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For a while now, I've found myself missing the familiar sound of the sewing machine and that satisfaction of sewing the final seam and thinking 'I made this'. But I didn't know what to make. Making clothes comes with a whole design process and the need for pattern cutting - I know I could just buy a paper pattern, but when you're used to making your own patterns, that kind of feels like cheating. Plus it just felt like a lot to reignite my love for sewing with such a huge project - so I continued pushing my desire to sew to the back of my mind, ignoring my intuition.
Browsing Instagram one day, I found myself watching this video by Robyn Poppy: 5 hairstyles using scrunchies. Each of them so adorable, I found myself thinking, I should wear scrunchies more... I wish I had more scrunchies to wear. And then I clicked that I could kill two birds with one stone, make myself some new scrunchies, and get my sewing machine back out.
So that was what I did - on my second attempt I was happier with the results (For the first one, I didn't use enough fabric so there wasn't much scrunch to my scrunchie)
I posted a picture of my successful scrunchie on my Instagram story. I captioned it "I made myself a scrunchie" and added gif which said cute, before going to make another - my scrunchie obsession clearly taking over.
When I returned to my phone, I was surprised to see several messages - people liked the scrunchie and wanted there own.
That's when the idea for my Etsy store came about. I could get my sewing fix, whilst putting the skills I learned in my degree to good use and make things for people to love. Plus I might also earn a bit of extra cash, which would be nice.
So I made the store on a whim - expecting no sales, but sure enough, I found myself posting out 9 different parcels already, so filled which multiply scrunchies - all of which were made with love, and wrapped with care. I wasn't expecting any sales, yet already had to restock, which is crazy - and wonderful.
This new project has got me passionate and excited about the future. I've been creating visionboards and dreaming up where I can take Chloe Harriets Creates - but I'll tell you something, I feel like it will go places.
So please, if you have any suggestions and idea of what you'd like to see from my store, please comment below. It would mean the world to me if you could check out my store - I've also made a chloeharrietscreates Instagram account where I will be sharing the goings-on of the store and all things creative.
C x
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Introducing Chloe Harriets Creates - My Etsy Store Launch & Story.
Announcement time... drumroll, please... I have launched an Etsy store!
If you follow me on Instagram and Twitter this might be old news for you, but to me, it's a big enough deal that it deserves an entire blog post of its own. Currently, in my Etsy store Chloe Harriets Creates, I'm selling scrunchies, and I have sleep masks, facemasks and home decor bits in the works - If you any request you can always send them my way too!How the store came about?!
Back when the blog first began, I was finishing up my degree in Fashion (You can see my graduate collection in this old post), spending my day sewing was a standard. And then I graduated (blog post here and vlog here) and put my sewing machine in a cupboard, while my focus moved to my blog, writing and searching for that perfect career (which I'm still yet to find).For a while now, I've found myself missing the familiar sound of the sewing machine and that satisfaction of sewing the final seam and thinking 'I made this'. But I didn't know what to make. Making clothes comes with a whole design process and the need for pattern cutting - I know I could just buy a paper pattern, but when you're used to making your own patterns, that kind of feels like cheating. Plus it just felt like a lot to reignite my love for sewing with such a huge project - so I continued pushing my desire to sew to the back of my mind, ignoring my intuition.
Browsing Instagram one day, I found myself watching this video by Robyn Poppy: 5 hairstyles using scrunchies. Each of them so adorable, I found myself thinking, I should wear scrunchies more... I wish I had more scrunchies to wear. And then I clicked that I could kill two birds with one stone, make myself some new scrunchies, and get my sewing machine back out.
So that was what I did - on my second attempt I was happier with the results (For the first one, I didn't use enough fabric so there wasn't much scrunch to my scrunchie)
I posted a picture of my successful scrunchie on my Instagram story. I captioned it "I made myself a scrunchie" and added gif which said cute, before going to make another - my scrunchie obsession clearly taking over.
When I returned to my phone, I was surprised to see several messages - people liked the scrunchie and wanted there own.
That's when the idea for my Etsy store came about. I could get my sewing fix, whilst putting the skills I learned in my degree to good use and make things for people to love. Plus I might also earn a bit of extra cash, which would be nice.
So I made the store on a whim - expecting no sales, but sure enough, I found myself posting out 9 different parcels already, so filled which multiply scrunchies - all of which were made with love, and wrapped with care. I wasn't expecting any sales, yet already had to restock, which is crazy - and wonderful.
This new project has got me passionate and excited about the future. I've been creating visionboards and dreaming up where I can take Chloe Harriets Creates - but I'll tell you something, I feel like it will go places.
So please, if you have any suggestions and idea of what you'd like to see from my store, please comment below. It would mean the world to me if you could check out my store - I've also made a chloeharrietscreates Instagram account where I will be sharing the goings-on of the store and all things creative.
C x
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My Life in Thirty Seven Therapies by Kay Hutchison | Book Review
I was kindly gifted a copy of My Life in Thirty-Seven Therapies by Kay Hutchison, I'd never heard of it before, so went into reading it with no expectations, however, immediately I liked it.
The memoir tells the story how despite a very successful life on paper - with a good career, marriage and wealth, Kay found herself ending her marriage, feeling lost and being treated badly by men she cared for. She turned to alternative therapies in search of something more. In the book, she tries it all, from yoga retreats to reiki, counselling, the list goes on. She goes into detail tell the story of her experience which each therapy, what lead her there and the outcome. She shares details lesson learned, people met and funny anecdotes each of these experiences left her with.
I found the writing to be very light-hearted, she doesn't take herself to seriously, adding humour to her story. It made for a nice bedtime read as it doesn't require too much brainpower.
Although Kay had a slightly excessive amount of therapies - I found it completely relatable - I understand that need to search for more, and I love a good meditation session myself. This book made me want to try more therapies and feel so much more aware of all that is out there. Some completely ridiculous, and others I found myself itching to try myself. Each chapter told the story of different therapy, making it very digestible, like lots of different stories in one.
This book really did what it says on the cover... in a good way. I ate it up. Though the book you see how the writer life changes, how she grows and moves forward when facing heartbreaking. I dread to think how much money all of those therapies cost - but the stories which came with them made for good reading.
If you enjoy a memoir or an alternative therapy, I'd recommend picking this up.
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Now that we're spending more time than ever in our homes, I'm feeling very grateful that past me, choose her possessions with love and put effort into making her space one which brings joy (clearly I learned something from Marrie Kondo, even if wasn't minimalism). I like to think my bedroom is filled with personality, and colour - a tasteful colour that is. My room has become something I really pride myself on (so much so, falling in love with styling it has got me considering a career in interior design... who wants to hire me?!). I managed to transform my space with accessories alone, I've not purchased any new furniture (despite my dislike for my bed) - instead, I concentrated on the little things and looked to what changes were realistic for me to make.
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How to transform your space | Interior Design & Styling Tips | AD Gifted Art.
So today I thought I'd share my tips on how to change up your space, without any big purchases, redecoration and stress.
Add Art:
Art can transform a room, bring in colour, style, give a message, and make a once empty space the centre of attention. My most recent addition to my art collection, it's this beautiful poster (also available as a canvas and a framed print, in many different sizes from PhotoWall). Photowall contacted me a few weeks back, and offered to gift me a piece of art from their website as part of a blogpost collaboration - I had some spare space on my wall I'd be wanting to fill, and their website has hundreds of beautiful prints, posters and incredible wall art to choose from I couldn't say no. I decided to go for a poster to make a change from my usual framed print. I love the poster hanger with came with the art, it gives a much more classy finish far (A definite improvement from how I haphazardly blue-tacked Mary-Kate and Ashley posters to my wall back in the day). After a lot of time narrowing down my favourites, I decided to go to this 20s style fashion illustration - the colours work well with what I've got in my room and the style reminds me completing my fashion degree. I really love it. It feels like the finishing touch on my wall. If you're looking to add new art to you home - keep reading, I have a Photowall discount code which I'll share at the end of this post.
I also have a gallery wall, pictures dotted throughout my bedroom - art really makes my space feel like home.
I also have a gallery wall, pictures dotted throughout my bedroom - art really makes my space feel like home.
Plants:
Put simply, it's really nice to be around plants. They add a freshness and life to space. Stick a house plant, real or fake into an empty space and suddenly it feels loved, and alive.
Style what you've got:
You'll already have beautiful things, even if you don't realise it. We collect things over the years and if they stay in one place, they tend to blend into the background. Clear your surfaces, and restyle thing, put things back in where they weren't before, and suddenly you belonging come back to life. Books on display and are great to add height and colour. Jewellery, makeup and souvenirs will also make things a little more look a little more special, and personal. Storage can also be attractive - my books are organised in colours, and honestly, that rainbow makes me so happy.
Make it personal:
Your space should be a reflection of your personality, who you are, where you've been and who you intend to be. I choose a fashion Illustration poster from Photowall as a nod to my degree in fashion, I created a vision board, as I reminder of who I want to be and what I want life to look like and I've scattered memories throughout my space, through souvenirs and photos.
Get creative:
Not everything needs to be used for its purpose, I have a tassel necklace which broke so I now use it as a hanging on the end of my bed. I had the mirrored letters, spelling out the word 'dream' on my wall, but when them M broke, I rearranged the letters to say 'Read' which feels much more me, and now lives on the edge of my bookshelf (I'm not sure if the lesson there was really, 'be clumsy, and broken belongings might force creativity, but there we go).
What do you think of my space? I hope it's inspired you to have fun with interiors! If you're looking for new art, I would definitely recommend checking out Photowall, there's so much to choose from, so there will be something for everyone - you can also get 25% discount with the code chloeharriets2021
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A hobby which I'm sure is getting many of us through lockdown is reading. so I thought today I'd share some book reviews and let you know what's next on my to-read list.
The story takes place in a small town in Ireland and follows the relationship between two characters, Marianne and Connell. As go from high school to university, their relationship constantly moving up and down the sliding scale, from a friendship to a romantic relationship over and over. You see their relationship affected by poor communication, social class, environmental changes and more. It feels like a very real modern relationship.
Between each chapter, there's a small-time jumper, usually somewhere around 3 to six months so the narrative moves along quickly, despite being quite circular due to the back and forth of the relationship.
I find the writing style to be simple, making it easy to follow, but there's still a poetic feel to it.
I'm enjoying this book and the characters a lot, I'm excited to finish it.
★★★★☆
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What I've Been Reading | Book Reviews.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Okay, technically I still haven't finished this one. I know, it was the January books for #chloeharrietsbookclub, so extremely poor effort from me. However, my boyfriend and I decided it would be nice to read together - when we fancy it, we take it in turns to read a chapter aloud to one another, it's lovely... but also takes forever to get through a book. It's only now that we're finally coming towards the end of this, and as expected I really enjoyed it.The story takes place in a small town in Ireland and follows the relationship between two characters, Marianne and Connell. As go from high school to university, their relationship constantly moving up and down the sliding scale, from a friendship to a romantic relationship over and over. You see their relationship affected by poor communication, social class, environmental changes and more. It feels like a very real modern relationship.
Between each chapter, there's a small-time jumper, usually somewhere around 3 to six months so the narrative moves along quickly, despite being quite circular due to the back and forth of the relationship.
I find the writing style to be simple, making it easy to follow, but there's still a poetic feel to it.
I'm enjoying this book and the characters a lot, I'm excited to finish it.
★★★★☆
The Course of Love by Alain de Botton
I hate myself for this, but I was actually a little disappointed with this book. Having heard great things and having loved Essays in Love I went in with very high expectations, and maybe set myself up for disappointment. Now, don't get me wrong, this book was very much as insightful and intelligent as I expected... I just didn't find myself excited to pick it up.
The Course of Love tells the story of the relationship between Rabih and Kirsten realistically following them through each stage of their relationship, from first dates to marriage, children and beyond. It offers psychological studies on relationships throughout which link in with the narrative. The relationship isn't romanticised for the purpose of the story, instead, it feels real - but personally, I think that's why I didn't love this book, it didn't offer me the same escapism fiction normally does. If you're interested in the study of human behaviours and relationships, wrapped up in a realistic. yet fiction package, this book could be perfect for you.
★★★☆☆
★★★☆☆
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
This was my favourite books of the three. Wild is Cheryl Strayed memoir which tells the story of her time hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. After her Mom's death, Cheryl found herself in a bad place, her once-close family became distant, her marriage ended, she began using heroin with a new boyfriend, it overall wasn't pretty, so when she came across a Pacific Crest Trail guidebook one day, she decided, despite not being a hiker, to hike 1,100 miles alone across the Pacific Crest Trail. It was of course, more challenging than she expected. The book follows Cheryl on her journey as meets new people, learns life lessons, and grieves her former life. It's a story of self-discovery. This book, it felt like came to me when I needed it, feeling quite lost myself, I found comfort in it. In the book, Cheryl names her hiking pack Monster, as the huge pack began to feel like an inanimate companion, and that's exactly how this book began to feel to me as I made my way through pages - this book felt like my 'Monster'. I was gutted when I came to the end of it.
★★★★★
Currently reading: My Life in Thirty Seven Therapies by Kay Hutchinson (which I was kindly gifted)
Next on my to-read list: The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles (my April read for #chloeharrietsbookclub) and We of the Forsaken World by Kiran Bhat - Keep your eyes peeled for my reviews!
Have you read any of these? What book would you recommend?
Currently reading: My Life in Thirty Seven Therapies by Kay Hutchinson (which I was kindly gifted)
Next on my to-read list: The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles (my April read for #chloeharrietsbookclub) and We of the Forsaken World by Kiran Bhat - Keep your eyes peeled for my reviews!
Have you read any of these? What book would you recommend?
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