Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution

Sometimes you do thing because you think "I have nothing to lose" well that was my attitude when I sent in my application for the Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution.  Well that was back in mid June this year and quite frankly once I sent the form I thought nothing of it.

Then to my surprise I got a phone call a couple of weeks later telling me they would like to interview me!  Eeek!

So off I went to do my 15 minutes interview where I talked about my craft and of course once it was over, I wanted to go home and forget about it.  Dwelling on success or failure is a vicious circle for me so better to forget about it.

Then what do I hear after a few weeks but a another phone call saying they would like to invite me to appear on the show!  Yes I was over the moon and a little bit dumbstruck at the same time.  

What was I going to wear?  What am I going to say?  Oh god I am going to be on TV!!!!

Well since I have already decided on the kanzashi I was going to show off.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/97785821/maiko-sakura-tsumami-kanzashi-set

It is pretty much a show stopper which is why I chose it.

Now what to wear?  Nothing too pale as it was being filmed outdoors and nothing too bright or my kanzashi would not shine so I went with my navy blue wool kimono!

I teamed it with my red obi as I did not want to make my outfit too busy and of course my favourite tan coloured boots.  Well the last thing I wanted was to be sinking into the grass now.

It is a nice and simply outfit but I like it.  The kimono has a nice retro modern feel to it and the obi is nice and stiff so I did not have to worry about the otaiko musubi shifting it shape which was good.

For hairstyle, I opted for a braided side bun as it was the most easy style to do and the most reliable.  The last thing I wanted was my hair to be blown across my face and getting caught in my glasses and the kanzashi that I was wearing.

I should be informed of the transmission date soon!

Oh if you were wondering who interviewed me well here she is!

http://www.maryjanemakes.com/mary-jane-makes/paul-martins-handmade-revolution

Wedding Dress- Beyond The Sea by Yolan Cris

Time to hit the beach with this one!

Beyond The Sea by Yolan Cris

Why I love it!
It is such a carefree outfit and as I said above, perfect for a beach wedding or maybe a Mardi Gras themed wedding.

In addition, you can mix and match this dress with other accessories so you can change your outfit throughout your special day without taking the dress off.  Not too mention after your special day, you can wear any part of this dress again!

Not for me I think....
Although I love this dress I don't think I can pull it off.  For one thing, I do not have the arms to pull it off as mine are too flabby.  And not too mention if you have a slight belly this will show it off to the world however this could be remedied with a scarf around this area.  See accessories save the day!

Wedding Dress - Escape by Monique Lhuillier

More dresses and this one is definitely has the out of this world feel.

By Monique Lhuillier one just took my breath away!

Escape by Monique Lhuillier

Why do I Love It!

What drew me to this dress is the lovely veil-like cape that the model is wearing.  I don't think for one second that it will keep you warm but it give a lovely ethereal look and I can only imagine what this dress would look like in some dramatic photos.

Also it gives an attractive alternative to wearing a veil.  If you want to float down the aisle but don't want the fuss of having a piece of fabric covering your face and covering your wonderful hairdo then this could be an option.

But it is not for me.....

Without the cape, this dress would look lovely with your hair up or down.  In fact some lovely Hollywood curls would be lush.  However as soon as the cape is added, I can only imagine it with an up hairdo.  I suppose my reason for this conclusion is that with your hair down it will obscure the back of cape but if you have shoulder length hair this shouldn't be a problem.

Wedding Dress - ??? by Phillipa Lepley

When I saw this dress I just thought CUTE!!!!

??? by Phillipa Lepley

Why I love it!


Lately I have been thinking about making some aristocratic lolita dresses so I have been looking at some wonderful fabrics.  Therefore when I saw the lovely sheer fabric with those cute little flowers all over it I was giddy.

Those lovely cap sleeve are perfect for hiding any of those unsightly bulges that ones get around the armpit areas and provide coverage for brides who are concerned with exposing too much of their chest.  There is nothing like a little bit a security that a piece of fabric can give you.

Not For Me...


The dress it self I think will suit a lot of figures however I think it is the print or the flowers on the dress that will make or break it.

If you like dainty little flowers then this is great and even better if you are planning a spring wedding because it has that fresh look to it.

Wedding Dress - Sapphire by Stephanie Allin

Stephanie Allin has showcased her 2013 collection and I noticed this little number!

However it was not a dress that caught my eye but a trouser and corset like top outfit.

Sapphire by Stephanie Allin

Why do I love it!


Before I got in touch with my feminine side I was very much a trouser girl until I was probably 21 years old.  At that age, I refuse to wear a skirt!  Of course I had them for family weddings but I hated wearing them.  Therefore if I was still of that mind frame then this might have been something I would be looking for.

Highly practical yet very feminine and you can really show off your lovely shoes.  I always thought it was a shame that a lot of brides would spend a lot of money on a pair of Jimmy Choo or Louboutins only to hide them under their skirts.

Maybe not my thing actually


It is definitely not one for you girlies who are planning a fairytale wedding and although trousers are brilliant I am not sure about these one for girls who have large calves like me!  On the other hand if you can get parallel leg trousers then I think it would be perfect for me but alas skinny capri like trousers are not for me.

Wedding Dress - On A Night Like This by Stewart Parvin

I haven't posted a hippy style wedding dress so here is one from Stewart Parvin to address the balance.

On a Night like This by Stewart Parvin

Why I love it!

One of the things why I love hippy style wedding dresses is the carefree feeling that they give out and this number is perfect.  Designed to be worn off the shoulders this is perfect for brides who have a lovely pair to show off.

In addition, if you are feeling thrifty you could wear this dress again since it does not shout wedding dress.

Oh NO NO NO!

Yes I said it, the dress does not shout wedding which for some brides is a big NO NO.  

Then the actual dress, perfect for anyone with a slender figure who has a nice pair of shoulders.  So unless you are planning to spend some time in the gym making yourself look good for the dress, I would go for something more structured which will play to your good points.  However you could get away with wearing some supportive underwear which will help you look your best.

I Love Kanzashi - Mother Nature

I enjoy mixing vintage with modern fabric when I am making kanzashi.

Mother Nature by Kitty Kanzashi

Why?  Because I like using the bright vibrant coloured modern fabrics with the muted colours of the vintage fabric.

UK kanzashi maker

 Of course not all vintage fabric are muted in colour, some are quite stunning but that is for a later date.

Kanzashi by Kitty Kanzashi, UK

 These ones are a little bit bigger then my standard pair hairclips at 5cm in diameter but they are perfect to wear for all occasions.

You can wear then as an everyday clip to brighten up your outfit or maybe as an accent piece for a special occasion.  And if you are the suit of person who is not comfortable with wearing floral accessories then these would be perfect because they do not attract too much attention.

So if you are interested in these one then you can buy them here!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/88859339/kanzashi-green-and-gold-hairclip-mother