I like this.

I have not blogged in ages. I have become a blog-phobe. Well from my own anyway.

Although i read blogs everyday, I sort of took an unexpected break from it all last year. So too with my sewing and photo taking. No particular reason why - But now im back!

Im still buying lots of lovely things - admiring lots of images - thinking of new ideas, I just havent shared them for a while.

So to start me back off...a nice easy break in post if you like..I thought i'd share with you my ever expanding heart wall...

As you may or may not know this has been an aim of mine for a few years now, every christmas and birthday my mum adds to it (thank you) and every time im taken with a new heart in a shop i will 'treat' myself. I dont see me ever getting bored of these :)

Nice to be back <3

Lil xx

My Week in Pictures...

...Or should i say my 'recent' weeks in pictures!

I've been quite busy these past few weeks, hence not many posts! But i have returned once again with some pictures of recent antics, and some stories to tell :)

Firstly, to follow on from my last post about my new found love of cushion making, I made this Cushion for my friends birthday...i was meant to give her the blue one i made in the last post..but i figured it wouldnt go in her flat, so i made this cute white one :)

I added little burgandy roses that i found in fabric land. I love it, it was cheap cheap cheap to make, and so easy :)

Last week i moved house.. I now live in a house share, so only really have my room to myself. Which i quite like :)

I spent last weekend unpacking my bags and hanging all my homely bits. I have gathered many hanging hearts from lots of different places, and i love them all, i hung every single one!

I also made some bunting last weekend, (in the first pic below) it super cheap to make, in fact it cost me nothing! I will make a tutorial on this next weekend...

I have also been on a few christmassy trips after work these past few weeks...its so nice to get out and about, despite the cold weather.

The pics below are of two trips i went on...One to Keydell garden centre where there was every decoration and light you ould possibly imagine! Every colour of tinsel! And..some cute donkeys!

I also went to Stansted house for a chrismas market..which was held inside the big mansion. It was so pretty and christmassy! And there was some horses dressed as reindeer pulling santa along!

So charming :)

Last but not least...i went to a fancy dress party..here i am in my maid costume...in the toilet :)

Have you guys been to any christmas fairs or markets yet?

Please remember to enter my giveaway below!!

I will be taking part in a christmas handmade fair in a couple of weeks, so expect some crafty pictures and tutorials in the coming week :)

Lil xx

Rest and Relaxation

I have been doing some soul searching this week, after the break down of my relationship and the loss of my job last week. I have spent the past week getting away from it all, on the Isle of Wight.

I have been spending my days researching brands, collecting pictures of items i love, doing lots of sewing and fabric buying!
One day i hope to own my own gift shop, shabby chic in style of course :)

Here are some pics of things i love...

I also love this cushion, and have decided to try and recreate it...

I have sewn all the strips together, and once i find a cushion pad the same sort of length, i will form it into a nice snuggly pillow for my new life :)

I have been on the Isle of Wight for a week now, trying to get over my ex, and looking for a new job! My gran lives here, and as she used to be a seamstress, she has given me loads of lovely bits and bobs for my bag making. She is very talented, and i am so greatful for all the lovely things she gave me. As you can see there's loads! and im taking home another three carrier bags of fabric. Love it :)

Some really goregous lace trimmings.

Some vintage sewing reels from when she worked in a factory.

Lots of lovely buttons :)

Zips and lovely net fabrics.

Lots of padding and Interfacing :)

And my small pile of bags, which i hope to photograph properly soon :)

Please let me know if there are any ideas for project you have, or would like to see me try!

I am trying to broaden my project range, and develop new sewing skills!

Ahoy Sailor and Shabby Chic

Hello :)

I have returned with a new bag, and a finished project which i started months ago!

My new bag is made from gorgeous new fabric from FabricLand in portsmouth. They were both ends of rolls, so for about 2.50 a metre...i actually got about a metre and a half so i was very lucky that day!

I also bought gorgeous new ribbons (also end of roll) so all in all it was a good day! The two fabrics together remind me of sailors and all things nautical. I love them.
I really want to aquire some light demin, i think half denim and half floral bags would be so pretty.

Now onto my project...I started this months ago when i first found my love for sewing. I sneakily went on heaps of fabric websites and asked for samples of their curtain fabrics! I made loads of scrappy hearts, and then forgot about them.

My mum sent me some cute ribbon this week so i decided to dig out the hearts and make a pretty garland for above our bed :)

All free and very shabby chic. (if i say so myself).

Bye for now :)

All things pretty :)

Today i wanted to use some of my new fabric! So...I made a bag...suprise suprise!

I actually love using this fabric, its such good quality and it was so cheap! It was from a store called Fabric Land, in portmsouth cascades shopping centre, but they have a few around the uk.

Im so impressed! I love the colour combination i chose, and im pretty pleased with the outcome!

I also took some photos of two other bags i have previously made but not blogged about! The first is a small coin purse i made, but i actually keep it in the zip pocket of my handbag, for hair grips and kirbys etc.

The second is a large bag which i now store all my nail varnishes in! Its lined in cute heart fabric, and is oval at the top so its a bit different! Love both!

Also just a few new things i have got...

When on holiday i treated myself to the new Barry M ice creams collection, minus the yellow one because i dont like it! Ive worn all four and i love them! I now own 14 barry m polishes and im quite proud about this! :)

I also bought a spotty mug from laura ashley because i had a voucher, thought it was quite cute!

And i got this litte heart frame as a gift from my nan! How cute :) another addition to my hearts collection!

And lastly some cute shoes from primark! very summery i thought! they look good with my pale blue jeans and oversized tee!

Anyway...bit of a random post! Hope to get some FOTD's up soon and make up hauls when get paid on thurs :)

Florals and Hearts

So just a few updates...I bought some lovely fabric from ebay for around £2! Its a basic floral print but so pretty, i cant wait to use it!



I also have spent an afternoon creating these cute hearts, which i will turn into a pretty garland when i find the right string! I made them from some samples i had requested from various fabric websites! Yep...a homemade garland for free! I think theyre quite cute, and theres hundrds of them so it will look nice hanging over a mirror or something!



I also have two new additions to my Hanging Hearts collection!! A lovely rusty wire one, with pretty flowers created out of the wire. and a lovely wooden bead one. They lovingly hang my bedroom along with the rest, but i want to make them into a heart wall (like a plate wall but with hearts)!

Hearts...

Whilst i had the camera out i thought id also share some of my favourite things from my flat! Mostly just silly personal things but they're very me, so hopfully give you an insight into what i like!



I have lots of bits and pieces that hang from odds and ends in my flat! Its a rented flat, so the decor isnt exactly my taste and i cant do much about it! Apart from accesorize! This i am a big fan of. The above flutterby was a gift tag on presents i sent last year and i had one left. They were bougt at The Pier where i used to work until it closed down!




This heart was bought for me a week ago for my 23rd birthday by my friend susie! I love hanging hearts and she knows this, i also got from her a heart necklace made from glass which is gorgeous!



This heart was bought in my favourite shop in aberdeen, AnnieMo's. It sells quaint and chic items but also contemporary furniture. I love this shop and one day when im rich i want to buy everything from there! I bought a few of these button hearts and have then hanging from the broken handles in the kitchen! I'd like to make some myself when i can get my hands on some vintage buttons, im thinking cream and gold ones with gorgeous ribbon!...watch this space!



My mum bought me this heart for my birthday also, i love it and its very my style!, its currently hanging on the big heavy cabinet which the tv sits on, so i see it all the time which i love!



And...last but not least...this is my cat jack in my new sewing machines box!! Its quite a snug fit and i laughed when i found him there! He loves boxes so ill let him keep it!