Crafty Musings

This blog is a celebration of all things crafty, whimsical (I just love that word!) and pretty! I hope you’ll find some of it interesting and insightful.

My inspirations are:

• Frankie magazine (more on that later!)
• Fly agaric toadstools (the cute red ones with white spots)
• Helena Bonham Carter’s wonderfully quirky wardrobe

Great crafty projects you can complete on your lunch-break!
The intention of this blog is to provide easy craft ideas that can be created from start to finish in under an hour, or on your lunch break at work. I don’t know about you but I don’t have time to devote my entire weekend to crafty projects. Every Sunday night I think ‘oh I wish I’d altered this dress and made that…’

Toadstools
I’ve only seen one of these wee beauties in real life once when I visited the wilds of northern Scotland. I’m sure you’ll agree they are one of nature’s most divine gifts.

Helena Bonham Carter
To me Helena epitomises all things quirky and eclectic. I adore her uniquely shabby-chic style and the fact that she doesn’t give a toss what anyone thinks. She cites Vivienne Westwood and Marie Antoinette as her main style influences. With her billowing bustle skirts, corsets and love of all things ‘Victoriana’ I bow before Helena and salute her for her original style.

Frankie Magazine
One of the best things about living in Melbourne (and there are many good things) is Frankie magazine. It took me a year or so of living here before I discovered Frankie. There are other similar magazines out there which are probably equally as impressive but for me discovering Frankie was like meeting a new friend and experiencing that connection where you know they are soon to become a bestie!

Frankie talks about fashion, travel, food, music, arts, crafts, photography and fashion in the most beautiful, quirky manner and has artwork to die for. The beauty of Frankie is that it only comes out every two months so you’re always eagerly anticipating the new edition when it arrives in the shops. To my friends overseas, Frankie is available in selected newsagents in the UK.

Okay, enough about Frankie!

 A wee bit about me – my love of all things crafty and vintage
I grew up in Scotland but have lived in Melbourne for 4 years. I adore all things crafty and love sourcing and altering unique vintage dresses. Growing up in Glasgow we were lucky enough to have the most amazing retro shops:

– Retro
– Mr Ben
– Starry Starry Nights

Does anyone remember the beautiful Virginia Galleries shopping arcade? An institution in Glasgow, it was a haven for all things alternative, vintage and eclectic. Housed on 3 levels in a pre-Edwardian tenement building with the most adorable old school tearoom and quirky antique shops in the basement. As a teenager venturing up to the big smoke for the first time I thought I’d died and gone to heaven!

I’m always scouring second hand shops for unusual, but most importantly- pretty frocks to alter or cut-up to use for crafty projects!

I hope you enjoy the simple craft ideas and thank you for visiting.