Around this house,,

We're snuggled in the house today, it's ever so cold in the snow. I hope you're all wrapped up warm! Later we might go for a little walk but right now I'm reading with a blanket and some tea. I'm feeling festive again- is that weird? We spend a lot more time at home than we ever have since getting Klaus, which has been kind of necessary for our finances but also very nice. However I'm getting the decorating bug as a result.

On my list of things to do this year are a few home improvements (maybe more than a few...) Here's a little inspiration board I've compiled from pinterest images for Molly's corner of the living room.
-I would first, like to buy a new lamp for our lounge, as ours has died a death. I'm quite liking this one though I'm open to cheaper options.
-At some point this year, it would be nice to buy an armchair to replace our old two seater, but for now guests will have to enjoy the floor ;) How delicious a thought, a nice chair to snuggle and read in with Molly.
-Next, to build a teepee for all of us to play in. It was my intention to build it for Molly's second birthday next month, sadly I don't think I'll have the time. When I do get around to it, we will use this tutorial but make it taller and a little smaller in width (our home is tiny) in a plain canvas or white fabric.
-To go inside the teepee I'd love to collect a couple more of these dolls and make some cushions like the above mountain range, a house cushion and a cloud.
Quite a bit to do but I think it will look lovely when it's done. The arm chair will definitely be our first purchase once I've graduated/got a real job, ha. But for now I shall continue to pin away ;)

Fringed Sandals DIY

I've been meaning to post this for a few weeks. Though due to the weather I've

not had a chance to wear these yet. I was inspired by some fringed sandals in topshop and 

decided to jazz up my £3 pair from Primark (a few years ago)

-It was really simple, I just cut a rectangle of jersey the same width of the non braided sandal strap that I

intended to fringe. And made the jersey rectangle length I wanted the fringes to be. 

-Next I fringed the rectangles ready, leaving about a cm to glue onto the shoe

-Finally to attach I used a hot glue gun, simple!

(I tried to take a picture of me wearing them but I'm a little conscious of my toes!!)

Maybe they'll feature in my next outfit post :)

Summer DIY

We finally have sunshine in England!!!!!

And Molly still has a lot of winter items that fit her. So, rather than buy her lots of 

new ones (OKAY I've done that too!) I've modified some of her tops.

It's quite easy and it means she gets a bit more wear out of them.

I used a tunic shirt she got in February for this DIY, but it's a great one for jersey vests and long sleeve tops.

-Cut about an inch longer than you'd like the sleeve to sit

-Roll it up two or three times until it sits right

-If you want to make sure it stays during the wash then stitch is at the top

and bottom with a little thread, my mother calls it 'tacking'

-If you're not into sewing and you don't mind rolling it up after the wash each time then just run an iron 

over the capped sleeve.. or like me use your hair straighteners because it's quicker!!

Easy, even for the baby-craft novice.

Easter 2012.

Again, last Easter was rather neglected as we were still getting used to tiny newborn Molly,

I had a million hand-ins and we were getting ready to move house. This year we had a little

time so last night I made Molly some little ears! I love them, here's the tutorial, I saw it linked

on Kelli's blog. Next year, or next time we have a dress up night out I shall be making some 

for me too! Molly had a little basket full of treats and little hair clips I've been making her.

Her Aunty and Uncle got her the most lovely personalised egg, and Jamie and I got her a few

mini lindt bunnies. They are my favourite, my mum used to get me one every year :)

(Do excuse my messy kitchen)

Molly had two baths today! She's become rather a messy eater lately, but it did mean she got to

wear two Easter outfits :) We had a few sunday visits planned for friends and family but in the end

didn't even leave the house, though the Easter Bunny struck again in the form of grandparents and

Molly got some more white chocolate! I won't need to get her any pudding for months.

It was nice to make a little Easter effort, I'm going to try a little harder with family days but it's ever so

enjoyable. Right, time to try and sleep as I have a busy week and a lot of writing to do next week.

Universities and babies- who knew it would be such hard work! 

-Bring on the dog!

Baby Hairclip DIY

A DIY for a simple felt hair clip :)

You will need: plain clips, felt or any scraps of fabric, scissors, pins and a glue gun.

Cut your flower shape and pin together, this I think is the most fun bit! Heres a few I had 

a go with. Not all girls like flowers, hearts and bows, you could do animals or camera's or 

anything! I'm making Molly an easter bunny to go in her basket next!

Here's a paper example of how to make the coral flower, it's not very clear but I wanted to

do a quick one on photobooth while Molly has a short nap. Blogging and babies ha!

(ignore the dots I was trying to make it more complicated than it needed to be)

Basically make loads of petals attaching to each other spiraling inward, when you

get to the middle stop cutting and wind it into a flower, glue in place. Pretty easy huh :)

I added a small peach heart to go in the middle because I'm obsessed with peaches and 

corals at the moment! To fix it onto the hair clip just glue gun a little onto the end and 

hold the base of the flower in place. Just need Molly to grow a little more hair now I've

made her lots of pretty clips! 

The sweetest little model (L)

Mini DIY'S

I've been creating some mini DIY's on label box since I got it so

that everytime I see an item I think I can make, rather than just

saving the picture I remember how I thought I could create it.

Here are a couple of super simple dresses :) I'd better get stitching!

DIY Camera Strap.

I've been looking for a nice classic leather camera strap for my camera,

but I still can't seem to find one anywhere,

And I kept dropping my canon!

So I decided I'd have to make one for myself using Jamie's old belt to avoid 

looking like a tourist/smashing the canon.

  

A sewing box isn't vital, but that's where

my small fabric scraps and pins are.

(I used the pins when I was cutting the fabric to fit)

Also, I'd recommend painting the red border before gluing on the belt and fabric

 as I made a bit of a mess of mine!!

Hindsight 20/20!

I'm wearing my new peach jeans from Tophop, Vest- Miss Selfridge, Shoes- Fred Perry, Hat- River Island.

I think it looks much nicer and I'm no longer in danger of breaking her!

Or alternatively I've seen a tutorial which covers the strap in glitter,

Or all in floral fabric.

Definitely better than looking like a tourist in your own garden.

DIY: Floral Collar

This is my DIY for the shirt Molly wore in my last post. I originally bought this breton babygrow from the boys section in H&M thinking I could style it in a girly way. Unfortunately with Molly's mullet and aversion to headbands I couldn't shake the fact it was a boys top so I decided to add a touch of pretty. The fabric was just a scrap from my mothers cave of crafty goodies (I think it's Liberty). 

I cut it roughly in the same length and width of the collar leaving about half a cm of fabric to spare all the way around then pinned this to the collar.

I then folded the fabric in on itself to make a neater edge and to prevent fraying (see image 3 to explain it better) and hand stitched it to the collar. I had to keep folding and stretching the fabric as I went to make it neat and tight. I used a pale blue thread and made my stitches small. 

I imagine it could be done just as easily on a sewing machine but I don't have anywhere to use mine at the moment. I expect more crafting will be to come once I have a space to work :)

Before & After

How she wore it. I will be doing this to some of my plain shirts I think..

Birds, collars and cake.

Yesterday Molly and I went for a cake date with Lindsay and Sarah at a garden centre in the middle of nowhere. Leicestershires countryside is really beautiful, we need to appreciate it more and take Moo out for some more trips. Molly has just cut her ninth and tenth tooth in the space of a week, clever girl, so I felt she deserved a whole brownie to herself. I think she appreciated it! I forgot my camera so I didn't get any snaps unfortunately, I need a camera outing specific bag. 

Molly wore a vest from H&M that I customised with scraps of Liberty (I think) print fabric from my mother. I will do a DIY for it at some point, it’s so cute I’d wear it myself!  I wore my new Nadinoo dress from Jamie :) I fell in love with the fabric but never thought I could afford it, such a lovely surprise. I also love the bird print shirt, I wish I could buy it all!

Getting a picture of Molly when she is constantly moving and into EVERYTHING is getting harder!! I know I keep saying it but bring on better lighting and the summer! It’s Molly’s first birthday next month, I have so much to organise and a hand-in due too! It’s come around so fast, I just want to slow time down a bit, or have my tiny new born back for a little.

As you can see I need to make room in the shed for my bike! I quietly took some quick pictures of the dress in the kitchen when Molly had her post-cake nap. I am in love with this dress, I've promised Jamie I will wear often it in lots of different ways as it cost so much, so be warned this is a print you will be seeing a lot!

What Molly wore- Vest DIY, Jumper- knitted by my ma, trousers- Zara, Socks- H&M 

What I wore Dress- Nadinoo, Belt- Zara, Cardigan – Madewell and Snood- ASOS, Watch- Michael Kors, Teacup- Etsy

Fort Molly #2

I'm blogging from my sick bed. Ok I'm not sick.. just feeling pains only a hot water bottle, crumpets and tea can cure! I'm sorry this is a little late, but better late than never, Monday's hand-in was horrid.

Now that Jamie has a regular working schedule (as opposed to sometimes not coming home 'til 2am and working weekends!) I have come to really appreciate our evenings in to cook and relax, and our beautiful weekends full of family and baby fun. Here are some snippets from our weekend :) I hope you had a lovely one and this week is even better!! (I just realised I didn't get a picture of the whole Fort! Next time, I will and next time it will be even better, Jamie had a plan hehe)

(Mollys bed tuft is my favourite)

And a few from my iPhone. 

 Out to dinner with Mummy and daddy, the biggest jumper you have ever seen, Molly got back! And the first January frost but a nappy trip to Sainsburys, it was almost and emergency!!

I'm already excited for next weekend..