DIY: Flowers in your hair (Part 1)

DIY INSPIRATION: Flowers in your hair by gwenstella

Hello my lovely readers! :) I've been in a really good mood lately because the weather has been really great over here in Sydney. The winter chills are slowly fading away, and spring is finally in the air! But I guess the majority of you who are reading this is on the other side of the globe, where summer is turning into fall. Well, that's all right, because this DIY project is perfect for spring AND fall! ^_^

So, without further ado, here's the how-to:


Materials:
1 x hair comb
Several mini flowers (You can get these flowers from most craft shops. They sell them in a bunch!)


Steps:

1. Gather your materials

2. Begin from one of the ends of the hair comb. Get one flower and wrap the wire stalk around the bottom of the comb.

3. The back will look like this as you continue to wrap more flowers around the bottom.

4. Continue with more flowers.

5. Continue until the bottom of the comb is completely covered with flowers! :)

So there you go, a simple way to add flowers/floral accents to your everyday outfits. I have ONE SINGLE STALK left from this project, so I'll be writing another post on another way to put flowers in your hair! Stay tuned!

Where have all the colours gone?

Oh look, my hair glows in a golden brown colour under the warm sunshine. I just dyed my hair a week ago using  L'Oreal's new Sublime Mousse hair colour in Golden Brown. As usual, the do-it-at-home permanent hair dye does not become very obvious on my natually black Asian hair. But I'm still happy enough with the way my hair currently looks under the warm sunshine.

Cardigan (Black, long cardigan): Mum's
Dress ($5 Granny's Floral Dress): Ally, $4.99
Stockings (Grey knitted ribbed stockings): Sportsgirl, $7.95
Accessories (Red ring, Grey ring, Flower ear studs): Diva, Sportsgirl, Target
Boots: Kmart, $29.95

Anyway, this is what I wore for a shopping trip at a factory outlet centre a few days after handing in my last assignment for the semester. I have no idea how my wardrobe ended up so... dark. This dreary weather is really getting into me. I need more colours in my life. 

But I am quite pleased with my current ring collection. These are the 2 of the 5 rings that I currently own. I think I will have to come up with a good way to store my growing ring collection soon! I bought the red ring on sale at Diva for just 3AUD and I really adore the ornate designs at the sides. The earrings are one of the 3 pairs in a set that I scored in another sale for just $2. Yes, that means $2 for 3 pairs of earrings ;)

Right now I'm just trying to recall the last time I bought something that was NOT on sale...

DIY: Honey, I shrunk my ring!

My mum has always said that I have the hands of a child. It's true. I reckon my hands are the size of a 12 year old. My fingers aren't exactly slender, but they are definitely not the prescribed 'S' or 'XS' in most commercial accessory shops.


So what happens when I buy rings? Well, I either buy the ones that are adjustable or I clench my fist tightly when I wear the non-adjustable ones out. The latter doesn't always work because sometimes I forget about the ring I am wearing and they fall out as I wave goodbye to my friends after an outing. =_=


A few weeks ago, I bought this ring from Sportsgirl during a sale. It was an 'S' but it was still slightly loose on my finger. I couldn't take it anymore. So, I took a bit of my wire, pulled out my pliers, and began to wrap short lengths of wire around the ring. I guess this looks all right for this design of the ring because it's supposed to look.... grunge? I wouldn't use this method for more feminine designs. 


Now this ring fits really snugly on my finger and I LOVE IT! :D

I know there's something called the ring guard, but I'm not very sure if that would be a feasible idea for me. I'm sure I'd lose those tiny little pieces of plastic all the time. Do you guys have any other suggestions or advice? >_<

Must be the season of the witch

Cardigan (Beige Oversized Chunky Knitted Cardi): thrifted vintage
Dress ($5 Granny's Floral Dress): Ally, $4.99
Shoes: New Look, $19.90
Wishbone Necklace: Louisa, $3
Victorian-inspired Charm Bracelet: Diva, $5


Remember about the Mushroom Pickings bag that I made a short while ago? I said that I was making it for a friend. It was her birthday party last Friday and it was a birthday tea party! Yayy. I love tea parties.

The $5 dress + belt

Anyhoo, this is what I wore to the tea party. I don't usually wear dresses, but I have to confess that I have a couple of them lying in my wardrobe. Yes, I have a couple of dresses that I bought over a year ago which I have NOT worn at all. I'm just waiting for the right occasion to wear them. And guess what, this is a dress that I bought just a few days before the party. :P


As I have mentioned, I remix my wardrobe all the time. (Funny how I have new, unworn dresses in the wardrobe huh?) But I think I forgot to mention that I am also quite a frugal shopper. I love exploring shops with the big "SALE" signs plastered all over the glass windows. Seriously, you never really know what you're going to find. Take this dress for example. It was on sale for just $5 (or rather, $4.99). $5! $5! Can you believe it? I couldn't at all, especially after trying it out in the fitting room. How can such a lovely dress be reduced from $27.99 to $4.99? How can a dress of such incredible marked-down price still be available in my size!? All the forces of the Universe must have come together in an unprecedented event of the millennium on that magical day. Seriously, I don't reckon I'd score such a deal again in the near future.


I felt like a witch that day wearing my magical 'SALE' dress, wishbone necklace and charm bracelet. Come to think of it, I bought ALL of them when they were on sale. I try to be streetwise. :P

My wishbone necklace

1 <3 charm bracelets!

I didn't take a lot of pictures with the people there because I didn't know a lot of people there (at least at the start of the party), and I was stuffing my face with food the whole time. (Also, my hair was in a less-than-ideal state that day)

The birthday 'cake'

Macaroons in autumn colours

Come to think of it... I didn't try this! T_T

Little Teacup sets made from various sweets <3 boy, this was reaaaally sweet.

All right, stop staring at the sweets! (n_n)

IDEA: Assad Mounser's Rambler Long Necklace

(via)

Just the other day...

My friend said I looked "mature and all grown-up" with the shirt and coat ensemble paired with jeans and boots, and with those tiny sparkly ear studs. My hair was tied up in a bun and topped with a hearts barrette.


Jacket: ICE, $20
T-shirt: random shop in Singapore, $10

Christmas presents 2010

Before people start forgetting about the existence of my blog, I thought I should post something. These photos have been lying on my desktop for the longest time. It's time I show it to all of you.


Christmas presents that I made in 2010:

Possibly gothic ring made with Swarovski crystals

Ear studs made by pasting 2 different buttons together

Keyring with a little crochet heart

I made the crochet heart by following the pattern over here. But my heart looks really different from the original version. The yarn and hook combination that I used probably was not very compatible with the pattern.

The idea for the ring and the ear studs came when I was simply fiddling with the supplies that I have.

DIY: Ethnic/Bohemian Headband

I've always wanted to get a headband like this. But I am not really keen on spending $5 or more on one. So, being the crafty and stingy person that I always am, I decided to make one myself! I made one under 15 minutes last night and wore it on my day out with my friend today! The best part is that I think I am the only one in the world who has this headband because I bought my trimming from a rather unknown craft store. HAHAHAHA.

Materials:
Elastic
Wide ribbon
Ethnic-inspired trimming (choose your favourite design!)
Sewing machine/Sewing needle and thread (I think it's better with a machine. The stitches are tighter and sturdier!)


Steps:
1. Get your materials!

2. Now we need to cut 2 pieces of the ribbon. How much is enough? Just enough to do the following: Fold over to cover the end of the ribbon, wrap around the sides.
3. Now wrap the trimming around your head (across the forehead) to see how much trimming you need to make one headband. For your references, my head measures about 21” and I used about 18” of the trimming.
4. Cut 4 inches of the elastic.

5. Now you have: 2 pieces of ribbon, 4” of elastic and 18” of trimming. You should burn the ends of the ribbon to prevent them from fraying!

6. Start sewing! Wrap one end of the trimming as shown and sew the top to secure the ribbon.

7. Now sew one end of the elastic to the same edge.
8. Wrap the ribbon around the sides (just like what you have done earlier to test the amount of ribbon required) and sew the bottom.
9. Sew the top again!

10. Do the same for the other end of the trimming with the other end of the elastic!

11. Done!!!


I really really love the design of my trimming. (^_^)v

DIY: New necklace from an old brooch

I have this brooch that I bought from Diva a few months ago. It was on sale for $5 and I just loved the colours and the shine! But I haven't really worn it at all because I am still thinking of an outfit to wear it with. Maybe I bought the brooch on impulse. (T_T)


But maybe it'll be easier for me to wear it after I have made it into a necklace! And so, I did make it into a necklace. It didn't cost me a thing at all because I used a chain that I have from an existing necklace. And the best part is, this necklace is not permanent. So, I can still wear the brooch as it is when I want to! 


Materials:

Steps:

1. Get your brooch and chain!
2. Fold your chain into half. Insert the pin from the brooch slightly above the point where your chain is folded into half. Go higher up if your brooch is longer/wider, lower if your brooch is smaller!
3. Wrap the long free end of your chain around the corresponding side of your brooch.
4. This is how the back looks like. See how I wrapped the chain around each side of the brooch?

That's it! Isn't it simple? I think I will wear my 'new' necklace soon! But now I have to go back to studying because I have a big test on Monday. Wish me luck!

P.S.: Before I forget, I want to say a big HELLO to all my new (and of course, old) readers. Thank you so much for your comments! I am really glad that you guys like the Knotted T-shirt Scarf. I will be checking out your blogs once I am done with the test on Monday! Till then!

TO: YOU - XMAS 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So once again it's Christmas and I have finally finished all the presents (regardless of how last-minute they are) and gave them to their delightful recpients.

I think the ideas that I got from this Xmas present-making will definitely be brought forward for the upcoming NTU Bazaar that I am going to tak part in. Gosh! I'm really excited about the Bazaar, but I'll talk more about it another day.

Freedom Earrings for Kelly. I even have to get 925 silver hooks specially for her because she has sensitive skin. The aquamarine beads are Swarovski crystals.

Freedom is a pair of wings and the limitless blue sky overhead.


Black Angel Necklace for Cheng. It's Swarovski crystals again. But she said it didn't look like one! 


Pink Angel Necklace for Ginny. And it's Swarovski Crystals again. :)


Swarovski Hair Ties for Rina, Claire and Zaneta respectively from the left.

I think I am going to make at least one for myself too!


Xmas Tokens for the clinic staff. I tied cotton ribbon to the cute mini wooden pegs to make it more presentable.

Last but not least, the Amigurumi Horse for Grace. She finally got the Horse she has always wanted! :)