Favourite Friday: Inspiration and Relaxation

Something a little different for my Favourite Friday this week, my Favourite ways to relax and get inspired. We have been so busy lately, which is great, but I have hardly had time to just take time out and enjoy the calm.

It is hard to remember that taking time out for yourself is just as important as working all hours. It's often the case that if I am struggling to work something out or finish a project, that stepping away and clearing your mind for a bit can be more helpful than working on, full steam ahead. It can fill you with ideas and solutions that are only visible when you take a step back. On that note, these are the things I will be doing over the next few weeks to get myself back on track.

Reading Craft Magazines:

There is nothing better for me than sitting down with a cup of tea and a stack crisp new Craft magazines filled with articles and images designed to inspire! I always start at the back of a magazine and work my way forward, then when I'm done I go through from the front with a pack of sticky notes close by to mark pages and make notes.

Pinterest:

I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in the amount of hours I have lost pinning images to virtual pin-boards!?!   I have been on Pinterest since the beginning and I still can't get enough, I Love going through pages and pages of inspiration and ideas.

Watching movies

I am married to a gadget-aholic which has it's advantages, like when he bought an Apple TV... I thought 'oh here we go another fruity gadget' but we are on version number three and it is hands down the best thing he has ever bought! I can rent a movie at the flick of the remote, it doesn't take up any space at all and you can get TV shows, music, radio and pod-casts on it as well.  Basically you can view you entire i-Tunes library including pictures on your TV through this little box! I love nothing more that sitting down in front of our TV in my Barker lounger and watching a movie, Popcorn in hand of course.

Scrapbooking

I am a member of Studio Calico, a monthly kit club based in the U.S. Every month I get sent a selection of awesome co-ordinated  paper-craft goodies in the post. I love this company in particular because they pull together some of the best names in paper-craft and include them in the kits. The likes of  Dear Lizzy, Amy Tangerine, Basic Grey and their own lines are some of the best products around. It is so fun to create things like mini books, cards and gift wrap out of these kits. I get totally stuck-in and hours can pass while I am creating in my craft room.

Re-arranging and Tidying

It may not sound very relaxing, but for me tidying my craft space can be very therapeutic. I put a good movie on, something like Dirty Dancing and sort out some pretty things. Whether it's rummaging through my button jars or sorting my fabric stash, I always come across a little something that sparks an idea. I always clear my desk first, so that if I do find something to make that just cant wait, I have a clear desk to work on. I am so lucky to have a space all to myself to indulge in my creativity.

I really want to hear from you guys today!

leave a comment below and let me know what you do to chill out and get inspired.

Hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing weekend <3

Sammy xxx

Love it: Art for you to find

I am loving all the great art projects that are springing up all over the place at the moment.  There is something so great about a project which is not expected and that people can enjoy at face value, right in front of them and for free!

Recently in Maidenhead there has been an artist called LETTS @Streetartdrop who has placed artwork around the South East for people to find and take home of course – free art!  You can see more here or follow him on twitter to find out where he goes next!

A few months ago, one of my friends did a similar thing with notes and so I thought I should tell you all about it as it was very good and I only wish I lived nearer to be able to find one of them myself.

Anna-Liisa lives in Hull and is studying Graphic Design at University.  My old Uni town in fact!  You can check out her work on her website here.  The project was for her course and the brief was to do branding for a street clothing label. 

Anna-Liisa came up with the idea to make little signs to say nice things and to make people smile and put them out on the streets for people to find.  She made them really tiny so they are not instantly noticeable in an urban environment.  Anna- Liisa said “People are always rushing about and often don’t see what is around them and my signs were like little rewards for noticing little things.”

She wants to continue this project and take them to Estonia (her home town) and Italy this summer along with other places in the UK wherever she ends up.  So if you find one of these on your travels, take a photo and let us know!

What other projects like this have you seen?  Anything happening now we should know about?  Let us know in the comments below and we can have a look.

Love it

H

All photos given with permission from Anna- Liisa

Review: Check my box

We were sent a lovely little package from the guys at Checkmybox a few weeks ago.

Hannah and Francesca from Checkmybox make modern D.I.Y. Jewellery and Accessory kits for people to enjoy making their own pieces and learn some jewellery making techniques along the way. They work out of a studio in the famous Custard Factory in Birmingham, with their kits and workshops keeping them very busy. The Checkmybox kits are so on trend that we are sure these girls are on the up.

Their website is beautiful, with lovely images of their kits and ready made jewellery. They also run workshops from their studio and have kits designed for hen parties! We are in love with the takeaway box style packaging.

We chose the Ombre Seed Bead Bracelet Kit to test out as everyone loves a bit of Ombre don't they!

In the Kit you will find:

Instruction leaflet

Seed Beads

Crimps

Curb Chain

Jump rings

Tigertail

Lobster clasp

The instruction leaflet takes you through step by step and the only other thing you will need is a pair of pliars and a flat surface.  The bracelet is simple to make and as long as you have the patience with smaller beads (Sammy loves beading and H has to yet be persuaded) it will not take you too long at all.

H: I cut the Tigertail to the length that was suggested in the instructions but I found that this made it difficult as it was a little too short to get the recommended (10 of each) beads on and be able to grab it in the crimps.

Sammy: I just cut the Tigertail piece into 6 by halving and halving again to get the lengths, this gave me much more to work with and you can always cut away anything that is too long.

H: You get more beads than the suggested, so you could always add more if you want.  But the suggestion in the instructions of 10 of each looks good. To clamp the crimps onto the Tigertail is easy and once you have done one strip, you know what to do and so its easy to do all six.  You will then have to plait the beads I  would suggest having your jump ring ready to put on before you plait as it will come undone if you let it go.

Sammy: I found the Instructions to be very easy to follow, with cute little recommendations along the way. As a reasonably experienced jewellery maker I found it kept my interest, as it wasn't too simple. I did find the plaiting in this kit a little tricky as the jump ring they were attached to kept twisting as I plaited, so I clamped it in a bulldog clip that I had taped to my desk to give it some stability, then it was fine.

H: We have both made the bracelets up, just as instructed, but as I can't wear anything that isn't Sterling silver, I am going to change the chain to cord and swap the rings for silver ones so I can wear it.  It was a great little kit though and would be a great gift idea for someone who likes the idea of making their own but does not have all the equipment.  It might even inspire them to get a kit to move on with.

Sammy: I have made a lot of bracelets in my time and I don't usually buy kits, but I felt like this one with it's attractive packaging made me move out of my comfort zone. I really enjoyed having a go at a new style and using different techniques. I will definitely be making some more like this using some supplies I have for myself, and sending my friends to CheckMyBox to get their own kits.

Make it

H & Sammy

Disclaimer: We were sent the Checkmybox Ombre Bracelet Kit for the purpose of this review.

Live it: Milestones

2013 is a big year for me, I am celebrating lots of milestones, both professional and personal.

Later this month it's going to be two years since H and started writing Live it. Love it. Make it, last weekend was my shops 10 year anniversary, in September it will be 15 years since I met H and October marks my 5th Wedding anniversary and 8 years to the day that I met my lovely Steve, also it will forever be the year I said goodbye to my lovely Grandpa.

Our blog turns two this year, we have so many plans, goals and ideas for the future. 

H and I in Essex April 2011, just one of many photos of the two of us from almost 15 years of friendship. 

It was seven years at Christmas that we moved into our now home at 3 High Street and last weekend it was 10 years since we were handed the keys to the Sewing Centre. 

Steve and I on our Wedding Day October 2008. We met online, our first date was on the 19th of October 2005, Steve asked me to marry him on the 19th of October 2006 and two years later on 19th of October 2008 we became Husband and wife. I remember a girl in the pub we were in on our first date asking how long we had been together, she was shocked when we said a couple of hours, she said, you look like you were made for each other. 

My Grandpa and I when I was little, on Holiday in Swanage. He passed away in March this year at the grand age of 92, he had had a long life and it was just his time but I still miss him everyday.

I am so thankful that H and I started this blog, it has been such a lovely way to share our lives, all our milestones and goals that we have achieved. The support we have had and all the new friends we have made, it has been really special. We are looking forward to many more exciting experiences in our future.

What Milestones do you have this year, are you getting married, having a baby or celebrating an anniversary? We would love to hear about them.

Sammy xxx

Link for the Week: Our Button Jewellery Workshop

Come to our next workshop over at Norden Farm in Maidenhead - you know you want to! We will be making Button Jewellery on Thursday 27th June from 7-8.30pm and all for £15. You can find out more information and book at the link below:

http://nordenfarm.org/?&tmpl=event&e_id=17767&es_dspl=0&es_title=Jun&es_str=2013-06-01

We will show you how to make bracelets or necklaces using the many tubs of buttons we have.  You can learn how to make jewellery for yourself or as gifts and get some inspiration for further jewellery ideas. 

Why not make something special for a friend or even a distinctive piece to go with an outfit for that wedding or party this summer.  There is nothing like someone asking where you got it from to make you feel so good when you say you made it yourself.  Also, if you have some buttons at home you would like to use, then please do bring them along and we can add them to your piece to make it extra special.

Looking forward to it already.

H

Live it: Company Magazine #StyleBloggerAwards

This week (as some of you may already know) we where invited to the Company Magazine #Style Blogger Awards because we had been nominated for best blogging duo and best craft blog.

We didn't come home with either award this year but we had an amazing time at the party and met some pretty awesome people, some we already knew and we also made some new friends too.

H wears dress by New Look, cardigan from H&M, belt from Dorothy Perkins and shoes from River Island.   Sammy wears dress by Very.com, cardigan from M&S, necklace from Etsy.com and shoes from Primark.

We even made it onto the Bloggers style pages on the Company website! (go us) and check out a video of the evening here.

Some of our lovely fellow bloggers, Laura one half of The Afternoon Tea Club (these are our kind of girls) also up for blogging duo and the gorgeous Ann from A Quirky Lifestyle a fellow craft blogger nominee.

Aside from the awards ceremony itself there was lots of fun things to keep us bloggers interested throughout the night. From a lesson in fake eyelash application from The Vintage Cosmetic Company, to hair advice and a new do from the team at Paul Mitchell. There was a fun Photobooth from Dreambooth (what happened to our third picture we will never know!) and a selection of Newlook's (the event sponsors) finest summer fashion picks. 

Our favourite activity though, was of course the crafty option of decorating sunglasses with the lovely girls from Pinned it. Made it. who had a familiar helper on the night, our friend from Craft Candy, Zoe (you can check out the App launch party here).  We also grabbed some cute lollipops from the girls from Candy Kittens, a really cute clothing line, if you like Victoria secrets PINK collection, you will LOVE this brand. Sammy is already planning her wish list!

As we didn't win an award we consoled ourselves with pudding after the party at Spitalfields Giraffe. Well, it was on our way home and it gave us a chance to have a quick look in our goodie bags!  It is also becoming a bit of a tradition with us when we are in Spitalfields.

The venue was the uber trendy Corbet Place Bar in Shoreditch, London. You know your in a cool place when they have a bar half the length of the room. We were treated to Champagne and signature cocktails which we tried Bloggers Delight and Blue Eyed Blogs, both super yummy! 

Food for the evening was provided by All About Wasabi Yummy sushi! 

Now to the Goody bag (always a favourite!) Goodies included... Propercorn (a current obsession of both of ours), Batiste dry shampoo, Earrings from Glitz and Glam, A beanie hat from Candy Kittens, Nail varnish from OPI, Products from Elemis, Yuko and Soap and Glory. A nail file from the girls at The Vintage Cosmetic Company, A voucher from Pinned it, Made it, Self Tanning mousse and mit from Lauren's Way, and the cutest fabric covered button brooch from The New Craft Society (fellow craft blog nominees).  Also shown are Sammy's D.I.Y. studded glasses and our Lollipop from Candy Kittens. Not shown is a copy of Company mag, which went straight in Sammy's handbag and Candy Box blue bonbons which went straight in Sammy's mouth on the train ride home!

We want to say a massive thank you to all our friends, Family and of course our readers for voting for us, without you would we have never been short-listed and although we didn't win, we thank you for all your support, now and always!

Thank you also to the guys at Company Magazine, and Newlook for throwing an amazing bash for all us bloggers.

So you probably want to know who won?? Well here is a list of not only the winners but all the amazing blogs in both our categories, We insist that you go a pay them all a visit right now and show them the support you show us every day, go on you know you want to!!

 Winners in the Blogging Duo Category were www.londons-closet.com these Gorgeous girls wore the most envy worthy neon dresses! 

Highly commended were www.littlewinter.net 

Runners up were... www.thestylerawr.com, www.thesarahsstyleblog.wordpress.com,  www.theafternoonteaclub.com, www.thesugarspunsisters.blogspot.co.uk, www.prettyposhohmygosh.com, www.lwofficial.blogspot.co.uk, www.thestrawberrysisters.com and us of course.

Winners for Crafty Blog were www.trendswb.blogspot.co.uk a fab-u-lous Crafty blog Trends With Benefits, with loads of fun D.I.Y's. 

Highly commended were www.fashionisourplayground.com

Runners up were www.thisfashionismine.com, www.thenewcraftsociety.wordpress.com, www.dreamsthatglitterxoxo.com, www.vintagefollie.blogspot.co.uk, www.angelinthenorth.com, www.quirkylifestyle.com, www.evenartichokeshavehearts.co.uk oh yes and us (just in case you forgot)

You can check out the winners of all the categories on Company's HQ page

Thank you again, and again!

H and Sammy xxx