Kay Unger Vogue Pattern

The patterns I have chosen for my wedding outfit, all by Vogue.  I love their patterns, simple to follow, great choice of designs and designers and they each come with a Handmade with a Vogue pattern label which really gives you a professional looking finish if anybody decides to have a look inside your collar :)

The Kay Unger Dress pattern is for the daytime and is going to be made in purple silk dupion and lined with an anti-static lining.  Both of the fabrics were purchased in the uk from www.whitelodgefabric.com

I ordered over the phone so I got exactly what I needed and knew when it would be arriving.  They were very obliging over the phone and I received my fabric the next day with just plain old first class post.  I will be using them again as I love good customer service and a quick turn around on posting.

I will keep you updated on my progress.  The patterns are all cut out but I want to wait until the beginning of November to start sewing because I will have finished all the wedding stationery by then.

Peyote Stitch Kit

 I made a bracelet up for my daughter to wear with an outfit for a wedding.  It started with a barrel of beads, which are the light blue beads and then you had to cover the whole of the barrel with a larger size bead and charlotte on each end.

I am really pleased with the results.  Initially I struggled to start the Peyote stitch and had to call on the assistance of a good friend who is also a jewellery maker to help me out.  

A beautiful bracelet with a host of colours so that it could be worn with a variety of outfits.

The kit is available from Fobbles in Cumbria for £13.50 plus postage and also comes in a lighter shaded mix of beads.  

Swarovski Necklace

I decided to make my own jewellery for my nephew's wedding in December.  I am making my outfit so I thought to complete the ensemble it would have to be handmade.

The book I bought from Amazon is brilliant, Stitch Workshop Right Angle Weave.  It has some lovely jewellery and easy to follow instructions with clear illustrations on how it should be worked and what it looks like at certain points.   

I am wearing an aubergine/wine coloured outfit for the daytime and purple at night and this colour fits both outfits.

A close up of how the beads actually sit together.  I used 6lb Fireline braid thread in a 3 yard length and didn't have to add any more thread which made making the necklace very easy.

The crystals are Swarovski Bicone crystals in Amethyst and a multi-tone clear that picks up off the light whenever it moves

The finished necklace in its box - borrowed from another piece of jewellery until I find something to put it in.

The website's I used for all my purchases were as follows:-

www.amazon.co.uk

www.robins-beads.co.uk

www.jbsbeads.co.uk

Would I do it again?  Well, I am not sure, it took seven nights to make but I did undo any mistakes I made so I know the piece is absolutely perfect from one end to the other but I don't think I will be taking jewellery making up anytime soon, I think it is better left to the experts. :)  

Did it work our cheaper?  No I don't think so, we are lucky to have a couple of local places to buy handmade jewellery and from looking at the prices there wasn't a lot of difference.  Taking into account the book purchase, all the materials, none of which I had, it took the cost well over £40.00, but I do think it was worth doing because of matching my outfit and being handmade.  I will use the book again to make something for another special occasion so it was worth the £6.00 purchase price.