{Granny Squares - Buy it or Make it?} Noas' Libellule obsession

Hello peeps! Happy Friday! Is everyone looking forward ot the weekend? Anything exciting planned? We are off to our last wedding of the year. And then, that is it, nothing planned, weekends are free... and I will be catching up with some craft. Yipee! And definitely some granny squares. It was really fun to put this post together - and I am super inspired... Will you be?

1. Scarf, House of Holland, ASOS; 2. Kid scarf, Super Soil; 3. Pincushion from Namolio, Etsy; 4. Christopher Kane Crocheted Pencil Skirt, Net-a-Porter; 5. Christopher Kane Suzie Crochet Effect Leather, Net-a-Porter; 6. Blanket from the Knitbox, Etsy; 7. House of Holland Tights, Asos; 8. Cushion cover from the Bayleaf Studio, Etsy.

What I love with granny squares is a) it is quite easy to make, 2) you can make them as big or as small as you wish, and 3) it is all about colour coordination. And suddenly you have your own vintage, or modern homemade home - or a new scarf (I love the House of Holland one)!!

So you are asking how? how can you make those beautiful things? I was hoping to make the tutorial... but did not get a chance in the end (a combination of work really kicking off and catching up with sleep). However Adaiha makes it look super easy at her tutorial page.

I have just been on Ravelry to see what comes up if you search granny squares: 4,092 results that include aprons, slippers, colourful cushion covers... If you want inspiration, this is the place to go!!

Have a great weekend guys! And have fun wherever you are!

One year (and a bit) on - in pictures

Hi guys! Happy Wednesday. How are you all doing? Do you remember me telling you about the photoshoot we booked for our first year anniversary (+ 3 months by the time it came round). Yesterday, I received all the photos... SO exciting! Here are my favourites of the couple ones..

I don't usually do what I wear posts - but I will make an exception for this post - although it will be quite poor on the details..

So I am wearing: Jeans: Diesel, Top: Asos Dress changed into a top (by me - email me for more details), Shoes: bought on sale in Leiden (the day before), Jewellery: Noir Jewelry (my obsession of this post), Belt: bought ages ago at Warehouse (I think), and in the first picture leather cropped jacket: Gerard Darel, Pashmina bought in Bangkok airport. Who knows what M is wearing, jeans and a blue shirt??

Just a few words about the location. We did it all in one location - although it does not seem like it. In the North of France you can still find the old coal mines buildings and machines, and we were lucky enough to have access to them for the shoot. This is next to woodlands and a coupd of fields - and next to the Church and the Mairie (town hall) where we got married. All very easy.

Finally the photographer, his name is Benjamin Brolet, he lives in Brussels - and is just brilliant. He covers wedding as well as commercial events. He also travels if your wedding is not in Belgium ... Highly recommended.

{Spikes and Studs - Buy it or Make it?} Noas' Libellule obsession

No guys, I am not turning into a goth ... but I am really liking the spikes and/or studs trend. I am really into new texture and different ways to upcycle clothes and other objects. Spikes and studs are actually really versatile.

My {Buy It} selction is not your usual spikes and studs. It is not really punk - but clearly inspired by the punk/goth movement - and it goes beyond clothing.

1. I love this bowl made by 42pots available at Etsy; 2. Spiked stretchy ring, F21; 3. Stephen Webster silver stud cuff, Asos; 4. Kenneth Jay Lane Sodalite Necklace, Net-a-Porter; 5. La Mer watch, Asos; 6. Bottega Veneta clutch, Net-a-Porter; 7. Spikes on disc drop earrings, Topshop; 8. Louboutin shoes, Net-a-Porter.

How to make it? C'est classique explains it all, with their great tutorial. To be honest, I think this is the tutorial that can be used for all other projects - it has it all: how to place the studs, how to make the holes etc. All you need is the material, I think that should be easily available from Ebay.

So how can use that tutorial? Here are some ideas...

Revamp your handbag...

Pimp your black boots...

Or my favourite, bling up your jacket..

So what do you reckon, thumbs up or down for this trend? Will you be buying it or making it? have you seen other projects, share them ... I always love to hear from you guys...

Home Alone

Hello everyone! It is Friday, yeeeaaahhhhh! It may have been a short week at work, but I still cannot wait for the weekend. M is going to spend the weekend with his mates in Wales, climbing and sleeping in a tent. Definitely not my thing - so I am glad he has friends who go with him and does not force me to do it ... And I am looking forward to a weekend at home, alone. I have been making a to-do list for the past week of what I want to do.

1. Making a bathmat

M has now requested it. I said some time ago I would make one '- Me: They are so easy to make, saw so many amazing projects on pinterest, we cannot possibly buy one?, M: OK', and then we went on holiday, on weekends away, too tired in the evening... My bathroom is still mat-free and one day one of us will slip on the travertine tiles. So this weekend, this is my priority no 1. Here is my inspiration (via pinterest)...

2. 10K

Sometime ago I decided to run a 10K in October. May not sound like a lot to some of you, but I am yet to have run 10K in one go. Plus, one of my colleagues has just done one and she managed to run it in less than an hour - so I decided that her timing would be my benchmark (M is mildly convinced this will happen - he is a former athletics county champion...hmmmm, so I have not a lot of chance right)! I will not be defeated, just need to get on with some serious training. So if you see someone resembling a sweaty lobster panting - do not get scared, it is probably me...

3. Necklace

I have loads of necklaces. But somehow, I always have the feeling that I need a new one, for an occasion, a dress, any excuse... I saw this tuotorial and tried it before going to Brittany. The necklace looked great, but it did not hold, I messed up somewhere, so this weekend I am going to do it again. Hopefully will have something to show you next week!

4. Photo shoot

So you know how I hate my picture to be taken, and there are very few pics of me on the blog. Well, despite my better judgement, I decided that M and I should have a photo shoot celebrating our first year of marriage.

I may need to give you some background here. Before I got married, I contacted a few photographers - as you do - and I found one that I loved... The pictures were quirky, fun, not posed - exactly what I wanted. We signed the contract and I sent the deposit. Two weeks later he sent me an email saying that he would not cash the deposit but that he could not be our photographer anymore - no more explanation (What!). In the end I got my second choice of photographer, who was really good and we have great pictures. But that story got to me a bit, and when all my friends started to talk about photographers for their wedding, I googled my first photographer - just to see if he was back on the scene. I found out on a forum that he had copied all his pictures from another photographer in Belgium - so actually the person I hired was not the photographer. Contacted the Belgian photographer - and here we are having another photoshoot with him! Have you followed all of that? By the way, I have never heard anyone else having problems with their photographer, so don't freak out.. (Oh there is ONE picture of the wedding HERE)

So I need to get prepared for the photo shoot. I bought this dress from Asos - I loved the mesh/lace detail. I put it on - and honestly I look like an elephant in it, I am probably quite offensive to the elephants. Noooo... what to do? I love the top part so much... Well the dress is now deconstructed and I am hoping to make a top out of the materials - this weekend... Stay tune (there will probably be updates on twitter @NoasLibellule).

5. Catching up

With you guys... I have been rubbish this week, and I have not really reading all the blogs I wanted to, so me and my new Ipad (how did I live without one before??) are going to stalk you, and that is a promise - expect a lot of comments!!!

Well all of that in addition to catching up with some beauty sleep (yeah), washing and cleaning (nay)... and probably be 'forced' to go for a couple of drinks with friends...

So guys, have you anything planned this weekend? Any crafty project on the go? Whatever you do, have a fab weekend!!

{Pouches and clutches - Buy it or Make it?} Noas' Libellule obsession

Hiya guys! Another Buy it or Make it feature.. And this one is very exciting. I am obsessed with bags, really. My 30th birthday present was... a bag (a Celine one, beautiful). When I got my first real job I bought myself a bag (a Gucci one)... This is the ultimate purchase that always makes me feel better..

Anyway there are many different types of bags, and today I am on the hunt for pouches and clutches. Personally I am not a fan of clutches because my HUGE purse does not fit in them. Pouches seem to be good compromise. Here is a collection of big and small pouches you could get out there ...

1. Carry-All Pouch, American Apparel; 2. Huxley stingray-trimmed leather clutch, Anya Hindmarch; 3. Grey Lazer Cut Suede clutch, Topshop; 4. Rose Wow Envelope Clutch, Accesorize; 5. Medium Animal-print calf hair pouch, Newbark; 6. Sloan oversized leather clutch, Michael Kros; 7. Feather Clutch bag, Asos; 8. Tan Leather Karma Embossed Clutch bag, Topshop; 9. Pyramid Metal Tip Clutch, Asos.

I am loving this selection, and that Topshop clutch bag will be mine - it is only a matter of time!

It may be hard to convince you to make your own, but you should check out the three DIY projects I lined up for you. There are seriously inspiring.

Firstly, that feather clutch from Asos. Forget about buying it, you should go and check out the very instructive blog of Anne at WobiSobi. She made hers from a feather duster (I knew they were useful for something), hot glue and a discarded bag she had, absolutely awesome!

I am sure you have come across this DIY project or others inspired by this one. Brooke at JustBBlog made this amazing pouch out of the American Apparel Carry-All and acrylic paint. She was inspired by a Celine pouch in a similar colour scheme. It should be on everyone's to-do-list. Go and check out how she did it on her blog.

Finally, I love this final project because it is an upcycling one. It uses those plastic bags we all tend to collect in our kitchens to make the most useful pouches. Lilly happens to have found a plastic bag with a really funky pattern on it - I want to know where she shops. My Sainsbury's ones are definitely not that cool (note to self, only shop where cool plastic bags are given). I can see me using the method of fusing plastic bags and making alternative fabric out of them. Just brilliant!

Did I buy it or make it? Well, I have not bought it... just yet but I will. Then again, I made this 'amazing' (M words not mine) pouch... and the tutorial is coming out tomorrow (available now)... So stay tune guys!

PS: Thanks again to all the bloggers who let me post their DIY projects! Guys you are awesome. And contact me if you have an obsession you want me to look at!