Hard times? Versatility is key!

As we are all aware, times are getting harder and we are all needing to make our money go a little bit further when we spend it. Well I have an idea to make those pennies go that extra mile when buying clothing and accessories. Buy goods that are versatile and wearable in more than one way. Things with versatile uses are so much more value for money.

As it is wedding season and wedding dresses cost so much I thought I'd start with one of Isadora's beautiful wedding dress that can be worn in so many ways that you will be able to wear more than that one special day and have it look like a totally different dress. Simple, sleek and gorgeous!

Sew is your face created this funky fun reversible hood, which allows you to wear it with more of your clothes. Swap which side you have showing and change the look. Also the long scarf tie allows you to change the look even more.

Mohop is a genius! These shoes can be worn in so many ways and the look be changed over and over just by adding a different strap/ribbon. You can perfectly match up your shoe straps to your outfit each time you wear them. Hundreds of pairs of shoes all in one fabulous design.

Barefoot Creations obviously understands small children and babies. This pretty pinafore dress is totally reversible, so if you are out and about and your child manages to get one side covered in tomato pasta sauce you can whip it off turn it inside out and slip it back on. Hey presto! Clean looking child. Magic!

Pinky Pig has given you 2 bags in one. This stylish tote is totally reversible so you can choose which side to have on the outside to suit your mood or outfit for the day. It doubles it's use. I'm guessing you could ask to have one made with day time fabric on one side and a more swanky evening out style fabric on the other. Then you would have a bag to take you through from day to an evening out on one of those busy days when you have to go to an event straight from work.

Investing in clothes and accessories that can be worn in many ways are a great way to save yourself some cash in the long run. There are lots of people out there handmaking versatile goods. Take a look around and see what you can find.

Written by Lynne of PiratePixieCrew and Hyperloop Hoops

A word about our Sponsors

On the top right of this blog we have Project Wonderful ad spaces which are always full of great sites to visit. The people placing the ads there are helping to sponsor the running of this blog, so that we can highlight and share with you all the fabulous world of handmade goods. Today is just a thank you to our sponsors and an encouragement to you, the readers to click through to their sites, because as you will see below they have some fabulous goods on offer and they are all handmade.

I found these unusual earrings in A~Z Jewelry Design's shop. I've never seen anything like the purple conglomerate jasper stones used. I like the individuality of them. Very funky and fun.

Miss Black Pepper designs repeat patterns that can be used on a small scale by crafts people to brighten up their websites, or even be printed in small runs onto fabric for use. What a great idea!

This beautifully hand crafted baby Kimono is from Sew Classic. It's so pretty and versatile. Baby's have a habit of growing fast, so the adjustable tie fastenings on this mean it can grow with them.

Chainmaille by MBOI is a company run by husband and wife team Andrew and Kimberly. Their whole site is full of gorgeous pieces like the one above. Surf around and take a look.

Fuzzy Lumpkin Crochet is the maker of this rainbow of colours brooch. It's so cheerful that to wear it would be sure to cause a happy glow inside. The buttons just finish it off perfectly.

So all you lovely sponsors, thank you again for listing your ad's in out ad block. We really do appreciate your support. I hope that our readers come and visit all your shops, as they really do contain some beautiful work. You're a very talented bunch.

Written by Lynne of PiratePixieCrew and Hyperloop Hoops

Christmas Wish List.

So Christmas is fast approaching and Jon and I have been trying to work out what to get each other and asking each other what we would like, so I thought I'd blog a list of the fabulous goodies I'd like to receive, that are made by independent artisans. Now I know money is very tight this year so I'm not really expecting to get all or any on this list, but it's fun to wish and dream.

Most of all I'm hankering for a beautiful Psi LED hula hoop. A fabulous gentleman called Patrick in the USA makes them and they truly are the most sparkly gorgeous hoops I ever have seen. I think I'd want a mix of 50%/50% the Eflin and Dragonfly lights and as many lights as Patrick could squeeze into a 95cm diameter hoop. I've borrowed this video from You Tube to show you just how pretty they are!

I'd also love to be the proud owner of Wound Around Jewelry's beautiful silver creation. Made up of silver curls and links this necklace would look fabulous when you are all dressed up with somewhere to go or over a plain T-shirt and Jeans when you were off to the market. I just love it!


I'm a huge lover of vintage and all that vintage represents. I love the idea of beautiful items from the past being given new life to be used again and these cups from uknowuneedanother just appeal to me soooooo much. The colour and the bumpiness of the glass just make me smile. Imagine serving up individual trifles or ice cream sundaes in these... hmmm starting to dribble now... Dribble's not good for my laptop :)


As a lover of all things Pirate, my next choice just had to be from Damselinthisdress. Not only does she make the most beautiful bodices but she makes these gorgeous coats with detachable sleeves. I so wish I could have one made up in with a purple outer and a burn orange lining. Santa are you listening? Hmm... what's that you say? I'm on the naughty list.... Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa


I've blogged about these next people before and I unashamedly am going mention them again. They make THE most sensational pieces ever! Muju are a British couple from Brighton that pay great attention to detail. To choose just one of their items is very hard but because I had to I went for one of their fabulous Plushies, although to call it a plush some how seems to be wrong. It's a miniature sculpture in felt. A perfect work of art.


For a very long time I have admired the work of Maisy Brown. She makes exquisite reproductions of clothing from days gone by. She has a knack of picking all the right styles that make me go wow! The dress that I have seen of hers that I like most is the Tuxedo ruffled matador in black and white. It has such beautiful clean lines and is such a flattering shape.

Monsters Under the Bed

Not all monsters are scary, freaky or horrible. Some I've found are fabulous and fun! Monsters probably get a bad wrap because of all the teeth, but don't be fooled, they just use them to open beer bottles.


Despite SUSUTEN's belief that that these little critters are bad, without CO2 plants wouldn't survive as they need it for photosynthesis. They look cute enough to me!

This lumpy little scamp called Todd, comes from LoopyBoopy, who makes lot of cool sculptures like this. This monster will quite happily sit in the corner of your room and keep away all the jam monsters (the monsters that eat your jam and leave you with empty jars!). Beware though "Todd can be very crass, prone to lewd comments and obscene behaviour."- you have been warned!


What better way to say you are a member of a certain monster's fan club, than by proudly showing your allegiances with a badge courtesy of PearsonMaron . They don't do badges of my favourite monster though - that's the one that lives in my mind and I can't describe... it's made of blue and eats the number "4".

What better way to say thanks is there, than with a monster hug from sparkyfirepants ? Athough by the looks of things, you might want to not smoosh your friends as much as the big brown monster is smooshing the little green one. I do like their monster motorcycle helmets though!

This monster has more uses than a Swiss army knife...well.. ok, maybe not. However, I have never seen a Swiss army knife knit a jumper or a hat or a...well.. anything! I would gladly have a knitting monster ready for winter, when my hands are too cold to knit for myself. This item is a picture print a la Vogon Poets - Douglas Adams would be proud!


RAAAAAAR! Be your very own monster, with quite frankly a fantastic idea for clothing. Complete with huge googly eyes and sharp pointy fangs, you too can scare old ladies by jumping out from behind things! Phone boxes, lampposts, trees and other old ladies to name but a few. Thanks MonsterHoodies !

If you are still scared by monsters however, you might want to buy some of this :

It is "Anti monster spray" and you may purchase a bottle or five from crazytimescandles!

Make friends with the monster under your bed. He's keep the dust bunnies under control!