MAKE LOVE NOT WAR

And here we go, one last article to round off this themed fortnight! I hope you've enjoyed it... In any case, I've had a lot of fun preparing it, and it's made me want to do others just as complete, to meet new people, to explore new avenues, to make inspiration panels etc... To explore new paths! This really is my playground and I love rediscovering it every time I get such good feedback from you, so to say thank you I'd like you to win this DIY!

A flower week would be nothing without a little flower power! So to tell you the story, I received this pouch Rock Mafia besace back in April, and the brand's creators Elise and Charlotte had asked me to imagine a DIY project to customize their emblematic model: the US army besace. a post where I customized a leather bag without damaging it too much either, I didn't want to make a duplicate and I let time do the rest... I confess I'm a girl who takes her time, or rather who lets time do things, and inspiration come, some things can't be ordered.

Basically, I wanted to cover a mini skirt with flowers (that said, it's entirely possible on the same principle) and then my eye fell on this ARMY pouch... EUREKA make love not war, it was perfect.

And as an added bonus, you can win this besace by leaving me an anecdote about your life. This time, tell me how you get inspired? Do you go out for a drink with friends? A movie? An exhibition? 12 hours on Pinterest? tell me all about it and I'll draw the winner on Friday at 12pm.

On that note, I'll give you a big hug and close out this themed fortnight, but I think you'll be seeing flowers around here again very soon... "Horticultritis" when you've got us.

For this DIY, you'll need:

• -a bag or a skirt or a cushion... a surface to cover!
• -a pair of scissors,
• - flower patterns to download HERE,
• - cord thread and a leather needle,
• - and fabrics in various shades.

To begin, trace the outline of your pattern on the fabric with a wooden pencil. Then cut out your flower silhouettes with fabric scissors. You'll need 4 silhouettes to make one flower.

Then grab your first silhouette, fold it in half, then in quarters. Thread the corded thread through the needle and prick the first silhouette, folded in quarters, into the needle point.

Do the same with the other three silhouettes, threading them onto the needle. You can make flowers with more than 4 silhouettes, so that your final flower is even fuller.

Slide the silhouettes onto the thread and tie several tight knots to complete your flower. Don't hesitate to go back through the 4 silhouettes with the needle to tie your knots.

And TA-DA! you've got your first little fabric flower. Now repeat these operations with different fabrics. For the besace I needed about 25 flowers. Yes, we're patient, we'll get friends, little sisters or grandmothers to help out, and that'll keep your tribe busy on rainy Sundays to come.

Next, using your leather needle, stitch the back of your pouch flap. Thread a first flower onto your thread.

Then embroider your flower on the thread. Don't hesitate to stitch your flower several times, to make sure it's secure. Then tie a strong knot on the back of your flap.

Continue embroidering all your flowers, but don't hesitate to stitch them close together. This will give you a "bathing cap"-like effect, it's up to you... And TA-DA! And for the curious, I'm wearing color! the brunette for The Beautyst. I look forward to hearing from you!

The contest winner is Violaine the Harp Player!