My finished Tissura dressmaking project: Liberty of London front zip shirt dress

Summer is the busiest time of year for me at work and this usually starts around spring, so I’m very grateful for everyone’s patience with me posting here. I am happy to report that my one of my dressmaking projects (see previous inspiration post here) is now complete after encountering some difficulties.

Today, I will talk you through some lessons I’ve learned from sewing this project (having been sewing sporadically for 5 years now) and reveal my final design.

Vegetarian/vegan fine dining: review of David Bann

David Bann on St Mary’s Street (just off Cowgate and near Scottish Parliament) will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the restaurant the OH brought me to for our first Chinese New Year’s celebration together and we revisited the restaurant again for Chinese New Year this year. On the day of Chinese/Lunar New Year, Chinese people give the animals a day of rest from slaughter and choose to eat vegetarian for one day. I’m happy to say I no longer hold onto any guilt for only giving them one additional day and having that reprieve shortly taken away when the workers return the next day for work. I’m pleased to say that being vegan means giving more animals a chance to be free from pain and suffering, 365 days a year.

So what does this have to do with David Bann: vegetarian restaurant?

Dressmaking project on the go: fit and flare lace gown

It’s been a while since I had sewn anything for myself. After sewing 9 projects for our DIY wedding (you can see all the projects we did ourselves for our 2015 wedding here) and after that, it seemed my friends were all due to have their babies at the same time last year. I was so excited about my friends expecting babies that I was consumed with making handmade toys and clothes for them that sewing for myself was put to one side.

Since becoming vegan, I don’t feel the need to sew quite so much anymore. I’m only the one person and since the OH and I don’t go to formal events that require us to be dressed up much. Added to the fact that I’m trying to clear out all the excess clothing I don’t seem to wear much, I try not to sew too much that I’m not going to get a chance to wear.

Seeing a pattern that calls to you, with a shape that you know will suit you and gives you ideas on what to make, really gets those creative juices flowing. Recently seeing one on Instagram did just that.

Another vegan pasta recipe: kale pasta

I like to take inspiration where I can for quick and easy meals to cook at home. With the OH being a chef who also likes some variety in what we eat (unlike me who’s quite happy to stick with the same ol’ meals day after day), it’s a nice challenge to know what else I can rustle up for lunch or dinner on a whim.

A lot of friends have commented how celebrity chefs like to share meals that are ‘quick and easy’ and oh so simple to make in 5 minutes, but it never works out that way. Derek and Chad Sarno of Wicked Healthy are great for sharing quick and easy recipes like this pasta dish below because when they say it’s quick and easy, it really is.

DIY noodle bowl: review of Red Box Noodle Bar, Edinburgh

If there was a way to create your own bowl of noodles, in such a way that means even vegans can enjoy it without the restaurant making any changes, would that be fantastic? Say no more, Red Box Noodle Bar on West Nicholson Street has you covered.

The Creative Craft Show and Scottish Quilting Show, SEC Glasgow

Fancy getting creative in 2018? Then a trip to The Creative Craft Show and The Scottish Quilting Show is a must.

The co-hosted shows are back at Glasgow’s SEC on March 8 – 11 bringing together over 100 exhibitors showcasing artisan, handcrafted gifts, supplies and inspiration and demonstrations for crafters and quilters.

Edinburgh Beetroot Cafe Supper Club: first raw vegan supper club review

I had a taste of raw vegan food last year and although it was just cakes, it left an impression in my mind that I wasn’t sure that was something I wanted to try. When Emma from http://veganedinburgh.com/ mentioned a raw vegan supper club event for Burn’s Night, I was a bit hesitant to try it again, but since I’d been meaning to visit Beetroot Cafe at some point, I thought this would be the best opportunity to try what they had to offer.

A hidden vegan-friendly joint: review of Woodland Creatures, Edinburgh

Unless it’s one of the restaurants or places people talk about in your local area, you might not even be aware that vegan options are available in certain places. Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk was one of these establishments that I was blissfully unaware of until I discovered it on the Vegan Edinburgh site when I was looking for somewhere to meet a friend.

Switching to a vegan lifestyle: a year after Veganuary 2017

Hello and Happy New Year everyone! Time really flew by quickly, whether you were having fun or not (between Christmas and Hogmanay, I was bedridden with a bad case of the flu and I’m still recovering), but I know this is set to be an exciting year and I can’t wait to see what vegan offerings will be on the table!

So a year on after Veganuary 2017, what does this mean for me?

Speedy vegan pizza in 90 seconds! Review of @pizza in Edinburgh

I have a confession to make.

Since going vegan, I’ve heard some mixed reviews about where to get vegan pizza. Some have mentioned how the pizza bases weren’t vegan, how some places offer pizza without cheese and how some of the cheeses used weren’t quite as stretchy as you would expect from dairy cheeses. I’m sure you would avoid something too if it was potentially going to ruin your impression of what a good dish should taste like, so I’ve been avoiding pizzas…up until a couple of weeks ago.

When Emma from Vegan Edinburgh invited me to go along to review new pizza parlour, @pizza on Charlotte Lane, I had to give it a go.