Link Love: Craft Suppliers

I've recently rediscovered my love of creating, and it's finding its way into almost everything I do at home! I feel much better watching TV if I'm keeping my hands busy crocheting or cutting up fabric to patchwork at the same time! Here are some places that I like to buy my fabric and gear from, I hope you like them too.

Super Buzzy: Yeah yeah, patchwork and quilting is something that your grandmother tried to teach you and you thought was daggy as right_ Well I can tell you right now this isn't your granny's sewing shop. Super Buzzy stocks an amazing array of incredibly cute Japanese inspired fabric and notions, Kawaii sushi with little faces, too cute woodland animals, and nursery stories just to name a few, but you will also find other crafty goods for crochet, knitting, felting and more. The postage can be pricey but the product is just too cute and hard to find!

Hawthorne Threads: A huge range of quality quilting fabric brands at great prices, stock is regularly updated with new brands at reasonable prices for both product and postage, this site is a great place to start for up market brands with a nod to trends. A great staple site, make sure you sign up for the newsletters as they are full of inspiration, competitions and what's new in store.

Hancocks of Paducah: Quite simply the best site if you're after a bargain, with prices on fabric starting from under $5 per yard you're bound to find something to your tastes. While the variety isn't as hip and cool as the two previously mentioned sites, it is a great place to visit for basics and the occasional gem, I often rack up sales of a few hundred dollars!

Quick Style Buys for Spring 2013

We've been lucky enough in Brisbane to have had a gorgeously mild Winter, even looking outside the window today the sun is shining and is beckoning me to get out and enjoy it.
But of course there's the little matter of what to wear. This is a new season coming and the warm, snug options we've been bundled up in just aren't going to cut it! Fashion is heading towards a massive mash-up where the more it clashes, the more eclectic, the more individual, the better. For great inspiration, look at how fearless Rihanna, Cara Delevingne, and Rita Ora are with their styles. You know the girls I'm talking about!
Here are Birdette's hot picks to add to your wardrobe for the upcoming season.

The Loose Boyfriend Tank:

Cotton On Alive Printed Muscle Tee

The slouchy cool styles we've been stealing from the less then fairer sex are the most comfy things ever! make it your own with a print and cut you love -slogans are perfect- and pair with my next pick for an instant outfit.

The Wrap Skirt:

Asos Wrap Skirt in Linen

We're leaving behind the Hi-lo styles of recent times and going back to a rather sleek asymmetrical style, tuck in your top, add some cute shoes, and easily bring this new addition to your wardrobe.

The Maxi Skirt:

Boohoo Selina Jersey Split Skirt

This is an example of a trend that has transformed into a regular style staple (much like Skinny Jeans) the style to go for this season are body skimming jersey versions, buy with a split to keep you cool in Summer. Make sure you wear VPL free knickers too!


The Boyish Boots:

Boohoo Lisa Cut out Boots

We didn't get much of a chance to wear these last Summer as the trend was only just trickling into local stores.Cut out boot styles are also still very stylish but make sure it's not going to rain, no one likes squishy feet! Brogues are also still very cute and stylish.

The Hat:

(Left to Right)

Sportsgirl Lace Baseball Cap

Shopbop Basics Leather Baseball Cap

Baseball caps in sleep leather type fabrics have been popping up everywhere, thankfully this time with any chav connections, very sleek, very wearable, just don't wear them like a douche, the brim goes over your face dear!

The Bag:

Ooh La La Addie Top Handle Bag

Admittedly the backpack is still going to be huge this season, but if you want to stay ahead of the curve, buying a ladylike top handle will do the trick, something to juxtapose all the styles stolen from boys this season. Look for top handles you can wear daintily on your elbow, (but I also love a shoulder strap for convenience!)


The Accessory:

Diva Silver Love Ear Cuff

That gorgeous Ear Cuff trend I was banging on about some time ago, You don't need to think about any other accessories once you put them on. Instant outfit finishers! Ears are the jewelry focus point of the season, moving on from handmade wristwear, and watches.

So tell me, what are you excited to add to cart for this season? I'm personally stalking my mailman!

Winter Facials by Guinot

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of meeting Laura Pritchard of Guinot (pronounced Ghee-no for those new to the brand) to experience a Liftosome Facial, one of two Winter treatments (the other being the Hydralift Treatment) available from Guinot that lifts and firms the face. So off to Outshine Beauty Salon and Medi spa in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane I went to check it out.
Outshine is a chic little beauty haven nestled just off James Street where you can easily spend a day exploring some of Brisbane's best shopping. I've recently rediscovered this little nook down the hill from Fortitude Valley and love it to bits!

The Liftosome Facial from Guinot

What makes this facial so special?
Featuring a serum that includes four star ingredients (Pro Collagen, Alaria Esculenta, Vitamin C and Bio-peptides EL and CL) the treatment will take around 45 minutes. During the process they also apply a special clay mask that heats up to a gentle warmth to ensure that the applied product works its way deeper then usual into your skin for even better results. I asked to have a look at it afterwards, and it was interesting but also a little scary to see just how thick it was! It didn't feel that heavy at all.
Your beauty therapist will then massage your face, neck and decollete with the serum. This was my favorite part of the treatment, it's so relaxing to have an expert treating your skin with such care and excellent technique.
You also get some amazing results after just one treatment with firmness increased by 26.5% and wrinkles diminished by 20.4%
The end result is firmer, brighter skin with added perk. This is an ideal treatment for a special occasion as the results are quite immediate, but will get still improve even further after a short program of facials. I was really stoked with the results but felt even better about them when a friend of mine who didn't know I was going for this facial commented that my skin looked amazing two days later. She wanted to know what I had been doing differently lately!

For those who are interested in the Hydralift Treatment, while I didn't experience one firsthand I can tell you that it is an effective method to exercise the muscles in your face. Much like your body, your face benefits from working out too to give you a youthful look. By draining toxins and stimulating muscles the treatment reshapes, tones and firms, while minimizing fine lines. Products used during your Hydralift session will be tailored to your skin type with a choice of half hour, full hour or two hours for your treatment. Further sessions have the added benefits of being even more effective in banishing wrinkles and lifting the eye area.

For more information, please visit the Guinot Australia Website where you can also find your local Guinot treatment supplier.

Please note that while this service was complementary, the above opinion is purely my own and in no way swayed by any third parties.

Cheap trick to make stockings last longer

We've all had it happen to us, you're going about your daily business when something catches your stockings and ping, you have a great tear in them. I used to be pedantic enough to carry a spare pair whenever I was wearing them, but I was told this quick and simple trick to help them last longer. Brilliant for your gorgeous expensive finds like silk stockings, fully fashioned styles or ritzy brands like Wolford. You just need three items, and your chosen stockings

Gather your supplies: Hairspray, a sealable freezer bag, a freezer and your stockings.

Spritz stockings lightly with hairspray.

Place stockings in sealable bag and squeeze excess air out, I found rolling really helped.

Freeze overnight.

Pull out of freezer 15 minute before wearing to allow them to warm back up.

Put them on and go!

You will have to repeat the process for every time you wash them, but the hairspray and freezing help make the fibres stronger against snags, and will even stop runs from being as bad as they would be otherwise. But I've found it a treat for helping to keep my pricier pairs in better nick for longer.

Have you tried this trick before? How did you find it worked for you?

Update

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to stop leaving my wonderful readers in the lurch. I have been very slack with Bought by Birdette lately and I sincerely apologize. I'm not going to make excuses, I lost my drive to write. At this point in time I actually have quite a nasty hand injury that is hampering many everyday activities. (You should've heard me squealing in pain when my memory laapsed and I went to open a jar, ow!) So we'll still be slow for a little while, as typing isn't too bad, photo editing is another kettle of fish.
I've been thinking about introducing a few new topics into the fray to help reinvigorate my drive to write, so you may see more craft and cooking popping up, turning Bought by Birdette into a more lifestyle based blog until I truly find my niche. Also most certainly more personal style posts, I love doing these, I just need to find my confidence in front of the camera!
Otherwise, I would love to take this opportunity to ask all readers to please let me know what you like and don't like, do you have a particularly favourite post that I've done? Have I taught you something new?
I' really hoping to bring a lot of readers out of their bubbles on this one, and I'm aiming to get at least 20 responses. Don't think I wouldn't love to hear from you because really I would!
Thank you for reading.