PORRIDGE N PICKLES OFFICIAL BLOG

So the other day I was sat with my mama while she was crocheting some small flowers but she was complaining that even though she enjoyed making them, she wasn't quite sure what to do with them. With that, I had an idea! Why not attach them by a few of their corners? That way, you could then make a vest overlay out of them, perfect for the summer months. So that's where we are at now.. Not quite finished yet, so I have some photos for you of the stage we are working on. I'll let you know when it's done!



All images were taken using my iPad and edited using the Afterlight app.


P.s - i'm still unwell with the flu.... :(

I recently found a large piece of fabric lying around that I thought i'd used up a while ago. With it, I decided to attempt make a basic top. The pattern I used can be found here (and it's free). I've never tried to sew a top before, i've made skirts, cushion covers, quilts, bags etc. but never a top. I've also actually never sewn from a pre made pattern before; I normally just measure, draw, cut and hope for the best (I know, i'm such a cowboy) so this was a bit of a learning curve. I'm here today though, to show you the final piece and let me tell you, it wasn't easy getting here (no matter how basic the pattern claims to be)!
It's still not perfect. I can't seem to get the right busty line thing (i'm sorry, I have no idea what it is actually called) to lie flat. I have undone it and re-sewn it in different ways what feels like 100 times. The left busty line thing (yep, here's that technical term again) turned out perfectly right off the bat, but the right, not so much. I will manage to crack it eventually though, I just know it.

I've been thinking about revamping my bedroom lately. It's time for a change and to make some better use of the big space I have. That is why i've been searching through books, catalogues, magazines all kinds of things that contain gorgeous bedroom designs. Above are some of my favourite features. Some of them such as the window seat and the bed built into the wall are a little ambitious and are more like features that have to have been put there when the house was built, but still, it doesn't hurt to dream a little!

(p.s - the original source of each image can be found through my weheartit account)
(p.p.s - you probably wont here from me over the weekend, so i hope you have a good one! :))

Today I spent a couple of hours making myself a nice new simple skirt out of some fabric I brought in Purl Soho during my trip to New York. It's been a quiet few days around here but they are leading up to what is going to be a very busy end to the week. Thursday I have a wedding rehearsal i've got to attend in which i'm going to be told what they are expecting from the photographs I take (yes, i'm so excited i'm going to be a wedding photographer for the day!). Saturday is then the wedding and reception and finally on Sunday i'm going to finally get to see the campus on which i'm going to be studying for the next 3 years. I probably should have done that last bit sooner seen as I start on Monday but oh well, better late than never and I get company on the journey as well :D The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that start next week off are then filled with welcome talks, tours, BBQ's and then enrolment. Busy, busy, busy! Let's hope I can make it through with the little amount of sleep i'm most likely going to get...







I didn't take any measurements before I started this and just kind of took wild guesses. Luckily, it fits! It has an elasticated waist for easy on off so i'm going to pair it with the belt shown in the picture to hide the elasticated bit. It is a tight slim line fit that is also high waisted and is long enough to mean I still remain some dignity. Yey! Hope you guys like it. I will take some pictures of myself wearing it when I get a chance to so you get a better idea of how it fits :)

Here is a sneak peek at the project I am working on at the moment. It is going to be a feather collared shirt when it is finally finished but for now, i'm trying to get over the hurdle of keeping the feathers in place when the collar is bent, it being so rounded and all...

I am in love with the brocade trend seen all over the runways this season. I am on the look out for some vintage pieces that I can nab up for a steal which are similar to this trend, I will let you guys know how that one guys in a 'style steal' post. I'm also majorly eager about giving this look a go with my own hands on some white and black pieces I own that I currently don't get much wear out of, that way if it goes wrong it wont matter to much! Stay tuned for that little experiment!  Anyway, below are some pictures I found on style.com that I loved from the runway!

So anybody who knows me, knows about my secret (well it isn't really to secret) tooth and in fact, my love affair with food altogether. I have recently been baking a load of cakes and have apparently (some people say) become a bit of a whizz at them! But, we all know we can't just live on cake so I shall hand you over to the Smitten Kitchen and their millions upon millions of delicious recipes, oh and their apple cider doughnuts shown bellow, YUM.


(Image taken from the apple cider recipe page on the smitten kitchen blog)

Having pale skin, bright blue eyes, dark hair and naturally red red lips, I often find myself accentuating my naturally red lips with my favourite Lancome red lipstick (Shade 104). At the time when I purchased it I was looking for as close to a matt finish as I could get as a gloss finish to a lipstick doesn't seem to get my heart racing which made Lancome's shade perfect. Below are some images I loved from Buro 24/7 of models rocking the red lip this season.

Friday was date night. We went out for a meal and then went to the cinema to see "The Five Year Engagement", if you haven't already seen it I highly recommend it, it was brilliant! It was nice to do something we haven't been able to do for what feels like, a really really long time. Saturday we then spent lounging around, baking cakes and then more lounging around :) It's been so nice. Have you guys had a nice weekend?
It's now Sunday night and I finally have that spare time to start a new project. I was inspired to have a go at knitting myself a crocheted granny square cardigan just like this one found here. I have been searching around since I found it for one just like it but there just isn't! Hopefully mine will look just as great when i'm finished. Here goes nothing!

Lately, in my spare time, I have been searching for funky, fun DIY projects I can get doing over the weekend and through the summer. A Beautiful Mess is a great place for doing this, Elsie and Emma's blog is jam packed with all kinds of DIY's for everybody to have a go at. One that caught my eye was the DIY garment rack found here. I have always fancied arranging my ever expanding wardrobe using a garment rack and now I will get a chance to on one I have been able to make just the way i'd like. Thanks Elsie and Emma!