Peach Patterns

Fifties Themed Costume: DIY Circle Skirt

School's now well and truly out for Summer here in OZ (big sigh of relief).  An end of year task I was dreading but which turned out to be surprisingly easy and fun was putting together this Fifties themed "Grease" outfit for the school dance.

Note: way too much red lipstick and nail polish was worn (but I was too tired to protest).

If you've ever typed "girls circle skirt tutorial" into Google you probably know that all roads lead to this tutorial on MADE blog.  I followed the instructions with the exception that I added only 1 inch instead of the recommended 2 to the waist measurement when calculating the radius for the waist circle.  Making the skirt itself was quick and easy and only required a bit of patience when sewing on the 4 metres (!) of lace trim to the hem.

The fabric is a "double crepe" from Spotlight and the drape and texture worked really well with this design.

And the result: perfect twirl-ability.

I did have good intentions of making a coordinating top but I ended up buying one (in a womens size and altering it) as I couldn't find the right sort of knit fabric.

Hope you are enjoying your week and the countdown to Christmas..... xox 

Pretty desktop wallpaper :: Hello

Am always looking for ways to brighten up my screen and this one is just lovely.

By Breanna Rose via How About Orange:

Happy Australia Day

Image source: "Australia embellished!" by A bobbins tale on flickr

"Mollie Makes" found...

I've never had any luck finding a copy of this magazine in the big smoke.  On holidays out of Sydney on the Central Coast, though, I hit paydirt.  In Coles no less...

The styling and design are definitely a cut above and the projects, like the Liberty leaves pictured on the cover, are oh so sweet.  

I also enjoyed reading about the newest book by Jane Brocket (of the Gentle Art of Domesticity).

I'd love to be organised enough to take some stitching with me when we go away but I don't think I'd find the time.  

Doodling, sketching and jotting ideas in my little journal is about the most creative I get in between swims...

Happy Twenty-Thirteen

Hope your festive season was happy, relaxing and that you got to catch up with family and friends.  That's how ours went.  So good to recharge the batteries...

Here are some lovely January desktop wallpapers discovered on a little trawl through Google images:

Bohemian Gypsy Jane

(Oops, seem to have lost the link to this one, will try and find!)

Love Mae

Dear Friend

Enjoy!  Will be back soon with new projects, patterns and more...

Back to school

Good luck to all those with back-to-schoolers....

Etsy favourites on a Monday

What's inspiring me today are blues and mustard with a dash of brights thrown into the mix:

Candy Shoppe Ponytail Holders; Sunglasses Case; I Am Sew Creative Print; Angel's Breath Garland

Summer Garden Pillow; Vintage Typewriter Cards; Abstract Design Print; Sophie Fabric

Aztec Pillow Cover; Dragon Scales Notecards; Chirp & Tweet Gocco; Passing Shower Print

Campfire Top in Turquoise; Outside Oslo Fabric; The Merriam Pendant; Felted Balls

Hope you're having a great start to the week!

Flowery flickr faves

Here are some recent flickr favourites featuring little rosy and floral motifs.  Pretty?

1. Pip Studio Cups, 2. Catherineholm!, 3. Desk, 4. project wedding2, 5. Shabby Chic tea towel- retro goddess!, 6. Pantufas sapatilhas, 7. Japan Bits, 8. DIY: fabric scrap gift tags, 9. pretty spools

Sunday etsy favourites

I was looking through my recent favourites on etsy and thought these ones looked particularly pretty together.  There's a hint of aqua running throughout, which makes them especially fabulous:

Sewing Things by simplyhue

Wood house handpainted secret money place by OldNewAgain

A Forest of Three Art Print by inaluxe

I Love My Bed Wall Art by ThreeRedApples

Colorful Aqua Leaves Fabric by stefaniexu 

 

Handmade Modern Baby Quilt by BlueElephantStitch

Peppermint Candy Buttons by andiespecialtysweets.  Yes folks, these really are edible!! Can you believe it?

From the $2.50 shop

My local shopping centre has its share of $2 shops (with most of the stuff being from China) but some time last year a little homewares shop popped up where each and every item costs $2.50 and is mainly from Japan.  This is where I picked up these lovely goodies:

 
I love the little container with the Dala horses on it and the glasses with the scallop trim motif around the edges were just too good to pass on.

 
Now this can be quite dangerous, not only because of all the Japanese cuteness on offer (I may not need to go to Tokyo again?) but also because the brain says "$2.50, hey, that's not much".  But it's amazing how quickly $2.50 becomes $25.00 (and beyond) once you start getting into the swing of it.....