one more – the blog of Evie Kemp

Emma Makes is a clever maker of witty stationery and beautiful things based in Featherston, right here in NZ.

Her super, statement, pencils are the perfect stocking filler this Christmas, and make a great gift paired with a handmade Emma Makes notebook (though, I confess only half of the pencils I bought last Christmas made it to other people, I had a ‘one for you, one for me’ policy’).

Emma has been kind enough to offer a prize pack consisting of 1 x Hopes & Dreams notebook, 1 x Plans & Schemes and 6 x pencils (winners choice!). There are 19 different pencil designs to take your pick from with a full list here (all standard size, HB pencils but far more fun). My personal favourites have to be ‘Stop collaborate and listen’, ‘Make it Work’ and ‘Pencil me in’.

Each notebook is slightly smaller than A5 size, which folds out to A4. 60 plain white pages bound in a manila card cover.

I don’t think this giveaway could come at a better time, as Christmas is the perfect time to sit and scheme for the year ahead.

SO, if you’d like to win yourself a little pre-Christmas inspiration: leave a comment on this post or on the Emma Makes facebook page sharing a hope, a dream, a plan or a scheme you have for 2012! Even better, leave a comment on both for a double entry.

Entries are open until the 13th December 2011, 8pm NZ time and this giveaway is open to anyone (even if you reside in the North Pole).

I can’t wait to hear all your hopes, dreams, plans or schemes.

The weather is doing it’s indecisive thing before summer properly starts. It’s windy and sunny at the same time; the perfect conditions to attempt a bit of denim on denim. It’s an effortless casual look just keep it light on top and darker below, and no head-to-toe spray on denim.

from Girl with curves

from Jak & Jil

I’m more than a bit colour obsessed (in case you hadn’t noticed) so thought it was time to acknowledge black in all it’s sophisticated beauty. I do love black, not so much the black tie, the LBD or business attire but black day and night wear that is edgy and just as cool (if not more so) than it’s colourful counterparts.

from zara.com

from TheSartorialist.com

from nitrolicious.com

Alexa Chung from TheShortFashionista.com

from fashionhype.tumblr.com

So, first I wanted THOSE glitter MiuMiu’s, then I got a bit more realistic and started lusting after the Topshop Ambush glitter boots however I was too slow, they’d already sold out and were up on ebay for double their original cost. I decided I wasn’t going to let a shopping failure stand between me and sparkly feet so I got creative.

1. Gather supplies.
• Shoes (I had these boots in the back of my closet, comfy and solid enough to be worth the effort but no longer seeing the light of day. I used leather shoes but I’m sure it would work just as well on non-leather shoes).
• PVA glue
• Masking tape
• Sand paper
• Cup or container for mixing
• Paint brush
• GLITTER (I ended up using almost 5 vials)
• Spray fixative

2. First mask off anything you don’t want glittered or worse, sanded. Then sand the shoe as best as you can. The better sand you manage, the better the glitter will hold. When you’ve finished sanding give the shoes a good wipe with a damp, clean cloth, then wipe dry.

3. Mix your glitter glue mixture. I used about 1/2 cup of straight PVA glue which turned out to be more than enough. Mix in 3 vials of glitter.

4. Using your paintbrush, fully cover the shoe with the glue mixture. (Remember that PVA glue goes on white but dries clear). You want to make sure you have good, even coverage but don’t load the glue on so thick it drips or might dry in lumps.

5. When both your shoes have been painted liberally shake as much glitter on to them as you can while the glue is still tacky. I used a vial of loose glitter on each boot. Again, aim for evenness.

6. When the glue has dried give them a tap and shake to get rid of any excess glitter. (Excess Glitter? Oxymoron surely?). Spray with your fixative (hairspray might even work here). Leave them over night and give them a couple of subsequent excess glitter shakes, and protecting sprays.

Remove the masking tape and wear them out!
Tip: avoid white carpets for the first couple of wears as you will be leaving little trails of fairy dust.

or gifts that special friends can buy you?

Carefully chosen jewellery is a really special gift that doesn’t need to be reserved for anniversary buying. There are lots of gorgeous pieces that are just begging to be carefully wrapped and given to a best friend. It’s a grown up type of gift giving that really let’s your friends know how totally rad you think they are.

Mahogany Ring No. 2 by Bliss in a Teacup $60. Each ring is cut, shaped and sanded by hand.

Rhinestone Friendship Bracelet by The Cat Paradox $23US

Nuggest necklace by Rebekah Hemmer. $33US. Pure silver nugget beads strung on to a gold filled chain.

Lightening Bolt Bangle in stainless steel by Dr Craz $30US

Custom initial stacking ring by Pale Fish NY $38US

Rough Bornite pendant on gold plated chain by me... Evie Kemp $39NZ

Over the next few weeks they’ll be a few more little and different gift guides/inspiration popping up here.