friday finds {charming accessories}

There's no doubt about it -- I'm an earring girl. But I often dream of covering myself with the many other amazingly beautiful accessories I see in stores, and of course, on etsy. Here are some things I found this week.

This has to be one of the prettiest accessories I've ever seen. Le Collier Antoinette by cocoboudoir


Oh to be bold enough to wear flowers on my head. Peche Brouillee from the same designer Le Collier Antoinette by cocoboudoir


I actually would wear this if it didn't say "Cathy" on the back (see alternate pics on etsy). Vintage. 70s Tooled Leather Belt with Metal Buckle from raretreasure


Bring the outdoors with you with this Original Tree Photo Ring from My Belle Bijoux.


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So what are you doing this weekend? We're welcoming a new member to the family today! My sister-in-law is having her second baby today we can't wait to meet the little guy! Other than that I have lots more sewing to do so I had better get to it!

Have a great last weekend before Christmas everyone!

oh happy weekend!

bump up the jam

The title of this post is dedicated a bit to my goodlife class that I miss dearly. I've been out with a bad back for a few weeks and haven't been able to go. I went to the gym for the first time today and gazed into the classroom longingly at all the bodypumpers pumping away to pump up the jam (gotta love that hair and green spandex...)

But I suppose the title is really about the latest project that I did for C a few weeks ago. She really does keep me busy, that girl!



C wanted a bumper pad for her daughter's crib and I took the challenge. She didn't know what fabric she wanted for the longest time, but she knew she wanted something to match her Dwell bed skirt. She decided on Amy Butler's Lime Full Moon Polka Dots after she threw the bag I made her into the crib one day and liked the look. (It also looks pretty cute with the coriander pillow I made her awhile back).



I'm really happy with the turn out -- but I likely won't be making another one until the time comes from my own little ones... these things aren't as easy as they look to make! But it was fun and I'm happy that C keeps me sewing for practice.

welcome to lealou's house

Well it's up! I spent the past month or so sewing, taking photos and writing descriptions for each item and had lots of fun doing it. Even if no one buys anything I had so much fun getting back into sewing I can't wait to get back to the sewing machine to make more.

I have to say I had the most fun writing the descriptions... people might think I'm a bit crazy naming my pillows and totes after parts of East York where I live but that's ok... I like it here and why not promote it?

For this first batch of sewing I used a lot of Anna Maria Horner fabrics... her new Garden Party line is so bright and vibrant and really I can't stop looking at them. I just LOVE her Drawing room volumes print which I used for my tote. I also used a couple of Amy Butler's print's although they're a bit springy! It's so dreary here today that a little punch of pink is just what I need to tell you the truth.

Thanks again to my sister for creating my very cool banner and to my cat for staying away from all the stuff I sew... also thanks to M for vacuuming up the little threads he finds all over the house every week...

So here we go! here's a little taste of what you can find in the shop:

The Taylor Creek Cushion
Named after the little creek near my house - this pillow reminds me of the crispness of fall...

The Relish Cushion

Named after one of my favourite places to eat in East York, Relish Bar & Grill... it gives people in the area something different than the every-day mundane.

The East Lynn Cushion

This cushion reminds me of a park with it's bright colours so I named it after East Lynn Park down the street from me...

Springtime in the City Cushion

Sure it's not springtime, but I know I will be wishing for it once the first snowflake hits the ground, so I made this bright pink pillow to add a touch of spring to those cold winter months.

The Stacks Tote

This was my favourite project -- I LOVE this fabric and want to keep the tote for myself... I made the handles a bit too long but I tied them up and think they look kinda cute now...

I'll be updating the shop as I figure out what to up up there next so keep a look out... also I have a cute baby project I made for C and Rowan a couple weeks ago... I have to get C to take some pics when she gets it set up...

Happy weekend! I'm off to the in-laws and then to visit some good friends tomorrow north of the city.

~lealou

five fabulous frenchies

A while back I showed you a prototype for a project I was working on but I couldn't show you what the project was exactly. I gave you a hint last week but it's all I could do... but I think it's safe now. two of the people that may or may not read this blog are basking in the loveliness that is Roma, two don't really read my blog (I don't think), and I'm seeing one of them today so hopefully she doesn't see this BEFORE I see her.... plus I myself and taking off to Rome today and I don't want to post this there for I will be stuffing my face with pasta and cheese I'm sure.

It's a little strange that I'm making them frenchies when we're heading to Italy but here we go -- in lieu of getting my bridesmaids jewelry for my wedding, I decided to make each of them a bag with various fabrics I thought they would appreciate and that suited their distinct personalities. They're all from Amy Butler -- I love that I can go through her 'stash' to find something for everyone.













As I mentioned, I'm off to Italy today (to get married!) so I won't have any sewing posts for a while - I will try to add some fun Italian adventure pics during my travels.

Ciao!

the best of youth

when I was young fridays and sometimes saturdays were always movie nights in my house. I would get my pillow from my bed, fill a bowl full of plain rippled potato chips and a class of crackling raspberry gingerale (do they sell this any more?) and plop down on the floor in front of the television for the duration of many a cheesy movie. I loved this part of my childhood. the thing is... I don't really remember too many of the movies we saw because by the time I was done munching and slurping away, I passed out on my pillow until the end of the movie - missing the plot entirely and leaving me to ask many questions at the end.

This movie-watching challenge would not end as an adult. In fact, I manage to passout in the first 1/2 of a movie almost every time. This does not bode well with M - he doesn't like the fact that I fall asleep only to watch the flick alone. Ahhh what can I do - I get comfy.

This weekend however I think I had a break through.

M and I have been renting italian movies through zip.ca to help us with our Italian lessons for the wedding and although the first three movies that we've received haven't been the greatest, the one we started to watch on Friday was amazing. I say started to watch because it's a 6-hr movie. Yes 6-hrs. We weren't even going to watch it because it was so long but we only received the first disc which was only 3-hrs so we thought we'd start watching it and if we didn't like it we'd turn it off. Man was it great... so far. It's called The Best of Youth or La Meglio Gioventù and it's a story about 2 brothers over 3 decades of their lives and the various obstacles they encounter. One brother volunteers at a psychiatric hospital and meets a girl named Georgia. He doesn't like the way she's being treated so he takes her from the hospital and, with his brother, travels to her home town to bring her back to her family. The trip changes the lives of both brothers and the movie takes you through their chosen paths. The scenery is great and the music is fun and I can't wait to watch the second half. Three hours definitely flew by and I know that if we had the second dvd we'd have watched it.

SO all that to say that I stayed awake for the WHOLE 3 hrs! I think the trick is that I didn't have a pillow or a blanket and I was reading the sub-titles the whole time.

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so enough of that.

Ok so I decided that I really need to get sewing if I want to make most of my gifts this year. I managed to finish one gift. Ta-da!





It matches the napkins I made awhile back. It's basically a place mat but I only made one so it'll be more of a table mat/runner type thing. I really like the way it turned out even if it was a pain the butt to make.

I also took a stab at making some stockings. I tried a new stitch on my machine and put the stars on the front.



and I have to mention my little sheep! I got them in a little antique/gift type store just south of Sutton, ON. So cute!

Ok have fun out there! I'm off to play soccer or should I say "gioco il calcio" for fifth place... last place... update: we lost! oh well - there's always next season!

Trick or Treat!

My friend C came over today for some vanilla bean hot chocolate and to give me this! Can you believe how cute -- she's one of those people that does the sweetest things for people just because. I was so happy to recieve it just in time for the little trick or treaters!

Happy Halloween!

October fun

we were spoiled for a few days with the amazing weather we've been having and now that it's gone I really miss it. it's raining today and feels so dark and gloomy. At least the rain gives me more time to be on the computer and sew.





Last night I made these napkins -- I kind of followed the Bend-the-Rules sewing book but mostly I made these from a set of napkins i already have. I was looking through the book last night and realized that I have made so many things already! It really is a great book and I feel that it really is helping to establish this online crafting culture that I love being a part of.

These napkins are part of a gift -- shhhh -- I don't want my giftee to find out! these will accompany a BTR table runner which I think will go quite nicely together.

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On another note -- I've been quite busy this fall. On Thanksgiving we went to my mom's house where she participated in some town activities. She's the mayor of our little town and it was quite fun to see her talking and having so much fun with everyone. Here is a pic of my mom and my grandmother at the festivities.



And last weekend we went on a wine tour in Niagara-on-the-Lake with M's work. It was so much fun -- we were picked up in a limo and taken to five or so wineries. I have to say although all the wines we tried were scrumptious and wonderful, I will not be drinking wine again for awhile!

etsy

I've been obsessed with window shopping at etsy for some time now - I just love all of the items people have on there to sell and I love that it's all made by independant artists. Today I was searching around and found the cutest earrings! I was due for some new ones so I bought these from sulu-design. Can't wait to get them!