My New Kitchen Floor

I warn this isn't an exciting post, I'm so ecstatic to have feel kitchen finished. Not very gothic but this is my blog. Lol. 

As I posted at the beginning of  January, (I know its hard to believe tomorrow we'll be in February) I want to organise my house by doing those small jobs and spending some of my savings on the house to get those little jobs done. 

When I bought the house, I received a generous gift from the bank of Dad, which is also an early inheritance gift. I can never put into words my appreciation of it. Anyway, this money was spent in both my bathroom and kitchen. The previous kitchen was workable, except for the dodgy plumbing that leaked. Not to mention the cooker and boiler were on there last legs. I decided installing a new kitchen would be the best option. Along with replastering, it made a huge difference.  


The kitchen before. 

Source

TThe kitchen has never felt finished. I've felt disgruntled with the tiled flooring it; the floor always looked dirty, cold on my feet and since I'm a klutz, and I've broken a lot of crockery.  I've contemplated whether to paint the floor or ripe the tiles up, however, the Boyfriend wanted vinyl flooring. Originally, I wanted a slate style flooring. Last week, I found an offcut big enough for my kitchen ( my kitchen area is 11sq3 )  for a bargain at £80 at Frank's Carpet. I chose this flooring as was a dark slate with a silver streak, that reflects the light. I like that detail as it follows through with my wallpaper in the living room. The tile floor looks quite similar to my bathroom, which goes with idea making my colour scheme follows through the house. 

It was fitted yesterday and cost £45.  If I installed the flooring myself, it'd taken more time to fit and the overall look inferior. The professionals had the floor installed in twenty minutes.  The kitchen finally feels finished, more coordinated and spacious. The boyfriend thinks it because I've cleaned the kitchen up. 

Disclaimer: I wasn't paid or asked to endorsed this post. Every item I have paid for myself or ( Dad  did throught the money he gifted me).  I'm just ecstatic to have my kitchen finally finished. I like to create post that may inspire readers creativity. 

My Outfits

I can't even remember the last time I did an outfit post it been so long.  I fancied compiling a post of my favourite or interesting outfits. I both enjoy doing these posts, and they always seem to very popular in terms of views and comments interaction. I usually assess a successful blog post according to the number of comments  I will attempt to do more outfit posts on a regular basis, a lot of the time I forget take photos. This year, I'm going to either find an outfit buddy to improve the photo quality or start using my tripod.

Its taken me years to build up my gothic wardrobe. When I was younger I will admit I used to be very materlistic and when I had more of disposable income, I purchase alot of goth brands. Like  Sinister, Omen and Raven, but brands like Kill Star and Punk Rave didn't exist or were very small business operating on eBay. Also, I used to purchase expensive high street brands. My favourite was Debenhams as I loved the Julian McDonald brand.

Now, I sew my own clothing particularly skirts. I tend purchase  Primark for basic and accessories , occasionally Next and TK Maxx.  Otherwwise, Most of my clothing is sourced from charity shops; I tend to have good luck, finding the high end brands and gothic style clothing secondhand. Presently,  most Goth or alt brands clothing lacks the uniqueness and quality I  remeber by no means are the prices  doesn't justifie. 

I can't even remember when I took this photo. The top was a from Debenhams by Julian McDonald range. I love the slit sleeves which kept together with buttons. This is another item I've had for years. The skirt I made from embossed with roses. 

This was one I wore with my skirt I made from upholstery fabric that resembles black snake skin, The jumper from Primark. I love Primark as I can often find some gothic looking items, then again I've always bought alot of my gothic clothing from Primark as a teenager. 

This was the outfit I wore just as I general day for charity shop raiding. The top was viscose with mesh sleeves from another charity shop find. The skirt is one I sewed years ago it has a gorgeous jacquard pattern. The yoke is made from a different fabric I used trim to hide seam line. The belt is another charity shop find it has shiny crocodile effect pattern I love. the necklace is Lapis lazuli or picked from an ethnic shop in Brighton. The boot were ones I've had for years for years from Next their biker boots.

This was an outfit I wore for a night out at Grindhouse. The top and skirt were both charity shop finds  The corset is my favorite under bust. The boots were from Guess. 

  At the moment, I embracing a Stevie Nicks meets nu goth aesthetic. Especially with the winter here, I was donning wet look leggings (from Boyes in York ) and belly dancer belt  ( charity shop in Bantery Co. Ireland). This is a handkerchief style skirt I purchased from a car boot sale from someone who was a doppelganger for Stevie Nicks.  The top was charity shop find from the Marie Curry shop in South Shields. I wore this outfit while seeing Dan Reed doing an acoustic set that was awesome.   

This was my zombie witch outfit I was dancing in Bensham Grove. I think by this time most of the makeup had come off along with my green lipstick this was taken at 9; 30 pm and I was on 12-hour shift the next morning. I need to work so I can keep myself in underbust corsets and belly dancing belts. The top (Dorthy Perkins) I wore was charity shop find from Cancer UK. It has fantastic witchy sleeves with a bell drapery sleeve. My skirt was a Geordie Goth original with fabric obtained from the local Asian fabric seller, literally, its stone throw away from my house, which I love. The necklace was a Primark Cultural appropriation of an ethnic style necklace.  I got on sale for £3. My corset wowed everyone like usually with numerous of lovely comments. The underbust was £40, from a steampunk shop in Brighton. Sadly it appeared of to closed down I scoured most Brighton and Hove and didn't find it. I guess it's a sign of the economic climate which contributed to the demise of alternative and goth shops.  

I wore this outfit to see Star Wars. The mesh top has flock floral print; I bought for a pound from a charity shop. The skirt I one I sewn. This is a picture of the skirt. 

     

This was an outfit I wore to Durham with the Boyfriend. I feel this was more of nu goth style. I finally found a cold shoulder top, from Next for £5 in the Christmas sale, that doesn't show my arms, I hate showing my arms off since I have bingo wings. The skirt a Per Una skirt I got for £2 at the discount Cancer UK charity shop. The boots were ankles boots I got from a Maltese Market, last year. They're so comfy.  The waist cincher was £4 from Primark. 

                      

 This was another random, the top an oriental top I sewed using New Look 6027. The skirt is a hippy style velvet skirt by Jordash, which I have had for yonkers. The belt is another charity shop find. 

  

This was just a random outfit the top is a charity shop find, the skirt was sewn by me and the boots were by Guess from Tk Maxx £50. I love some Guess clothing as they always seem to have a gothic undertone which suits my somber sensibility. My necklace was an onyx by Past Times, sadly its ceased trading.  

   

DIY: A New Border.

The new year has revitalized and given me the rocket up the kiester to start organising those annoying house jobs done. We've organised to move the boyfriend's things from the flat,  I've started decluttering again and I'm finally reunited with my Pocket Dragons some have gone astray in the loft of no return.

Anyway, I digress. Oh yeah, my living room, originally when I decorated my sitting room overall I was happy with aesthetic and finish. My concept was to achieve a grown-up, modern sitting room with a gothic undertone I feel I have achieved.The sitting room has never quite felt  finished for various reasons, I felt the lower portion of wall need something to finish it off, 

, I've contemplated using a border to finish the room off. I came across a border when zombieing (my word wander around aimless without a purpose) on the internet. I found the perfect border that appeared complimentary to my wallpaper on my chimney breast and another decor. Its called the Campbell Black Border I got from B&Q it cost £6 for a roll and each roll has 5 metres on. (After researching in the states Home Deport stock it). 

 B&Q Website

This was very easy to apply to the wall as it was self-adhesive but it was fiddly to apply as I was using ladders and had to move them. All I did was peel the back off,  align the border with my picture rail bottom edge I just rubbed using my hand to smooth out any creases outs. At times I had unpeeled the border to get smooth as possible but it worked.  I forgot to take photos to show the process. 

Before  Pictures 

After

I'm really happy with the final result for £20 it feels as though finishing the room off. Checkly I had one roll left and return it get my money back as I didn't know what I would do with it. In total it cost £15, not bad. 

Disclaimer: This is not an endorsed post of any kind or any form of payment. I purchased the border with my own money. I just wanted to share my experiences and love for this gothic Victorian border.  

DIY: Upcycled sweet tub

Well, I can't believe how quick Christmas and New Years came around for me it was quiet and uneventful. I ended up collecting a few sweet tubs. I hate throwing the tubs away as they make excellent storage containers, especially for baking and storing my tat.

I decorated one of the tubs to store my hair accessories. 

I found this tutorial, on Pinterest, it's so addictive. It stimulated the creative synapses. 

Source

This one of the sweet tubs I decide to decoupage or the posh way of saying glueing paper on to a surface to make it look decorative. 

I used a black and grey print wrapping paper from Tiger to decoupage. I carefully tore the around the pine cones to retain their roundish shape. and placed them into a gloopy mixture of water and PVA glue solution ( I didn't measure it I just guess it ) I attached it to the tub.

This is the tub drying. 

I use my handy seam raper blade to neaten the edge on the lid.  I would be in trouble if my sewing tutor saw how I miss using my dressing making tools. Anyway, it works effectively leaving a neat edge. 

The top of the lid. 

I added a mixture of matt varnish, Pva glue, and water. I added a sticker ribbon around the edge and a chalk label.

It contains all my tat. 

Charity shop Haul

It feels like a long time since, I did a charity shop haul. I've been trying my best not to purchase, as much. I 've definitely became more discpline. 

I've always shopped secondhand ever since a friend introduced me to them, where I discovered a wonderful array of treasures and tat for little money.  I remember there was always a stigma shopping second hand but it never bothered. Also, thifting meant I could create a goth wardrobe on a budget.as a teenger I had limited money. Now, I aim to get most things second hand all but shoes and electronics (just bad experience). I love charity shops as they tend to be cheaper, I know my money going to help a worth a cause, I never know what I will find and it means less thing is ending up in a landfill.  

 However, I find thrifting can be addictive, and  I probably spend money unnecessarily. I 'm trying to curb my spending and prioritising saving. Back in November, I was very good but in December I binged shopped.  

So this is Decembers's haul:

I found some pocket dragons for 99 pence each so score. There was quite a number of these little guys they were in bad condition which was a bit sad. 

I found more Pocket Dragons the charity shop in a Durham this is a rarity.

 I tend to find them more like once a year or less. It shows you just never know what one will find. 

I found these when I went to Morpeth.I put them in the sitting room. The wall decor is meant to be copies of animals that are carved in Lincoln Cathedral. They were £4 for the pair. I liked the pair, especially the little bat, which compliments my gothic display cabinet. 

I also found burgundy faux flowers and placed them in my bedroom. I love how realistic the roses look.

I found this cat sign that suited my kitchen cat decor . I think it sums what's necessary for life. 

The  book stand keeps my chopping board up against the wall.  I just couldn't resist the adorable black cat.

This is the best bargain of  2017. I wanted a bread bin for ages I saw the exact same one for £12 in B &M Bargains. I thought I would hold on I found this one the local community shop; I bartered for 50p, since there some damage at the back, I can't see it. It suits my kitchen decor. 

I found these in Whitley Bay, when I met up Jane.  I found two picture frames and a hook and shelves. I'm not sure whether to paint the shelf black but it's going in my bedroom with the frames. I've already spray painted picture frames black, look so much better. 

I found these things a couple of picture frames and necklace stand which I've painted gloss black, look much better. 

This what it looks like painted black. 

I found another jewellery hanger for a pound and spray painted black.  

I 

I found this jug vase for more black faux flowers in the hallway.

I found the picture frame on sale for 5 pence each and the metal candle think. I not sure whether to remove the metal hoops thing off or find some glass for them. I'm not even sure where to hang it off. 

 I haven't found much in regards to clothes.  I'm not sure if  I'm getting pickier or the selection of clothes available. I found a ruffle blouse for 99p. The only thing is there is a bit of gape. 

I think this was the best finds of 2017, its a Per Una skirt love the witchy hem it was half price so it cost  £2.25.