Make Your Own | heart shoe clips

I've been quite obsessed with colourful accessories (as I'm sure you might have guessed from Monday's post) and these sequin heart shoe clips are pretty much that idea taken to the extreme.

This is also a really easy DIY. No super crafting skills needed. Just a solid love of sequins. And it's quick too. After 30 minutes I was swishing about the house with these beauties clipped to my shoes.

These remind me of these quirky Vivian Westwood shoes that I had thought about getting for my wedding, but chickened out of buying at the last minute. And did I mention they're sparkly?

I also may have made a brooch using the same technique. Not to wear together obviously (that might be too extreme, no?) but I was just really getting into sequins. They have some sort of magnetic hold over me.

How to Sew | make your own t-shirt

Over the next 3 Tuesdays I'll be talking you through all you need to know to make your own t-shirt. From creating your own pattern to finishing the edges. Even if you're a beginner. I'll take you from a novice to a ninja.

Week 2.

So last week we made ourselves a pattern. This week after a little cutting and a nominal 10 - 15 minutes of sewing we'll have ourselves one awesomely slouchy t-shirt. It's seriosly that easy. Jersey really is amazing stuff, isn't it?

You could stop here and be done with it, but I'm not a huge fan of leaving the raw edge of jersey, so next week I'll show you how to give the edges a bit more of a professional finish.

And please lovely people, get yourself a pack of ballpoint needles if you're going to work with jersey and other knits. Regular needles will tear small holes in the fabric. Which would be sad. And we don't want sad.

p.s. You may have noticed that I've been working on a new way of illustrating sewing tutorials. I'd love to know what do you think... are they clear? Or do you prefer photos?

Randomly Loving | 3 best colourful summer accessories

You're going to have to forgive me, but I am having a serious crush on all things bright and beautiful. The brighter, the more neon, the golder (is that even a word?) the accessory the better.

Ever since I met the adorable and colourful Bri at Blogshop London I've been mixing it up by layering on more colour. And you know what, it's really been making me happy. The amazing power and psychology of colour, right?

So these are my picks. But what would you add? Do you think I've overloaded on the neon? Or have I not put in enough?

On Wednesday I'll be adding to the technicolor goodness with a simple sparkly accessory DIY, so be sure to pop back.


leather dog brooch / Benu Shop // necklace / Accessorise // shoe clips / Ban.do

Live Create Inspire | challenging yourself

I've been thinking a lot lately about the quote above. It can be so easy to stay static, can't it? Eating the same things. Following the same routine. Working on the same projects.

And while I may come up with a few new ideas, how many times am I dragging myself out of my comfort zone? To challenge myself? To think "s#~t I have no idea how to make that" but to try and do it anyway? Just to see if I can.

So you'll be seeing a few new projects this summer as I make it the Summer of Doing (lame title, please don't judge me). I'm going to try some new sewing techniques, finally master photoshop, and maybe even try to learn to play the ukelele (am a bit obsessed at the moment).

Will you join me? Find a skill or technique to master. Maybe try a new recipe book - for real, not just for your bookshelf. Run an extra mile or two. Let's see what fun we can have!

ps Thanks for all your great advice last week. Was put to great use!

Goings On | Rosaspina Vintage

Meet my sweet blogging friend Ale. You might remember her from the time she gave me some great travel tips for Turin (her hometown). Well, not only has she got seriously amazing vintage style, but she's also just released her very first clothing collection.

And it is amazing.

It's a real family business too. Ale designed the pieces which were all sewn by her (very talented) mama, using vintage fabric from her grandmother's collection. And her (also very talented) husband took these stunning photos. See what I mean? A talented bunch.

I'll let her sweet lookbook do the rest of the talking.

Don't you just want to live in her lookbook? Or is that just me?

You can find Rosaspina's lovely vintage clothing at her shop. She's offering 10% off till the 19th of May (just pop in 'welcomerosaspina' at checkout). Some things have already sold out (no surprise there, right?) so head over now if you don't want to miss out.