Men's Shirt to Dress

Big Slouchy Men's Shirt

... to Dress

I have been given this rather large men's shirt by S. He was sorting out his clothes and found this shirt which is too big for him. So I now have it - it is a really nice cotton fabric and I am looking forward to showing you what I did!

You can now check out the dress I made from this shirt and the TUTORIAL showing how it was done!

Sleeping on a cloud

Ironing... but doesn't it look pretty

Today I have been ironing... lots!

I have a thing about having blue, white or cream coloured bedding. I just like the idea of sleeping on a fluffy cloud and that is how I like to think of my bed. I know it is a bit odd, but I just like the whole sense of bedding being light fluffy like clouds. For me it seems that fluffy clouds simply equate to relaxation and sleep.

Sleeping in a cloud-like bed

On a more fun note- I bought a pattern. I saw a dress pattern online that I thought was really pretty and my style. So today on my way back home I popped in the fabric shop and checked out their pattern books. The shop had a copy in stock and I couldn't resist. Hopefully it will nice and simple to make...

Better Blogger Network

I am a member!

As I have only just started this blog (and I am relatively new to the whole idea of blogging in the first place) I decided to go in search of some good advice. In my search I came across the Better Blogger Network (you may have already noticed the Buttons on my blog). I checked it out and found lots of awesome bloggers and blogs were linked up through this site. So I decided to join in. It has proved to be such a great opportunity to connect with people from all over the world and the forum has a lot of tips and good advice for newbies like me. 

Groups
What I really like about the network is the opportunity to join in groups or mini communities within the network. I have joined a few of these groups - I love the craft group - it is so cool to be able to check out peoples latest projects and swap ideas.

Click HERE to link to the Craft Group on BBN

Student Group
In the short time that I have been a member I have had the opportunity to set up a new group within the network. Being a student is a big part of my life and therefore has a major influence on my blog. When I noticed that there were other student bloggers on the Better Blogger Network I thought that it would be fab to have a group for students. It is really fun when bloggers join the group - I love learning about where they are from, their studies and their blogging inspirations.


I know that it is a bit cheeky but the group logo is a picture that I took of a big pile of my textbooks!

Click HERE to link to the Student Group on BBN

500+ Strong
What is even better is that the network is currently running a competition to win lots (and I do mean lots!) of fabulous prizes. This whole competition is the networks way of celebrating the fact that it has now got over 500 members.

Do check out all the cool prizes and sign up for a chance to win!

Celebrating a growing online community

Emily Dress - stars in the night sky

Emily Dress - stars in the night sky theme

I have just submitted this dress design as my entry for the "Sensational Decoration" competition on Your Style Rocks.  Please go to their website and vote for my dress! :)

It is really exciting to have my design in a competition!

You may have noticed that I used my drawing of myself as the model - which is pretty cool although I had to make my hair a little shorter so that the dress could be seen clearly.

I am not sure why it is called the "Emily Dress" it just felt suitable when I came to name it. The competition is to design a dress that uses decoration and embellishments. In my design the dress itself is quite simple, with a floaty skirt. The front of the bodice is however covered in lace and sequins and so are the shoulders. As a further embellishment on the bodice four pieces of fabric are drawn over the bust and secured at it's centre. This enables the sequins and lace to shine through.

It also has a zip fastening at the back.

Perhaps it could be made in a soft grey colour. I couldn't choose when drawing it so I just left it white... which makes it look rather bridal (I suppose that is not such a bad thing...) However, the dress has a night sky theme with the sparkle on the bodice representing the stars so I think that the grey colour would make a nice contrast. Here a few of the colour option ideas that I have had:

Potential colour options - night sky and stars theme

I found these picture which I think demonstrates the theme a little using google:

Stars in the night sky
from- http://favim.com/image/53155/

More Stars
From -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star

Lots of Stars!

With all the embellishment and sequins I think that this dress would be really fun to wear to a party or for an evening out somewhere special.

The Lake

Here is my favourite picture of the bank holiday weekend. I took it when we went to feed the ducks, geese and swans at the park - it was such a lovely day! It looks like we were in the middle of the countryside when we were actually in the city.

At the Park on the Bank Holiday Weekend

The lake (Roath Park) is one of my favourite places in Cardiff. I love the fact that you can see the swans out on the lake. The little row boat is so cute. I remember my Grandpa taking me out on the lake in one of the row boats when I was little.

Diamond Jubilee Recipe - Strawberries and Cream Pie



Jubilee Strawberry and Cream Pie

To Commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
1952 -2012

  

I felt that I had to do something a bit special for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. After a bit of thought I decided to put my own spin on the traditional British cream tea - scones with jam and cream.

Pastry:

I decided to make 'pastry' which is a bit more like a scone mix - so that the pie reflects the cream tea theme a bit more.

Ingredients:

125g of self raising flour
A pinch of salt
55g of butter
25g of caster sugar
30-45ml of milk

What to do:

• Put the flour and salt in a large bowl
• Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.
• Stir in the sugar and the milk until it resembles a dough that can be rolled out.
• Prepare oven dish/pan
• Roll out the dough to fit the pan.
• Roll out the left over dough and cut six long strips.
• Make the rim of the pie by making two plaits using three of the strips for each.
• Paint the pie with milk using a pastry brush - the milk acts like a glue to help attach the plaits
• Paint the plaits with milk
• (If you want to make a little crown shape out of pastry to cover the plaits join at the top like me you can... but it may end up looking more like a bobble hat...)

Alternatively, make mini pies using a cupcake tray to shape them.

Place pie crust in the oven

Cook at 180 degrees C for proximately 15 mins.

Allow to cool.

Filling:

Ingredients:

Strawberry or Raspberry Jam (Jelly)
200g of cream cheese
100g of caster sugar
A few drops of vanilla essence
Strawberries

What to do: 

• When cool turn the pastry out of the pan
• Spread a layer of jam (jelly) over the base of the pastry
• Now mix the cream cheese, caster sugar and the vanilla essence together.
• Spread a thick layer of the cream cheese topping over the layer of jam
• Decorate with a layer of fresh strawberries.
• Place in the fridge to cool.
• Serve and enjoy the jubilee celebrations!

  

A few pictures from our walk around the park today where we saw lots of birds and jubilee celebration bunting:

Jubilee, Nationalism and Pie

British Nationalism is Sweetie Form!

Recently Britain has become really overtly nationalistic. This is due to the forthcoming Olympics (I have tickets!), the Eurovison Song Contest which was last weekend (in which Britain came last but one... but that was pretty much expected) and this weekends Royal Jubilee celebrations. Even the sweeties are donning the national colours! Recently, whenever I have turned on the news it has shown people running around with the Olympic Flame, golden boats in London or Englebert Humperdink!

The bank holiday weekend has been set for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and street parties. Some streets have really taken it to heart and are fully decked out with bunting and having street parties.

My small contribution to the festivities comes in the form of a sweet pie - a nationalistic pie of course! Below is a sneak peak at the cooling pie crust; waiting to be filled. The finished pie is my take on the traditional British Cream Tea - strawberries and cream themed. The recipe will be in my next post!


 If you look at the platted edging you will notice what looks like a 'bell' shape or perhaps a 'bobble hat' made out of pastry... this is in fact my attempt at a royal crown shape. Oh well it was worth a try!

Jubilee celebration pie crust and mini tart cases made
from leftover pastry