good reasons to be poor

Things I've been spending money in the last week (which I probably shouldn't have) but am happy I did...

This book 'Just Kids' that I cannot wait to start reading! About £5, brand new from Ebay.

This super cute bike necklace, £7 from Accessorize, on a nice & long gold chain. I couldn't walk away from it...

This dress from Traid charity shop on Holloway Road (one of my all time fave charity shops) for only £4.49.

This vegan face mask with avocado and goji berry was £6 from Superdrug and it's soooo good.  Great to have affordable vegan beauty products more accessible!

This nail jewel set was only from the 99p store at the end of my road... I couldn't not get it! I did this two days ago and half the jewels have fallen off now, but it's a lot of fun and worth it if you want to bling up your nails for a big night out, haha!

Headphones (£4 from a sports shop) and water bottle from Sweaty Betty... I also got an amazing sports bra from them too. That was the big spend of the week; but it was so worth it.

Went out for a run the night I'd gotten it and ran for 7 miles - my new personal best! Being able to listen to music (finally) when I'm running was a major help too. Oh and having water with me. You don't even have to grip this bottle because it just sits on your hand.

I became a member of Sweaty Betty for free and get to attend free excercise classes they hold in the evenings - Wednesday is running club. I can't wait to go along to one!

mohair pullover

I went back to my family home a few months back and one of my favourite things to do, is rummage through the shambles of my old bedroom (I left it in such a mess!), find old projects & remind myself of the substantial wool stash still there.  I found this half-finished project, from maybe three years ago.  I'd done it all - the knitting, the side seams, everything except sewing up the shoulder seams.  I have to idea what stopped me (read: distracted me) but I brought it back to my London space and have finally sewn it up.  Now it just needs it debut wear (which I think will have to happen today).

I improvised this pattern and can't remember the details; but here is how I appear to have made it...

 There's a K2 P2 rib an inch high at the bottom edge to help give some shape.

 The front & back were knitted in two separate pieces, just plain stocking stitch [I was letting the yarn do the talking with this one] then sewn together down the sides.

However, around halfway up the front piece I knitted a row of purl stitches, which gives the impression of a seam - I'm not too sure if this was purposeful, but I like the appearance of structure it creates.

The shoulder seam is only a few inches wide, allowing the sleeves to hang naturally.

I'm really happy with the volumous shape that the knitting creates - the front has more fabric then the back piece does, which presensts itself as a cowl style neck.  The pullover measures roughly 19" long and 22" wide.  The best thing is, I also found a fair amount of this yarn left, so there's room for some matching items too...

Here is it on Ravelry [with a few extra pics]

JAPANESE stationary

Just amazing.

 Lots & lots of squares of beautifully patterned paper, about 2" x 2"

 I don't want to slide the gold clips off quite yet, because it just looks so pretty as it is - so perfect!

I can only imagine all the beautiful, delicate layers that are underneath.

This little bundle of paper joy came from a stationary shop in Japan and was bought by a work colleague for me.

STRIKKETOY & knitting

STRIKKETOY / knitter + 1" spring pegs

(Norwegian + local 99p store)

Cabled sock cuffs + Lacey box crop top

 (Pattern from a magazine + making it up as I go)

Pleat Treat

I've been brooding for a pleated midi for a small while now.

On the off chance, I thought I'd check out the charity shops of Richmond on my lunch break today.

I walked into the Cancer Research shop on the corner of Hill Street and there it was.

The skirt I'd been wanting all this time.

Brand new with tags.

In my size.

[What are the chances?!]

 I also had to have a quick gaze at the jewellery section.

I found this piece.

At first I picked it up as I thought it would be great to reuse all the chain for my creations.

Then I realised I actually quite like it just for myself.

That's my outfit sorted for the rest of May then...