Glasgow Reviewed; Sew Confident Classes

The amazing Jenny trying out a ball gown before it gets transformed!

Following the success of the Great British Sewing Bee, sewing has seen such an increase in popularity in the last year. From being able to to make your own clothes, to altering second hand threads to creating fun and original gifts for people- being able to work a sewing machine is a huge asset, and thanks to one particularly patient teacher I can say that I can now sew!

I first met the amazing Jenny, who runs Sew Confident, last year at her beginners class she was holding out at Clydebank college. Over the weeks I learnt how to use a machine, create things like tote bags and cushion covers and generally get to grips with all the possibilities that being able to sew can open up. The beginners course was so much fun, the atmosphere was really friendly and relaxed and the other people on the course were all really lovely. Jenny has such a a warm personality and is INCREDIBLY patient- seriously, I am not a natural at this and she handled my thousand ( fairly stupid) questions really well. With 11 years sewing experience and a BA in Fashion business, teaching is the perfect fit for her.

Getting ready for another busy class in Eco Chic boutique

When she approached me to come and try out her intermediate class I jumped at the chance. Admittedly my skills had gone a little rusty as I didn't carry on sewing after the first set of classes which was really stupid so this was the perfect opportunity to get back into the swing of thing. These ones were being held at the super handy location of the Eco Chic boutique on High Street which is such a perfect location for getting together with others and learning sewing. If you haven't been into the shop before it is a beautiful boutique that stocks amazing up cycled and vintage clothes alongside lovely arts and crafts that are locally made. It really is such a beautifully creative place for us all to sit together on machines and work away, there are lots of lovely pieces to inspire us to keep up our sewing outside of class.

Once again the class was a really friendly and enthusiastic bunch of people with mixed sewing abilities, some have sewn quite a bit since they did Jenny's beginners class and others like me had cursedly left it alone. This was no reason for alarm though we were quickly brought right back up to speed and every week Jenny sets really achievable projects that she guides us through step by step. Over the course of six weeks I have made a really gorgeous beach bag, some pajama bottoms and matching top, a sunglasses case that I use every day and a really precious frilly pinny that I absolutely adore and would have cost a fortune in the shops.  In the last week of class you can create whatever you fancy, and seeing as Jenny is forever wearing her own amazing creations I had to attempt a skirt she had been wearing that I was determined to make myself. I love my stripey number and can't wait to replicate it with different prints.

My copycat skirt

my handy beach tote bag!

Seeing as I am such a huge charity shopping fan, the skills to alter even in a basic way some of the clothes I find, is an invaluable skill and one that really doesn't have to cost the earth which is perfect in recession times. I cannot recommend Jenny as a teacher enough, she is so encouraging and passionate about what she does that she makes what can seem a daunting task- a much, much simpler one. I love the feeling of achievement I have gotten through her classes and that's not something I have actually felt since my uni days! The sew confident classes are well organised, executed and really good value for money from the amount of ground that is covered. I love that Jenny is always on hand on email/Twitter/Facebook to give you advice and tips even after your classes are done and chatting to other past attendees is great fun too. If you have ever considered taking up something new or are looking for a new challenge then Sew Confident could be just perfect for you, I have loved sitting with other people keen to learn in a lovely relaxed atmosphere and come away each evening with something I am proud to have made all by myself. The classes have been a total hoot thanks to Jenny being so welcoming, everyone chats away while working and helps each other out and encourages one another. In our last class where you are free to create whatever you fancy, someone brought in an amazing vintage ballgown which was amazing to watch change shape. Sew Confident are hoping to start classes for jobs just like this which I am hugely excited about- a new excuse to do even more vintage shopping!

my new sunnies case

You can contact Jenny on jenny@sewconfident.co.uk and handily she holds her range of classes all over the place so you are sure to find something to suit. You can find out more on the site or the facebook  or on the twitter feed.

Happy Sewing everyone!

Getting to know: Murad skincare

I am on a skincare roll right now, learning about so many brands that I have left un-investigated for far too long, and Murad was next on my hit list.

I was delighted to be attending the launch of their brand new concession stand in Debenhams at Glasgow's glamorous Corinthians Nightclub and it was a wonderfully informative evening. Before heading along to meet the team I had known very little about Dr Murad and his products. I had used his renewing eye cream and blemish control gel in the past and been impressed but for some reason I hadn't looked into any of the other products they have on offer. I am officially a convert however as learning more about the ethos behind the brand has really caught my attention. As readers will know in the last year so I have really taken the head to toe element of my blog to heart and worked harder at improving myself from the inside out- looking into nutrition and healthy eating, mindfulness and of course keeping my love for skincare, With all this in mind I was delighted to discover that it is the combination of all this that fuels Dr Murad's creations, far from just whipping up powerful and effective treatments for the outside he promotes health and well being in the whole to contribute to how you look and live which resonated with me completely.

On the night we learn't all about this passion behind the brand whilst getting to play around with the products and learn more about what is on offer at this new addition to Debenhams impressive beauty hall. I was delighted to sit down and have a one on one consultation which includes using a state of the art skin scanner, a nifty little machine that takes an in depth photo of your skin. This allows the staff to take a close look at what is really going on with your skin underneath the surface layers and make truly tailored product recommendations for help with specific issues. A look at your skin at subsurface level might sound scary but it is incredibly useful tool for showing exactly how your skin might be suffering, for instance I was sure I had the hydration levels of my skin completely down thanks to a change up in routines but low and behold my scan showed areas of serious dehydration that needed worked on to help keep the wrinkles at bay which I am so glad I am now aware of. This service is free at the Murad counter and I highly recommend getting along there to speak to their really friendly and knowledgeable staff and seeing what they recommend for your skin, I was blown away with detail they can give you on how to help your skin and picked up some great tips.

One of the products that really caught my attention and I have had great fun trying out is the new blackhead and pore clearing duo that I was lucky enough to leave with on the night- so look out for a review coming soon!

Getting to know: Emma Hardie

Myself, Paula and Emma Hardie

It is not every day you get to sit down with the creator of some amazing skincare products and all round skin guru wonder woman, so you can imagine how exciting it was to sit down with the one and only Emma Hardie right here in Glasgow. Up until now I didn't know too much about the woman herself or the other products in the line up  and thanks to my super informative session with her I wanted to fill you all in. Her Moringa cleansing balm came into my life via the one and only Caroline Hirons which I imagine is the case for so many of my readers and since then I haven't looked back at my cleansing routine. Gone are the stripping strong products I used to use which were wreaking havoc on my poor dehydrated spot prone skin and in came this balm to oil formula which cleanses my skin perfectly while hydrating it and nourishing it. I have only just recently ran out of the balm and boy is my skin missing it- but on Emma's personal recommendation I am going to hopefully be trying combining this cleanse with her foaming cleansing wash as apparently this takes it completely next level, I can't wait!

The labelless products on the right are some super exciting upcoming new releases!

Formed in 2009 Emma introduced her much celebrated line, the Amazing Face skincare system in response to the success of her ground breaking and highly acclaimed natural lift and sculpting facial which delivered firmer, plumper skin without using harsh ingredients or invasive techniques. Such is her passion for this natural route her capsule skincare collection utilises natural botanicals to smooth and lift tired skin and if applied using her famous techniques can result in visibly more youthful and vibrant skin.

The lady hereslf- just look at that amazing skin will you!

It is these application techniques that I foolishly had no idea about until meeting Emma in person, I am so annoyed at myself for not checking out her website directly ( doing as many do and googling products and buying from whatever shopping site!) On there is a real wealth of insider skin knowledge that is not to be missed. Turns out applying these products in particular ways really can make a massive difference to the skin and are easy to follow. I was blown away when I discovered the well put together videos that talk you through application and give you the complete insight to Emma's much sought after facialist skills. Not only that but the site offers free P&P and they offer loads of offers such as free smaller size products with  purchase, not bad at all considering I usually associate these kinds of offers with large online stores.

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I am so excited to be trying out a few bits and bobs from the newly released age perfect range which I will report back on soon but for now I had to get this up to direct you all to the site to enjoy the insider tips and tricks that I am having so much fun putting in to practice!

 
Hope everyone had a fab weekend,

Getting to know: Kiehl's

Prior to heading along to their brand spanking new Buchanan Street store I have to admit I knew very little about Kiehl's as a brand. Aside from their famous Creme De Corps moisturiser, the only other product on my radar was that they stock a good high factor SPF that I have been meaning to try but I haven't actually gone to give it a go! After sadly missing the new store launch party that looked absolutely immense, I was sure to get right in there in their opening week to meet the lovely staff and take a good nosy around and ask more about their products.

First off this store is NOT to be missed, it has been put together impeccably and feels, fresh exciting and actually 'cool', I had the brand down as more clinical than this but the shop instantly gave me a completely different impression of serious products in a really fun, creative but not at all intimidating setting- which is a dream combination!

It was a real pleasure to take my time in the airy,open shop and get to grips with the multitude of fab  products they stock. I learnt that it is the Kiehl's touch to invite customers to sit down for a complimentary skin consultation and mini facial to give you a chance to find the absolutely best products for your skin type.  This is a real luxury in such amazing surroundings and really spend time with the trained staff to ensure you get what you came for. There is no pushy hard sell and they even send you off with little samples of the products you like so that you can give it a try yourself before committing which I think is so important when it comes to skincare.  I even learnt a top tip I had no idea about on my visit, pop any spare eye cream on to your top lip to use it  up and help keep that much used area nice and firm- AMAZING!

The staff here are so knowledgeable it is well worth popping in to learn from them and try out some of the Kiehls products.I love the unisex aspect of the brand and this shop even has a gents Barber area that is in use two days a week which is a really fab quirk.

The SPF and the much talked about Midnight Recovery Complex treatment are definitely first up on my hitlist, along with a long line of others. Oh dear Kiehl's, you are in danger of me moving in :)

Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner

I absolutely love a strong cat-eye eyeliner look but usually shy away from a full black one unless it is going over some dark eye shadow, as I always feel I can't get it quite neat and even enough to wear it confidently. When I am giving it a go I prefer to use a gel/cream formula as I find the idea of using a brush less scary than jumping right in with a pen or liquid, which I usually end up getting everywhere and ruining my makeup. This is not the quickest or more travel friendly option however, so I was really intrigued when I first heard of Benefits latest innovative release- the They're Real Push-up Liner (£18.50). As a big fan of the mascara already, I had high hopes this liner might just be the one for me- allowing the precision of gel but with quicker, portable application and that is certainly what they have created. It has taken 5 years and 70 different versions to get this bad boy just how they wanted it, and that amount of work and dedication really shows in the final product.

Sporting a fancy 'accuflex tip' ( read angled rubbery nib) that basically lets you get right into the lash line, and a matte black gel formula that seriously does not go anywhere,this liner is definitely one for the liner phobes and liner fanatics alike. It took me a couple of goes to get the application just right but now that I have I am totally in love. There is a little cap you pop off to stop any product drying out and then I like to twist a little up and dab lightly on the back of my hand to ensure I have just enough product to go on. I find the soft angled tip is JUST the right size for almost stamping the lusted-after flick on and then you can draw the joining line on. It has a wide base which makes it really easy to grip and create a nice stable line and without a doubt it is the first liner I have ever managed to achieve a more natural think line with, no doubt thanks to how well it grips the lashes and lets you apply it really close.  It does dry really quickly so you have to work fast which is why it took me a couple of go's to master it fully as at first I was taking small tentative moves with it which wasn't a smooth end result but I have definitely built confidence with the whole winged look since using this.

First go- couple of spots where colour is not as even as it could be- but happy with the flicks!

Second attempt- not bad at all!

 I love the matte finish and the waterproof formula, it is a total godsend for warm summers and wild weddings- it does not come off for pretty much love nor money! Now this getting it off part is definitely tricky but Benefit have actually released a new They're Real Remover (£14.50) in response to customer demand for help in getting the mascara off and this stuff is a total god send. you only need to massage a tiny amount on to the eyes to help dissolve both the liner and mascara, remove and you are good to go! I know its not totally ideal you would need to be buying the remover in addition to the liner but it is really worth the extra cash for such a slick,waterproof liner that you can still remove nice and quick ( and it doesn't sting the eyes- Hurrah!)

 I am really impressed with this new product, I love that I can get a lot more precision along the lash line with it- I always hated that when I gave eyeliner a go that I had to do big huge lines just to cover all my mistakes and get around my lashes, but that is now actually a choice! I just need to persuade the lovely Benefit bods to create it in a nice rich brown (always warms my skin tone up a bit) and I will be a happy bunny. For anyone who has always lusted after the elusive cat eye or just shies away from liner generally this is just the right tool to build your confidence with and for any liner fanatics looking for a strong, matte stay-put formula, well your prayers have been answered! I wasn't sure if it was just blogger hype but happy to say this really does make eyeliner #criminallyeasy

Have a lovely weekend everyone!