Something pretty

Hello everyone, hope you're having a lovely week!

It's a bit rainy and dreary here, but I have been cheering myself up with some lovely images via Pinterest.

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Sparkly whites and a bit of purple and pink - bliss!

Cute Home Decor Idea

Don't you just love these grouped frames - so cute and pretty!

{image via Pinterest}

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Do You Pin?

I joined Pinterest ages ago, but with a lot on my plate, I kind of never got around to doing anything more than accepting my invite.... Until this week.

Suffice to say I'm totally hooked - it is just so darn cool!

While looking at new stuff on there this morning (circa 5am), I came across this image and I must say it seems quite fitting.

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I've managed to pin everything from wedding dresses to home decor to puppy dogs! (And apparently tapped into a slightly cheesy side of my personality along the way!)

So my question for today is - do you pin?

Have a fantastic Friday!

Loveliness from Lisbeth Dahl

If your style leans toward feminine, stylish decor, then it doesn't get better than the beautiful girly items offered at Lisbeth Dahl.

If you've yet to discover this lovely shop, here's a peak at some of what's on offer.

{All images from Lisbeth Dahl}

If you'd like to find out more, head over here to have a look around the stunning range of homewares and jewellery in this totally charming Danish store.

Have a fantastic Monday!

Blogging again...

Hello lovely people, yep, I'm finally back online here at Lulliloo.... Dare I say it, I've been a very bad blogger!

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I mentioned a few weeks back (and by that I mean around 6 weeks, eek! :) ) that I was doing blog design, and, well, I kind of got caught up doing that over at Crafty Lil Fox. Setting everything up there has been a full on effort, and I'm feeling a little exhausted and super happy with my results (you can check them and my giveaway out here!). I've been lurking popping by a lot of your blogs, and I'm looking forward to catching up with any posts that I missed.

One thing that I have been doing in between designing blogs is thinking a lot about what I want to have on here, so I think there could be a few changes coming (and hopefully you'll all like them!)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Blog Giveaway Winner

Well, the entry's closed last week, I've checked out everyone's gorgeous handmade posts and I've put all the names in a hat to pick one winner at random.

And the winner is.... Redlilocks from Swoon Worthy!

Congratulations and if you can please email me and let me know your details I'll get your book in the post very soon.

I'd also like to say a very big thank you to everyone who took part in the linky party - it was great to see the different handmade posts that everyone linked to and to find some lovely new blogs as well!

Meanwhile, if you missed out with my giveaway, make sure you pop by and visit Sarah at Modern Country Style for the chance to win some gorgeous Spode dishes (just like this one here!)

Have a lovely week!

Handmade Homewares - Drawstring bag tutorial

Hello lovely people and thanks for your comments on my handmade drawstring bags from my linky party post - linking and entries for the giveaway closes tomorrow so make sure you check out the post if you missed it!

Today I'm going to show you how to make these bags. They're a really practical thing to have and one of my favourite, super easy handmade homeware items. I love drawstring bags, because they can be rustled up in next to no time and they're just so darn useful!


I use them as dust bags for shoes or handbags and to stow all sorts of things out of the way. You can keep them super simple like the one I'm going to show here, or if you're going to use this bag to hang somewhere visible, then you might like to 'dress it up' by using a patterned fabric, adding some sort of embellishment, using a fancy cord for the drawstring, by screen printing the fabric or whatever your imagination comes up with. For this bag, I've used calico, but you could use other sturdy fabrics like cotton drill or similar.

To get started, you need to take whatever you're going to keep in the bag and sit it on a piece of newspaper to make a pattern. For this example, I'm going to create a basic calico shoe bag.

**Tip - if you're making several at a time for shoes or handbags, then compare a few different sizes and make it big enough to fit all the shoes or bags in to save yourself time on making multiple patterns.

Measure around the item and don't forget to allow a bit extra for the seams (an inch either side should be sufficient.) You'll also need to allow a little extra at the top. I usually fold it over to hide the edge of the fabric, then fold again leaving around an inch to thread through the drawstring.

Once you've got your pattern, fold the fabric so you can place one end of the paper at the fold, pin the pattern in place and cut around it.

I then take the piece of fabric and do a zig zag stitch the whole way around (you could use an overlocker/serge the edges also).

Next, fold the fabric in half and stitch together the length of the first side. If you're using a patterned fabric, make sure you pin the patterned sides facing each other and sew on the wrong side.
On the second side, start stitching around two and a half inches from the top (opening end) of the bag down to the fold.

Once you've done that, fold and iron the zig zag edge just out of the way and fold the fabric again to roughly an inch wide. At this point, you should see that the lower edge of the fold lines up with the point at which you started sewing together the second side of the bag. Make sure you also tuck the edge seams under so that they don't show when the bag is finished, as in the picture below.

Next, stitch the whole way around at lower part of the folded top seam to create the drawstring section and you're just about there.

The last thing you need to do is turn your bag in the right way and thread through some cord for the drawstring.

And voila! You've now finished your very own, super simple drawstring bag.

If you have any questions let me know and also let me know how you go if you try this out!

Have a lovely day!

A Home Made Vintage Linky Party!

Hello lovely, welcome to my linky party!

Come in and sit down-can I offer you anything...

Tea? Coffee? Cupcakes?

I'm so glad you've joined in and I can't wait to see and hear about what all of you have to 'show and tell' for this handmade and vintage themed day!

So to get the ball rolling, I'd like to show off these lovely drawstring bags that I made. I've been moaning about a lack of storage space lately, so I decided it was really time I did something about it.

I made these three beauties this morning (and yes, I promise to share how I did it very soon!) I love how simple they are and yet they are just so effective for getting all sorts of odds and ends out of the way.

So now it's your turn to show and tell - have you made something new and exciting or found something lovely and vintage - then grab your own linky button from on the right and put it on your side bar, post on your blog and add your link here so that we can all see too!

And as a special treat - one of you lovelies will also get a copy of 'Homemade Vintage' by Christina Strutt (of Cabbages and Roses).

Have a gorgeous day!

A Right Royal Knees Up!

I have to admit when a friend of mine (in their twenties) actually used the expression 'knees up' just recently I had a bit of a giggle. This very English expression simply refers to a great party and since today's the big day for Will and Kate, I basically couldn't let the ocassion pass without mentioning the royal wedding.

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I'll be visiting my sister, Letitia from The White Shed - and I'll finally get to see the 'shed' in real life. Unlike a lot of people out there who are nice enough to read both her blog and mine and who've been to her country homewares shop, this will be my first visit. Living the other side of the world means I haven't actually been there yet!

While the wedding takes place, my mum, sis and I are going to have our own 'knees up', celebrating being together, watching the wedding, drinking some bubbly and enjoying the occassion.

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What are you plans for the wedding? Will you be watching?

Have a great day! xx

Candy Colours and Pastel Home Decorations

Happy (belated) Easter! I'm just starting to feel normal after travelling for 25 hours from London to Adelaide and have been busy catching up with my family and boy is it nice to see everyone after such a long time away!
I got a big surprise when my sister and her family arrived in Adelaide on Friday (a day earlier than expected) to come and visit me at my parents place. Easter with my nephews was so much fun and it was just so nice to see them after 2 years away.

Today's post is insipired by something I just loved when I was little - candy easter eggs. These rare treats were all the more special for being something unique and unusual. I think the home decoration in these pictures with the pastel candy colours reminds me of candy eggs and long ago easters. I think there are some lovely candy colour shades, which are a great basis for a range of home decor ideas. In particular, I love the pastel greens, blues and pinks; I always seem to be drawn to these colours more than any others, in particular pastel blues and greens.

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Just had to include this last one because it pretty much sums up how I feel after a weekend of feasting!

Have a lovely week xx

A Blog With Substance Awards

I was really thrilled to receive this 'Blog with Substance' award earlier this week from Redlilocks at Swoon Worthy - if you haven't visited this blog - then you don't want to miss out!
This is a blog about a home renovation in progress and you'll find loads of yummy home decor ideas!



After getting this, it made me reflect on what defines a blog with substance to me. For me it is a blog that combines personal insight, great images, creativity and a healthy dose of personality!

I have chosen the following blogs because I think these have all those things - I've been reading these blogs since I started blogging and each of these is right up the top of the list for blogs that I still read over and over again...

So without further ado - I would like to give the 'Blog with Substance' award to the following lovely ladies

Emma from Emma Burgess
Laura from My summerhouse
Laura from Happy Home Maker UK
Laura from A Place For Tea
Signe from Signe Pling
Maureen from Day Dream Living

I hope you'll enjoy each of these blogs and I'm sure you'll find loads of inspriration from the country style home decor, to fashion, lovely photos and beautiful home decor ideas that feature prominently - plus a healthy dose of the writer's personality at each of these blogs.

I hope you've had a wonderful weekend! xx

An English Garden Party

Today I'm linking up for 'An English Garden Party' with Sarah at Modern Country Style and I've put together my list of the must have ingredients for the perfect garden party.

The perfect garden party requires vintage style floral dresses...

Via Suite 101

Via The Natural Wedding Company

These latest Spring fashion trends are perfect for making a floral fashion statement...

Dolce & Gabbana

Noa Noa

You need a lovely place to sit and enjoy the tea with all your delightful friends...

Via Les Tuileries

This country style home decor is perfect for sunny afternoons - and also ideal in case of an English rain shower.

Via Lisa Dawn Wedding Photography

The party simply wouldn't be complete without lovely cakes and nibblies (all presented beautifully of course!)

Image from Claudia's Cupcakes via http://www.archantsuffolk.net/weddings/2010/06/claudias-cupcakes/

Via Teacups and Roses

And finally, in true English fashion, you must have tea!

These beautiful home decor ideas are from The Afternoon Tea Table

I hope you're having a lovely time at the garden party - don't forget to visit Sarah and join in the party over there! xx

PS ~ If you'd like to you can see my garden here.

Moody Blues - Fashion Trends & Home Decor Ideas

I probably couldn't ever commit to choosing just one colour as a favourite, but I guess blue always sits in my top 3 - it is such a versatile colour, blue could be anything from turquoise to navy to sapphire.

One of my favourites is a shade of blue is a mid-blue with a touch of grey. I have seen so many beautiful home decor ideas and fashion trends incorporating these shades lately - I decided to share some of my favourites here today.

via carmenweddings.co.uk

Country style home decor in classic blue and white

Lanvin dress via PierceMattie Public Relations

via Mabley Handler Interiors

via Visualizeus.com

via Jolt Footwear Australia

via Harpers Bazaar

via Curbly.com

Have a lovely weekend! xx