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!

I'm Beading Excited!

Good news for all you avid beaders living/ visiting in/ around Dublin city centre!

Today I visited the shop that is beading heaven to me, Yellow Brick Road on Bachelors Walk, to buy some essentials (and non essentials of course!). Pleasant and helphelp staff (as always) wrapped by purchases for me and off I went. When I got home and unwrapped the shiny containers of new beads I also found a little note placed inside advising:

"Free for all! Let's get creative! - Got an unfinished project? Want to chat, bead and be inspired? Want an afternoon's peace to bead in our specially designed studio? We have the answer! The Yellow Brick Road is excited to annouce every Thursday is free for all! Everyone is invited to come along at any stage during the day to get creative with Stacey, all welcome to enjoy a few hours beading, discussing, experimentsing with trends, styles, design and colour! Every Thursday from 28th May!"

Guess who'll be putting in for some leave over the coming weeks to avail of this fab off????

Hope to meet some of you there?!?!

Oooh Jimmy Choo!

My days of hankering after a pair of Jimmy Choo's may be over soon (even though I may not be able to actually walk or stand in them)! H&M are collaborating with the infamous cobblers on an Autum/ Winter '09 collection and are bringing what promises to be a fantastic range of accessories, shoes and handbags to a store near you on 14th November!

Prices are rumoured to range from £30 for a pair of pumps to £170 for a pair of sky-scrappers! I may start working on my balance and get my sleeping bag ready to camp out the night before they go on sale!

I'm in Shoe Heaven....

I thought I had died and gone to Shoe Heaven when I came across Frollein Von Sofa's blog... Having already admitted to being a shopaholic, I must now confess to being a shoe-addict! Just looking at/ trying on and ultimately buying shoes (irrespective of how unsuitable they may be) gives me such a rush!!! I doubt very much that I am on my own in that respect...

This has to be a portrait of me in my "walk in shoe closet" (yeah, well it will be when I win the lotto and get me some highlights - I already have the shoes ;))

Only, if only I could walk in shoes of this height....
Oh and after spending yesterday morning trying on fascinators (for the first time!) these babys are well worth a glance...Isn't the mannequin just the cutest!!!!!