Fi & Me | A handmade, design and vintage blog

Best Friends and a Birthday

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Lucy

Today seems like a good day to be talking about best friends for #BEDM because it’s my best friend/business partner/big sister’s birthday. Happy birthday Fi!

I feel so fortunate that I have two older sisters who’ve looked out for me all my life. And I’m even more fortunate that Fi and I get to do lots of creative things for Fi & Me. We even like standing on freezing cold market stalls together.

I’m a pretty shy gal, so I don’t have tons of ‘friends’ and acquaintances. But those I do have are amazing and I feel fortunate to have them in my life, whether they live down the road, at the other end of the country, or on the other side of the world.

Posted in 2013, BEDM | Tagged BEDM, birthday, friends | 2 Comments

The One Where Life Tells Me To Slow Down

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Lucy

Slow Sloth PRINT

Source

Well, yesterday’s Blog Everyday in May post was supposed to be about pampering. And I was going to finish writing it last night after I’d had a bath, but a quarter (fortunately) of the way up the stairs on the way to the bathroom I remembered that I’d left my book downstairs, turned quickly and slipped, ending up in a pile on the floor having hit my lower back on the way down.

After swearing and seeing lots of stars I had to crawl to the bathroom and turn the taps off, then drag myself into bed and wait for help to come home – when I say help I mean painkillers and a telling off for rushing about too much, but it did come with pizza and a visit from next door’s cat too.

The telling off was probably a little deserved though. I am always rushing up and downstairs doing a million things at once; last night I’d been for a run and was putting the washing on, running a bath, making a cup of tea, checking my emails, writing a blog post, taking up a dress. I seem to make even a relaxing ‘pampering’ thing like having a bath into a stress-inducing experience. Just another thing I have to fit in to my busy day.

So I’ve taken this as a sign to make like a sloth and slow the hell down (for a few days at least). I need to remember that being busy doesn’t always mean I’m that productive, so I need to take a step back and assess what’s important. I’ll hopefully catch up with blogging, but I’m not going to beat myself up if I don’t.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! x

Posted in 2013, BEDM, life | Tagged BEDM, sloth, slow | 1 Comment

Life Lessons

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Lucy

16x20 INSPIRATIONAL Art Prints Viktor Frankl Quote Fine Art Poster

Source

I like to approach life as one big lesson. I don’t think we should ever stop learning and growing as people; we are the product of our experiences and we should try to take from them what we can, as hard as that can be sometimes.

Here are a few of the things life has taught me…

That no one is happy all of the time and you can make yourself unhappy striving to be so.
That it doesn’t make a difference who respects you if you don’t respect yourself.
That living your life for someone else and following their dreams rather than your own doesn’t make you happy.
That there are more important things than material possessions.
That hard work is worth it if you’re doing something you love.
That it’s important to respect people’s opinions, but you don’t need them to validate who you are.
That it’s more important to feel proud of yourself than pretty or popular.
That some people aren’t meant to stay in your life forever (and vice versa), sometimes things just are what they are at that time in your life.
That you can’t make progress without creating a bit of mess sometimes. Not everything has to be perfect.
That I am often stronger than I – and others – give myself credit for.

I’m sure there’s more, but those are the first that spring to mind. What have your life lessons been?

I’m (attempting) Blogging Every Day in May – you can read all my posts here.

Posted in 2013, BEDM | Tagged BEDM, life lessons | 4 Comments

Baking Biscuits

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Lucy

Today’s Blog Every Day in May theme is ‘food glorious food’. I’m not the most adventurous cook, but I am pretty awesome at baking, if I do say so myself. Unfortunately one can’t live on baked goods alone, more’s the pity.

One of my new year’s resolutions was to bake something new every month. So far there’s been malt loaf, healthy muffins, cherry and coconut cake, and scones. I LOVE cakey things. But one thing I rarely bake are biscuits, which is odd cause I do quite like eating them.

Despite Easter being some weeks ago, the other day I got a craving for Easter biscuits. If you’ve never had them before they’re full of currants and a little bit spiced, lovely. Fortunately, I had everything I needed to make them already sitting in my cupboard – my favourite Sunday afternoon scenario.

I used this recipe. They’re so quick and simple, and go splendidly with a cup of tea. They also keep really well, so you can make a batch and eat them throughout the week (if they last that long).

Do you prefer cooking or baking?

Posted in 2013, BEDM, baking, easter | Tagged baking, BEDM, biscuits, easter, food, heart | 1 Comment

No New Clothes: Sustainable shopping, and is vintage ethical?

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Lucy

Being green and ethical isn’t always easy. When I start thinking about my impact on the world and the ‘right’ way of doing things, the possibilities are seemingly endless. I’d like to preface this by saying that I feel like I do what is right for me. I could probably do better, but leading a greener, more sustainable life is a work in progress. Deciding not to buy new clothes is just one of the ways I’ve tried to make a positive change, so here’s a little about why…

At the end of 2011, I started thinking a lot more about my buying habits – particularly in regards to clothes. Like many a 20-something woman, I was caught up in the world of ‘fast fashion’, buying cheap clothing just because I could. It was there, I was bored and I could get 5 dresses for £50. Awesome!(?)

But in the back of my mind, I knew that this must come at a higher price somewhere down the supply chain and that the impact of mass-production on a global scale must be damaging the environment (reading this book confirmed it). I also realised that my consumption left me feeling kind of empty – I had no connection to these belongings at all – and that when I came to clear out my wardrobe, as I do every few months, what I was getting rid of was often unworn and always from cheap high street shops.

At the same time, I was developing a burning desire to learn to make and alter my own clothes (handy if you’re 5’3″ with odd proportions and nothing fits), so I took some night classes and got more confident reading patterns and using my sewing machine.

In January 2012, I made a resolution to stop buying new clothes, shoes and accessories (with the exception of underwear, nightwear, a pair of trainers and a suit – but only if I really need to replace what I already have, which I haven’t yet). My plan was to make my own clothes from scratch, but 16 months down the line, I have made a grand total of two things. FAIL.

Thrifty finds

Instead I found another way to shop – secondhand. I’ve always been a fan of charity shops, ever since sixth form college when I found my first vintage dress. They kept me clothed during my lean, unemployed times living in Scotland. And I once scored a £200 Coast dress for a wedding for £20 – need I say more?

Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, BEDM, fashion, vintage | Tagged BEDM, ethical, fashion, green, shopping, vintage | Leave a comment

Collections: Vintage Aprons

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Lucy

I come from a long line of collectors; my grandparents between them collected foreign coins, spoons and toby jugs, my mum collects owl figurines and my dad was once on the local news displaying his impressive collection of classic bus blinds!

When we were little, my sisters and I were all encouraged to start collections. Mine were pottery Colour Box bears and, later, gemstones and fossils. Most of which have probably been given away now as I outgrew them and left home.

There’s a fine line between collecting and hoarding, and I fear that I’ve probably strayed more into the latter. There are very few things that I purposely collect, usually just things I amass. But one fun little ‘collection’ I started cultivating a year or so ago is vintage aprons.

As well as being pretty, they’re also really handy for keeping my clothes protected when I bake, paint or make anything involving glue.

I think my favourite is the completely bonkers safari one, though my newest addition – the lilac lillies – is a close second.

Do you have any collections?

I’m (attempting) Blogging Every Day in May – you can read all my posts here.

Posted in 2013, BEDM, vintage | Tagged apron, BEDM, collections, floral, making, vintage | 2 Comments

Book Love: The Great Gatsby

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Lucy

Today’s Blog Every Day in May topic is favourite books. Asking me to choose these is like asking me to choose a favourite friend or relative; almost impossible. My taste in books has changed a lot over the years (I’ve been really into non-fiction for a long while, but my first true love is literature) and I think that what you enjoy reading really does depend on your mood or interests at the time.

One of the books that really stole my imagination was The Great Gatsby, which I studied for A-level (this is a contentious issue in my household, with frequent discussions about its literary merit and how dull it is/ISN’T).

So it’s with equal amounts of excitement and trepidation that I’m awaiting the release of the Baz Lurhman directed version, especially seen as I love the 1970s Robert Redford and Mia Farrow version. It looks visually stunning, if not a tad melodramatic(?)

Gatsby’s sense of hopelessness, of living a fantastical life but never quite being able to outrun your past and longing for lost love was really quite tragically and romantic to a 17 year old me.

And Gatsby opened me up to more Fitzgerald – the flappers in This Side of Paradise, explorations of madness in Tender is the Night and short stories like the Curious Case of Benjamin Button – and his wife Zelda (whose quote “she refused to be bored chiefly because she wasn’t boring” is something I try to live by). Between them they sum up everything about the ‘jazz age’ of America in the roaring 20s; glamorous but with an honesty about its darker edges that was so pervasive in their own lives.

What kind of books do you like reading? Do you think they would make good films?

Posted in 2013, BEDM, books | Leave a comment

Dream Destination: Paris

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Lucy

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

I am not the most seasoned traveller. I’m rubbish in heat, I have food allergies that I can’t even begin to explain in a foreign language and I never seem to have any money to travel abroad (though I’ve been to some lovely desinations in the UK… ok, Scotland). But I have done a fair bit of travelling around Europe, and I love a good city break. Just getting lost in a city seems pretty magical to me.

This summer, I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to Paris and I cannot wait; I want to be there NOW! I’ve visited three times before (I know it’s not all like a Jean-Pierre Jeunet film) and I’m still sort of in love with the place. This will be the first time I’m staying in Monmartre; the kind of thing my artistic and vintage dreams are made of. So I’ve been pinning Parisian inspiration like mad. Here are a few of my favourites (can you tell that most of my favourite films are set there…?)

Source: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10 (let me know if you know where any originals are if not sourced)

I’m (attempting) Blogging Every Day in May – you can read all my posts here.

Posted in 2013, BEDM, travel | Tagged BEDM, films, inspiration, paris, travel | Leave a comment

My First Job

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Lucy

My first proper job, other than dog walking and a bit of pot washing, was in a local family-owned bakery in the little village where I grew up. It’s a lovely place where everything is handmade. It’s been going since the 1930s (my grandma remembers it when she used to work in the mill across the road) and it’s happily still going strong today.

(Source)

I started off as a Saturday girl there the summer I finished high school. I hated it at first; I was shy, I had to wear a canary yellow and brown(!) uniform, some of the older ladies were mean and I couldn’t work the tills. I wanted to run away on my first day, but I ended up there for almost three years!

When a couple of the part-timers left, I got more shifts and fitted them round my college work, which made me pretty good at managing my time – and put some much needed money in my pocket. My speciality was doing the orders of a morning, which taught me good organisation and dealing with customers over the phone… and it was a good excuse to hide in the back room with a cup of tea and a hangover. How I did early starts in a shop surrounded by food, with a hangover, I’ll never know. I’m tired just thinking about it now!

One thing you should know about working in a bakery is they start EARLY and take a lot of cleaning after you close. When I started working there full time in my year out before uni, at least three days a week I’d work from 7.30 to 5.30. (The bakers were in from 4am!) The winters were the worst, when you’d get in to work in the pitch black, but having hot ovens and a supply of freshly baked pies and bread was more than enough to warm up on (I also quickly developed asbestos hands from picking them up). Plus the leftovers you’d get to take away at the end of the day were amazing; there were definitely perks to such long shifts.

It was really nice working for a family firm, seeing the hard work and long hours they all put in to make the place a success. Having this job also taught me a lot about the value of money, the importance of taking responsibility and gave me some confidence, which has stood me in good stead for my working life so far.

I’m not sure I’d like to go back there, but it was a nice place to start.

What was your first job? Did you enjoy it?

I’m (attempting) Blogging Every Day in May – you can read all my posts here.

Posted in 2013, BEDM | Tagged bakery, BEDM, first job | Leave a comment

Etsy Love: Kitty Cats

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Lucy

Happy Tuesday (that totally feels like a Monday, yay for short weeks!) Today’s Blog Every Day in May theme is pets. Since my beloved cat Bazil Bear passed away last year, I haven’t felt ready for a new pet (though I have taken a bit of a shine to next door’s black cat, who is like a miniature version of B).

So I thought, instead, I’d express my love of felines (Baz was my second cat) with some cat-shaped Etsy finds. I’d happily wear all of these… at once… whilst covered in kitties.

Crazy Fuckin' Cat Lady Racerback Tank