And breathe...

The past week, i enjoyed a much needed breather and little time off and away from the four walls of the sewing room at uni.

I chilled out in hot tubs, played giant Jenga, had my nails pampered, relaxed with family, coo-ed over babies, giggled with the girls, danced and drank the night away with my friends and of course, ate lots of my dad's yummy cooking.

But now, I'm back at uni, and the countdown is really on now...21 working days and counting!

I can't believe how quick these 3 years have flew by!

Recently i applied for some postgraduate Master degree courses and also some posts for writing contributions, and I'm happy to so I've had good news on both accounts, have had a smile plastered on my face recently! :)

Since I'm about to finish, i thought it'd be nice to post a bit about my work this year.

My collection is all about texture and drapes, and it originated from my research of insects.

It's nothing like i pictured my collection to be like at the start, but I'm glad in a way, my work and i have developed and grown and I'm happy to be proud of my work.

Before i entered back to the colourful world of the sewing room, i had a friend's 21st birthday party the night before, and it was just brilliant.

I got to dress up and spent girly time getting ready with the girls, there was champagne, yummy desert, great songs that were oldies but goodies, that i danced the night away too, and best of all, i got to hang out and spend time with my friends.

I love my friends from home, I've known them for years, we've grown up and changed with one another, and after 3 years apart at uni, everytime we get together and have a laugh, it just reiterates to me what a great bunch of good eggs there are, and it just puts a great big ol' goofy smile on my face!

Are any of you at uni and nearly finishing? Or have you got your life sorted already and chilled out?!

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x

Pottering about...

While my 2 housemates, Michaela and Hannah, came to visit me in Stoke, i decided to take them do something to do something completely...Stoke.

Stoke-on-Trent was once a place where a lot of the world's pottery came from, and even now is highly known for it's pottery, so i decided to take them, along with my other friend Sarah, to the factory and decorating studio of Emma Bridgewater, where we decorated and painted our own tableware.

  So, with our paintbrushes and stamps at the ready and our chosen weapon of paints in tow, we were ready to attack candle holders, mugs, and jugs.

 

Hannah and I have once been here before and highly enjoyed it, however, this time, there was the addition of festive stamps, such as Christmas trees, mistletoe and holly.

Sarah went for a jug, decorated with multi-coloured striped and spotted sheep.

Michaela went to town on her candle holder with a winter scene with lots of amazing attention to detail in her snowmen.

Hannah invested herself in a lil cute mug, as did i, and we both indulged ourselves in the festive decorations and decided that these were the perfect size for a tipple of Baileys.

 I had reindeers galloping around mine with a hidden, lil Christmas pudding surprise waiting at the bottom. 

 I also got a larger mug and made a statement with my love for moustaches

"I moustache you a question!"

 If you get the chance to come Emma Bridgewater, or anywhere else in fact, to do some pottery painting, i would highly recommend it. It's such a relaxing but fun activity to do with others, and lets you show off your creative flair as well.

We then went to Trenthams Gardens and mulled around, looking at mulled wine and yummy-sounding liquors.













We later went to have dinner at a restaurant that has been a ol' favourite of mine named The Swan and Two Necks, and we indulged ourselves in some fantastic food and a really amazing platter of desserts to share.

 

A lot of the time, gifts and partying takes over Christmas and we forget that spending time with the ones we love is what is most important and one of the best things about this time of year.

I hope you all get to spend time with the loved ones in your lives this year, and I know this isn't possible for everyone, so my thoughts are with you.
I hope all your days will be merry and bright!

I hope you're all well.
Speak soon.
A.x