New home

Today marks having been at my new job for two weeks. I can hardly believe that I have written that, as they seem to have flashed by!

In that time, I have moved home, started a new job, begun my training as a carer, started attending a different chapel, with an entirely different congregation, and begun to experience living a more lonely life!

I now live in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, and work in a care home. The town is lovely, very middle class, and lacking in cheap shops! I am living twenty minutes' walk away from the town centre and have been there a couple of times, just to mooch around and use up my time. The charity shops here are excellent; I can imagine that I'll get some good buys here.

Moving home has been fun, although I still don't feel that my room ahs the full status of home. There are various things that I need such as shelves on my wall and hooks to hang things such as my dressing gown. That might sound silly, but actually it's not, because I still have a few boxes on the floor with things in that I have nowehere to put.  One other thing that would make my room a home would be a bedside lamp. I currently only have a strip light, not in the slightest bit cosy. I am still looking for one: I might find one that I like the base of and which I could decorate ir change the shade of to make it more my own and make it easier to find! It would be nice to have a car though, so that I could carry all these things home. Hopefully I will get one by the end of the summer, when I have saved up enough money to buy and run one.

I thought it might interest you to see some pictures of my new room.

My room is very close to the main road, which used to prove a problem with sleeping, but now I am used to it. I am glad I have a table to out my sewing machine on! The curtains are rather ugly, so I will replace them soon too.

 My purple bedlinen, originally bought for uni not so long ago, is now put to use! As is the beautiful patchwork quilt which my dear friends the Parsons gave me for my birthday. When I arrived I had nowhere to put my necklaces, so I hung them on the nails ny my bed. I think they'll stay put for now. :) I think I might paint my bedside cabinet and change up the knob on the drawer.

 My sink, with matching purple towels!

Some of the mugs which I recieved for my birthday are displayed on this little shelf, and some cake tins.

I am still really tired, as there is so much information to take in with a new job, and everything is new, which always tires you out. Hopefully my body will get used to working full time though, and the late nights or early mornings which shift work requires!

So far I have not really felt homesick, only slightly lonely on the first night I stayed here. That is a wonderful thing really, as I suppose it has helped me to settle in better. It is quite lonely living here though, as now my Dutch friend Mathilde has left us, I am the only one of my age around. I really wish I had the use of a car, so that I could easily go and see people! Anyway, enough grumbling.

I enjoy attending the chapel here. the congregation is very different to my one at home though. At home there are 22 of us, here there are about 100! It still hasn't quite sunk in that this is where I will be attending permanently yet. There are plenty of young people, who I met on my first day here at the Bible class BBQ. They all seem to be nice, and it is good that there are so many of them, something which I missed, or rather lacked at home.

Sorry that I have rambled so much here, hopefully you get a glimpse of my new life though!

Have a good weekend,

Hannah xo

It's arrived!

On Wednesday I received my sewing machine in the post  - yay! Sadly though, I was still revising for an exam, so I haven't made anything remotely big.

Here it is:

It has lots of stitches, which I am happy about.

My main problem is that I don't have enough fabric to make something big yet -  or biggish. I'm still on the lookout for some nice fabric, but I need some time to do that too.

Today was my last exam, so I am hugely relieved and very excited for the next few weeks! I had Biology A2 this morning - it was do-able but not too easy!

In my revision breaks this week I made two flower corsages. They both have pins on the back:

I made this one by hand before my sewing machine arrived. I found various circular things on my desk and drew round them on an old shirt sleeve from my dad. I did two circles for each layer to give it a more 3D look. I sewed on a random shirt button that I found with yellow cotton.

 

 This is my favourite out of the two because it has even more dimension than the first, and I also love the pleats. It's a bit like a rosette, isn't it? I realise it's a bit lopsided but that will improve with practice! I think it is partly the fault of the button: it was difficult to sew on to begin with, and then it ended up being off centre. I would have preferred a larger button, but didn't have one to hand. I shall certainly be making plenty more of these!

Look out for more projects soon! 

What is your favourite shop for buying things from? 

And what did you make first on your sewing machine?

Have a lovely Friday,

Hannah xo

New addition

You might not really count this as a new addition, but it is to me, because I have been looking forward to having it for so long! On Saturday night I ordered my sewing machine. Family and friends were very generous when it came to my birthday at the end of May, and a a result I have been able to but a machine and still have lots left over!

I bought the John Lewis JL125. You might ask why I didn't buy a proper sewing machine brand but my mum spoke to the lady in sewing department who said that there was not much difference between the different brands, and that for a beginner, the John Lewis own brand machine would suit my needs.

I can't wait to use it. I have one exam left, on Friday, so after that I may just sew like crazy! Mind you, I can't yet, because it hasn't arrived!

Here is a picture:

I haven't decided what to sew first, but be sure to check this out for the first project!

Have any of you recently bought a sewing machine or taken up sewing as a hobby? Let me know what you are making in the comments below!

Have a lovely day,

Hannah xoxo

18th Birthday outfit

18th Birthday outfit by hannahelisabeth featuring a floral maxi skirt

Dorothy Perkins cotton cardigan
$29 - dorothyperkins.com

Fat Face floral maxi skirt
£40 - fatface.com

Ankle wrap sandals
$36 - topshop.com

L K Bennett clutch handbag
£160 - lkbennett.com



I have just discovered that this skirt is on sale for £25! Just want to run and grab it! It is too long but I'll get somebody to shorten it for me. Can't wait!

By the way, the Natalie clutch is soo unrealistic, but I just love it, and the Duchess of Cambridge has it too! Would love to find a cheaper alternative.

Hannah xxx

Fat Face loving...

Hello everyone! I hope you had a lovely weekend.

On Saturday I went into Fat Face, which has been in town for a couple of years now. It is one of my favourite shops and I really wanted to buy something, but I couldn't decide what. Plus it was nearly closing time, and due to the rainy weather, I was the only one in the shop with these two lads manning the till and tidying up. Awkward...

So, here is a selection of things I would love to buy. Another barrier is the price tag!

Jade Stripe Maxi Skirt £40

 Ok, believe it or not, I am trying to steer clear of navy, which fills about half my wardrobe. It always seems to attract me, and this skirt was no different. It is lovely, no?

Bird Bead Bracelet £3

 This bracelet is cute, and bang on trend with it's little bird. It would go with lots, especially all my navy things!

Cameron Linen Mix Cardi £42

 Again, navy, but something I have been hankering after for a while. Maybe I should just get it...

Suzi Palm Springs Woven Maxi Skirt £40

 I tried this maxi skirt on a few weeks ago. It looked so pretty and would look good paired with a yellow cardi. But I am lamentably short, and it seemed to trail along like a train. I could take it up if I bought it, but I thought it would be cheaper to just make my own.

Kacia Peasant Blouse £35

 This blouse has pretty embroidery across the front. Would be perfect for a summer evening.

Sian Gingham Shirt £35

 This shirt is in a gingham print. I don't have a gingham shirt. I'm never sure about check shirts on me, but I think I would like this small gingham. Would look nice with the bird bracelet and a pashmina, methinks...

Ruby Seaside Stripe Skirt £38

This skirt could be dressed up or down, I think. Would look good for chapel with my navy heels, pink top and a navy hat. Could also look good with sandals, and maybe a yellow top. Plenty of colours in the skirt to get matching with! :)

You can visit FatFace at www.fatface.com.

Which items are your favourite? Let me know in the comments section.

Hannah xx

Projects in the Pipeline (1)

This is the first of many posts I hope to do, updating you with my ongoing projects.

At the moment I am knitting this stripy purple and navy scarf. Each stripe is eight rows wide and I have no idea how long it going to be or take me! I'll just knit until it wraps around my neck in a suitable way. It might take me all year!

Here are some pictures I just took:

 This is how long it is so far (not very!)

 Two times ago when I changed colour, I changed it on the wrong side. I have no idea how I managed to do this, but I didn't really want to unravel it all when I realised a few rows later! Hopefully it won't notice when I am swathed in scarf.

I now know how to join in new colours correctly, but for the first two goes I knit with both colours together, hence the messy join on both sides. :( Now I know how to do it, it is nice and neat.

Of course, I'll sort out the messy ends when I've finished, but I'm leaving them for now.

I am planning on making the other end triangular too, and then attaching purple and navy pompoms to the ends.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

Hannah xx

CViE Meeting

On Saturday afternoon, my family and I went to a CViE meeting (Christian Values in Education), which was about Euthanasia. It was very useful for those of us who will doubtless have to take part in debates at school, university and the workplace, and for those who just wanted to be better informed on it.  It was, of course, quite sad and depressing, but I think the importance of the subject has to outweight that!

CViE give regional talks several times a year on matter such as Euthanasia. Take a look at their website (http://www.cvie.org.uk/) for some very useful resources and information on topical issues, such as the present Redefining Marriage issue. On that note, please take a look at, and if interested, please sign the petition against the redefinition of marriage at www.c4m.org.uk.

I have previosly felt very underdressed at such events, and so on Saturday I went for a smart smart-casual outfit:

Shirt - Marks and Spencer

Cardigan - Next

Navy chino skirt - Marks and Spencer

Shoes - River Island

Necklace - Accessorize

Belt (off skirt) - Zara

Despite the uncertain weather, I just couldn't bring myself to wear black tights and a wintery outfit, so I knocked out a nice springy outfit. :D

I hate how these pumps make me look, and I also didn't realise that I was bending my feet outwards which makes me look ridiculous! Will try to perfect my posture in the future. :)

My dear brother caught me doing some self-takes in a mirror, and offered to shoot for me, although he thought I was mildly crazy!

Last week I did a small DIY alteration to a square scarf, which I will show you later on in the week... Keep checking back, and any comments are welcome!

Have a lovely day.

Hannah xx