Surfing in Heels

These boots were made for walking....

2011-05-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with these River Island boots (I just adore their shoes...I seem to have so many!) but at £65 they were a bit out of my price range this month with the impending move. However I stumbled across them on eBay -brand new- for a mere £20. How could I say no??

I missed you......

2011-05-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been a bit absent this last week but I have had some amazing news that has kept me super busy....I'm moving to Cornwall!

Yes finally, after years of being away from the beach in the City the time has come to move back to the coast. The only problem being the boyfriend and I have barely any furniture between us. However this has been great fun for me and an opportunity to hunt out some incredible vintage pieces of furniture.

We picked up this great pine table with 6 chairs for a mere £30 on eBay that I have great plans for. I have always wanted a country farm style table so I have bought some Farrow and Ball paint and have spent all weekend stripping it back to the original wood. I will show you in a couple of days my finished piece...it is looking good!

DIY Studded Heels

2011-04-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

So after finding a pair of plain black heels I had some inspiration about how to make them more interesting....

There you have it; a pair of studded heels. I've only put a few on so far but think I may add some more....

DIY Oversized Tassel Clutch Bag: Tutorial

2011-04-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

I love huge bags. My boyfriend doesn't understand them and wonders why I can't just use my pockets. So I tell him that just wouldn't be as much fun!

I made this bag this afternoon from some good quality synthetic leather I found in a shop and thought it was time for another tutorial to show you how to make your own.

To make the bag you need:

- Leather or other material for the outer

- Material for the lining

- Stiff Quilting

- Long zipper

Measure out the size and shape of your bag on the quilting. Make sure that the zip will fit it of course!

Then measure out the lining. This should be about a cm bigger all round. You should then pin this to the quilting, folding the excess material over the edges.

Stitch all the way round to attach the lining to the quilting. Next fold it in half (right sides together) and sew the sides together, leaving the opening at the top.

Next measure out th outer material. This should be at least an inch bigger at the sides and at the opening.

Fold it in half, right sides together, and then stitch up each side. Rember the quilting needs to fit inside so make sure it fits comfortably before sewing.

Turn it the right way round. You then need to insert the quilting inside the bag.

Here is the tricky part!

To insert the zip you need to insert it between the quilting and the outer material. To do this you will need to fold over the edge of the outer fabric as this should not have been stitched yet.

The zipper needs to be inserted in between and pinned as above. You then need to sew the zip in place.

At each end of the bag, either side of the zip, you need to sew the bag together like a seam to ensure that when it is zipped up the bag is fully closed.

I then wanted to add some tassels to the zipper on the bag. Tassels are everywhere right now so I thought they might look quite cool on the bag.

To make a tassel in the same material as the bag, take a piece of the material and cut into it like above to make a 'fringe'. You then need to roll it by rolling the uncut part into itself.

Next take a long piece of the material, or a piece of riibbon, and wrap it around the top of the tassel to tie it together. Take one end and thread it through the zipper and tie off.

I also picked up this tassel in the home furnishings department which I also threaded through the zipper.

Together they should look like this! There you have it; a finished clutch bag.

My Day in Pictures

2011-04-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

(Flower shopping at "Living Flowers")

(Reworked vintage jewellery at "Junk")

(Unusual candle holders at "Moth")

(Red velvet cupcake)

I always love it when you start your day with no plans and before you know it you've been wandering aimlessly for hours. Today was that day and the location was West Disbury.....and I loved it

Italian Coral

2011-04-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

(Fabric Remnants)

Whilst rumaging through the mounds of ouffcuts of fabric in my favourite fabric shop I found these. They are both really lightweight and whilst they are not silk they certainly feel like it.

The one on the right is my favourite as it instantly reminded me of Brioni's 2011 Spring/Summer collection from Milan fashion week.

(Brioni Spring/Summer 2011)

Brioni's collection, whilst mainly focused on monotones of black and white lace, also featured the colour of the season, camel. But it was not the camel that caught my eye; it was the rare inclusion of coral.

Whilst other designers' pallets have featured ballet nudes, jewell brights, aztec patterns or safari prints, Brioni has stepped away from the pack and added a splash of something different to the collection. A colour that on its own is usually associated with a Grandmother's blouse or a bridesmaid's dress, but when mixed with camel looks modern and fresh. Perfect for Spring!

It's not clear from the picture above, but the fabric is of the same shades from Bioni's collection and something this beautiful needs to be worn. I feel a DIY may be coming on.....

In the words of Dolly Parton...

2011-04-05T14:59:00.000-07:00

If like me you work in an office, you will probably agree that some days you look at your 'work' wardrobe and it makes you want to crawl back under the duvet.

So with Summer now officially being here (did anyone tell Mother Nature?) I thought it was time to consider adding some elements of colour to my wardrobe and I think any of these I found would do just the job!

('Melissa' by Temptations 11)

(Mysuelly Bag)

('Blair' by Coast)

(Ri2K Suede and Leather Bag)

(Paul Smith Black Label)

(Michael Kors Watch)

(Knomo Yellow Laptop Bag)

(River Island Peg Leg)

Glitterballs and Disco Divas

2011-04-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

A lot of the collections on the runway at Fashion Week seem to have been influenced by Studio 54 for Spring 2011.

(Dries van Noten: Fashion week 2011)

(Bianca Jagger)

(Cher)

What I loved about that era was that even when you were in a pair of jeans (ala Cher) you were glamourous. It all looked so effortless. It was a time when everything was carefree and easy, including the hair and the clothes.

Halston Heritage has to date maintained the vibe of Studion 54 in all it's lines, including the current collection. It's full of simple pieces made from luxurious fabrics in vibrant block colours. Ranging from jumpsuits to flirty dresses, the collection is the epitome of Studio 54.

So this gave me some inspiration. I have some beautiful fabrics that I have no idea what to do with but this Halston Heritage embellished jacket actually inspired a DIY on a suit jacket I no longer wear.

(Black suit jacket)

(Sequin shrug)

I have as couple of really old sequin shrugs around that I never wear. I thought, in tribute to the Halston Heritage jacket above, the old suit jacket would look really cool with embellished lapels.

So I cut up the shrug and then stitched the fabric by hand to each of the lapels.

This is the end result!

I really like it. I think it definitely has that Studio 54 vibe that I was going for and would look great with me 'Carrie' skirt.

Now I have the 70s vibe I might try and see where else it takes me.

White Chocolate and Orange Cookies

2011-04-03T03:25:00.000-07:00

I love white chocolate and I also love tangy oranges so what could possibly be better than a white chocolate and orange cookie on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

I used this recipe to make these amazing cookies. The whole house was filled with the yummy cookie smell that you need after a tough week at work.

I love Carrie....

2011-04-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

So the whole country seems to Carrie mad and I'm not about Sex and the City.

The Carrie skirt by Whistles ticks all the boxes this season and at a reasonable price too. So much so that it has been snapped off the shelves and now has its own email address for people desperate to get their hands on one.

However, I have happened to come across my very own vintage 'Carrie'.

It may not be made of chiffon but it's the same bright shade of pink and has the same 'swirlability' as the Carrie. So for £10 it was a bargain!

DIY Cape T.Shirt

2011-03-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

A week or so ago I said I was going to try and make my own version of this Topshop top.

Well I did it and here it is!

There's a slight pull across the top but I think that is due to the layering of the fabric so I'm going to unpick that side and re-stitch but otherwise I really like it.

I decided to do my own variation of the Topshop one as I used t.shirt fabric for the base and satin for the "cape". The cape is also longer than the Topshop version.

I haven't put the instructions on here but I can if anyone wants to know how to make their own. It was actually pretty easy! Just let me know

Vintage Finds

2011-03-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

I went to a vintage fashion and textiles fair in my local village hall this morning (how very English!) and managed to pick up a few great finds.

This vintage silk blazer was the first thing I came across and I snapped it up for £25. It's in near perfect condition and think it would look really great with jeans. Floral patterns seem to be appearing everywhere ready for Spring and my wardrobe was lacking anything remotely floral.

As you can see every inch of the fabric is covered with sequins- fabulous!

My next find was this grey suede and patent leather clutch bag with a gold chain. I love clutch handbags and I was missing a simple grey one so this is perfect!

My final purchase was this cute 50's pinny. It was only a £1 so I couldn't resist! Perfect to wear whilst making muffins.

Anyway I am now off to visit the fabric warehouse to start some of the projects I have in mind. Wish me luck!

Potential Projects....

2011-03-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

I have nearly finished my Topshop inspired top from my earlier post (this should be up soon!) but in the meantime I have come across a few things that I want to try and make, some more ambitiuous than others.

(Rick Owens Drape Skirt)

(Studded Print Tee)

(Drape-Back Vest)

As it's now the weekend I finally have some time to myself to get on with some DIY and I think the first one I want to do is the studded tee. So my mission this weekend will be to buy some studs and a t.shirt to DIY-up.

I'm also at the local vintage clothes fair tomorrow so I should hopefully pick some bargains up from there. I will also be updating you on how I got on with the £10 challenge!

It will be a busy weekend on the blog so don't forget to come back!

Fashion at Sea

2011-03-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

As I said when I started this blog it would be about fashion DIY and a lille bit of surfing. Well now my two great loves have come together.

Cynthia Rowley has designed a neoprene collection for Roxy and there is not a splash of black in sight! Gone are the days when girls have to look like blubber seals in the sea, now we can look as stylish in the water as we do out. And I have to say.....I quite like it!

Pretty in Pink

2011-03-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Now I'm not a girl who usually wears pink but I noticed that it seemed to be making an appearance in many forms during London Fashion Week but what caught my eye was the matte pink lipstick the models were wearing.

So I set out to find my own shade of pink lipstick to try out. Considering I have never owned a pink lipstick ever before (I swear by Benetint) this was new to me. I never realised before just how many shades of pink lipstick there are!

After much trying I found The One:

(Sweet Kiss Lipstick by Bourjois: No.46)

It may look coral in the picture but it is actually a really beautiful shade of pink that looks alot like the one in the picture above. i love this lipstick and it has now knocked Benetint into second place in my makeup bag at the moment. Whilst it is a matte finish it is really moisturing. Even my boyfriend approved!

Jacket Envy

2011-03-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite guilty pleasures is to look on Elle Street Chic to get fashion inspiration from across the world.

I was looking today and saw this post.

I am totally in love with this Maje jacket but it is completely out of my price range. The contrast between the soft wool and the harsh leather is something I am really into right now. I have used contrasting fabrics in a lot of the things I have been making recently as it really adds something to the look.

I do however have some wool mix fabric that I have yet to find a use for so maybe I will try to create my own version of this jacket.

Watch this space!

Mmmm....cupcakes

2011-03-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit of a slow week on the DIY front. I have lots of things planned and a fair few things started but I have not quite got round to finishing them because I have had such a busy week.

On that basis my boyfriend and I decided to take it easy and visited our favourite cupcakery in Manchester. It's called the Sweet Tooth Cupcakery and it does the most amazing freshly baked cupcakes.

Each cupcake is named after someone famous. I went for the Dame Edna; white chocolate and blueberry. Yum!

Anyway I promise to have some DIY and maybe even a tutorial this week for you and next week I'm going to a vintage fair so I am sure I will have plenty to post about then!

Inspiration.....

2011-03-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

I have just come across this beautiful top at Top Shop. I think it would go to well with the boots I posted a few days ago.

I have some fabric lying around that's of a similar colour so I am tempted to try and make my own version of this. I will let you know in a few days how I got on!

The £10 Challenge...March

2011-03-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

I've set myself a challenge! The idea came from this beautiful vintage satchel I bought last summer for £10 at vintage shop in South Manchester.

The satchel is by HiDesign- a branch of the Radley brand- and is worth at least £150. Apart from just a little wear on the bottom corners of the bag it is in perfect condition. It looks barely used as it is in such a beautiful condition. Even the leather is unmarked.

So what is this challenge?

The challenge is to each month try and buy either an amazing vintage piece (like my satchel) or create a fantastic new outfit by buying only second hand or vintage.

The idea is to show that you do not needs lots of money to look fabulous and fashionable; you just need a bit of time and a good eye!

So I will let you know in a couple of weeks how I have got on and show you my finds.

Why don't you take part in the challenge and show me what you can find?

Sunday Sewing....

2011-03-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

As promised here is my picture tutorial on how to make a jacket like I posted a picture of yesterday.

It's really easy and you can probably make it in about 2 hours. You can use any fabric you want but I have opted for a printed cotton that I had lying around after making my clutch bag.

1. Take your fabric and fold it in half and then in half again.

2. You now need to draw a half t-shape on the fabric. To work out the size measure from the centre of the base of your neck to how far down your arm you want the sleeve to fall. Add about 2cm for hemming on the sleeve. The wider you make it, the more drape it will have.

3. Now draw the half t-shape on the fabric using tailor's chalk or something similar. Depending on how you want the sleeve to fall will determine how sharp the angle is where the sleeve connects to the body. In the above I have drawn it as a curve - this gives it more of a drape. When I made the one a previous post I drew it with a bat sleeve to make it drape a lot.

4. Next cut down the fold one one of the layers. This is to make the opening for the front of the jacket. Then sew the side seams together and press them open.

5. Keepin it inside out, pin back the flaps on the opening as above. The flaps will come in wide at the top and narrower to the bottom as the top needs to accommodate your neck.

6. Once pinned sew along the flap close to the fold. Trim the excess.

7. You need to hem the back of the neck of the jacket. I rolled the hem and hand stitched it but you can use a machine.

8. Finally you need to hem the bottom of the jacket and the sleeves. I rolled the hem again to keep it neat.

10. Press the hems and there it is- your finished item! Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Latest Lust

2011-03-12T15:21:00.001-08:00

These wedges from River Island are beautiful! Come pay day they will be mine.......

Step into Spring

2011-03-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

This is currently the most worn item in my wardrobe. I have a few of these now but this one is my favourite. It goes with so much and even better- I made it myself!

Tomorrow I will show you how to make your own.

My Little Helper

2011-03-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

(Dylan)

Ok so not really fashion or DIY but it was too cute not to post, don't you agree? He usually helps me at the weekend by bringing me reels of thread but I think he was too tired today!

A Work In Progress

2011-03-12T05:49:00.000-08:00

So I said I would share with you some of the things I have made so far........

This one is nearly finished. I need to finish the neckline on it but otherwise it's pretty much done.

The arms are made from a super soft grey towelling fabric- it's so cosy! The body is black chiffon. I thought the two fabrics were such a contrast it looked cool.

This is the clutch bag that I made. I haven't quite finished this yet either as I need a fastener for the bag but I love it! The fabric was incredibly flimsy so I had to use alot of interfacing to make it sturdy- and a bit of card! But it works.

This is the first time I've ever made a bag so I was quite pleased with the result.

This is me

2011-03-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog!

This is the first time I have done anything like this, but I have so many creative ideas buzzing around my head I wanted a place to share them and someone to share them with.

Whilst I am an avid surfer, and will happily spend hours in the cold English sea, I also love to sew I can also be found happily hunched over my old Singer machine on many a lazy afternoon.

Basically, the purpose of this blog is to show you some of the things I like to make, how I make them and hopefully inspire some creativity in you too.

This weekend I'll share with you some of my recent projects, to give you an idea of what I like to do, and most likely start a new one or two!

Until then........