Friday 30 March 2018

Take Time To Just Be // Weekend Thoughts

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"Let me tell the tale
Of a girl who didn't stop,
Who climbed up every mountain
Without a pause upon the top.
She'd dance until each blade of grass
Was clothed in drops of dew,
And the sun knew her by name
But the silver moon did too.
For a fear had settled in her bones;
A fear of sitting still,
That if you're not moving forward
It must mean you never will.
So in time her dance got slower
And she looked at all she'd seen,
But found gaps inside the places
That she'd never fully been,
For she was a human doing
Human moving, human seeing,
But she'd never taken time
To simply be a human being."

- E.H.


Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend full of sweet nothings. Take time to appreciate those simple moments, the softness of breath and sigh. Take time to just be.

Friday 23 March 2018

Blue Steel // Tilly & The Buttons Coco Dress Pattern Hack

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Hurrah! I'm here today to share with you my second addition to my #2018makenine challenge! When compiling my list of makes for the year I wanted to ensure I would be enriching my closet with items I will not only love but will actually get a use out of and this latest creation ticks both of those boxes!


You can't beat a classic Tilly & The Buttons Coco dress for ultimate comfort, so a creative pattern hack was naturally the next step to sprucing up an already favourite design. I knew I wanted to keep the colour palette workable with my blue/ grey obsessed wardrobe as cotton jersey can be a clingy so and so and opted for a rich medium blue with a fine navy striped contrast yoke and sleeves. I picked this fabric up during my trip to the Handwerkbeurs in Zwolle earlier this year, as the light weight nature and super soft qualities sang "Coco"!


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Following the instructions that came with the original PDF download and swapping out several steps for the savvy Contrast Yolk Coco Variation, I developed the pattern and fitted it to my measurements. The sizing on the Tilly patterns are generally spot on for me although I did grade out slightly at the hips and in slightly at the high waist just to personalise the overall silhouette.


Keeping the length fairly standard, I chose a 3/4 length sleeve and kept the classic neckline giving a clean and simple shape.


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The guide was, as ever, super easy to follow and the fabric was lovely to work with, despite that classic trait of knitted materials to curl up at the edges. Well, you can't have everything I suppose!


Over all I was really pleased with how easy it was to work this new pattern development into the existing design and considering I've been living in this little guy the last couple of weeks, I'd say it was a success. I will be keeping an eye out for any fabric that catches my eye to make a contrast top version, as I think there is a lot of fun to be had with combining colours and patterns! Although, I may steer clear of teeny tiny stripes in the future... That was a challenge to cut out straight! (Don't look too closely!)


All in all, I'm chuffed with the latest piece in my handmade wardrobe and can't wait to get started on a few more projects to tick off the list. A scrumptious mustard yellow knitted cardigan is in the works and a lovely floral number might be hitting my cutting table shortly! Stay tuned for more pattern reviews and home made sewing and feel free to follow along on my journey to creative living!

Monday 19 March 2018

Hashtag Pastel // Instagram Accounts Currently Loving

This round up of Instagram Accounts that I simply can not get enough of, might very well be my favourite as of yet. I can swoon over these images for hours, and do actually! The thought out compositions, the deliciously delicate details, oh and the colours... Please treat yourself to a browse of my Current Favourites and be sure to add any that jump out at you to your feed. You need this kind of inspiration in your life, trust in me.


@afashionnerd

Vintage pussycat // Glamour // Specs appeal // Colour love // Bold & beautiful // Prints & pattern

Instagram-favourites-currently-loving-Instagramaccounts-Inspiring-creative-create-fashion-lifestyle-top-Instastyle-bloggers-fbloggers-bbloggers-lbloggers-bookstagram-creativeliving-newpost-fadedwindmills


@craftwerking

Handmade // Creative living // Tailor fit // Honest reviews & reflections // Crafty motivation

Instagram-favourites-currently-loving-Instagramaccounts-Inspiring-creative-create-fashion-lifestyle-top-Instastyle-bloggers-fbloggers-bbloggers-lbloggers-bookstagram-creativeliving-newpost-fadedwindmills


@arrohome

Pastel delights // Day dream haze // Contrast in scale // Interior gems // Home-wear trend setting

Instagram-favourites-currently-loving-Instagramaccounts-Inspiring-creative-create-fashion-lifestyle-top-Instastyle-bloggers-fbloggers-bbloggers-lbloggers-bookstagram-creativeliving-newpost-fadedwindmills


@mollymgoddard

Fierce silhouette // Bold design & concept // Storytelling // Mouth watering colour // Frothy texture

Instagram-favourites-currently-loving-Instagramaccounts-Inspiring-creative-create-fashion-lifestyle-top-Instastyle-bloggers-fbloggers-bbloggers-lbloggers-bookstagram-creativeliving-newpost-fadedwindmills


@satellitejune

Breath of fresh air // Traveller // Snapshots // Captured emotions // Film hues // Retro vibes

Instagram-favourites-currently-loving-Instagramaccounts-Inspiring-creative-create-fashion-lifestyle-top-Instastyle-bloggers-fbloggers-bbloggers-lbloggers-bookstagram-creativeliving-newpost-fadedwindmills


@jessicasilversaga

Sheer elegance // Lover of exquisite detail // Softness // Eras gone by // Clothing that tells a tale

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So there we kick off an exciting week with another dose of stunning visuals. I love creating these posts and sharing my finds. I am and always have been a collector of treasures and these daily galleries add a spring to my step and a flutter in my little creative's heart, so why not shine a light on what makes me happy? Maybe (most likely), these gorgeous works of art will bring joy to you chaps and give you that wee kick up the backside to live your cutest most darndest lives too! Until next time x

Thursday 15 March 2018

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle // Book Review

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"Dazzling. A revolving door of suspects (and narrators); a sumptuous country-house setting; a pure-silk Möbius strip of a story. This bracingly original, fiendishly clever murder mystery - Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day - is quite unlike anything I've ever read, and altogether triumphant. I wish I'd written it." - A.J.Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"This book blew my mind! Utterly original and unique." - International bestseller Sophie Hannah

"Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey with a splash of red wine and Twin Peaks. Dark and twisty, lush and riddled with gorgeous prose, part of me will always be trapped in Blackheath." - New York Times bestselling author Delilah S. Dawson

One of Stylist Magazine's 20 Must Read Books of 2018

One of Harper's Bazaar's 10 Must Read Books of 2018


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'Somebody's going to be murdered at the ball tonight. It won't appear to be a murder and so the murderer won't be caught. Rectify that injustice and I'll show you the way out.'

It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed.

Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others..."


Absolutely my book of the year.

This is a very special book and one that I recommend to lovers of all genre of literature, as it covers several themes and bases, is written exceptionally well and is completely encapsulating as a story.

You could label this book a murder mystery but that would seem too simple a tag. A classic piece of literature? A historical work of fiction? A supernatural tale? However you choose to describe this fantastically dark yet glamorous piece of writing, no review will see fit to do it justice. 

From the very first page this book had me jumping to conclusions, scratching my head as the puzzle pieces warped back and forth, swooning over the delicious setting and gasping aloud at the nail bitingly tense scenes, written to perfection.

I implore that you to pick this novel up and treat yourself to the most twisting and keep-you-guessing thrill ride- one which will stay with you long after setting it back upon the bookshelf. You deserve it!

Fabulous, original, sumptuous in character, haunting and truly the best book I've read in a while.

Monday 5 March 2018

The Shape of Hollywood // 90th Oscars Academy Awards 2018

As awards season reaches it's highest peak, last night movie lovers the world over celebrated the 90th Oscars, honouring the best in the business of storytelling on screen. There were some real treats nominated this year and much to my surprise many of my favourites took home a statue.


Once again the stars took to the podium to shine that ever burning spotlight on causes greater than film and tv and much more personal to our society and cultural norms. Equality is a subject that needs as much conversation as we can give it, for the first step towards making a change is bringing that topic to everyone's attention, relentless until the wheels of reform are firmly in motion.


Besides the winning of awards and the social politics, the eternally fun side to the Oscars is of course, the fashion! Whether it's an opportunity for a new designer to step forward, a chance for a Hollywood legend to make a statement or simply some light hearted glitz and glamour, here is a round up of my favourite looks of the night!


Sass and Glamour

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Metallic Moments

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Rainbow Regency

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Classical Hollywood

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Strikingly Other

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Before the dust glitter settles be sure to check out all the behind the scenes snapshots from the Vanity Fair after party and take a moment to appreciate the timeless beauty and style of Rita Moreno recycling her 1962 Oscar's gown! As ever, feel free to follow me down the rabbit hole over at Instagram and Faded Windmills facebook page for extra goodies in between posts!

Thursday 1 March 2018

Frosty Ramblings // A Sunny Stroll Around Bronkhorst

Fearing instant backlash from my friends and family back in the UK, currently battling the Beast from the East, I'm here with you today to post my fresh and frosty walk around the tiniest city in the Netherlands- Bronkhorst! Yes, it was bobble hat and mittens cold but my goodness was that blue sky and February sunshine glorious. Sorry Brits!


Once upon a time this Dickensian, cobble stoned gem was a crucial part of the kingdom in the East, boasting trade access via the river Ijssel. Bronkhorst in it's current state is a village housing an entire 157 inhabitants within it's characterful and charming grounds. This is a favourite of mine to stretch my legs, blow out the cobwebs and to soak up the stillness of this quaint place.


If you ever find yourself in Gelderland be sure to add this little beauty to your list of hotspots, if not for the cottages and countryside then for the Charles Dickens museum and the best hot chocolate this side of the low lands!


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It was indeed a mighty cold day and that icy stretch of winter doesn't seem to be shifting any time soon, but boy what a pleasure it was to explore a little. We're still snow free here in the Netherlands at the moment with not much sign of Spring on the horizon, well... besides those dainty snowdrops and ever so slightly lighter mornings... She's on her way, y'all!