Summer Dresses

It's that time of year...the sun is finally out! Okay it might not stay yet but it's definitely time to think about summer dresses....Here are my favourite spots so far and yes I will resist buying them all!!

The dress for the beach or the park

Simple, light and cool for the summer.

(Don't know the brand but found pic on tumblr)

I have a similar one from Miss Selfridge white cutwork dress

The dress for a wonder around town....

I love the white embroidery stitching 

(Photographed & written on this lovely blog by Vanessa Jackson 

Possibly from H&M or Zara) 

The dress that's slightly quirky....

I love a slightly different dress - 

the colour, the pattern or the design (never all at once!!)

From anthropologie (at £128!)

The dress for any occasion....

I'm really enjoying wearing this maxi dress I brought from Mango.
I need it tucked in at the waist to suit my figure (wide hips and small waist)
so this one is a perfect fit and has a splash of summery colours

and now I'm mad about long skirts for the office as well as my never changing 

love of floral prints but that's for another time!

Yarn Wrapped Words

I love these yarn wrapped words that are around at the moment. Full of endless possibilities....jewellery, home decoration..I thought it would make a nice addition to my office cork board that needs a refresh. I choice the word 'flora' but any word that can be written in joined up handwriting would work well. Here's how my attempt went..

What's needed:

• Wire - I used some cheap general purpose gardening wire but any flexible wire such as coathanger, pipecleaners would do
• Thread - I used two coloured twine brought from a lovely craft shop in Bath indoor market. Any embroidery thread or wool would do. The brighter the more effective!
• Wire Cutters
• Glue

Start by writing out the word in joined up handwriting on paper. Bend the wire to form the word, using the handwritten word as a guide. 

Tie the thread around the wire, tucking the end underneath to start. When the  wires cross, wrap the yarn around both to hold the letters in place. 

Wrap the thread around the whole word then make a knot to secure. I carefully put a drop of glue on the ends to stop the wrapped threads becoming loose. 

Owl Bunting

My latest craft project :-) I've slowly been making owl bunting for the new office at work - in my obsession with owls! Inspiration for the owls came from a photo on 'Chocolate fishies' blog and those sold by 'Missy Mack' on etsy. Here's how I made it....

Materials:

Material -for the owl and for the tum

Thread

Felt

Buttons

Brown embroidery thread

Step One: Cutting the fabric

Make two paper templates - A) the main owl body (adding at 1 cm around the edge) and B) the smaller tummy. Pin on to material and use as a template. Each owl needs two A's and one B. 

Step Two: Adding the features 

Stitch on the tummy – about 2cm from the bottom of the owl. 

Add some eyes – I used a larger cream felt and some funky buttons.

Step Three: Sewing the Owl together 

Pin the two pieces of material together (outside facing inwards) and sew around the edge except the bottom. Now pull the owl inside out – it’s easier if the top point is cut flat and the slits made around the edges.

Step Four: Final touches

Slip stitch the bottom together. Now sew on the nose – I used brown embroidery thread. Fold over the beak and slip stitch in place (hidden )

Step Five: Make the bunting

 Thread through the cord and add all the owls! Owl bunting made!!

Bank holiday relaxation

We took advantage of a break in the rain to venture to Cotswold Wildlife Park this bank holiday weekend.....

Sunbathing in the Madagascar walkway

Being greeted..

What you looking at?

Review? Great for getting close up to animals and plenty to see. Not so great for food.....so we had a pot of delicious tea & scones at huffkins in the pretty medieval Cotswold town, Burford 


Oh and while it rained? Pieminister at St Nics market, reading salmon fishing in the yemen and trying to learn how to crochet..and now back to work..