Packing For A Mini Break

I'm heading away for a couple of days, to destination unknown (it's a surprise!). We all know that there are no rules when it comes to packing, but I just thought I'd share what I'm taking, as well as some personal packing habits I like to stick to.

Craft Books I Love: Dressmaking by Alison Smith

Sewing is something I've always aspired to, yet only recently got around to trying out properly. I think the problem I've had is that sewing something from scratch just seems very scary, a problem I've never come across when knitting or crocheting. When learning to knit and crochet I built up my skills very slowly, starting with the basics (scarves, of course) and working my way up. For me, there seems to be a large jump between the easy sewing projects (like sewing a tablet case) to the harder ones (e.g. sewing a coat - eek!). Some sewing patterns don't help the situation either, and I felt like I needed guidance as to mastering the basic skills. Which is where this book (and my mum) come in.

What I'm Wearing - Checked Denim and Cut Out Flats

I had a spend up in Primark this weekend, which is great because a spend up in Primark never actually comes to as much money as you think it will. For me, it's one of those places that's either spot on, or has absolutely nothing that I like. At the moment however, I'm having a little love affair with some of their stock - particularly their range of denim dungarees and dresses. Denim is my go to saviour, so I naturally fell in love with this checked denim dress.

Sewing A Dress For Beginners

Alternative post title: LOOK - I'VE MADE A DRESS!! Can I get a *whoop whoop* please? Thank you. I've been hinting at this project for a while on here, and even used some of the left over fabric to cover my headphones. Now that I've finally finished sewing it, I thought I'd share it on here, along with some tips for beginner's sewing that I've picked up along the way.

Morecambe @ Theatre Severn

*Bring Me Sunshine*

I go to the theatre nowhere near as much as I'd like to, so when my mum won some tickets for a show recently, I was only too happy to accept an invitation. Even more so when the show in question was Morecambe, a stage production which tells the story of Eric Morecambe.

Mid-Week Treat: £1 Pastel Blue Nail Varnish

I'm always a bit wary when buying very cheap nail varnishes. The nail varnishes I normally buy are made by well established brands, albeit it not the most expensive ones. Sometimes though, if I see a real bargain in a great colour, I'll pick it up anyway, thinking that at the very least I could use it to do some nail art. So, when I found this gorgeous pastel blue nail varnish for a mere £1, I figured it was at least worth a try.

A Cheat's Guide to Beading

Beading was something that I always aspired to you when I was young. The delicate beads, the glittery end result - it's a ten year old's dream. When I tried it though, I was too impatient to see the project through to the end, mainly because the fiddly nature didn't suit me. I still don't fancy trying it now. But where there's a will, there's a way, and I have recently discovered an incredibly quick and easy way to create your own beaded jewellery. Don't believe me?