Fabric Flowers

Yesterday I was teaching a short taster class (2 hours) - Fabric Flowers in Harlesden Library as part of the Festival of Learning
Here's some pics of the students work, they all did really well!

Libbie Club

Libbie Club Box

My new favourite cleanser

I cancelled one of my boxes last month (My Little Box) so I was looking for something to replace it with. I was also looking to buy a replacement cleanser as my favourite every morning cleanser (Liz Earle cleanse and polish) had began to cause my skin to dry out and felt like there were bumps under my skin, not nice. I found the cleanser which I am now using Bee Good Honey & Propolis 2 in 1 cream cleanser. I also liked how the site had reviealws from real people who tried out the products. I saw you could join so thought why not and I joined the Libbie Club last month, its not like a normal subscription box you pay a one-off fee to become a member (if you just want to buy products from them you do not need to be a member), I think it was £20 but it has since gone up to join them. They send out 3 full-sized products to test and review via their site, you are encouraged to share the reviews on social media, my instagram and twitter have shares. If you review the products, share and someone buys only one item (you can even be the person to buy the item, which I did my cleanser and got a free travel sized cleanser to) you get another box the next month to review you don't pay anything else. What I liked about them is they encourage you to give real reviews which I always do and they have a good range of items to buy (items I would buy anyway), their prices are good, they also have extras with the products like the cleanser & muslin cloth I purchased had a travel cleanser and muslin cloth as a free extra.
Last months products were "Chin-up" a firming &  contouring mask for the chin and neck area "H2O Tan Mist" a tanning spray and "Girl meets Brush" make up brushes (I have reviewed them on their website).

Peel off polish

 This months box for June was excellent, Little Ondine nail polish a water based polish with no smell, very easy to paint on lasts about the same as normal nail polish, when you get bored just peel it off! I was a little sceptical about this product but it worked! and had its so strange a polish with no smell, I loved the peeling off and my nails were not dried out, now I need to buy more......

Tarte cosmetics mascara

Tarte Cosmetics - Lights,camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara designed to make even the shortest lashes look lengthened. 4-in-1  meaning = lengthening, curling, volumizing,and conditioning. Tarte Costmetics products are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan,synthetic fragrances and gluten. They are also cruelty free and vegan friendly. Again another brand and product I liked :)

Ginvera marvel gel

The last product was Ginvera's Marvel White Gel a gentle exfoliater that contains no damaging grains or strong chemicals and will banish even the most stubborn whiteheads, blackheads, dead skin and blemishes without aggravating sensitive skin. Enriched with green tea extract as an anti-oxidant, tackles free radicals and simulates the skin's metabolism making it brighter. Japanese shiso extract provides anti-inflammatory benefits, soothing redness & itchiness. Also helps lighten dark spots, pimple marks and scars. I must say this made my skin feel super clean and smooth and healthy looking, again I really liked it. I used it instead of my normal face scrub (which I only use a couple of times a week).
I have longer reviews on Libbie Clubs websites.

Summer Coaster Trio

Filet Crochet Coaster "Gwein"

This is the first of a trio of coasters, or squares they could be used for something else.
The first coaster is called "Gwein"
The chart below could be also worked for other crafts - cross stitch, knitting, beading. 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Note: Where the pattern states Treble crochet UK/ Double crochetUSA if you follow UK crochet instuctions do a treble, if you follow USA instructions do a double crochet DO NOT do both!

Starting at bottom of chart/ graph chain 82 and another 3 chains to turn (this will count as the first treble crochet UK/ double crochet USA) of first  the row. 

Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA into the 5th chain from hook. Double crochet in next 2 chains to complete bottom right solid square of row 1.

Continue following pattern for first row reading chart/ graph right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row.

Continue following chart/graph until all rows are complete. At end of row 27 fasten off.

MATERIALS :

(Crochet cotton size 10) About 76 metres/ 83 yds, hook size 1.5mm/ US size 7 steel crochet hook or SIZE FOR GAUGE.

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZES:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: width = 40.1 cm/ 6.2 inches, height = 43.5 cm/ 6.8 inches

GAUGE:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: 10 squares = 14.8 cm/ 2.3 inches, 10 rows = 16.1 cm/ 2.5 inches

HOW TO READ PATTERN:

Each solid square is equal to 4 Treble crochets UK/ 4 Double crochets USA. Each open square is equal to 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA, followed by 2 chains, followed by 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA. The Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA at the end of each square also counts as the first Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA of the next square. For example, a solid square followed by an open square is 4 double crochets,

2 chains, 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA.

 For those that prefer to follow a symbol chart I have included one for you

If you do make the coaster, don't forget to link via ravelry, or let me know how you got on :)

My Little Box May 2016

This months box was the "My Dolce Vita Box". A nicely illustrated box with an Italian theme although I think like last months box the theme was very loose. I don't remember seeing lots of women wearing turbans anytime I was in Italy? Maybe I was not looking? which brings me to the first of the liftstyle items a green floral turban style headband (RRP £11), not really me but useful for when putting on/ taking off makeup. The next item was more in line with the theme a little laurel wreath style Ring £12 cute. In the little cotton bag was 3 beauty items a My little Beauty own brand - Illuminating moisturiser for legs £8 may test it but most tanning products turn my ghost white skin orange, not a good look. A nice sized perfume sample by Courrèges - La fille de l'air (sample size 8.5ml, full size rrp. €65 per 50ml) This is a little too floral and strong for me but works well left in my yarn bag (one of many) as it makes the yarn smell nice. Finally Baija - Croisière Céladon Body Oil (sample size 30ml, full size rrp. €16.90 per 50ml) another very large sample lightly scented with Jasmin green tea in sweet almond, sesame and sunflower seed oil. 

Sadly I was not over excited when I opened this box and so cancelled my subscription, I will keep looking at up and coming boxes and if they improve will re-subscribe as I still like the idea of the mixture of lifestyle and beauty items. I have joined a different type of box service also, I will write about in a few days.

My Little Box is a French company, sends to different countries but the contents can vary. £11+ P&P

Window Box Make Over

I bought some random plants for our window boxes, as they were looking very sad and overgrown.
I am very excited to see how they look in a few weeks when they start to grow (I'll post again then). I bought Celoisa Kimono (a mix of orange, yellow and red plumed plants), Ageratum (fluffy little blue flowers) and Mimulus Magic also called monkey flowers (a mix of red and yellow bicolour little flowers) .

So Susan May 2016

This months bag is called the "I Love Being Happy" Bag the quote on the bag is by Audrey Hepburn - "The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters"


All products are 100% Cruelty-Free (they do not test products or ingredients on animals) and contain no mineral oils, no phthalates, no parabens, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free

The Bag Contained (all full sized products) : 

• Eco-Chic Canvas Makeup Bag (worth $12 / £12) this linen bag is so cute with little Russian dolls on it

• Creamsicle in “Gelato” by Trifle (worth $17.95 / £14.95)
  A creamy tinted balm that melts onto your skin upon contact. Dab onto lips & cheeks for rich hydration and for that pop of dewy, smooth colour. With Silk Peptide to promote suppleness. I used on my lips and it lasted all day and smells so good

• Cashmere Blush by So Susan (worth $15.95 / £12.95) With PoreFade™ technology, Vitamin E Acetate and Pure Beeswax. A  powder blush that feels like cream upon skin contact. I will probably use this as an eye shadow not really a blush person.

• Angled Eyeshadow Brush by So Susan (worth $17.95 / £14.95) A versatile brush made from synthetic nylon & taklon hairs only. This is a nice soft brush a good travel length for a brush, it fits neatly in the makeup bag. For home use I prefer a longer handle. It picks up the colour well.

• BONUS ITEM : Light Pulse by Jelly Pong Pong (worth $19.95 / £16.00)  "A brightening gel formulation encapsulated in an elegant, foolproof stick format to enable you to illuminate and create “light” on your face so you look healthy, radiant and glowing" A really soft pencil nice for adding a bit of highlight to the eyes. 

As always an excellent bag. This is the first of my new 3 month subscription.

Bag Value : $83.80 / £70.85 (subscription is $20.95 free shipping monthly worldwide, they are a London/ UK based company)

Birchbox May

A little busy this month I am way behind with blogging. This months Birchbox arrived last week (all my boxes arrived within days of each other so been testing everything out, plus catching on paperwork for work (very important to buy bills!) This months Birchbox had a scratch top box, two boxes had the word winner printed on them only to be revealed after scratching the silver off, you could have won a holiday, my box did not have winner on it :( but it was fun scratching off the silver to see if it did, plus it reveals a very nice design, so all good fun.
Inside this months box (in the little bag) were 1 full sized item and 5 samples.
The full sized item was from Spectrum Collections a "Unicorn Tears Wonder Sponge" (Full size item price £4.99) We were given the choice of two colours pink or lilac, I picked lilac, so I knew this item was included in this months box. The sponge comes in a little plastic resealable bag, very Handy for travelling. The sponge is slightly harder than others I have tried but I liked that, very nice and may re-purchase, as its cheaper than a lot of other sponges out there.
The five samples (in no order) Philip Kingsley -PK Prep Polishing Balm (sample size 20ml, full sized 75ml £18.50) a hair smoothing balm that works on all hair types to smooth, condition, and tame whatever style you’re after. Contains nourishing ProVitamin B5 and vitamin A to add shine and gloss while nourishing your locks. My hair goes frizzy when it raining or when its sunny, generally its always frizzy! I used a tiny amount (less then 1/4 of a pea  amount) and it made my hair so shiny and a lot less frizzness, plus it did not make my hair look greasy, I will be buying this product when the sample runs out I really love it. Sorry the next sample is not in the photo of the box contents as it was put straight into my bag when I opened the box, for when I'm out 'n' about. TheBalm® cosmetics "Stainiac" in Beauty Queen a hint of a tint for lips and cheeks (sample size 1.2ml, full sized 8.5ml £10.00) It has a very suble tint/ colour, its quick and simple to use. I did apply twice for a better colour but it was still very natural looking which I like.
Caudalie Vinosource "Moisturising Sorbet" a gel/ cream a very lightweight non greasy moisturiser, the sample was 10ml but only contained approx. two pea sized amounts of cream so tried it in the morning and night. It was a good moisturiser but I did not like the smell and as the full size is £23.00 for 40ml I think its too expensive!
Rituals - "Dao Wai Wang Body Scrub" (sample size 75ml, full sized 325ml £19.50) enriched with white lotus and yi yi ren to calm the skin’s surface. I love this scrub, the smell is not over powering but light and uplifting. The scrub uses Chinese bamboo particles and does not scratch up your skin but leaves it smooth and feeling very soft and moisturised. I am really enjoying using this
(sample size 20ml, full sized 8.5ml £10.00)
The final sample was a Vita Coco Coconut Oil (sample size tiny 5ml, full sized 500ml £10.00) this is 100% organic raw cold pressed coconut oil. I use coconut oil for so many things cooking, hair, teeth, skin, nails, this sample will go in my travel bag very handy.
All in all a very nice box, that I am enjoying using










Note: If you want £5.00 worth of points with your first box click https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/nezumi6 currently you can get a free full-sizefull-size Jelly Pong Pong Glow Getter highlighter worth £8.95 with the first box - just put the code GLOWGIRL in the promo code box before ordering.  So that's a free Jelly Pong Pong Glow Getter highlighter and £5.00 in points, don't forgot to review the products when you get them and that's up to another £5.00 worth of points to spend in their shop. 
Birchbox UK cost £10.00 plus 2.95 p&p monthly, you can cancel at any time via your online account. They are an American company, different countries receive different boxes and products.