Update (may contain feelings)

Hmm I wonder how many of these 'sorry for not blogging for ages' posts I've done...

I'm sorry for blogging very little recently I've been so busy with university work, with deadlines here,
deadlines there. For once though I feel like I can get things finished and without stressing so much I make myself ill. Okay, so for everybody who told me a positive attitude helps you can say I told you so. I really can't wait to finish my work and hand it so I can enjoy my birthday weekend (I'm 21!!!!! Help!)

Yes below is a photo of my Grandad doing the Mobot (athlete Mo Farah's signature pose) back in 2012. Best photo ever!

Unfortunately, recently both of my grandparents have been in hospital and are now both in some form of care. My Grandma will hopefully be able to return to her bungalow after she has recovered from a chest infection. My Grandad has got dementia and is refusing to eat or drink as he believes that people are trying to poison him (due to dementia). I really struggle to accept he wont get better and that he doesn't remember who I am. I'm crossing everything that he starts eating and drinking soon. I wish I could go back to when I was little when I'd spend my summer holidays with my grandparents and we'd get up to all sorts of mischief. Going on the weekly shop with them seemed like the biggest adventure to me. Luckily I have the best memory for all things that happened to me when I was a wee nipper, so I can remember my happiest times with them like it was yesterday.

I would really like to get into blogging more, which probably won't happen until I finish uni for summer in May. I want to do a few D.I.Y posts, mainly crafty things and having a step to step how with photos to go along. Maybe, recipes but, I don't really cook or bake much, I might feature some of my sisters baking on here too. I would love to do outfit posts as I love fashion and styling but, I don't really have the confidence to stand and pose for photos. Wish I could live by the quote on the illustration on right hand side of this writing. 

In the summer I'd love to set up an online shop to sell a few things I plan to make (wall hangings, bunting, scrunchies etc) and hopefully sell some prints of my illustrations and do illustration commissions.

I hope you are well! Thank you so much if you just read through all of that :-) 

K x

Topshop loves the 70's

As you may or may not know the Sixties has to be my favourite decade ever especially for fashion and it's icons. But, the Seventies is a close second especially after seeing Topshops clothes for this coming season inspired by the era. Here are my top picks from Topshops website:

1. Well I obviously picked this paisley dress for the main reason, that it's paisley. I like the shirt style this dress is in. It would look lovely with some Chelsea boots.
2. This A-line mini skirt would be a perfect staple for your wardrobe, great for if you want a vintage look but, you don't want to go too out there. 
3. I love the colours of this top, definitely got a 70's feel to it. Teaming this top with a pair of flare jeans and some junky heels would be a funky outfit (yes, I do use the word 'funky' in real life conversations).
4. Normally I don't like animal prints because they tend to look tacky (to me) but, there's some thing about this skirt that I love. I'd definitely wear it with a black turtle neck jumper tucked into it.  
5. I would call this the Ashton Kutcher in the 70's Show t-shirt.
6. Basically if the 70's was a hat it would be this hat!
7. My favourite thing about this top is the scalloped edging and the off the shoulder style. It would go so well with a pair of denim flairs.
8. I love the colour scheme; burgundy and red (my favourite colours by the way). The dress looks like it would be super flattering on the figure.
9. ohhh myyyy wear do I start with this dress, I'm in love. I love it that much I did a drawing of the beautiful Cara Delevingne sporting the dress on Topshops website. The print of the dress is just perfect!
10. You have to have a pair of flares when you're trying to rock the 70's look! The cut of these flares look so flattering. I would definitely invest in some of these if I thought I could pull them off.
11. These platform heels have such a retro feel to them and could easily go with any of the other items for a more of an evening look.
12. I love the splash of colour on the collar of this monochrome striped top and I love a good striped top.

Are you loving the comeback of the 70's or not? What are your favourite items?

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and hopefully it wasn't toooo long.

Katie x

Unique Valentines Day Gifts

So, I thought I'd get a bit lovey dovey by writing a Valentines post. I found myself browsing Not On The High Street as I often do, I swear if browsing the in the internet was a degree I'd get a 1st every time! They have a large variety of gifts; personalised gifts, jewellery for both men and women, chocolatey goodness, gifts for your memories and generally lovely unique presents.

Below are a few of my favourite valentines gifts featured on NOTHS, I hope you like them as much as I do!

I went for a price range that wasn't too pricey either because lets be realistic I'm a student where food is the only thing I can just about afford.

1.    I love the print that says 'Here You Are Adored' which would be perfect to hang up in your bedroom, the inky handwriting style of the print gives it such a lovely personal feel.

2.    Who doesn't like cake? So why not treat someone special or your self, because you're damn great! How great is this, you don't even have to know how to make a cake, you just need to add water and pop it in the oven then, ta da! For more cakes in a tin head over to the Food Ministry's page on NOTHS.

3.     Being so beautifully handmade this had be a favourite of mine, the My Perfect Match necklace can come in the cross form or can alternatively be just a single match. I think this cute necklace would be a nice touch to a Valentines day outfit.

4.     Now as a Friends fan I got very excited about this gift, 'He's her Lobster!' as Pheobe says. A Lobster shaped biscuit presented nicely in a box with words 'You Are My Lobster' on the lid, I'm sorry but, that is just the greatest. If you're not a huge Friends like I am then why not check out the rest of Eat My Cake London's fab biscuits, like the Valentine Pug biscuit.

5.     Tell me that this isn't one of the cutest ideas ever. It's a mini photo in a bottle, get your favourite photo of you and your loved one or a personal message suspended from the top of the bottle leaving it floating. This is such a nice, original way of displaying a favourite photograph or have a line of the bottles showing off photos of a special day. 

6.     I love stationary, so these cute pencils with compliments had to make their way into my favourites. These pencils would make me smile every time I used them. The fact they are pastel colours makes them look even nicer.

7.     Yes, they are love heart shaped balloons that you see before you! I actually would love one, I'd even buy myself one I like them that much aha. They are sold buy Postbox Party who put together parcels filled with items of your choice to create a perfect party. Selling the likes of love heart sparklers, love hearts and arrows cupcake kit, you and me trivia and a romantic treasure hunt kit, they really have thought of everything. I also found these balloons (see link) where you get to put a personal message inside the balloon and the recipient has to pop it to read it (well duh how else would they get it Katie?). You get to choose the colour of the balloon, ribbons, shredding (this in the box it is sent in) oh and the sequins! Yes, you get sequins in the balloon ready to fly every where went it is popped. 

8.    The Damn Handsome Beard Kit may not be the most romantic of presents to give your boyfriend but, it would be a perfect present for mine who's had his beard for the majority of the three years that we've been going out. It comes with a really cool comb in the shape of a moustache, beard oil, moustache wax and moustache scissors, all fitting nicely in to a pocket sized tin. The beard oil is moisturising, cleansing, soothing for the skin and conditions the hair follicles. Your boyfriend doesn't need to worry about smelling like a tarts hand bag with this mildly spiced masculine smelling oil. Perfect for people with beards who travel.

9.    This is another gift which made me think of my boyfriend Tom due to his liking for pies. Little short crust pastry pork pies each one with a letter on to spell out Pie Love You. This such a fun alternative to the usual box of chocolates.


What did you think of my favourite Valentines Day gift ideas?
What's the best or worst gift you have ever received for Valentines?

*I promise this is not sponsored post for Not On The High Street*  

New Years Resolutions

I decided to a tad early-ish make a list of New Years Resolutions/things that I want to do in the new year. So hear it is:

• Worry Less

• Be Positive

• Take More Photos (especially with my new Lomo'Instant)

• Blog More

• Work Quicker

• Don't Be Afraid of Being Different (in general and with my illustrations)

• Try New Things

• Be Healthy and Get Fit

• Go to New Places 

• Listen To More Music

• Be More Confident

• Read More

• Sell More Of Things I Make And My Illustrations

• Improve My Embroidery Skills

• Get Organised 

• Be More Decisive 

• Try Out New Hair Styles (especially a bee hive) and Make-up Looks

• Get Brown Hair and a Curtain Fringe
  
• Wear What The Hell I Want
  
• Learn Something New
  
• Successfully Write In My Diary Every Day 
  
  
  What are your New Years Resolutions?

Where Have I Been?

Once again I've been gone for quite a while due to University deadlines, but, I'm back home for Christmas so I can blog to my hearts content! If you didn't know I'm studying illustration at university, I've just completed two projects; A self promotion project (creating a website, business cards and an personal promotional item) and I also made five Artist's books. Mine was named 'Big Hair', as the theme was iconic hair from the big screen. 

Here's some of the work I've done recently:

 I created this piece of embroidery to use as my logo for the self promotion project

                               
                                 

I also made badges with my work on as part of my self promotion project.

I drew the lovely What Olivia Did in my spare time.

As you may be able to tell by my work, I love the Sixties!

When I head back to University in January I will be working on a Picture Book (a book for ages 2 - 6), which I will be illustrating AND writing.

I'm definitely looking forward to trying to make my own Picture Book.