If you're happy, then you're successful

So, I've finally started to organize myself.

I've got a facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/eclecticollection)

and twitter (@Eclecticollecti) up and running! Yay!

Now, I don't know if you remember this post:
http://misskemble.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/to-climb-steep-hills-requires-slow-pace.html
where I said I had a shirt I wanted to make into something?

I have made it into something! Denim pants. Yay!

What dya think?

I'm afraid it's just a short post today. I have to go sort some other things out

Those who tell the stories, rule the people

I've been glancing at the trends for autumn/winter and I've seen some of the usual cropping up again: oversize, layering and military. A few new ones like cobalt and the orient.

But, I admit I'm not one for following trends and am fully on board with Peruvian and Navajo styles. Not the 'tribal' standard stuff that was all over the high street in summer; rather the fashions that took the colours and other characteristics to channel the spirit.

I have a beautiful bit of Peruvian style fabric which I want to use, so I've been looking for items to inspire me

It is never too late to be what you might have been

So, I feel I should apologize for the lack of blogging recently. I've been here there and everywhere meeting people and being creative. Fingers crossed I'll get a few new posts up in the next week!


Now a few of you know I'm going to start my own business. I thrive off challenges, experimentation and making mistakes so I can learn from them. I have bags and bags of old clothes and fabrics just waiting for me to make a masterpiece... And nearly as many bags full of mistakes and clothes I may not be able to salvage but I'm keeping them just in case.

Well, since most of my ideas are based on recycling or upcycling, I figured I'd start with using recycled business cards.

For some reason, before I had a car, I was obsessed with collecting the train tickets I used. Turns out they may just be quite useful for me:

Keep Calm and Go Swimming

In a weeks time, I'm headed out to see my parents who have moved to Doha.

They have a new house, with a pool (lucky them)

However, the pool is overlooked by other villas and I'm going to be out there during Ramadan. It's 40+ degrees and the likelihood is, I won't be out for a tan.

So, I've been trying to find a one-piece. I can't find ANY in the local shops, it's all bikinis or swimsuits that I will drown in because of the sheer size. There aren't even any in the sports shops... So back to the trusty internet.

Asos.com

The English Tea Party

In eight days time, on the 27^th June, 30,000 people are expected to flock to Henley to watch the regatta. Of the 15 different countries that compete, I believe nothing screams casual-elegance more than the dress code stipulated by the event. Below the knee hemlines, no trousers or playsuits for the ladies and lounge suits or blazers with flannels for the gents.

I went, back in 2009, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. But the one thing I’ve taken away with me is that you can’t beat the feeling of drinking Pimms and eating strawberries in the sunshine surrounded by people who look like they’ve stepped right out of a traditional English tea party. I also went to a wedding last year, which had the same beautiful vintage vibe with parasols, picnic mats and bunting in the trees along with a stunning array of colourful blazers and summery dresses.

In light of this, I think that there are some silhouettes which will never go out of fashion and can’t help but make you feel beautiful and happy. Here's a few of my favorite finds that I've stumbled across.

To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first

So, here's what has been going on in the moustache world.

 I'm back from the absolute trip of a lifetime (3 days in NYC followed by nearly 4 weeks in the Hawaiian islands...)

So, what's taking up my time currently?
Going through all the photos, that's what.
There is definitely a downside to being snap happy.

But I'm being productive too, I'm making myself more organized slowly, but surely.

I have discovered an absolute wealth of fabric awaiting their transformation into garments. However, all I've made so far are a big bow, a little ring and a detachable collar...

Bad artists copy. Great artists steal

Picasso was a genius wasn't he? A bit nuts maybe, but a genius.

Well, here's whats been going on recently.

I still have to take in a bridesmaids dress (I should really stop faffing and get on with this)

I also still need to sort out my dissertation proposal

I have, however, got a sort-of commission for a drawing (part of which currently looks like this. Not going to say no to drawing a body like that in detail...)