Discount Times.

It's been a while since I updated my Homewares Store. But I do have lots of ideas, it's just finding the balance of sewing for the Clothing Shop as well as this, and Uni. :)

But if you would like to take advantage, I have a discount going on... just type 'BARGAIN HUNT' in the checkout for 25% off!

Have a great day!

Katherine xo

Taking it easy//Outfit post.

These past couple of days I have been taking a break from everything... just really being lazy. I haven't had the time this summer to rest and this is one of my last few days to do so before the seriousness of my final year of uni begins!

I have a few custom orders I have to do for my new menswear collection as well, so excited! i'm glad to have gotten such positive feedback with it, it's my motivation at the moment.... I plan to create more pieces as the season goes on.

Hoodie- Bend Down Boutique

Bag- Bend Down Boutique

3/4 sleeve top- Charity shop

Jeans- East Street Market

Pumps- Primark

I was wearing this outfit just to go to the post office, and I played games all day with my brother and his friends, it was great to get away from the stresses of life, but I did feel guilty for not doing any work, does anyone else feel like this sometimes?

Anyway, now I'm waiting for my new phone, but I doubt it's gonna show up because it's so late in the day, T-Mobile has simply gotten my hopes up and dashed them out of the window! I am also doing the weekly shop for the family... It is going to be a mad one! 

Katherine xo

Much Love Mondays (on a Wednesday): Bits & Bows

I know I'm supposed to have posted this on Monday, but I didn't have enough time! I would have waited until next Monday, but I love this designer, I couldn't wait! I stumbled upon Sarah's website via Twitter and I instantly fell in love... the jewellery pieces she makes, is absolutely awesomely quirky and amazing! 

So here she is... :)

Hi! Can you tell us about yourself?

I'm a 25 year old Fashion Graduate, Freelance Jewellery and Clothing Designer, Self Employed Full-Time mommy from Birmingham :D

How did you first get involved in designing?

When I finished my GCSE's I wasnt sure what i wanted to do, so I stayed on at school to do my A-levels in THE most random subjects ever...Sociology, Health and Social Care and Travel and Tourism! such a mix! But it was here I realised you could do fashion courses at university! So I applied for a BTEC, got accepted and it all started there!

How would someone describe your style?

Ummm... I'd say vintage-esque and quirky! I like things nobody else will have! Prints and silhouettes that I know the shops wont have! I wear a lot of my own brand, aswell as mixing with Vintage, Primark and Topshop!

What do you do when you aren't creating lovely pieces?

Well I have a 6 month old baby girl! So she takes up every second of my days! And keeps me on my toes! I am NEVER resting! Lack of sleep is a regular thing now!

What made you want to start Bits and Bows?

I didnt want to move to London, which is where fashion is at its best! And also didnt want to work for anybody else, so I started it as a hobby while in my last year at uni, and it soon turned into something special :)

What is a favorite item from your collection?

Ohhhh well my customer best sellers are my scrabble rings and low back maxi dresses! I have lots of favourites! Including The Buckingham Vest Top and The brand new Bambi acrylic necklace! Ohhh and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new exclusive range which is now on Truffle Shuffle! Thats probably my proudest moment up to date :)

Do you have any inspirations for the pieces that you make?

Each season I like to make a new collection of both jewellery and clothing, and I work ahead of the trends, so I look into trend prediction and colour palettes so I know what I need to work with! I get inspired by little things such as a mood I'm in, or a programme that comes on. I really just work with what feels and looks best and what id be happy to wear myself.

What is the most challenging part for your label?

Time! Having a baby and running a business is so hard! I've lost friends along the way, but I've realised they aren't true friends if they arent still here! A social life is very rare being a mom and an entrepreneur! Onwards and upwards is my motto and everyday that is a challenge is made up for in positive and exciting rewards!

If someone was interested in running their own business like yourself, what advice would you give?

I'd say just go for it! But remember you get what you put in! It is hard work and its taken me 3 years to get this far! Dont expect it to be an overnight success! Ohhh and Good luck :)

Thank you Sarah- you are amazing!

Catch her on Twitter, Facebook, her online shop, and get some wicked pieces from her exclusive collection at Truffle Shuffle! <3

Katherine

My new venture.

Here are some of my fabulous new pieces that I have been working on this past week! I was so stoked when Kate at Style Outside the Box wanted me to stock my exclusive collection on her team's website, because I was looking for a boutique (both on and offline) and then I thought... "THIS is the opportunity that I have been waiting for!" 

I created a collection in 7 days, and boy am I tired!? Running an business by myself is hard work, but creating for such an awesome company is so worth the lack of sleep! This collection is all about keeping the originality, having some staple pieces that you can wear with almost anything, and still having the bohemian edge, which is hard to translate in the winter months! 

Style Outside the Box was founded by Laura, after working with a mix of different designers, and this wicked shopping website handpicks clothing of the greatest quality, and is still one of a kind, because let's face it, I'm sure we are all bored of the same boring mainstream fashion, and want something a little bit different in the wardrobe that is sure to get some wanted attention, and its all handmade by the designers direct, no sweatshop involved! What could be better?

I'm so excited to work with Style Outside the Box, and I know this ride is going to be a fun one...

Katherine xo

Before my Label was created...

Good morning everyone,

I'm currently on my desktop computer and I was going through some pictures of the things I upcycled whilst I was at my art foundation 3 years ago! I had to do an upcycling exercise on my fashion tailoring course and I enjoyed it so much that I carried on with it... and 3 years later I have my clothing label that I'm slowly building up :)

Looking back at these, I would say my tailoring./designing skills have really improved over the years, before it was about going against everything the designers at my college wanted me to do, but now, I'm keeping it current and more unified without losing my identity! 

I believe I did make a lot more things from scratch back then, and I would like to create a few pieces that aren't recycled, but created straight from a pattern... so from next summer, I will be creating yet another etsy store, where clothes are made from a pattern, but with a twist, and made to order too, so everyone could have a one of a kind piece made to suit them!

Watch this space for developments! :)

Katherine xo

Styling with Bend Down Boutique.

Hi guys,

I just wanted to do a quick blog post, selecting all the pieces in the shop that everyone should consider wearing together. I have always designed and made clothes in a stylists perspective, and for a bit of aspiration! know that my clothes in my shop have an mixture of styles, and its hard to know what pieces would actually go together, so I hope you will see things differently after I show them all to you!

So here are the styles:

Style 1:

1. Grey Upcycled Tube Top

2. Grey Upcycled Vintage Top

3. Handmade Gray Brown and Blue Clutch

4. Abhy Pink Recycled Pendent Necklace

Style 2: Incorporating with other designers

1. Brown Upcycled Asymmetric Top

2. Jocelyn Textiles Earrings

3. PPP Coffee in the AM pants

4. Patchwork Tote

I personally prefer style two, what is your preferred one? I like the second one, because it represents my whimsical and slightly hippie way of dressing, and it's with my favorite indepedent designers <3

Katherine

Autumn/Winter Beauties Part 1.

This is my jewellery creations for my shop. I think there is a very whimsical, hippie look to the pieces I have created, and I like that, because it shows off who I really am as a Designer and Artist. I wanted to show how much I could express myself in the things I create, and also just to show that I have talent in other areas than just clothing!

They are for sale on my etsy shop and my main shop, for those who aren't on etsy.

I hope you love these pieces as much as I do!

Katherine xo