do it for yourself

 I'm not much of a jewellery wearer, but I do like to look at it... I particularly like looking at these colourful chunky tribal numbers from Proenza Schouler's Resort 2011 collection. I love big statement necklaces and plan to collect many for when I am a much older lady, with a grey bob.

Anyway the reason I'm posting them is because I just discovered this DIY on Honestly...WTF and I think it's great. I also think their other DIYs are great and am feeling rather inferior in my lack of craftiness/motivation/materials. I did pick up last years knitting last night though, it's a start.

the look

See this? I made it. As Lou mentioned earlier, about two years ago I spent a year making it. My flatmate found the pattern in a magazine. It meant learning how to cross stitch but I did it. I was doing Honours at the time and would cross stitch on the bus, or while watching tv, or when I was meant to be writing essays. Once, I cross stitched it while watching Pride and Prejudice. I spent more money than is rational on embroidery thread. I found a pretty cushion cover in the Sallies, washed it, attached the cross stitch to it, made a black velvet border and tied bows on each corner. I gave it to one of my oldest friends (the one who the Mr Darcy obsession began with) for Christmas that year and when she opened it all she said was: "You win. YOU WIN". The bows have mostly fallen off because she hugs it so much. Notice the way I attempted to make him resemble a devotional icon with the golden rays emanating from his head. I have seen other Mr Darcy cross stitches on the internet but I have never seen this one's equal. 

needle and threads

I have a small collection of embroidery thread gifted to me by my mother earlier this year (she is an amazing crafty woman, and has recently completed embroidering a mind blowing topographical scale model of Antarctica, by the way). Anyway I'm far less accomplished with a needle than she or Han, who once cross-stitched a cushion cover of Mr Darcy's face for a friend, and so put the thread in a box for the day it might eventually come in handy.

Inspiration struck this afternoon when I came across these bright and delightful abstract works of Japanese artist Takashi Iwasaki.

knock off

Pot luck and knitting roopu season has begun. I love knitting because I taught myself how to do it. That's not to say I'm good at it, because I'm not. But I love a challenge and I also love getting in a huff about some stitch slipping and throwing the whole thing in the corner.

This year I want to deviate from my usual scarves and hats and knit something with sleeves. Something that will take me a bloody long time to finish. Something, shall we say, like this?


Or perhaps, something like THESE?
(I mean the woolly knickers)


Now, my plot to blatantly rip off stolen girlfriend's club isn't as far-fetched as it seems.* I can cable knit. I have heaps of spare time. All I need is a free pattern, the ability to knit sleeves, waistbands and button holes, and a healthy does of sticktoitiveness.

*I don't actually plan to rip these off exactly. I couldn't, anyway, all the free patterns online are ugly.

inspiration

My recent house move and impending birthday has provided me with quite a valid excuse for a party, so now the obsession with balloons I've had of late, well at least with pictures of them, has resulted in 100 filled with helium floating in my living room. Glee!

I've been totally inspired by this rather Jeurgen Teller for Marc Jacobs-ey campaign from United Bamboo. The campaign stars artist Terrence Koh, who besides his art is known for his love of this particular Fendi coat, I personally am quite enamoured with the pretty crepe and tinsel decorations behind him. I spotted this ad in the last issue of The Journal (which features an excellent Jeurgen shoot with Pamela Anderson, Vivienne Westwood and Andreas Kronthaler, and an interview with Ol' Dirty Bastard's M0m), and finally have a good reason to get crafty and rip them off... Will update with pictures next week, if they turn out pretty.

This campaign was shot by Marcelo Krasilcic, with set design by Confetti System

***Update*** Here are some far less attractive photos of my plagiarised streamers...

happy things

Some bursting capsules to share (things I love right now)


Big random bunches of flowers. Especially yellow and white ones


The Chicks on Speed exhibition Viva La Craft at Craft Victoria


Heart shaped chocolates

Lykke Li doing this cover

upwardly mobile

How lovely are these paper mobiles?

I've decided to try and make one for myself, hopefully writing about it now will stop it from going the way of so many past forgotten craft projects.



Pictures lifted from Millalove's Etsy shop, Design and Inredningsbloggen, and designpublic.