Sew Over It by Lisa Comfort

Ever wanted to know how to take a piece of clothing you have and make it fit perfectly? Maybe it is a bit too wide in the hips, or a pair of pants that need the hem let out. Possibly you just want to know the finer points of sewing on buttons and appliqués? Well, we here at The Amazing Blog have found the book for you. Sew Over It by Lisa Comfort (Ebury Press, £15) is a book for anyone who is interested in the art (and craft) of sewing. From a beginner to an expert level, this book is full of tips and tricks to benefit from. Lisa Comfort was interested in sewing from a very young age, received a sewing machine, and has since grown her love for the craft into a successful career.

Sew Over It goes from basic steps like needle threading and hand stitches to more advanced sewing techniques and projects.  An entire section is devoted to going through your closet, something many women (like myself) want and need to do. Lisa Comfort teaches you how to sort through what you already have and decide whether it is worth the time to change and repair. You then enter the chapters containing tutorials on customising, altering, and changing your clothing. There are not tutorials devoted to making clothing from scratch, but rather altering to make something fit and look better or applying an appliqué to enhance a garment. Lisa does include full on instructions for making accessories like a vintage scarf belt, a fifties style hair-band and a flower corsage. All of these are sure to make your wardrobe all the more exciting!

All in all, the projects Lisa includes in the book are very achievable and won’t take obscene amounts of time. Perfect fun for weekends and summer!  Sew Over It by Lisa Comfort (Ebury Press, £15) is a book that will enhance any shelf and is perfect for anyone who has ever had a desire to get crafty! If you are interested in taking sewing classes from Lisa Comfort and her team, she offers them at the Sew Over It Café in London as well as stocking plenty of fabrics, notions, and kits at the same location. You can purchase the book and see a list of classes offered on her website and on Amazon.

Moliabal Milano Luxury Hair Accessories

It seems to be that April showers, bring on May flowers to prepare us for June weddings… And the wedding season is now upon us here at The Amazing Blog. It is one of the most joyful times of the year. Seeing the bride walk down the aisle and the look on her groom's face, as he sees his bride for the first time is what makes weddings so romantic. As the couple’s love is being celebrated, weddings are also an opportunity for guests to put on their best 'bib and tucker' and play up their wardrobes. And the most important fashion accessory for  me on this occasion is a headpiece. Long gone are the big brimmed hats (remember how they annoyingly obscured the view of the bride in the church?) So I decided to do a bit of  research for some delicate headpieces for my wedding occasion and discovered Milano Luxury Hair Accessories. In fact  this very day, I opened a package from them!

The headpiece embodies everything that I wanted for my outfit for my June wedding the Moliabal Milano truly got it right. These luxury hair accessories provide a flare of elegance and a fun bold look that any women could adorn on their head. No matter the season or the occasion. I personally can’t wait to wear this black headband with the roses. It will go perfectly with my outfit, and it has roses on top (A perfect flower for a wedding, one might say).

Ranging in a variety of different styles:  From Headbands, French Pins, Snap Pins, Combs & Claws to Ponytail Holders, you are sure to find the right hair accessory for any special occasion. In fact, finding it difficult to buy an exciting headpiece, Monica Masini took it upon herself to created Moliabal Milano, one of the very first luxury Italian hair accessory lines. Drawing on inspiration from her three friends’ names: Licia, Abele and Alberto, and her name  the brand Moliabal was born.  These handmade headpieces the range of come in a stylish and classic monochrome (which is what I have chosen) however they also come in vibrant colours too.

All products are packaged in a black organza bag and these fabulous accessories price range is from £15 to 125. Moliabal Milano's hair accessories are  currently available in store at Fortnum & Mason London and from the end July on www.zanedo.com . Dear readers,  unfortunately their website  is currently down and won't be live again until August - apologies from them. But don't despair as they also have a live Facebook  page so you can have a quick peak at their other products there.

Renapur Leather Balsam

The summer weather has been absolutely dreadful! With the weather being so unpredictable, the girls at Amazing PR, have grown tired of ruining their leather summer sandals and open toed shoes. Having myself grown tired of all their moaning and groaning about their shoes, I decided to recommend a special shoe balsam that I had found.  After experiencing a harsh winter, my boots have really taken a beating. So, I can relate to the girls.  Luckily at The Amazing Blog, they have been persuaded to use my wonderful discovery which  has restored my worn-out leather boots and they almost look brand new! I'm talking about ... Renapur Leather Balsam has been a complete blessing to me  AND now to them!

After applying the Leather Balsam to all to my dark brown and black leather boots. My boots were  not only cleaned and restored to almost their original condition, they were given a fabulous sheen as well. Preparing them to be worn for next rainy season.  The Renapur Leather Balsam is made from a combination of natural waxes and oils, giving it a unique formula designed specifically to renew your leather. The natural Beeswax, Carnauba wax, Jojoba oil, Avocado oil, and secret natural ingredients are blended together to create a smooth balsam that can be easily applied to your shoes.

After “renewing” all my boots with Renapur Leather Balsam, I will be sure to take this balm out mid-way through the winter to give my boots a new protection. Based on their loyal customers, Renapur Leather Balsam has become a must-have necessity all around the UK, and I now know why. Their customers continue to trust this balsam because it does what it says. I love this unique product and will be recommending it to all my friends for their boot collection – whether new or old! You can purchase the Renapur Leather Balsam for £12.00 for a 200ml container that will last you at least for the next two seasons.

WeWood Wooden Watches

As the only man in the office of The Amazing Blog, it is exhausting to continually watch my colleagues open box after box of  feminine products. When they aren't receiving packages they are discovering new items online. They all have the unique ability to find some of the most fascinating products - the list is seriously endless.  But for once I  have come across a rather unique piece of my own:  WeWood Wooden Watches. The name explains the product quite simply, they are indeed watches made of wood, but it's the philanthropy behind this innovative brand that really helps them stand out from the rest.

With a keen attention to detail, craftsmanship and sustainability, WeWood has designed their watches with the theme of 'eco-luxury'. The eco-luxury concept means that these watches not only look great but are as natural as the wrist you wear them on. Designed in a variety of styles from round faces  to square ones (above), each watch is made of  an eco-friendly wood - free from preservatives, dyes, alcohol, and nickel. But the environmental benefits extend beyond the treatment of the material. WeWood has partnered with American Forests to collectively organize a unique conservation project. For each WeWood watch sold, American Forests will plant a tree helping restore industrialised and diseased damaged forests. American Forests is the oldest nonprofit conservation organization in the United States so I believe you can be quite confident that your purchase will make a positive environmental difference. Ranging from £80-90 the price is a bit out of my budget but when my next paycheck arrives I will definitely consider one of these stunning pieces. The beige one above is definitely calling my name.

WeWood watches are sure to be a wearable conversation piece. These watches will not only look and feel great on your wrist but you'll be proud to know that your purchased helped reduce deforestation. For all you ladies out there, this is a great gift for the men in your life. And if you fancy one of these for yourself,  WeWood offers a  female line as well.  Visit the WeWood website to purchase your own luxury watch and plant a tree to support forest conservation.

Win a Paperthinks Leather iPad Folio

We at The Amazing Blog were fortunate to come across  Paperthinks at the recent PURE33 Exhibition. While there,  I immediately fell in love with this 'genuine' brand, and couldn’t wait to do some shopping of my own. Paperthinks offers a wide variety of products -  from card cases and notebooks to shopping bags and iPad folios. And with 24 colours it was practically impossible to make a decision. I couldn’t resist buying the Mist Blue Notebook but all their products were very tempting indeed. AND today you are very lucky because you have the chance to win a Paperthinks Leather Violet iPad Folio right here!  This vibrant lavender colour is right on trend and is in the most luxurious leather - absolutely stunning.

Paperthinks are very special people and believe that no one should not have to choose between being green and being stylish. So they merged the two beautifully: combining sustainability and design.  Each product is made from 100% recycled leather. In order to reduce waste, Paperthinks uses the off-cuts, trimmings and shavings from Asian leather manufacturing processes and industries. The leather is then treated with 'eco-conscience' lamination techniques producing a high quality and completely recycled product. It’s the perfect solution to creating a unique leather without further damaging the environment. The end result is a durable product that isn’t bulky or stiff. I use my notebook daily and it shows no signs of wear or tear.  All in all, each product has everything you need and nothing more. Paperthinks has truly captured the beauty of simplicity.

This fabulous Paperthink iPad Folio retails at £29.50 but one lucky reader will win it for free! To enter simply send your Name, Twitter, Email, and Postal Address to press@amazingpr.co.uk. The give away ends May 8th and we will be tweeting the winner. To see Paperthinks’ complete collection check out their website gallery or go to Oliver Bonas to purchase your favourites.