Silk Hair Accessories - Canberra Etsy Seller

Silk Hair pin in Latte

I added a new piece in my Etsy store yesterday... I love it.  I only have a smidge of this silk and a couple of these little rhinestone appliques with gold thread. 

Silk Headband in Dusty Pink

Another stunning photo by Amanda Keeys Photography, Lilly is sporting the headband that I showed in my label post.  The things I can do now I actually have a little time back to myself on pre-school days!  The product shot above is my first using the speedlight flash I got for my birthday - I am a lucky girl, I scored big time.

Favourite Fashion picks: 2012 Oscars

Kate Mara in Elie Saab

One of my favourites frocks from the Oscars.  Lots of skinny belts doing the rounds on gorgeous gowns!

Cameron Diaz in Gucci

I love the glitter in Cameron's skirt and the fluffy detail.

Michelle Williams by Louis Vuitton

A throw back to 80's with this tiered skirt (called a peplum apparantly)....  a lot of formal dresses had them back at my own formal, typically with a shorter skirt!!  Michelle Williams looks fabulous - rocking her pixie cut.  Speaking of movies and I would highly recommend watching The Help, I saw it last week - it was like therapy... tears and laughter. 

Canberra Handmade Market this weekend

Our wonderful Handmade market is on again this weekend, the first for 2012.  Come on down and enjoy a lovely place to wander and shop.  The Shop will also be open over both days.

Ballet Flats Wish List

Kate Spade Shoes - Flash

Sweetbriar Skimmers from Anthropologie..

Sambag

These are real snake-skin (that makes me squeamish just thinking about it).  Love the colour though.  We had a lovely weekend, great to be back together.  We even enjoyed a swim on Sat with half of Canberra at the local pool.  What a weird summer it has been in my part of the world.

Spring Fashion Week Favourites 2012

Christian Dior

A few show stoppers on my favourite list from Paris Fashion Week.  Love the cut of this mint dress, especially around the hips and waist but it could do with some more lining!

Elie Saab

Nina Ricci

I wish I could wear mustard but I think I am too pale.  Not many people can go wrong in red though, so sassy - love it.  Have a great weekend - I'm counting down the hours until hubby gets home.  He's been in Perth for work all week - ughh.

Valentino

Pinterest Favourites

Insyle Weddings

I had to share my most pinned photo on pinterest!  It seems everyone LOVES an outdoor wedding... 477 people and counting!  I have searched and searched for the origin of this photo, I have traced it back to Instyle weddings but can't find the photographer to give credit or the actual wedding for that matter.  So, if you stumble across it please let me know. 

Marie Claire - France

I have paper flowers on the brain lately! I came across this decorated mirror on pinterest yesterday.  Pretty non? Thanks to google translator I discovered a bit of gold leaf apparently disguises the humble egg carton these flowers were made from!  Cool huh.

Papernstitch

Speaking of humble house hold objects....you may have seen these around the net... wall art made from toilet paper rolls...

Photography Styling and Props

Ruche Photo shoot by Elizabeth Messina

Wow don't these flowers look gorgeous!  Looks like they used a similar method to how I made the wedding bouquets last year although I attached mine to gum tree sticks (sanded) and these look like they have made paper mache stems with a weight in the bottom perhaps?  Gorgeous.  This photo was part of a photo shoot by Elizabeth Messina for Ruche.

I love the vintage props they have co-ordinated for this shoot and the cool handmade kites are awesome. This sort of shoot makes me giddy with inspiration.  Elizabeth often shoots pieces for Twigs and Honey - whose work I aspire to.

I do wish someone listed the prop suppliers, have checked Elizabeth's blog, Ruche's blog and Style Me Pretty where I first saw the photos!!  See more of Elizabeth's beautiful images in the Ruche Enchantment Look Book.

Bonds Casual Clothing

Lightweight Hoodie Tee

I do have a love affair with Bonds casual gear, although I have just met Lorna Jane, (well I have known about her for ages just not purchased anything until recently)!  Bonds is reasonably priced, always fits well and extremely comfortable!  Did you know you get free postage in Australia?  My package arrived yesterday - woo hoo.  

Tweed Pullover Hoodie

Books for my Reading List

I will be buying this book, yes ma'am.  Although I do have a rough idea of how it will go...  Food is such an event to the French that they turn the whole process into an experience... children help shop, prepare and cook - yadda, yadda.  Although I do want to hear all the yadda-yadda... I will take any help I can get with my number one fussy eater.  We don't snack at our place though, so maybe I have a head start.

Bringing up Bebe sounds like another good read.  My friend passed on this article in the wall street journal by former Wall Street Journalist turned Author, Pamela Druckerman.  I was practicing my French today - my firm "non"!  Enjoy your weekend!

Stylish Dress Book - Yoshiko Tsukiori

This is the beautiful fabric I mentioned yesterday (lovely light 100% cotton).  My intention is to make this dress into a top with less gathering. Both patterns are from the Stylish Dress Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori.  I think I have been calling this Happy Homemade - woops.  I do have that one too.

I also got this cotton blend, gorgeous pattern, not sure what I will make yet... this dress is cute though.  Lots of lovely patterns to look forward to sewing. 

IMPORTANT CORRECTION:
Correction: The sleeve pattern piece for Dress Y, pictured p. 34, How to Make p. 82, is missing from the pattern sheet.  The Penguin website provides the missing sleeve in a PDF.

Will you Tangerine Tango?

Photo: Hanneli Mustaparta

Will you be wearing Tangerine this year? I could see my sister in law, Elizabeth pulling off this entire outfit actually... including the micro shorts :-)  I know we Aussies haven't quite finished Summer but here is Pantone's predictions on Fashion colour for Spring 2012.

I just purchased some fabric on the weekend in that lovely midnight blue...but no tangerine.

Photography by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue

Hanneli is a Norwegian model/photographer/stylist who writes a street-style fashion blog among other things.  My wardrobe however contains a LOT of black, white and grey....and some red shoes... I have been inspired lately by my lovely friend R to wear some more colour... I am working on it... it may help me get through winter in Canberra.

Triangle Patchwork Cushion

Inspired by this quilt I made a new cushion cover for the lounge.  In my current favourite fabric from Lotta Jansdotter's Echo line, mixed with linen and linen blend.  I am not a precise measure-it-all-out girl, so we will call this: Improv triangles :-)  I've almost made a couple of pinwheels and zig zag's.

I didn't have any invisible zips left so I just made an envelope back.  Nice to have some colour on the lounge.  I bought my Lotta fabric direct from her website as it was the cheapest but for the local Canberran's I have it on good authority it is currently in transit on it's way to Addicted to Fabric.

Infant Headband: Photography Prop

Photos Amanda Keeys Photography

I haven't made any children's headbands for a while but you might recognise this little band on the sweetest model ever, Piper Evangeline.   Thanks Amanda for the adorable shots!  Don't you just want to inhale all that new baby sweetness, oh those lips and rolls - too cute.  Anya would love the oh-so-girly petal 'blanket' - it's pink!!!  Although I somehow managed to buy Anya some red converse high tops last week - high-five to me.  I hope you had a great weekend.

Food Styling

Griottes

Do you read Decor8?  It is one of the first blogs I followed and I am not bored with it yet (although I would love to see a spruce up on the blog template :)  Holly has a new columnist, Emilie Griottes to contribute monthly food styling/crafty ideas posts and with a cake like this one - I am looking forward to it!  Emilie is a French Stylist and Author and her blog has the most amazing food photos I've seen in a while.  You will need google translate for this one as it is in French.  Oh and the cake is sprayed in an edible food colouring, fun huh :-) 

We have survived the first week of full days at pre-school and all the other activities that have commenced.  I am looking forward to the weekend and finishing a few sewing projects.  Have a lovely one yourselves x

Tutorial Review: Lap Quilt/Duvet

I finally used my gorgeous Lotta Jansdotter fabric on the weekend to make a quick lap quilt.  I saw these beautiful lap duvet's on The Purl Bee and was immediately inspired to make one.  I made a few modifications, one being the size as I only had one yard of each print, so my quilt is smaller.  The other change was I decided to quilt lines down the whole length of my fabric and not just bar tack every seven inches as suggested.  The bar tacking didn't look any good on the thinner batting I used. 

The yellow and grey material is the Choma Golden Rod fabric from the echo collection and on the back is I used Little Florine Urban Sunrise.

I just loved this quick and easy tutorial, great for beginners - it would make such a divine baby gift with all the beautiful fabric out there.  The quilt goes beautifully in my room with my favourite Sugarloop prints.  My number one girl is finally back to pre-school this week :-)  Longest holidays ever!!!!

Decor for the Home: Thrifted Vintage Mirror

Good things come to those who wait!  I have been drooling over mirrors like these for ages and finally found one for.... $20!!!!!!!!!!!! woooooooooo hoooooooooo  It is pretty big and VERY heavy, I'm praying the hook holds.  Judging from the wood on the back it was once part of a dresser.  Thank you Tiny's Green Shed.  

It also reminded me of Amy's quote and I have to say I don't always enjoy the 'process' or the waiting but there is nothing quite like the thrill of finding that piece you have been searching for and to top it off - it is a bargain.  My kids start swimming lessons for the first time this week - I am really hoping they both enjoy them without too much drama.  Happy Monday to you wherever you are reading from!! 

Blogging Advice from Creative Experts

Braid Creative

While trawling through some Alt Summit links I struck gold as I came across the blog, Jeremy and Kathleen.  Kathleen is one of the sisters who co-owns and runs Braid Creative.  Aside from LOVING Kathleen's outfits (she has great legs & style!!) I love the advice she and Tara share on blogging and starting out in your creative business... which I think you will love too.  Actually the post, Inspiration and Imitation should be for everyone not just beginners.  Kathleen and Tara are engaging and authentic, I will enjoy catching up on their archives.

This blog has gotten me all excited about my own creative business again as I have been in a slump for a little while.  Thank you girls!!

Vintage Sheet Music Flower

I made these paper flowers from vintage sheet music to say thanks to my lovely friends for a beautiful birthday brunch last weekend.  I was spoiled with some lovely gifts too - each one right up my alley. 

On a completely unrelated note... I would love to go to the Alt Design Summit in the US.  They put on an amazing event!  I would love to attend and it would be a dream event to intern at too - to scratch my event management itch.  The Alt Summit blog has lots of post-event buzz.  Enjoy!

Paper Flower Headpieces by Eloise Corr Danch

I would love a gig with Eloise!  How cool are these?  Made for a Macy's flower show 2009.  An incredible amount of work gone into these head pieces.

Something different for Melbourne Cup!!  What an inspiration - love your work Eloise.

All images courtesy of Eloise Corr Danch website.