A Homemade Hat from a Pile of Tat

The Facebook memories tool reminded me today that four years ago my obsession with my glue gun began. 

Given that London Hat Week inspired Catherine of Vintage Frills to set me a hat making challenge for later in the summer I thought I'd share with you my first ever attempt at up-cycling from absolute crap that was destined for the bin. 

The problem all started when I ran out of conditioner and was left with this little pot. I'm the kind of person who, as I walk to the bin, thinks "what could I use this for?"

It occurred to me it was the perfect size and shape to be a little hat. The fabric was from a dress I had accidentally ruined with bleach so it needed re-purposing.

Cotton is easiest fabric for projects like this I find. I covered the hat with the fabric using my trusty glue gun.  

It's not rocket science to cover the tub in glue and stick the fabric on, I also did the inside so it looks like a semi professional job! 

I had an odd vintage button lying around doing nothing so that also got a new lease of life in this project. 

A couple of feathers that were in my craft box made a great decoration for this hat. 

I threaded them through the button,it was handy that it had a back like this because it held everything in place neatly. More glue was required to attach this to the hat... 

And voila! One hat from a pile of tat! 

I love the idea of making these for novelty occasions or for those outfits where you just cannot find a matching accessory. Who would know it was a plastic hair conditioner tub?! 

Until next time 

Love 

Lucy 

xx 

London Hat Week and Cahoot's Birthday Fun!

Last month I turned 33, I must say your thirties are quite brilliant!

I always try and do something a little different on my birthday and happily this month it coincided with London Hat Week!

Catherine from Vintage Frills usually indulges me in a birthday escapade and we made a plan to meet up for a couple of the exhibitions. To explain London hat week is made up of a schedule of events ranging from theatrical productions to the hat exhibition itself.

We decided to go to the hat exhibition and the Suffragette event, both were big held at different locations as the events are across London.

The hat exhibition was fantastic, a range of milliners from all over the world had contributed to this exhibition.

There were so many to see we had to walk around a few times as there seemed to be something new each time.

I found so many of the pieces so inspiring, some were unapologetic in their political theme.

 

Others took inspiration from previous decades.

 

Here were some of my  other favourites.

 

 

After seeing all these amazing hats we ventured down to the Millennial Rebels exhibition which was showing a selection of wet plate photography depicting the suffragette movement.

I had never seen a wet plate photo up close and we had a long chat with the artist, Nicolas Laborie who was so welcoming and took a great deal of time explaining his process and asking us all about our vintage style.

They were also asking people to write their message on a board and to have a photo taken, here is our one where we thought about a message that we would convey to the little ladies in our lives.

"Be yourselves for yourselves"

Next we were off to Cahoots. If you are not familiar Cahoots is a bar in Soho, Kingly Court, that looks like a tube station from the 1940's. The entire place is themed and the staff patter is like something out of an old movie.

I had two cocktails (well it was my birthday!) both of which were delicious. I love how each one was served. No expense is spared on the decor in the drinks and beetroot roses mixed with leaves and chilli peppers was the order of the day.

 

Although Cahoots is a little on the expensive side I would definitely go back for a special occasion, tables are booked up well in advance so it's not the kind of place you could treat as your local anyway!

After that we wanted round to Ain't Nothing But The Blues bar to listen to some music and before I knew it I was on a 12.30 tube home, which is a very late night for me these days!

Cheers! 

Until next time
Love
Lucy
xx

Teasmade - Bluebird Tea Co Subscription Box Review

I've been struggling in this cold weather with my making healthy choices resolution. I am a creature of hibernation when it's cold.

To try to encourage myself to drink more fluids and because hot drinks tend to fill me up when I think I am hungry, I decided to try some new herbal teas.

After a bit of research I found that a tea subscription box would be a good way to do this.

I found Bluebird Tea Company online and happily they have an actual store in North London which appeals to me so I could pop in and pick up supplies too.

My first box was this Easter edition box, the beautiful art work on the front was designed by Clara Sais. Subscriptions start at £7.00 per month.

Your first box comes with a tea measure spoon, some drawstring tea bags and three types of tea as well as a Teabirds Guide which explains the different types of tea and the perfect brewing process - this will be handy if you have not used loose leaf tea before.

This months teas were:

Hot Cross Bun - Rooibos, Ceylon black tea, Cinnamon, Hibiscus, Apple, Rosehip, Orange Peel, Lapsang Souchong Tea, Vanilla, Cranberry.

This tea is a beautiful cheery cup, the fruits offset the vanilla perfectly so it doesn't taste too strongly of the vanilla which I usually find overpowering.

Peach Cobbler -Sri Lankan black tea, freeze dried peach, pink cornflowers, natural flavouring

This was a stronger cup that packed a real punch, I preferred it with milk to tame it a little. I could imagine this being nice as an iced tea too, I still have some left so I might have to try this in the future.

Easter Egg Nests -Sri Lankan black tea, cocoa nibs and shells, Japanese Sencha green tea, toasted rice, sunflower petals, vegan marshmallows, natural flavouring.

This tea smells almost like baileys, everyone at the office was asking what smelled so amazing, the tea is fresh and comforting and is lovely in the evening instead of a sweet treat.

I am so happy I signed up for this subscription box as it gives me the chance to try new teas without committing to a large quantity. Of the three I would re order Easter egg nests and hot cross buns as my faves.

Bluebird teas are sometimes limited edition so be speedy about ordering as I can imagine some of these blends are very popular!

Until next time
Love
Lucy
xx