lovely jubbly london

Life Lately

Tried to follow this ruffle cake tutorial. Tip: make sure you use a stiff icing- mine was way too soft.

Made ribbon garland inspired by Pinterest. I have a little party coming up at work and this will be perfectly girly.

I haven't used heat on my hair since mid-December which means I'm now running out of ways to make it look good. I've been rocking my natural curls, but the English weather makes my hair more frizzy vs the perfect natural curls I get in the States. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect products to make my hair UK compliant. Until then, a side braid will do.

I'm Loving {August Edition}

 

Portugal

August is the month of vacations in Europe and I certainly made up my lack of vitamin D this summer. Portugal is the perfect destination for a few reasons: 1)it's inexpensive, 2)it's in the same time zone, 3)it's a short flight and 4)the weather is perfect.

 

Fancy Fruit

Pretty packaging makes me eat my five a day.

 

Colussi Crackers

My new alternative to Saltines. They are pefect because they are wrapped in personal portions. Get them at Partridges. (They also come in whole wheat and unsalted.)

 

Crafting

I've had a hard time finding some fake flowers that look decent enough for me to want in my house. So I made some out of tissue paper and I quite like them. This isn't their final home, just a resting place while I whip up a few more.

halloween house

door hanger, not yet on the door!

I know Halloween isn't really that big of a deal here and it certainly isn't celebrated like it is in America but I don't care! I saw some Halloween decor at TK Maxx and decided it was time to decorate. 

little boo cat girl with a bobble head

Thanks to Country Living, I created some bats for the window. I saw these stuck on a door in their magazine and instantly knew I had to make some! I didn't really want to tape any on things, I had bigger ideas.

(I tried to take a picture outside, but the sun was causing to much reflection.)

bats in the window

I made mine fly in the window and I can't wait to carve a pumpkin to put underneath- I think the faint glow will make it look even better!

{home made} fashion friday

I love Anthropologie. I mean, who doesn't?! I have been drooling over some new tops from them like this one:

 

The price I didn't love. $100 on sale from $218. 

Quite a bit for a seemingly simple top.

So I thought, maybe I could make something similar..... 

Now, don't judge my fabric- I was smart enough not to use my new fabric when trying to make a top for the first time without any pattern whatsoever. 

It was a smart decision, since I did have to go back and redo a few things to make it wearable. So with my $1 a yard fabric I made this:

Pretty, cute right?

There are some things I would (and will) change when I make it with my lovely new fabric, but I am very happy with it! After trying to read several patterns and not having much success, I have realised it is definitely easily to DIY (design it yourself).

watch out Joan

there is a new redhead in town...

You better be worried, Joan.

Cheers, Don

If you aren't a fan of Mad Men and Don Draper {or Dick Whitman for those in the know} then I suggest you watch the Mad Men Top 10 before the new season starts on August 16.

Thanks to Liz for finding the Mad Men Yourself feature.

kenny (and fabrics...)

 

Can you believe what someone did to Kenny? I laughed so hard when I opened up my sewing cupboard and saw it. I think the husband was relieved I didn't get mad, but I couldn't help but laugh at the surprise.

I haven't really made anything else as of yet, but I have been having some fun playing around with stitches and my ruffler foot. I have also been on the hunt for some pretty fabrics. I have a favourite cushion I would love to replicate or find a similar fabric for something else, but don't know what to call it.

It appears a bit duller in real life, but I have no idea how to describe the pattern.

My mom, bless her, went to Purl for me and picked me up some Kaffe Fassett Shot Cotton for a specific something I have in mind. If it turns out you will get pictures and a link back to the tutorial. I'm really excited to try it! I don't know if you have ever seen this fabric in person, but it takes on different colours in different lights. It really is pretty. And surprisingly, or rather unsurprisingly, even though Kaffe's studio is in London it is twice the price to buy it here than it is in the US.

While searching for fabrics online I have fallen in love with a new line by Moda and French General. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it will be sold until October. 

The line has a variety of patterns, all equally beautiful and I have big plans when I can get my hands on some! The line was inspired by 18th century French textiles and I love the natural colours with a bit of faded red for accent. The fact that it looks like genuine vintage fabric makes it all the more fabulous. I seriously saw it and thought it looks like it was meant just for me. I fear the day it is released, or rather the husband should, because I can see myself buying quite a bit!

sewing- day 2

The dollar a yard fabric I scored in the US has been put to good use.

Kenny and I have been busy and I am very happy with the results!

I hope everyone realises what an awesome present they are getting for Christmas.

The MIL is coming over this weekend and hopefully she can teach me how to read a real pattern. Those "easy to sew" patterns are not so easy to read.

Free apron tutorial available at Stop Staring and Start Sewing

sewing- day 1

I finally got Kenny (that's her new name) out of the box and we're becoming friends. I read the manual, wound up a bobbin- easy peasy!, then called the husband freaking out. You see I went to thread the needle and I couldn't figure out step number 3 where you have to put the thread around the thread take up level. I was convinced they left this off the machine and it was the end of the world. I mean it wasn't there! It was a rookie mistake. I sheepishly admitted later that all I had to do was turn the hand wheel and up it popped. I seriously tried to call the helpline and everything. Oh well! Me and Kenny are friends now.

After sewing some straight lines on scrap fabric, I decided to bite the bullet and sew something for real. We have a pillow I don't like so figured making an envelope cover would be easy.

pillow before

pillow after

Quite a difference, isn't it? It actually was a very good first project and I think it looks professional, if I do say so myself! I will admit to making it too big at first which thankfully was easy to fix. Sewed a new seam on one side and voila! New pillow in under 30 minutes. I think me and Kenny are going to have a lot of fun.

sew crazy

The dilemma with my chair covers continues as I have not found anyone able to make them! So, while we were in the US I bought one of these:

Yes, a sewing machine. And no, I've never sewed before, but it was on sale so what the heck! (side note- while in Sears buying the sewing machine I saw Kenmore now makes refrigerators that make shaved ice! Yes, shaved ice for snow cones and slushees. If we lived in America I would so buy one.) 

Next stop was a crafting superstore nearby and wouldn't you know it- they were having a huge sale on patterns and fabrics. It was meant to be I tell you. 

I managed to walk away with a stack of sale fabric. As I haven't really, okay ever, sewed I got a selection of different weights and fun patterns for practice.

I thought an easy project for a beginner might be a half apron since I have been wanting one for a while and haven't found one I liked or loved at the right price. I found a vintage pattern which I think could be fun.

And since I'm such a pro, or think I am, I thought I might as well buy some patterns for summer clothes:

cute, right?

Then on one of our early morning 6 am jaunts to the store that stays open 24 hours a day, I found exactly what I needed- chair patterns!!

None are exactly what I had in mind, but I think they will be a good guide and maybe I can take an element from one or two to create the perfect slipcover.

I am going to warn you all now, this clueless sewer will be posing lots of questions once the sewing machine arrives. He may kill me for saying this, but the husband knows way more than me and his knowledge was quite evident while shopping. Maybe I'll make him give a video tutorial, wouldn't that be a laugh?!