Unique Wedding Accesories

What a knock out headpiece!  I missed this unique wedding last year that did the rounds of one hundred blogs apparently... (now 101) - plus a nice feature in Harpers Bazaar!  It is that of Annabel and Matthew of Freemantle, which was shot by the talented Samm Blake! 

I've selected some of my favourite shots based on the fabulous accessories but you can drool over plenty more stunning images at Samm's blog.

Ohhh the bride's switch of accessories for the reception are so fun and STUNNING!  What an amazing dress, beautiful colour, I can't stop looking at these photos - great job Samm!

Canberra Etsy Seller: Handmade Flower Hair Accessories

A few new pieces in my Etsy shop over the weekend!  This is the white and cream millinery flower comb with silk chiffon.

Something for winter or an evening out!  Based on a headband I made for my niece last year, this should be called, The Jessica!

 

I love this fabric, sooo soft and pretty.  Double blossom headband with Swarovski's.  I think these look like mini Peony's.

Dying Feathers: RIT dye

Isn't this image awesome... if I do say so myself - I have saturated the colour in photoshop.  It is the start of my RIT dye bath.  I learnt a few things in this process of dying my feathers, even though the above looks pretty don't add the dye first if your container is wet!  It stuck to the bottom!!  This is Navy dye can you believe?  The box says NAVY but the website colour guide says Blue-Violet when you click on Navy!!??  Not the colour I was chasing.

This is the second batch I dyed which was following the colour guide recipe - 1 cup hot water to 2 tablespoons navy dye.  It was very thick and the feathers got all gritty, once they were dyed I rinsed them out and they dried as above - still pretty.  The first time I dyed my feathers I just filled half my container with water and added about a tablespoon of dye, they didn't need rinsing.  They come out very skinny and shrivelled up so don't panic, they return to their former glory!  I see how dyeing can become addictive!  

School Holiday Activity: Mini Clothes Line

Have you heard of busy bags?  I've seen them on Pinterest and not quite sure why I didn't have one hundred of them planned out for the school holidays!!!!!  You bet I will be on my game for the Christmas break :-)  This is the Clothesline bag by Money Saving Mum.  Four pieces to make, dress, trousers, shorts and t-shirt.

Anya cut out the paper templates on her own, then she pinned to the felt and cut out herself - she did request some tidy lines from Mum!!  Then.... as you can see - let the embellishments begin.  I don't have a final photo but every piece is covered in felt shapes which I machine sewed on.  The activity was perfect for her four and a half year old self and she was engrossed for a good hour and a half.   She typically loves crafting though.

Furniture Renovation: Hardware Inspiration

I am looking for a handle for my bedside table.  This is the Pharmacy Double Vanity from Restoration Hardware.  I like the 19th century pharmacy fixtures look.

Not surprising I also like these Art Deco handles from Lauras Last Ditch on Etsy.  I am up to priming the cabinet... waiting for a non-windy day, no kids about and opportunity to get it finished so I can paint!!

A simple brass handle takes my fancy too - I love the shape.  A hunting I will go... hope to get a second hand one.

I have to say, thank goodness school resumes this week.  Three weeks holiday felt like a VERY long time.  We had some lovely days but goodness, some trying times... especially with miss four.  I have quite a few projects on the go at the moment...  one day soon you might actually get to see an 'after' photo of something finished :-)  For now here is my bed-side table, stage one and stage two.

One Million Flowers - A Stunning Installation

Five rooms of a Parisian mansion were covered in one millions flowers for the Christian Dior Autumn/Winter 2012 Couture Show.  Each room was decorated a different colour, the above are white Phaleonopsis orchids.  It would have smelt divine.. maybe except for the hay fever sufferers :-)

A divine mix of roses in this room - the whole installation took four days and hundreds of florists to complete from start to finish.  There is a cool video at the end of this post showing the construction of the flower rooms. Oasis (floral foam) walls were made supported by chicken wire then each flower put in it's place.

 

The blue flowers are delphiniums, when I started floristry at Eve's in the eighties I was in love with delphinium.  It was to be in my bridal bouquet when I got married, along with pink roses and babies breath mind you....I was sixteen and dreaming.  Eve's daughter, who I also worked with made my real wedding bouquets thirteen years later.  The sweetest thing ever, Eve remembered my love for delphinium and made me a little throw away bouquet for the reception in Delphiniums. Awww...

Photo credit

Catherine Martin: Deco Collection

Woo woooooo, have you seen these little beauties?  Just released by Academy Award winning designer, Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs.  The above rug is Garden Party and the below is Feathers.  So stunning.

The rugs are hand knotted from Tibetan wool and silk - somehow I don't think these will be bought by people like me with small children - I will admire from afar instead :-)

Westchester

Black Pearl

Catherine also designed a range of Wallpaper (which has been selling at Anthropology) but I believe are stocked here in Canberra at the Paint Place in Mitchell.  The Paint Place sell Porters VOC free paint... which I am using for my first DIY furniture project.  Bed side table find - thank you R!  I won't have a Deco rug anytime soon but I had to share these delicious designs and swoon, just a little.

Ethical Business: The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is a Fair Trade Business run and owned by another clever ex-Brisbane friend, Kristin.  You can buy goodies online or from Thailand, Peru and India.

Find out a little more about Kristin's business in this interview or on her website.  I can't believe I haven't posted about this before!

Another fabulous business I found via Kristin is Sunshine Coast based Moselle Clothing.  They have some cool clothing, read about what inspires their ethics .  I am definitely inspired to buy fair trade and have a closer look at the companies I currently buy from.  Sure it might take more effort but I think it's an effort that is worth it.  What are your thoughts on ethical trading?

If you are interested there is a Eco directory for Australia you can check out and I am sure it isn't the only one.

School Holiday Fun

Anya in the 'submarine' at the Australian War Memorial.  Thanks to my husbands work colleague we just discovered the kids section at the war memorial even though we have been there many times!!  Anya and Josiah thoroughly enjoyed flying the helicopter, building a bridge for a peace keeping mission, hiding out in the bunkers etc...

They also enjoyed a free craft and our coloured cupcakes outside for morning tea!! 

We found a new cake decorating shop, Latorta at the new shopping precinct at Madjura Park if you are local!!   We came home with a couple of wilton gel colours - this purple was one of them!!  They are so vibrant!

Canberra Etsy Seller: Handmade Flower Hair Pins

These lovely hair pins have been stiffened to hold their shape.  Made from white chiffon, they are light and pretty with a petite Swarovski pearl in the centre - just listed in my Etsy store.  I have only ever had under twenty pieces or less in my Etsy store but I have decided to take my stock out of Shop Handmade to concentrate on my online store... it has been a challenge to do both, well. 

I photographed the blossoms on my grandfathers old lettering book - the green goes well with my logo and makes the white pop!  I'll be doing these flowers in different size and colour combinations.

Silk Thrifted Vintage Dress

This dress was nabbed at The Way We Wear Fair last weekend at Albert Hall.  It is a silk chiffon lined dress with velvet spots.  It fits perfectly but needs to go a darker colour and possibly some sparkles around the neck.  I think a deep blue colour or something as equally rich.  There were soooooooooooo many gorgeous frocks!  All the dresses from the fifties were going for a good $350 and deservingly so, simply stunning.  I did wish I had taken my good camera along, although it is a pretty cramped venue for taking decent photos. 

Canberra Etsy Seller: Double Blossom Headband

 

Hoorah something with some colour in my Etsy store!!  Model shot to give an idea of what it might look like on... but suitable for grown up girls too :-)

Model photo:  Amanda