Happy New Year!

While my place won't look anything like this tomorrow morning I love the idea of all this glitter for a party!  I hope you have a fabulous New Years!!  I'm looking forward to all 2013 has in store, the first being my ten year wedding anniversary, a significant number birthday and then Anya starting school and that is all in the first six weeks of the year.  Have a fun and safe night.

Happy Christmas

Design Lovefest

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas from my family to yours!  See you in 2013.

Christmas Crafting: Tree in the Snow

Well after seeing Sweet Paul's gorgeous snow globe we had to make our own!  We too used rock salt but added a touch of glitter.  With a miniature tree I got at a sale last year we just poured in salt, added glitter, popped in the tree.  I already had the jar which I bought at the dollar store and use for a vase.  The jar really needs to be wider and taller for this size tree - I'll hunt for a better one for next year and an adorable deer. 

Oh and the tree was with the model rail road stuff in the Christmas warehouse!

Noodlehead Bag: Side Kick Tote

This is the second bag pattern I have purchased from Noodlehead, the first was the Go Anywhere Bag and I made it twice.  This pattern is the Side Kick Tote - I made the small.  Anna makes fabulous patterns, I'd like to make one of these too.  Both fabrics were from Spotlight and the aqua fabric is designed by Liesl Gibson from Oliver & S.

I used a denim for the bag which meant I didn't have to interface it all but it proved a little tricky on top stitching the top band and also for the handles.  I reduced the thickness of the short part of the strap (see below left hand side) but didn't for the long strap because I had already sewn it up!  Therefore it is a little hard to slide through the strap adjuster buckle but it works.  It does feel nice on the shoulder too.

I think orange piping would have looked much better with the aqua but pink was all I had in my stash.  This is a birthday present for my niece who is turning eleven, so the smaller size will suit her perfectly.  My friend thought this was a lot of effort for an eleven year old but when I saw the tatty old bag I had made my niece about three years ago and she was still carrying it around I knew she would appreciate a 'proper' bag.  Happy Birthday Casey!

Wiksten Tank: Amy Butler Voile

Here is my Wiksten Tank in Amy Butler's gorgeous Soul Blossoms voile, Dancing Paisley in Limestone.  I haven't felt or worn such a beautiful soft voile before.  It barely needs an iron (meaning...I don't actually iron it)!  It is so comfy and cool - I love it.  My trial version of this top was in a white swiss dot voile from spotlight.  I didn't do the french seams as instructed on the white version so the result of course is not as fitted as this one, which I made properly.

I did make the neckline slightly higher as my bra is annoyingly visible on the white version.  I also cut the armholes slightly deeper on this top hoping for a centimetre or two more room but forgot to take into consideration the french seams so it is still snug but not irritatingly so.  I love this fabric and will find it difficult to sew anything else but voile from now on :-)   

Ed note: I made this from 1 1/4 yards (1m) of fabric! Which was a total of $15USD - plus the pattern, I think I made a small.

Christmas Crafting: Cardboard Wreath

I finally made a Christmas wreath for the wall, it doesn't hang on our door as it isn't water-proof.  It is made from toilet and paper towel rolls!  Anya cut them up for me ages ago so all I had to do was hot glue them together. 

Step 1
Cut toilet rolls into approximately 2cm pieces then hot glue pieces in pairs.

Step 2
Using a paper plate as a guide, lay the pairs around the outer circle of the plate, then glue all the pairs together making a ring.  Remove paper plate.

Step 3.
Stack two more ready-glued pairs on top of inner circle and hot glue. Finally glue singular pieces into the v shape of the second ring of pairs.

I sprayed roughly with gold, hiding any brand words on the toilet paper.  Lay to dry for 24 hours then mount on wall, with your hook preferably not in view like mine :-)

I think it could even do with a third ring to make it thicker and more sturdy.  Or alternatively use a coat hanger wire or a sturdy piece of clear plastic as a base to glue too.  

Handmade Christmas Decoration Round Up

Aren't these divine - gorgeous hand painted ornaments by Oh Happy Day.  I haven't seen any Kraft ornaments like this for sale in Australia, let me know if you have!!  The beautiful matte paint made them look like fabric to me, stunning.

Delightful snow globes by Sweet Paul, no water needed for these - I like that idea.  The vintage containers are my favourite.

 

These lovely wooden veneer ornaments are from Martha Stewart (whose photos are always way too small:).

Last but not least, this ingenious idea also by Sweet Paul, glitter covered light globes, now that is brilliant up-cycling. 

A Millinery Weekend with Julie Fleming: Melbourne

I made this beautiful bow headband on Saturday under Julie's instruction (she made most of it really!!).  It is made from a lovely Japanese vintage hemp which makes amazing bows and holds its shape wonderfully.  My biggest regret is not taking my third child, the Nikon SLR!  So I am going to put a disclaimer on the rest of my photos from here on in.  If you want to see some stunning photos of Julie's work and studio/shop visit Hang Le's blog.

 

We made this fascinator base from scratch, from Sinamay and Hemp, it turned out beautifully I think.  Julie showed me how to make a birdcage veil in the above photo... attempted to anyway - it was with my nylon veiling which as it turns out has nothing on the stunning vintage collection Julie owns and it doesn't steam well at all... boo...  I was well educated in the area of supplies!

The vintage veiling is just beautiful - so soft and these patterned chenille dots are gorgeous, no?!  I need to get me a Poupee!!!  So much easier to work on than my current set up.  So if any of my vintage loving peeps ever see one - GRAB it!  They are paper mache with a fabric cover, making it easy to pin on.

Some of Julie's creations and how awesome is this light below with that amazing medallion!!

  

Julie is currently sharing her showroom with another Melbourne based designer, Call Me Madam - this blouse is from the Lyla line.  I look at these photos and think I am crazy for not trying this blouse on for a start and coming home with many goodies from Julie's shop!  I probably value my marriage truth be told :-)

 

Vintage mirrors, what more can I say!  Divine glitter stars which may be appearing in Julie's etsy store soon.... pretty please!!!  They are completely handmade and a lovely mix of colours -  a great stocking filler I think. 

That wraps up my little tour for today on a wonderful weekend learning from a true artist -  a couture milliner who studied under one of the biggest names in the business in London.  Julie has more editorial than you can poke a stick at and her designs have been made for so many Australian film and TV stars including Kylie Minogue.  Her work is vintage with a modern twist, current yet old worldly, unique and beautifully made down to the last hidden stitch!  If you are considering taking a class I highly recommend it!  You won't be disappointed - we had lots of laughs.  Thanks Julie.

Millinery Course: Melbourne

Image courtesy of Bando

This weekend I am off to Melbourne by myself for an intensive two-day Millinery course with Milliner, Julie Fleming.  I'm very excited to say the least.  I LOVE learning and to be able to glean from someone who has twenty three years in the business is a real privilege.  Of course I just wish I had more time there to shop, eat, wander, eat... but you take what you can get right!!!  So good to be able to go away knowing you have a capable hubby at home getting some quality time with the kids.  Thanks GG!

Christmas Advent Calendar: DIY

I was a couple of days late finalising my advent calendar this year but here it is in action.  We used the same board from last year but just changed out the shipping tags for folded cardboard.  The list is pretty much the same with a few changes - I schedule it in with our calendar and local events happening around the place.

We went pink, silver and white this year as we have had red and silver for about seven years. The tree needs a few more decorations yet so I have scheduled some handmade decoration making activities into our advent calendar!   In case you missed this post last year on decorating your tree, even though we didn't follow it so well this year with the kids helping!

My cute little angel is from a trip to New Orleans in 1997!!  I can't believe I have had her this long and she has survived.  She would be pretty easy to make.  I smile and think of my friends there every time I hang her on the tree! x

Furniture Renovation: Bed Side Table

I have actually finished painting Josiah's bed a few weeks ago but we are waiting for a mattress (sale!) so we can assemble the bed and put it in his room.  Sooooo exciting.  In the meantime I picked up this gorgeous bed side table for the kids room or mine for $20, once again at Tiny's.  I rather like it but so does Anya!  It would be perfect to hide her treasures!  It may be a glossy white this one?  I don't think she will appreciate grey.  Any other colour suggestions?

Handmade Christmas Cards: Holiday Crafting

Making some Christmas cards with my craft-loving girl!  I got her to paint a couple of pictures in watercolour using some old Christmas cards for ideas.  Then I scanned them in - added the text and printed on card stock.  I drew the bauble card in pencil, got her to paint it then I traced in black pen before scanning.

I love how they turned out.  We won't put twine on all of them, just experimenting and giving Anya a chance to do some threading.  These were last year's cards.  What a difference a year makes.

Christmas Wish List 2012

I saw this canvas poster on Decor8 today and I think my heart skipped a beat!  Gorgeous canvas poster handmade in Portugal by etsy shop Arminho.

I still have my eyes firmly fixed on this beauty for my collection of vintage cameras...  Bride and Wolfe have free local shipping (Australia) on these until Christmas :-) 

Polka Luka Pop Up Shop: Modern Resin Jewellery - Canberra

Polka Luka's annual pop up shop at the Front Cafe, Lyneham is opening December 6th, 2012 at 6pm.   Alexandria's new range 'Metropolis' is inspired from the energy of the urban environment with the influence of New York, Tokoyo and Madrid rolled into one.

The pop up shop is open until Saturday, 22nd December 2012 - make sure you come along you won't be disappointed.

Girl's Party Decorations

For Anya's actual birthday party way back when, we made some simple decorations together including these cupcake (patty cake liner) garlands.  I have made things in the past which are usually "look, don't touch" - or I throw a few supplies Anya's way to play with and distract from my mission. Pretty boring for a small child eager to get her hands on anything...

We sat on the grass one morning and painted lots of cheap white cupcake wrappers, it was a nice calming activity.  Josiah painted three then got bored!  We left them on the grass to dry then strung them onto bakers twine with a few scraps of crepe paper in between for extra colour.

The number five was made from dyed coffee filters, again a project we did together.  I did all the hot gluing at night though.  I cut the number from foam core... it is such a great product!

We made a fabric strip chandelier to hang above the tea party table!  Just strips of scrap fabric tied to an embroidery hoop which I had covered for another project.

Anya had seen these at another party and was desperate to have them at hers.  They were a sugar coma waiting to happen but cute all the same.   Made from tick tock biscuits, white chocolate melted to 'glue' them all together, Pascall marshmellow cup base, Allens freckle lolly on top, and a musk life saver lolly cut in half as the handle.

 We made some flowers to sit on the table with crepe paper, patty liner and a braid to keep together.

Finally, another purple birthday cake!  Good old Betty Crocker icing on this one.  You can just see some fun fairy bread in front of Anya - found that idea on Pinterest, a nice change from the regular fairy bread.  Little brother not looking too impressed :-)  We didn't do gift bags either, just a little chinese container filled with left over tea cups and meringues!  It feels forever ago but it was a fun morning for miss five.

Vintage Love: 1920 Wedding Dress

This dress is soooo drool worthy it makes me wish for a twiggy-esque body and somewhere to wear it!!  Unbelievably gorgeous.  From Dear Golden Vintage shop on Etsy.  Can you imagine the shop owner Lauren's pure joy when she found this beauty?!  I can :-)  I want to reach out and touch it!  Divine.

Colourful Coats

Although we are supposedly in Spring here in Australia (I write this with long pants and long sleeve shirt on)... these beautiful coats and this weather, make me want to rug up!

Can you imagine having this much choice in colour for a winter coat - CRAZY beautiful!  My top two favourites are the blue front left and green second from right.

I love the yellow puffer here and the red jacket, I wouldn't be brave enough to wear such pale colours with small children.

I'm not usually a double breasted jacket fan but I do like the grey coat here the best.  What an awesome selection... so jealous but not jealous enough to wish for winter.... bring on Summer!

Furniture Renovation: Children's Bed

Here is my undercoat done!  Yes I was lazy and painted straight over the hardware without removing it!  Naughty me.  I invested in a small mohair roller, a small paint tray, a pointy brush for getting into the hard places and some VOC free undercoat.  You can barely smell a thing!  This is the original if you missed it.  I'm trying the tester pot paint today on somewhere inconspicuous the colour is Obsidian from Porters Paints.  It looked a little more grey/blue on the sample card...

I am really enjoying this whole process!  I'm glad the bed was only $20 though as it all adds up - you really want to make sure it is a project worth investing time and money into.   Hope you had a great weekend.