Jimmy Choo meets Donegal Tweed!

Check these babies out!!!

Jimmy Choo has teamed up with Donegal Tweed to create these fab fab fab boots, which are available exclusively to Brown Thomas.

I could see both of these beuaties taking pride of place in my autumn/ winter wardrobe and even better is the fact that 25% of the proceeds of each sale will go to Irish Autism Action !

The Twillen €795

The Breidin €825

That's brightened up my day!

Well I've been away for some time now thanks to my "lovely" sinus :(

Seeing that I got a mention on the front page of www.craftycrafty.tv has brightened up my evening though!!! :):):)

Make your own Zip Corsage!

Many high street shops are currently selling them at approximately €15 a pop! Well now you can make your own for only the price of two zips!

*Unzip the zips and cut the fastenings off so that you have four pieces.

*Coil one piece around itself to form a tight spiral.

*Secure the outside end to the other layers with a few stitches.

*Take another piece and concertina it to form loops. Loop the end round so that it finishes in a circle and stitch through the layers to hold in place.

*Repeat with the other pieces then stitch them all together to form a rosette.

*Stitch the coiled zip in the centre as shown.

*Sew a safety pin or brooch fastening on to the back and use to vamp up a handbag, a headband, or anything you fancy!

Penneys/ Primark Autumn Winter Collection 09!

Oh yes, I'm loving Penneys (known as Primark outside of Éire) and their autumn/ winter 09 collection does not disappoint!

Some of the items are already available in their store on Dublin's Henry Street, others aren't expected until nearer September! So clear some closet space ladies, you've been warned!!!

I need that fur coat in my life!!!! (Priced at GBP£30!)

Bib Necklace - my first attempt :-)

True to my word I headed into the local trimming shop this morning and purchased some glittery black felt and those cute little flower shaped sequins/ diamontes! Modelling it on the Penney's version, above is a quick pic of my first attempt at the "Bib" necklace!!! What do you think? I can't believe how easy it was to make! The flower embellishments are actually for card crafting but with little craft glue they worked a treat!

Think I'll be out hunting for more quirky little gems tomorrow and get to work on producing some more with the copious amount of felt I purchased today. I know it's probably cheaper to buy the flet online but I just couldn't wait the obligatory 3-7 days for the felt to arrive; I just had to get crafty today!

Watch this space for more necklaces!!!!

Rain, rain go away, I want to wear the necklace I made today ;-)

More Recession Fashion!

I've been wearing the above necklace for a while now and it's been getting rave reviews (€5 at a Penneys near you, or £3 in your local Primark).

It looks like the "bib" necklace is here to stay for a while yet, and seeing as how Penneys/ Primark's takings are sky rocketing through this recession I've decided to give it a go at making my own :)

Craftystylish have posted an excellent tutorial for those of you interested in having a go at making your own; "How to make a sewn necklace" produced the fab necklace above.

I'll be off to the local supply shops tomorrow to be stocking up on the organza/ felt and ribbons, and searching the sale bins in the old reliable high street stores for any disguarded kaftans etc which I will plunder for their gemstones (cheaper than buying them in trimming shops)!

The necklace above is by Ranjana Khan and retails at $1,200 - need I say more!?!?!

Embellishment your way through the recession!

Ok so we can no longer afford the mountains of clothing we once purchased during those blissful Celtic Tiger days :( But there is nothing stopping us from getting creative with what we already have!!!!
Check out Textile Workshop course that will be running in Pearse Museum, Rathfarnham on Sarurday and Sunday 25/26th July. This course promises to help you create your own bespoke patterns and prints as well as giving you the skills to embellish and produce beautiful homewares, fashion items etc!!!

If, like me, you can only afford either the materials check out these:

Make your own fabric flowers

Personalise a tote:

Anyone got any good tips or links please please send them on!