You give me life like lots of oxygen.

It's good Friday and my first "bank holiday" working day off, ever. After my lunch plans going out of the window I thought, you know what? I'll blog and stop being lazy.

If you follow me on Instagram you'll see i've got a bit of a Dragon Fruit obsession lately. Unfortunately they are really hard to find in the UK but Asda came to the rescue being the only place in the area to stock them. The fuchsia shade Dragon fruits are my favourite, with an intense bright colour and zing they are perfect for juicing, smoothies or just scooping up with a spoon. The yellow fruits are sickly sweet with a hint of honeysuckle. A friend of mine is currently travelling through Asia and is surrounded by these beauties in Thailand, one day when I go there i'll be smuggling them all home.

Sweet Tooth.

#abmhappymail is exactly what it says on the tin. Every piece is a quirky work of art to brighten someone's day. I still have so much that I haven't used yet and i've only had two months worth.

This week has sucked, we lost a family pet very close to our hearts. It's hard to write about it without tears appearing. I can't even put up photos yet, it's too raw. Jasmine was a Burkill, my parents adopted her and Copper from a rescue centre in Wales after they both were left on the side of the road to die. We don't really know to this day what happened to them but once they were brought to our home they settled in really easily. Ever since I don't think I've ever met two dogs happier bursting with character. Jasmine was older, wiser and had so much sass. She was very independent but made me laugh constantly. Especially as she had a thing about sneaking up and licking my nose. On Wednesday she passed. It's been heartbreaking for our family, but she lived a good life and is finally at peace. On Wednesday night I just lay in bed surrounded by tears. I put "How to train your dragon" on TV and this little guy below wouldn't leave me alone. 

He knew, something happened. Montie curled up as close as he could and wrapped his paws around my hand all night. Protecting me. It's incredible how animals don't speak your language, are a totally different species but understands you in an unwritten way. 

I hands up copied this pattern from Pinterest to create this geometric little embroidered bear. What do you think? Not bad for a beginner huh?

The beginning of a few little blankets.

Bargain of the month: 50 embroidery threads for £3.02 thank you eBay.

Do you have dry skin? Rosacea, eczema, psoriasis? 

Coconut oil is a saviour. I've been using this for a few years back from my Lush days. Long before I bought slabs of raw cocoa butter as I found that most drugstore companies only use 50% or less Cocoa Butter in their products, yeah i'm taking about you Palmers Cocoa Butter. 

Then I'd heard about Coconut Oil from a colleague, intrigued with her stories of using it raw on her face as a cleanser and also a product you can cook with. In my head this was bizarre. Automatically thinking negative. To my surprise it cleared up 75% of my eczema on my cheeks, legs and tummy. My skin feels not just soft but as if the moisture has been locked. I thought id feel like an oily mess but that's not the case at all. If you don't like the oil texture pop this on before a shower, it works.

I won't preach much  more, if you'd like to know all the benefits on skin, hair and to digest have a look online, you'll be suprised.

"no one told you life was gunna be this way"

We all know the words. I've really been neglecting this space recently hidden underneath my bed sheets with Bates Motel. On days it's the grey atmosphere, others it's the lack of motivation. There's no excuses really.

Today was heartbreaking and in many aspects hits the realisation of how much time is really left. We assume forever, yet change just creeps up and slaps us in the face. That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt. 

“We’re flawed because we want so much more. We’re ruined because we get these things and wish for what he had.”

90% of the time i'd quite happily hide away like a hermit.

Alone time is healthy. 

Lately apart from the daily office hours all i've done is watch 5&1/2 seasons of Mad Men on Netflix and taught myself to crochet. 

Sometimes that's enough.

What's in my makeup bag?

Sew the day away.

I first walked into Owl and Sewing cat after hearing about this petit quirky fabric store off a friend. In all honesty, the only fabric stores i've ever visited are C&H Fabrics and Fabric Land in Brighton. When it comes to sewing, knitting and crafts the younger generation automatically think "grandma's". It's a stereotype and a really dumb one at that. Since my nursery folder cross stitch abomination to making granny squares, my skills have come a long way. Thanks to this shop. I walked in, very interested in textiles, design, fashion and most importantly colour. It'd been a few years since my textiles university course. I'd never really been "taught" to use a machine, it just happened.

You walk into this Victorian Style building, behind the famous Grand Hotel. Greeted by smiles, laughter and an atmosphere you'd get from friend's home. The fabrics are piled high to the ceiling, with incredible creations everywhere you look. Hundreds or even thousands of buttons in little jars and the wooden floors. It's a place you'd go in a dream.

I decided to sign up for a six week sewing course and every Tuesday I walked down to the "Owl & Sewing Cat" for Sewing Class. It was so educational, week by week I learnt new techniques and picked up old ones i'd forgotten. Their patience and knowledge shines through that everyone in all levels of crafts worked together to help each other. This didn't seem like a class. It was a little community within the crafts world.

Since then i've made a few things, but in all honesty i'm lazy, overworked and Netflix is too tempting.

Tracey (the owner) messaged me about my blog and requested that I'd show the world her genius idea..

"Sew a little secret"

A project where you have ALL of the items you'd need to make the secret project inside.

This pack includes:

• The unique Owl & Sewing cat pattern!
• Fabrics needed to create the masterpiece. Pre-cut for idiots like myself who can't use a rotary cutter. They know me too well.
• Ribbon, Buttons and accessories you may need.
• Pattern Stencils (super easy to cut out and keep!)

I was so lucky to receive this little beauty and it's been on my mind for a while now itching to create this fabulous kitsch wall hanger. This will be so perfect on my design wall to keep polaroids, recipes, hair bows and literally, anything else.

Forget Birchbox, forget Lootcrate.

This is going to be amazing.

Get yours today from www.owlandsewingcat.com