Hygge For Free

Looking around at the moment I seem to be seeing the  word 'hygge'  everywhere, and I think I know the reason why.  Everyone wants to feel happy and cosy especially now as the nights are getting longer and darker.  The concept of 'hygge' if you read any of the definitions out there is a feeling of cosiness, warmth and togetherness.  Now who wouldn't want that? What is really irritating though is if you read anything in connection with it there is an advert for some company or other that can sell you something so you can have some of it in your life.

I would imagine that this word does not have its roots in consumerism which is how it is being used at the moment by the advertisers. I like the idea of embracing the season, the Scandinavian style and keeping warm but I don't like being told to rush out and buy stuff.

So if cosy is your thing you could...

• Light some candles (preferably ones you already own) they create a nice glow.
• Curl up with a blanket or throw from your cupboard. (freshly washed for the season)
• Read a book in bed, you could borrow one from the library or a friend.
• Have friends over for dinner, cook with what you have in, oven bake, hot pot or stew.
• Take a flask of your favourite hot drink, wrap up and go for a walk.
• Arrange you furniture in a new way, near the fire or heat source (do you really need new?)
• Place some twigs and evergreen foliage in jars, bring the outside in.
• Wash all your sweaters, gloves and scarves and make them accessible in your wardrobe.
• Learn to cook a new warming dish. (Try love food hate waste for ingredients you have already)
• Grab a hot water bottle, a hot drink and settle down with a film on TV or a radio show.

The images circulating with the title hygge at the moment are nice to look at, they may give you ideas and inspiration but I think gratitude is a big part of it. I don't think the idea is so much about how things look  but rather enjoying what you have.  

Autumn Reading and a Book Challenge

Today I thought I would share what I have been reading this last week or so and also a blog I found which features some interesting reading challenges.  The blog can be found here . It is called purple ink studios and the challenge I like is below, it began in January so I'm very late starting but after looking down the list I've read most of the categories through the year anyway so it is just a case of filling in the blanks. I have put a mark beside the book genres/themes that I have read and I will aim to read a selection from the ones that are left over the next two months.

copied from Purple Ink Studios

Now I am not sure what to do about a book you were supposed to read in school but didn't as I always read what I was supposed to, along with a load of rubbish as well as a teenager. Covering the classics I bought a couple from the charity shop at three for a fiver.

I am currently reading Madame Bovary, Tess of the D'Urbervilles I read years ago but thought I would read it again in the coming months. 

I picked this one up because I enjoyed A country doctor's notebook, and also the TV adaption of it.

This past week I also read Outwitting the Devil which has only just been published a few years ago despite being written many years before, apparently due to family fears of what the church would make of it.  It is really just Napolean Hill's idea of what a conversation of this sort might be like and also his own ideas about what faith is and what an irrational thing fear is and how it can control and hold us back.  Some bits were interesting, others were repetitive and pompous and depending on your viewpoint quite in contrast to many ideas on faith whatever your religion.

I suppose this could be my banned book as he was never permitted to publish it while he was alive.  So I have a few ideas there of what I can be reading over the next few moths it is good to curl up with a book, and I especially like to discover new favourites and new ideas.

Black Dress Déjà Vu

While we were off on our travels yesterday we happened to walk past a Next store and what did I see in the window? A black party dress almost the same as the one I made for a Christmas party two yeas ago.  I found this very strange as I didn't copy any image at the time or use a pattern I just worked with the fabric that I had.  I have to say I only really wore it over the Christmas season that year as it is just that sort of dress, but if you can make things quite economically it is not such a big deal.  I'm sure it will have an outing again this year.

Here is the dress I made two years ago...

It cost £3.50 for the fringe and the jersey underneath I already had, the neck on mine is slightly different but other than that take away the belt and you have this...

This Next dress is advertised at £70 pounds so quite a difference especially if you only wear it a handful of times.  Now ok you have a super model and lovely photo shoot showing off this dress but ultimately the design is the same.

You can view the original post for my dress here, but this got me thinking that I may start and do a little post each month by choosing a  garment I like and then see how I can recreate it on the cheap or better still by recycling.  I will have a look around and see what I can come up with.

If some of you are already thinking about what you will wear for upcoming special occasions it might be an idea to have a look at what is out there and what you already have.  Can you change the neckline on a dress, add a panel, chiffon sleeves and different belts can all change the look of an item.  These ideas may save you over paying on an outfit that has a very short season.