iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

God I hate my new office-mate. He spends most of his time blathering away on the phone, and if he's not doing that he naps at his desk snoring. It's unclear if he does any real work - he perpetually plays solitaire and/or watches YouTube videos. And his office crap takes up 1/4 of the space.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Drexel University plans to close the Academy of Natural Sciences, the oldest natural history museum in the Americas, at the end of September. Milo made a great video about why this is awful and how you can help. #sciencesky #historysky #archeology #museum #help #share youtu.be/nxyfBfCrbDw?...

youtu.be

The Plan To Destroy Americas Oldest Natural History Museum

YouTube video by Miniminuteman

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Reposted by shiny_shiny_leaf

Nicolas Hénin @nicolashenin.net · 17/09/2026

Nice campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council about the declining lifespan of products. Enjoy!

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

After a long break, my second sock is starting to look like a sock. The heel turn was not an ideal place to fumble my way through after not knitting for a while, but never mind. 🧶🌱 #knitsky #craftsky #yarnsky #knitting #knit #showmeyourknits #socks #socksky #wip #kewgardens #plantsky #plants

A pale arm outstretched holding some knitting in progress in front of some long, bright green foliage in the Kew Gardens Temperate House. I'm holding a half-knit stranded colourwork sock in dark blue and white. The front of the sock has a pattern of blue starbursts, and the cuff, ankle gore, and heel have a striped pattern.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I realised I forgot to post my previous nails. 😅 I had these maybe six weeks ago? I got bright pink tips again when these grew out. #nails #nailsky #almondnails #acrylicnails #blue #white

A pale hand held like it's gripping something to show off the false nails. They're almond shaped, medium length, and have a natural pink base with cobalt blue french tips. They're held in front of me while sat down, so the hem of my blue and white striped top and my white skirt with blue woven triangles can be seen in the background.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

A couple of photos I meant to post with the others from my Kew visit last Saturday. I've almost finished my first sashiko project; I have a few light pink rows left to do then I just need to tidy up the back. 🧶🪡 #sashiko #embroidery #flower #artsky #craftsky #stitchsky #WIP #nails #nailsky

A pale hand with pink false nails holding a folded piece of cloth with a pink geometric floral pattern embroidered on it up in front of a backdrop of foliage and the white support columns of Kew Gardens Temperate House.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I looked around the Palm House at Kew this weekend. They've removed a lot of plants now; you wouldn't usually see chunks of wall like that. It's great for seeing the architecture but closing time feels closer and closer. #kewgardens #plantsky #plants #glasshouse #greenhouse #publicgarden #daytrip

A view from a bench in the Kew Gardens Palm House. The raised beds surrounding me have been emptied of plants or are in the process of being emptied, meaning the architecture of the support beams and glass walls are clearly visible.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Another photo from a couple of weeks ago. It was absolutely scorching at Kew that weekend so I had to get ice cream. I ordered raspberry and mango sorbets. 10/10, very refreshing #foodsky #icecream #sorbet #dessert

A pale hand with pink false nails holding up an ice cream cone against a wall of dense foliage. It has two scoops: the dark pink one on the bottom is raspberry sorbet and the bright orange one on top is mango sorbet.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

More photos from the last visit. These geese kept trying to politely rob a family sat nearby of their picnic. Every time they were shooed away they'd try mooching off me. 😂🪿 #goose #goosesky #geeseofbluesky #bird #birdsofbluesky #cobrachicken #cute

A photo of two greylag geese in a grassy area at Kew Gardens. I'm sitting in the shade of a tree and one of the geese is standing right next to me, watching me. The other goose is hanging back a few feet away.

A Canada goose in a grassy area of Kew Gardens. I'm sat in the shade of a tree and the goose is mooching around next to me, hoping I'll give it food.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

A couple of photos of my new nails and ongoing sashiko project. I visited Kew Gardens a couple of weeks ago but forgot to post the photos at the time. 🧶🪡 #sashiko #embroidery #flower #artsky #craftsky #stitchsky #WIP #nails #nailsky

A pale hand with the fingers curled towards the palm to show the false nails. The nails are almond-shaped, pale rose pink, and have a bright pink French tip. In the background, a sashiko embroidery sampler with geometric pink flowers rests on my lap over a white cotton dress with a dark blue floral pattern.

A pale hand held out in front to show the false nails. The nails are almond-shaped, pale rose pink, and have a bright pink French tip. In the background, a sashiko embroidery sampler with geometric pink flowers rests on my lap over a white cotton dress with a dark blue floral pattern.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm not sure most of my clothes would be suitable; I work in an office without a dress code beyond the obvious "don't turn up naked or wearing offensive slogans", so I don't really own "work clothes". But I'll keep them in mind anyway!

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

I've recently refreshed my wardrobe and I'm looking to make sure my old clothes find their way to people who need them. As a plus size person I'm concerned that if I donate them all to a standard charity shop they won't make it onto the racks - my local ones seem to stock very few plus size clothes.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Our big orange boy Carter has to be put down. 😞 He has untreatable renal failure and anemia. It's all so sudden. Any help is much appreciated. paypal.me/CanalCryptid

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Oh no 😂 I feel bad for you having to taste Prime. It tastes like cheap, undiluted squash someone chucked salt into. Bloom is grim too. I tried the greens powder. It tasted like farts someone tried to cover up with fruity body spray and looked like swamp goo

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

I did not manage to keep it alive long enough to repot it 😬

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

I briefly tried to do some embroidery in the Palm House, but was swiftly beaten back by the heat. I'm glad I didn't go up to the balcony; I've seen it get up to 35°C+ up there 😬. I was so glad for the rain around 4PM #kewgardens #plantsky #plants #glasshouse #greenhouse #publicgarden #daytrip

A view from a bench inside the Kew Gardens Palm House. A metal support beam is visible in front of a backdrop of palm trees and other foliage. A bright blue sky shows through the glasshouse roof and everything is bathed in golden summer sunlight.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

I had to get some ice cream before I headed home. I think it's Hackney Gelato? Whatever brand it is, it's good; it clearly uses real vanilla bean and high-quality chocolate. #foodsky #icecream #gelato #dessert

A pale hand with the thumb and forefinger nails painted green, and the other three painted light pink holding an ice cream cone with two large scoops on top. The white scoop on the bottom was vanilla and the brown one on top was chocolate.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

- Find way to nearby McDonald's for rest stop, consume questionable amount of mozzarella sticks - Find out I need to take another two buses to get to Kew - Take further buses without incident - Usual journey time ~ 1.5 hours - Today's journey time: 3.5 hours. Left at 10AM, arrived 2:30PM 😑 3/3

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

- Man in ticket booth says get 266 bus to North Acton then 65 for Ealing Broadway. - Go to usual bus stop for 266 bus, passing bus driver says it's on diversion so catch it by the court house instead - 5-10 minute walk, no problem - get 266 bus, North Acton not served due to road closures 2/3

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Today has been A Day™️, which required ice cream as a result. I had plans to visit Kew Gardens. - Weekly service update email from TFL all looks good - Watford Junction to Willesden Junction all good - Tried to change for Richmond, Mildmay line suspended due to track fault. 1/3

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

It was so dull. I despised that book. I had to study it for an entire year when I did my A-levels 😣

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The entire first chapter is some guy yakking on about a hill, pretty much. I'm sure it's a lovely hill but I did not need to read that many pages about a local hill 🤦🏻‍♀️

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

It just needs a coiled chain next to it so they can learn the dark souls method for checking for mimics

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I visited the local Asian grocers to buy noodles and snacks, and found this omija ade. It's tasty; similar to cranberry juice but minimally astringent.🧋 #foodsky #food #asianfood #omija #omijaade

A pale hand holding a clear takeaway cup with ice and transparent red juice inside (it looks like cranberry juice). Behind the cup, the hand holds an empty packet between two fingers. The packet is white with red clusters of berries on it. It says"
"CAFFE BENE
오미자 에이드 [OMIJA ADE in Korean]
OMIJA ADE
Iced drink".

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

It's my 5th work anniversary on Sunday, so my boss popped into the office to gift me this small rose bush. Hopefully I can keep it alive long enough for it to need repotting 😅 #plantsky #plantsofbluesky #bloomscrolling #bloomsky #dailyflower #flowers

A small rose bush with dense white flowers potted in a white mental planter. A green ribbon Is tied around the planter.

A top-down view of a small rose bush with dense white flowers potted in a small planter.

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Reposted by shiny_shiny_leaf

Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 16/04/2026

Hello everyone who has contributed to our whistle-making efforts. Thank you for everything you have done for us. First, we are still printing whistles: if you need whistles we will happily send you between 100-3000 for free, no questions asked. linktr.ee/3Dwhistles

linktr.ee

3D Printed Whistles | Linktree

We ship community protection whistles for free. Need some? Click the email link below & tell us how many you need (between 100 - 3000) & where to send them.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

It looks like the emptying of the Palm House has begun in earnest 😔 I knew it was coming; they've been moving plants to a temporary greenhouse for months, ahead of 2027 closure for renovation. #kewgardens #plantsky #plants #glasshouse #greenhouse #publicgarden #daytrip

A view of the architecture of the Kew Gardens Palm House. In front of me is a raised bed with a line of pillars supporting part of the glass roof running down the middle. Ordinarily these would be largely obscured by foliage, but the plot has been emptied in anticipation of the 2027 closure for renovation. In the background another section is still full of foliage and a staircase up to the raised walkway is visible.

A view of the architecture of the Kew Gardens Palm House. In front of me is a raised bed with an arch in the middle supporting part of the glass roof. Ordinarily this would be largely obscured by foliage, but the plot has been emptied in anticipation of the 2027 closure for renovation. In the background another section is still full of foliage and a staircase up to the raised walkway is visible.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

I'm making progress; I've almost finished all the darker pink diagonal stitches. I took my work to Kew at the weekend. Sashiko is travel-friendlier than my knitting or crochet since I don't need to have a pattern out. 🧶🪡 #sashiko #embroidery #flower #artsky #craftsky #stitchsky #WIP

A pale hand with long, almond-shaped dark green false nails holding an in-progress sashiko sampler against a backdrop of a London Overground train interior. The pattern on the sampler is a repeating motif of cherry blossoms in pink thread on white cloth. The work is slightly scrunched up with several stitches on the needle waiting to be pulled through, as it's being actively worked on.

A pale arm holding out an in-progress sashiko sampler against a backdrop of dark green foliage and the curved glass wall of Kew Gardens Palm House. The design is a repeating motif of cherry blossoms in pink thread on white cloth. A pink flower-shaped needle minder holding a sewing needle is placed approximately in the centre of the work.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Alongside the other sashiko supplies, I ordered three hanafukin kits via Etsy. This one is from hobbyra hobbyre and has a cherry blossom pattern. I'm enjoying it so far. 🧶🪡 #sashiko #embroidery #artsky #craftsky #stitchsky #WIP #WIPwednesday

A rectangle of white cloth with sashiko embroidery in pink thread on it. All the stitches running from top left to bottom right are complete, and the stitches running bottom left to top right are in progress. A light pink flower-shaped needle minder sits on top of the cloth near the centre. This is a hanafukin/traditional Japanese kitchen cloth kit: the fabric is pre-printed with the design and you stitch along the lines with the provided thread.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Do you know how little that narrows it down 😂

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

London Northwestern Railway has a big stuffed toy train carriage at Northampton station! I think it's to show off their new train livery? Unfortunately there's no merch stand at which to buy a mini one 🥺

A large stuffed toy train carriage behind a rope barrier in the foyer of Northampton railway station. The carriage has the livery of London Northwestern Railway: mostly dark green with some white.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

My sashiko supplies arrived! I'm not good at sewing; whatever I make will hold together but looks like a five year old attacked it. But hopefully the pre-marked fabric and the fact that it only requires a running stitch will work in my favour. 🧶 #sashiko #embroidery #artsky #craftsky

A flatlay picture of a variety of supplies for sashiko embroidery (a traditional Japanese style of embroidery).
Top: 4 packets each containing a skein of white thread with a dark blue label around it.
Bottom left: a large packet of pre-marked 5mm grid sashiko cloth. The packaging is dark blue with rustic looking crosses on the top third and a circular cutout showing dark blue cloth.
Middle: two packets each containing a skein of pale blue thread with a dark blue label around it.
Upper middle right: two packets of sashiko needles, one regular and one long. The regular ones are in a white packet and long ones in a dark blue packet.
Bottom right: a needle threader in a small paper packet and a ring thimble in a small plastic packet attached to some cardboard.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

I may or may not have ordered a load of sashiko supplies on a whim. 😬 The geometric patterns are so satisfying and the traditional combination of navy fabric and white thread is super pretty. Let's hope I pick it up easily 😅

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

I feel like giving your sparkling water the same name as a highly toxic tree is a bad idea

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

It's so annoying that I can see the moon just fine but my phone camera can't, so I miss out on pretty evening photos because my phone thinks it's a luminous blob. I swear this phone has worse astigmatism than me 😑

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I hate shoes. I wish it was sandals and sundress weather again already. 😑

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Thanks! I'll remember for future posts!

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Thanks for the comments about which species the different orchids are! It was so busy that I forgot to take photos of the little species plaques, so I just tried to group my pictures by flowers that looked somewhat similar. 💖

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

The top I'm wearing is a Ranunculus I knit from two very mismatched skeins of Malabrigo Sock in the colour Fiona, if anyone was curious. 😅

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Last photos, I think. Throughout the exhibition were sculptures of different animals with orchids. These are the dragon and koi fish. Thanks to the staff member who took the one of me with the dragon! #plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #artsky #sculpture #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A pale fat woman with dark blue hair wearing a black ankle length dress, striped green handknit top with lace details at the neckline, and green cloak with flowers at the neck, and glasses. I'm stood in front of a large dragon sculpture covered in orchids on a pond in the Kew Gardens Princess of Wales Conservatory.

A large sculpture of a Chinese dragon made from dried palm fronds(?), standing in a bed of orchids with more orchids all along its back. The sculpture is suspended above the pond in the main central area of the Kew Gardens Princess of Wales Conservatory.

A sculpture of nine large koi fish made from dried leaves(?), suspended along with white and purple aerial orchids above a pond in the Kew Gardens Princess of Wales Conservatory.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Finally, something that isn't an orchid! Through the exhibition were some fun flower gates. Unfortunately I only managed to get good photos of this one, which was decorated with different bromeliad flowers. #plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #bromeliad #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A large arch covered in foliage with long, pointed leaves, various types of yellow and red bromeliad flowers, and some different kinds of orchid. I can see some pink ones, white ones with purple centres, and hanging yellow and purple ones, there might be more. An older Asian woman is taking a photo through the gate with her phone at the same time as me. Two other people are walking away from the gate.

A bright red bromeliad flower. It has lots of pointed red petal-like leaves arranged in layers around a central yellow stamen(?). Some other red bromeliads can be seen in the background among lots of bright green, glossy foliage.

A bright red bromeliad flower. It has lots of pointed red petal-like leaves with white tips arranged in layers around a central white stamen(?). The background is taken up by lots of bright green, glossy foliage.

A bright yellow bromeliad flower. It has lots of pointed yellow petal-like leaves arranged in layers around a central stamen(?). In the background, to the left, someone is standing around taking photos.

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shiny_shiny_leaf @shinyshinyleaf.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

More orchids! These are some that are roughly similar in shape, with large bottom petals. #plantsky #plants #bloomscrolling #orchids #photography #dailyflower #flowers

A close up of a brightly coloured orchid. The top part of the orchid is somewhat star shaped with dark red crinkled, furled over leaves. The bottom part is a large petal, bright red on the top half and white on the bottom.

A close up of a dark pink orchid. The top half is somewhat star shaped with a large bottom petal. The bottom petal is dark pink with white splotches and red veins emanating from around a yellow stamen.

A close up of a bright pink orchid. The top half is somewhat star shaped with a large bottom petal and a yellow stamen in the centre.

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