Monday 24 December 2012

THE FIVE FILMS OF XMAS




Home Alone 1 & 2

I was tempted to just pick one for the list but I couldn't they are both perfect films. For any heltered human being out there the plot is as follows -. The story sees an eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) left home alone (and getting lost in New York alone) during Christmas time and having to fend off two dim witted burglars. If you haven't seen it is bound to be on during the festive season so give them a watch.






The Muppets Christmas Carol


I don't know anyone who doesn't think this film is brilliant. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol retold by the Muppets treatment; what's not to love? Michael Caine stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchet, while Gonzo and Rizo narrate the film as we meet many familiar Muppets along the way. And not forgetting some excellent songs; though the song 'When Love is Gone' is a real let down.






Scrooged

Another Dickens adaption, Scrooged sees Bill Murray's character  getting to grips with the ghosts of his past, present and future, only this time there’s a darker twist. The tale of Scrooged is moved to New York, where Murray plays a cynical television executive; slowly loosing all those that care about him and his own happiness, until he learns the true meaning of Christmas. I somehow missed this film for my whole childhood and only watched it on a train about 18 months ago. It really is a must watch if you haven't seen it.



Trading Places


Another film I hadn't seen till fairly recently. When two billionaire brothers have a one dollar wager about the respective merits that Nature vs Nurture has on a man's character, they decide to 'trade places' of one of their best and brightest employees(Dan Aykroyd) with that of a petty criminal (Eddie Murphy) sit back and watch the mayhem unfold. There is a satire on the behaviour of bannkers that is still revelvant in Christmas 2012 as it was Christmas 1983. All in all it is one of the finest films, starring SNL cast members and a masterpiece in John Landis' considerable back catalogue.


Jingle All The Way


I'll admit that this film gets a bad name; Schwarzenegger lacks comedy talent, the script is quite clunky and the premise is paper thin. But I loved it. It may have had something to do with the fact I must have been about 8 when I first watched this and Arnie was a hero of mine but really what's not to like?

Arnold plays Howard Langston, a workaholic dad who feels like he doesn't spend enough time with his son and decides to try to redeem himself, by granting his son's Christmas wish. He goes in search, on Christmas Eve no less, to find his son the must have  toy: the all-action, and completely sold out "Turbo Man".


It may be a bit of a turkey but it is Christmas after all.





BY CHRIS

Monday 17 December 2012

A (LITTLE) BIT OF SPARKLE


 Okay, I give in. Let's have some sparkle.

I know I said I'm trying to avoid the sequins and glitter this Christmas, but Dahlia do it in such a beautiful way, that actually, you could wear these pieces all year round. 


The muted and dark colours work wonderfully against the embellished sparkling collars and skirt edgings - much better than a lot of stuff you get, wear once, then realise once it hits January you'll look slightly ridiculous in a massive red sequin bow dress. But, having said that I'm tempted by the Zig Zag Sequin Tube skirt... at least it's not red.





Head on over to Dahlia's Facebook page now for your chance to win an accessory of your choice, a garment of your choice and goodie bag!


BY FERN

Saturday 15 December 2012

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY VEGAN CHRISTMAS!

The Christmas season is finally upon us. A time where we’re filling our diaries with various parties and work dos so we can finally let loose and eat, drink and be merry. But it is also a time that strikes fear in the hearts of vegans everywhere, as they approach the buffet table only to find their meagre offerings of a lone tub of hummus and some limp looking carrots hidden amongst the otherwise carnivorous feast.

 But help is here! The great thing about vegan food is anyone can enjoy them*, so I’m going to show you three easy recipes that should keep your veggie and vegan friends smiling over the next few weeks.

  

SAUSAGELESS ROLLS
– Makes 8
(Recipe can easily be doubled up to make more)

 




The sausage roll is the staple of any British buffet table and with a couple of simple substitutions I’m going to show you how easy it is to make it vegan friendly whilst still tasting great. 



2 partially defrosted Linda McCartney sausages (I used the rosemary and red onion ones but the normal ones work just the same) 


1/2 pack of jus-roll puff pastry
Dairy free butter (melted) 








1. Take your puff pastry and cut it a little less than half so there’s roughly 1 inch left when folded – you can place your sausages in the pastry and fold before cutting to get a more accurate measurement


2. Take your partially defrosted sausages and place them in the pastry
 
3. Heat dairy free butter in microwave (roughly 1 tablespoon), careful so not to burn, and brush on the edge of the pastry so it seals
 
4. Fold and press edges with a fork then spread all over the top with remaining melted dairy free butter
 5. Cut into 8 and place in oven for 20 minutes, at 200 degrees Celsius (fan oven)



Enjoy hot or cold!


 



EASY PEASY CANAPES 
 – Makes 15 of each
(Recipe can easily be doubled up to make more) 






With these canapés you can pretty much use your imagination. I’ve chosen these two combinations that couldn’t be easier and are a burst of flavour in one little bite. 

 

1/2 pack of jus-roll pastry


Roughly 4 Cherry tomatoes (number varies depending on size) 

English mustard (I used a squeezy bottle for ease)
 
1 red pepper
tomato puree
 
1 bulb garlic
 
1 tub dairy free butter

 

For the canapés cut half a pack of ready rolled puff pastry into 30 squares, it doesn’t matter if they’re uneven as it gives them more of a homemade look!

 


 Tomato and mustard canapés 

1. Take 15 squares of pastry and put a blob of mustard in the middle, leaving a bit around the edge


2. Slice your cherry tomatoes into roughly ¼ inch circles and place on top of mustard


3. Spread melted dairy free butter around the edges (I had some left over from the sausageless rolls so used that)


4. Place in the oven for 15 mins or until golden at 200 degrees Celsius (fan oven)



Red pepper and tomato canapés 

For this use the remaining 15 squares of pastry 

1. Mix roughly a tablespoon and a half of tomato puree with 1 crushed garlic bulb and then place them on the pastry as with the mustard in the above recipe 

2. Chop your red pepper in little squares, around ¼ in size, and put two pieces on each canapé. 
3. Spread some melted dairy free butter around the edges
4. Place in the oven for 15 mins or until golden 200 degrees Celsius (fan oven) 

MEDITERRANEAN COUS COUS SALAD
– Makes 1 large tub 


Instead of the boring traditional salad of lettuce, cucumber and tomato, why not try something a little different? This salad is super healthy and delicious and will add an extra little something to your buffet table. 

200g Couscous


400ml boiling vegetable stock

1 courgette

1 red pepper

½ tub cherry tomatoes

1 aubergine (I was unable to get an aubergine so I replaced with another courgette)

1 red onion (I hate red onion so I left it out, but it does add more flavour)

1 lemon
Olive oil, or olive oil spray 
 



1. Chop up all your veg into bite sized pieces and put on a baking tray. Drizzle them in olive oil, or olive oil spray for a healthy option and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pop in the oven for 30 mins at 200 degrees Celsius (fan oven). 

2. Whilst your veg is cooking place couscous in your tub or bowl and cover in the boiling vegetable stock. 
3. After 5 minutes the couscous should have absorbed all the water. Squeeze your lemon juice over the couscous, mix and leave to sit. 
4. Once your veg is done mix it into the couscous and add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy cold or can be heated up for a warm salad. 





Remember there are a few simple things you can do to help out your vegan friends this festive season: 

 • Try using egg free mayonnaise for things such as potato salads, or non-dairy butter for sandwiches and cooking. Dairy free products are easily available from most supermarkets and health food stores, but you still need to double check as these are usually aimed at those with a dairy allergy.
 • If using pesto in any of your recipes you’ll need to check that they don’t contain any hidden animal products like rennet. If you’re catering for vegetarians you’ll also need to check your cheese. 
 •Make sure you keep any food containing animal products on separate plates and label your vegan food clearly to let your animal loving friends know how much you care!




* Dietary restrictions permitting.

BY JENNI

Friday 14 December 2012

TWENTY-SEVEN NAMES




I've been aware of label Twenty-Seven Names for some time now, but I've only recently looked properly at their clothes, and I am in love.

They look to have summer garden parties in mind, and to me, seem reminiscent of childhood dresses I used to have, and never appreciated, but now wish existed in my size. Oddly enough though I bet they'd look equally amazing on a cold Christmas night. I don't think I'd even want to pair them with thick wooly tights, just brave it with a cosy coat and a pair of boots.







BY FERN

Thursday 13 December 2012

DIY: CHRISTMAS WRAPPING

I love Christmas more than is probably healthy for a 20 year old, and preparations usually start at some point in October (even with restraint). I always seem to be stuck with the dilemma of either tacky and overbearing wrapping paper or paying loads for a tiny bit of the cute stuff, so I thought I’d have a go at sorting some myself this year. As well as being cheaper, you can suit it better to the person who’s receiving the gift and it shows that you’ve put an extra bit of thought and care in to the process. The ones I’ve tried use things that I already had lying around the house and a cheap roll of parcel paper, and I managed to do them on my bedroom floor in pyjamas after a super busy weekend, so there’s hope for us all.
 The first takes advantage of the life lesson learnt in primary school; folding paper and cutting bits out of it. As well as using layers like this, I’m sure it’d look nice with different colours introduced. Red, gold or black would all work well with the parcel paper. The design could be changed too, maybe using a string of little ginger bread men or Christmas trees?



This one is just plain paper and a fancy pen. I had one of those silver markers, but things like Christmas trees in green glitter pens could be sweet too.
 
This last one has been done by sewing the design directly on to the paper. Admittedly, it would be tons better if I’d used a sewing machine, but mine is at home while I’m at uni so I’m quite limited. The parcel paper doesn’t tear too easily though, and it’s thick enough to handle a bit roughly when needed so the lack of sewing machine isn’t too much of an issue. My biggest tip would be to cellotape the ends and any loose bits underneath to make sure that they don’t catch or pull through the holes in the paper.
 
I’ve just used a snowflake in each so that you can see the technique clearly, but obviously they’re each open to a load of different ideas. I like them because they’re so versatile and easy, so there’s plenty of basis to build on. If you’re giving a few different things to one person, you could use variations on each gift so that they still have a theme but work together. Adding complimentary gift tags could also improve these. If nothing else, these definitely seem like they’d be useful when you realise you’ve run out of paper on the 24th.
BY OLIVIA

DIY: GLITTER FEATHER GARLAND



Well, I don’t know about you, but I LOVE Christmas. There’s something about fairy lights and log fires and Christmas carols that I just can’t help but be drawn into. One of the reasons I have such an ardent love for Christmas is that you can get away with glitter on anything and everything!
So first I gathered all my feathers – goose and duck feathers. These should be available from your local haberdasher, or failing that, online. Make sure the feathers you’re using are well defined – the fluffy ones won’t work very well for this craft as they’ll lose their shape when you put the glue on them.
Once you’ve got your feathers, find your PVA glue and use a soft brush to coat half (from halfway along to the tip) of your feather in glue. Turn the feather over and coat the other side - it doesn’t matter if the sides are a little uneven, it adds to the look!


Now for the best part; glitter! It helps if you’ve put your glitter on a flattish surface – I put mine in an old saucer. Then just gently pull the glued parts of the feather through the glitter, making sure there’s a good coating on it. Turn it over and pull the other side through. Then set your feather somewhere to dry while you make as many more as you want!
Once you are happy with how many glittered feathers you have, it’s time to get your jute twine out! Or your baker twine. Or your string. Whatever you want really! Space your feathers along your twine to check how it looks, then start tying them on. I used a simple knot and this seemed to hold mine fine, they’re still going strong. However, if you feel you need something more, a dot of superglue or hot glue on your feather as you’re knotting it should be all that you need.


Yay! Now you can hang up your garland. It can go anywhere; on your tree, on your wall, wherever you want! And as it’s not uber Christmassy, it can stay up all year round.


BY JENNY

Wednesday 12 December 2012

CLOTHED FOR WINTER

I usually find dressing for Christmas challenging. I sit for hours browsing the internet, looking at beautiful dresses but then give up because I'm always scared I'll end up looking like a Christmas tree decoration. For some reason, just because the Festive season hits we're bombarded with vast arrays of sequins, glitter and copious amounts of green and red - I don't want something I'm limited to wearing for one week in an entire year!

So, I decided to steer clear of the 'party' sections, stick to more everyday dresses and, instead, give a little bit of 'Christmas' with bags and shoes.








BY FERN

Tuesday 11 December 2012

WHO'S A DIRTY GIRL THEN?

Box of Treats, Debenhams, £20

I very rarely venture into the big, expensive department stores in the  large shopping centres. However, after being given a task from my Mum to  find a Christmas present suitable for my thirteen-year-old cousin, I  decided that it was time I bought her a more impressive ‘grown up’  gift. I was instructed to buy either make-up or nail varnish - something along those lines. I don't have a problem with her wearing  make up at age thirteen; this is the age I began harmlessly  experimenting with mascara and eye shadow, and attempting to cover up my ever-worsening acne with foundation. It is evident that  wearing make up from such a young age can stem from insecurities and  outside pressures; however, I believe it can also be seen as a suitable  and acceptable form of self-expression. With this in mind, I set my sights on choosing a gift that was fun, young,  good quality and, above all, appropriate. 




I began searching through 
several of these department stores but I found many, if not all, of the 
make-up related items to be far too serious looking and 
realistically aimed at adult women.

I came across a small section in one store, which was full of bright 
colours and loud patterns: pinks, purples, turquoise, polka dots, cute 
ribbons, bows and cupcakes! Everything was beautifully presented and, 
judging by the price, was of a reasonable quality. Finally! Alas, no. On closer 
inspection, one of these pretty looking collections, seemingly aimed at 
teenage girls, was labeled ‘Floozie’. Definitions of the word ‘floozie’ include,

‘A gaudily dressed, usually immoral woman... a prostitute’, ‘A woman who has a lot of sexual relationships, or who wears clothes 
that attract sexual attention in a way that is too obvious’. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but no woman, regardless of age, would 
want to be described as ‘immoral’ or a ‘prostitute’ in response to her 
sexual endeavors, and whose place is it to tell her that this may be 
the case, especially on the side of a wash bag? My point here is that 
firstly these products that appear to be sweet and cute are advertently labelling their buyers as sexual fiends who don’t know right from wrong. 
Secondly, while this may be considered appropriate for women over the 
age of eighteen, who understand the word’s ridiculous connotations, 
this is definitely not deemed appropriate for pre-teen/teenage girls 
who may find the packaging cute and appealing, in the same way they 
would find One ‘you don’t know you’re beautiful so we’re playing on 
your insecurities’ Direction cute and appealing.

In this same department store, another vintage-inspired 
collection of make up and toiletries had phrases such as “Who’s a dirty 
girl then?’ and ‘Hey, let’s get nailed!’ plastered across boxes and 
cases. Admittedly, this collection from first viewing seemed to be 
aimed at an older audience of women. As a young feminist woman I found 
that after reading these seedy, unnecessary phrases I didn't want to buy one of their products, I wanted to go home and take a long bath to feel clean 
again, but maybe that’s the point? 


Floozie clasp wash bag, Debenhams, £15

After recently reading Ariel Levy’s Female Chauvinist Pigs, it has been 
brought to my attention that Playboy are also to blame for targeting 
young girls, with rabbit head infested products such as single bed covers and pencil cases*.
 

So, after all that, what did I get? I marched to Boots, and found exactly what I was looking for. I 
chose ‘17 Nail Clash Complete Collection’, a neat nail art set filled 
with a variety of nail varnish, a nail art pen, nail gems and patterned 
nail covers. At only £20 I felt that this neat, 
sophisticatedly put-together set was not only appropriate for a 
thirteen-year-old girl, but also that it would inspire creativity and 
self-expression, encouraging my cousin to carry out such routines as 
painting her nails to make herself, and no one else, happy and 
comfortable.

17 Nail Clash Complete Collection, Boots, £20

*To learn more about this issue, please visit  Bin The Bunny, an active campaign against Playboy.






BY ANNA

Monday 10 December 2012

HOW BEING SKINT REALLY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION...

Handmade, vintage and bespoke has always been a passion of mine and after being made redundant this year I was forced to get creative and make my own when it came to gifts, specifically Christmas gifts!

Raiding the fridge, the sewing kit and the jewellery box have proved not only money saving, but fun too!

I was never the type to just give one gift to someone – so I hit upon the idea of a little care package for my nearest and dearest. 

This way I could batch make all my gifts and save some time!

At Christmas time people like to eat, drink and be merry – so I decided to make some christmas cookies, some flavoured vodka, and a suitably themed mixtape which I don't need to tell anyone how to make!

SPICED CHRISTMAS COOKIES




225 grams softened unsalted butter (you can use salted, but leave out the tsp of salt if you do)
180 g icing sugar 
420g plain flour
1 egg (whisked in a small bowl)
2 tsp vanilla or almond extract
1 teaspoon salt 
2 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon



It's a little messier because of the icing sugar(most cookie recipes use caster) but it won't spread very much(which means it will keep its shape) and it's got a lovely texture!

In a large bowl, cream the sugar and butter together then add the wet ingredients (egg and flavouring) until combined.

In another bowl – mix all the dry ingredients together then mix them in with the wet ingredients a wee bit at a time until everything is combined. 

The dough should be dry to the touch(kind of like playdough). The first time I made them it wouldn't combine all the dry ingredients – so I added a half teaspoon of water at a time until it all binded together.

Leave it to rest for 10-15 minutes – use this time to clean up your worktops so you can roll out the dough!

I made the mistake of chilling the dough for a couple of hours the first time I made it. It ended up getting really greasy when I rolled it out and the cookies lost their shape completely. This dough is pretty much ready to go when you make it!

Cut your greaseproof paper to the size of your cookie sheet or baking tray – I like to cut a couple so I can lay them all out and bake one batch after the other. Every baker has their own way of doing things!

I used Christmas Tree and Star cutters for my cookies – it's always worth heading down to your local pound shop or supermarket as they always have seasonal baking equipment for super cheap – and once you have them, you can use them over and over.

Roll your dough to about a half centimetre thick and cut as many cookies as you want or need. 

Bake for no more than 10 minutes at 180 degrees. 

Makes about 24 medium sized cookies!







If you want to use these as tree decorations, while your cookies are still warm cut a small circular hole near the top of your cookie and then let them cool.


I didn't decorate mine, but you can decorate them with royal icing!

I use the royal icing recipe from Sweetopia – it's foolproof and really easy to make.

Divide your icing by the amount of colours you want to use, and then set aside some icing to outline your cookie – and thin out the rest using a little bit of water at a time to get the required consistency.

Fill a piping bag with the thicker icing, and using a nozzle with a small rounded tip (I use a Wilton #2) – outline your cookie. Do this by squeezing the icing out so you are almost dropping the icing onto the cookie.

Once this has dried, use your thinner icing to 'flood' the cookie. Fill another piping bag with the icing, and using the same size nozzle, fill the area but not too much or you will overflow. I like to fill it with a gap between the thinner icing and the outline, then gently tap or shake  the cookie so the icing fills up the blank area.

If you want to put dragees(sugar balls) or hundreds and thousands on to embellish it, wait 10-20 minutes so that they don't sink into the royal icing.

Let the cookies dry for at least four hours. If you are giving them away as gifts I recommend letting them sit until the same time the next day. 

You can package them in sellophane bags, or in a tissue paper filled tin. You can also turn them into cookie pops by sticking a lolly stick into the bottom while they are still warm!



SPICED VODKA

Years ago I was introduced to flavoured vodka by an old flatmate of mine from Sweden.

It's really REALLY easy to make and the only real expense is buying a decent vodka. It does take some time though – so make sure you have at least 2 weeks before Christmas to make it!

You can use spices, or fruit – or even sweets to make a really inexpensive and thoughtful gift.

I decided to make pear and cinnamon vodkas as these were in my kitchen at the time. However there are lots of flavour combinations out there you can experiment with – it's just a matter of looking in your kitchen cupboards!

You will need:

1 litre of vodka per batch(preferably smirnoff or something similar. Cheap vodka overpowers the flavouring.)

4 Pears for the fruit vodka

10 cinnamon sticks for the cinnamon vodka

Glass Jars/bottles 






For the Pear Vodka:


Skin and core the pears – making sure there are no seeds or seed husks.

Divided the chopped pears between your jars/bottles(I used 5 regular sized jam jars) and fill to the top with vodka.

Seal with the lid, and leave to infuse for a week in a dark place(back of a cupboard works well). Stir once every couple of days.





For the Cinnamon Vodka:

Stick 2 – 4 cinnamon sticks in a jar/bottle.

Fill to the top with vodka and leave in the back of a cupboard for 2 weeks.

You can either present them in the jars with ribbon and labels, or get some small bottles from Lakeland or Ebay. 



BY JULIE


HELLO FROM...



What do you do?
I recently graduated with a degree in Illustration, and have just moved out of London back to Yorkshire to save, save and save.
How would you describe your style?
I do like to mix old with new, and I have a penchant for expensive dresses that I only seem to wear once but I know I'll love them forever. 
Where do you get your inspiration?
Music always inspires me - from Atari Teenage Riot through to Neil Diamond - I like it a lot.
What do you love to do?
The cinema is my favourite place in the world. I'm also forcing myself into learning to crochet as knitting just defeats me every time.
Any favourite books/films?
The Sound of Music is my all-time favourite. But, on a slightly less embarrassing note, Wayne's World comes a very close second. Irvine Welsh's Filth is the most incredible book I've ever read.
One item you couldn't live without:
My iPhone - IT HAS EVERYTHING.








What do you do? 
I am a third year Fine Art student studying at De Montfort University 
in Leicester. 


How would you describe your style? 

 I love anything vintage and things that look old or beaten up. Audrey 
Kitching and Porcelain Black are my current fashion inspirations. 


Where do you get your inspiration? 

Tumblr is a great place to find inspiration. I follow many Riot Grrrl 
and feminist blogs which help to connect like-minded females throughout 
the internet. I also draw inspiration from women such as Kathleen Hanna 
and Amy Poehler. 


What do you love to do? 

Apart from studying Fine Art and feminist issues, I find cooking and 
baking are great ways to relax and I am also very passionate about 
films, particularly the horror genre. 

  
Any favourite books/films? 

 Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof is probably one of my favourite films. 
I also love Night of the Living Dead and The Bride of Frankenstein. I 
am currently reading Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy. 

  
One item you couldn't live without: 

 My Macbook!





What do you do?
I slice ham for money; yet I don't eat meat.

How would you describe your style?
Both trendy and sustainable.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Andy Zaltzman's pun runs.

What do you love to do?
Watch films

Any favourite books/films?
Back to the Future and Bukowski

One item you couldn't live without: 
A kettle?










What do you do?
I’m a third year history student currently living in Lincoln, and at weekends I work in Debenhams selling knickers.

How would you describe your style?
My style is mainly has a 1960s feel, although I sometimes like mix it up a bit.

Where do you get your inspiration?
With recipes I enjoy reading, different recipes and altering them into something more healthy and veg*n friendly. Day to day I spend too much time on Tumblr gathering inspiration and ideas from a variety of blogs.

What do you love to do?
I’d like to say something really interesting or deep, but in reality any free time I get between Uni and work is usually spent in bed watching Breaking Bad whilst eating subway, or listening to Bon Iver in my pants.

Any favourite books/films?
I enjoy so many it’s difficult to choose, but if I had to recommend to a friend it’d be Candy by Luke Davies, and True Romance.

One item you couldn't live without:
My vintage 60s suitcase filled with photographs and memories, is that cheating?



What do you do?
At the moment, a lot of different things! In between training to become a teaching assistant, and part time waitressing, I am crafting, crafting, crafting!
How would you describe your style? 
I would describe my style as eclectic, colourful, and playful, with a vintage twist.
Where do you get your inspiration? 
All sorts of places! Pinterest is a big one, but I find as well that creativity produces creativity – as in the more I make, the more ideas I have. Looking at what other people have done inspires me as well.
What do you love to do?
 I love to craft, mainly! I am a bit of a flitter – rather than stick to one craft I flit from craft to craft. At the moment I am in love with crochet and sewing. I also love chilling out with my favourite people in the world – my family and friends.
Any favourite books/films? 
My all time favourite film is A Little Princess. My parents gave me it for Christmas when I was seven, and I’ve loved it ever since. It never fails to bring me to tears. Oh and my favourite book would have to be Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, it’s an absolutely beautiful story of hope and love.
One item you couldn't live without: 
Apart from my phone (which isn’t very original, I know), I don’t think I could live without Janet, my sewing machine. She can be a little temperamental at times, but overall we have a good relationship! She’s an old machine from my high school, my textiles teacher gave her to me. She’s been on my whole sewing journey since the age of 15!






What do you do?
Ex Media-type with plans to take over the world using cake...
How would you describe your style?
One MASSIVE contradiction. One day rocking the all black look, the next vintaged up to the eyeballs. Sometimes that crosses over - not always entirely successfully...
Where do you get your inspiration?
The people in my life, the places I have travelled to, sometimes even the books I have read!
What do you love to do?
Disappear into the kitchen and experiment! That and disappear under the duvet...
Any favourite books/films?
LOVE Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist despite being entirely too old to be seen watching it.
One item you couldn't live without:
It's actually the one item I don't have! A stand mixer.

What do you do? 
I’m a third year psychology student and I work at Miss Selfridge. Other than that I’m usually just in the bath or something rubbish.
How would you describe your style?  
There’s never really a strong theme to most of what I do but I definitely tend to go for cute things and polka dots.
Where do you get your inspiration? 
I nosey through DIY craft blogs and tumblr quite a lot and pick up ideas and try and mush together.
What do you love to do?  
I like baking when I get chance, and making playlists.
Any favourite books/films?  
I mostly stick to comic books but The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly is a favourite and I have a soft spot for Lord of the Rings.
One item you couldn't live without:  
My hairbrush, I’m a bit protective about my hair.