Break a sweat...fashionably!

Keeping fit and regular exercise is something really important to me. I've realised it keeps me focused during stressful times, a great way to escape whats going on in the world and just gives me motivation in all areas of everyday life. If you haven't got the fitness bug, I would suggest trying out different forms of exercise until you find one that you enjoy doing, because that will be what ultimately keeps you motivated to carry on doing it.
Having designed for the sportswear industry I have to say that I find it very hard to buy cheap sportswear clothing! By cheap I mean with no performance function in terms of material, cut, sport suitability and overall product quality/longevity.
I have a slight soft spot for pretty sportswear though...who wouldn't! Here are some pieces that I really love but sadly cannot buy simply for looking pretty! There are only so many sport bras and jogging pants one can own before looking like you have more clothes to break a sweat in that actually wear from day to day.

Deadlines & Positivity

Last week and today were two deadline days for separate design projects to hand in. Its such a satisfying feeling when you can see all those rushed manic thoughts of am I going to do this in time, will I be able to complete everything I wanted all answered when you're looking at a page of finished work. I have lost sleep over thinking if the projects are good enough because they do determine my near future of career choice and that is something I hold very close to me. Positivity is key and I will remain to stand by this. It sounds so cliché but positive thinking really can do wonders for the brain. That and some hard sessions of exercise!

Thought of the day: 'Try and fail, don't fail to try.'

Fotopedia!

I've discovered an app on my iPad called Fotopedia that I LOVE! Its an app where anybody can create photo albums or as they like to call them stories about any topic they want. I've been using it a lot this week coming to grips with it and its a really great little community where you can rate other members stories, follow members whose stories you enjoy and unlock achievements as you progress with sharing stories to others. It's a really fun easy way of sharing photos with the world and discovering places/scenery/images at the same time. Try it out! :-)

Fotopedia Beautiful Bern Tour

Summer at Lake Thun

At the Top Of Europe: Grindelwald

Busy Bee

I had a mad two weeks with my head seriously buried in doing my portfolio. Persistency definitely paid off even though I always want to tweak things as I am annoyingly a perfectionist.

Sunshine and warmer definitely helped to speed along the process along with my green teas! 

I've learnt how to make my own check/plaid design from scratch, create fabric textures and tried out a new style of illustration. My Intuos5 tablet made things a breeze, especially for the illustrations and at times I even forgot I was using it as it felt like a felt tip on paper. I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head I cant wait to fill up some more empty paper! Here's a few snaps during the busy days I've had.

Never been so excited to see a swatch texture haha

               

Finished illustrations

   

Good old sunset :-)

Feeling powerful in my brogues

Sunset time

You can never have too many sunsets...well I think so anyway :-) Here's another one of mine I love:

I took this by a cornfield near where I lived in Köniz, Switzerland

"When the sun has set, no candle can replace it.'
-George R.R Martin

On a learning curve

I've been busy as usual trying to do my portfolio and have been meaning to learn for ages how to make my own plaid from scratch on Illustrator. I found an awesome tutorial online from a digital textile designer and its completely opened my possibilities for making any kind of check/plaid repeat pattern that I want. I can also add a weave which makes it look even more realistic. The hard part now is coming up with a final design and colour scheme that I decide looks best..this will take a while! 

Hard at work today, this is only a temporary plaid that I made for the time being but its my own from scratch..result :-)

Sunset fascination

A sunset...a simple but beautiful creation by mother nature has become one of my favourite things to look forward to in a day. When I lived in Switzerland, the landscape and scenery was polar opposite to London. Everywhere in the horizon would be a hill, field, mountain...some kind of beautiful pretty backdrop something you imagine in postcards and paintings. I never realised how beautiful sunsets were til I was in Switzerland because the rolling hills and backdrops gave it a totally different feel. Sunsets change everyday, sometimes more red or pink with the sun more intense or a blur. I haven't seen such intense sunsets than in Bern but that doesn't make a London sunset any less beautiful. They bring a smile to my face and allows me to escape reality for that moment, always bringing me back to Switzerland where I first fell in love with them.

"...she remembered watching a summer sunset from this very spot. Not so long ago; just a lifetime."
- Sharon Kay Penman, When Christ and His Saints Slept

Sunset in Köniz, Bern on one of my walks home 

In a reflective mood

Its that time again where I'm in a reflective mood and thinking about my life, choices and inner positivity...which makes me want to watch one of my favourite movies and just get immersed in it. 500 Days of Summer never disappoints

Productive last week

I had a very productive last week carrying on with my portfolio work and upgraded my working gear by getting myself a new graphics tablet! I had my eyes on the Wacom Intuos5 tablet for a long time and it pretty much lives up to everything I've read about. No more pen hitting the ridge of the drawing surface, just smooth pen space..I love it! Im still trying to get to grips with the seemingly unlimited possibilities of the Express Keys but eventually I'll get there!

I am a huge fan of healthy eating and cant start my day without breakfast. I need a big breakfast to get me through any day and have found my new favourite breakfast since moving back to the UK. Making my own granola sprinkled on top of bio yoghurt, strawberries & blueberries makes my ultimate breakfast that fills me up for a good 4 hours...a miracle! Who knew oats could taste so good?

I am currently hooked on another healthy eating snack...Edamame Beans! YUM is the word. Sweet and addictive to pop open the shells I cant get enough of them. I stumbled across some roasted ones and they make the perfect accompaniment to my all day computer desk portfolio work :-)

Life exists out of the London box

In 2011, I took a job abroad in Switzerland to work within the Sportswear industry. It has always been a dream job of mine to work within sportswear so I had to take it. I was given the job there and then at my interview and within 2 months I was living in the beautiful capital city of Bern in Switzerland.

I didn't really think much about it as I was thrown right in from the first day there. New language, culture, landscape, weather, food...pretty much new everything! I felt like a sponge soaking up everything around me and it opened my eyes up to how much more there is to life outside of London. I always knew that I wanted to live abroad for a while because as much as I love my hometown, I know there is so much more we need to see and culturally experience in other countries.

I love the fact that I was able to learn another language which is something I love to do. I may not be anywhere near an expert at it but having conversations with people other than English speaking opens your mind to so much more. Although it did downgrade my ability to speak proper grammatical English whilst I was there!

I have moved back to London for a month now as I feel Switzerland wasn't 100% the country for me to settle down in but never does a day go past when I dont think about my life there. Nowhere can culturally compare to London life and British humour but I was right about the fact that I would prefer to live abroad. It's hard to explain exactly why but having a taste for new languages, culture and lifestyle changes is most definately part of it.

One of the most breathtaking views I've seen in my life at Grindelwald

Amazing mountain views at the top of Grindelwald

Summer at Lake Thun, Switzerland 

River Aare in Bern, Switzerland...a beauty that was a homeland for me

Sunset at Rosengarten, Bern is one of my favourite memories

Life, dreams & everything in between

I have always tried to make a conscious effort in keeping up a blog but somehow I always lose the motivation or inspiration. I decided to give the page a new look and update it on my journeys I have been on...which are plenty!
Keep it simple and share thoughts, pictures..anything that stems interest in me.
My updated honest blog!