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

You had nearly forgotten my {Buy it or Make it} feature, hadn't you? It has been on my mind for - like - ever, and I never actually managed to sit down and write any {BIMI} since August! That-is-not-good. But we are back on track - at least once a month. The patchwork theme may have looked an easy one to choose, 1) because Elle France (issue 18 Nov) had a feature on it (see 1 in collage), 2) because I stalk a lot of patchwork blogs on the net, and 3) because this is something I actually do. So I tried to make it a bit less 'cushions and throws' (my kind of patchwork) and a bit more fashion (sort of).

1. Elle France feature on patchwork; 2. Alphabet Patchwork Print by RukaRuka at Etsy; 3. Patchwork belt at Beltme.co.uk; 4. Sonia Rykiel Patchwork Dress at Asos; 5. Patchwork Apron at Anthropologie; 6. Esposito shoes at Farfetch; 7. Filkin Cushion at Toast; 8. Isabel Marant shirt at Matches.

(NB: pas d'accents aujourd'hui, clavier QWERTY) .. Voila ma selection patchwork. Comme je le disais en anglais ci-dessus le patchwork c'est mon truc, je fais meme part de mes projets sur mon blog! Donc j'aurai pu vous faire des listes de coussins et autres couvertures a acheter. Mais non, ici on veut du fashion et j'ai surtout eu de la chance que la Poule a petit pas nous ait sorti sa version de la chemise d'Isabel Marant il n'y a pas bien longtemps. Je ne vais pas vous re-ecrire les instructions de la Poule, c'est beaucoup plus marrant de lire ses billets.

{Make it} Well, you have the choice for patchwork. Check out my blogroll on the right-hand side and you will find what you need. But for the 'Homemade' version of the Isabel Marant shirt, you will have to check out one of my favourite French blogs La Poule a petit pas. She used a mix of two Japanese books patterns (you will see the pics on her blog). She mixed different fabrics and sewed all the pieces together before cutting out the patterns. Honestly this is WAY out of my league - but it looks SO much like the real thing I may have to try (or it may stay in my book of ideas for a while)...

Alternatively, as it is soon to be Christmas (you have noticed, haven't you?), I thought that you really needed was a Christmas stocking. Purlbee has a super detailed tutorial for THIS Christmas stocking (and if it came with yarn at my house, I will make more than one!). I reckon you can easily change the patchwork pattern and make it a bit more advanced - if you wanted to show off, for instance..

Pour mon deuxieme {made it} je prepare Noel. Alors avec mon Christmas Stocking selon le tuto de Purlbee, je serai prete a recevoir laines, tissus et autres fournitures pour mes futurs projets... Je veux meme bien en faire plusieurs si on a besoin de plus de place pour mes cadeaux - c'est pas un probleme! Je m'adapte!

So guys, are we ready for some patchwork? Are you inspired or has another patchwork project inspired you? Let me know in your comments, I love seeing your inspirations.

{Cross-stitching - Buy it or Make it?} Noas'Libellule

Allo, Allo, Allo... How is everyone doing? All is well in Blighty. I have been wearing my sunglasses two days in a row, Yeah! AND Harry Potter and I have a 3D date tonight... Cannot wait!

So cross-stitching. Yes, I know, cross-stitching is something that you associate with your great aunt and her collection of cross-stitched cats' pictures.

Guys, cross-stitching has changed. It is now bohemian and colourful, or red on linen and gives a countryside feel to your interior. This is cross-stitching but not as you know it! So will you buy it?

1) Mini-dress with cross-stitch embriodery, Asos; 2) Numph cross stitch cardigan, Asos, 3) Cotton Vest Top, La Redoute; 4) Leobella Boutique, Etsy; 5) Red Heart Cross-stitch cushion, Not on the High Street; 6) Cross Stitch Heart mug, Llelewyn and company; 7) Lukely Earrings, Etsy; 8) Wall work, Etsy; 9) Cross Stitch Tablecloth, Pip Studio

You may have noticed that people have started to use cross-stitching on different mediums (cards for instance)... Much like my 'make it' inspiration.

Purlbee is a constant source of inspiration - why are they not in London, why??? Whitney had the idea of cross stitching on crocheted fabric, I know, brilliant! You can find all the explanations on how to do the sweet home sweet pillow on their blog. I love it! It would be easy to add your own design, and make a heart pillow... What do you think?

My next inspiration is mural... Eline is Dutch and very very creative. She painted this cross-stitch rose in one of her bedrooms, based on one of her pillow design. She told me that she was currently designing a stencil to make it easy for everybody to paint cross-stitches on the wall. It will be on sale in September! I reckon this is going to be hot for this autumn - all I am left to wonder is which wall I am going to 'cross-stitch' on!

Finally my last inspiration to make is totally out there. Inge Jacobsen has taken cross-stitching to a whole different level - by cross-stitching fashion magazines cover. Just look at this Vogue issue! How to turn commercial images in work of art - Genius!


So guys, are you inspired? Are you going to your great auntie and ask her to show you how to cross-stitch? What will you be making? As always, I would love to hear about your projects, or what you bought!

PS: As always, thanks for the very creative and talented minds who let me share their projects..