Imagine...

... a place where you can feel as tall as the sky is high because you can touch all the colours of the rainbow, lose yourself for hours on end, experience textures aplenty and very quickly plump up your credit card balance.  Well, imagine no more!  Places like this do exist.

One of my favourite shops when I'm home is Waste Centre Fabrics in Durban, Umgeni Road.  I've been to so many fabric shops where I can go in and spend hours trying to decide what to buy because it's a case of choosing the best from a disappointing selection.  With Waste Centre, and this branch in particular, it's quite possible to go in at sunrise and emerge at sunset because there is just so much to choose from.  Sadly, funds are finite and I can't buy everything... well, I could if someone were to sponsor me.  I'd be quite up for the challenge!  Thank you Jackie (Branch Manager) and the Team.

Baby Ace Shower

So... a baby shower gift.  Sounds easy but because I prefer to make the gifts I give, I like to look for something a little different.  Searching high and low, long and hard, my search was finally rewarded by a quirky find. 

This project was wholeheartedly inspired by the framed picture on whattoexpect.com.  Pure genius!  Simple, amusing, memorable.  I decided to put my own twist on it and created it as a book out of felt, gingham and linen. 

I didn't want this to be a gift with a clean finish where everything was symmetrical and smooth.  I love textures, the rustic look of fraying linen and the contrast of the cold, hard safety pins against the padded pages. 

As gifts go, it's not the most functional... unless there is an emergency and someone needs a safety pin... but I had fun making it and Baby makes three.  

Congratulations Dad and Mom and welcome Little Ace!

loola lay is Born!



 

Well, loola lay is about 18 months old but it only really feels like I'm getting going now what with joining the 21st Century - signing up to twitter: @loolalaykids, creating a facebook page /loolalaykids, having a business (sort of) and marketing plan (thanks Fi, marketing guru who enjoys using hilarious words like 'mumprenuer'!) and trying to fill my diary with markets.

 

This has been a long time coming.  I've always wanted to work for myself but I reached a point about three years ago when I was fed up with the thankless job I was in. So I started taking stock.  It was more of a dimmer switch than a light bulb moment that I had i.e. my thoughts had been lurking for a while and then one day the switch was turned to full and that little bulb in my brain was shining away. 

 

And the name?  That has been in my head for about a decade.  It was inspired by the sweet words of my babbling, almost two-year-old niece. Who knows what Delphine was saying but it sounded important at the time and it super glued itself to my brain!

 

I know that little A-line dresses are nothing new, neither is the concept of reversible clothing.  The difference comes down to detail and personality through the choice of fabrics, the colours, the combinations, the textures.  Every dress is different because they're all lovingly handmade, locally.  I do it because I enjoy it.  

 

Long may it last! 

p.s. those stick coat hangers have come in very handy...