My New Craft Room

I've been super lucky this last week, and had my dreams of a dedicated craft work space realized!

Until now, I have had a set up on out dining table, in the middle of our living room, and it was a pain to keep the madness that is craft supplies tidy, especially when guests were coming over.

But, now, I have moved into our office, replacing our spare bed with a desk made from two bookshelves from Ikea and a door.  It looks great!  And it's huge!  Plenty of space for both my crafting and my studies.  Read about my inspiration for decorations here.

I still want to decorate the wall some more, I have plans to hang a calendar  some bunting, my paper hearts and some photos or something.  Time to make some more crafts!

Freya May

Thrifty Thurdays (on a Friday)

Hey,

So, here is something you might not know about me- I love cats!!!

At home we have almost always had little furry friends, and, despite being allergic, I intend to get one when we move to a cat friendly home at some point.   I figure an antihistamine a day is a low price to pay for furry awesomeness.

Anyways, side tracked due to the print on this weeks Thrifty Thursdays dress- check it out!

Dress- £4.99 (secondhand)

Cardigan- £2.95 (secondhand)

Belt- £2 (secondhand)

Necklace- Gift

Tights from H&M

Isn't it wicked!  Love it!  Knew I had to pick this up the minuet I sew it, especially as it was just £4.99.

I'm trying to mix it up to wear into the autumn months, as it is quite light.  But adding some thick tights, nice woolly cardigans and a hat, makes it totally feasible!


Freya May

p.s. feeling way too lazy to leave the house for outfit shots today.

Found on Pinterest #14

Source: moredesignplease.com via Freya on Pinterest

When I found this on Pinterest I knew it would be ideal for a DIY from one of David's old shirts I've stolen over the years.  In fact, when we went to see Coldplay in concert back in June I did this to his Viva La Vida concert shirt so that I, too, could look like a hard core fan :-)

I also did it with another random shirt to increase the number of vest tops I owned for the summer-

This is such an easy, no sew, project that I love!

I see many more of these in my future...

Freya May

Best thing's I've Ever Made (So Far...)

Four of the things I am most proud of making myself so far, so early in my handmade career.

1.

Dolls Scrap Quilt- so many mistakes in it, but I love it all the same.

2.

Dip Dye Shorts- Summer Fun!!

3.

I'm proud of all the dresses I've made, but, so far, this is probably my favourite!

4.

This Tea Cosy I designed by myself after checking out how other people did it, super proud of the construction and design of these.

So, there you have it, some of what I think are my best projects yet.  Stay tuned though, plenty more to come!

Freya May

xxx

Recipe: Amazing Rocky Road

Heya!

This rocky road recipe is a little bit of a mash-up between classic rocky road and tiffin, which I also adore!  It's the recipe I was raving about on Facebook last week, and trust me, you will love it and it's so easy!  You'll be able to whip it up in no time.

Ingredients

2 tbsp golden syrup
100g butter


300g plain chocolate

200g digestive biscuits
100g mini marshmallows
150g raisins

Step One:  Melt the chocolate, syrup and butter in a pan and stir until combined.  Put half the mixture to one side for later.

Step Two:  Bash up the biscuits until they are a good combination of large lumps and crumbs! Pop the biscuits, the marshmallows and the raisins in to the chocolate mixture left in the pan.

Step Three:  Pour the beautiful mix of chocolate, biscuits, fruit and marshmallows in to a tray, and flatten out with the back of a spoon.

Step Four:  Get the chocolate mixture you've put aside earlier and pour it on top of the biscuit mix so it creates a lovely topping.  Pop the tray in to the fridge for a few hours or overnight, and enjoy!

Makes about 12-16 bars.

Freya May

The Dressmaking Diaries Promotion

Hello!

This is the time for some shameless self promotion, sorry about that.

I just want to know, have you taken a look at my new blog 'The Dressmaking Diaries' yet?? Since I first told you about it, there is now some actual content on it, so do check it out!

It is literally a place where I can document my sewing projects, with a few tutorials thrown in for good measure.

I'm quite new to this dressmaking marlarky, so I'm basically starting from the beginning and throwing my self into the deep end- it would be nice to have some moral support in this!

Also, when my Masters kicks of in a week and a half, that is the blog I will be prioritizing, as I will be trying hard as I can not to stop sewing, but make time for it in my busy, mad life.

In conclusions- please start following me on that blog too, it will make my day!

Thank you,

Freya May

Found on Pinterest #13

Hey,

I'm working on setting myself up a proper sewing and work area in out flat, because currently I do all my sewing at the dining table and I don't have a study space either.  We do have the perfect space in our spare room, where the spare bed currently is.  So, the plan is to sell the bed (email me if you want it- black metal day bed, super cute!) and replace it with a nice large desk space where I can keep myself busy.

I know the desk I'm getting, but I want to make the whole space much more homely and creative, so I've scoured Pinterest and found some inspiration.

Source: craftomaniac.blogspot.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: everythingetsy.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: madeitonmonday.blogspot.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Freya on Pinterest

What I like about these spaces is the use of the walls to hang inspiration and art work, the colours are all bright and welcoming and they all show individual flair.

This is the kind of space I want to create for myself, so watch this space...

***UPDATE***
Read about how I've set up my new craft space HERE

Freya May

Thrifty Thursday Outfit Post

Top: Topshop, secondhand

Jeans: Newlook

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Hello!

This week I'm joining up with Coffee and Cardigans 'Thrifter Thursdays' to show of one of my awesome second hand  finds.

This top is by Kate Moss for Topshop, and I picked it up for about £3.50.  Love a good bargain.  It's been in my wardrobe for about six months, I bought it just before my Charity Shop Challenge in April, and I love it!  It so pretty (flowers are definitely my thing) and it was perfect for day to day and work too.

It's a pretty good top to remix with different outfits too, there are at lest 5 different skirts or trousers that work with it perfectly, I guess I'll have to show you at some point.

Click over to the linky party here and check out what other people have been lucky enough to find.

Found on Pinterest #12

Heya!

Following on from last weeks 'Found on Pinterest' I've decided what I really want to do with my embroidery is write inspirational, cute or biblical quotes to hang around the house.

Here is my short list, let me know what you think.

Source: etsy.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: ibibleverses.christianpost.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Freya on Pinterest

So, less of a short list than intended, but I've choosen one to go with for my first attempt, this one-

                    

Source: Uploaded by user via Freya on Pinterest

Lets be honest, I'd quite like to do them all, so I'll keep them as reminders of that, I'm just quite slow at stitching and I get distracted easily on to other projects.  More ideas than time- that's me.

I'll show you how I'm getting along with this later in the week.

Freya May

Thrifting on a Thursday

Heya!

Had a productive day yesterday, did my chores, worked on my latest dressmaking project, hung out with my Dad, went for a run, and went thrifting.

I picked up a couple of brillient finds in the charity shops, this lovely earring holder, for just one pound!

And a great addition to my tea set.  Again, a bargin for just £1.50p!  I've got a great set of china tea cups now, but I can't stop buying them when I find them so cheaply! Hay, maybe one day I'll have enough to rent out to weddings and things!

Freya May

Found on Pinterest #11

Hello,

This week I've been inspired to dust down my cross stitch equipment and have a go at some embroidery.  Unfortunately, I'm dreadfully slow at it, but I thought I'd share with you some of the beautiful projects from Pinterest that have encouraged this idea.

I would LOVE something like this in my home, and it would have to be home made, of course.

Source: whererosesbloom.wordpress.com via Freya on Pinterest

Isn't this the cutest? Totally can see this some where in my home.

Source: littleloveliesbyallison.com via Freya on Pinterest

I think this is a great idea to add interest and texture to a cushion- must do this! 

Source: translate.googleusercontent.com via Freya on Pinterest

So, many hours on Pinterest and some nice inspiration to come from it. Not too shabby.

Until next time,

Freya May

Back Again

Hey all!

So, the summer. Kinda left wondering if it really came at all... But none the less, I've been very very busy.  Too busy to keep up with blogging.

However,  I have decided, after my short break, two things. The first is that I wish to continue writing this blog.  I felt like I've missed it, so expect frequent posting from here out.

You might be wondering exactly what I've been doing to keep me so busy.  Well, here is the run down of our summer...

First, I went Blonde!

The went to a wedding (congrats to Mim and Eddie!!!)

Then it was Dave's last week of work, so I mooched around a lot.

Then Dave got his teaching qualification! Woop!

Then we went to see Handball at the Olympic Park in London (Awesome game, btw.)

Then we drove 6 hours to Cornwall to see two of our best friends get engaged! (and Dave scored best man duties, get in!)

Then we headed north, to Yorkshire, for another Friends wedding (Congrats to Becky and Luke!)

Then we went to Centre Parcs in Sherwood Forest for a romantic getaway, just the two of us (until the Thursday when we had my family visit for the day)

Then we went camping with a small group of friends in Derbyshire- beautiful, if a tad wet.  And a great walk in to Bakewell.

That weekend, we were meant to go to the Lake District to visit family, but the trip was cancelled (boo!) and we went bowling instead (yay!)

Then, we drove back down to London to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour!!!  Which was amarzing and I so want to go back!!

Finally, last weekend we went to Greenbelt in Cheltanham, and had an amazing, yet totally muddy, time.  Listening to music and thought provoking talks.  And just keeping calm and carrying on as the mud reached our ankles (Thank God for wellies!!!)

And here I am, after one heck of a summer, tired, happy and ready for the lot of challanges I have to face.

My masters starts in almost exactly one months time.

Am I ready for it? No! But will I be? You can bet your ass!

Now, you may be wondering what the other thing I have decided is going to be...

And I'm not a mean person, so I'll tell you right now... I'm starting a second blog!

The Dressmaking Diaries, to be exact.

Where I shall be documenting my dressmaking adventures and clothing based DIYs in the future.  I've come to the conclusion that I want my blogging to be more focused.  So, one for my day to day adventures and one for my favourite hobby seems sensible.

Now, if you have reached the end of this wordy and, some might say, boring post, I applaud you.

Love,

Freya May