CQ pop-up shop

So I've been back home in Nottingham for about 3 weeks now and yesterday I went to the CQ pop up shop in the lace market to go and see my old boss' with there sneinton collectives spot and its brilliant!

The pop up shop has a bit of everything in there, it is really a great place to go to find some quirky items for yourself or as Christmas presents! 

This is the layout of the sneinton collective pop-up space. As you can see its not just clothing, there is iron work, wood work, jewellery designing and concrete work if i remember correctly. I was lucky to do work experience with One BC last year and now I'm home I will be going in to help with the pop up shop hopefully.

As you can see the space is quite large and there are a lot of other areas like this all around the shop with fun and exciting pieces. 

Below is one of my Instagram picture, (I'm instamad!) of my lovely day looking around the CQ and having a huge catch up with Reeta (OneBC owner).

As you can see there are ties, card wallets, purses, fur scarves, jackets, dresses, shirts, suits, everything. All of the stock is high quality material and it is all hand made one-off garments.

My favourite was the sheepskin scarf! It was so so fluffy and it was so snug, perfect for a winters night. But in saying that I also love love love all the different jackets and dresses that One BC make. Below you can see the back of a jacket which is made out of sari's. It is a really modern take on wearing a sari and I think that its stylish and anyone can wear it. Plus pink is my favourite colour so that me sold sold sold!

So this is the front and back of the sari jacket which is stylishly being worn over a metallic dress which I think really brings out the gold of the sari jacket. What I like about this is that it has so much colour and style to it. It feels lovely and on the inside the lining is beautiful and soft and I just wanted to take it off the mannequin, actually i wanted to take everything new that I hadn't seen and tried on before of the mannequin's!! I actually did take the scarf of the mannequin, I'm terrible I know!

To carry on with the Sari garments I thought that i would show you the males sari shirt. Yes that shirt is made out of a sari. Crazy I know, doesn't look like one at all! 

In the cabinet you can see there are more styles of men's shirts and zip/lace trousers... They are TOTES AWESOME!

OK OK OK while I'm talking about AMAZ things, can you see that red jacket? Yeah... well this isn't a plain and boring jacket nope not at all, this jacket is mad out of red pony hair an leather. It looks and feels AMAZING! I tend to just stand and stroke it. I try and get customers over just so I can stroke it and have an excuse. Seriously it is amazing!

Oh and have you seen that dress? lace, hood, black, little, dress.... what more do you want?
Oh yeah, there is also one that has a cow neck. Oh and if that's not good enough or not quite how you like it, you can place an order to be fitted for a dress in any colour and style you want.

Don't let me forget about the men though because there is plenty for them! Loads of different styles of shirts. - Zip collar? Lace? or just plain there will be a style for you. Plus there are seriously cool pin-up ties as you can glimpse in the far left shirt. Or there is the lace and silk tie on the far right with the tailored suit jacket which has metallic petrol blue leather on the pockets.  

There really is something for everyone here no matter your style.

So if your around in Nottingham this December and fancy popping in and looking around get to Fletcher Gate and visit the CQ pop up shop.

Melanie Katelin 

xo

1st day!

Ok so last night was AMAZING! I went to digital with my flatmate, had such a fun night! This club is crazy, so much going off there all the time, different music, it was just great!

Plus it was the fist time I went out in FLATS!!!! arrrrrr CRAZY, the things uni does to you!! but to be far it was the best night out, my feet did not hurt AT ALL!!!

I went to Primark earlier and the one in Newcastle is almost as big as the one in London!

Im going out again tonight, doing a bar crawl i think which should be fun!

xo

19-06-2013

Wednesday 19th June 2013

Today has been BRILLIANT!!!!!

We had a One-BC field trip out to fabric houses so that all the swatch books could be updated and we also had the chance to look around at all of the fabric.... BAD IDEA!!!! I fell in love with EVERYTHING!!!!!!

We first went to Bateman Ogden and all that I have to say is WOW.. You know the rush of when you are about to get something new and exciting, or as the saying goes....:

I felt like a kid in a candy shop!

It was literally as through Christmas AND my Birthday had both come round at the exact same time. The amount of wool blends that there were was crazy!! 

This wool blend and colour was MY FAVOURITE!! I think it was a 160 Wool Mohair blend but I'm not 100% sure :/ I sooooo should have taken note right?! 

But either way, this wool blend was soft and I have not seen any suiting fabric this colour!! BEAUTIFUL!

I LOVE LOVE LOVED IT! can you tell? hehe

This is also a quick shot that I took of the linings that were there upstairs and under the table were loads of remnants and Bateman let me take two remnants for a fraction of the price which was just wonderful. The items that I took were from rolls that were now discontinued and I think that its brilliant that I can create my first item out of suiting fabric. I think that I am going to make a bralette as there is not really enough fabric to make anything else. 

So I now have a fun and exciting project ahead!! woooooooo hoooooo.

We also brought some beautiful fabric which is 80% wool and 20% silk, you would not believe how soft it is. You have so got to feel it! I am hoping to create some high waisted smart sorts out of the meter that I brought. I will add LOADS of pictures of my projects on here and on my Instagram ---> @melaniekatelin.

But before you think that I have finished, we also went to Huddersfield Cloth where we didn't really look at much fabric, but we did have a lot at a lot of swatches and we did see the lining room which was lovely!!! 

I also was given some remnants from here at discounted prices which I will be making hopefully a small shirt which will be GREAT fun!!

Today was lovely!!!! 

Had a great time with Reeta and Stephanie and I cannot wait until tomorrow for a day at college and for a day at work.

Also Follow -----> @One_BC on instagram!!!

I Love this stripy shirt fabric from the fabric book. It was amazing, so colourful and different. 

Three of the fabric pattens from the fabric book.

And another!!!

Reeta looking at the fabric swatches.

This is a photo from my instagram @melaniekatelin I just felt like doing a collage hehehe.

48 Hours of Fashion Show!

Wow Wow Wow!! I have had the most AMAZING day today!! It has been planned for about a month now that my course would be taking part in the 48 hours of fashion.

Me being me had decided to create my white out project to only fit me so I had to model for myself (not that I mind! I LOVE that sort of thing!) and I loved it so much!!

We had everything white. White Eyes, White Nails, White Trainers, White Bottoms and of course out White Re-vamped Shirt. I will have to admit that when I first saw myself with out the rest of my outfit on I wanted to laugh my head off, I looked so so so funny but then so did everyone else, but when we were all in out outfits and all standing together, all that I can say is WOW!!

So here are some pictures of me and I'm hoping I will get the video for it very very soon!!!

so this is what my make up looked like, slightly scary right?! But it did look really good!

And this is me walking in the show!

I had so much fun and it was such a great experience! I loved every minuet and I can not believe that was my first catwalk where 1. I walked and 2. My own garment was shown on it!! Ekkkkk!.

Look Book: How to

Right t this moment in time I am waiting to find out how to create a look book to go with my designs for my FMP.

I want to create a look book as I want it to show my favourite pages in my sketchbook, my CAD work and my photoshoots.

I have been told by my tutor that we are to be using InDesign and Photoshop so I will be giving loads of updates as and when I start my look book. I will give loads of How To Tips, so watch out!!

I am intending to have it all done by my appointment with hayman graphics by 15th May so fingers crossed!!

I'm quite excited by all the things that are going together to make my Final Major!!

xoxo

Melanie Katelin

Shoesies!

My mum is totally obsessed with quotes! I mean we have a quote wall in your house (which she keeps adding too) on a really big wall! And the other day when we were looking at quotes I came by this totally gorgeous quote about shoes! And I think I have expressed my love for shoes!! Haha

So I thought I'd start the morning with one :)

Come Dine with Me?

My family and I have come up with the monthly concept of  doing 'Come Dine with Me' with each other and just have a bit of fun!!

Last night my mum kicked it off with a Spanish Tapas night which was lovely and yummy! It just took me back to when I was younger in Spain and the food was so so so good!! We had 

• Pastas Bravas
• Paella
• Carne con tomate
• Cod with lentils (can not remember the Spanish name for it!! How rubbish of me)
• Tortilla de patata
• All the Spanish hams and bread

I was also making us cocktails with was rather fun and interesting!! I was only making Cosmo's to start of with and a made a really nice first one and then they got a little strong but they began to get better as the night got along I think. Well I hope!!! 

We also had a martini and vodka and tonic water mix which was interesting I must say but so so much fun although I did feel it the next day!! Drinks may not taste like alcohol but boy is it there!!!

I'm not sure who's turn it is next but I've been told that I apparently have to do a "student" night on a BUDGET!! So that I get ready for when I go off to University which will definitely be interesting and I will post detailed pictures of my night! Not sure when but I will :)

HOLIDAYS YAYYYYYY

So so so so so so so so so excited and happy that some of my closest friends are home for the holidays YAYYYYY!!! 

My friend Lowri is up from London for 2 weeks! YAYYYYY, she is doing so well down there but we can only see each other in the holidays and we have planned to do loads of things!

I must admit we do snap chat A LOT! Which is funny and text all the time to find out how we are and how things are going. She is always sending me videos of the fun and interesting things that she sees out and about in London and I get a lot of her singing! I am so proud that she has gone and she is following her dream, ever since I have known her she has always dreamed of doing musical theatre in London and she got in last year. Unfortunately at that point we weren't really talking, but in a horrible/great way it is so so so good that we weren't because now we have made up and see each other all the time that it is amazing as we have never been as close as we are now!

We have planned to go to the cinemas tomorrow and town soon which will be so much fun!! And I will be going to visit her in London soon too!! 

I am also currently at my old neighbours house who are more like family than friends!! They have come up for the holidays from Cornwall which is great and we are just chilling and chatting and catching up and I have become a 12 year old and I am having play fights!! CHILD TIME!!!! We may be going to the park or to sherwood pines which isn't far although it is FREEZING!! But it will be fun. 

So this is totally what holidays are for! To have fun with friends and family and go out and and I don't know but EVERYTHING!! Yay yay Love Love Love holidays!!!!

Melanie Katelin

xoxo

EASTER!!

Woooo its finally Easter!! I'm so excited even though I do only get one week off!! Today I was woken up at 7.15 by my mum because she wanted me and my brother to come and watch the Iron Giant hehe. So now we have a day of chilling out and TV planned! We are currently watching The Polar Bear 2 purely because I am COOOL! hehe Later were watching Bugsy Malone and we might go for a nice walk around the lake which is a nice idea or go to the gym! :)

I am currently STUFFING my face with the summer fruits crumble that I baked yesterday which is so so so yummy! I'm also writing on my blog obviously!!!

I have just had a sneaky little peak at the River Island and I have brought a nice holdall for Uni which is rather practical and I have brought a lovely pair or pink boots.

Images courtesy of River Island

Both in the sale and both really beautiful! I am really into boots, I tend to have at least one pair a year and I currently have a pair of Carvela wedge lace up boots in brown leather which are pretty ruined :( But I love them and they are my most treasured shoes and I have worn them literally every day throughout winter! And to add to this they were only £19!! SALES BABY! they were supposed to be £160 and they were two seasons out dated but beautiful and NECESSARY and I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!! Before you ask why I got such a good bargain I need to point out that my feet are a size 3 so I'm pretty lucky in the shoe department especially in the SALES which is literally the only time I buy shoes. Last month I brought 4 pairs of sandals for £40, around £10 each, BARGAIN! 

However the boots above are in ALL sizes and only £17! 

OH, OH and not to forget, I have started reading Beautiful Darkness, therefore expect a book review SOON!!

OH I DO LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!

CAD - Last Day - Outcomes

I have really enjoyed doing this course! If your at all interested in fashion, graphics or just like computers then it is something to look into. I have decided to do this course purely for the fashion side of things and to improve my portfolio, however, it just so happened to land perfectly with my FMP and now I have some professional looking designs to take back to college with me and I have the knowledge and skills to get by if I want to create any more styles or colour schemes. Actually pretty much anything!

My tutor for this course was Erica Godfrey and she has been such a wonderful tutor. She really knew what she was talking about and she made it so easy to understand what it was that you were about to go and do or what you should have done. Erica really showed me some cool tricks to do on Illustrator and Photoshop and I have had such a great time and she is so talented int what she does it's crazy! And if you click HERE you can go to her website!! OMG, OMG, OMG its so EXCITING!

This was created by Melanie Katelin, Please do not take credit for my work. Thank you

This is the first mood board that I created was for my colour scheme 'Revenge' which is Gold, Black and Red. I have scanned images in from my sketchbook and used them as you can see with the yellow illustrations that are slightly dimmed. These images do have effects on them which were created on Adobe Illustrator with Live Trace on CS6 and I used the 6 colour effect.

On this board I also have all my illustrations which clearly show the front and the back as well as the stitches and seam lines. I have put a brief description and I have created colour blocks which are shown along the bottom of the page.

I also did a Blue, Sliver and White board that goes with my colour scheme which is called 'Ice Royal'. I have tried to use a different lay out for this board to make it more interesting and to make it seem as though it is of a different design.

This was created by Melanie Katelin, Please do not take credit for my work. Thank you.

All that I have done with this board is change the layout completely. I have made half of the page an image and on the other half shown my ideas with a small description. Again with this mood board I have used my own illustration from my sketchbook which was simply scanned in and then I have edited my image on Adobe Illustrator and put my colour scheme circles along the edge of the page.

I think that both boards are slightly different in layout and style and I have worked with all my components that I had to work with. Please feel free to use my examples as inspiration or as a guide but do not claim this as your own as I have dedicated a lot of time to this project and to my CAD course. Also if you want more inspiration visit http://www.coroflot.com/people#keyword=fashion I found so may inspiring boards that have helped me create the two above which I am so proud of!

Let me know what you think and if you have made any boards please leave a link so I can see your amazing work :)

Melanie Katelin

xo

CAD - Day 2

Ooooo Look at what I have just done!!! Looks so professional don't you think?

I'm having so much fun doing CAD!

CAD - day 1 outcome

So these are the shorts that I made yesterday that I was telling you about.

I'm so pleased with the outcome and today I will be starting on my FMP and making my designs into CAD format which I will write all about later.

Melanie Katelin

xo

Company #Style Blogger Awards 2013

www.company.co.uk/stylebloggerawards2013

Hey Guys,

I have decided to have a go and enter The Company Magazine #Style Blogger Awards 2013 for Best Fashion Newcomer.

Please Vote for me :)

I've entered as I saw it the other day when I was reading the magazine and I thought why not? Whats too lose?

Thanks
Melanie Katelin
xo

CAD - Day 1

Today has been my first day learning how to use CAD for fashion. I am doing a short course at Nottingham Trent University as I feel that this is a skill that is worth knowing and I know that it will help me when I am at University. (CAN NOT WAIT NOW!!)

So today we were working on Adobe Illustrator which I have managed to get along with and I have had so much fun! I really really love doing this and tomorrow I am going to be creating designs for my FMP so wooooo! This is so relevant and hopefully it will also help with my grade.

Today we were just getting used to the basics so - Pen Tool  (TOTES my new bf! it just gets me ;) hehe )
We also changed the lines to show Top Stitch, Twin Needle Stitching and Seam joints, I also added in fabric creasing to make it seem more realistic. Unfortunatly I do not have my copy of what I have done today on me so when I get into the Uni tomorrow I shall try to upload what it is that I am currently doing. BTW I CADed (made up word) some High Waisted Shorts which I am rather proud of!!!

Have you done/do CAD? Tell me of your expreience!!

Melanie Katelin
xo

Cinema :)

This weekend has been SO much FUN!!

I went to the cinema on Saturday to watch Wreck It Ralph with my mother and brother and I must admit that I loved it more than a 5 year old and I really really want to watch it again. This film has such a beautiful message behind it that tells you that you can only be the best version of yourself and that being you is perfectly fine no matter whether your the bad guy or not!

I think that this animation is fun, funny and fabulous! (what can I say I do love a little bit of alliteration! hehe)

I'd go for sure whether you have a brother or not and hey if your embarrassed to go by yourself borrow a little brother or sister for a few hours! They will love it, you will love it and the parents will love you!

I have also just arrived from the cinema after going to watch Oz the Great and Powerful, which was just fun all round although slightly sad at parts. The special effects on this film is ridiculously amazing, if their were plants made out of emeralds and rubies I would LOVE to say hi!! and I would love to rid in a big bubble, that would be pretty amazing!!

I found it quite sad the way that Theodora (Mila Kunis) became the green evil witch as she only wanted peace and for everyone in Oz to live in harmony, however her evil sister made the dark side of her stronger than the light and she eventually gave in, so sad!

And in the end Oz found his true calling and stopped being selfish and helped other people for once!

SUCH good films go and watch them, I loved them and maybe you will too

Hope you've had a good weekend too,
Love
Melanie xoxo

My Mood Boards

So the last time that I was on my blog I said that I would post my mood boards that helped me decide my FMP topic and here they are:

This is my Tudor inspired mood board. I really like the layout and how it does not go to much into any detail.

This is my Fairy Tale inspired mood board and this goes more into films and photo shoots that I have found.

It's going to be busy!

So today is going to be so busy!! I've got to go to college, go doctors and get to my friends house all before 1pm! And that's so we can help each other with our final mini project photoshoot!

I'm excited for it, it's going to be a proper girly day with make overs and dress up and lots and lots of pictures hehe should be fun! And it's for my 'Lynched' project which I will be uploading on here later on tonight when everything is finished!!

Wish me luck

And I hope you having/had a good day too!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

So I got this book on Wednesday and 3 days later I have finished this wonderful book! Originally I was not going to get this book as it seemed too girly and I just didn't know whether it was for me but after going to the counter at Seven Stories and finding out the the book I had chosen would more than likely dissapoint me I decided that I would go and re-think my book choice and I was advised by a read-a-holic and a lovely lady from the book museum that this book was better than I would think and that I would have a real giggle. So I have to thank her very much and I am going to link you to her blog if you too are a read-a-holic so I suggest you  <CLICK HERE!>

ANYWAYS....

About the Book.

THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass

This book is the bachelor meet Kate and Wills (sort of) with a mash up of the hunger games all in one! I started reading it and I will admit it took me about 3-4 chapters to really get into the story line but once I was, I was hooked! So I guess your wondering what on earth is so good about this book right? Well.....

The selection is about a girl named America who lives in the future and there have been 4 world wars (so I guess in words this of the hunger games and how they are divided into sectors). Now in this kingdom people are in classes from 1-8, one being the king and queen and royal family etc, 2 being the rich and famous, and 8 being the homeless and needy, 6  being the help and 5 (the category that America is) being talented musicians or painters.

So if you have read or seen the Hunger Games thats pretty easy to wrap your head around.

Now everyone is getting excited at the beginning because 'The Selection' has been announced apart from out lead girl (America). Girls from all categories are allowed to enter the lottery for The Selection where thirty-five girls will be chosen to move into the palace and get to know Prince Maxon and become the future Queen. It is aired that America is one of the chosen girls and is to leave immediately. However America is in love with a Six but she is heart broken by the way he broke up with her so in not so many words she is seeing this as a holiday and a way to earn money for her family back home.

America and Prince Maxon become friends immediately after she gives him a good hiding which is hilarious to read! She sees this as good food and a way to sustain her family and in now way wants to get to know Prince Maxon but from the beginnign they make a truce and America become his confidence and they really get to know one another. And it leaves you on a totally exciting cliff-hanger!!

And before I COMPLETELY spoil it for you, you better go and pick up your copy of this book, its a really good read and I cannot wait for the next book to come out!!!

HURRY UP!! please :)