I wish it was possible to send a letter 15 years back in time to tell you all the things I know now, but I guess if I hadn’t been through them then I wouldn’t be the person I am now and I wouldn’t be able to tell you any of this. But anyway, here’s what I wish you knew…

First off, stop worrying what everyone thinks of you, they really don’t matter and in three years time you won’t have to deal with any of them at all. Most of the people who call themselves your friends aren’t; they are bullies. The same people you called your best friends aged 8 (who you don’t hang around with half enough at high school) will still be your best friends aged 28. Appreciate them more, one day they’re both going to live on the opposite side of the world from you.

Don’t let mum’s hairdresser cut your fringe. EVER. The boy you fancy will ask you if a blind man cut your hair and you will spend a lunch time crying in the toilet.

Which brings me on to my next point… boys are not the be all and end all of everything. The ones that are all cocky and forward are just after one thing and the ones that don’t talk to you probably just don’t know how to yet. These ones make awesome friends in later life. And stop crushing on your older sisters’ friends – it will only bring you heartache (though you never get over the ‘older guy’ thing, sorry). Most of all, respect yourself.

It’s cool to be a complete geek. Don’t play dumb cause you think it’s easier that way. Ask questions, be interested, be eager and take opportunities to learn new things when they come your way. You do get in to the university you want to go to. You don’t become a journalist at the end of it, but you do have three awesome years that shape your life in ways you don’t expect.

You are not fat, or stupid, and you are never responsible for anyone else’s temper or bad mood. It will take you more than another decade to get that, but it’s the truth and the sooner you accept it the sooner life gets a bit easier.

And finally, don’t wish your teenage years away. You’re not a grown up yet, you don’t know everything, but you’ll be glad you had some time when it was ok to mess up when you’re older.

Love Lucy

P.S. Don’t sweat the small stuff, you’re doing just fine.

P.P.S. I don’t have a picture of 13 year old us to put here, but that’s probably a good thing. That fringe was awful!

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

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I’m not sure I have a ‘dream job’. I used to but the funny thing is that dreams change, people grow and realisations happen that every job has its little bugbears to deal with. What I’d love to be doing now does not bear any resemblance to what I’d have said 10 years ago.

From age five, I wanted to be a writer. By age 11, this had turned into a pretty sure bet that I was going to be a journalist – I never really questioned this; I wanted to write for a career so I would become a journalist cause that was the logical thing to do.

Aged 19, I went off to university to do just that… and it took me almost three years of studying a journalism degree to discover that I mostly hated it. I say mostly because I did actually find that I liked (and was good at) research, the feature writing bit and practical production (setting pages, editing video, etc.) but the rest was just not for me. It was ultra-competitive and I just didn’t want it enough to fight for it. It took another year of going through numerous graduate scheme interviews to finally admit that to myself and set myself on a new course. Not that I think my degree was wasted at all. It was really practical and gave me tons of skills that I use every day in digital marketing.

For a while longer I continued with this idea that I wanted to be a ‘writer’. I wasn’t sure what kind of writer, but I was pretty sure that I had a book in me. I walked around all day with words rolling around my head and I have notebooks from this time in my life full of disjointed prose, but I never had believable characters and my storylines were weak. Over the last few year, my interest in literature has waned. I love reading non-fiction stuff and I actually enjoy researching and writing for that genre too. I would like to get back into feature writing, but being ‘a writer’ isn’t really my dream anymore.

So what gets me all fired up now? Six years ago I started drawing again (I had kind of fallen out of the practice whilst I was at university), my mum reminded me how to knit, then I took a few sewing and dressmaking classes, started making jewellery and learnt new craft skills like screenprinting, bookbinding and crochet. I think I was really just looking for another creative outlet and wanted to try out a few things but what I found was that I really enjoyed the process of designing and making things. My sister Fiona was really getting into her illustration and toy making at the same time – and thus Fi & Me was born.

Being realistic, I’m not sure that I can see myself making a living from making and selling a few purses, but I do love the idea of doing something more creative and working with my hands rather than at a computer all day. In the last couple of years I’ve got more into dressmaking and reworking vintage dresses too and it’s something I’d love to add to the business side of things.

I also think I’d like to do something that involves working with and helping people a bit more. I know that sounds a bit mushy, but I enjoy work the most when I feel like I am making a positive difference. I know I’m not motivated by money or status, but rather feeling like I’m doing good things.

So, in summary, I’m not still trying to work out what I want to do ‘when I grow up’… but I’m kind of enjoying the journey involved in finding out! In reality, I have so many different interests that I’m not sure just one job would fulfil my dreams.

What did you want to be when you were little?

P.S. I’ve been reading these books (1 & 2) recently and I can recommend them for helping to work out what you enjoy doing and ideas on how to turn it into a career or business.

The first piece of news I read this morning as I checked my phone (isn’t it awful that’s the first thing I do?) was that Ray Manzarek, keyboard player and founding member of The Doors had passed away aged 74. It isn’t the most important or impactful piece of news I’ve heard all day, but the music this man created (along with Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger and John Densmore) shaped a big part of my formative years, so I thought it was worth a mention.

I’ve been in to ‘old’ music for a long time, mainly thanks to my parents’ impressive collection of vinyl from the 60s onwards. But The Doors were one band that I ‘discovered’ for myself when I was around 16 years old – just before I also found the internet and all the musical possibilities that held. I bought the album Strange Days from a record shop because if its circus ‘freak’ cover and never looked back. There was something about the odd bluesy, honky tonk keyboard melodies and, of course, the dark, poetic vocals of Jim Morrison that was so different to anything I’d ever heard before. I was in love.

It is easy when thinking of The Doors to focus on the obvious hits (Light My Fire, anyone?) and their troubled, tragic frontman. But Ray Manzarek was responsible for so many of the defining components in their songs. He was a true musician who played not only keyboard but guitar, bass and percussion. I always thought it was the coolest thing that they ditched the idea of a bass guitarist in favour of him playing a second bass keyboard with his left hand while he played melodies with his right. He was influenced by classical music and jazz, and it created a type of rock music that was incredibly unique and influential.

If you ever get a chance to, watch the documentary When You’re Strange, which tells the story of the band through archive footage. It’s fascinating (and also narrated by Johnny Depp if you needed another reason).

I am most definitely a creature of habit, I think it runs in the family. Even when I left home I just packed up my quirks and traditions and took them with me, and then developed a few new ones along the way.

Most of my traditions are seasonal (many different Christmas traditions, Easter egg hunts, summer holidays to the south coast, saying ‘white rabbits’ on the first of every month). But one that is not dependent on the time of year is the feeling I get that a Sunday just isn’t a Sunday without some kind of roast dinner involved (vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and veggie sausages/stuffing for me, as I don’t eat meat). It really is the only thing that cheers me up ahead of a week at work.

I also like watching Countryfile (though maybe not at the same time as eating my tea, hello new born calf!) and Antiques Roadshow. The music of which will always remind me of doing my last minute homework before Monday mornings at school. At least I don’t have to do that anymore. Instead I can just enjoy watching other people look vaguely shocked and/or disappointed at the true value of their collectables.

Throw in a BBC4 science programme as well and a bottle of beer and I’m sorted. It’s what Sunday evenings are made of for me!

Do you have any traditions or habits you like to keep?

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.

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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

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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.

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?

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?

I also got into the habit of scouring vintage shops and fairs for hours on end, in search of the perfect dress (I may or may not have a problem with vintage dresses. I’ve even started decorating with them!)

But is vintage shopping any more sustainable?

After several months of this, I realised that while swapping new for old was technically more sustainable – the more we re-use, the less goes into landfill – and economical for me, it wasn’t really addressing the issue of consumption. I’d just swapped one kind of cheap clothing for another.

Of course vintage and secondhand is better for the environment; less goes into landfill and the need for fibres to be created (a polluting process) is reduced. But something still didn’t quite sit right; I saw a lot of the same dresses again and again in vintage shops (not so unique), huge retro warehouses started popping up all over town FULL to the brim with old clothes. All of a sudden the vintage rag trade was big business and my beloved vintage had started resembling fast fashion; the higher demand gets for vintage fashion, the more larger companies will start to churn it out like £3 t-shirts (there is already some concern over the ethical practices around the sorting of secondhand clothes overseas, and the fact that the trade spans the globe means that your vintage dress suddenly doesn’t seem so green).

So is there a better way to buy vintage and secondhand? I think there is.

Tips for more sustainable vintage shopping

These may not be perfect or realistic for everybody, but here are a few things I’ve worked into my life and business in order to be a more sustainable consumer of clothes:

• Buy only what you love - I’ve really had to work on perfecting this, but if I can’t stand in front of a changing room mirror and say that I 100% love something, will be able to get lots of wear out of it and will regret it forever if I don’t buy it, then I have to let it go. I don’t have the room or bank balance to buy things I’m not sure about. It is ok to leave a shop empty handed!
  

• Keep it moving – Where once I used to hoard away clothes, my wardrobe is now in a constant state of renewal and I observe a strict one-in, one-out policy. If you’re tired of something or it doesn’t suit you anymore, give it to charity, sell it, or – even better – swap it with a friend. There are so many items of clothing out there in the world, it’s just about finding them, and helping others to find them too.

• Get handy – completely reworking a dress takes time, skill and patience, but there a lot of simple things you can do. Learning to take up a hem can transform a dowdy dress into a trendy mini and even learning to sew in a bit of elastic into a dress nips in the waist in no time. It’s often about being able to see the potential in things you wouldn’t usually look twice at and giving them a new lease of life. If you haven’t got a sewing machine, even sewing an embellishment on by hand can completely transform a piece of clothing.

Some outfits I’ve reworked – I have an addiction to taking the big old 80s sleeves off things.

I also found that learning to make and alter clothes gave me a better appreciation of the work that goes into creating them. It taught me respect for the people that make our garmets and the clothes meant more to me cause I’d been involved in (re)creating them too.

• Go shopping with a wishlist, and a budget – Knowing what you like can stop you from buying a load of crap you regret later. Know what colours, patterns, details and era (if buying vintage) you like/suit you and keep your eyes peeled for these. It can stop you getting completely overwhelmed when hunting through rails of clothes.

• Get to know where your vintage comes from – a lot of the vintage I buy bears the Made in England label, or is obviously handmade. And I often know, because I buy it from private sellers or local charity shops I have good relationships with, where it came from. One of the things I LOVE about vintage are the little back stories that come with items of clothing. You don’t always get to find out this stuff, but when you do it makes it extra special. I like knowing that someone else probably wore the same dress in the same town 40 years before me.

A size 20 dress I took down to fit me cause I loved the print (hey, that’s my bath). And sometimes you just find the perfect dress that fits like a glove.

• Take the ‘nose to tail’ approach – Yep, like the butchery term, I’m obsessed with getting every last little bit out of a garment. Whether that’s making fabric necklaces from the offcuts of dresses, to recycling a jumper into accessories, reusing the buttons from a shirt or using fabric scraps as dusters.

• Shop your own wardrobe – I think many of us are guilty of forgetting what we have already. Take the time to go through your wardrobe occassionally and rediscover the hidden gems in there. It will stop you from buying similar clothes you don’t need.

Obviously this is not a definitive list (please feel free to add to it in the comments below) and clothes make up just one part of our consumption. Ultimately, there is no one ‘perfect answer’ (this blog post weighs up the pros and cons of different fashion choices) but being more conscious of what we but is a start.

Is being ‘green’ important to you? What does it mean for you?

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

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.