I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees

When I was very young we had a massive garden, or it felt massive at the time, to my 4-year-old self. It had a big old tree in the middle of the sloping lawn and the wild strawberries that grew by the fence. I don't remember much, but I do recall climbing the tree beside the house after dark, getting covered in sap and then crying because I couldn't get down on my own. That was the last time I had a garden. Recently, after I graduated from high school, my parents moved back into a house with a garden and every time I'm back home I love to spend time in it. No massive trees but plenty of birds and bees and things to look at.

This outfit is probably much simpler (just a nice way of saying plainer) than most that I post here. But with the heatwave simple is best otherwise I run the risk of ending up as a sweaty mess sprawled on the tiles trying to cool down (I do that anyway, but that's beside the point). I also made a small capsule wardrobe for the 4 weeks I'm away so I toned down the statement pieces and chose easier-to-match staples.

The shorts are a pair I made from fabric I picked up from a charity shop and the pattern was drafted by following the the pattern of another pair of shorts that I picked up. The fit was so perfect that I had to copy the hip to waist fit and the dart placement. Overall I made them a little more high waisted (never too high) and longer on the leg. I'd make a few slight changes to the pattern; lower the back, straighten out the front, and put a little more room in the butt area of the crotch curve.

shorts//handmade    top//People Tree    shoes//thrifted

New Zealand sunsets by the sea

I hear that on Thursdays it's commonplace to post photos from yesteryear, so I've decided to partake in this ritual and bring you photos of my summer holiday from last year. As you may, or may not, remember, I went to New Zealand last summer because I'm half Kiwi and we go back ever few years to visit the family. We spent a few days in the north of the North Island, in a house by the sea. It was unseasonally warm (it was the middle of winter after all) which is why I'm wearing short sleeves and showing off my bare legs. I've included a photo of a fern so that you will be truly convinced that this was New Zealand and not just Europe.

skirt//handmade    shoes//thrifted    top//Urban Outfitters 

Lastly, I was invited to attend the last of the Ben & Jerry's Sundae School, an event to hear Liz Earle and Safia Minney (of People Tree) talk about ethical beauty and fashion and, importantly, eat lots of ice cream! The event is happening on Monday the 3rd of June (this coming Monday), at No.11 Cavendish Square starting at 6.30pm for stuffing faces with ice cream and the talks start at 7.

Join me!

The lovely people organising the event (no, not Ben and Jerry themselves, alas) have given me five pairs of tickets so that you (lovely readers) can join me for ice cream and ethical discussion. If you've in London on Monday then please join me, just let me know by leaving a comment or sending me an email and I'll add you to the guest list. Although I doubt there will be five replies, I'm giving out the tickets on a first-come-first-served basis because the event is so near.

Walking in an alpine grove

Firstly I find it most important to inform you that my hair that my hair is still pink, I was a little hasty in posting my first pink post just because I was so excited to share my newest hair adventure. The problem is that I now have a small backlog of photos pre-pink which might be a little confusing. For the time being I'll try and disperse them evenly amongst the pink until I have no more left. That is, if I can be bothered to post them at all. These photos were taken as I was leaving my friend's house in Surrey and heading back to our London abode. He has a lovely flowering bush in the front garden that seems to be in bloom almost all year round. I also had to take these in front of at least three builders standing no more than 20 metres away. They didn't make a single comment, which must be a first!

Another reason for posting this now is the lovely, lovely dress. It's yet another Orla Kiely for People Tree piece (what can I say? Orla has a way with clothes) that I got at yet another People Tree sample sale (what can I say? I'm too poor a student to buy things full price). The exciting thing is that this time I wrote this post prepared, prepared to write about how you, yes you, could obtain these sweet, sweet clothes for the same low, low price. The answer: yet more sample sale! There is one small difference, I'm volunteering there on Friday and Saturday. So if you live in the south of England and can get to East London this weekend, come say hi! (I have pink hair, it's hard to miss). On the other hand, I'm terribly shy and make very awkward conversation so perhaps it is best that you stay at home and admire the clothes on the internet.

And if for some reason you don't like in the south of England (I can't think of a single reason why you might not...) then the goody bag from people tree is a random selection of archive pieces that one might find at a sample sale, but with an element of surprise!

dres//Orla Kiely for People Tree    sunglasses, shoes//thrifted    flower comb//handmade

orla kiely for people tree by dressesonaclothesline featuring lotta

Dr. Martens chunky heel sandals, £96 / LOTTA floral headband / Jeepers Peepers round frame sunglasses, £19 / Orla Kiely Alpine Grove Flared Dress / Borders & Frontiers Maths Things Shopper, £13

Denim, white and a varsity jacket

Continuing on the theme from my last post, of being friendly to the Earth, the story of another People Tree sample sale this past weekend. They are my weakness, so many pretty clothes for such a good price, especially considering that they're Fair Trade and organic. In fact, I end up justifying buying too much just because it's for such a good cause. At least the sample sales are only once a month! I know I won't be spending much (if any) money otherwise because I'm studying for exams and for that I don't need to leave the house. (It kills me that we're having a period of beautiful weather, right when I need to stay inside.)

I should mention the jacket I'm wearing because ever since I bought it this weekend I've hardly taken it off. I found it in the children's section but it's a small women's size; it's more structured than a cardigan but more comfortable than a jacket. Plus the grey and cream match almost everything I own. Most of all I couldn't resist the 40's/50's vibe of it. Put it on and suddenly I feel like an American teen. I plan on turning the plimsoles into saddle shoes with a little fabric paint magic (with matching tutorial of course) for that extra authentic vintage feeling, like in these photographs. I also tried to give myself 40's style lips, as instructed by the lovely Tanya. Lastly, it's also very important that I carry a comb, for impromptu hair grooming in the style of Grease:

Yeeeeeaaaah, I'm that cool...

varsity jacket//thrifted (£3.50)    organic cotton top//People Tree sample sale (£5)    shoes//thrifted (£2)    socks//old    

organic cotton skirt//People Tree sample sale (£10)    hair bow//thrifted (£1)

CLOSED: Win £80 to spend at Asos to celebrate Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day everyone! I hope everyone got the chance to hug a tree, or frolic through a field of wild flowers. I opted for a classic; singing in the hills, because as we all know, they are full of music! Clichés aside, Earth Day is a good opportunity to reflect on our ways as consumers and judge our environmental impact on the world. Business speak aside it means I vow, yet again, to never buy anything from the high street again and to travel only by bicycle. However such goals can be impractical and simply improbable.

Instead I thought I'd give you the opportunity to indulge, guilt-free, in some of my favourite ethical and eco-friendly picks from Asos! Asos? Surely not, they are not a brand known for their ethical ways. Think again kind reader, for indeed it may be small and hard to find but Asos devote a small directory to ethical products for sale on their website, it's called the Green Room. There you will find many splendours, and because I love you all so much I'm offering an £80 gift voucher to one lucky person to spend at Asos (true, you could spend it on anything, not just the Green Room but it is Earth Day after all). This wouldn't be possible on my own, I am but a student, this is all thanks to Appliances Online who kindly offered me this voucher to give away. (They also have a blog that features no Appliances, rather adorable home décor inspiration and a bunch of cute DIY's, but don't go there, it's my secret source... shhh!)

How to enter:
Just leave a comment below, letting me know if you've done anything for Earth Day! (Also make sure I can contact you somehow.)
That's it! (Really, really). Anyone can enter but the voucher is in pounds and will need to be spent on the UK Asos website (they ship overseas, don't worry). No need to follow or tweet about it, just leave a comment. Or course, if you really wanted to you could follow me and tell your friends, but that's up to you :)
Giveaway ends on the 6th of May at Midday London time.
Good Luck!

And the winner is...

Congratulations Kailey, I will email you shortly :)
Thank you to everyone who entered!

Just because I'm an angel, I've made a selection of my favourite Green Room items ranging from the cheapest to items pushing the £80 budget. A taster for what you could win.

Green Room under 20 by dressesonaclothesline featuring knickers panties

Body con skirt, £12 / Opaque stocking / Kinky Knickers knickers panty, £16 / Knee socks / Reclaimed Vintage highwaisted shorts / Borders&Frontiers gold handbag, £14 / Love amethyst necklace, £19 / Made antique ring, £16 / Vintage ring, £7.58 / Borders & Frontiers Maths Things Shopper, £14 / People Tree | People Tree Recycled Sari Stud Earrings at ASOS

green room under £50 by dressesonaclothesline featuring people tree

People Tree striped dress, £38 / ASOS floral print dress, £49 / People Tree organic cotton tee, £30 / People Tree Floral Playsuit, £49 / Reclaimed Vintage high rise jeans / Melissa strappy sandals, £49 / Tatty Devine tortoise shell jewelry, £38 / Floral hair accessory, £30

green room under £80 by dressesonaclothesline featuring organic cotton dresses

People Tree vintage floral dress, £65 / People Tree organic cotton dress, £63 / People Tree denim dress, £63 / People Tree indian cotton dress, £81 / A Question Of Bats Sweatshirt, £73