Pirate Day - Hastings: World Record Amounts of Pirates!

Well, it's official... I am part of a Guinness World Record! The largest number of pirates in one place. As part of the annual pirate day event in Hastings Old Town, and due to the overwhelming success of last year's event, the organisers decided to go for the record. I was part of it all and so were an astonishing 6166 other swashbucklers! That's also not including the 400 people that left the record attempt area before the allotted time was up, and the thousands of people that could not be allowed into the area as it was so full! There were easily at least 8000 pirates and the queue to be counted blocked the main road and continued back into Rock'a'Nore...

There were some pretty impressive costumes, and I was amazed at just how many people turned up and got involved in the pirate themed fun! It made me quite proud of my town, and I love it when everyone joins in on a big scale with special events. The pirate fun started mid-morning, and, for some of the older rum-swilling pirates, went on well into the early hours of the morning!

There were some Pirates of the Caribbean look-a-likes that performed throughout the day with sword fights and posed for photos. The Johnny Depp AKA Captain Jack Sparrow look-a-like was really rather good, he could quite easily have passed as the real deal! I bumped into the look-a-like that evening (out of his Jack Sparrow costume) and troubled him for a photo... (please excuse my pirate beard stubble... I think I get a little bit too into it all!)

View of the world record pirate "holding pen" from the West hill

Check out some of my photos from the day!

The Retro Gaming Pixel Art Skills of Mark Richards

I stumbled across Mark Richards whilst reading one of my favourite blogs by Frills'n'Spills where some of his handiwork was featured as a badge on their blog. I contacted him and he made me this absolutely brilliant badge for my blog! I am a bit of a retro gaming fan: I have my Sega Megadrive rigged up in my house, and the most advanced gaming console I own is a Playstation (the original one). So naturally I adore my new pixel art self, and blog badge! Mark is a thoroughly nice chap and if you like what he does I suggest you check out his Twitter and the game he is developing (links below).

My lovely new blog badge!

I absolutely love point and click adventure games from the early 90's, TheMonkey Island games starring Guybrush Threepwood (a mighty pirate!) are still some of my all-time favourite games, along with Loom, Broken Sword, the Dig, Grim Fandango and Day of the Tentacle. There has been a bit of a resurgence of this style of gaming in recent years, especially in the amateur scene (though it is still under-appreciated in my opinion!) and I recently bought 'Ben There, Dan That' and 'Time Gentlemen, Please' and loved them both for their retro feel.

Mark is currently working on a new retro style sci-fi adventure game called The longevity Gene. The basic plot: you find yourself completely unaware of your identity, trapped on a damaged cargo ship hurtling towards the surface of an industrial world. Flung into a dystopian world of corrupt corporations and a society divided by technology, you must find out who you are and why you were hidden as cargo... cue puzzle-solving, adventure, midi music, and old-school graphics! I am in no doubt that I am going to love his game when he releases it (in two parts) over the next few months. Until then, here are some tantalising screen-shots for you to feast your eyes on...

She Draws - Cute and Quirky Jewellery

Laura Figiel, AKA She Draws, is someone I have recently discovered on Twitter, and I'm so very glad I did! After visiting her She Draws Etsy Shop I have fallen in love with her creations. She makes stationary, t-shirts, and accessories, but above all I love her jewellery. I genuinely want every piece! It's really cute, quirky and distinctive.

Vintage Phone Charm Pendant

Tea Set Charm Pendant

British Biscuit Earring Studs

Tea Set Earring Studs

Cupcake Earring Studs

Polaroid Cities Charm Necklace

Travel Charm Necklace

Tea Party Charm Necklace

I Love Sewing Charm Necklace

Tea Party Brooch

Style Icon - Zooey Deschanel: Vintage Style and Stunning Voice!

I just love Zooey Deschanel. She has such a beautiful sense of style, and I'm pretty sure I have never seen her in an outfit that I don't love! She is often seen in lovely retro and vintage style dresses. Even in jeans and t-shirt Zooey looks great. If you havn't listened to her band, She and Him, then your ears need their summery music! Matt Ward and Zooey team up with an indie folk sound that is super catchy, easy to listen to and perfect for sunny lazy days. I think my favourite track is 'In The Sun' off of their newer album, 'Volume Two'... have a little watch of the music video at the bottom of the page, and watch out for the stunning polka dot dress that features when Zooey is hula hooping!

Love this photo, the retro hair and dress combination is definitely a winner.

Zooey Deschanel performing with Matt Ward as 'She and Him' in a very pretty floral dress.

The shirt, chunky belt and long necklace is a simple, but lovely outfit.

She & Him - In The Sun from Merge Records on Vimeo.

The Pipettes and Pretty Bicycles

I love the Pipettes, they're gorgeous gals with a vintage and retro style, and make great music too! The Pipettes modelled a photo shoot for the new bespoke bicycles for Cooper Bikes, and the result are these beautiful photos. I absolutely love Ani Pipette's hair and outfit in the photo below. The Cooper bicycles are lovely too, the colours are great and look perfect for nipping around on, and getting from A to B in style. Oh, and while we're on the topic of The Pipettes, I highly recommend you buy the singles from their upcoming album Earth Vs The Pipettes, "Call Me", "Our Love Was Saved By a Spaceman" and "Stop the Music" are firmly in all my play lists at the moment!

Little Treasures - Vintage Shop in Hastings Old Town

There is a lovely little vintage shop in The Highstreet, in Hastings Old Town. It's called Little Treasures and it really does live up to it's name. It is totally delightful and is filled with gorgeous vintage treasures. There are some beautiful vintage polka dot dresses, floral playsuits, and gingham pinafores adorning their rails, along with some really cute home-ware too.

As well as clothing, Little Treasures also sells home-ware and jewellery. I adore the cushions with 50's pin up designs, Hawaiian prints, very cute flamingo designs, and a variety of retro patterns, and I would love to fill my sofa with them! Little Treasures also sell some quirky vintage furniture.

I really love the jewellery that Little Treasures sell. The teapot and teacup necklace below is a personal favourite of mine, the Tealover's Necklace is a bargain at £12 (plus, the polka dot background makes the whole thing much more appealing! or is that just me?)

I absolutely LOVE this "I love you letter" pink rose necklace - £10

Double Dose of Polka Dots: Luggage

This Monday's double dose of polka dots to kick-start your week have a holidaying theme. It's the summer holidays and most of the UK are taking their family holidays abroad, going camping or visiting family, and lets face it, we have to travel in style! I've got two wheel-around cases, both are polka dot, one big, one small, and I couldn't travel anywhere without them!

I love my red polka dot case, it was only £25 for the set (including a hand luggage bag as well) from Argos. Bargain!

What better to accompany your gorgeous polka dot luggage than this cute polka dot luggage tag from Daisy Shoppe for $12.95