Thursday 27 May 2010

Tangled up in bows! A practical/ technical dilemma


I've been using bows for quite a while on my purses and clutches , but I'm struggling to find the "right" ones! I initially used some large metal bows, with an ultra shiny finish (see below), but the supplier went out of business and I could not find anyone who sells/ makes them. So I've been using smaller golden bows, which have a bit of a vinage look, but they're not really pop out. I have been thinking of experimenting with bright plastic bows such as these ones below but I'm not quite sure how it would work. Would it not look a bit cheap? I bought one of these giant white bows to experiment, but the finish is not perfect, you can see strands of plastic from the casting. I also like the simpler bows but there are flatbag, with no sewing hole, so I'm not quite sure how I could attach them.. .
I would love to hear everyone's views, or if anyone could suggest someone who does metal fitting, please do let me know!

This was one of my original chunky bow:


Tuesday 25 May 2010

Amanda Fatherazi's brooches

I can't stop admiring Amanda Fatherazi's brooches! They're so charming! I love the details, the bows, the rosy cheeks, the retro hairdo. Each seems to have a real personality. This season, she has created a special collection for Liberty of London, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Carnaby Street. The designs are inspired by fashion icons of the 1960s and below's my favourite, a Bibaesque doe-eyed doll:

Friday 21 May 2010

Ashes to ashes finale this evening


I have been sick with a virulent case of flu that lasted a little longer than a week, but I'm now back, and trying to blog more regularly! I'm leading a workshop this weekend, and will be sewing more colourful coin purses, but tonight I'll be watching tv...   "Ashes to Ashes" has come to dominate my friday evenings, and I'm a bit sad that tonight's the finale. The looks and feels of the 80s is so perfectly captured that I can turn nostalgic. I grew up in the 80s and love the make-up and the clothes that Alex (Keely Hawes) wear, it reminds me of what i used to see in magazines and wished to wear when I would grow up... Some of friends joke that the 80s were the era of bad taste, but I don't agree!