eBay Sale!

Things are slightly quiet at Pencil Stitches as we are moving in a few days and I am surrounded by cardboard boxes! However I am selling a few items over eBay so please do go and have a look! You will grab yourself a bargain :)

You can view my eBay here

This weekend...

So, this weekend is my Hen Do. I have absolutely no idea what my bridesmaids have planned for me, but I swear it could not of come at a better time. I have a big list, that is going round and round in my head and hopefully my hen night will make me forget the majority of it, if only for a day or two!

1. The final countdown to the wedding....28 days to go! All the big things are done, and its just the smaller fun details that I need to complete before the big day!

2. Visa Application.... Just the word 'visa application' sends a shiver down my spine.... it involves lots of LONG words, as well as making you sign your life away, just incase you bring something into the country your not meant to, is slightly nerving! It will be worth it when we are finally settled in Australia.

3. Relocation! We are moving out of our flat in Hampshire next week to move back to our parents so we don't have to pay an extra months rent.... however it means putting all our furniture in to storage, to then have to move it again for when the international removals team come to take it away....I am dreading doing this, not just because its a huge hassle, but its an end of a chapter, and I am sentimental girl... ha

However I am signing off for this weekend, to forget about everything and just have fun with my friends and family at my hen do. I am slightly scared but mainly excited to see what they have planned for me. I shall report back next week to let you know if the bridesmaids are still in my good books ;)

A flash of...

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I am kind of in love with flashes of neon yellow!

Thursday Tunes

Kind of loving the 'First Aid Kit' at the moment



Love the video for Cats & Dogs by The Head & The Heart



As a self confessed country music lover.... when I first head The Civil Wars, I was instantly in LOVE. Their album has shot right up to my most listened!

Rose Illustration

I have had this in rose illustration for a folder for a long time, but never really liked it. However looking at it with fresh eyes, I have grown to love it. What do you think?

Wedding Wednesday: Beautiful Headbands

Miss Ruby Sue

I love headbands! I would wear them every day if I could. However if anyone can pull them off, its children! If I was having flower girls at my wedding, I would make them wear these head bands by Miss Ruby Sue. Maybe I could try and persuade my little second cousin Merryn to wear one? Not sure how long it will last.... 10 seconds possibly?

A week in photos

I caved in and brought myself the floral trousers from Zara. These make me very happy when I wear them! | We still have so much easter chocolate that is screaming for me to 'eat me!' | A tiny sneak peak into a little detail for our wedding | My invitation to my surprise hen do next weekend came through the post designed by the lovely best friend & bridesmaid Alice Perry | My mum came to visit me, whilst my fiancé was on his stag do. We had a lovely lunch in Winchester | We also went to the new SeaCity museum in Southampton to visit the Titanic exhibition! 

Wedding countdown..... 31 days!

In a few weeks time, me and my fiancé are going to have to pack up our lives and head back to Devon for a few weeks so that we can concentrate on getting married. Once we have officially tied the knot, it will be only a few days till we head off to Australia, to start our new life together.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't stressing out, but wouldn't anyone in this situation? I managed to sell my Fiat 500 within 24 hours of putting in the classifieds, which was amazing but was also a sad time for me, as I loved that car. However it is one less thing for me to think of! I need to keep focusing on what is to come, and the sacrifices that we are putting into this, that will be worth it.

I am going to cherish the next two weeks, as it is literally the calm before the storm. I am planning on taking a few days to put pencil to paper,  as it is one of the only ways where I can chill out... so expect lots of illustrations on this blog in the next few weeks.... as after that I might go quiet whilst we settle into our new life!

Exciting news!

The 12 Apostles

I have some exciting news to share with you all. Me & my fiancé are moving... to Australia! Yes, you did just read that right. We are going to live on the other side of the world! This is a huge step for us. Not only because we will be moving fairly soon-ish after me and the fiancé get married, but because its a new chapter for the both of us. We will both miss England big time. We both know there are some difficult times ahead, but we know we will have an amazing time in Melbourne.

I have been offered a fantastic design job opportunity over there. I am a home bird, and I am going to miss my family and friends like mad, however this is something we both need to do. I am sure my blog over the new few months, will be full of photos documenting the big changes in our lives, so I hope I don't bore you to much!

I am having to shut my freelance business down, which is a sad moment for me, as I have learnt so much from going freelance. I really enjoyed my time my freelancing and I know that one day I might go back to it... However I don't think I will miss the seriously long hours that I used to work!

If you ask any of my friends, I have always said I have wanted to go and live in Australia, and its slightly surreal that it is finally going to happen. You might say, that I am a very determined person that doesn't give up on my dreams. I am so lucky that my fiancé shares the same dreams as mine.

I am feeling insanely lucky at the moment that so many good things are happening. Not only am I marrying my best friend, but we are going to start a new adventure together as newly weds!

Cowboys & Indians

Bonjour mon petites pois! I am in a very happy mood, as if you are a UK citizen, you will know it is a 4 day week thanks to a long bank holiday weekend! Woo Hoo!  I don't know about you, but I feel that this week has dragged!

I managed to put pencil to paper once again and draw up this lil beauty that I have had saved in my inspiration folder for a long time.... so its nice to finally finish her! I am slightly addicted to Navajo prints, so I am glad that I could integrate them into this piece.

Right best be off, I need to practice my French, and I am dying for a cuppa!

Wednesday Tunes

I am loving Brooke Fraser at the moment. Their is something about her catchy tunes that instantly perk me up!

Floral Trousers

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I am slightly obsessed with floral trousers at the moment. I am currently searching for the right pair...! I LOVE the second pair above from Zara, but my size seems to be sold out. I also know for a fact, if I was to look in my local store they would all be sold out!

Are you going to be wearing floral trousers this summer?

The past few weeks in instagram

1. I read the hunger games in 24 hours... I am a new fan! 2. I brought myself a new toy, which is going to come in handy the next few months. 3. Lots of print orders are being sent out 4. Sunday mornings are my favourite 5. Ducks coming to visit 6. A bit of research...

My name is Cathryn Nicholson and I am a instagram addict....! Not so much as my fiancé though! He makes me look tame ;) However I love capturing moments in time, and being able to catch those one of moments that you never seem to have your camera to hand! Do you have instagram? If so, send me your user name! (I'm pencil stitches.)

Seeing as I have been quiet for a while, I thought I would catch up with you in what has been going on the past few crazy weeks!

Loving:
My best friend Alice. I am loving the fact that my best friend Alice (go check out her blog) got engaged to my fiancés best friend the other week! I couldn't be more happier for them both! I love this girl so, so much and I wish her all the happiness in the world! I am looking forward to hearing all about their exciting plans when there feet touch back down to earth! :)

Thinking about: 
Everything! I have so much on my mind at the moment. Wedding, Work, Moving House (more on this later!) Learning to balance everything as well as having a break to breathe, it is pretty hard at the moment! Luckily I have my mum and fiancé on hand to tell me to stop every now and then!

Realising:
Who my true friends are! The ones that actually ask how I am. We had some pretty big news last week, and it showed who actually gave a damn about us! Friends who actually wanted to know more, and were genuinely interested in what was happening. I also realised that the past 5 years of hard work is eventually paying off. I am a determined bunny when I want to be, and for once I have something to show for it...!

Thankful:
for people's generosity! One of Alex's ushers, siblings did a huge favour for us, for our wedding! I had an idea for our wedding, but I really didn't know how I was going to go about it, but thanks to the generosity of Jonjo, we managed to achieve it! We paid him in beer in the end as he didn't want payment, but I can't put into words how grateful I am, especially as he has done such an amazing job! I love it when an idea goes to plan! We went to their place down in Cornwall on Sunday to pick everything up, and their house is absolutely stunning! Especially as their back garden has a river flowing through, and they have ducks that come up to see you! Paradise!

Time Out:
I was home in Devon this weekend to celebrate three birthdays! One of them being my Nan's 80th! It was super busy but really fun spending time with family and friends. I was shattered by the time we drove home to Hampshire I also had a dress fitting... one more to go! Luckily its a 4 day week, thanks to the up and coming bank holiday!

Hope & Grace

Source: Hope & Grace

I know, I know! I have been MIA! However, I have good reasons, which will all become clear in the next few weeks...!

I did want to let you all know about a beautiful UK wedding accessories company called' Hope & Grace' which I stumbled across. Their head pieces are so unusual and so stunning, that they really are worth a look if you are wanting something a bit more unique for your day.

W Day Countdown: Less than 7 weeks to go until the big day!