For the love of Art

Hello my beauties :) How is everyone today? I'm well, had a relaxing day doing a few errands and going to college. The weather is terrible here, but I'm hoping it will get better soon!

A week or so ago I bought one of the most beautiful bikes ever! It's very simple, but dutch, traditional, pink, has a big wicker basket and cute print panniers. It's also very comfortable to ride and is steeped in history, which I love! It's a Gazelle Basic Single Speed (Gazelle being the oldest Dutch bike company) and it's PINK (Havana Pink to be exact) <3 I bought it from the lovely people at East Coast Bicycles in Hull, you can find them here and here.

<3 The start of a life long love affair I think!

I had a video to hand in for a college deadline, so, as is me, I got it done the week before (fantastic you think! Until I tell you we've had the brief for about 4 months! Whoops!) I headed over to Flamborough North Landing, an absolutely tiny bay on the East Coast about an hour away from Hull, just past Bridlington. It was a perfect location and I can't wait to go back when the weather is better to get some more footage and photos. I also took the opportunity to use up the film in my camera for college, we have a landscape assignment due in the first week of May, where we must use film (eeep!). I'm eagerly awaiting their arrival so I can get them scanned in and see what they're like, really loved using the Canon EOS 3. 

The shop is going well, we've added some new stock from Sourpuss last week, you can check it out here :) Hull's Angels Roller Derby are having a bout May 13th in Hull against the Bruising Banditas and we'll be having a stall there among some over local business. For more info check out the Facebook event. 

Recently I've been indulging in reading the blogs of some of my favourite people, specifically Honey Bee In the City, Cupcake's Clothes, The Plus Size Life of Tess Munster. 

Also pinning everything in sight on my pinterest account, remlangton, especially French Bulldogs, home interior, crafting and delicious food <3

Tess Munster <3

Texas Trash 

1 package cream cheese 1 cup sour cream 2 cans (16 ounces, each) refried beans 1 packet taco seasoning 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 2 cups monterey jack cheese, shredded... must try:)

I can so see Calvin doing this sometime in our future!

I'd call him Frank <3

Beautiful Ranunculus <3 Quickly becoming my favourite flower!

I live by this!

How gorgeous is this print combo? I think a polka dot skirt is in the making!

I'll be posting soon enough with something a bit more structured, but for now you'll have to put up with this brief update and pretty pictures!

XOXO

Altered States Collection Now Online!

I've finally found an e-commerce site that I like in BigCartel. It's very handy, fairly priced, easy to use and designed well.

Find the new shop at http://alteredstatescollection.bigcartel.com/ ! Very excited, and I hope you all check it out, more stock to be added in the next few weeks :)

Twenty before TwentyOne

As inspired by Kaelah of Honeybean Boutique, I've decided to do my own version of her "24 before 25" with "20 before 21".

The idea is to complete as many of these tasks as possible before your next birthday, making a new list including any that you didn't manage to complete for the next year, for me it will be TwentyOne before TwentyTwo.  

My List

Twenty before TwentyOne

1. Make the shop a success 

2. Get the studio established

3. Move out 

4. Get a different car

5. Start Bike Riding; get an Electra

6. Pass all my exams and start a new Accountancy-Business course

7. Get my Photography Certificate

8. Clear my overdraft

9. Get a French BullDog

10. Drop two dress sizes

11. Grow my hair long and get it back into good condition

12. Plan a trip away; anywhere!

13. Go camping at least once

14. Do something for Charity

15. Save money every time I get some, at least 10%

16. Go Swimming once a month

17. Do more crafting, using the materials I already have; no need to buy!

18. Find a placement for my accountancy; one day a week

19. Make budgets and stick to them!

20. Spend quality time with family and friends

Hopefully by 29th November this year rolls round, most, if not all of these will have been completed/attempted. Wish me luck!

Truancy!

Oh my dear readers!

I must apologise for the extended absence these past few months! Life just got on top of me and the daily blogs just took a back seat. But this is set to change indeed!

I'll give you a little lowdown and much needed explanation for the truancy! So, the last time we talked was back in the middle of September when I was starting my classes and getting back into the swing of "being a student" something that I hadn't been for well over 9 months. I was beginning my degree in "Lens Based Photo Media" i.e. Photography and a bit of Video, my AAT in Accountancy. I went through a horrible break up and was just getting to know the people on my courses and making some good friends. Hurray for being less socially awkward!

3 Months later in January 2012 I was now with my lovely boyfriend (I'd like to say partner, but it's way too formal!) Calvin and I couldn't be happier, college was getting crappier and I was seriously stressing out with some new ideas that I really wanted to implement.

Step back to Christmas 2011, I had a brainwave to open up my own shop, specialising in Alternative clothing with a 50s edge. I knew it would work, how I wanted it to look, what I wanted to call it and that it was exactly what my town needed, an injection of vintage retro style!

In January I decided to go into business with my aunt who had a similar shop on the other side of the river and wanted to be closer to home. We found a retail space, got the financial backing from the bank, and bought our first lot of stock! By 17th March we were having our Grand Opening and starting to make money!

All while this was happening I was having issues with college, thankfully because of my Aunt I missed a minimal amount of coursework; the issues were more about the quality of education we were receiving, and as student rep it was my job to bring it up and get it sorted.

Despite any action that might take place in the next few weeks, I have decided to leave at the end of the academic year and focus purely on the shop and my accountancy. I can earn so much more and progress further if I don't have a few hours a day, 5 days a week of something that at the moment seems quite pointless. It's such a shame as I really enjoyed the first few months, but when your enthusiasm, inspiration, determination and positivity is at nil, its time to make a change.

I'll be doing my AAT Accountancy course on one day, rather than two evenings, and hopefully get enrolled to start on my CIMA exams (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) in order to be chartered by the time I finish my AAT. Then I can start on a career which can earn me decent amounts while being free to build up my business as I'm hoping to freelance with the Accountancy.

Seriously exciting times, there is so much I want to do, that I know will release some potential in the shop, get me a decent wage.

Inspired by the lovely Kaelah of Honeybean Boutique fame I am composing a goal list of "20 before 21" keep an eye out for it in the next post!

Shoe Love

Sorry that I haven't blogged for the past week, y'know how life gets in the way for us bloggers. 

Just to bring you up to speed, I've started my Accountancy evening class, started learning how to crochet, been to an amazing village farmers' market and start Freshers' Week for my Photography course on monday. 

Last night after reading Kaelah's post on one of her autumn outfits, I searched for a uk stockist of those wonderful Gee WaWa shoes, seriously, I want them so bad, in every colour! They look comfortable enough to wear all day and look great with jeans, especially the wide leg/flare/bootcuts of this season, and with pretty dresses, tights (and cardigans!). 

Aren't they awesome?! 

Though I do love how Kaelah wears hers olive versions with maroon tights.

Admitting defeat, I stumbled across office's website. I've never been on there, but my luck was in, and I ordered a pair for £12 (+£3.50 P+P) that were £65! Wow, BIG discount. 

A bit different, but substantial enough for winter, I'm hoping.  Again, tights, skinny jeans, bootcuts, can see it all happening with these shoes. Love the detail too, and £53 off?!

Hat Pattern on Straight Needles.

So, I promised you a reveal of the hat I've been knitting over the last few days. To be honest, it took me a couple of hours, but I redid it once, and I might re-do it again and use the same lace pattern I did for the scarf. 

The hat, like the scarf, is really simple. Again, it uses Knit, Purl and K2 or P2 TOG. 

This pattern is also for use on straight needles, other than circular of double-pointed (which a lot of hat patterns are for). 

I used the Debbie Bliss Paloma in Mustard, which calls for 10mm (but I used 9mm) needles. It's gives a very elastic finish, which is of course great for hats and gives a perfect fit. 

CO Cast On 

K Knit

P Purl

K2P2 Knit two Purl two

K2TOG Knit two together

CO 56 Stitches.

K2P2 for 8 rows. 

This gives the ribbing on the edge of the hat, making the fit even better.

Knit in Stockinette stitch (K a row, P a row) or in Garter (K all rows) for 26 rows. 

In the hat below, I did about 8 rows of Garter, followed by stockinette starting with a K row on the wrong side, so that the purl rows show on the same side as the first 8 rows of knit (I was experimenting a bit here!) and even when you start decreasing in the next step, continue with the type of stitch you are doing, e.g. if you are using stockinette use P2TOG (on P rows) or K2TOG (on K rows) depending on the row that you are on.

Decrease by K2TOG or P2TOG four times on every row. 

On the first decreasing row, knit(or purl) the 11th and 12th stitch, second row 10th and 11th row, and so on (do count your stitches and divide by 4, and minus 2 to work out how many stitches are in between your k2/p2tog stitches). 

Repeat until you have 8 stitches left, then cut yarn leaving 12" tail.

Pull the yarn through remaining stitches, cinch tight and weave in ends. 

You can pull the yarn through the remaining stitches by using the end of your other needle. When weaving in the ends you can pull the stitches (close to the edge of the hat) apart a little and pull the wool through, making sure to keep it as tight as you can. When weaved to the end, just tie off (either to itself by looping through stitches or to your BO wool). 

(Sorry about the overexposed-ness; dang PhotoBooth!) 

This is on the P side, so you can see the 8 rows or so of K, followed by the ws side of the stockinette and so all the P stitches. 

I showed you a pattern earlier this week for a simple lace-like scarf, here. And this is the finished scarf (or cowl). After getting to the desired length, I bound off, leaving a 6" tail and weaved through the two ends, pulling tight and tying off. I like cowls, there a bit more useful than just a scarf :)

Any questions about either pattern just ask :)

Rebekah

x

Furniture Fridays: Back to Nature

During a little research for tonight's post, I came across these. 

How awesome are these?! I keep trying to work out how it's been done. At first glance it looked like they'd cemented old pieces, then I thought maybe yoghurt? 

Looking closer, its seems to be the same material bio-degradeable seedling pots are made from, a kind of cardboard material that retains a lot of water. 

The artist Kevin Hunt thinks of it as a very changeable work of art, in that it is beyond his control and adapts due to the conditions. 

I just love the idea of sitting on a seat, cushioned by grass. I can imagine a picnic table made like this, love it! 

Rebekah

x