Just a little catch up.

               

            

Hey Guys,
I've been settling so comfortably in my cosy flat, I actually feel so lucky that I'm living with people that have been nothing but genuinely awesome to me. The amount of money I have saved per week since I have moved here is like ridiculous in comparison to when I lived in West London, and that was even further away to work! 

I just realised though that there aren't any big supermarkets within walking distance, which is kinda annoying because I live on Sainsbury's basics/ Tesco Value products (I'm like the biggest bargain hunter you will ever meet!), but it's only a minor thing really :).


Check out my cutlery clock! I absolutely love it! I got it from Tiger in Hammersmith. In love with that shop. I only went in there for a canvas for an upcoming DIY (stay tuned) and left with this bad boy. I bought it especially because I broke my last clock trying to change the batteries- how amazingly ditsy!

                                                                      Have a good evening!

                                                                                Katherine xo 

New to the Shop: Hair Bows!

At last- I have some cute hair bows for sale in the shop!  All pieces have been recycled from unwanted clothing, so they are also one of a kind! I have been ridculously busy trying to get rid of the overflowing fabric pile that I collected since I started my business, and I thought, this is one of a few good ways to go about it!

They are a cute piece to have and you can wear it with anything! I even made myself a few, because I am an avid lover for hair accessories, as I have short hair, so obviously I can't play with it much, so I feel it is a necessity to have something to give basic looks a quirky edge.

I hope you guys have a look and see something you like!

New Charity I'm Sponsoring: Mama Biashara

I just wanted to let you know that I'm now donating 10% of my profits to charity again! What prompted me to do this was when I went to this awesome African Charity Shop at the W12 Centre in Shepherd's Bush, called Mama Biashara. The volunteer staff are really friendly and passionate about what they do.

I got these heart earrings from there, and they are beautiful, and more suited to my style too- win-win!

I love the fact that there are awesome independent places like this that help small businesses, especially in Africa, where it isn't as easy to start up one like it is over here, from past experience. 100% of profits made from their lovely shop goes straight to those creative designer/makers, and helps them to keep a roof over their heads!

I've been really picky with giving money to charity in the past, because I don't know how much of my money actually does go to those in need, or even makes that much of a difference, so I've been keen on finding a small charity that makes a huge difference, because it makes me happy that my money helps out individuals in need too.

If anyone is ever in Shepherd's Bush, please come down and have a look at this shop; everyone is bound to find one thing in there. I've even bought a bunch of headscarves from there too. :) 

A purchase from Handmade by Ify will also benefit this Charity!

New to the Shop: Patchwork Bags!

I've been busy with my busy hands, making the most of my "mission clearout" theory on all my fabric I have accumulated over the years.

I've organised a lot of the fabrics into lovely tote bags, but I've still got a way to go  before I have finished all of that and started onto new products! I love to use patchwork, but I want to make room for new stuff too, which is why I am doing this.

I have chosen to use leather handles for a nice, luxurious touch to them too, so you would really get a unique experience with these lovely things!

New Patchwork Purses!

I have created some new purses for the shop! I think they are so much better now, I have taken the time to sew it properly, and think about the colour combinations! :). I have really been using my overlocker, so anyone who gets these are definitely going to get a piece that would last.  They are all ever so cute, so come and get them.

I am currently in the midst of my final project for Uni, so I have been pushed for time in terms of blogging, but I'm going to schedule some posts, including a DIY for friday- it's so easy, and very cheap... stay tuned!

Katherine xo

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

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

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

Good ol' tidying up in the studio.

So I spent the day in the studio, just tidying up a little bit, cos I was bored and I actually hate having a disorganized working space. I'm not gonna pretend that I'm some super duper tidy artist that puts everything perfectly in it's place, because I am quite a messy person, but sometimes it's good to tidy up every so often so you don't have such a disarrayed area. I tidy area is a tidy mind. :)

I've written this ahead of time, so most likely by now my work area would have been really messy again. I would have also been designing some amazing pieces to sell in my homewares shop.

I'm hoping that on Sunday I will have them ready for sale for everyone to snag :D I'm so excited at the progress of the shop right now... I didnt think I would make any sales, and now I have two! whoop whoop.

I'll give your eyes a rest now, and I'll crack on with some crafting. :)

Kat xo

All Stocked Up.

New goodies in the shop. :) I have been really busy this week, trying to get as much done as possible... I think I am slowly turning into a recluse.... It's just that I'm trying to work hard to see if its possible to make a living as an artist, I'd love that so much! I have carefully handcrafted some awesome brooches and headbands, and if you buy them, I hope you love them too.

Check out my happy face with my own brooch! I am going to start rocking what I make, because I am so damn proud of how much it has grown over the past 2 years.

Have a rocking day!

xo

New Goodiesssss.

I have had an amazing weekend. I feel like I am on a real high at the moment, even though I feel like things could be better, I am at a happy place, for the first time in 2 years. Things are really, really good. I started the week unmotivated, uninspired and really lazy, and now, I am the determined, crazy motivated, and excited person that I always had been.

I am in the midst of redoing pictures for Bend Down Boutique, just so that everything in it looks a bit more coherent. :) I have been meaning to list the headbands for my Nostalgia Collection, but I seem to have accidently deleted the pictures for it, so I will have to make do with the alternative pictures I took until I re-model it again. :)

Anyway... I have made some cool aprons for Kaye Homewares and heres one that I have already listed:

I will add a couple more later on today. I am happy to have finally gotten a couple of sales in my shop, and I want to keep building this up as well. :)

I am about to plan a to-do list and organize everything in my diary... I am staying anti-social for a while until I get what I want with the shops... It's the good ol' determination kicking in.

Have a good day!

Kat xo

More Goodness.

New beautiful summer pieces are in the shop. I am taking advantage of the slow period in my shop and re-photographing some of the not-so-good-looking pieces, sewing up more lovelies, and re-organising my life. I'm creating a lot of goals, to keep myself productive during this self-employed period.

Have a good day!

Kat xo

News from the Bend Down Boutique Closet.

Woop! finally, I have loads of new stuff for sale in the shop! Its been a long time coming, I swear its been a month since I last added anything! Well, thats about to change, thats for sure. :)

Anywho, here they are:






I am so happy at the moment, I am going on a weekend trip with the boy... so I'm trying to be super organised and get everything done before then :)

Hope you all have a good week! <3

Katherine xo