Blog Hop

Whilst taking part in a #bbloggers discussion on Twitter I stumbled upon a fantastic link for #BBloggers Unite who have organised a Blog Hop to allow people the chance to find other blogs to follow and to allow other people the chance to showcase your own blog.  

Take a look  at the blog. 

Laura xxx

Strawberry Fields Festival

I am on an official countdown to Strawberry Fields Festival.  The festival is taking place on the 10th, 11th and 12th of August and we will be trading in the Strawberry Glam Tent.  I attended the event last year and I had a fantastic time.

This year the Strawberry Glam Tent is going to be even bigger and better than last year.  The Marquee will be full of stalls offering plenty of festival essentials from clothing to art to jewellery and much more.  It also has comfy sofas to chill out on which were very popular last year for both customers and traders!  This year it will also have a full acoustic line up and resident DJ's so it really will be the place to be!

Some of the goodies I will be bringing to Strawberry Fields

In preparation for the event I have been non stop sewing and making.  I will be bringing along a huge pile of my new t-shirts which have proved really popular over the last few weeks.  I have also made lots of festival bracelets and ribbon bracelets so people can stack up on some arm candy and tonnes of bow and flower headbands so no festival hair disasters!

If you are going I would love to hear from you? Who are you most looking forward to seeing?

Laura xxx

Weave and Stitch

A few weeks ago I traded at the Highclare School Summer Fair and I met Rachael from 'Weave and Stitch' a fantastic company that makes a variety of bags and purses entirely from paper.  

Weave and Stitch make their bags from recycled paper, as you know I love to recycle and upcycle materials when I am creating items so that is one of the reasons I was drawn to the stall.  Each of the bags are weaved, sewn, shaped and varnished by hand and the unique designs mean you will not see lots of people wearing the same thing like high street designs.

I spoke to Rachael at the fair and she told me that she is currently testing the durability of a new wallet design that should be appearing soon.  Take a look at her Website, Facebook and Etsy page, she also does custom items.  Prices are really reasonable considering the amount of work that goes into each piece.  There are lots of different designs and styles, the pictures really don't do them full justice.    

Laura xxx

Happy Wrap

Another day another blog post on a fab company I have found on my travels!  Today I would like to introduce you to Happy Wrap who were also trading at Sutton Arts and Vintage Fair last Sunday.  Happy Wrap are a midlands based company that specialises in luxury reusable fabric gift wrap.  

Each of the wraps are made to the same size and they have to ribbons across the centre which you use to fasten the fabric around gifts.  The wraps are designed to be reused and can be washed on a normal cycle if necessary.  

The wraps are only £3.95 each and I think they are a really good idea.  What do you think? 

Laura xxx

Peaches and Cream Marbs Trio

Whilst I was in Peaches and Cream I picked up a 'Marbs Trio'.  A set that mixes two of their Penny Sweet Pigments and a pot of Glitter.  Today I decided to experiment with the pots and I have included some pictures in this blog.  

Marbs Trio - Sherbet Fountain, Cola Bottle and Rebecca Glitter

Swatches - Sherbet Fountain, Cola Bottle and Rebecca

The pots contain 3g of pigment and they are a reasonable £4 each or 3 pigments are £10.  The pigments are really bold, a little goes a long way.  I loaded the brush and tapped away excess and there was plenty to cover an eyelid so I imagine they are going to last a long time.

After using MUA Shade 1 Pearl for an all over base coverage I added Sherbet Fountain to the inner corners of the eye and a small amount under the lower lashes and I found that it applied very easily. 

I then used a larger brush to dab on Cola Bottle, a gorgeous brown colour with a lovely glitter shimmer.  I then blended the colour adding a bit more pigment to the outer corner of the lid.

The next step was my favourite part, adding some glitter and sparkle! I applied some glitter fix glue (£1.50) and then I used a small brush to dab the Rebecca Glitter on to the lid.  I started small but after adding a swipe of liquid eyeliner and mascara I decided be bolder and I covered most of the lid.

The glitter is simply amazing, it sparkles in so many different colours, the glitter fix glue is really does what it says on the bottle.

I have added a picture of my overall look, what do you think? I think I will be heading back in the next few weeks to try out some more colours because I am well and truly hooked! 

 Peaches and Cream have an online store so if you want to try the trio head over and take a look.  

Laura xxxx

P.S.  Make sure you follow my Blog to keep up to date with all my latest posts.  

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Laura Loves Ibiza

Like everyone else I am getting a bit fed up of the weather sunny one minute and then like Winter the next! Whilst sewing using new fabric I picked up to day I started reminiscing about my holiday to Ibiza last year.  It was the first time I had ever been to the White Isle and I loved it! Highlights for me included seeing Plan B live at Ibiza Rocks and indulging in a few cocktails watching the sunset in Cafe Mambo.  Here are some of my favourite pics from the trip.  

Sunset View, View from Hotel, Yummy Cafe Mambo Cocktails, Ibiza Rocks!  

I have been really happy with the response to my new t-shirts.  I picked up some really bright Ibiza Inspired fabric today and I have decided to create a brand new range perfect for summer holidays and the upcoming festival season.  I will be trading at Strawberry Fields Festival in August and I really can't week.  Last years festival was a fab event.  I will be blogging about it in the next few weeks.  Here are few sneak peeks of my new ranges.  Follow me on Facebook for updates.  

Super Bright Fabric - Summer and Festival Perfect

Bright Beaded Ribbon Bracelets

Festival Friendship Bracelets

Are any of you going on holiday this year? Where are you going? 

Laura xxx

Peaches and Cream

Whilst in Liverpool I paid a visit to a fabulous beauty salon called Peaches and Cream.  I previously visited their salon in the suburbs of Liverpool but today was the first time I visited their new location in the City Centre and I was not disappointed. 

The salon is amazing it really is like stepping into a fairytale.  The walls are covered in bright wallpaper and pictures and added tonnes of detail to every aspect of the shop.  Whilst I was in there I picked up a few treats and I will blog about them later on this week.  

They also have a website that they update every day with details of new stock, pictures of clients and my personal favourite make-up and hair tutorials showing you how create latest looks.  

The store has a top level where the experienced staff work transforming the ladies of Liverpool and much further afield.  Peaches and Cream is well established and has fans across the UK.  The inclusion of a store on the website means that people can pick up items wherever they are.  Downstairs is like a sweet shop.  Jars, containers and shelves are stacked with tonnes of gorgeous treats.  It was hard to pick from the large selection of items on offer.  I finally narrowed it down to a few goodies.  

My Peaches and Cream Haul

It seems that I am in a super bright, neon mood this week! I bought some new fabric for a new range of t-shirts in lots of bright colours on Friday and in Peaches and Cream I was drawn to some tubes of Neon Colour.  I picked these up for the upcoming festivals I am going to and I can't wait to experiment with them. 

My next stop was the Penny Shop Pigments and Pots of Glitter.  Peaches and Cream have the most amazing range of colours and they are reasonably priced at £4 each or 3 for £10.  I deliberated for ages until I finally settled on their new 'Marbs Trio' which features Rebecca Glitter, Sherbet Fountain and Cola Bottle.  I am going to try them out this week so look out my blogpost. 

Peaches and Cream also stock a number of other items including customised shoes, sunglasess, jewellery and essentials such as eyelashes, sleep in rollers and fake tan.  They also have a University of Peaches and Cream where you can attend make-up and hair-up classes or if you prefer you can have individual tutorials.

Have you ever been to Peaches and Cream? What do you think?  Make sure you pay their Website a visit or visit in person if you go to Liverpool.  I promise you will not be disappointed. 

Laura xxx

Sew Make Believe

Sew, Make, Believe is a Midlands based group that has been running since 2009.  Set up by two bloggers Caroline and Kate the club is rapidly expanding.  The original club began in Leamington spa and they have recently spread their wings to start a second group in Catherine de Barnes.

Sew, Make, Believe hosts regular get togethers where people meet to share skills, craft, chat, share skills and eat cake.  The group is made up of a number of people with a range of different crafting ability from beginners who attend to pick up skills to experienced crafters who demonstrate their knowledge.

Their website has lots of information about upcoming meetings and events.  It also has a fab tutorial section which is full of useful tips, instructions and hints.  I am hoping to attend one of the groups in the near future as they sound fantastic.

Have you ever been to one of the clubs or have you attended something similar?

Laura xx

All images taken from the Sew, Make, Believe Website.

£100 ASOS Blogger Challenge

After seeing various Blog posts on the £100 ASOS Blogger Challenge I decided to give it a go.  I love ASOS and it is normally my first point of call when looking for something new to wear.  After watching the highlights of T in the Park I decided to go with a festival theme.  I may actually buy a few of the items for the upcoming Strawberry Fields Festival I am trading at in August.  

Bleached Cross T-Shirt £12

90's Denim Cut Off Shorts £17.50

Hunter Wellies £59

Across Body Bag £7.50

Geek Glasses £3.50

I choose the cross t-shirt because I like the bleach effect detail on the cross and I think that it is a versatile item that can be dressed up or down.  My next pick is my festival essential, a pair of denim shorts.  I like the style of these shorts as they are loose on the legs.  My footwear choice is a pair of classic Hunters.  I chose the pillar box red as these are my second favourite pair after the RHS ones I have.  I choose the Ladybird bag as it goes well with the wellies and it is big enough to fit all of the essentials needed for a festival arena.  I chose the glasses as a fun addition to the outfit.  My grand total £99.50 

Laura xxxx

Sun, Showers, Scouse Saturday!

Today I spent some time in one  of my favourite cities Liverpool.   I spent most of the day at Pier Head where there was a fundraising day taking place in aid of Claire House Hospice.  There were lots of activities taking place including a zip wire that stretched past the Liver Building and a fab duck race.  Lots of tiny blue ducks made their way down the Mersey and the owner of the winning duck received £2000.  Here are some pics from my day.  

Liver Building
Zip Wire past the Liver Building
People Waiting for the winner of the Duck Race
Punk Duck
Deck Chairs
Barclaycard Duck
Beatles Stairs

Hope you are all having a good weekend, I plan to spend the rest of today watching highlights of T in the Park and getting lots more items done for my Festival/Summer range.

Laura xxxx

Hannah Sycamore

My next blog is about another artist I met at the Winter Gardens Event in Blackpool.  I was really drawn to Hannah's work as she uses mixed media to produce some fantastic designs. Hannah's stall was jam packed with an array of items including note pads, cards and pieces of art work.  

I bought some greetings cards, they are gorgeous and I think I may frame them as I love the images and the added details Hannah has included.  Pop over to Hannah's blog and Facebook page for more information.  

Laura xx

Evol Heist

I would like to share with you the fantastic work of Birmingham based jewellery company Evol Heist.  I first met them when they took part in the Festive Bazaar pop up shop I traded at just before Christmas last year.  I treated myself to some gorgeous pieces of jewellery, they are really unusual and people always ask me where they are from when I wear them.  Evol Heist is stocked on a number of different websites and in stores in Bristol and LA.  Their jewellery has also been worn by Big Brother contestants, Little Mix and singer Dev.  

I was really excited when I heard they would be trading at Sutton and I managed to take some photographs of their jewellery including pictures of their new ranges.  

Each piece is hand made using Perspex and they also make bespoke and custom designs.  My current favourites are the new lipstick collection and the gorgeous 3rd eye head dress.   I love their original designs and their items are really reasonable with items stating from £8.  

Follow them on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook or Shop on their website!

What do you think?

Laura xxx

Culu Crafts

This weekend has been fantastic for networking with other stall holders and I thought I would share them with you. One of the first ones I would like to share with you is Culu Crafts.  

Adorable Lavender Mice

I was really drawn to the layout of the stall and the variety of items for sale.  I spent a while chatting to Caroline who was running the stall and she gave me some information about her club Sew, Make, Believe which I will be blogging about later on in the week.  I also took some photographs of some of my favourite items.  

Everything on the stall was lovingly handmade

Beautiful Reversible Purses 

Wool Cardigans - I love the mixed buttons on these designs.  

Lovely floral trim.

Culu Crafts sells at a number of fairs throughout the year and items are available to buy on Etsy.  There is also a blog which has lots of details of upcoming fairs and events and new stock.  

Laura xx

Sutton Vintage and Arts Fair Summer Special

Wow what a busy weekend! Yesterday I traded at the fantastic Sutton Vintage and Arts Summer Special.  It was a brilliant day, I had the chance to meet lots of new customers and some of my Facebook followers and it was also a great chance for me to showcase some of my new stock.  I also managed to sneak away from my stall to check out some of the other traders and I will be blogging about them later on in the week.  I have added some picture of my stall.  

Lots and lots of new badges

Tonnes of new vintage stock, updates on ASOS soon

Arm Candy

Flower Headbands and Brooches

One of my bestsellers this weekend were my new customised t-shirts.  They were very popular and I will be making lots more this week and I will hopefully have them on my ASOS Marketplace in the next week or two.  In the meantime you can contact me through Facebook if you would like to order.   So far I have worked on three designs; hearts, bows and a peace sign.  

Heart Design T-Shirt

My brand new t-shirts xx

What do you think of them? I am hoping to produce more styles for Summer.  What type of applique design would you like to see? 

Laura xx