You can have the good things in life for less, if you're even a wee bit creative.
I've certainly squeezed quite a bit of luxury out of a tiny budget of late.
Below is the inspiration for my Daughters Glampavan.
Pictured above is the components of our palette....inspired by, not identical. Who needs to follow things that slavishly!
Inspiration above, reality below...
Inspiration on Pinterest above...my own jug, just done this morning here below...
Embroidered Llama jacket here...goodness...all of those French knots!
Our cheaty version using a store bought applique` and tassel trim below.
Here's the cake Daughter wanted for her 18th birthday earlier this year...
And here's my version...inspired by, but not an identical imitation...
I've lusted after a chintz bedspread since I was twenty years old. I particularly wanted this beautiful Spring-like colourway...
A random visit to a favourite charity shop last week yielded this beautiful duvet cover. King size, with fab tailored pillow slips, still with tags....$6!
Chanel ring? $2,900 if you please.
My ring...thrifted of course...$3.
Close enough for me!
Loving Dita Von Teese in her summery outfit here above.
I echoed the look with a gingham top, beads and sunglasses. I'm no Dita, but I can still endeavour to look my best.
Speaking of gingham, I fell in love with these cute jam pots found on Pinterest.
My friend Annabel from The Bluebirds are Nesting, gifted me these lovely labels, so I made my own jam pots.
Gifting often means home baked goodies around here. I saw this rather plain idea also on Pinterest.
And swapped the waxed paper for foil, and some labels from Annabel, and ended up with this...
Stamped vintage floral sheets as gift ribbon....another Annabel idea...thanks Annabel!
Her powder puffs here...
...inspired mine, here...
A pic of a Laduree takeaway cup on Instagram..
...inspired my panne velvet and gold piped coffee cup cozies...
These gorgeous chocolates in a boutique...
...gave me the idea for my own custom wrapped chocolates. You can find these as a download here.
I was forever eyeing off lush French bedding...
….so I made some with simple purchased trims and scraps of fabric...
Granddaughter loved this sweet petit four so much when we visited a café...
...that she inspired me to bake, ice and decorate some for her...
Another pretty Annabel creation...a pile of cards to gift...
...gave me this idea...
...and her gorgeous tea towels motivated me to get stitching...those are a work in progress.
She also inspired me with these stunning wrapped soaps...
...I now make my own regularly as impromptu gifts...
See more of Annabels ideas here.
This stylish box of confectionery...$70 if you don't mind...
Made me feel good about gifting this huge box of honeycomb.
$5 thanks.
Phew.
After all that inspiration and creation, I need a Chai Latte.
Homemade of course.
Would you expect anything less?
