October Catch Up In Photos.

Treated myself to some bargain shoes in bronze. Because of course I have something to wear with them and of course I had to take a photo of myself wearing them....(guys they might be a little small...)

Left the county for Bristol bound. Stayed in a lovely hotel and business-ladied like no-ones business.

Celebrated first- the hen party of this beautiful friend (and didn't appreciate getting double stamped so much that I took a drunk photo...) AND the weekend after watched her marry her darling husband. (I cried loads all day- weddings are awesome.)

Caught up with my AWARD WINNING (SO PROUD) best friend for some food and impromptu owl handling.

Also caught up with this snazzy little man (You all know form that face!) and my darling Liona. She helped me put the world to rights and planned our weddings as we enjoyed the autumn sun.

And felt many a day like this. Tired, a bit dazed. Lost and quite frankly in a rut. Less of this now please.

It's been a funny old month. In the midst of it I've been struggling. It isn't until looking back that I've realised just what a full and memorable month it really has been. There have been some occasions that I will remember forever with some of my closest friends. Sometimes I guess you just can't see the light through the trees. 

What's been new with you?

Love Sophie Xx

The Sponsor Me Awards: Stacie Clark.

You'd have seen me mention Stacie a few times now. Not only a best friend, but an incredibly talented designer, Stacie has been nominated for an award! I'm obviously so incredibly proud of her for the hours of work that go into her design process, she deserves this accomplishment so very much. Which brings me to ask you, my friends, to have a little read of her work and click the little link near the bottom, pop in your email address (you won't be spammed, promise!) and vote for my best friend! Also take a chance to look at the other nominees, there are some other inspiring new designers in the mix.

Plymouth College of Art Graduate Nominated for London Fashion Award.

Stacie Clark, a Cornish Fashion Design graduate from Plymouth College of Art has been nominated for the Sponsor Me Awards taking place at Blackheath Halls in London next month, October 7th.

The Sponsor Me Awards supports emerging fashion designers through providing a prestigious annual event, fashion show and platform for them to showcase their work.

The awards consists of 4 categories, with 1 winner per category as decided by a public vote, as well as 1 lucky designer who will also be presented with the Judges Choice Award on the night.

Stacie’s knitwear collection has been selected to participate in the Urban category which is open to public vote. To vote for Stacie Clark before 30th September when voting will close, please visit  h​ttp://sponsor­me­awards.biz/vote­for­designers/

“I’m thrilled to have been nominated for the Sponsor Me Awards and to have my work as a designer recognised! I’ve spent the last year working on some freelance whilst developing my next collection and winning this award would be great in helping me take those all important next steps forward” Said Stacie.

Stacie graduated last year with a First Class Honors degree in Fashion from Plymouth College of Art with her graduate collection which consisted of 19 garments crafted entirely by hand and after receiving a great response at Graduate Fashion Week Stacie has had her work featured in a number of publications.

Tickets for the Sponsor Me Awards event are on sale now and can be purchased at

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sponsor­me­awards­2015­tickets­7351666031

To find out more about Stacie Clark please visit w​ww.stacieclarkknitwear.co.uk​ 

or Stacie’s

Facebook page h​ttps://www.facebook.com/stacieclarkwomenswear 

For more information of images please contact Stacie Clark.

Email: s​tacieclarkdesign@gmail.com​  Mobile: 07805395138

Love Sophie Xx

Two Weeks Of Happiness In Photos.

Let's start by just making this clear. I want to be on holiday forever. I need to invent something incredible that the world buys in bulk for the next 50+ years and I can spend my days frolicking around Cornwall as I'm meant to. Any ideas? The last two weeks have been some of the best this year. Thankfully it hasn't felt like one of those really fast holidays and I've really rejuvenated during the time; ready to crack on for the next couple of months until my next little snippet of joy. 

Funnily, the only time I really did try and do some work during my holiday I managed to lock myself out of my email, phone and calendar. Sometimes life just spells it out for you doesn't it? So, what have I been up to? I know all you nosey badgers love to find out! 

We've been pretty lucky with the weather, for the first week Harps was also on holiday and we spent a lot of time catching up with friends and family, burning reading in the garden, Batman adventuring, pilates on the grass and evening walks just for the hell of it. It's nice when you haven't got to worry about what time you need to wake up or getting the shopping for the week to save time; the freedom of breaking routine is the happiest isn't it?

During the first week we also got a lot of wedding plans sorted; even more excitingly, passing the one year mark until the actual day- there'll be more about this later this week so keep an eye out! I caught up with some friends for the less sunny days, scoffing as much cake and hot chocolate that my body could physically handle before passing said 'one year mark' and venturing into my 'health regime'. (Gonna be honest, week number two did NOT help with that *read didn't stop scoffing cake.*) It was all nicely rounded off with family BBQs and Newquay's Electric Beach Festival where we fought the rain to see Backbeat Soundsystem, Dreadzone & The Cat Empire (awesome bands if you've never heard them!) 

The second week I was flying solo, Harps returned to work and I visited my first ever bridal shop! It was a massive disappointment to be honest and despite trying on three dresses- I wasn't sold on any which resulted in mother and I in M&S cafe people watching and gossiping. More little wedding details came together, exaggerating all of my thoughts with Stacie as we spent the loveliest day at the beach. I also popped over to Plymouth to see Liona & Leopard, after a rather one-sided game of ping-pong, we sat admiring the view and catching up before having the tastiest lunch at Wagamamas where they proceeded to mock my spoon fears and we compared Game of Thrones conspiracy theories.When Harps did have a day off we took a trip for the most delicious and fancy cream tea at Carlyon Bay Hotel, overlooking the shoreline in weather that could have easily have been somewhere much more Mediterranean. I may or may not have got a little confused on the walk back and 45 minutes later walked in a complete circle in the blistering heat, bellies full- Harps wasn't best pleased when we looked ahead and saw the hotel sign again...

So that's it. Two glorious weeks all wrapped up into one. You can see just above how 'great' Leona's shot is... I miss this holiday already. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to iron clothes, set my alarm for an early morning and generally get back into routine. 

Love Sophie Xx

Summer in Cornwall.

There's a salty taste to the air and the sunshine warms my skin like a little cuddle from the sky. Yes people, Cornwall has officially stepped into summer. Longer days have meant my time off work has been full of so many wonderful things that I've totally left you all behind. A slightly cloudier day brings me inside from trying to even out my mysterious geometric tan lines, to report back the glory that is Cornwall at it's best. How many of you would guess this was the UK? All photos from this glorious day out are of Charlestown (see more about here and here) with my gal Stacie.

After lunching and drinking on the patio of a sea-side pub we ventured down to the shoreline, hunting for fancy shells, magical rocks and softened glass- shouting to one-another once in a while "Oooh I found a nice rock!" The fellow beach users were thrilled we'd arrived I'm sure. Finding our own little sandy spot convinced us that despite not being really very well dressed for a paddle, that we wanted to channel our inner mermaid. We waded until our clothes were soaked and our shoes were sodden and settled on the sand to build castles and dry off. More sand-mound-esque monuments were built and pockets full of underwater treasures we waddled back up the hill, stopping (of course) for our favourite ice-creams. 

Perfect summer days.

Love Sophie Xx

Location Location Location: St Ives & The Struggles of Turning 25.

*A little disclaimer right here- this is the most photo heavy post ever. You'll feel like you were there. You're welcome.*

I remember when Harps turned 25 and had a little bit of a quarter life crisis; suddenly he felt like he hadn't done ANYTHING (I mean ahem, he met me didn't he?!) and it made things all bit strange for a week or so. The imminent arrival of my bestests 25th birthday meant another chance to plan a lovely 'date day trip' for us both. For the last few years (I think it stemmed from us both being too poor for presents) we've gone on little adventures in and around Cornwall. Stacie had never experienced a proper trip to St Ives and though we visited about a year or so ago, it was in the middle of winter, the Tate was being renovated and most places were closed. This time we were really looking forward to a great trip and I'd planned a jam-packed day!

Full of cold and rain clouds gathering, we arrived by train at about 10:30, stomachs growling we set about having some breakfast *read cake and tea* before our day really started. I've totally forgotten the name of this quaint little tea room en route to the main town, either way it was perfectly homely, eclectic and with a window full of homemade cakes, the ideal place for us to start. We sat, people watching and philosophising over age and accomplishments and got a little freaked out together at getting older.

Next; I'd organised a little extra treat for Stacie as a birthday calm down/pamper. We're both pretty understanding of each other's strife when it comes to early morning work commutes and the exhaustion that creeps up on us towards the end of the week. After hours of researching on trip advisor and google (cheers inter web!) I'd booked a stop at St Ives Harbour Hotel & Spa for Stacie to have a massage. This place is actually incredible guys, we were met by the friendliest staff who whisked Stacie away and left me to cope with my cold in the 'relaxation room' which is quite possibly the BEST place to be left to cope with a cold! Once I'd sufficiently scared the rest of the room away with my sniffling and sneezing (don't look at me like that, I basically did them a favour!) I was in a cocoon of happiness and promptly fell into a semi-sleep that when Stacie came back an hour later I think I was just as relaxed as she was! Everyone needs a relaxation room!

^^ I know you're gonna want to put this snotty, snazzy face right next to your pillow at night.

We pulled ourselves together for the next part of our day- a fancy high tea in the hotel's restaurant, overlooking the incredible seaside views. We nipped outside for smoking, interrupted a WEDDING in doing so and found ourselves in fits of giggles, using our posh voices *Yaaass darling*

You're getting even more jealous of my day now aren't you? Thought so. The tea was so fancy, somebody had cut our crusts off for us but the desserts were really where it was at. Pictured above you can spy the most delicious, crumbly cream tea scones, poached pears with meringues, lemon drool cake, chocolate truffles AND a chocolate mouse. Everything was sublime and made us wish we could crawl into that relaxation room again for a nice little snooze. 

Time to finally burn off what had essentially been sitting and eating for the majority of the morning. We had full intentions to head to both The TATE and Barbara Hepworth sculpture garden- alas we had taken too long scoffing and the weather was less than perfect (read raining) so we decided to wander and leave Babs until next time. Making our way across town to the Tate, we scouted like true British ladies, we didn't need directions, we had a slightly horror movie-esque sign to help us!

Ohh what's this, a craft fair- be rude not to! Quite possibly one of the nicest craft faire's I've been to, we were trapped by the best sales lady in the entire world and no less than 45 minutes later had left with a selection of goodies that we weren't entirely sure why we'd bought. Still during this time, she'd given us the faintest of directions to The Tate- it involved the beach...

Plaits flailing in the sea air we trudged along; by now resenting all children, teenagers and semi-adults like ourselves that don't have responsibilities. We were planning packing it all in and moving to St Ives with the brilliant old sales lady and spending all our days in craft rooms and artists studios (we could become residents surely?!) We'd live with plaits in our hair and frolic in the sunshine, our perfect scenic views inspiring us to create masterpieces and become world famous. 

We arrived! You're not allowed to take photos of the exhibitions so you'll have to settle with this one measly photo of the window by the entrance. (I did take some sneaky photos but when I asked Stacie to take just ONE she got caught and we were stalked by the security man for the rest of our time inside.) The exhibition currently on show is  'The Modern Lens: international photography and The Tate collection.' Touring Europe, this wonderful exhibition documents photography styles and inspirations thought the world, from the 1920's to 1960's. It was fascinating to gather a deeper understanding to influences from repression or revolutions and we gawped for hours until our eyes and legs hurt. One particular photographer I urge you all to admire from this exhibition was Claude Cahun who expressed the deep depression and conflict that surrounded being a woman in the 1930's. Her work was some of the most heart wrenching and spine tingling I've ever seen.

Inspired and exhausted we headed on home, reflecting on our day and the whole 25 black hole of doom. Deciding that maybe a quarter life crisis wasn't such a bad thing, maybe it's the time where you start to have a stronger understanding of yourself, what you want to start doing, how the world really is, how far you've come and equally if not more importantly, how far you still have to go.

*Stacie has totally got over her quarter life crisis now by the way, it lasted approx 4 days. She did much better than Harps.*

Love Sophie Xx