Tag Archives: DIY

August 1, 2011 · 6:12 am

Upcycled Robin’s Egg Blue Dress

Back in May I road-tested a vintage blue dress. I liked the dress but the elastic at the sleeves was dying and it was sewn in such a way that I thought it would be hard to replace. Add to that a stain I found on the bodice, and I just didn’t think I could wear the dress anymore.

So I turned it into a skirt.

Top: Smart Set
Skirt: Vintage, repurposed
Shoes: Payless

First I measured 10 inches from the hem and pinned along that line. then I cut off the excess material. I cut off the top half of the dress too. I had intentions of hemming it but it’s not fraying yet, so I’ll leave it unfinished for now.

I paired my new skirt with a multi-colored top. I like the reds and yellows in the top and think they go well with robin’s egg blue. That said, I can’t wait to wear a purple top with this skirt or a simple white T.

DIY Maxi Skirt

Pretty Shiny Sparkly put out another Bloggers do it Better challenge. Each challenge showcases real women rocking a current trend. Last time, I tried neon and neutral. This time, the assignment is to style a maxi skirt.

I have a few maxi skirts in my closet, but I also have a photo of a Vivienne Westwood skirt that I’ve been lusting after and meaning to replicate. So last night, coming off a migraine that kept me from work, I pulled out the fabric I’d purchased months ago. There’s nothing like a 5 hour nap and a deadline to get creative juices flowing.

T-shirt: Old Navy
Scarf: DIY
Skirt: DIY
Belt: Steve Madden
Earrings: Shirazi, Seattle
Sandals: Payless

It’s a three-tiered skirt. I overlapped the panels and left the hems on the outside for a raw, unfinished look. The Vivienne Westwood skirt was olive green, but I have a green maxi skirt so I chose purple and navy. I’ll be able to wear this with bright t-shirts in the summer, and warmer, darker tops in the winter. It’s going to look nice with boots too.

I’m not an experienced seamstress, nor do I use patterns. Fortunately this project only required sewing straight lines. I measured, cut, pinned and sewed. I used a stretch poly blend, which ended up being slippery. I’m considering the “ruching” to be a feature, not a flaw.

If you’re looking to replicate this skirt, cut three panels for the front and three for the back. Sew the panels together lengthwise so you have one long, three-tiered back piece and one long, three-tiered front piece. Give yourself extra width; you can always sew the sides tighter. After you have the front and back sewn together you can sew the sides, flip it right side out, and you’re good to go!

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Filed under DIY, Fashion

Tagged as Bloggers do it better, DIY, fashion, maxi skirt, purple, skirt, style

July 9, 2011 · 6:06 am

Organizing my Jewelry

I like buying and making jewelry. Add to that equation, the fact that I rarely get rid of pieces and you would be correct in assuming I have quite the collection. I’ve recently started getting organized so I can use all my pieces and not forget about them. Here’s what I’ve done so far:

I displayed all my hook-back earrings on a picture frame with screen behind it. It’s really convenient, hangs on my bathroom wall, and looks nice too. You can have your very own by shopping at Sadie Sewbaggin’s Etsy page. She’s a friend of mine, so tell her I sent you.

For all my studs (and other post-back earrings), I found this display rack on eBay. Yes, it’s probably for a retail display, but it works for personal use too.

I didn’t get fancy with my necklaces. I simply hammered a few nails into the wall at various heights and display them that way.

My loose pendants are in this beautiful wooden box that my friend Tom made. He made it! Isn’t that crazy? When it comes to woodworking, I’m all thumbs, but at least I still have them!

I’m still devising a plan for my bracelets and rings. I might buy a retail bracelet display that I saw at a craft store. It’s all velvety and elegant. I’d like to make a ring pillow but I don’t exactly know how. Any ideas? Maybe I’ll ask Tom.

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Filed under Decor, DIY, Fashion

Tagged as decor, DIY, jewelry, organized, style

July 6, 2011 · 6:04 am

Another Cable-Knit Pillow

My first cable-knit pillow sold on Etsy so I decided to make a few more. I bought some cable-knit sweaters at Goodwill and washed them. So far, I’ve completed one. The others will be ready soon.

First, I flipped the sweater inside out, measured and marked a square the size of my pillow form (I bought a pillow casing at a craft store), and sewed it on three sides. Then I cut it and turned it right-side out. I used the sweater’s original finishing at the waist as my fourth side. I slipped the casing inside the cover and sewed it shut with two non-functioning brass buttons. If that sounds like too much work, you can just buy this one.

After I cut apart the sweater, the remnants looked rather appealing. I tried it on and whaddaya know. It’s bold, it’s unconventional, but it’s stylish.

By a weird coincidence, unbeknownst to me until I was surfing around blogs a couple of days ago, I found a DIY project showing how to make such a cropped sweater. And the idea originally came from Preen, a London-based design label often described as evocative and sexual. Maybe I’m not so crazy after all. Well, except that when I wear this, I want to say (in a Dieter from Sprockets voice) “I turned this sweater into a pillow but the sleeves still work.” That’s a bit crazy.

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Filed under Crafts, Decor, DIY, Fashion

Tagged as cable-knit, crafts, decor, DIY, pillow, style, upcycling

July 2, 2011 · 6:20 am

Days 16 to 18

Day 16: Here’s a new piece I haven’t worn yet in the challenge. It’s actually a dress, but I thought it was too low-cut for work. Plus, it’s breezy and cool today, so I needed to layer. This cardigan isn’t part of my thirty pieces; I wore it for warmth. My bracelet is made from a bicycle tire! Most of the bracelets for sale were black (obviously) so I picked this one since it seemed unique. It’s made from a red tire.

Cardigan: Ross Dress for Less
T-shirt: Victoria’s Secret
Dress-as-skirt: Thrifted
Purse: Coach via thrifted
Bracelet: Punk Rock Flea Market
Necklace: Gifted
Sunglasses: Target
Shoes: Flexx

Day 17: I’m wearing the same pink top that I wore on Monday, but since I worked at home today and went out with non-work friends in the evening, let’s keep this secret between us. Even though I have a limited wardrobe this month, I’m trying to keep each week fresh and non-repeating. The outfit itself is pretty plain so I jazzed it up with a DIY t-shirt infinity scarf and a zebra-striped bag.

Top: JC Penneys
Capris: True Originals
Shoes: Timberland
Bag: Boodlebags
Scarf: DIY (I made it)
Bracelets: Boutique in Portland

Day 18: Here are my white jeans again. I wore them on the weekend, but no one from work knows that. I dressed them up with my boho top today. Even though it’s Canada Day, and not quite the 4th of July, I thought it was time to show a bit of patriotism. I’m in red, white and blue—even the wall and chair match.

Top: Metropark
Jeans: Lucky Brand
Bracelet: Punk Rock Flea Market
Shoes: Timberland
Sunglasses: Target
Earrings: Thrifted

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Filed under 30 for 30, DIY, Fashion

Tagged as 30 for 30, DIY, fashion, infinity scarf, polka dots, style, white jeans

June 22, 2011 · 6:33 am

Upcycling a Necklace

I bought a cheapie necklace on sale a few years ago and wore it only once. It was the wrong length, the charms weren’t in the right places, it just didn’t work. So, I thought about ways to change it. I like sculptural, asymmetrical pieces and figured I had nothing to lose by trying to change this long strand into something different. I grabbed a pair of needle-nose pliers and off I went.

Before

After

Here’s the necklace on me so you can see how it lies. I also wore it on Day 6 of the 30 for 30 challenge.

I hadn’t planned on making earrings but I had extra chain and charms when I’d finished the necklace so I grabbed a few hook backs from my craft supplies and ended up with three new pairs!

If you have a before-and-after story to share, tell me in the comment and link to your post if you have one.

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Filed under Crafts, DIY, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as DIY, earrings, fashion, jewelry, necklace, style, thrifty fashion, upcycling

June 21, 2011 · 6:14 am

Days Four to Six

Day 4: Sun’s out! Finally. It wasn’t supposed to last long, so I took advantage of it and wore capris and this boho top. True casual Friday. I’m so used to thrifting and buying things on sale, that it felt weird when I forked over the full $29.99 for this top. It’s pretty versatile though and I’ve enjoyed it for two summers already.

Top: Metropark
Capris: True Originals
Shoes: Timberland
Purse: Nine West
Necklace: Gifted
Sunglasses: Target

Day 5: It rained pretty hard this morning but stopped in time for the Seattle Style Bloggers picnic. Still, most of the day, my outfit was hidden by my raincoat. I braved the temps to show off my tunic, but put my coat back on again. I’m so glad I added boots to my 30 for 30 mix.

Tunic: Damselfly, Seattle
Tights: Newport News
Belt: Ross Dress for Less
Boots: Naturalizer
Bracelets: Lucca, Seattle
Umbrella: Baby & Co.

Day 6: Hubby and I went to Sunlight Vegetarian Cafe for a delicious brunch. At least the sun was in the name of the restaurant; it sure wasn’t in the sky. I concealed my sweater behind my clutch for this photo. Trust me, I needed it today!

Dress-as-tunic: Edun
Jeans: Bluenotes
Necklace: Upcycled DIY by me
Shoes: Flexx
Clutch: Thrifted

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Tagged as 30 for 30, DIY, dress, fashion, style, tunic, upcycling

June 8, 2011 · 12:40 pm

Tattoo Dress and Blue Tights

I am a woman of contradictions. I’ve said (many times now) that I shouldn’t wear clothes with empire waists. And here’s yet another item with such a cut. I take it all back. Rather than looking pregnant, I think this cut makes my legs look long. Lemons into lemonade. I also said blue tights were too Avatar, and here I am wearing them again. Never say never.

The pattern of this dress drew me to it. It’s a tattoo-inspired hearts-and-lovebirds design and I thought it fancied up an otherwise plain black dress. I like the fact that I’m wearing a $20 dress with $700 shoes. How’s that for a contradiction? Of course I didn’t pay that much for the shoes; new, that’s what they’d be.

In addition to saving money, buying second-hand leather goods aligns more with my philosophy. I don’t like buying new leather products when there are so many great vegan options out there (like the vegan bag) I’m using today.

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Filed under DIY, Fashion

Tagged as DIY, dress, fashion, manolo blahnik, shiraleah, style, thrifty fashion

May 31, 2011 · 8:04 am

Show Me the Monkey

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Today I started with an accessory—an amazing red monkey-head necklace from my friend Angie—and picked out my clothes afterward. I was so happy when Angie gave me the necklace. It was totally out of the blue. She made it for me because she knew I liked fashion (and monkeys).

It’s still feeling cool in the Pacific Northwest, so I wore a long-sleeved T and baggy cargo pants.

Top: Old Navy
Pants: Macy’s
Necklace: DIY by Angie
Shoes: Timberland

Sometimes the cuff on my pants unrolls—it seems like the buttoned tabs that holds them up are not evenly placed. What do you expect for $11? I might tack them with a couple of stitches so they don’t unroll. I will lose the option of wearing these unrolled, but I haven’t worn them that way yet, so I don’t have a lot to lose.

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Tagged as cargo pants, DIY, fashion, jewelry, style

April 16, 2011 · 12:17 am

DIY T-Shirt Scarf

Do I have a project for you! Even if you don’t consider yourself crafty, you can successfully complete this project. And you’ll love the results. I recently joined a DIY project called Made This, Love This. The site was started by Indiana over at Adored Austin.

I’m so glad Indiana started with a simple project: an infinity scarf made from a T-shirt. Best of all—it’s no-sew. I’m inspired! You can find all the instructions at Made This, Love This, but here’s the gist of it:

Find an old T-shirt.
Cut it into strips horizontally (you’ll be saving the circular “tubes” that you cut from hem to armpits; the top half you can ditch).
Stretch the strips so they curl up (this way the edges won’t show).

That’s it! You’re done. The wider your shirt, the longer your infinity scarf will be. The longer your shirt, the more strands you’ll have. Anything works, but the results will vary. I don’t think you can go wrong.

I didn’t follow Indiana’s instructions to a T (pun intended). She recommends not cutting all the way through the side of the shirt. That way, the strands stay together on one side. I cut all the way through mine because I didn’t bother to watch her helpful video until after I finished my scarf.

I’m glad I didn’t keep my strands together though. Having them loose means I can mix and match. I found two T-shirts of similar widths (but different colors) and cut them up. Now I can wear one or the other or I can mix the colors together for a funky, colorful scarf.

Later, I found a much larger T-shirt and cut it up so I could have a longer scarf. It turned out great too. I can easily double it and it hangs loose. I’ve received so many compliments on my scarves and no one can believe I made them (let alone so quickly and easily).

You can make a scarf like this in under ten minutes. Try your own variations: use a patterned T. Mix together strands from a couple of different colored Ts. It’s up to you. And while you’re at it, check out the other scarves that members of Made This, Love This created.

Indiana’s DIY site will have a new idea every month. I encourage you to sign up and join in future projects.

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