The Leopard Anchor

Making shiny gold accessories look aged.

I've had this belt with lions on for a little while, but every time I went to wear it I took it off because it was so shiny I couldn't take it!

So I grabbed some sharpies, some tissue and matte nail varnish top coat.

It's so much more wearable now. It was easy-peasy, all I did was lightly coloured the buckle in with orange, brown and black sharpies, wiping with a tissue after every bit. When it was all coloured as I wanted and dried I put on two coats of matte top-coat, perfect!

xo Kirsty

Why do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow?

I procrastinate, a LOT, and I'm fickle. The only person I know who puts things off the way I do is my father, and his father was the same. I'd rather do *anything* but the thing I'm supposed to be doing, even if I like whatever I'm supposed to be doing.

I started a crochet scarf for my sister-in-law 3 weeks ago, it's not difficult, or particularly labour intensive, but I ran out of yarn and so did Hobbycraft. I ordered some online & waited patiently for it to arrive, which it did on Saturday. With a clear afternoon yesterday I could have finished the scarf and started on another, but why would I do that? So I started a new project instead, which I had to leave the house to buy yarn for. And I couldn't find a pattern I understood so I made it up. I'm a total novice crocheter and have only ever completed one crochet project, I am something else!

I made an iPhone cover for my friend, here is my phone modelling it. 

Yes my iPhone has ears, so does my friend's - hers is a cat...

If I'd known my make-it-up-as-I-go-along pattern was going to work out I'd have taken photos for a DIY, maybe I can put off the scarves some more and make another one.

xo Kirst

I'm off, in my Vogue V1179

I'm actually already here, I got up early yesterday, got ready, finished packing, got my tripod, took photos, edited photos, wrote the post and then my internet crapped out when I was uploading the photos to the post. And I wasn't willing to pay £10 for airport wi-fi (what a cheek).

Finally it's holiday day, I have a coach journey, some duty free shopping and about 8 hours on an airplane ahead. 

I finished my Vogue V1179 (that I discovered thanks to Karen of Did You Make That's lovely turquoise version) and it is truly a perfect travelling garment, it's comfy but it's not quite as couldn't-be-bothered as yoga pants. 

I made it out of this...something, I have no idea what kind of fabric it is, it's a heavy knit with a kind of horizontal ribbed texture.

To make it in to a bit of an outfit post, here you go:

1* H & M striped top

2* V1179 self-stitched

3* Topshop black leggings

4* Jo Totes camera bag 

5* Red Velvet/Darlingtonia fox moccasins 

Excuse my socks poking out, last time I took a flight I wasn't wearing socks and they wanted to scan my shoes, being barefoot in an airport is not my idea of fun. I love these shoes SO much, they're incredibly comfortable and cute, of course. I have two pairs from the Red Velvet/Darlingtonia collaboration and I will definitely buy some more Darlingtonia moccasins, I think they're great.

Also, new hair colour, yay!

By around midnight GMT I shall be here:

See you on the other side!

xo Kirsty

It's all about the wrapping, baby

I just realised I had this post languishing in my drafts and had forgotten to post it, oops.

When I give a gift I usually spend more time and energy on the wrapping than the gift itself, I love giving someone a beautifully wrapped present.

You may have noticed I made some bunting recently, I promise this will be the very last time I mention it. When I finished it I had to think pretty quickly about how to wrap it, but how do you package 100 feet of bunting?

I started by over-locking the edges of a big bit of calico, I wanted to wrap it in something to keep the pet hairs and dust off (after an hour of lint-rollering the whole lot). I knew I wanted to make something to go with it that could be a bit of a keepsake, and you know how I've fallen in love with embroidery.

So I made this:

The fabric is taken from a beloved off-cut of Cath Kidston circus fabric, it's great isn't it? And it went with the carnival theme of the wedding nicely. I just stitched it on to a piece of felt after I'd embroidered it. I matched the embroidered bunting colours to the actual bunting colours as closely as I could. In my rush I made a bit of a booboo on 'wedding' as the clown's wrist thingy makes the 'n' look like an 'o', never mind!

And then of course came the ribbon and lace.

I'm such a gift-wrapping geek.

xo Kirsty

The wedding of the year, with added bunting

My friends' wedding was absolutely wonderful, every detail was perfect and everyone felt relaxed & comfortable. I think this sort of level of wedding perfection is hard to acheive, most people spend over a year planning and can still miss the mark, these two planned a magical wedding in around 6 weeks.

This pint was left with me for safe-keeping. It was a masterpiece by the time it was returned to the owner.

And the bunting looked pretty good too.

I was honoured to be asked to help with the bunting, and I soon offered to take the whole task off the poor bride's hands, she had a lot to do. I spent a little while worrying it wouldn't be right but it fit perfectly with the rest of the carnival themed decor.

To Mike & Portia, thank you for letting me be part of your special day, you are wonderful friends and I wish you every happiness in your marriage.

xo Kirsty.