All Good Things Come To An End

Hi everyone!

Well how do I start this post?....

This experience has been amazing, and more than I ever thought it would be. I am extremely grateful that I was able to participate in this journey courtesy of KPU, KPU International, UCA Epsom and of course, my mom and dad.

It is bittersweet that I am now back home, and not roaming the streets of London but I am sure I will be back some day.

In this post, I'd like to look back on my journey in England while I was studying abroad.


Arrival In London

When my dad and I arrived in London (about a week and a half before my classes started) I was taken aback with the amount of people that were there. I was finally in London, crowds and all! When I was younger, I was hell bent on going to London. I made a list of all the places that I wanted to go to, and all the things I wanted to see. I can report that I have fulfilled everything on this list! My younger slef would be proud of me.

London homes

A Buckingham Palace guard hamming it up.

Regent Street.

Off Carnaby Street.

Arrival in Epsom

Arrival in Epsom meant that school would be starting and that my dad would be leaving me. Soon I had to face life without parental units and be a "grown up" with all associated responsibilities. Luckily, I had really nice flatmates, whom made the transition a whole lot less overwhelming.

Epsom High Street

My flat

School

Not gonna lie, the process here in England was difficult to get used to compared to what I've been taught the last 2.5 years. So removing my concerns about sell ability, target market relation, and construction was a challenge. It did help me with the creation/ ideation stage of the creative process to get ideas that were natural and organic from a chosen inspiration rather than over thought.

Draping

Fittings

More adjustments

Construction!

Travels

As everyone has told me, I took advantage of my location and I traveled to some marvelous places! 

Dublin. Spot the Leprechaun hats.

Powerscourt Estate, Great Sugar Loaf Mountains

A Piper in Edinburgh

Haggis!

Visiting a friend in Helsinki 

Reindeer meat at Saaga, Helsinki

From Manchester, up north...

...to Brighton in the south.

Experiences

Things like a fascinator class in London, to watching my favourite band of all time live in concert, to a local night at the pub and watching Highland dancers.

Fascinator in the making at an Atelier Millinery class.

Wearing my custom fascinator!

Green Day at the O2, February 9, 2017

Music at a Dublin pub

A night of traditional Scottish dancing, music and food

People 

Shout out to these people who made my experience at school and traveling a blast! 

Zunera, Krissy, Abbie, Bernadette, Sofia, Neda, Jojo, Lousie, Peter, Misha, Amber, Arena, Valentina, and Mandy.

And thank you to all of you who have been following me on this journey! A blog wouldn't be a blog without it's readers.




All in all, I would recommend this experience to anyone who is interested. Studying abroad is a really good way of experiencing the world without having too much stress other than some school work. You just pay for your accommodation and food (tuition is the same as normal- no international student fees!) and any other purchases like clothing and gifts you may want.

I have officially been bit by the traveling bug and I hope to be off somewhere else very soon!

xChelsx

The Complete Fabric & Notions Haul

Hello!

This post will document all the fabric and notions I purchased while staying in the UK.


WOVENS

Purchased at Saeed Fabrics on Walthamstow High Street. 1.5m @ £5/m.

The fabric is brushed on the wrong side.

I plan to make a draped front jacket with this fabric.
The shop person said that it was wool, but not for that price. Will have to do a burn test.

Purchased at Edinburgh Old Town Weaving Co. 2m @ £25/m.

Hopefully I have enough fabric to make a bias cut slip style dress.

Such a nice combo of colours. I had a difficult time choosing a tartan.

100% Wool.

Purchased at Misan Textiles (Berwick Street location). 2.9m for £20.

I plan to make a windbreaker jacket with this fabric.

Windbreaker weight.

100% Nylon.

Purchased at the Leeds City Market. 1m @ £6/m.

Possibly a tote bag, we'll see.

Printed Cotton.

100% Cotton.

Purchased at the same booth at the Leeds City Market. 1.5m @ £5/m.

Maybe a baseball cap?

Printed Cotton.

100% Cotton.

Purchased at Mandors Fabric Store, Glasgow. 1m @ £13.

I haven't decided what to make out of this yet.

Printed Cotton.

100% Cotton.

Purchased at Fabrics Galore, Balham. 0.6m @ £26/m.

I am thinking a tote bag out of this one.

Printed Quilting Cotton.

100% Cotton.

Purchased at Nairn Wool Shop. 1m @ £12/m.

Maybe a shirt out of this one, since I have a meter to play with.

Printed Quilting Cotton.

100% Cotton.

KNITS

Purchased at Borovick Fabrics Ltd. 0.8m @ £25/m.

I made leggings with this fabric already.

Printed Lycra.

Purchased at Fashion Fabrics in Bath. Both 0.5m @ £7/m.

I will be making baby harem pants for my cousin.

Printed Cotton Knit.

100% Cotton.

Purchased at Classic Textiles on Goldhawk Road, Shepherds Bush. 1m @ £4.50/m.

I plan to make a crew neck sweat shirt from this, with maybe a contrast sleeve.

Poly Knit.

Purchased at Saeed Fabrics on Walthamstow High Street. 1m @ £6/m.

I plan to make a similar sweat shirt as the one mentioned above, sans contrast sleeve.

Poly Knit.

Purchased at Fabric Land, Kingston Upon Thames. 1m @ £4.50/m.

I plan to make a tunic style t-shirt from this fabric.

Poly Knit.

Purchased at Simply Fabrics (57 Atlantic Road- there are two locations on Atlantic Rd). 0.75m @ £12/m. 

I plan to make a skirt from this lace, utilizing the live edge (scalloped edge).

100% Polyester.

Purchased at Abakhan Fabrics Liverpool in the bargain basement. 

The cost was calculated by weight, I believe this type of knit was about £11/kg.

I want to make a simple t-shirt from this fabric.

My best guess is that this is a rayon/viscose mix (possibly some polyester) and spandex/ elastane.

Purchased at Abakhan Fabrics Liverpool in the bargain basement. 

The cost was calculated by weight, I believe this type of knit was about £11/kg.

The photo does not pick up the purples in the fabric very well.

I am thinking another t-shirt/tunic out of this.

Same as above for fiber content.

Purchased at Abakhan Fabrics Liverpool in the bargain basement. 

The cost was calculated by weight, I believe this type of knit was about £14/kg.

There is supposed to be some wool in this, thus the higher price tag.

I think this calls for another tunic/ t-shirt.

Best guess on fiber content: Wool mixed with rayon and spandex.

Purchased at Abakhan Fabric Liverpool, but in the regular priced section. 1m, maybe 1.5m @ £6/m.

Hopefully I'll have enough to make a light blazer type jacket.

100% Polyester.

Purchased at Abakhan Fabrics Liverpool in the bargain basement. 

The cost was calculated by weight, I believe this type of knit was about £13/kg.

(It was put in with the "scuba" fabric, but obviously isn't)

I want to make a bomber jacket out of this for sure.

100% Polyester.

NOTIONS

Purchased at Abakhan Fabrics Manchester. 1m @ £2/m.

Will utilize this as lingerie. 

Most likely nylon.

Again from Abakhan Fabrics Manchester. 2m @ £0.50/m (what a bargain!)

Again, most likely as lingerie.

100% Polyester.

Purchased at Ribbons on Walthamstow High Street. Each baggie £1.50.

These were such a good deal. Considering that each bag is pretty stuffed, studs in Canada cost a lot.

Purchased at the Sewing & Craft Superstore in Balham (can't remember price).

Top: 100% PVC

Bottom: 100% Polyester

Purchased at Samuel Taylors, Leeds. 1m (can't remember price).

Lingerie Elastic.

Purchased at Samuel Taylors, Leeds. 1m (can't remember price).

Lingerie Elastic.

Purchased at Samuel Taylors, Leeds. 1m (around £6/m).

I will finish the ends of this elastic and turn it into a regular belt. I was seeing these elastics everywhere, but they were all ruffled on one side, so when I found this, I purchased it right away!

Purchased at Flying Tiger Copenhagen. 2 rolls @ £2/roll.

The ribbon reads: I almost died making this for you.

I plan to sew in this ribbon to everything I make for family members and friends.

I should've bought more rolls.

Well that's it for this post folks.

Catch ya in the next one.

xChelsx