A VINTAGE FAIR

Finally! Richmond has caught up and is holding a Vintage Fair this coming Tuesday. If you're around you should definitely pop in to take a look - I'm (hopefully) helping out on the Oxfam stall, and there are some beautiful dresses from us in particular.

FERN

HIT-GIRL

After recently viewing the 2011 drama film Hick, I have been gripped by a new young actress by the name of Chloe Grace Moretz. Admittedly, being born with a face like that does lend you certain advantages as an actress, however it is this young girl’s choice of films that strikes me as alarmingly appealing. At first I didn’t tie it all together, but then it all comes flooding back! Yes! She played Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass (2010), infamously making use of the c word at – shock, horror - thirteen years old. Hick was equally as provocative for a young actress, however it addressed some major issues such as teenage runaways, rape, emotional and physical abuse, which I haven’t seen done in such a credible, uncomfortably honest way since Evan Rachel Wood’s 2003 performance in Thirteen.

Moretz is most definitely one to watch out for, and I am especially looking forward to her upcoming portrayal of Carrie this year alongside Julianne Moore; but can she stand up to Sissy Spacek’s classic 1976 character? I believe Moretz will bring a whole new dimension to the role, with the perfect mix of innocence and femme fatale.

ANNA

Captions - Carrie (2013)...Kick-Ass (2010)...Hick (2011)

SOME NEW OLD THINGS

So, I can't stop buying things from charity shops. I started volunteering at the Oxfam shop in town a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I get an absolute thrill rifling through old objects and stumbling across something I fall in love with - and as you can see, I've had a bit of luck of late.

Hopefully they'll all fit nicely in my room once/if it ever gets decorated, as right now they've all taken up residence on the floor, in a corner. As for the Womble pillowcases (pictured on the chair) I'm not really sure. I have a feeling they might be going back in my cupboard for a while!

NB The smaller, floral mirror is actually Matthew Williamson for Debenhams, not second hand, but I couldn't resist.

FERN

DEPRESSED CAKE SHOP PT 2

The last time I wrote about baking – it was about The Depressed Cake Shop.

It's going to be launched in July, and I am glad to say I will definitely be a part of it.

My love of baking and having a chance to work with Miss Cakehead and Eat Your Heart Out seemed to be ample reason to be involved with the project – but recently, my reasons became that much more personal.

I hadn't heard from a dear friend in about a month. We had only ever spoken online, as our mutual condition (Aspergers) kept us both too scared to meet in case it all went weird. But we were friends.

We spoke nearly every day for 6 years. In many ways he knew me better than a lot of people as I knew him in the same way.

When he disappeared, I searched for a way to contact him. Luckily I remembered what his mother did for a living, and her name. Google did the rest.

I emailed her and waited. Then the email came back asking me for my number.

The next day, her fiance called me – Ryan had passed away a month ago.

I was completely devastated, and have been grieving ever since.

His mum called me the other night, asking how I was and to apologise for not calling to tell me herself the first time. She was glad that someone cared enough about him to try and find out if he was okay.

He didn't have any friends offline, which saddened me even more.

It's been really hard getting up every day. It's been harder to get to sleep. I see lots of things that Ryan would love in my day to day – things that I want to go online and share with him.

But I can't.

He struggled a lot with anxiety and depression. His ASD meant that he found it difficult to engage with people, and be outside in the world without support.

However he was a great person. He loved the country Finland (and the hot chicks from their native metal bands), he loved to talk about politics and religion (hated both), he had a weakness for the cute and weird videos on youtube (we used to try and one up each other with them), and he loved a good bit of cake.

If it wasn't for him, I would have never had the courage to go and seek my own diagnosis of Aspergers. He changed my life forever.

That's not the sum of who he was, or is to me – I loved him for everything that made him, him.

So it's that much more important that I help raise awareness of mental health by taking part in The Depressed Cake Shop.

It's also that much more important to talk about depression, anxiety and mental health openly. Everyone is affected by it one way or another, and it's high time we started supporting each other.

JULIE

GRANNY CHIC

This week I’m going to write a review of one of my favourite books of the moment, Granny Chic. I got this book for Christmas (Christmas did seem to bring a lot of craftspiration!), and I have been in love with it since. Rachelle of Ted and Agnes and Tif of Dottie Angel explain things simply and clearly, and it is so easy to dive in and just revel in the prettiness. This is just the kind of book I like, with instructions on various projects that leave plenty of room for you to create something unique and in your own style, and lots and lots of beautiful and inspirational photos. I don’t know how you feel, but personally I am not a fan of very prescribed project books – I prefer inspiration and then doing something with it! Tif and Rachelle leave plenty of room for you to add your own ideas, and well as inspiring you with their own style.

Currently, I am working on two projects from the book – the granny puff blanket, and an upcycled lampshade. There was a slight issue with the blanket pattern due to a small misprint, but you can get the correct details from Rachelle’s blog and after that, there was no bother! My blanket seems to be growing quite quickly, and I can’t wait to get it all finished and snuggle down under it.

The upcycled lampshade is a little experiment for me. I found a small lampshade for 99p in a charity shop and I thought it just had to be done! So, following Tif and Rachelle’s instructions, I ripped everything off it, dug around to find some vintage lace, emptied my stash of ribbons and goodies, and set to work! This lampshade is unfinished at the moment, but I so am looking forward to hanging it up. I decided to put lots of hints of glitter in it, as even though I won’t be using it as a lampshade, I want it to catch the light and play with it.

If you’re into crafting or upcycling or prettifying, or even just know someone who is, I would so recommend this book! It’s the perfect gift for a someone who can’t stop creating, and it is guaranteed to unblock a creative blockage.

JENNY

MES DAMES SS13

It's not feeling much like March here in the UK. Not that the weather is usually something we can rely on in England, but Spring has been particularly cold so far. What makes it even worse is the fact that this time last year we were having a warm spell, hitting temperatures in the mid 20s. I've had to keep myself excited for the warm weather by browsing lookbooks, and Mes Dames SS13 collection is doing the job perfectly.

Balancing warm yellows and purples against more pale hues, Mes Dames' newest offerings, and in particular, their lookbook, seem to personify Spring. I particularly love the lady-like bows and pretty pencil skirts. And, weirdly enough, each piece stands out without being too obvious. Perhaps because everything about the collection is so stunningly simple.

FERN

GEORGIA GRACE GIBSON

“My idea was, instead of a ‘dinner party’, to create a ‘cook book’- including cakes resembling lady parts and women eating them. The purpose of this is to lessen the fear of ‘weird’ looking genitals and the idea of hiding your body away and being afraid of it- not unlike the way women are told to hide their bodies to prevent rape.”

I came across Georgia Grace Gibson’s artwork not very long ago, and at first glance I had the impression that she was a, much older, professional artist. After reading about just how young she is (approx. 18 years old) I was not only shocked but also extremely relieved that a young woman was dealing with such relevant and important issues within her work. However, there is really no reason to underestimate teenagers today, when in fact I deal with more sexism and outright revolting behaviour from people over forty.

Inspired by Judy Chicago’s 1979 installation The Dinner Party, these works in particular grabbed me because of how visceral and completely gorgeous they are aesthetically, as well the fact that they hold such a positive message. Body image issues are more relevant today than ever, and most definitely affect men just as much as women. However, though initially these photographs appear to concentrate on positive body image, you begin to pick up on many other themes; women creating (baking) vaginas, women creating (decorating) the form of vaginas, and finally women eating vaginas. The work screams power, energy and vitality. They urge you to be who you are, and not who you are told to be. Also, we taste great!

ANNA

KAT VON D

“Makeup is part of my daily routine. It’s the time in my mornings when I can concentrate on me, and me alone. Giving yourself this kind of attention is so important - and is something that is definitely glossed over by too many women.”

Kat Von D has been a massive inspiration for me over the last few years. For me, she is the epitome of a strong, empowered woman. Yes, as a feminist, I guess we do throw the word ‘empowerment’ around quite a bit, but in this case, it is one hundred percent true. Even if you are not a fan of her many, many tattoos (which arguably made her famous in the first place), or her extraordinarily Goth-chic fashion choices, you can appreciate her force and determination to be the best at what she does, whilst being unapologetically kind and loving in the process. She carries a certain charm and dorky sensibility that allows her to connect so closely with her followers, making her equally relatable and respectable.

ANNA

ASHLIE CHAVEZ

Within my own illustrations I've always enjoyed using blocks of printed colours and collage, but I've never really been that keen on total collages, until now. Collages, to me, or at least the ones I've seen, always seem a bit higgledy piggledy - that is I can't often work out what they're trying to say or interpret, but with Ashlie Chavez it seems to make sense.

The compositions are stunning, and the use of more muted colours gives it an old fashioned, almost cute feel - often juxtaposed with a T-rex or a shark baring their teeth.

FERN

GARDEN GALA

It's really weird, I have no intention of getting married, but I absolutely love pouring over photographs from other people's beautiful weddings - even when I have no idea who they are. Brooke Johnston's wedding photos are probably some of my favourites; I've never seen such a fresh colour palette - usually it's pinks and purples and blues - yellow is something that, in my head, would leave me feeling a bit nervous, but actually it works marvellously well. And that wedding dress is to die for.

 

-FERN

HELP A SISTER OUT

This week (4th – 10th March) is Endometriosis UK Awareness Week. I have only recently become aware of exactly what Endometriosis is, and I believe that it’s important to spread the word so that women everywhere are more educated about the condition and its symptoms.

Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. During your monthly cycle your hormones stimulate the endometriosis, causing it to grow, then break down and bleed. This internal bleeding, unlike a period, has no way of leaving the body. This leads to inflammation, pain, and the formation of scar tissue (adhesions).

COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

Painful, heavy, or irregular periods
Pain during or after sex
Infertility
Problems on opening bowels
Fatigue

This is a very vicious and nasty condition, which is very difficult to live with and can affect all areas of a woman’s life. One of the best ways to help women in this position and to get the word out to others is to hold a fundraising event in your area. For example, I am holding a bake sale at my University as part of the De Montfort University Feminist Society (18th March, DMU Student Union, Leicester, 11am). You can hold just about any kind of event, as a group or individually; you just need to download the fundraising form from the Endometriosis UK website, or alternatively if you are short of time, donate money directly via the website. After sending off your form, you will receive all sorts of bits and pieces aimed to make your fundraising as successful as possible, such as posters, flyers, a collection box and a t-shirt.

HOLD YOUR OWN FUNDRAISING EVENT AND DOWNLOAD THE FORM NOW.

Helpline: 0808 808 2227

-ANNA

THE LOVED ONE

Founded by Elvia Lahman and Hannah Metz, The Loved One brings us beautiful vintage style lingerie, and one-off vintage dresses. Seductively innocent, each piece of lingerie is beyond feminine; styled in a way that seems to hark back to the 1950s, via a short stop to the 70s.

I know warm weather is a long way off, and you can't exactly walk about in your underwear, but it's The Loved Ones's styling and photoshoots that are currently making me that little bit more excited about the Spring.

-FERN

DIY TSHIRT

This is a little project I tried myself this week – it’s not really a tutorial, but hopefully you’ll read it and be inspired!

Last summer I bought a t-shirt from New Look that was a bit of an impulse buy in the sales. I think I got it for about £3 as it had a tiny hole in the back. It was a few sizes too big but I thought it was cute so bought it anyway, and then never wore it as it was too big. Little did I know it had just been waiting for the right moment and idea!

 I decided I was going to make it fit me a little better, so I bought some lovely crochet lace. I dyed the t-shirt and lace grey, but forgot to take a photo before I dyed them. I used Dylon hand dye in Antique Grey. My plan was to insert the lace in the sides after cutting out some of the excess fabric. I also wanted to disguise the hole in the back.

First, to disguise the hole in the back of the t-shirt, I pinned and sewed a strip of lace on the back of the t-shirt, making sure it went over the hole. After sewing the lace on, I cut out the fabric from behind it to create a see-through effect. This technique is called reverse appliqué.

Then to get to the resizing. I put the t-shirt on and marked down the sides, where it was too big. I took it off and then cut all of this fabric off. I went all the way from the end of the sleeves to the bottom of the top in one cut as the sleeves were too big as well. I pinned the lace along the gaps and sewed it in place.

 
This is what the back of my top looked like at this point.

And the last thing I did was to cut off the sleeves halfway and then fold them up. I hand sewed them in place with running stitch, because I hate that feeling when your rolled up sleeves are all messed up.

Yay! A reconstructed and almost totally different tshirt! Throughout my tshirt I used a contrasting cotton thread, and I didn’t try to hide my seams. Instead, I made a feature of them, as I wanted to contribute to that deconstructed feel.

There really are so many different things you can do with all that old stuff you have in your wardrobe – clothes that don’t fit anymore, or that have holes in. Customising a piece of clothing well really does put that extra spring in your step!

-JENNY