MAKE YOUR OWN ESPADRILLES // GET YOUR CRAFT ON

Sorry it's been a little quiet here, I had all intentions of posting last week while in France but at 37 degrees neither me or my mac seemed to cope with the heat, but I'm back and have some fab posts to share with you. A few weeks ago I spent a few day in London to attend the wonderful Blogtacular Blogging Conference – post coming on this soon – and a travel trade show. Sandwiched between the two was a fun craft morning making my own Espadrilles with The Makery in the Regent Street John Lewis store.

Slightly fuzzy from the Blogtacular/Pinterest after party at the West Elm Store, I arrived with Lottie and Sarah-Lou, with a coffee in hand ready to take on the table of sewing machines. The super lovely Kate was there to meet us and a few other ladies were already in full swing. Our first job was to purchase a piece of fabric from the huge range available in the haberdashery department and cut out our templates, I chose this fab retro material.

Once I’d cut the two shapes needed from my patterned fabric and a lining material the next job was to tackle the sewing machine. It’s been quite a while since I’ve used a machine, in fact the last time may have been at university, so with an unsteady hand I set about sewing together the two pieces with a 10mm margin. Pleasantly surprised by the results I then set about pinning the pieces to the soles which come with the kit before attempting the hand stitch.

After Kate got me started, I sat engrossed with the task at hand, stitching back and forth, enjoying the process and when I’d finished one shoe I slipped it on to admire my handy work. It fit! I made a shoe! I felt such a sense of accomplishment and surprise, it’s not often you can say ‘well today I made some shoes’ is it?

The kit instructions were super easy to follow and are available to buy from The Makery, I’m going to buy F’s size so I can make matching shoes for summer *insert geek face* plus they’re sooo comfy! Like wearing slippers outside.

You can check out the DIY YouTube video below and also buy your own kit here. This should definitely be on your things to do list this summer.

CRUSHIN' ON CLARKS SPRING/SUMMER 2015 RANGE

We've always been a firm fan of Clarks in this house, I remember my own parents taking me to have my feet measured as a child and it seems the brand has made an impression on me. It was the first place I trusted to measure and fit F's super cute wriggly toes and foot,  and after buying my most comfiest peep toe heels from Clarks last year I've been won over by their women's range too.

We were in London so we decided to stop by Clarks SS15 press show to see what delights spring had in store and I'm so pleased we did. Across the range the design is set to impress, with playful bright patterns and colours, not to mention these Clarks original Desert Boots in silver *swoon* F was quite taken with them and no doubt these will be his favourite's come spring.

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THE BOY IS GROWING UP

As August slips away my thoughts turn to this growing boy and the absence of his laughter filling the flat as he returns to preschool in September. For most this might not seem significant, but F has only been in someone else's care a few hours a week until now. This will be the first time that actual school day routines will be set, with early morning drop offs and lunch away from home before I wait at the school gate for his face to appear and my heart to swell.

It's a double edged sword, for all those moments I wished for time alone, the reality is I will miss his belly laugh and alter ego, Tigerman, rushing around my heels. In preparation for the start of school we booked an in-store fitting appointment at Clarks to beat the rush and checked out their school range. He seemed thrilled by the modern approach of measuring feet with the help of an iPad and his chosen character, happy to comply as nostalgic memories of my school days bubbled up and F wiggled his toes into various shoes, proclaiming he'll take them all – a kid after my own heart.

We picked a pair of sturdy black velcro shoes, ready to take on the challenges of the playground while  promoting independence and some super bright green sports trainers, as I can't resist colour on the boy, before boxing them up and heading home. Clutching the complementary 'Let's Start School memory book' under his arm he seems so grown up all of a sudden. When I asked him what he might like to be when he's older – apart from saying a human which is a good start right – the answers such as painter, music player, dinosaur hunter and architect followed, and I look at this small boy who will one day be a man and a lump catches in my throat.

I'm sure next year there will be tears as he starts 'big boy' school, and most likely they will all be mine.

Clarks are offering you the chance to win a lifetime's supply of school shoes - For a chance to win, share a photo of your child on their first day at school in their very first pair of Clarks School Shoes with the hashtag #FirstSchoolShoes 

*We received vouchers c/o Clarks for this post. All words and opinions are my own.