Sunday 29 January 2017

Sunday Favourites #222

It's that time of the week again...




Awesome feminist illustrations from Anonymous artist Ambivalently Yours.

These DIY iridescent favour bags are really cute.

I love these fun DIY avocado buttons.




Giulianna Artisty's make up skills are flawless.

I'm not usually one for bling, but these DIY crystal amethyst book ends are amazing.

I'd love to make some of these DIY rainbow fringe garlands to help brighten up these dreary English Winter days.



This super cheerful embroidery kit.

This DIY for colour block supplies storage is so simple, but so pretty.


This oreo Neapolitan milkshake looks delicious.



These cotton candy doughnuts look so good.





I've fallen in love with these contemporary embroidery kits from Hawthorn Handmade, particularly the adorable little puffin. I may need a couple.

Lovely  (or not so lovely because many of them involve the words Donald Trump this week) Links









For more of my weekly favourites, check out my Pinterest and Tumblr. You can also find all previous Sunday Favourites posts here.

Thanks for reading! Have a good one.
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Thursday 26 January 2017

My Christmas Cross Stitch Makes of 2016


Over the festive season I somehow became super productive with a needle and thread, and cross stitched my freckled arse off throughout December.


I actually managed to complete two Christmas cross stitch samplers, four Christmas cards, and one cross stitch ornament in the last four or five weeks of the year, (along with eight pieces of hoop art and six Christmas crackers), which I have to say felt pretty darn satisfying. I ended the year feeling unusually productive and accomplished and it was a good feeling. It doesn't happen often!

These are the pieces I made...



At the end of November, I finished this fun colourful patchwork sampler from Riverdrift House, which I already blogged about in detail here.


I then went back to the Riverdrift House Christmas band sampler I'd cast aside out of boredom the Christmas before, and somehow found the time and determination to finish the remaining third about ten days in to December. I totally smashed my expectations with this one because I didn't think I'd finish it before the new year, so virtual high-five to me! I was so pleased to finally put this one to rest, because I found the repetition really tedious, and my heart just wasn't in it, but I am really pleased with the end result, so I'm glad I stuck it out. I think it's going to add a lovely, homey touch to the Christmas decorations when I eventually get around to framing it in five or ten years time.


Once I'd completed the samplers, there were still a couple of weeks to go 'til Christmas, so I decided to try to work my way through the last four Riverdrift House Christmas cross stitch cards I'd been meaning to get around to for a few years. I'd made one the Christmas before, and another the year before that, but for some reason I never found time to make the rest. I wish I had because I really enjoyed stitching these, mostly while watching Christmas movies or festive TV, and it was so satisfying to finish each one in a couple of days, instead of several months like the majority of the cross stitch projects I've made in recent years. I somehow found the time to finish all four (the top three, and bottom right) by the day after Boxing Day, which isn't bad considering I had so many other Christmas things to do, too.

I won't actually be turning them in to Christmas cards- although, the cards are included in the kit- because I just can't bring myself to give them away; I like the designs too much. I'm intending to turn them in to ornaments if I can find mini picture frames to fit them; failing that, I'll probably get them framed together in one of those multi-photo picture frames.


And finally... 

After finishing the cross stitch cards, there were still a few days left until the end of the year, so I figured I had time for one last cross stitch challenge, and finally got to work on the little Permin Scandi Christmas bells ornament that had been sitting in my stash for about four years. It had much smaller aida than I was expecting (though I couldn't tell you what count), so it took several days to make, instead of two or three as I'd assumed from the packaging, but that wasn't a problem. I had it finished a day or two in to the new year, and kinda enjoyed working on it. The design is far more traditional than I tend to go for, but I'm definitely more of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas decorations, anyway, and I'd say the design is pretty timeless. 

I haven't been able to find a link to purchase this one online, but they're a Danish brand, and usually prominent in most specialist sewing / needlework / craft shops.

I'm pleased with all of the projects I made over Christmas, and impressed with how much I was able to achieve, especially considering it was during the busiest season of the year. It's encouraging me to craft more, and make good use of my time. I'm now working on another Christmas sampler and a flamingo hoop kit, which I'm sure I'll be giving you a peek at soon, either here or on my Instagram.

What have you crafted or created lately?

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Wednesday 25 January 2017

Wednesday Wish List

This week I've been coveting...




1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10

For the 7428th week in a row, I've been swooning over everything that has just landed at Lindy Bop. This week's selection are just some of my new favourites, but I'm particularly obsessed with dresses 1-4 and 9- aren't they amazing?!


1 // 2 // 3 // 4

I adore these gorgeous pieces from River Island Plus.


1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Collectif's latest pieces are all so pretty. Can I have them all in my wardrobe by the time Spring rolls back around, please?



I'm in love with this paperbag gingham midi skirt from ASOS Curve. A girl can never have too much gingham.


1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

How lovely are these Parrot Paradise bags and purses from Vendula London?! I'd love to have a piece or two in my wardrobe.


1 // 2

I also really love Vendula's Cheshire Cat and Purrfect Pose Cat clutch bags.



I need this perfume bottle novelty bag from Accessorize in my novelty bag collection. It's so pretty.


1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Like every other make up fan, I'm completely crushing over the entire Too Faced Sweet Peach collection. I particularly want the Sweet Peach eyeshadow palette, but I'd love to have it all on my dressing table. If only I were rich...



1 // 2

There's nothing I don't love about the new Clinique Crayola Chubby Sticks collection. The packaging has even been designed to look like boxes of crayons! It's too perfect for words!

What's on your wish list this week?

For more of the fashion and beauty pieces on my wish list each week, check out my style and beauty wish list boards on Pinterest.
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Sunday 22 January 2017

Sunday Favourites #221

Who's up for some Sunday Favourites?


These giant donut cakes look so darn tasty.

Being a person who likes to help others, and as an introvert, feminist, pro equal-rights, and anti tango-faced racist, sexist, homophobic, sexual predator dicks becoming president, I feel so inspired by Kate's 'An Introvert's Guide To Activism.'


These confetti cookie dough pastry pockets need to get in my belly.


How cute are these DIY birthday confetti poppers?


This DIY for colourful gift wrap with pom pom toppers looks so fun and eye-catching.

This DIY printable photo wall calendar is such a cute way to display some of the photos from your camera roll.

So very true. Perhaps even more so.







These colourful embroideries by Katy Biele are so beautiful.

I'm not sure I could pull them off, but these tie-dyed tassel earrings look awesome.


Aren't these iced sugar cookies lovely? I'd love to give the DIY a go.


I was always shit at wood-work classes at school and would probably have an accident with the jigsaw if I tried to make anything now, but I'm still tempted to have a go at this DIY for wooden geometrical necklaces.

I would also like to make some DIY marbled soap.

These DIY leather luggage tags are so funky.

This DIY colour-blocked wire basket is so simple in design, yet so effective.

How about making this pinata lamp?? Call me crazy, but I kinda want one in my life.



Lovely Links




















For more favourites, check out my Pinterest and Tumblr. You can also find all previous Sunday Favourites posts here.

Thanks for reading!
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