Just A Quickie

I have been unable to blog as often as I have wanted this week - lot's happening!!

Firstly I am busy at work as the opening of our Lifestyle Shop occurs in two months time and secondly, we are having some major building work done at home.

By major, I mean complete rewiring, new bathroom, new kitchen, new radiators, new windows and doors!! Phew!!
As you can imagine, there is so much mess and clutter- the bathroom things are living in the bedroom at the moment and the kitchen things in the lounge! It has however inspired me to start looking for some long overdue new homeware accessories such as towels, storage items, candles etc.

Hopefully, the majority of the work will be completed next week.
I will post the before pic's when I get in from work today.

Having lunch of chilli and pumpkin soup and bread while typing this at work!

Have a great day. X

Sketchbook Pages

Ever since I started at Fashion College, I have always kept a sketchbook. I have to make sure I have it in my bag everyday as like many other creative people, I can get inspired at any time!

Travelling on the tube daily to and from work, I am often inspired by people I see; the way they style themselves, the colours they are wearing or even some small detail.

I thought I would share some pages from my current sketchbook with you. As you can see, lately I have been inspired by embellishment on dresses, tunics and kaftan's, ruffles and pleat combinations.

On a side note, I bought a crystal bowl today which I will use to put my everyday jewellery in. It was an absolute bargain £1 ($1.50), bought from my local charity shop - and yes, it is real crystal!

Have a lovely evening. X

Vintage Knitting book

Knitted Scarecrow on the front cover
I love these penguins. I especially like the attention to detail in items like the skis, hats, scarves and the backpack. There are knit instructions for these items too.

These are fun individual items that can be knitted and given as gifts, depending on what sort of things your friends and family are into, these can easily be adapted to say a chef's outfit for a friend who likes cooking. Again great attention to detail - loving the little painter and the cowboy!

A great Topsy turvy doll!

Cute miniature animals. Loving the bees and the ladybird!

I am having some major refurbishment done to my home at the moment which I will blog about at a later date. My dad is overseeing all the work but had an appointment today and as someone needed to be at home all day from 8am, I decided to work from home.

After 6 hours of drilling, banging and sawing, they completed what they needed to do for today.

I decided I needed some fresh air after being couped up for so long and ended up taking a trip to my local charity shop.

I was on the look out for some vintage jewellery boxes as amid packing everything away, it has occurred to me that I need better storage for my jewellery and just though getting vintage ones would be great.

Unfortunately, I didn't find any jewellery boxes but in the book section, came across a really great vintage book called Knitted Toys by Jean Greenhowe.

I remember as a girl my mum giving me a knitted doll as a present and I loved it - I still have it but it is kept at my mum's house and all my nieces have had the pleasure of playing with her. She is well over 20 years old now!!!!

Anyway, this book has some really lovely knitted dolls and toys as well as Christmas decorations. The instructions are pretty straightforward even for a beginner.

I love the little animals especially. I will be hopefully making some of these as presents.

Have a lovely evening. X

Accessory shopping

From Warehouse £12. I absolutely love this! The picture doesn't show too clear but the brown is actually a fine cord threaded through the chain. I love the antique gold colour mixed with the brown.

From H & M £2.99 each set - I didn't realise until I got home that I picked up 2 sets! I don't mind as I usually wear lots of different bangles or bracelets together. The colours with the silver is so stunning!

H & M £1.99 - I love the simplicity of this piece. A great everyday piece to "pretty up" a plain outfit.

H & M £1.99. I'm not too matchy when it come to accessorizing an outfit but I do sometimes like to throw in an unexpected colour element and these studs are perfect for doing that.

H & M £2.99. I love the copper colour of these and the fact that the graduated edges are all flattened! I will wear these alot!

I just thought I'd share some of my recent accessory buys. I noticed recently that I hadn't bought any accessories that were not going to be part of an outfit, so I decided to go and see what was out there.

Unlike clothes shopping, I tend to buy accessories that I like then and there as I know from experience when I haven't done that and then later decide to go back for it, the item is not available anymore.

Much like clothes, I buy jewellery and accessories from all over the place - from thrift shops to designer.

Have a lovely Saturday!

X

Thrift shopping

I am the type of dresser who wears anything from designer clothes, high street buys to thrift shop finds.

I think true style isn't following any fashion trends but looking at those trends and making it truly your own by mixing it with a few unexpected pieces that signify your own personal style.

With this in mind, I had been told about a shop here in London called The Brick Lane Thrift Store, and had been meaning to visit to for ages. I happen to be working from home today and don't live a million miles away, so when I came to a natural break in my work, I decided to go and get some fresh air and take a trip there.

It was worth the visit. They have a really good stock of clothes and with alot of the pieces going for £10 ($15), you are certainly guaranteed not to break the bank.

Most of the dresses I wanted unfortunately were too big and I didn't love them enough to want to buy them and then alter them myself.

As I was about to leave, I spotted a huge display of scarves and after a little rummage came across this absolutely adorable silk printed scarf with doves on it. I couldn't resist as it was only £5 ($7). I intend to wear it over dresses, tshirts, knitwear and even as a headscarf in the summer!

Have a lovely evening. X

R.I.P Lee Alexander McQueen

I am still in shock.

I found out yesterday afternoon that Lee Alexander McQueen had committed suicide.

The fashion industry has certainly lost one of it's shining stars and regardless of whether you loved or hated his work, no one can argue that he was an enormously creative and talented designer, who wasn't afraid to push boundaries.

RIP Lee.

First Etsy Sale!!!!!

Just a quick entry to let you all know that I made my very first etsy sale on Sunday!!! (running around jumping and clapping)!! Yay to me!!!



It was for the cowl neck metallic knit scarf I wrote about a few months ago. You can see it here.

For the last few weeks I have been making some more things to put in my Etsy shop including the Blythe clothes I mentioned before. Hopefully I will post the pic's of them over the weekend or early next week.

Here's to many more Etsy sales!!!


Have a lovely evening
X