Monday 30 July 2018

Erstwilder Brooch Haul



I've added five new brooches to my ever-growing Erstwilder jewellery collection over the last month or so, and I figured it was about time I gave you guys a look at my new favourite pieces. I know many of you will love them as much as I do.

First up is an old Erstwilder fan favourite rereleased in a brand new colour-way for 2018- an amazing Kraken brooch called From The Deep. It features a deep-purple, marbled-resin Kraken breaching wild glittery aquamarine waves that are both threatening to devour an old grey ship with cream marbled sails, and a glittery magenta flag on top. Behind it, are vivid ombre blue and white skies shaped like a cloud that makes the scene look a whole lot less threatening than it should be. It. Is. Stunning. I honestly cannot get over the beautiful colours and resins used to create this amazing brooch; there's so much to take in and the detail is just incredible. My photos really don't do it justice. It has got to be one of my favourite pieces of jewellery ever!


Another piece I chose from the Fan Favourites collection is Sandy the Shy Seahorse. Sandy has also been given a whole new look for 2018, and has made a transformation from pink and blue to purple and green. This sweet little seahorse has a lilac pearlescent face and stomach, with a marbled purple body and tail, which is tightly curled around a tendril of marbled emerald-green seaweed. He's a little smaller than most Erstwilder brooches, but he still makes a great statement piece, and what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in character. I think he's absolutely adorable, and will be ideal for wearing on trips to the seaside and visits to the aquarium. He's currently on sale for just £17.95 at Bark at the Meow, so snap him up here.



From seahorses to sea otters, the next piece I have to show you is Eric's Otters; a pair of purple and pink sea otters lying on their backs holding hands. (Did you know sea otters hold hands when they're sleeping so they don't float away from each other? How cute is that?!) I don't know who Eric is or how he came to own a pair of purple and pink sea otters, but I think you'll agree his otters are adorable. These pastel-coloured critters are block-coloured with cream muzzles and slightly darker ears than their bodies, and have a glossy finish. It's one of the cutest brooches I've ever seen, and I'm so happy to finally have it in my collection. It'll be perfect for accessorising pastel-coloured outfits and other uber feminine ensembles.


I've clearly been drawn to aquatic animal designs lately, as the fourth brooch I chose is another sea-creature-themed piece- Michelle Sea Turtle from the Ocean Vibes collection. Michelle is a graceful green sea turtle made from vibrant lime green and tortoiseshell patterned resins, and she's every bit as beautiful as the real turtles that grace our oceans. Just look at those resins! So gorgeous. I've always loved sea turtles, so I just had to have her in my collection, and I'm so glad I was able to snap her up with my birthday money (along with Sandy and the otters) after coveting her for months.


Last but not least is the newest addition to my collection, Matryoshka Memories, from the new nostalgic childhood collection, Down Memory Lane. Matryoshka Memories is a stunning red and black Russian doll brooch decorated with folky marbled and pearlescent resin flowers, dots, and patterns in shades of yellow, white, and red. She's an absolute beauty! With her bold colours and large size, she's so striking, and has to be one of my favourite brooches to date. I was actually really lucky to get my hands on her because she sold out so quickly; I managed to grab the very last one from Carnation Collectibles! She's currently sold out from all the online UK stockists, but is still available direct from Erstwilder's website, so move fast if you want to add her to your collection.


And those are the five newcomers to my Erstwilder brooch collection.

I'm so pleased with every single piece. The designs are amazing, the quality is wonderful, as always, and I know I'm going to get lots of wear out of all of them. I've already worn some of them multiple times.



Each range has been designed by a different guest designer, and each piece is made from laser-cut layered resins which are assembled and painted by hand. They also come presented in their own sturdy round cardboard box baring the Erstwilder logo, which makes them a great gift for any novelty jewellery fan, and stops the brooches getting damaged in transit / storage.

Erstwilder is based in Melbourne, Australia, but if you live outside Australia and don't want to pay the shipping and tax fees, they do have stockists around the world, which you can find links to here. I buy my Erstwilder brooches from several different UK stockists, but particularly favour and recommend Glitterally as they offer free delivery, efficient service, and usually send sweets with my orders. What's not to love about that?

Do you have any Erstwilder brooches in your jewellery collection?

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Sunday 29 July 2018

Sunday Favourites #338


Let's get this week's Sunday Favourites post started! 


A pretty birthday cake for girls from A Subtle Revelry.


I love this sweet whale succulent planter from Mrs Biscuit Art.


I want to make a DIY pom pom picnic blanket, like this one from Studio DIY.


These DIY felt monstera leaf canvas tote bags from Dream Green DIY would be perfect for carrying your grocery shopping.


The Sprinkle Factory's banana split cake looks amazing.


How cute are these DIY mini rainbow pinatas from Tell Love and Party?!


This ceramic bunny brooch from Mrs Biscuit Art is adorable.


Bliss Makes can show you how to use a cheese plant / monstera leaf to make a painting. Monstera-themed things like this always make me feel so nostalgic as my Mum always had a cheese plant in the house when I was growing up.


These DIY faux cupcake photo holders from A Kailo Chic Life are super cute.


I'd love to have a go at making some of Mr Printables DIY flower pom poms.


I love this colourful 'Peaceful Seas' acrylic art print from Dorkface Shop. It's so inexpensive, too!



Elsie's rainbow bookshelves are the bookshelves of my dreams! I actually tried to colour-organise my bookshelves last weekend, but I couldn't fit all of my books back on the shelves, so I had to change them back. I need to buy some new taller bookshelves to fit them all on so I can try again.


It's waaaay too hot for blankets right now, but I'd love to make a giant pom pom throw like this one from Vintage Revivals to keep warm under this Autumn / Winter.

Lovely Links

♥ Immi from Nettle & Blackberry asked 'why are we all convinced blogging is dying?'

♥ Hannah Witton asks a question many of us with debilitating health conditions likely wonder from time to time- 'am I disabled?'


♥ I enjoyed taking a closer look at the new Erstwilder Down Memory Lane collection in Miss Hero Holliday two-part reveal- Down Memory Lane part one and part two.







If you'd like to see more stuff like this, check out my Pinterest and Tumblr. You can also find all previous Sunday Favourites posts here.

Any favourites this week?
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Wednesday 25 July 2018

Wednesday Wish List


Here are a few things I've been lusting after this week...


1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

I know I featured Cath Kidston's Mini Badgers and Friends collection in a different colour-way last week, but I just had to show you the other style as well. I still prefer the white version, but the blue pattern has really grown on me in the last week, and I've added so many pieces to my wish list. I just can't resist a good animal print! I particularly love the pocket zipped shopper, and the phone case.


1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Some pretty floral and watermelon print Lyra dresses from Lady Vintage. 


1 // 2

How cute are these fish and chips truck novelty bags from Vendula London?!



I don't often wear trainers these days, but I love these bumble bee embroidered trainers from Cath Kidston. The little embroidered bees are too cute!


1 // 2

I need these beautiful acrylic necklaces from Glitter Punk. Those colours!


1 // 2

I bought one of these smock dresses from Boohoo Plus in a different colour last year, and it's so light and airy in the heat, I'm tempted to buy one or both of these new versions. They're made of a cheesecloth like fabric, so they're actually great for keeping cool in the summer heat, and the sleeves are a great length if you don't feel comfortable baring your upper arms. I totally recommend!



It's too hot for wearing denim right now, but I'd love this dungaree dress from ASOS Curve for when the weather cools down again. It would be perfect for transitioning in to Autumn.



I love this pretty floral tea dress from Yours Clothing. I think I'm going to need this one in my life.

If you'd like to see more of the fashion pieces on my wish list, check out my style wish list boards on Pinterest. You can also find all previous Wednesday Wish List posts here.

Any favourites this week?
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Tuesday 24 July 2018

Currently | July 2018


It's been a couple of months since I last sat down and wrote a 'currently' post about some of the things I've been doing and enjoying lately, so I thought it was about time for a catch up. 

Let's start with what I've been watching...



Watching

I haven't actually been watching much of anything new over the past few months, because I've not been in the mood to concentrate, or start anything new. Do you ever get days / months like that? I've been enjoying season two of The Handmaid's Tale, and Timeless, but apart from that, I've mostly just been watching old favourites like The Big Bang Theory, and Home and Away. I think the only new film I've watched this summer is The Greatest Showman, which I absolutely love. It's one of the best musicals I've seen in years, and I love that it unapologetically celebrates people of all shapes and sizes, colours, abilities, and conditions. It's so refreshing, and sends out such a positive message. I only wish they had featured more actors who have the health conditions- real albinos, real bearded ladies, real conjoined twins- to truly celebrate and help normalise such conditions, but I suppose finding actors with the conditions who can also sing and dance can't be easy in this ablest society. Regardless, I really enjoyed the movie, and I can't seem to get the songs out of my head.



Listening

I can't say I've been listening to a lot of music lately, just a bit of Linkin Park here, a bit of Fall Out Boy there... but I've been loving Panic! at the Disco's new album 'Pray For The Wicked'. It's full of amazing, upbeat, catchy songs.



 Reading

Since my last 'currently' post, I've been having a bit of a Frances Hardinge reading binge, and have worked my way through A Skinful of Shadows, A Face Like Glass, and Cuckoo Song. All three were fantastic page-turners that kept me gripped until the end. Hardinge has such a beautiful way with words, and her fantasy stories are so unique and original. I'd definitely recommend the three above.

Earlier this summer, I also read The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, a novel based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner of Auschwitz who was forced to tattoo numbers on to the arms of the men, women, and children entering the concentration camps. The importance of his role earned him some protection in the camps, and he secretly used his privilege to help his fellow prisoners and the girl he was falling in love with, while risking being caught at any moment. Lale's harrowing story was fascinating and one of the best Holocaust stories I've read, but difficult to read at times, when the horrors he witnessed and friends experienced were described. Still, I flew through this book in two days, and highly recommend it if you have an interest in reading about the Holocaust.

  
Stitching

As I've been busy working on other craft projects over the last few months, I haven't done as much cross stitching as I'd like, and I'm still working on the colourful Spectrum Mandala cross stitch from The World in Stitches that I showed you in my last 'currently' post. I'm back to cross stitching daily again now, though, and I'm finally beginning to close in on the three quarter mark. I'm really happy with how it's coming together; seeing all those colours blend together is super satisfying. I'm hoping to get it finished by the end of August so I can spend Autumn working on some Christmas craft projects.


Crafting

In June, I finally finished the four felt spring wreaths I taught myself to make during the Spring, (which I blogged about here), and they came out so well it's given me such a sense of accomplishment. I've decided to make Christmas wreaths in a similar style, and as the Spring wreaths took months of work, I've already began working on them so that they'll be ready in time for Christmas. I've started making red felt roses and poinsettias to use, and next I'm going to figure out how to make felt amaryllis flowers, and possibly even pinecones and mistletoe. I can't seem to stop making felt flowers now I know how!


Painting

I haven't done heaps of painting lately, but I recently treated myself to a cheap set of gouache paints, and I've been having fun getting to grips with them. I've wanted to try painting with gouache for years, and I'm loving how vibrant the paints are compared to the watercolours I usually work in.

Buying

I had a nice little rebate earlier this year, so I've been able to treat myself to some amazing Erstwilder brooches, and lots of beautiful pieces from the Cath Kidston Alice in Wonderland collection lately. I've also been buying some Body Shop body butters and lotions, a few books, and a couple of Kimchi and Coconut brooches. I'll be blogging about most of them really soon!



Winning

I was recently lucky enough to win copies of Breathe magazine, and Breathe Special Nature Journal from Emma of The Cornish Geek (thanks, Emma!), which I'm absolutely loving. I've never read Breathe magazine before, but it's filled with inspiring articles on wellbeing, mindfullness and creativity, and illustrated with beautiful art. It's been such an enjoyable read, so I'm definitely going to be picking up future issues. 

The Nature Journal, which is designed to help you connect with nature to improve your wellbeing, is even better, with gorgeous art and illustrations on every page, and tasks to complete throughout the year. From writing down your favourite things about each season to exploring nature and recording the animals and plants you see, it's full of fun projects to help you connect with the natural world. If you love nature and enjoy being creative like I do, you'd love it, and need to get yourself a copy. I'm really looking forward to getting started on all the Summer and Autumn tasks, but it's so pretty I almost don't want to make a mark in it.

Needing

a holiday, a life, and some clothes I can wear in the heat without melting.

Wanting

Everything from the new Cath Kidston Otters and Mini Badgers and Friends collections, all the Erstwilder jewellery, some new bookshelves, a holiday by the sea, to spend some time out of the house, and my heart to calm the fuck down.

Wishing

the heat would cool down, and we could have Autumn weather already. If you haven't heard the UK is currently basking in the hottest and longest heatwave since the sixties. We've had over four weeks straight of 30'C+ weather here in Oxfordshire (it's been up to 34'C!), which is not normal English weather. We might get a week of it each summer, but that's usually it. Our houses are designed to keep the heat in and we don't have air conditioning in our homes, so it's been unbearable. I'm always overheated from my chronic illnesses, and can't regulate my own body temperature, so I feel so uncomfortable in the heat. I've not had the energy to do anything, and I feel like I've lost a couple of stone sweating from places I didn't know could sweat. I'm so ready for the weather to change, and for Autumn to begin. It doesn't sound like it's going to happen any time soon, though.

Celebrating

On the 2nd, I celebrated my 33rd birthday (man, I'm getting old!). I'm not one for parties and don't really have anyone to celebrate with any more, so I had a quiet one with a trip to the zoo, and an evening in eating birthday cake and a buffet tea with my family. I was given some lovely presents, too, which I'll be blogging about soon.


Playing

My younger sister bought me a Nintendo 2DS for my birthday earlier this month, so I've been having fun playing Mario Kart 7 almost every day since. It's been years since I last played it (on the Wii), and it's great fun. Does anyone have any 2DS game recommendations? I need to buy some new games to play on it.

Eating

I've basically been living on ice cream and all the cold drinks I can get my hand on, to survive the heatwave. Maxibons and Haagen Daaz lollies have been two of my recent faves- but nothing beats a 99 from the ice cream van!

Loving

I'm loving Insta stories at the moment. I could spend hours watching them from my fave Instagrammers every day (and sometimes I do). It's so addictive, and I love seeing what everyone is getting up to or enjoying. I began putting my own stories together a couple of months ago, and I'm really enjoying sharing little snippets from my life, like things I've been buying or crafting, and I'm having fun getting creative with it. It's definitely my favourite platform to use right now- although, I don't post every day because I haven't always got anything exciting to share. It's not easy coming up with interesting content when you're housebound and have no life!

So, that's what I've been doing and enjoying lately. What about you? 

What are you loving right now?

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Sunday 22 July 2018

Sunday Favourites #337


Who's up for some Sunday Favourites?




An easy DIY simple catch-all tray from Sarah Hearts.


These super cute DIY cupcake bath bombs from A Pumpkin and a Princess.


I'd love to have a go at making this DIY confetti cake with homemade sprinkles from A Kailo Chic Life.


Aww Sam's palm tree beach cupcakes are adorable.


I'm tempted to make a DIY flower garland after seeing this beautiful DIY from Little White Socks.


This bees embroidery kit from Nog Pepper Me is so pretty.


I also want to make a rainbow striped cake from Studio DIY's awesome tutorial.


These DIY gradient diamond magnets from Mein Feenstaub are too cute.


I love Oh Joy's sophisticated pastel bedroom.


I'm obsessed with Cath Kidston new otter collection. It's all otterly adorable.



These rainbow and swirl fiber wall hangings by Mandi Smethells are so beautiful.


Speaking of rainbows, this rainbow sugar scrub DIY from Lemon Adventures looks like fun. Who doesn't want to make a rainbow in a jar??

Lovely Links

♥ I completely relate to this Twitter thread from From Sarah Lex about doctors insisting 'you're too young to be in pain.' I've been hearing this since I was twelve, and still hear it at thirty-three! I barely got any help for the first three years of living with chronic pain in my twenties, because I was apparently too young to be in pain. It's frustrating as hell. What medical school do these doctors go to that teaches them there's an age restriction on pain??

♥ Hayley Hall talked about five of the biggest blogging mistakes you could be making (and how to fix them).

♥ Mandy of A Girl Obsessed shared 14 ways to give life to old blog posts.

♥ Becky of Milk Bubble Tea put together a list of useful apps for bloggers.

♥ Amie of The Curvaceous Vegan pondered what does it mean to be a blogger?

♥ Chloe of Lady Writes wrote about how to make Pinterest really work for your blog or brand.

♥ The women choosing to love their natural grey hair. I'm not ready to love the few I have started to get, but it's empowering to see other women embracing their natural hair.

♥ A guy walked 20 miles over night to get to work in the morning, and he was rewarded in the best possible way. Now that's what I call dedication to your work.

♥ What prison cells look like around the world. I feel claustrophobic just looking at the over-crowded cage in Penal de Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador (#14). Nobody deserves to live like that. (Except maybe Trump).

♥ The extraordinary ossuary at St. Leonard's Church, Hythe, where two dozen human skulls were stolen from last week.

♥ The Congo tries to sell dozens of rare, critically endangered wild animals to two zoos in China. Thankfully, their arrangement was leaked and the plans suspended... at least for now.

♥ The tiny French bulldog puppy who was abandoned by the breeder for having a cleft palette and water on the brain. My heart!

If you'd like to see more like this, check out my Pinterest and Tumblr. You can also find all previous Sunday Favourites posts here.

Any favourites this week?
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