Every month the OH and I take it in turns to choose a 'date' that we go on. The first, in May was all mine, and I chose to take in some art in London. First, we popped down to the Southbank Centre to see Tracey Emin-Love is What You Want, which was absolutely brilliant. Emin is a genius, in my eyes, I loved it all. I love her quilts especially, but the neon, the films, the writings, all fantastic. No pics as it wasn't that sort of art exhibition, but I'd recommend you all go to this!

Outside the Southbank Centre were people playing in the fountains:


We then walked over the Thames to Somerset House to visit Circle of Heads/Zodiac Animals, an installation by Ai WeiWei. Again, LOTS of fountain fun to be had!



The sculptures were amazing.














Once we were done here we wandered up into Covent Garden and had lunch at Bistro 1, a favourite stop off of mine (although I normally pop into the Beak Street branch! We then headed up to Edgeware Road and the Lisson Gallery to continue our art tour, visiting the other Ai WeiWei exhibition in London. Again, brilliant. Loved the video installations downstairs. And the sculpture outside too.






We then headed home, after a very successful first Date Day! I'd encourage everyone to visit all three exhibitions (Ai WeiWei's are free), each is fantastic.

My Mum decided to put an extension onto her house, and when she told me that a part of the extension was going to be a small seating area, I decided I'd like to make her some cushions for the chairs down there. My Mum is a big dog lover, and I found some delightful doggy-themed fabric on Ebay (other shopping sites are available!), which I ordered. This was last year some time. It took me until the other week to make her the cushions, being that I am a bit useless/I always end up having other things to do.

I used this book, which I believe my Mum bought for me as a present! I can highly recommend this book, I've made the cushions and the door stops from the book so far and they are easy to follow instructions which bear great results. My other half said if he didn't know better he would have thought I had bought the cushions. Which is great as Im in no way talented with a sewing machine, I can just use one :)

They are an envelope style, with cute ties to keep them closed. Here's the envelope top (I didn't quite stuff the cushion pad in properly it seems!



I didn't want to share this post until my Mum received the cushions, as I'm not sure if she reads this blog or not (if you do, hi mummy!). Perhaps she'll send me a picture of them in her extension which I can share at a later date!