/height, but making your own pattern seems like the perfect solution.

Have you ever made your own clothes?

(PS - how bright does my hair look in these pictures? I had it re-dyed the other week and I didn't realise it had gone so red in the sun..)

of polar-bears and walruses: tring museum

I don't know why, or when it happened, but I apparently became obsessed with museums full of taxidermy, sometime recently. I think it started when I visited Florence, and found the most amazing museum full of stuffed animals, crystals, birds and wax mannequins - which I really must show you guys sometimes, I went during one of my blogging-breaks.

Anyway, the weekend before last I visited Tring museum - it is part of the Natural History Museum which means that entry is free (amazing) and it's filled with some great taxidermy, with a polar bear right as you walk in. 

It's not a huge museum, but it has got some cool things, like the walrus and lots of pet dogs, which is pretty weird. I don't think it is worth going all the way there for it - but it's a good place to visit if you're in the area.

(PS: Sorry I've been a bad blogger this week, I haven't been very well, and have been away for the weekend! Normal posts will resume this week!)

an edinburgh getaway - flora and fauna

The final day of our Edinburgh break was spent exploring the city - to the point of exhaustion! We squeezed in a lot. We managed to visit a couple of museums and art galleries, took a city bus tour and a tour of some underground houses that was pretty cool, as well as lunch and seeing a few monuments.. My absolute highlight was the National Museum of Scotland which had a great collection. I have an amazing weakness for taxidermy and tend to hunt them out in whatever city I visit. They also had an old Columbian printing press on display in the main hall (the second photo) which was one of the kind of presses that I used at university. It was quite weird to see this on its own, and I really appreciated how beautiful they are as machines - the print room at uni was quite crowded so you couldn't appreciate the eagle and everything.. 

And speaking of birds, I made friends with this lovely crow whilst we were on the bus tour!

I know these posts have been rather spread out but I wanted to get most of these photos up on my blog without bombarding you all with them!

best animal books ever

I've had a slew of good, accidental, finds in charity shops recently - particularly in unexpected shops. I came across these beautiful French animal books. They're a mixture between a children's story and animal facts, but they have the most beautiful images - they're reproduced from lithographs (a method of printing), which makes for really lovely textures and use of line, they look like they're been freshly coloured in. They're the kind of books I would want to give to my child (if I didn't despise kids!), and they remind me of a books by Pat Hutchins that I adored as a kid (Silver Christmas Tree, Rosie's Walk), and my childhood in general. Unfortunately they're a bit ruined in places by some stupid kids scribbles - which makes me a bit sad, and they're a bit ruined down the spines which I hope to repair.. All in all though, they're gorgeous little books and looking through them alone makes me ridiculously happy. There are a few more pictures below so take a look!

swimdog

My friend Amy's dog is a bit... dappy, I like to call him - I don't know why but he really makes me laugh. I know dogs like to swim but he seems to go mad whenever Amy takes him to the local ford. We did it a little while ago and he somehow caught a fish (we're still not convinced whether it was alive when he caught it, but...). I don't know, it just makes me really want a puppy of my own - they make me so happy - I'm such a loser! We also saw this birdbox - I think it's for an owl or something, anyone have any clues?

of dogs and blogs

 pug dog sweater

side button greyhound sweater

easy dog sweaters

large dog sweater

[no photos are mine, see above links]

The longer readers may have noticed a real shift in content recently on my blog... and I have to say that I am really enjoying this new lease of life for Uncia and Tigris. Specifically, less make-up, beauty, fashion, etc, and a shift towards more outdoorsy photos, recipes and home things, as well as knitting. For a while, I kept trying to blog about makeup and stuff, because that is what my blog has always been about, but realised that my heart just wasn't in it anymore. In my last few months of uni I took a break from blogging, and it really helped me realise that I want to blog, and blog about things that I'm really interested in - not whatever is fashionable or current in the makeup world, etc.. I know this might not be what a lot of people are interested in, but I know it's what will keep me happiest in the long run! 

So I don't want to alienate any old readers, I'm sure I'll still update you on fancy new nail-varnish and lipstick from now and then, but theres going to be a bit more variety in my blog..

Just had a little note to say about knitting posts - it is something that I really love and have been shy of sharing with people, for thinking it was uncool or something.. a little while ago I started telling more people about it and have only had good things in response. So if you think it's bad or lame or something, this definitely isn't the place for you! Because lets face it, if you DONT' like something that enables you to make cute little jumpers for adorable dogs then.. well you don't have a heart, haha. 

the sun coming out, i know something good is going to happen

my garden / strawberries and cream pavlova 

my friends dog / puppy in the ford / the river

watching the dog try and eat a fish / my friend kiki 

the ford / cleaning the dog!

Ohhhh my lord, this weather has been beyond glorious! I'm sure there are hundred posts like this in the blogging world currently, so I'll keep mine short and sweet! I have managed to get a lovely touch of sunburn on my shoulders today, from walking my friends dog, Monty!, around the river and ford near where we live. He even managed to catch a fish! And then promptly rolled in its guts.. haha. I have no time for outfits or makeup at the moment, it's been too too hot, and I've been working like a mad thing.
I hope you're making the most of this sunshine whilst it lasts! (: