Shop Update.

Good Afternoon! :)

I have some brand new earrings for my shop, and I'm totally excited to show them all to you!

I have fallen in love with making jewellery lately, it is amazingly therapeutic and relaxing, and it's become my new addiction! I will be selling these in limited quantities though, because a lot of the buttons I've collected don't match.

I also want to start making fabric earrings too, but I will make a sample or two to see how it turns out from my smallest scraps!

However, I only have a few pieces to sell at the moment, because I have to get ready for my bestie's birthday dinner, and I'm so excited to leave the house for a bit, as it's that time of year when Uni gets really stressful because of getting used to things... especially with it being my final year!

I love this guy! He's like the most awesomest friend in the world, and I wouldn't know what I'd do without him :) He's one of the true friends that I know would always be there for me no matter what and has been so far. <3

Katherine xo

My week in Photos.

Hello! :)

As I write this, I am waiting for my paint to dry in my sketchbook, I love to paint! :)

On Tuesday, it was my birthday, and it was nice, because I got so much love on facebook and texts and at Uni. Unfortunately I was ill so I was barely at Uni, just had some cakes with my friends, which they loved. I got lots of presents, all of which I loved; especially the kindle, business book and jewellery kit to get me started on my new jewellery venture, which I have created in my shop:






On Wednesday, I had some dinner and drinks with my friends, at the slug and lettuce, which was nice and I was tired by the end of that night!

On Friday, I had some dinner with my friends in Benihannas in Picadilly, it was really fun, especially with trying new dishes that I never usually eat.

On Saturday, I went to a Roller Disco, which was awesome, I never fell over, but my hips hurt after a couple of hours! It's never a good a idea for someone with chronic back and hip pain to be doing that kinda thing... eek!

On Sunday, me and the family went to Jimmy Spice's in Wimbledon... it was wicked! The food was great, I loved spending time with them. It was a perfect way to end the celebratory week. :)



This was my birthday cake. It was soooo good- with vanilla icing and all sorts.

Thank you to everyone once again who sent their birthday wishes. <3

Katherine xo

Birthday Baking.

Today I spent the day baking away in the kitchen... I wanted to give myself a rest before the madness of my birthday begins tomorrow.  I have never really had a good time with baking so I was a bit nervous. In all the midst of panicking, I created a proper mess in the kitchen, BUT I didn't overly ruin anything! I especially love the malteser  bites I created in the first picture... :)

Tonight my mum made me chips and gravy, it was yum! I know chips and gravy is practically the same thing as if I were having a whole potato, but I loved it nonetheless. 

I hope my friends like what I have made tomorrow, and if not, then I'll have loads of treats to get me through the week, mwahahahaha. 

Have a great night! 

Katherine xo

The only way is blogging event & Natural History Museum

I had such a great day out today... I was feeling really under the weather and now I'm really pooped, but it was so worth going there to meet new people, and learn some great tips on make up and how to make my blog look better... which is why my blog looks a little different now- I hope you like it!

I turned up at the event, after going to the wrong area, and my iPhone map being a fail, and I felt so nervous being by myself at first and was quietly drinking my tap water in the corner (haha) but then one of the ladies from Fashionista made me feel really welcome, it was so cool how they made me feel such at ease.

I spoke to a few bloggers and they were so friendly, I do hope that I will not be ill again before The only way is blogging makes another event, because had this not happened, I would have stayed the whole way through!

I saw one of my favorite beauty bloggers Kate from Ghostparties, and I was like so shy, I couldn't bring myself to go over to say hi! 

I also got a free Fashionista eye make up kit, which was AWESOME, I will deffo start wearing these on my birthday on Tuesday- I have been looking for eyeshadows & make up that actually does last, and this after I tested a small bit on my hand seems to be really opaque and look really good against my skin.

I went to the Natural History Museum briefly to see the Marine Invertebrates Collection, which was really cool too, I snapped a few pictures for my project! I just wanted to make full use of my travelcard :)

Katherine xo

More Shop News.

Hello!

I'm just making some quick announcements for my shop:

• I will no longer be calling my eco clothing line shop 'Bend Down Boutique'. I have fallen out of love with that name, and I feel that I would love to grow it further with an alternative. I have also decided to close Kaye Homewares as well.
• Handmade by Ify will be the new name on etsy, starting from Tuesday October 18th (my birthday). It will still sell the recycled and handmade clothing, jewellery and accessories, but it will also have the handpicked homeware pieces in there as well.
• Because of this, I have changed my Facebook group and Twitter username, just so that it's easier to find me and it's more memorable. I cant believe it took me this long to realise it, but I feel that it's one of the reasons why it's been holding my shop back a bit.
• I don't yet know if I can change the name of my blogger website, but if it does change, it will also be to Handmade by Ify.

So here are some new links to my websites:

Twitter

Facebook

Other links will be updated next week, so keep your eyes peeled, my lovelies.

Katherine xo

P.S Take advantage of my discount that is still in my clothing shop. Type in BIRTHDAYSALE to get 22% off ALL items. Expires on 18/10. 

It's about that time.

First of all, I'd like to mention that I have some new beauties in my shop, in case you don't know! I love these pieces that I have created, and I think that they are a perfect thing to have this season.

But the most important update is about the price of my garments and accessories for sale at my shop. People always say that my garments are really inexpensive and the reason why is because I normally don't pay myself a decent wage... I pay myself the National Minimum Wage for the UK which is £6p/h, and with myself being a Londoner, it's not really enough to live on if I want to progress my business. With that effect, I  will be increasing it to £8p/h. This however, doesn't mean that I am going to increase the price of my items already for sale in my shop- that would be awful! It also means that I am going to take the time to make the clothes with a greater quality, because it is less pressure to make the items as quickly as possible!

I hope you lovelies understand, and thank you all for supporting me so far!

Katherine xo

My week in iPhone photos.

I'm so sorry that I have been neglectful with blogging as of late. I have been kinda busy with Uni work this week.

Last Sunday, even though I was so unwell, I soldiered on and went to see my bestie that I went on an internship with. We had arranged to go to Spitalfields Market and Columbia Flower Market, and she had the patience of a saint because trains on that day was soooo bad. We looked at the flowers and stuff and they were so beautiful! I know I'ma make a stop there and snag a few flowers when I get my own house with a garden. :)




We also looked at a few boutiques in Columbia Road, and I loved everything about them, it was inspirational and we both looked at each other and said "we must own our own shop one day", that was such an awesome moment. We also talked about setting up a stall again in Spitalfields and Camden again in November, so I know I have to make new stock and make some displays to hang our jewellery. STAY TUNED for that one!

This week, I have been creating new textiles pieces (as you can see in my sketchbook) and it has been so exciting to finally be a 3rd year and be making fabrics that I want to do, and not have anyone tell me otherwise!

I have barely stopped this week, and I have missed reading my favourite people's blogs! I'm thinking to go to the renegade craft fair this week, as I really want to meet my favourite bloggers and crafts people... It's going to be a bit of a mission because I'll be going to the Horniman Museum as well!

New stock & a nice discount!

Hey lovelies,

I almost forgot to mention that I have new things for sale in the shop!








These pieces would make a lovely addition to your wardrobe; it is quirky but simple and not over the top, which  is always great for someone who is buying into recycled clothing for the first time!

As it is a few weeks before my birthday, I have also set up a discount! Just type in 'BIRTHDAYSALE' in the checkout for 22% discount... Offer ends on midnight of October 18th.

I was supposed to be sewing today, but I am so drained that even typing this blog post is taking a lot of energy out of me. It's my fault though kinda, I went for a workout in the gym and left it 6 hours to eat again, and when I did eat it made me feel kinda miserable and just not really happy. I am going to write up a business plan though whilst I'm resting, so hopefully I will have some new things to add to the shop and try and grow this blog!

Katherine xo