1. Mass, by Kate Shaw. I had this as my desktop background for a long time. There’s just something so steady and quiet about it.

2. This was also my desktop background, incidentally. I am clearly drawn to images of the sea. Found here.

3. ‘Old Ocean’, by Chelsea Green Lewyta. This one is so…sad.

4. A still from the gorgeous film, Persepolis, based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. You need to read it, or watch it, or both.

5. This photo makes me feel so small. Does anybody know the original source? I can’t track it down. Found here.

I grew up near the sea, and I really miss it.

1. An incredible wood veneer collage by Ron van der Ende.

2. Technicolour tessellation by Morgan Blair.

3. ‘Diamond’ ring by Nylon Sky, Photo by me,  hand modelling by Greek Street!

4. A subtly coloured diamond print by Aesthetic Apparatus. (I wish this pattern came as a duvet cover.)

5. Jewel-toned…jewels. Found here, original source unknown.

1. The Scream versus ice-cream

2. The Kiss versus  Benjamin Jundanian

3. Here’s Johnny Versus Here’s Kitteh

4. Star Wars versus Star kids

5. Ophelia versus Guim-phelia

1. I took this photo on a long-shadowed afternoon. (My Flickr is here.)

2. Double-shadowed lady. (I drew this for Amelia’s Magazine. )

3. London in the Summertime.

4. It took me a few seconds to realise that wasn’t a real shadow. (Source unknown! Do you know the original source?)

5. These are my ruby slippers on a crisp and sunny day. (My Flickr)

1. Breakfast time at ‘the castle’ (aka ex-council block). I took this one.

2. This is another of my own photos, taken at the Fashion & Textile Museum. I want to turn this photo into a dress. Somehow.

3. House of Doll Spray painted Metallic shoes. Check out that sunset spectrum! These would preferably be worn all at once, by an eight-legged beast.

4. Sparkles and stripes. (From here. Original source unknown.)

5. This is a photo I took of my mango + banana muffins. They were just as blinding on the taste buds.

What are your favourite colour combinations?

1. If only I had a flowerbed to roll around in. (By Andy J. Miller)

2. Martha Rich understands that tiaras are sometimes necessary.

3. I’ve got this hanging in my house. Opposite the bed.

4. That’s right! Alexandre Bettler is telling you to stop whining.

5. Thanks for the reminder, Lisa Rupp.

*This is my first TOP 5 since September 2011. I’ll be posting every day from now on, so expect posts containing photography, artwork and super-articulate captions (ahem). You’re welcome.

I’ve finally got TOP 5 back up and running, after a long dry spell. Thanks so much for coming back (and hello to everyone who’s new here). Regular posting will commence tomorrow!

You may have noticed that TOP 5 looks…very different. I love the fresh look, and I hope you guys approve!

However, that’s not the only change. I’ve opened up TOP 5 to include images from all over the internet, rather than just my own photography. It was a much needed change for me, and you can read all the details here.

For those of you that loved COLLECTIVE 5, never fear! It will be relaunching shortly, so please watch this space!

In the meantime, have a great Monday and let me know what you think of the changes!

Happy-snaps and high-fives,

Helena

I’m selling the cards in packs of six (with two designs per pack).They can also be bought individually (the individual cards are hand-decorated with acrylic rhinestones, which I think looks extra cool).

I realise that frogs, kiwi fruit and dinosaurs are not exactly traditional Christmas imagery. However, I think the cards look festive and joyful, which is what the Christmas season is about for many people. I hope they make you smile!

Click here to buy cards from my art shop! (Oh, and keep in mind that art prints make great Christmas presents, wink wink.)

p.s. I baked the cupcakes and gingerbread robots featured on the cards – I can confirm that they were very tasty.

This blog has been…very quiet. I’m sorry about that. It seems that I have too much on my plate right now, what with opening a shop and starting a new job as a full-time illustrator-slash-artist. I am definitely not abandoning TOP 5. In fact, I am cooking up exciting plans for its future…but you’ll need to hang tight for a month or two.

Until then, you can still follow me on my other blog, Facebook or Twitter. (Or my shop, where I am selling prints of my photos amongst other things.)

1. This is, in fact, my bed.

2. The Albert & Pearl is a gem of a bar, in case that’s not clear enough.

3. Sleeping? Nibbling? Hiding? Yoga?

4. I wish I remembered what was happening here.

5. Now THIS is a good one. Click here for the large version.

Right, that’s enough stretching for one day. See you soon, and don’t forget to check my shop!