Last minute holiday DIYs

So your all packed ready to go but can’t resist one final project! No problem I have two easy quick things you can do to pimp your holiday booty!

1. Pimp yo flip flops

So easy, and who doesn’t need flip flops for holiday! Mine were all of £1.50. I painted the edges with pink glittery nail polish. Mmmm glitter!

2. And the less exciting but equally necessary liquid security bag
Regulation and rules totally dominate air ports and one that I’m always super careful about is the liquid limit. Not only do they limit the size but also ask you to put them in a clear bag! I had a clear bag but it was dull (boo) and a little broken (double boo). To fix and jazz it up I uses green embroidery thread to blanket stitch the ends and make a tassel to attach to the pull chain!

And just to proove how last minute this all was this photo was taken on the train en route to the airport!

Never don’t call me classy!!!!

What’s in your (beach) bag

So now you have a swanky New beach bag what goodies do you pack it with for that long day sunning yourself! Here’s my current beach favourites.

From top left:

Sunglasses, mine are dull because they are prescription and it felt too much of a commitment to get anything too ‘out there’

The bag itself!

A good book, currently a collection of the queen mothers letters which surprised me by being good and engaging. She writes beautifully abe lives though some very interesting historical milestones. You should just read this book because it’s good.

Water bottle and sun cream, duh!

Black high waist halter bikini, I bought it super early (read February, I have been excited for my holiday for way too long!)

Products, yes I’m the products on the beach type, judge if you must Lord knows I do! Left to right, moisturizer (decanted from a large botttle), comb, leave in spray conditioner and spray in face nonsense (glossy box find). It cools and hydrates your face and leaves you feeling super refreshed.

And of course, towel!

What do you lug to the beach? Do you bring a towel?

DIY beach bag

My holiday is approaching fast and I’m ready to hit the beach, in a big way. New beach bag time!

I used half a meter of each fabric (54″ drop) one for the lining (blue polka dot ) and another for the exterior (beach huts). These are furnishing fabrics which make this bag more hard wearing and helps hold its shape better.

I cut each length in half (to give two short fat rectangles) and sewed them together along three sides leaving one long side open. I drew a 9cm square into each of the bottom corners then folded them along the diagonal pinned and sewed giving the bag a square bottom.

Repeat for the other fabric then place one inside the other and iron down the hems (inwards) with the outer being a touch longer than the inner making a neat top edge.

Now decide where you want to position your eyelets (mine were 3cm down from the top) and use a islet punch to attach them through.

Thread with rope and double knot the ends. Before cutting the rope wrap it with serotype and cut through the middle of the tape, this will stop it fraying.

The final flourish, tie the ends around with silk thread and trim the ends.

All you need now is a towel and a good book!

DIY travel document case

It’s the summer time and my holiday is coming, fast! I’m more than a little bit excited! So whats a girl to do? It’s too early to pack and I really have done all the pre holiday shopping that can be justified (and some on top!)

Travel document holder, I don’t have one of them, until now that is.

I used some of my favourite fancy stash, a highlighter yellow and pink polka dot outside and a geometric black and white inside. I’m not going to loose this in a hurry!

Inside 2 large pockets for papers (tickets, insurance documents, things you might need close at hand) and a smaller pocket, with a fancy turned down contrast corner for that all important passport. And the final flourish, a windowed pocket to hold a travel itinerary for quick reference for the exhausted traveler!

Mine is 21cm x 12.5cm which is about 2cm short on the length so I would advocate cutting fabric seam allowance + 2cm over the maximum size document you want to carry.

Each pocket is lined, made by sewing 2 squares together (one of each fabric choice), turning pressing and stitching around the edge giving beautiful detailing.

This is such a simple project once you have decided the pockets and sizes you want, but if all you need is a passport case you can use the same principles of sewing two pieces together, turning and top stitching.

I’m bad at explanations but I hope this gives you some beautiful ideas!

Birthdays, heatwaves and balloons

How’s the heat wave been treating y’all! Dreaming of snow? Me I love the heat so crank it up baby I’m taking in as much of summer as I possibly can!

It was my wonderful Mum’s birthday last week and to celebrate we had a bit of a girly day, shopping lunch gossip, you know what I mean!

Lunch (well afternoon tea) at beckworth which is truly delicious and a must eat if you are ever in the vicinity.

Some gentle plant browsing….

The orange ones were dry flowers. Not dried but dry!

Did I forget to mention that beckworth is a farm shop too! It all looks too delicious right!

Then home for some cake and balloons, no birthday however old young you are is complete without balloons!!!

Happy 21st mum!!!!!!

Flavoured gins

It’s not a secret that I love gin and since it’s so in vogue to pimp your drinks I made some flavoured spirits!

Pictured are rosemary, orange and strawberry gins.

Each is about 33cl
Rosemary: 1 sprig washed and left in for 18hours
Orange: whole orange washes and segmented but in future I would zest and juice the orange. Left for 36hours.
Strawberry: washed whole strawberries (about a large handfull) chopped to increase the surface area. Left for 36hours.

All three give great colours and add a different level to the drinks. Use them for a standard g&t or mix it up and shake it down!

Alternatively if you are not a gin lover (boo hiss) why not use lemons and vodka (zest and juice of 6 lemons in 75cl of vodka) together in the fridge for about 3 days. Mix it with home made lemonade to make a dirty lemonade for sunny nights!