Monthly Challenge Theme: Food

This month's challenge is to incorporate mori-themed foods into your life. Whether this be actual food, yummy scented candles or food motifs in you outfit! Try making your own berry jams and preserves, or eating young fern shoots. Candy different varieties of flower petals and add rose-flavored syrup to your tea! I'm personally in love with Angelic Pretty's French Cafe biscuit theme. I think I'll make a cute biscuit brooch with french themed ribbon!

July Lifestyle Ideas

• If the weather permits, plan a strawberry picking outing. Use a straw basket and a wear a soft, cotton apron
• Innocent world has a wonderful mori-able jsk to match!
• It's never too early to plan for school! I have a year of high school yet but I'm already looking at mori-style interior design books for dorm ideas (Japanese apartments and dorms are about the same size, aren't they?)
• This Japanese furniture website has a gallery of bedroom ideas
• Here's a simple craft to try: make simple bow brooches using different colors and textures of ribbon and lace and sew/glue on a pin. Experiment with layers of fabric too
• Try unusual accessories like big-rimmed granny glasses
• Create a light scarf by sewing together vintage lace doilies 
• Nothing makes a more perfect summer bag than a straw basket or small picnic case with a doily attached to it
• Tokyo Jam has a selection of Japanese mori-esque craft and embroidery tutorial mook scans
• Wondering how to add mori-style to the ever-necessary summer shorts? Add eyelet lace trim to the leg hole or add patches of lace around the legs and pockets

Vintage Bag + Sweet Macaron

I quickly wanted to share two treasures with you. The first is an adorable vintage straw basket. I bought it from an antiques dealer who said it belonged to a late Texas fashonista. By the looks of the other pieces of her wardrobe that were there, I'd say so too! The inside has an adorable (yet fairly worn) fruits print and is the perfect size!

Made in British Hong Kong?

The second item is my long-awaited pencil pouch that I commissioned from Sweet Macaron (located in Singapore). She has a variety of fabrics to choose from and I thought this would be adorable for next school year (I'm going mori-themed with my school supplies).

That is all!

DIY Dolly Crafts

Here's an update on some impromptu crafting I managed to do today :)

Firstly, I wanted a bag similar to this one and decided to make it myself! 

 I used a plain natural color canvas bag and red acrylic paint. 

Materials: 

Calculator, painter's tape, an eraser, pencil, ruler & scissors

Acrylic craft paint (dark red)

WIP shot

But... oh no! Unexpected spots :( I couldn't get them out...

What will I do??

Lace bits to the rescue! 

Looks even a bit more Dolly-kei, doesn't it?

More crafts (loosely inspired by the "Dolly" line of accessoires)

Raspberry strap (charm from Japan, leaves and lace are scraps)

Strawberry brooch

Velvet rose brooch

A simple cream ribbon brooch

I hope to make a few collars like these and other cute items in the near future:

Delicate

Nature is so delicate, isn't it? Especially birds. They have been a reoccurring theme this summer. From birds of all varieties and sizes flocking to our backyard for water, to babies making happy rackets to less fortunate experiences. I found this delicate treasure while biking one day, cleaned and took it home. I can hardly tell I'm holding it, it's so weightless. 

June Lifestyle Ideas

• Look for accessories for this month's challenge (Sailor!) at beach-side vintage or antique shop
• Try a sweet "Pink Lady" soda I tried at a vintage candy shop - Mix (your preference) of 7-up, Orange Sunkist, a hint of raspberry flavor and top off with Italian cream
• Coordinate outfits with soft tulle and gauze instead of lace for a unique look 
• Practice making "Zakka" pouches - they are a simple sewing expenditure! - Here are some cute fabrics and zippers
• Have a yummy breakfast of waffles topped with fresh strawberries, whipped cream and powdered sugar - so sugary and delicious! 
• Take a visit to your local botanical center to enjoy wildflowers and wildlife
• Bring a sketch book or camera along with you to record the beautiful life you observe there!
• Layer decorative lace collars over a simple shirt or blouse
• Try sewing cute felt cakes and sweets
• Collect vintage decorative tins to store your mori treasures

Monthly Challenge Theme: Sailor

Theme: Sailor

An adorable look

Wow! This month is already so hot. +__+ Isn't this a perfect opportunity to doll up in breezy sailor dresses and explore a lake, beach or dock? You can find blue and white sailor stripes plus plenty of peter pan collars in Syrup's summer collection! Key components of the sailor style are bright white bleached cotton, blue stripes, boater hats, rounded collars, ascots, rectangular back collars, and nautical themes like anchors, knots, ship steers, fish, seahorses and mermaids. Straw accents help give your outfit a beachy vibe. If you're thinking of a photo shoot, an original idea may be to combine sailor outfits with whimsical balloons and carnival scenery for a true "beach pier" look.