Archive for the ‘Refashions’ Category

To all my fellow Aussies… I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry!! I can’t believe I forgot that Tuesday was Australia Day. I should be ashamed, I know…  It’s terribly and inexcusably unpatriotic of me!!

It’s such a pity we don’t get Australia Day as a holiday anymore… but at least it’s sunny today, which is the best weather we’ve had in days! Thank goodness, I don’t mind being cold if it’s sunny out!! I don’t quite fit into my only Aussie flag tshirt anymore (obvious reasons), but Bunny very kindly offered to model it for you! Having said that, I think anything that is almost the right size for my toddler should never be worn by me again… ever…  Either I used to be a stick figure or it shrunk – I’m going for shrunk!

So anyway though it’s belated here’s my HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY to everyone!

Dress: Made by me from a Witchery tank & some jersey
Cardigan: Witchery
Shoes: Witchery

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Homesickness, getting huge and being stuck at home so much is making me really introspective and thoughtful… I know dangerous! Anyway, I’ve been thinking about my mom a lot. She is literally one of the wisest people I know. As a child whenever someone asked me who I wanted to be like when I grow up, I always answered that it was her. I still feel that way, and the funny thing is whenever someone asks me for advice I somehow always find myself quoting something incredibly wise she told me.

Anyway, lately I’ve seen a lot of pregnancy and childbirth horror stories posted on the internet. But it doesn’t stop there, there’s like theres this sadistic competition between a most women I know as to who has/had it toughest, like the worst story wins? urgh. Whenever I hear women talk like that I get so worried that it will discourage other women from having children. . . the thought of that makes me so sad because I really believe that the end result is worth so very very much.

And of course when I hear people talk that way, I always think of one particular pearl of wisdom that will always stick with me. At the ripe old age of 5 I asked my mother if having a baby hurt, to which my mom replied Anything worth doing is hard, and the things that are worth the most are the hardest.

To this day I still don’t know how she managed to put it that perfectly, but honestly that’s the way I feel about having kids. Of course pregnancy, childbirth and raising children are all hard, but are so unbelievably worth it. I didn’t mind how much effort it was to bring Bunny into the world because I knew how amazing it would be to have her in my life – and honestly, now that I actually get to spend every day with her, I know I would go through even more and absolutely anything for her.

Which I guess is why I don’t worry much about having 2 kids. I know it will be a lot more work, but I can only imagine that I will have double the blessing. All the joy I have in spending the day with Bunny I get twice. That’s something to look forward to, even though I feel like a whale right now!

As always, thanks for putting up with my crazy ramblings!!

Shirt: Refashioned from one of Hubby’s shirts (details here)
Jeans: JCPenney
Boots: Steve Madden via Von Maur
GLoves: Vintage from my MIL
Yak Tracks!!

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This is a crazy quick refashion – no joke. 10 minutes max, and that was with Bunny “assisting” me (read: pulling all my sewing gear off the table) along the way! I got this idea when the hunt for the perfect cowl scarf and leg warmers had me coming up blank… I have a terrible habit of deciding I want an ultra specific item of clothing, and once you do that, you’re pretty much guaranteed of being dissapointed with pretty much everything you come across! I guess that’s why I’m better suited to design :)

Anyway, want to try this super quick winter accessory refashion? Just follow my 3 easy steps below…

I know… easy peasy right? ps. you might remember seeing these leg warmers before here. Endless possibilities! p.p.s. I’m not glaring at you… it’s just the sun!! hehe

Cardigan: Made by me (get the tutorial here)
Top: Cue
Skirt: Motherhood Maternity
Lace up booties: Relativity via Von Maur
Cowl scarf & Leg warmers: Made by me (get the tutorial here)

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I don’t normally take the time to get an outfit photo on a Sunday (everythings a little hectic in my house before church!! probably due to my inability to get dressed in a timely manner…), but somehow I made an effort this weekend, because I promised I’d show you some of my “maternity wear” plus it was so misty and gorgeous outside that I couldn’t resist taking a photo or two. I’m just so happy they came out… the fog was actually pretty dense so I was concerned nothing would come out… no-one can tell me Iowa isn’t gorgeous…

Meanwhile, I discovered another blog that I now love called Idee Geniale. French Canadian style dynamo? YES!  I love Mel’s sense of style and I’m really struck by all the amazing headpieces she wears. So of course, bit of style chain about to happen… I decided to try wearing one too, but don’t own any, so I quickly “made” this one in the 5mins before we left home. I say “made” because honestly there was very little actual making here… I literally pinned a broach that I love to an elastic headband, and voila, headpiece! I really had to laugh about the number of people who asked me where I got it!!

Headband: Made by me
Cardigan: Witchery
Dress: Motherhood Maternity
Tights: Hue via Younkers
Boots: Steve Madden via Von Maur

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I’m often a little too hard on myself I think, which is why my Hubby is such a blessing to me because he keeps me a little more sane. For Christmas he gave me a whole bunch of books I’ve been wanting for ages- I’m desperate to read them, but until today I hadn’t even picked one up. Which of course led him to ask why, and presume that I must not have wanted them at all. To which I had to reply, no I really really do want them, but reading is a luxury I just don’t have time for. At which point he laughed at my ridiculousness and ordered me to relax today and do no work.

Honestly there are two things I love my Hubby telling me I “must” do : Shop & Relax.

But isn’t it silly that I need someone to tell me to do that?? My problem is that whenever I sit down my mind immediately jumps to all work or chores that are as yet undone, the errands I have to run, or the constant feeling I have that I haven’t played with Bunny enough that day… so I feel guilty and get up. I just hate idleness.  I’m a list maker, cronic organizer and a painfully hard worker, and it just seems so self indulgent to spend hours reading. Growing up I never saw my parents sitting for more than a few minutes, so the concept just does not compute. I guess I need to get over myself, and learn it’s okay to take more time for myself. (Someone please tell me I’m not the only crazy nut like this!!)

So this is what I’m doing today – reading Elizabeth Gaskells North & South (seriously if you love Pride and Prejudice you will LOVE North and South!) and playing with Bunny… thats it. It’s going to be awesome. The dishes will remain unwashed, the laundry is in a big pile, the house is a mess and the bills have not been paid – but I’m learning to be okay with that, at least for one day!

Reading – Elizabeth Gaskells North & South

Cardigan – Made by me (get the tutorial here)
Leggings – Refashioned from old trackies by me (get the tutorial here)
Flats – From a HK Market
Broach – Swarovski gift from a friend many yrs ago

And yes I am still wearing that cardigan and the leggings… told you I would be! Just want to give a quick shout out and thanks to the link love that’s been happening with my cardigan tutorial. Thanks to:

1. One Pretty Thing
2. Craft Gossip
3. The bumpwear project

Sorry if I left anyone out, these are just the ones I know of :)

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