Thursday 23 September 2010

A is for Aprons

I truly believe that every girl deserves and needs a gorgeous apron to treasure and put on when ever they feel in the mood to get creative but I know that one that really suits you and that you really love are hard to come by. My Mum bought me mine a few years ago at Christmas and I do love it, it's cinched in at the waist and flows out beautifully at the bottom and the print is so girly and kitch.
One of my closest friends Jo isn't as lucky! Whenever I pop over to her house to bake cakes I always take my apron and she whines about how cute it is and how she doesn't have one and I tell her not to give up and keep looking hers will be out there somewhere. Secretly it got me thinking and I started to look for one for her but I just felt everything was really dull and predictable?

So I went to my Mum (a true domestic goddess, that I can only dream of becoming!) and asked her if I'd be able to get a pattern and make one "of course" she cried, "you can try Vogue, McCalls, Simplicity....just pop into John Lewis. When you were a baby and you'd fallen asleep I used to spend hours going through the pattern books in there". Well with that I began to trawl the internet for patterns and there are so many to choose from but I decided to stick with Mum and on my next trip to town I headed straight for John Lewis where I found my pattern of choice costing me £5.50.

Simplicity 2592 - Misses Collection



I've chosen design 'C' to make for my friend Jo but now I'm struggling with finding some fabric that I love and I know she will adore. It needs to be a modern vintage feel with creams, pinks and greens...maybe some lace/frilly trim but not too bright. Does anyone have any ideas for me? cheap fabric shops? apron advice in general?

For anyone reading this who shares my love of aprons but doesn't have the time or the patience(!) to make one I have found one apron that has tempted me on a tiny high street in Berkshire recently and it's this...



The Pip Studio Apron costing between £25.00-£30.00 it's a gorgeous danish collection which is new and stocked in just a few boutique stores from what I can gather, it's very Cath Kidston like but more fun with fresh patterns, more detail and just utterly fabulous!!! If you shop around you'll find the other apron they make too which has more pink shades. At the moment you are unable to buy direct from Pip Studio.

I'd love to hear all your comments and see what you think. I'll keep you all updated with my progress.

Yours,

FLL x



Tuesday 21 September 2010

It all began over Wagamama's....

So after a random last minute shopping trip to town with an old friend which started in H&M and moved swiftly to MAC make-up and then onto Boots. I was struck by my friend's new found knowlegde of all things fashion, make-up and beauty. Thinking little of it I took it in my stride and was quickly talked into spending £27.00 on new make-up because I most definitely need it AND it's limited edition. I was to soon find out over dish 71 at Waga's that she has infact found a new found love in blogging and had started a secret blog about all things fashion, beauty and make-up....She was very reluctant to tell me anything much to my disappointment but unknowingley gave me a few clues. An hour later back at home it took me just under 10 minutes to find her, all those hours spent online in the past most definitely came in handy. All this has happened in the last 24 hours and it's taken me all day to pick a background, find my way around this templating business and think of a catchy title!

I'm 25 living with my darling boyfriend who is the domestic god in my life, he cooks, cleans, washes up, hoovers, is anally tidy and never say 'no'. What more could a girl ask for? Nothing, because this gives me the chance to try all the more fun domestic goddess duties! Planning day trips, baking cakes, scrapbooking, sewing, trawling the internet for new ideas, taking photos, making presents and buying all things vintage..........

I am a baker's daughter and I became the fourth generation of master baker's in February when I joined the family business. A complex arrangement of family members running 6 small shops in the Home Counties with one bakery supplying all those shops and this is where you'd find me. Monday through to Saturday at 4am/5am starts through to lunchtime....and my life sounded of so glamourous to start with! I'm learning quickly and can make apple turnovers, eccles cakes, cupcakes, fresh cream eclairs (the list is huge!). Then in August I made my first wedding cake for one of my closest friend's which was just perfect for the perfect day.

I've come on here to post my photos, thoughts and advice, a secret place for me to come and express myself!
If you come across my weird and wonderful life on here please feel free to leave your comments and questions.

Yours,

FLL x