My body is a temple.

Hi folks,
I wanted to share with you that Im about to embark on a mega health-a-thon.  It's hit me recently that this body of mine really isn't a temple and I constantly over indulge and under exercise and consequently my weight is creeping up and I feel sluggish and unhappy with my appearance.  Don't get me wrong, I don't think Im Fat but Im aware that if I continue as I am and have been for a long time, then gradually over the years Ill be getting bigger and bigger and it will be harder for me to turn this all around to something positive and empowering.
Since I was a little kid Ive had body image issues, it was only when i found out about Balanced View (www.balancedview.org) and took part in their mindfulness trainings that I really questioned my beliefs and thoughts around my body. Since then my relationship with my body is so so so much healthier.
When I was a teenager I went through phases of seriously restricting my food intake and obsessively exercising. Consequently I became very thin (for me....I got down to a size 8 and Im healthiest at a sz 10-12) and looked ill, sad, and had no energy at all.  I became obsessive, very very depressed and really hit rock bottom.  Since overcoming these issues with the help of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and Balanced View I have really accepted my body for the amazing vessel that it is and relaxed my ideas of how my body should look.
In the last few years my weight has crept up and I am now at my largest, at a Size 14.  I don't feel overly comfortable or energetic in my body and I feel that the time is right to really take my weight and fitness back to a healthy level.  I don't feel that it will take too many changes to get me on the right path but here are some of the things that I plan to start off with:

* Reduce my bread intake significantly.  Only eat 1 piece of bread a day.
* Reduce my sugar intake.  Stop buying sweet treats on a regular basis.  Occasionally is ok.
* Start eating more veggies! Salads, soups, stir frys.... Get creative with you food!
* Start drinking smoothies for breakfast.... get a good fruit hit in the morning.
* Drink more water!! I am chronically dehydrated! Get your 8 glasses in a day!!
* Do some form of exercise every day, even if its just an 8 minute Youtube workout.  Get it done.

This is where I am starting.  And Im looking forward to keeping you guys posted with how its going. I feel that the motivation is really there now and I can't wait to get back to feeling proud about my body!
 Until next time loves,
Bex 

So So Sew.

I wanted to share with you guys these sweet images that Giorgi took of me at Cheeky Britches HQ the other day.  We had just received our newest industrial sewing machine so it warranted some selfie's with the new studio baby!

Whilst working for Cheeky Britches, it's been such an eye opener for me just how important good quality industrial machines are in manufacture.  Ive had little experience on Industrial's before working for this company and due to the materials we use (4 way stretch bamboos and cottons) it's essential for us to have top quality machines.  Gosh a good machine makes the world of difference!!
This new beauty is an Industrial Coverstitch machine and its AMAZING.  We use it mainly for its binding attachment which allows us to quickly bias bind edges, but we also use the coverstitch for turning over elastics and finishing seams.  Its just such a dream to use.
One day Ill own all these machines myself....when I win the lottery!

Until next time loves,
Bex 

Revelations, trusting the universe and Gin and Tonic.

Sometimes life and throw you a curve ball and it can talk all your effort just to pick your get-up-and-go off the ground and drag yourself forward.  That's what the last week has felt like, from a number of factors that I dont really need to discuss in depth.
In each moment I have the choice to delve into the 'life's lemons' or to relax and have faith that the universe will through me a whole loada gin and tonic.  It has in the past from the craziest most serendipitous of places, so here's hoping my little fairy godmother is looking out for me still.
I wanted to talk a little about my absolute heart burning desire to set up and run my own creative business.  This is something that I've known I've wanted since I was as young as 15 or 16 and really started getting into making my own clothes.  So far, fear of not having the right skills and a lack of get-up-and-go have put me off really giving it my all.
My creative energy flows in a myriad of directions and settling for one business idea and pouring my heart into that one thing has eluded me thus far.  Also trying to come up with my own hearts wish for a business instead of starting and failing to recreate other people's businesses that I am overwhelmingly inspired by has also been a real hurdle to overcome.  I have followed and connected with so many amazing women over the years, mainly through the internet and social media, and seeing the phenomenal job the do has inspired me so much to move forward with my own desire for a small business. But in my ripe old age of 26 I've seen clearly that in the past I have tried to hard to be like these strong creative women and replicate THEIR success instead of pursuing my own craft and where it will take me.  To live your life in the shadow of other people's success (and I want to add here that businesses can look VERY ROSEY from an outsiders perspective) is a sad and unfulfilling way to go about this whole living malarkey.
So in this post I want to show you some of the amazing women that inspire me beyond measure, some from the very beginning of my interest in setting up a clothing line and some who Ive been following for just a short while.  Their talents are wide reaching but they are all just spectacular at what they do.  I hope someday that I will feel an equal to these women and have the satisfaction of looking at my own unique product line with the same admiration that I do of these women's beautiful creations. ***

*Armour Sans Anguish www.armoursansanguish.com
I first stumbled upon Tawney Holt's amazing recycled clothing line back in 2007 when her company had been active for a little over 2 years.  Tawney makes the most stunning women's clothing, currently mainly bridal wear, from her workshop in the USA.  Tawney is a real Etsy success story and now has a massive loyal following who purchase her clothing.
I love how unique Tawney's creations are and how they don't conform to how you might think garment construction should be done.  She embraces raw edges and hems and often builds ontop of vintage slips and lingerie instead of using patterns and creating from scratch.

*Naturally Bohemian https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/NaturallyBohemian
I met Gemma at a festival in the UK a few years back now and fell in love with her stuff.  Her creations are inspired by historical costumes and I love all the crazy embroidery and lace that she uses.  Similar to Armour Sans Anguish, I love how Gemma uses recycled clothing to create her garments and builds on what already has been created by someone else.  There's a real place in my heart for recycling and up cycling pre-existing clothing, and Gemma really does this to the max.

*Nurturing Soul http://www.nurturingsoul.co.uk
I started following Bec from Nurturing Soul on Instagram over a year ago now.  I fell in love with her images of her family and the natural skincare products that she creates.  Her little family has recently grown and seeing how she can support herself whilst also being a natural mama is so inspiring to me. This is something that fuels my want to be self-employed in my own creative business, as I plan to be a mama at some point in the future and I want the freedom of being able to earn an income from home and choosing my own hours around my family.  Bec creates the most stunning 100% natural and vegan skincare from her little cottage in Scotland.  She started off on Etsy and now has a loyal following who repeatedly by her amazing products.  I grew up with my mama making healing creams and salves and owning a natural herbal tea company so there is something so inspiring and heart warming to me about this gorgeous mama and her little company.

*Run With The Tribe http://runwiththetribe.us
Ive been following Alana from RunWithTheTribe for a few years now.  I first found her on Etsy and fell in love with her instantly.  She is a real 'Etsy success story' and has built herself a business HANDSEWING(!) the most gorgeous rustic hand dyed hemp clothing from her home in the US.  She is a single mama who supports her boy through her craft, and damn does she do a fine job of it.  I love that she has sourced the most amazing material, she hand dyes every bolt by herself using the best fibre reactive dyes and she cuts and sews the sweetest garments by hand.  Her garments are loose fitting, so unique and so easily fallen in love with.  She inspires me so much to push for my ecological morals when it comes to the textiles industry when so often I can get sidetracked by the expense and time that this involves.

*Spell and the Gypsy Collective http://shop.spelldesigns.com
This sister act are social media aficionados and they have built up there amazingly successful business from the ground up using social media as the amazing tool that it is.  These gals are based in Byron Bay here in Australia and are one of a number of awesome Boho brands that design their garments and get them made over in Bali.  Their designs are gorgeous, very much right in there with the Boho sexy ladies, and Im totally jelous that I can never afford (or fit into! they only go up to a size 12!) their stuff.

*Whisky Dog Wares https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/WhiskeyDogWares
God I love this ladies stuff! She creates the cutest stretch fabric clothing for women and Ive loved watching her journey.

There are so many more amazing peeps that I could go into right now, but Im exhausted from my dat and my mind feels like jelly.  Im off to pour myself a drink and ponder what my plans for creative world domination are.

Until next time loves,
Bex

A Cheeky Monday

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I get to put my 'Seamstress' hat on and work at Cheeky Britches HQ over in Abbotsford.  Cheeky Britches is an ethical small business that makes and sells babies and kids wear here in Australia.  The companies set up by two young mama's, Giorgi and Lucy, and they employ me as their maker to make up a lot of their organic cotton and bamboo pieces.  Basically I get paid to hang out, drink lots of cups of tea and cuddle Giorgi's cute little hub Isla, and make up a ton of baby clothes ;-) Today we were working on filling wholesale orders for next seasons new Finland collection and we were making up a whole load of gorgeous organic cotton play pants in the fabric that we designed.  It's such an awesome collection and my heart's really in these pieces as Ive seen this collection through from helping Giorgi decide on the final print, to designing and sampling the spring/summer collection and producing the garments to be sent off to our wholesalers.  Here's a photo of me when we received our sample meterage from the printers, can you tell it was like Christmas?

We're all really excited because we've got our newest industrial machine arriving this week, a coverstitch machine, ready for the new season's production.  It's so fun getting to learn a new machine and see how much better quality our work can become when the machines just make your life so much easier. 

A lot of the work that I do at Cheeky HQ is producing multiples of the same garments in different colour ways, so to start a new fabric and new designs is always a real treat and a breath of fresh air.

Here's me working on the new Finland quilted baby blankets that we've been sewing up recently.  These guys are made out of organic fleece and french terry and are hand quilted and then edged in the Finland print. 

It's so nice to finally feel that I am being paid an income to do what I love.  I love creating, cutting out, sewing garments and even if Im not sewing up my own designs it's such a joy just to be a part of the process and seeing these seasons through to their end.  If you're in need of some gorgeous ethically created Babywear and Kidswear, head on over to Cheeky Britches because their designs and fabrics are just to die for.  http://cheekybritches.myshopify.com

Until next time my loves, 

Bex 

Happy international rabbit day and a gorgeous sunny sunday

Well today was one of *those* sundays that you wish all other sundays would resemble.  It was truly a day of rest and recuperation after over a week of head-cold (e.g.- man flu) and much working.
I woke up early and let Mr Archi out of his enclosure and he hopped around our bedroom as we were getting dressed, sniffing about and generally being ridunculously (i know its not a word but it should be!) cute.  He says happy International Rabbit Day by the way <3
**and just for the cuteness factor....here's Archimedes himself enjoying a snow pea from our garden**

Tom and I parked ourselves on a sunny park bench and drank delicious Melbourne-standard coffee in the sunshine and ate delicious home-madee fruit salad and home baked toast.  Such a perfect way to ease into a mega-relaxed day.
I spent the rest of the day intermittently enjoying the sunshine in our back garden and picking some of our delicious harvest.  We harvested the rest of our winter carrots and turnips before they go fully to seed and loose all their sweetness.  We also got a good handful of broad beans and snow peas that were as sweet as sugar.  I had to single out the two carrot-people and take a photo of them, I mean one of them's even hugging another carrot!

I've also been seriously enjoying my crocheting at the moment, especially making crochet bikini/bra tops out of some 100% cotton and 100% soft wool that I've managed to source really reasonably.  The colours are just gorgeous and being a mega fan of comfort and a mega hater of underwired anything, the onset of the summer has bought about super bikini top making energy.  Im loving the process of making them and have been using the time crocheting to catch up on all my Youtube channels and endless episodes of interesting documentaries that can be found online.  There's something miraculous about hundreds and hundreds of simple loops of thread coming together to create a 3D thing that just mesmerised me.  Here's some of the bikini tops that I've made so far, I have plans for a mini photoshoot with my lovely friend Momo so that these guys can be available on my Etsy store sometime soon.

So it's the end of a gorgeous spring sunday, and I'm lying in bed writing this post and gearing myself up for the week ahead.  I hope wherever you all are that you've had or are having a gorgeous sunday and relaxing weekend. 

Until next time Loves, 

Bex 

Jen's Tribal Warrior Dress

It's been a beautiful warm spring day in Melbourne today.  Early spring here means a million weather changes and I'm getting used to carrying an Umbrella with me everywhere and dressing like it could be 4 seasons in one hour.  After some pretty impressive rain this week it was such a joy to wake up to perfect blue skies and the sweet smell of blossoms in the air!
After a long working week I woke up gently and slowly, with no alarm clock and no plans.  Tom and I sat outside in our garden and ate tasty pancakes with bacon and maple syrup.  Our garden is exploding with produce at the moment, its amazing to see.
I spent a few hours today working on a lovely commissioned dress for my soul-sister Jenni, made out of the funkiest tribal Balinese fabric she picked up on her travels around Borneo.  Jen's from back home in the UK but is currently on a long holiday here in Australia and living on Bondi Beach in Sydney.  Jen and I have known each other since we were 13 years old and at school together, she's the other part of my heart and my brain and its so great to be able to clothe her even if I can't give her hugs in person right now!
The dress pattern is a vintage shift dress pattern that I got gifted years and years ago.  I changed the length and neckline dramatically so that its is short in length with a plunging back.  I love this pattern and have made it so many times.  The darts make it such a versatile shape and Ive converted it into waistcoats, tops and hooded dresses in the past.
This time I adjusted the pattern from a vintage size 12 (which is a UK10 approx) down a size to a UK 8.  I also added side seam pockets.  I wanted to keep the light breezy nature of the fabric so didn't want to add a lining, instead I made some thin bias binding by cutting 2 inch strips of fabric on the bias (diagonal) and ironing them in half and then raw edges into the centre to create bias binding.  It was a labour of love and very fiddly but so affective!

This is the end result and Im so happy with how the dress turned out.  I think Jen will really love wearing it, especially as its getting very hot up in Sydney at the moment!

Until next time Loves!
Bex

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The Beginning...

Welcome! Bienvenue! Willkommen!

Im so glad you're here =) Im excited to be creating this blog.  I've spent my afternoon playing around and creating this pretty little space on the inter web that I plan on filling with my creations, DIY's, life updates and pictures.  I'll be posting photos of the many things that I create, design ideas, things that inspire me, little looks into my work as a seamstress, the occasional foody inspiration and probably a whole load of cute photos of our house bunny Archimedes.  This will be a look into my life and all that encompasses... mainly concentrating on creativity but with no limitations.

I want to start this adventure off with some info about me!

* I am 26 years old.
* Im a Capricorn, born 7th Jan
* I work as a Seamstress for a eco baby wear company here in Melbourne called Cheeky Britches.  You can check out our pretty creations here- www.cheekybritches.com .  I also work as a Nanny for a family here in Melbourne.  I currently look after Ellie who is nearly 3 and her brother Leo who has just turned 1.
* I live with my beautiful partner, Tom, in a shared house with Tom's brother Ben and his girlfriend Amie.  Tom and I have been together for over 3 years now.  I moved back to his home country of Australia when we had been going out for only 5 months! (sometimes you just know you've found a good'un!)
* I am the oldest of 4 girls, and all of my family are back in the UK.  Ill be heading back to the UK for the first time in neally 2 years to see my family in December.
* One day I would love to own my own business and bring in an income from selling my own creations.  My inspiration for creating is limitless but my attention span is pretty small, so I love to try out new ideas and creations.  One of the purposes of this blog is for me to look back on all the things that I love making.
* I find sitting down with some pretty fabric, a sewing machine and a few hours ahead of me, the most relaxing thing in the world.

I'd love to hear from you! What are your interests, and what gets you pumped with life and inspired to explore and create?

Until next time my loves,
Bex