I just love to go and hunt for fabrics, wool and items I can use for making my bags (or other projects).

Yesterday I stumbled upon a very ugly used bag. It was as good as new, but ugly. The clasp was pretty, though, and I’ve never seen one before. I immediately knew this was going to be my new personal challenge. How to make a pretty bag from this ugly one with beautiful closure?

Today I started stripping the bag. This is what I ended up with:

I picked a very nice vintage (oh well: 2003 is older than five years, so, vintage, right?) Laura Ashley linen that has a reddish colour in it to match the clasp.

I started working. To come to this, was easy enough:

But that’s when the camels came walking in… (don’t you just love to translate sentences to English, with knowing it probably doesn’t make any sense at all?!??!)

I had a seriously hard time to get the oh so pretty clasp onto the fabric. I stitched, I overlocked, I stitched again using finer stitching. I’m so afraid the fabric won’t stay where it’s supposed to stay, I even used glue to secure the threads!

Well. Finally the clasp was in the right place. I even got the 12 tiny screws screwed in… (blood, sweat and tears!!!)

Et voilà, it’s done:

And yes: I think it is a pretty little clutch!

And yes: I’ll be putting it on Etsy to sell it (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35539654).

But no: It’s not flawless (to my standards).

And no: I won’t give any guarantees.

 Although I firmly believe the bag will get through the 2010 season easily, it’s probably not going to be ‘a future antique’.

And yes: that will be reflected in the price of the bag.

It was a nice little project to spend my Sunday on. It was a personal challenge which resulted in a cute little bag, but I’ll walk past a similar used bag the next time!

Sacha.

kinder räume – kindermöbel zum verlieben und mehr

kinder räume – off- und online laden für außergewöhnliche Kindermöbel und schöne Accessoires für das Kinderzimmer & Babyzimmer sowie wunderschöne Babymöbel.

Kleines Outlet-Angebot

More than even the average occasion, weddings really beg the question of what to wear. They’re a special excuse to get dressed up, and see lots of people I rarely do, so I want to make it count! A few years ago–no, five years ago, my dear friend Mike asked me to be his last-minute date for a wedding in St. Louis–my hometown. I was visiting from California at the time, and didn’t have much with me. I wanted to go, but what to wear?

Mom? She descended the basement steps, dove into the archives, and emerged with this.

Remember Laura Ashley?

The British brand is not really what it used to be in the ’80s, which I imagine is when mom (pictured below) bought this.

She had kept it in beautiful condition, and it was the perfect fit for an August afternoon wedding, sipping Seabreezes at the St. Louis Country Club (seriously!) A good family friend, Mike had helped mom move years earlier, and probably carried the box that contained this dress–and many others, downstairs.

So it was nice that he appreciated it, and looked lovely himself in seersucker. But this weekend, he’ll likely be wearing a tux, as he will be the groom!

Tomorrow I’ll go from Vanity Fair, to an airplane, to the rehearsal dinner. (What to wear for that marathon? I haven’t the foggiest just yet.) But more importantly…what to wear to the wedding this Saturday?

Het is me gelukt. Het duurde ongeveer een eeuwigheid, maar de eerste tas staat op Etsy!

(Voor het geval je er geen benul van hebt wat Etsy is… Etsy is een website waar je handgemaakte spullen kunt kopen en verkopen. Je kunt er zo ongeveer alles wel vinden. Neem eens een kijkje: http://www.etsy.com )

I did it. It took me about forever, but the first bag’s on Etsy!

(Just in case you are clueless on what Esty is all about… Etsy is a website to buy and sell handmade items. You can find most everything on this website. Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/)

So. I’m on Etsy (and Twitter, but I’ll get to that later. Or not). With my Chateaux Chic Bag.

Dus. Ik zit op Etsy (en Twitter, maar daar kom ik later op terug. Of niet). Met mijn ‘Chateaux Chic Bag’.

I actually finished it this weekend, but it sounded much nicer to say I just finished it. Hope y’all can forgive me this little white lie.

Eigenlijk had ik de tas het afgelopen weekend al klaar, maar het was veel leuker om te zeggen dat ik hem net pas af had. Ik hoop dat jullie mij dit leugentje om bestwil kunnen vergeven.

To see my listing (and more information and the price and the possibility to buy it etc etc) on Etsy, follow this link:

Om mijn item op Etsy te zien (en meer informatie en de prijs en de mogelijkheid om het te kopen, etc., etc.), klik op de volgende link:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34678480

I’m so proud I’ve been having such a productive ‘computer day’. But now it’s about time to go back to my hobby room. Or should I start saying Studio?

Ik ben er zo trots op dat ik vandaag zo’n productieve ‘computer dag’ had. Maar het is nu toch wel tijd om terug te kruipen in mijn hobby kamer. Of zal ik eens beginnen met deze ruimte ‘Studio’ te noemen?

Neh!

So: off to my hobby room it is. With a nice cup of Lapsang Souchong and biscuits.

Dus: naar mijn hobby kamer ga ik. Met een heerlijke mok Lapsang Souchong en kaakjes.

Sacha.

I did it. It took me about forever, but the first bag’s on Etsy!

(Just in case you are clueless on what Esty is all about… Etsy is a website to buy and sell handmade items. You can find most everything on this website. Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/)

So. I’m on Etsy (and Twitter, but I’ll get to that later. Or not). With my Chateaux Chic Bag.

I actually finished it this weekend, but it sounded much nicer to say I just finished it. Hope y’all can forgive me this little white lie.

To see my listing (and more information and the price and the possibility to buy it etc etc) on Etsy, follow this link:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34678480

I’m so proud I’ve been having such a productive ‘computer day’. But now it’s about time to go back to my hobby room. Or should I start saying Studio?

Neh!

So: off to my hobby room it is. With a nice cup of Lapsang Souchong and biscuits.

Sacha.

Hello bargain hunters! As we all know, high street darling Laura Ashley is renowned for their charming homeware accessories and mydeco spotted their pretty ceramic bud vase for our Deal of the day.

Image credit: Laura Ashley

Laura Ashley have reduced their ceramic bud vase, left, by a huge 55% – very charming indeed! It’s now just £5.40 (was £12). And with its white washed finish and trailing leaf design it will get you in the traditional homes style mood. If you like the skinny version with a trailing floral design, right, it’s been reduced too. This rustic floral vase is now just £13.86 (was £22).

If you think you can you find an even better bargain–busting deal you should take part in our Outlet bargain challenge. Finding the best bargain will also win you that product, courtesy of mydeco’s brilliant Outlet! What are you waiting for?

Browse more great discounts on our special offers page. In addition to our Deal of the day, check out our top ten deals this week. Happy bargain hunting!

Fiona poses on the University Campus in a colourful, casual number….

Dress: Gap sale

Pink shoes: Topshop sale

Bangle: Found in a market in Madagascar

Rings:  A rare treasure from a market in France

Bag: Lovely Laura Ashley

Fi is not a huge fan of fashion magazines or following the latest trends, she prefers to shop around and find individual beauties and mix them with high street staples.

A regular reader of the Times Fashion supplement, Fi creates a uniquely stylish look and loves to wear men’s clothes.

I found this lovely bowl and even lovelier bar of Mistral soap at one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie. This combo also makes a great gift. Or you could fill the bowl with some tasty treats and wrap it up in a pretty vintage tea towel.
I could not resist this sweet shower curtain I came across at the discount store, Ross. A great place to bargain hunt, especially for housewares. I paid just $5.99 for it and I also picked up a Laura Ashley sheet set for only $17.99. I used those as my backdrop for the first picture, I really love the delicate textile design of both. I also love how the green adds a wonderful glow to my tiny bathroom.

✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿ Have a pretty and amazing weekend! ✿

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

So with Christmas coming up wouldn’t it be great to have a few gifts to give away or you may just want to keep them for yourself!  Does the man in your life need a beautiful new leather wallet?  Would your kids love an adventure they had always dreamed of with Red Letter Days?  Are there a few Christmas Extras that you’d love to get your hands on.  Enter all 3 or just one of our Christmas competitions and you could be the lucky winner!

Laura Ashley
We have a great Christmassy Goodie bag from Laura Ashley to give away worth over £100.  Need a new Embroidered Santa Sack?  A New Red Berry Wreath? A New Wooden Advent Calender!  To be in with a chance to win all 3 of these prizes simply add any item from Laura Ashley Autumn Collection to your wishlists and then send your list to friends and family

A selection from the Balcombe jumble sale for various friends’ offspring. A lovely little Edwardian-style navy coat with velvet collar (vintage Laura Ashley), a puff-sleeved white coat with huge ’60s-style buttons, a pretty floral pair of pyjama trousers, a long dress and a stripey Gap hoodie.

I never thought I would own a Laura Ashley dress, being such a jeans girl, but there you go – I do.

Day 8: Shoes for the frock

Day 8: Laura Ashley moment

Purchased on a visit to Sydney after my ever-lovin’ husband (as he likes to be known) gave me some cash and told me to spoil myself. Of course being a good wife, I did… in fact this dress even makes me look like a good wife! It’s a cotton-and-silk blend which makes it very comfortable and cool to wear (which would be great if it wasn’t windy with showers and a top of 19 degrees today…). I’ve teamed it with my trusty Espirit denim jacket for out-and-about. I’m sure it would be more ‘Laura Ashley’ with a cream cardigan but I don’t own one.

Today we had the Port News here doing a story on our organisation’s frocking and fundraising. Wayne donned his dress again (it is in corporate colours) for the cause and Clinton Tink even pulled out the taffeta number he will be wearing later in the month. Lots of of girls frocked up for the day – despite the cold and windy weather – thanks everyone for their support. They looked so fabulous even Lyn Lelean from NBN, who was in doing a story about the local economy, decided to do a story about us and chipped in a donation as well - thanks Lyn! I think we are up around the $600 mark now for ovarian cancer research, hoorah.

I’ve also managed to accessorise today which, if you read my post yesterday, is quite an achievement for me. I got out my pearls (necklace AND earrings – also from my ever-lovin’ husband) as I think it’s what a Laura Ashley dress requires. I’ve paired the ensemble with a pair of high (of course) brown Robert Robert heels from Shoe La La in Port Macquarie. I love these shoes, very comfortable and very sensible (if you ignore the size of the heel) as they go with just about everything.

Photo by Bron Lyon today, who is keeping me on my toes for regular blog postings! And ‘Hi’ to Teesh!

Some of our Frockettes, Day 8

I recently bought some Laura Ashley wallpaper at a garage sale to revamp my old bookshelves. They are huge and hideous old things, but until I move and buy some new ones, I thought they could do with a make-over. Here’s what happened:

I had to cut a small bit to run down the side, as the shelves are so wide that two strips were not quite enough to cover the back. It has lightened up the room so much, and the pattern showing through is perfect – totally worth the effort!

LAA-077 : LAURA ASHLEY Pink Dress With Matching Panty

Item Code : LAA-077
“LAURA ASHLEY Smocking Dress with Matching Panty”
Size : 24 months (2T)
Material : 100% Cotton
Condition : New without Tags
Price : RM32/set

Another sweet dress by LAURA ASHLEY which comes with matching panty for your daughter. This dress is smocked on the front with a ribbon tie-back. Sweet flower details are on both collars. It also buttons up at the back with 2 pink buttons. Get this so lovely and pretty dress today!

LAA-076 : LAURA ASHLEY Blue Sleeveless Dress with Matching Panty

 Item Code : LAA-076
“LAURA ASHLEY Blue Sleeveless Dress with Matching Panty”
Size : 12 months
Material : 100% Cotton
Condition : New Without Tags
Price : RM30/set

“Sweet!” would accurately describe this dress and the little girl who wears it! This 1 piece dress actually looks like a 2 piece set! There are 3 buttons on the front which open to make dressing easier. As you can see from the photos, the flower embroidery on the front of the dress makes it extra appealing. Plus it comes with a matching panty.

LAA-078 : LAURA ASHLEY Pink 2-Piece Skirt & Blouse Set ~ Sweet Flowers

Item Code : LAA-078
“LAURA ASHLEY Pink 2-Piece Skirt & Blouse Set ~ Sweet Flowers”
Size : 24months(2T)
Material : 100% Cotton
Condition :  New Without Tags
Price : RM35/set

Let your little girl feel extra pretty in this very lovely floral 2 piece skirt set by LAURA ASHLEY.

The collared top buttons up with flower shaped buttons and knots at the base for that cool and chic look!The skirt is fully elastic for easy dressing and comfort. It has a very sweet chequered pattern on the top half and a layered bottom half with a pretty flower at the bottom left.

Hurry, don’t let this splendid dress slip away! I’ve only one piece available!

Tomorrow I am looking after my friend’s 2 boys.  It will be the last day of their summer holiday. It would be nice to go somewhere outdoors, but the weather forecast is ‘heavy showers’.

Instead, I will bake chocolate chip cookies with them.  They can take some to school the next day, as a sort of link between the holidays and school.

I will wear my Banana Republic top that I bought in Rochester,New York in 2008.  It has navy stripes, so it will match my long shorts from Laura Ashley.  I think I got these in 2005.  I know they came from Eastbourne.

Nice, flat shoes are called for, so I will wear my red Mode in Pele sandals.  I bought these in Harrogate in 2005.

OK, I admit it. I must have been asleep all this time. The first I heard was the media hullabaloo trumpeting her success as a businesswoman. Cassandra Jardine in the Telegraph hailed her as a post-feminist icon, and pretty much everyone else has piled in as well.

Because? The year-end figures for Cath Kidston’s private company had just percolated to the surface (God knows why now, the year-end is March) – and they were astonishingly good. Sales have leapt more than a third to £31.3m and profits soared a majestic 59% to £4.6m (£2.9m). This is no flash in the pan. The 50-year-old designer has been sticking to her knitting for 15 years. What we have here is a recipe for success that has clearly been baked to perfection in the worst recession in living memory.

Now it’s not cheap, the stuff she sells in her 27 shops; nor is it to everyone’s taste. Some would characterise it as upper-class kitsch, whose last great exponent was Laura Ashley. So wholesome, so mumsy, so floral, so…English. Yet there are few places the Kidston motif has not managed to insinuate itself over the years. We even have the stuff ourselves – some rather nice mugs my wife once unwittingly bought at Waitrose. “These can’t be Kidston,” she declared authoritatively. “They’re not floral enough”. The monikored assay mark on the base of the mugs cleared that one up.

Whatever it is – let’s settle on zeitgeist – Kidston knows how to bottle and sell it. In her way, she’s a domestic goddess. A more matronly, kindly one than the grasping, go-getting Martha Stewart in her pomp, and a safer, less threatening one than the glamorous Nigella. But like them, she’s peddling a kind of escapism: in her case, the illusory, nostalgic domestic idyll of the Fifties. And women of a certain sort – the kind that can afford her – are lapping it up.

I agree with JKR’s blogger that calling her oeuvre “Pinnie Porn” unfairly demeans her. You wouldn’t employ that sort of perjorative language describing the achievement of Sir Terence Conran in an earlier era, would you? Indeed not.

You may convict Kidston’s design aesthetic of being bland, smothering, a conceit that denies everyday reality. But porn? No. it’s much cleverer than that. Good luck to her.

And, by the way, we still use the mugs and they’re still in perfect condition.

Just added a fresh batch of six new CottonCandyBags to my etsy shop! Roses, Vintage, Ticking, Victorian little girls teaparty, 1950s Ballerina muslin linen & more roses LOL:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29413798

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29413102

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29412557

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=29411017

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=29410384

Thank you,

Mary

http://hoganfe.etsy.com

Hurrah- I can finally reveal which lovely city I’ll be gracing when I start University this academic year. I kept quite quiet about it all and never mentioned it on blogs for fear for jinxing it but now that everything is sorted, I can officially reveal I’ll be studying at Nottingham Trent University! I can already hear my drunken chants of “NTU, NTU, NTU…” and so on and so forth.

Now, with several years as a journalist, a recently acquired role as a PR director and an everlasting need to be wearing patterns constantly, what would a girl like me study? Take a look at this course! It’s perfection and I knew I adored it as soon as I set my eyes on it (which was several years before I even applied to University). I was accepted onto the course back in late March but now, with six weeks exactly until moving day, I feel I can talk about it without it potentially being snatched out from under me!

It’s a dream come true and I look forward to meeting new people, having exciting experiences and growing as a person (hey, I know it’s cliché but there’s a little hippy chick inside of me!). I’d just like to take this chance to thank all the staff at NTU who have answered my silly little questions and made me feel so welcome already. Another special thank you goes out to Anna of the wonderful Wonderlander blog who has provided me with countless reassurance.

I have a few worries (mainly centering around my plus-sized boo-tay and the great load of teeny, tiny girls on my course) but nothing is more important to me than making my lovely little flat like a dream to walk into. I’ll be studying four days a week and taking on two internships during the week, as well as freelancing, so I need to make sure that Flat 1 is a little bit of Heaven to return to.

As my other half with be a stone throw away, I want to make my flat a space for us. I’ll be living with other students so I’m not so sure about how pretty and quaint communal areas will look but at least R and I can crash out in my tranquil little room and read magazines together on my cute single bed.

When I lived in London, I lived with a woman who was a master at interior design so I didn’t need to do a thing to my room. Since moving back in with my parents, I’ve kept my bedroom simple and white because I’ve always known I wouldn’t have been around much longer than a year.

Now that the idea of doing up Flat 1 is on the cards, I’ve searched some great high-street stores for their best home-wear finds!

Marks and Spencer:

Good old M&S. The place I buy my sandwiches and my pants! And now, it appears, some beautiful treats for my slumber room.

I saw this bed cover yesterday and could have cried at the beauty of it. With it’s crisp-cut and mix of simplicity and femininity, I’ll be picking this up this weekend. It’s a classic that can travel with me once I move out of student halls in July 2010.

Here’s a close-up of the floral and lace detail:

I’ve promised myself that I’ll always keep fresh flowers on my desk but sometimes fake flowers work just as well:

Now, I’ve convinced myself that looking good is all part of my course and I’ve managed to add manicures to my budget under ‘essentials’. I need a mirror so I can make sure my hair looks slick, my lipgloss is perfectly applied and my crazed eyebrows are as neat as can be. If I can’t find a vintage mirror, this one is a great buy:

Laura Ashley:

I need to be stopped with my Laura Ashley obsession. Whilst on the phone to journalist and editors, I’ve been on the Laura Ashley website non-stop today. Here are my perfect kitchen finds from the divine British brand.

I have a silly thing with my lover about salt and pepper shakers (basically I always pour the salt into my hand to make sure someone hasn’t mixed them up!) and these birdie ones will sit perfect on my dining table. Maybe I’ll mix the salt and pepper up and confuse R?

I love to bake (hence the name Florals and Cupcakes) and baking brownies, blondies and all sweet treats in between will be a great way to bond with my fellow flatmates. I’m hearting this floral cake stand:

The final piece from Laura Ashley is a super girly teacup and saucer set. I’d use this for when my parents came to stay or to store all my cocktail rings in:

Cath Kidston:

One of the first things R and I bonded over was Cath Kidston. Actually, it was probably the second- right behind Emiliana Torrini. We both have a love of design and Britishness so I know whatever I buy from Cath Kidston will be like eye candy to R.

First up, a Cath Kidston Roberts radio. I won’t be taking a TV with me as I’m more of a lover of books, magazines and the radio. I’m hoping to purchase this and tune into BBC World Service on an evening:

With my love of cooking, I’ll be needing lots of storage for pasta, lentils and brown rice (sounds like rationing but I heart super foods). These Cath Kidston mix-match tins can be used in the kitchen or to store lace, buttons and fabric pens for rainy days spent indoors customising totes and tees:

The first thing I’m going to do when I move out of student halls is buy a sausage dog. I fear this may jeopardise the idea of Chez H and R but he’ll have to live with it! I’m going to call it Suri. Until then, I’ll have to make do with Suri thedraught excluder- hurrah:

Other bits and bobs:

Here are some other fabulous interior buys from the World Wide Web.

Head to johnlewis.com to pick up this visitors book. I like the idea of a visitors book for Flat 1, it’ll mark a special year and this Ella Doran book is covered in flowers:

My new student accommodation won’t have a washing machine so I’ll be trailing my socks and stockings to the uni laundrette. Rather than opt for some Eastenders style tattered tartan bag, I’ll be taking this along to the laundry room. Found on Net-a-Porter this morning, this Anya Hindmarch laundry toteis a university must for any fashion conscious student:

Finally, the poster of my dreams. R and I are both enchanted by Lily Cole and he never stops saying thank you to me for introducing him to the woman of his dreams (not personally introducing him, although I have met her once, but introducing him to the beauty of her via magazines and catwalk shows). This Tim Walker poster, available from the Design Museum, will take pride of place and the blue tones will compliment my pretty bedding:

I’d love to hear how any of you lots have managed to personalise your student halls!

Refrock – Preloved Deign Fashion and Accessories Market
Sun 16 August
10.00am – 2.00pm
Brisbane Table Tennis Hall,
86 Green Tce, Windsor

With over 80 stalls, there will be something for everybody’s tastes at Refrock. Recycled designer labels are for sale (all in good condition) with names such as SABA, Laura Ashley, Morrissey, and Lisa Ho all at great prices. A limited number of stall are also available for boutiques selling excess stock, but only as long as items are reduced by at least 50% of retail price.

For more information:
Refrock – Official Page

Pesta Rakyat (People’s Party)
Sun 16 August
1.00pm, 2.00pm, 3.00pm, 4.00pm,
Queen Street Mall Stage

Celebrate Indonesia’s Independence day known as Pesta Rakyat, the People’s Party. Experience traditional Indonesian culture and free performances featuring groups from Brisbane’s local Indonesian community.

For more information:
Sneak Peek Indonesian Festival – OurBrisbane.com
Pesta Rakyat: Indo Fest Bne 09 – Twitter

Georgia Bo Interiors will soon be launching a new range of fabrics which we are sure will be popular with those of you who love the ‘Laura Ashley’ look. The collection which includes a beautiful palette of cotton/linen mixes in florals, checks and stripes will be competitively priced and available over the full range of products – curtains, roman blinds, cushions and tiebacks – Check out our website over the coming weeks and ask for a sample – we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.