"Come On SpongeBob!"

As Autumn hits us we all know that it is going to get cold and, sadly, wet. The dwindling hours of daylight and the sudden drop in temperature mean only one thing……….. dust off the winter warmers! Just because the days are getting darker doesn’t mean you have to keep with dark colours for your winter accessories.

In 2014, Moschino showed us the collection of ALL collections and gave us SpongeBob!!! I literally thought all of my dreams had come true when I saw this two-piece collection featuring a hat AND a scarf. Me being me, I stupidly didn’t buy this when I first saw it, and it wasn’t until 3 years later when I actually managed to get my hands on these pieces. The website that comes through every time, YOOX, stocked these and I quickly snapped them up. Luckily for me, the prices on YOOX are heavily discounted so I was living my best life! Not only are both pieces incredibly fun and beautiful but the quality of them is top-notch. They have seen me through 3 winters and going into their fourth, still looking as good as new. What we all need during the colder, grey, duller months is something that makes you happy and brightens up your day, and this scarf does exactly that for me!

This ASOS oversized longline wool coat is the perfect piece for the change in temperature. I fell in love with its length (whic of course adds some much neede drama!) and the double-breasted fastening. It is so easy to dress this coat down with a pair of jeans and a hoodie and then you have the right mix of formal and casual. To me, a coat that is large enough to easily fit thick laying pieces under is an absolute winner in the colder months as if you get too warm you can easily remove a layer, or two, and the coat still works and looks just as lush.

One SpongeBob thing I currently do not own is a bag, so I thought why not make myself one? I found this ‘Ty’ Beanie Baby on eBay for a few pound and ordered it right away as I knew it would make the perfect little cross-body bag. All I needed to make this was:

• SpongeBob soft toy

• yellow closed end zip

• yellow thread

• embroidery scissors

• lining fabric

• 2x 3cm lengths of ribbon (I used white)

The first thing I did was unpick the stitching along the back seam, with SpongeBob being square on top this was pretty easy to do. Once it was unpicked I pulled out the stuffing and cleaned up the inside (gruesome I know). I then stitched the zip into the open seam by hand. Once it was in I cut out 2 20cm by 10cm cotton pieces for the lining of the bag. I sewed the pieces together using a sewing machine, leaving 10cm unsewn to turn the bag the right way once the lining was in place. I opened the zip and turned SpongeBob inside out and attached the zip tape to the seam allowance of the lining fabric. Once it was all finished I turned the bag the right way using the 10cm opening and then hand-stitched the opening closed.

Fun Fact

The title of this blog “Come on SpongeBob!” came from a night out a few years back. Me, my boyfriend and a friend were at an outdoor venue in January, so it was very cold, and I had this scarf on. There was a table with a pretty lairy couple sat at it and we just so happened to walk past them and catch their attention. The guy came over shouting that he wanted a picture take with the three of us. I was having none of this and I was ordering the drinks at the bar. The guy was begging us for a picture and he said “I’ll buy your drinks” and threw a £20 at the bar tender serving me. I was waiting for the drinks and the guy was getting impatient in waiting for me so he screamed “COME ON SPONGEBOB!” and we all erupted with laughter and gave him what he wanted…………. a sick pic with killer poses!

Hat - Moschino - www.yoox.com

Scarf - Moschino - www.yoox.com

Coast - ASOS - https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-wool-mix-oversized-longline-overcoat-in-charcoal/prd/20754839?colourwayid=60085398&SearchQuery=oversized%20coat%20men

T-Shirt - H&M

Denim Jacket - Vintage

Belt - Moschino - www.yoox.com

Jeans - ASOS - www.asos.com

Bracelet - Moschino - www.yoox.com

Socks - Primark

Trainers - Reebok - www.asos.com

Disneyland Character Hats

First of all HAPPY 92nd BIRTHDAY to the main mouse……… MICKEY!!!

As I have mentioned before, I have a HUGE love for merchandise. Not only do I love merchandise I also love Disney and especially 1990s Disneyland, so these hats are the stuff of my dreams. It has taken me a good few years to finish off my collection of these Disneyland hats, and many an hour searching through eBay on a weekly basis. I started my collection with Mickey, and Goofy followed closely behind. It took around another year to be able to find a Minnie edition and the one I did manage to get was slightly damaged, the adjustable back fastener was snapping so I never adjust the sizing to give her the longest life possible. Now Donald I was lucky enough to find in the UK and he came with a vintage Walt Disney World soft toy Mickey visor (DING DING DING) for around £25.00. The Daisy Duck hat was the last entry to the collection. I had eventually managed to find one on eBay for a decent price BUT………………… it was from a seller based in the US, so delivery was more than the hat. One thing I HATE about ordering online is delivery charges, so I watched this item for months and STUPIDLY kept putting off buying her. I showed her to a friend while we were shopping then the next time I checked to see if she was still available…….. she wasn’t. Much to my surprise, on Christmas 2018, a friend had purchased it for me as part of my Christmas gift. I was sooooooo shocked, grateful, and sooooooo happy that I finally managed to bag the entire gang!

Now you do have to remind yourself that these hats are vintage, some are over 25 years old and have traveled across oceans to get to me. None of the hats are in perfect condition, like I mentioned with the Minnie hat the pegs on the adjuster snap off very easily and the eyelashes on Minnie and Daisy have seen better days. They are made from wire so can easily be adjusted to make them look a little more “on fleek” but this is by no means the end of the world. Every character has scuffs on their nose, beak, face or teeth and I like this, it is part of collecting Disneyland merchandising from the 1990s; it has been well-loved!

Along with collecting Disneyland hats I also have a HUUUUUUGE love for pins, especially the different parks and attraction versions!!!! I do have a collection from each of the Disney parks I have been to and I’m always on the lookout for new editions as places like eBay have a load of fun pins on offer!!! I’ve included a few of my faves from the different parks. Sadly pins are not as huge a thing in Disne’yland Paris as they are in the parks in the States so I only have the one from Disneyland Paris but I have more than made up with them from the other parks!

Hats - Vintage - eBay

Denim Jacket - ASOS x GLAAD

Necklaces - ASOS

Earring Cuff - ASOS

T-Shirt - Vintage - eBay

Pins - Disney Parks

Pumpkin Tote and Halloween Extravaganza Accessories

First of all……………….. HAP……….PPPPY HALLOWEEN!

I had so much fun shooting the photos for the “Halloween Extravaganza” blog, ANNNNNDDDD because there were quite a few accessories featured in it (very unlike me!) I decided to do a follow-up post including them all. Also a few blogs back I did mention that you’d see more screen printed pieces, and I was not lying LOL.

So, months ago I wanted to create two screen-printed Halloween tote bags. As you saw I uploaded the black coffin tote a few blogs back. I had ordered the orange fabric at the same time as the black cotton without realising that it would have to come from overseas and I’d have to wait for what seems like months. So when the fabric arrived on the 29th of October I cracked on and whipped the tote up-and screen printed it-ready to blog it in time for Hallows Eve.

I wanted the tote to obviously be a pumpkin. I ran up a pattern for the tote by drawing a square 40cm by 40cm. I then used the curved part of the pattern master to curve off the bottom edge. I was going to do the same with the top edges but decided against it so that the opening of the bag wasn’t narrow, allowing me to use the bag more often. I then added a little stalk in the center along the open edge of the bag. For quickness, and because they were a perfect length, I used the pattern piece for the straps from the black cotton coffin tote. I attached the straps to the bag 7cm from the edge. Before I sewed the bag together I decided to do the screen-printing. I cut all the pieces out, ironed them then went for the ink.

For the tote stencil, I wanted to incorporate the letters of ‘Van Cartier’ but making up the nose and mouth of the pumpkin. With some help from a VERY talented person in my life, the stencil was created using Adobe Illustrator. Once done, I printed it out ready to be cut out from acetate.

I managed to get the whole stencil on one A3 sheet of acetate. By doing this it meant I could print the entire design in one go, which was soooo useful, especially with being tight on time.

I really wanted to include one of these Moschino mini quilted leather bags in the ‘Halloween Extravaganza’ blog and I thought this lime green one was perfect for the Halloween theme. Although it is VEEEEERY small, I think they really add a lot to an outfit. They really are not very usable, they hold very little/nothing inside, but they are easy to wear; just throw it over your shoulder, and away you go!!!

Now, these little charms were a really fun addition to the Halloween outfit. They are easily added to a bag, a belt loop, or if you’re feeling real extra-earrings! I basically searched eBay for fun little spooky nik naks and found a way to attach a keyring chain to it. The telephone I thought was a fun homage to the horror movie classic Scream. The skeleton was a must-have charm, which was supposed to be for a necklace. I mean what is Halloween without a skeleton huh? The cap is a 1990’s keyring, and all I had to do was take the silver keyring off and add the matt black addition instead. Now the neon yellow witch was from the 1990’s toy series called ‘Monsters in My Pocket’. I used to be OBSESSED with these as a kid, so I had to buy one. The price of the toys really jumped up between 1994 and 2020. I can remember Medusa and this witch character being two of my faves (I think it was because of the glamorous floor-length gowns they are wearing LOL) and I really wanted to add one just for the memories. I picked up the keyring chains from eBay for a few pounds for 5.

Some people say that jewellery should be the finishing touch to any outfit, but I say jewellery should say as much as the entire rest of the outfit does. This bracelet was from a company called OS Accessories, which was an Asian based jewellery company that did the most amazing bone inspired jewellery. I bought this bracelet in 2015 and fell in love with it. I have struggled to find the company recently so I am under the impression that they must not still be going, which I am gutted about as I’d love a few more pieces. The green plastic fang necklace, I picked up from H&M way back in 2009. I had totally forgotten about this necklace until during lockdown in the spring, I sorted through my jewellery collection and instantly needed to wear it to death again……… see what I did there, Halloween pun LOL.

The other day I ran into a Tesco store and naturally had to check out the Halloween aisle. Much to my surprise I found these retro-style kids masks selling for £1 each, so I snapped them both up. I do wish I had found these in time for last week’s blog shoot, but hey ho these things happen. I had to feature them in a blog before the 1st of November….so here you go haha.

I hope you all have an amazingly creepy Halloween!

Halloween Extravaganza

Another week closer to Halloween, it’s so close now you can almost taste it!!!

For this blog, I wanted to create an all-out Halloween Extravaganza of an outfit made up of stuff I have been collecting for months and since this year I have nowhere to wear it…………. HERE IT IS!

Months ago now, I purchased this Moschino ‘Creature From the Black Lagoon’ shirt from FarFetch and have been gagging to wear it. Obviously, this year hasn’t been anything like we’d expected, so this was the first opportunity I have had to wear it. It is from the Moschino Spring 2020 Halloween inspired collection so I decided to go all out on a Trick or Treater style outfit. Fun and obvious accessories really helped the overall theming.

I decided to create these jeans from two pairs of the same style, in different shades. I cut and sewed the two together to create a bit of a Frankenstein/Scarecrow look. They were incredibly easy to do. To start with I measured along the seam where I wanted the new cut seam to go on the base pair of jeans. I then went to the other pair and measured the same length and added 1cm for the seam allowance. I then stitched them together, right sides facing then pressed the seam open to make the seam look a little neater. For the stitch detailing I used an embroidery thread and embroidery needle and just started really randomly making it look like the stitching was holding the seam together. The more random and “homemade” (I HATE the term homemade haha) it looks, the better it fits with the theme. I added a pocket cut from another pair of darker jeans and I added this over the pocket of the original jeans and added the embroidery thread over the top. I used a grey embroidery thread just to add another colour to the jeans. I cut a patch out from the same pair of jeans I removed the pocket from and added a Frankenstein style scar to the patch then attached that to the jeans using the black embroidery thread.

The Black washed denim jacket is something I have wanted for a long time now. I picked up this jacket from Primark for only £15. The first change I wanted to make to it was the length. It was a little too long for me, but not long enough to look like a longer style. I measured 20cm from the bottom of the jacket all the way around and then joined the marks with a pair of fabric scissors and removed the bottom part. For the print on the back, I wanted it to be a large pair of monster-like eyes. I drew the design on a sheet of A3 paper and when I had finished I placed the paper on a cutting mat and put an A3 sheet of acetate over the design. Using a sharp scalpel I slowly cut off the parts that I wanted to be in green. I then did the same, using an A4 sheet of acetate with the white and red parts of the design. Like I said in the previous blog, you were going to see lots more screen printing, and here is another piece!!!! To create this piece I did it in 3 stages; the green, white and then red ink. Because the fabric I was printing on was black I did some research and found that if you use a colour discharge paste (sounds disgusting doesn’t it?) I mixed a 1:1 ratio of the discharge paste and ink and it really did make a difference to the quality of the colour of the ink.

I carried out each step of the screen printing over 3 days. Once the ink had been screen printed onto the fabric I then used a hairdryer and applied heat to the ink as a catalyst for the discharge paste to remove the colour from the denim. I did this for around 5 minutes evenly to the whole design. I then placed the jacket in a warm cupboard overnight to make sure that it was dry for the application of the next colour. It was easier than I thought to place the next stencil for the next colour, I just referred to the original drawing and lined the stencil up. Once all three colours had then been printed and allowed to dry out, I ironed the design with a sheet of greaseproof paper between the fabric and the iron. I used a very hot iron and evenly applied the heat, then I used a steamer and steamed over the print to cure the ink and make it washable.

For the hat I used a leather cap I already had, I think I got it from eBay many years ago. I then bought a standard devil horn hairband that lit up. I removed the horns from the hairband and luckily they had 2 holes on the underside of the horns which I used to sew the horns from the seam of the leather cap. To sew the horns on I used a mattress needle and it was pretty easy to do. The horns straighten up when the cap is being worn, which I was EXTREMELY pleased about.

For the accessories I used in this shoot, I wanted the look to be quite random and eclectic………… almost like a child going out trick or treating and throwing on everything they had. I used a Moschino mini leather chained bag in green. To me, green is a perfect colour for Halloween. I obviously HAD to use one of my Moschino Monster bags from the Spring/Summer 2020 collection, so I went for the monster fanny pack. I don’t get to use this bag very often so any excuse to whip it out I’m all over! For years I have had a gold chain with green plastic Vampire teeth. This used to be a favorite necklace of mine, but like the Monster fanny pack, I always forget to wear it so It had to feature in the shoot. I also found 2 pairs of themed 3D cinema glasses in a local charity shop. One was themed to a mummy and the other to a werewolf. These added a fun layer to the shoot, I just wish they were a little larger (as they are kids).

Leather cap - eBay

Denim Jacket - Primark

Shirt - Moschino (FarFetch)

Necklace - H&M

Belt - Urban Outfitters

Jeans - New Look

Fanny pack - Moschino (FarFetch)

Green mini bag - Moschino (Vestiare Collective)

Bracelet - OS Accessories

Socks - H&M

Trainers - Primark

Halloween Ghost Jacket/Tote Bag/T-Shirt

With Halloween quickly creeping upon us (and still being inspired by Moschino’s Summer collection) I decided to create this Ghost Jacket. I found the jacket in the loft (among MANY other items of clothing LOL) and thought I could very easily make something out of this, as I had never worn it before. I must have purchased this PU jacket in 2016 for £15.99 in the sale from Zara. It was still in perfect condition if a little creased.

I thought this jacket would be perfect for this time of year. It is a more subtle way to show your festive Halloween spirit when out and about or at work. The face could be as big or as small as you’d like. I’m going to go for pretty much full coverage of the back, why not huh?

What I used to create this spooky piece:

• a white PU biker jacket

• Posca pens (I went for a black and two shades of grey in 5mm size)

• a pencil

• a biro

• A3 sketch pad

• scissors

The first thing I did was research the type of face I wanted on the jacket. I went for a cartoon-like ghost face with a nose and mouth like a carved pumpkin. When I was happy with the look I made a stencil. Once I had drawn up the rough idea I and was happy with it, I made a stencil in the size I wanted to put on to the jacket. I’m a sucker for using stencils for everything, I even used a compass to draw the circles. You could very easily freehand the design as it would add to the Halloween-like look, I much prefer to have a little more control in what I translate on to the fabric. I used the A3 sketch pad to draw up the stencil. The paper was a little thicker than printer paper, so it worked perfectly for a stencil. I folded the back of the jacket in half, to find the centre, which made it easier to place the eyes. For the nose and the mouth, I was happy for them to be more “off” than the eyes to help the overall look seem a little more homemade. I found using a biro was best to mark the stencil on to the jacket, as my pencils were a little too sharp and I was worried that it would rip the fabric. Once the design had been stenciled onto the jacket it was time for the Posca pens. I started at the top and worked my way down to avoid smudging the pens. The pens worked pretty well on the fabric first time, but I did go over the design as a final touch and to cover any small mistakes (such as the lighter colours going over the outline).

To go along with this spooky creation I decided to screen print some fun little Halloween themed items.

First was the pumpkin t-shirt. This t-shirt was only £2 from Primark. I got it in a size medium for a more fitted look. They only had it in two colours (which were both VERY suitable for Halloween) orange and an acid green. I found a screen print starter kit on eBay for £29.99 + delivery which included a silkscreen, squeegee, and black and white printing ink.

I looked into the simplest and best ways to create a stencil for screen printing and found that sheets of acetate would work best for what I was imagining. I drew the design I wanted on a sheet of printer paper and lay the acetate over the top and cut out the design with a VERY sharp scalpal. The silkscreen I purchased was just a little larger than A4 so I found using a sheet of A3 acetate just meant the ink wouldn’t spill over on to the fabric.

To do the screen printing I found ironing or steaming any creases out of the fabric/t-shirt to be printed on meant a more even finish. I placed a thick plastic carrier bag between the front and the back of the t-shirt to stop the ink from seeping through and staining. I then lay the acetate sheet on the fabric and positioned it exactly where I wanted the design to go and put the silkscreen directly on top ready to print. I applied a generous amount of printing ink to the top of the screen, making sure it was applied to a part where the fabric was covered by the acetate. Then I kneeled on the wooden frame of the screen, grabbed the squeegee, and slowly dragged the ink across the design making sure the ink had been applied to the whole of the stencil. I did need to apply a little more ink, but this was just to make sure everywhere had been covered. I slowly removed the screen and acetate stencil and AAARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH……………………… DONE! I let the ink air dry and then ironed to cure the ink (I ironed over a sheet of greaseproof paper so I didn’t burn the ink or fabric).

For the tote bag, I wanted more of a creepy shadow/3D effect so I lifted the stencil up on moved it slightly to one side then repeated the printing process and it made a slight shadow effect. Now I know how to screenprint you will be sure to see many more designs featuring on this blog, I’m just warning you now!

I do have a very limited amount of the coffin screen-printed tote bag so if you would like to own one please contact me through the ‘contact’ link on my blog and I will post one out to you while stock allows, so act fast!

• PU White Jacket - Zara

• T-shirt - Primark

• Necklaces - Shawn Leane and Topman

• Belt - Urban Outfitters

• Trousers - Zara

• Socks - H&M

• Shoes - Dr Martens

• Watch - Marc By Marc Jacobs

• Bracelets - Links of London and KTZ

Monster Scarf

Ever since I saw it, I’ve been in love with a scarf by Jeremy Scott available in either bright orange or bright pink. It was like a monster dropping around your neck. It was super fun!!!! I have been looking for one for years and years but sadly without any luck; so I decided I was going to create one of my own!

I wanted to go for a ‘My Pet Monster’ because as a kid I ALWAYS wanted one. I remember a cousin having one which came with an American Football jersey and helmet on and orange handcuffs. I searched and searched on eBay for one of these monsters but they were going for HUNDREDS! I did manage to find this 2009 edition for £25 so I OBVIOUSLY snapped it up!

What I used to make this creep;

• monster soft toy (I went for a ‘My Pet Monster’)

• faux fur fabric in a colour of your choice

• fabric scissors

• thread scissors

• a pencil

• pattern paper

The first thing I did seems a little brutal, it was to unpick the soft toy. I started with the head as the seams from the head ran down to the arms and legs. It can take some work and a whoooooole lot of patience to do this step. To get it started I got a fine pair of thread scissors and dug in into the seam on the neck then snipped the first thread I found. I slowly worked my way around the neck seam by snipping each stitch. Now, this CAN be a little messy, with the bits of faux fur flying through the air. Once I had completed the snipping of the stitches around the neck I removed the stuffing from the head and the body. I did keep this just in case I needed some stuffing to put in the head to give it a little shape. Once I removed the stuffing from the body I was then able to unpick the side seams to free up the arms and legs. Once the limbs were free I then made the decision to make a little tail from the faux fur from the body of the soft toy. I did this by cutting a rectangle out, 10 cm by 15 cm. I folded the rectangle then curved the unsewn seam. I then SLOOOOWLY stitched, on the sewing machine, along the edge with the curved top.

Once all the bits were ready I made a start with the main body of the scarf. I had this crazy plan of having a purple jersey on the underside of the Monster’s belly but this dream flew out the window when I tried to stitch the faux fur, sadly. I had spent a few hours running up the pattern for this elaborate scarf design but I quickly simplified the design. I cut the blue faux fur into a rectangle 50 cm x 120 cm (plus a 1 cm seam allowance). I then folded the rectangle in half to get the center and I cut a notch to mark it. To sew the scarf I turned the faux fur fabric, right sides facing, and then SLOOOOWLY stitched it on the sewing machine. I left 25 cm in the seam in order to turn the scarf back through on itself. Leaving the rectangle right sides facing, I then matched the seam down the centre to the notch I cut then SLOOOOWLY stitched along one end (where the monster’s head will go). I then turned the scarf the correct way it would be once finished to make sure I get the feet pointing the way I want them to. At the open end, I then pinned the feet and tail to the faux fur scarf. I needed to turn the scarf back to the right sides facing each other. To ensure the tail was in place in the centre, I notched the tail the same way I did with the main body and pinned it to the centre before pinning each leg to the outer edge of the scarf. I SLOOOOWLY stitched this end making sure not to trap the legs and tail under the foot of the sewing machine. I turned the scarf the right way through the seam in the scarf where I left a gap, being careful not to put too much tension on the back limbs.

Now, this bit is a pretty important part of the overall finish of the scarf………… The head.

I found the best way to attach the head to the scarf was to stitch it on by hand. This way I was able to control where the head was placed much more easily. I placed the face of the monster touching the underside of the scarf, then stitched the head to the scarf making sure I was flipping the head the right way up to make sure it was looking right. Once the bottom was attached I then stitched the arms using the exact same method. After attaching the arms I flipped the head, making sure it covered the arms and then hand sewed the head in place by stitching through the soft toy’s hair (and with every stitch making sure the hair covered the thread. And BOOOOOOM, I’ve finished!!!!!!

• Jumper - Jeremy Scott

• Roll Neck - Zara

• Tousers - Zara

• Bag - Moschino

• Trainers - New Balance

• Sunglasses - RayBan

Patched Jeans

It is safe to say that I am OBSESSED with patches!

Back in 2009, I visited Paris for a few day’s break with a uni friend. While I was shopping through a tourist type shop on the Champs-Elysees, I found an ‘I heart Paris’ patch. I obviously snapped it up and this is where the obsession started. I had the thought of collecting more patches to create a jacket of memories and things I love. Over the years I collected more and more and MOOOOOOORE patches, from everywhere; a holiday to scrolling through eBay and Esty. The collection had to be used as it kept growing and growing. I eventually stopped being so precious over the patches and made the purchase of an oversized denim jacket to cover in the patches. I have been adding, removing, and re-adding the patches to the jacket and I have now run out of space on it………….. so now it is time to create a pair of jeans to add the new patches to!

What I used to create these beauties:

• a pair of good fitting jeans (I went for an ASOS pair)

• a good selection of patches

• thread (I like to use invisible thread)

• a needle

• dressmaking pins

After much hunting online for patches, I came across www.labarbudashop.com. La Barbuba is based in Northern Spain, so deliveries can take a little time to arrive………. but it is well worth it! They don’t just stock the most insane patches, they stock t-shirts, sweatshirts, pins (another one of my loves) keyrings, and prints. Their products are inspired by cinema, retro computer games, and comics. No matter how many times I go on to the site I always manage to find something based on something I love. From Disney, Jumanji, The Gremlins: they just get it so right.

The quality of their patches really is second to none, I could not fault them, and are well worth the small price tag. Following them on social media is the best way to see new products as they post regularly.

I had noticed on Instagram that they were going to be doing a stock clearance and I instantly jumped on the site and filled my cart!!! They had items that they had stopped selling online for a fraction of the price (the prices are usually incredibly reasonable anyway) and even items that were just reduced.

Scrolling through eBay and Etsy is one of the best ways to build your patch collection. You can find some real gems but be careful as some can be a little naff and pretty low quality. I tend to find the best patches on eBay are in America so the postage can be a bit high and will eat up the money where you could have bought more patches.

It is really important to choose a pair of jeans that you love as there will a lot of work going into creating customized jeans. I went for a pair from ASOS. I already have a pair of these jeans and as the fit is so perfect with a high waist and a wide leg, perfect for throwing more patches at.

The first thing I like to do is place the patches on the piece I am going to cover. I find this is the best way as you can move everything around until your happy with the layout without wasting your time stitching and unpicking each patch to reposition it. I tried the jeans on and placed pins at the creases when I sat down to avoid placing large patches there as they would be pretty uncomfortable. This is why the layout differs from the final outcome………. well, kind of final. I tend to keep patches of a similar colour away from each other and spread the colour evenly through the piece. I do this because I prefer a quite random look with the patches. Also putting a more pricey patch among cheaper patches makes the less pricey ones harder to spot. Taking a picture of the layout is a good idea so you have something to look back on and to save you having to pin each patch in place then sew each patch one by one. The thread can get caught around the other patches and pins and can become a bit of a mess and a little stressful to sew them on.

Now an important thing to remember is that you can always unpick a patch if you’d like to move it, yeah it can be a bit of a pain, it just saves you being so precious over stitching them in place. I am really precious over everything LOL! This is a great project to add new additions to really easily too. Keep hunting for patches and entirely cover the item with patches! I love taking my time to create a patched masterpiece by adding and taking off patches to mix it up and make room for patches you like more. So a project like this may never be finished and this is one the reasons I love making a patched project.

From past experience, a day of hand sewing patches to denim can be a LIIIITTLE tiring on the old fingers. Some patches can be pretty easy to pass the needle through the denim and patch, yet others are real bleeders. If you wrap some sticky tape around your thumb and index finger it can make pulling the needle through a tiny bit easier! A thimble can be your best friend also. If your more patient then I am just take your time, stick a series on, and binge-watch while sewing away and enjoy it!

• Hat - Vintage, Universal Studios

• Oversized PU Jacket - ASOS, Collusion

• T-Shirt - Primark

• Belt - YSL Rive Gauche (2005)

• Rapper Ring - Versace

• Bracelet - Links of London

• Watch - Marc Jacobs

• Bag - Moschino x Magnum

• Jeans - ASOS, https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-high-waist-relaxed-jean-in-mid-wash-blue/prd/20071460?CTARef=Saved+Items+Image

• Shoes - Dr Martens x Mark Wiggin

Powerpuff Yourself!

Now, when I discovered there was an app called ‘Powerpuff Yourself’ to say I was excited would have been an understatement. I have to say it is one of the most fun apps I have come across in a looooooong time! This is the app I used to create my Powerpuff avatar. It took a long time to create this character, with scrolling through the many items of clothing, accessories and hairstyle options (topped with me being so indecisive) I OBVIOUSLY went for the gold chain which came with the grey long sleeve top. Now, I would very rarely wear a grey long sleeve t-shirt but when it came to the gold chain I had to go for this! I went for a pair of jeans as I am always in jeans and I LOVE mid-wash denim. I wanted to go for the closest thing to my gold NIKE Air Max, so the yellow capped-toe trainers did very nicely! The choice in hairstyles, hair colour, facial hair and glasses is crazy, there is so many to pick from. Once you have finished picking your look you can then pick your “superpower’. The choices are really cute such as ‘LOL Power’ and ‘Selfie Smasher’. Each power is made up of different animals, emojis and colours. I went for the ‘Mega Multi-Tasker’ not necessarily because it is true, LOL, but because it had the pink colour background.

Due to the discovery of this app, I decided to do a little shoot of my new Powerpuff Girls themed outfit. While a friend was visiting Manchester for work he sent me a picture of this EYE-POPPING Powerpuff Girls long sleeve t-shirt from H&M. I immediately fell in love with it and he very kindly offered to get it for me just in case my local H&M didn’t have it in stock. SHOCK, both my local H&M stores didn’t have it in stock (we always seem to be the last to get new lines in). I decided to go for a more oversized fit so I went for the XL. This t-shirt still hasn’t appeared online and I am PRAYING they will release more options in this range similar to the Spongebob collection they had during the summer.

I paired the t-shirt with my go-to ASOS high waist mid-wash jeans. I love the fit of these jeans both on the leg and around the waist. I find them very comfortable yet they add a little something extra with the fit being high waisted. The denim does not have any stretch to it so thankfully the slightly wider fit legs make them more comfortable when bending your knees. I went for my usual jean size and hoped that they came in as a good fit as ASOS bottoms can be VERY hit and miss size-wise.

I went for the Reebok Workout Plus X PAQ as a footwear choice. When I first saw these trainers I fell in love with them. Not only do I love a Reebok Workout, but when the colours are as bright and fun as these, of course, I’m on board! They have small alien heads printed on to the leather……………. and plastic parts. The Reebok Workout is an incredibly comfortable shoe and I was so happy when I found this amazing pair on the Foot Locker website reduced by 50%.

Back in the summer of 2016, Moschino graced us with yet another unbelievably themed catwalk show that featured the Cartoon Network’s Powerpuff Girls. In this collection, there were crossbody bags of each of the girl’s faces. I remember these bags being soooooo expensive at the time but I reeeeeally wanted (at least) one of them. I searched from these bags on www.vestiairecollective.com for years afterwards and just so happened to find this Buttercup bag listed for £90. I obviously jumped on this purchase! Ever since I got the bag it has sadly been sat in a cupboard in its protective dust bag. I did loan it to a friend for a friend’s wedding we went to in 2019 and it was so nice to see Buttercup’s face out and about. I had to use this bag for this shoot or else it would have been another 2 years before she saw the light of day again.

• Trainers - https://www.footlocker.co.uk/en/p/reebok-workout-plus-x-paq-men-shoes-91721?v=314310195004#!searchCategory=all

• Jeans - https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-high-waisted-jeans-in-vintage-mid-wash-blue/prd/10839108?colourwayid=16288810&SearchQuery=high%20waist%20mens

• T-shirt (similar) - https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0874118031.html

• Hat - vintage, eBay

• Watch - G-Shock

• Bracelet - Moschino

• Charm Necklace - Shawn Leane

• Chain Necklaces - Topman

• Socks - ASOS

Serving Moschino McDonalds Fantasy

“This is about taking something trashy and making it something you will treasure forever.”

— Jeremy Scott

It was only going to be a matter of time until I posted a blog inspired by McDonalds, so here it is!

Way back in the early 1990s McDonalds was on the dining wishlist for every 6 year old. Not only for the appeal of getting a Happy Meal but the chance to sit and eat your food on a train and be surrounded by the characters that would grace the walls of the restaurant, it was soooooo exciting!

The memories, for me, attached to the toys in the Happy Meal made a real impact on what I like now as an adult. I remember a black and neon blue and pink fanny pack (bumbag) and matching Wayfarer style pair of sunglasses. I had the neon blue set and my sister had the neon pink. We both loved them and used to wear them at every opportunity, I think this is where my love of neon and fanny packs came from. Obviously all of the character toys used to feed my obsession too.

When I first saw the 2014 Autumn/Winter Moschino Collection the first few looks were clearly inspired by McDonalds and the bold imagery of the golden arches. When you see golden yellow and postbox red put together you instantly think of the fast-food restaurant. Being able to live my McDonalds fantasy EVERY day with the pieces from these looks set creative alarm bells ringing in my head.

Over the years I have spent hours hunting for those key pieces and have been lucky enough to be able to collect most of the pieces that were on my wishlist. I managed to get the jumper, t-shirt/dress, and both visors from www.yoox.com. Yoox is the perfect site for finding past season collections, it is one of the sites I visit quite often just in case they manage to stock a piece that I have been longing for for years! The yellow plastic belt I was able to pick up from www.uk.forzieri.com and I think I only paid a mere £37 during Cyber Weekend promotions 2015. I managed to turn the belt into a necklace as the plastic links are easily enough broken apart and put back together. The Backpack was from www.net-a-porter.com. It was reduced in the sale back in 2014 and I thought it would make the most amazing and fun backpack for my up and coming holiday to Orlando in the summer of 2015, it has been my pride and joy ever since. The sunglasses were the most expensive piece from this collection but when I found them on www.vestiarecollective.com I had to have them!!!!!! These were the last item I got from this collection and really were the cherry on top.

The great thing about these Moschino pieces, with them being so colourful and bold is that you can easily mix them with items a fraction of the price. If the colours are close enough of a match they end up looking like part of the same collection. I obviously have, and still hunt for, McDonalds merchandise online……… especially from the 1990s and I managed to find this fanny pack that was included as a toy in a Happy Meal. It is an easy way to throw a touch of fun into your look at a small cost (I think I paid 99p plus delivery for this fanny pack off eBay). There are very few UK sellers selling this merch so I am always keeping my eyes peeled for a new gem being listed.

Among the many incredibly colourful and iconic characters the ones that really caught my attention were the Fry Kids, does anyone remember these? These were the characters that helped promote the French Fries back in the day in the TV commercials. They were differently coloured, shaggy, ball-like pom-poms with googly eyes and long legs, some had trainers on while others wore roller skates (living the dream). I precisely remember the yellow Fry Kid that used to sport bunches in her hair and wear roller skates. I remember having the Happy Meal Toy as a kid and I had to have her appearing in this blog post. The other characters I remember, mainly from the toys I had of them from the Happy Meals, were the McNugget Buddies. These were Chicken Nuggets with cheeky faces which would always come in a number of different changeable ‘outfits’. From Halloween monster costumes to Olympic sporting stars. I managed to find both the Fry Kids and a few of the McNugget Buddies Sporting collection on good old faithful eBay!

• Jumper, T-Shirt, both Visors - Moschino from www.yoox.com

• Backpack - Moschino from www.net-a-porter.com

• Sunglasses - Moschino from www.vestiarecollective.com

• Belt - Moschino from www.uk.forzieri.com

• Jeans - ASOS

• Gold Chain - ASOS

• Silver Bracelet - Links of London

• Fanny pack - vintage Happy Meal from www.ebay.co.uk

M&M Coin/Mask Holders

While I was spending MANY an hour browsing through eBay, I came across these 3 beauties. The seller had listed all 3 for only £2.99! As you will come to know, I’m a huge fan of bold imagery so I had to snap up these little beauties. Knowing that these beanies were being delivered was almost as exciting as having a packet of M&Ms to get through. I instantly fell in love with the green lady character (who is known as ‘the sexy one’) and I thought she would make an amazing bag charm. When the toys arrived in the post I thought that not only would they make an amazing bag charm, but why not make them, quite easily, into little coin/mask holding bag charms!

What I used to create 1 coin holder:

• small soft toy

• a closed-end zip in the matching colour of the toy (I used a 10cm zip)

• matching thread

• lining fabric in a matching (or clashing) colour

• scissors

• a sewing needle

• a keyring

• 3cm of ribbon in each colour

• a sheet of paper

• pins

• a carabiner

• lobster claws (I used x2 red and x1 blue)

• a pencil

• a stitch unpicker

The first step I took was to unpick around 12cm of the top seam and pull out the stuffing of the soft toy. I unpicked around 2cm more than the length of the zip in order to place the zip nicely in the unpicked seam, and work around it a little easier. I did this with each of the characters. With the red M&M, I wanted to include 2 red lobster claws to attach the gold chain to. To do this I wrapped a 3cm length of ribbon around the sealed end of the lobster claw and hand-stitched very close to the metal, I made the ends of the ribbon longer than needed in order to easily be able to catch them in the seam.

I then attached each zip into the open seam, also attaching the ribbon where necessary. I did this by hand as I found it much easier than using a sewing machine as there wasn’t much seam allowance on the soft toy. I opened and closed the zip to move the bulk of the zip away from where I was stitching, ensuring to close the zip to make sure it matched up on each side.

Once the zips were sewn in and matched up perfectly (which can take a few attempts) I then drew around each character on to a sheet of A4 paper to get the pattern piece for the lining. I added a 5mm seam allowance to each pattern piece as this was around the amount the soft toys had. I decided to sew together the lining pieces on the sewing machine to ensure that stitch was strong and even, leaving a gap of 12cm along the top edge and 8cm along the bottom edge. I then turned the character inside out and pinned the lining along with the zip tape and hand-stitched very similar to the way I stitched the zip to the soft toy. Once done I was able to turn the piece the right way using the 8cm gap I left open in the lining to squeeeeeeeeeze everything through. Using the sewing machine I then closed the 8cm up and pushed the lining into the character and that was it complete!!!!

Do this with each character and BAAMMMMMMMMM you're done! I decided to make each character slightly different, so I made the blue M&M into a keyring/coin/mask holder, the green M&M into a bag charm/coin/mask holder, and the red into a cross body accessory/coin/mask holder.