Fashion accessory: Ruffing It

In dire need of something to dress up a plain tee, I was quite suddenly inspired to DIY a bit of a ruff this evening. This one is 3 layers of fabric, gathered at the top and joined by a 'choker' band.

Wear it with your sensible business shirt and suit (suddenly missing the daily work dress-ups), or add a little zest to the jeans and t-shirt combo. I likey!

Skirting around: still feeling SJP!

So I've worked out how to wear the SJP DIY re-deaux stripe top 'dressed down' with jeans. But what to wear with it now that I have promised my "blind date" Lady Smaggle that I will be wearing it tomorrow when we meet for the first time at the Canberra Centre's High Tea and fashion show?

With absolutely no funds in the bank, I'll have to make something using only stash materials...

And so, I present the skirt, let's call her Patrizia. (Kinda) named after the Ikea fabric design, I may still need to shorten her just a little. She has a very wide waist band (I'm wearing it with a black belt) and knife pleats at the waist. Very cute with the heels, not too bad considering I used no pattern what-so-ever!

This combination should not be worn by a shy type of person, luckily, I'm not. Look out Lady Smaggle, I don't think you'll miss me in this!

Sex and the City: Fashion Re-deaux

I have been searching (but not very hard let me tell you) for a simple black and white 3/4 sleeve crew neck tshirt to do a little DIY re-deaux of this top as worn by SJP in season 6 of Sex and the City.

So I found it yesterday at Cotton On, 2 for $30, chopped one up into loops (from the hem upward) and gathered the loops and formed them into a rosette and stitched it on to the other.

I think I may go bigger as I have more loops and the appeal of the style is it's scale. But at the current size it can still be worn with a jacket or cardi - it's fun. Hmmmm, what do you think?

And here's me with my frenchy chic new haircut!

New painting... love it?

Inspired by kikki.k's gift card of the same scheme, I needed something huge and dark to complete the playroom. It breaks up an expansive 8 metre white wall and serves to define the play room part of the open plan space (adjacent to the casual dining zone).

Love it? I'm not completely convinced, but it's growing on me! I think the room needs it, and once I can stop STARING at it, I will be able to relax and enjoy it! Hopefully!

But wait there's more...

Item 2 in the experimental 'framed handbag' collection (see I can call it a collection now that there are 2 of them!)... I am experimenting with the pattern and have dramatically changed the shape for this one...

Cutie patootie! anyone likey? anyone reading?! hmmm.

Swap sent and received: Shabby Chic Handbag

A swap I sent to the US was well received... here's what Angelia of Sew Much To Sew blog had to say...

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Shabby Chic Handbag Swap!

Lisa of Canberra, Australia (that's me) made me the cutest shabby chic handbag! And I love it!

The swap was to make a handbag useing thrift store type goods... mine is actually finished but I don't want to post it until I know my swap partner has received it. When you join a swap on swap bot you get to see who your sending to and who's sending to you!!!

Lisa says in the card that she pieced together old dresses and scraps to make my bag. It has a vinyl interior and a zipper top... AND she even put a little note book inside covered with textured paper.
A wonderful, unique, handmade, handbag all the way from Australia! How cool is Swap-Bot!
And yes, Lisa, this makes up for my sad swap! lol!

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awww, that's awesome Angelia, I love swap-bot too, so glad you love the bag!

Handbag serendipity

The latest booty from my mini spree at the Addicted To Fabric sale has been taunting me for some weeks now. I buy fabric before I know what I will do with it (does anyone else do that?!)

So, some ideas which have been rattling around in my head are clothing: fun skirts, little tops. More cushions : what would I do with MORE cushions? One which has been tempting me strongly is to make a bedspread like these beauties (actually made from scarfs - scarves?) as seen here.

Then a little serendipity happened: first, an invitation to sell at a style-haven Handmade Market got me whirling about what I could sell - could I sell handbags again? a moment later, my until now unused stock-pile of purse frames fell on my head from a shelf above.

Well, why don't I work out how to make a handbag using these gorgeous clip frames? I have about 20 frames, so should have a go - FINALLY! (I've had them for a couple of years - thank you so much Ali for finding them at a salvage yard!!!).

I snooped on the web and found this tutorial which gave me the confidence to try (and the acceptance that glue was involved).
And then (above) this happened, it wasn't hard, and I love the result (plus they match my shoes!).
(OMG, just fit an A4 magazine in it!!!) I'm going to test drive this one around before making more to sell...

...I LOVE them...but I need to know... would you buy one?