No Exceptions Made Launch

A new fashion brand was recently launched in Cardiff called ‘No Exceptions Made’ by Nem McCarthy - a 24 year old graduate from the University of South Wales. 

The concept behind ‘No Exceptions Made’ is to create a bohemian, quirky and fun clothing company that promotes unique and individual garments that make people feel special! N.E.M provides dresses, tops, t-shirts and bags that are all handmade & hand printed. The clothing is bold with colour and the fabrics on the made to order garments have a very unique and different look to them. The S/S ’14 collection features various prints such as Paco the Llama, a chameleon and Nem’s dog Fletcher. These garments are also available in unisex and ladies sizes from an online platform. 

Nem also brought out a Christmas range which she launched at the Cardiff Bay Christmas fair which was very successful and gave a feel of what was to come from the brand. 

So, on 23rd March, 2014 we saw Nem’s dream come to life where the Spring/Summer collection was debuted to the public, her family and her friends in Gwdihw - Cardiff. 

The launch was fun filled, from a stall with the new collection, musical acts, social media competitions and of course - llama snacks. 

As soon as you walked through the door, there was an area where you could enter the first competition of the night - whereby you write your name & twitter address down and you get picked out during the night to win some treats! You also had to resist the complementary cupcakes! 

After some meet and greets as the guests arrived, the brand was officially launched as Nem gave a lovely and humble speech around her journey through the beginnings of the brand, what the night will bring, some thank you’s and then a video which shows the brand come to life in the promotional photo shoot. 

After a little more socialising, the very talented Hayley Cowan took to the stage and performed some songs of her own and also a few covers. Personally, I hadn’t heard Hayley sing before and I was truly blown away and I’m sure that goes for everyone else in the room. You can also find her music on iTunes which I would for sure recommend you do. 

Then came the competition winners, and of course the treat prizes which looked very tasty. Nem also announced that throughout the next day, the best photo posted on social media would be picked to win an item of the new S/S range - can’t go wrong! The hash tagging soon started…

Then finally, the musical stylings of Ben Milburn & Alton Williams took to the DJ booth and started playing some truly incredible mixes. Those two together are genius, and sometimes trouble… 

Find Alton's music at http://www.mixcloud.com/kenburnseffect/

Find Ben's music at https://soundcloud.com/edocronian/

The night was a massive success and Nem should be extremely proud of herself. I’m very excited to see what’s to come - and also if Paco makes anymore appearances! The brand has got some plans to work with other illustrators and designers to create some more fantastic work. 

The 'No Exceptions Made' brand has been launched online at http://www.noexceptionsmade.com and will hopefully appear in craft fairs and boutiques in the very near future. You can also find N.E.M here:

https://www.facebook.com/noexceptionsmade

https://twitter.com/NEMclothing

http://instagram.com/noexceptionsmade

elfums x

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the birkett's go to the country

Hello everyone! 

I can't believe how quickly the last week has gone! I'm on my last day off before heading back to work tomorrow, sorting through unpacking, laundry, college work & of course a new blogpost. 

So, as I mentioned in my last post, this past week I have been in Somerset with my family staying at a very big house in the lovely country! So I thought I would share some photo's with you from the week and also if you would like to see my Instagram posts from the week I will link that here!

Above is the house that we stayed in and the surrounding area which is so lovely.

The tree is one of the best things about staying here. 

Thankfully, the weather was absolutely beautiful bar a couple of days where the mist and fog was so heavy! It still made the fields look incredible and creepy.

On one of the first few days the sun came out and we just couldn't not go for a walk down the lanes by the house and the farm. The owner of the area has two pigs by the entrance which the little one's were really excited to go and feed with all our leftover rubbish food. The pigs however were being lazy and were asleep, but the walk was so lovely. Oddly, there was a one eyed horse in the fields which I didn't know what to make of! Plus, Chloe & Kyle holding hands all the way was just one of the cutest things I've ever seen :) 

It was my Uncle Darren's birthday on the Wednesday, so as it was a nice day still we ventured out to a Cider Farm - there wasn't a huge amount to do, but we had a lovely lunch, wandered around the museum and a walk around the vineyards a little. The little ones also had a play in the park area. 

Overall it was a lovely week, we ate incredibly well, the weather was wonderful, I got to spend time with family who I rarely see & also met my new baby cousin. 

I can't believe the week is over but here's to the next Birkett trip away hopefully! 

I'm also heading to North Wales in about two weeks so family time is not over yet :) 

Hope you've enjoyed looking at these photo's! 

Talk to you soon! 

elfums x

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hello march, i'm quite looking forward to you

My oh my, I don't think I like how fast we're getting through this year already. You'll also probably see me write that in my first post of every month. What I do like is that it's not always dark when I wake up, and not always dark when I leave work every day. I'm looking forward to getting rid of that feeling of constantly living in what seems like night time. Although, I wish my sleep pattern would sort itself out. That's something that is truly getting on my last nerve.. 

Anyways, it's Sunday morning, already the 2nd March - I've had my breakfast & caught up on my favourite blogs & youtube videos, and it's time to write my first blog post of this month. I've thought about what it might contain, and decided on a little theme. Instead of me writing about my goals etc for the month, I'm going to write about what I'm most looking forward to. March is going to be a little busy to say the least - so here goes :)

- x -

Somerset with the Birkett's 

- A few years ago, a bunch of my family & myself went to Somerset to stay in a very large country mansion to spend a week relaxing and celebrating birthdays. We're doing that again! I can tell you, it has come at the right time, as I need some serious time away. I will be spending it with my favourite family, hopefully with good weather *here's hoping!*, a pool & jacuzzi, and lots of places around us to go and walk and adventure around! Plus, there's two new little Birkett's that will be attending this time so that will be fun! It will also be about remembering our wonderful & beautiful Nan who won't be there this time - but it will all be good memories. It's going to be a lovely little week away! 

This is a photograph from the last time we went :) 

Andy & Jo's Wedding

- One of our good friends Andy & his other half Jo are getting married this month. It should be a lovely day! Plus they're getting married in Craig-y-nos Castle which means it's going to be a great little area for a wedding. I love weddings! Plus it's one of a few this year. So many of our friends are getting married, I don't want everyone to grow up so soon! But it's so lovely to see. Myself, Alfie & a bunch of our good friends are heading down, staying overnight to truly enjoy the day. Can't wait! 

N.E.M Clothing Launch

- Another of our friends from work, Nem, has started her own clothing brand called No Exceptions Made and her launch party is towards the end of this month. I shall link her website here and also here is a youtube video of Nem explaining about her processes and brand :) it should be a really good night - can't wait to see what comes of this! I will also be spending some time with Nem soon, so expect a review and blog post on the brand some time in the future. 

A week at home in North Wales

- One of my goals for this year was to spend more time with Family. Now because my parents are 4 hours away on the train, rather than 45 minutes away like they used to be, I miss them terribly ALL THE TIME. They are like my anchor and usually the voice in my head most of the time, and to not see them that often at all, sometimes only a couple of times a year, just breaks my little heart. So I thought to myself ''STOP WORKING ALL THE TIME'' and booked a week off to go and chill with my Mumma, Papi & the pups. The last two trips I've taken home, Alfie has been with me too, which has been so lovely, but I want my parents all to myself this time :) I can't wait for home cooked meals, the mountains, puppy cwtches, puppy walks, papi talks, movies with mama & just all round loves.


B.I Creative Prompts

- The last thing I'm looking forward to is taking part in the 'Being Little' Creative Prompts mini project. Lyzi from 'Being Little' is doing something creative every day this March and has invited anyone to go and do it too. Now, I am a very creative person, but don't give myself enough time to actually be creative - this month that will change. I've even written every daily title in my diary. 
Click on the link above and do it too! 
Here's my first entry of 'patterns' :) 

- x- 

In between all this, I will be attempting to stay awake through my full time job, continuing with my A-Level work, hopefully consistent blogging, spending as much time with Alfie & my friends as possible and getting some proper sleep & trying to stay poorly free for as long as I can. 

Now this has been a rather large post - but it seems that's what my hands & brain wanted to do this miserable Sunday morning! 

So, I'm going to end it there!  

What are you going to get up to this March!?

Enjoy your Sunday.

elfums x

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