Chicken Wire Noticeboard

21st birthday presents are always difficult to choose. For my friends I always look for something special that they won't be bored of / have replaced within a few months but then, being a student, I've also got to throw price into the equation.

Considering all these factors, when it came to one of my closest friend's big 2 1 I knew it was going to require some creativity. My go to source for inspiration was Pinterest and it was there that I came across the idea to replicate this beautiful chicken wire notice board:

 I was attracted to the simplicity and elegance of this design but also felt it was an achievable project which I could complete in the few days I had before going back to university. Luckily I already had the gold frame but you can easily source similar ones from charity shops and junk stores. Here's my step by step to the finished project:

1) The original gold frame didn't really suit my vision so I gently sanded the frame and painted over the gold with 2 layers of cream paint.

2) Once that had dried over night I brushed a grey colour over the top but wasn't overly particular about getting into all the cracks the frame.

3) After all the paint had dried I lightly sanded the frame so that the cream paint showed from underneath to provide a distressed effect.

4) I stretched the chicken wire (you'll need an extra pair of hands to help) and stapled it into the wooden frame using the power gun.

5) For extra special touches I coffee stained the paper butterflies for a vintage effect and made a label (as a substitute to a card) which included spare wooden pegs so she can fill the frame with photos or memos as she pleases. 

I always appreciate hand made gifts so much more because you know that someone has put a lot of love and time into it. Overall I was really pleased with the creation (and so was she!) but think it's a great example of a 'money can't buy' present - quite literally in this case because it didn't actually cost me a single penny to make as I scavenged all the bits and pieces from around the house but ssshhh, she would never have guessed...

Destination: Marrakech

Last week I escaped this non-existent spring and headed to Marrakech with my family for much needed warmth and UV rays. With traditional Moroccan mint tea served upon arrival at our riad it is impossible not to absorb the culture and energy of the exotic city. We spent our days wandering through the medina and bartering for leather bags, lanterns and silver jewellery stopping to rejuvenate at roof top terraces to sample the local cuisine. After three days we headed to the luxurious Kasbah Bab Ourika set in the Atlas mountains for a few days of doing very little except relaxing and taking in the amazing scenery. All good things have to come to an end and we didn't exactly return to the 'heat-wave' weekend the forecast promised but this short-haul sunspot is definitely somewhere I'd recommend and love to return to!

http://www.hipmarrakech.com/

Written in the stars

Charlotte Olympia's dazzling new Cosmic Collections titled 'Birthday Shoes' and 'Zodiac Pandora' feature each of the 12 star signs to reflect the horoscope personality of the particular zodiac sign. 

Now, I wouldn't usually associate myself with the typical 'fiery' personality of the Leo lion which I was born under but in this case I am a massive fan of the Swarovski encrusted golden lion and totally agree with the horoscope statement in the accompanying book. Surely this is a sign that they'd be the perfect early birthday present to myself?

Leo Birthday Shoes

Trending: Monochrome Madness

1) Topshop 2) Zara 3) Topshop 4) Zara 5) Illesteva
6) Mulberry 7) Miu Miu 8) Topshop Nail Art

There's no escaping monochrome this spring, but why would you want to? Both black and white are timeless 'go with everything' colours so put together there's no going wrong. If you're opting for a bold statement piece just keep it simple and sophisticated elsewhere to avoid creating an optical illusion!

Trend to watch: White

Judging by the weather in Edinburgh at the moment we are a long way
from spring, let alone summer, but we can always be one step ahead of
the fashion game because white is predicted to be the colour of the
summer. And this is a head to toe love affair with the colour. However
this trend will demand a little consideration (because no one wants to
be looking like a sheet of paper) so it's all about the textures and fabrics
required to mix things up. 

Will you opt for the romantic pretty fabrics seen at Valentino and Stella
McCartney? Or is your vision more inspired by Lacoste's sporty-luxe?
Either way, commit to the look or accessorise with a bright pop of
colour if you're not feeling quite so brave.

Temperley London lace evening gown

Chloé blouse

3 1 Phillip Lim embellished top
KOTUR floral handbag

Pintaldi Maurizio mother of pearl jewelry

Harvey Nichols SS13 Campaign

Trend to watch: Gold rush

A timeless accessory that has been around since Coco Chanel first fashioned it in the 1930's the gold cuff is once again having its moment. It manages to balance making an impact with versatility, with a real outfit-changing quality.

1) Aurélie Bidermann 2) Saint Laurent
3) Asos 4) Mulberry 5) Saint Laurent