Crafting, costumes, jewelry, fashion, DiY grown fresh daily!
In honor of the day, the fact that in America we have the freedom to do what we want to do every day no matter who we are, I want to present this video.
If you have the day off, enjoy it with the knowledge that because of people like Martin Luther King, Jr. we can spend it however we like, creating and imagining, without worry or concern. Enjoy!
Thing-a-day is a yearly creative sprint where participants commit to create one new thing a day, every day of February and post it on the collective blog.
Sign up now to get inspired and fight the mid-winter blues! Registration opens Jan 21st and ends at Midnight on the 1st.
I hope to complete this challenge this year! It may not be a big thing every day, but it’ll be a thing! Hope to see you creating there, too!
I tend to buy a lot of secondhand clothes. Why not! They’re reasonably priced, they’re recycled and thus saved from the trash, and they’re often still wonderfully wearing items. Even so, sometimes a piece or two has a small flaw. Maybe just a tiny hole or a missing button, but they’re still perfectly workable pieces. Even I cause the damage sometimes, pulling out the staples that the ARC uses to attach their tags. Here are the simple steps I take to repair and make great secondhand clothes wearable again.
Lots of times I find tiny holes in knits, or I don’t want to sew a stitch in a really obvious place. For this application, I like to make my own patches. Using a bit of matching (or close to matching) fabric and a little fusible webbing like Wonder Under, I create a tiny iron on patch. This iron on patch goes not on the outside, but on the INSIDE, where it won’t be seen. But it will keep your garment together a little longer.
Sometimes collars and sleeves are coming loose as well, and this is a good place for regular stitching. I also make use of my serger, especially the rolled hem setting. That way any hem is a minimal width but still has a significant structure. No serger? Try a blanket edge stitch with smaller spaces in between.
What are your most useful everyday repairs?
There were a ton of gorgeous interior photos in my Google Reader today! Check this out!
Top Left: Stylish Storage: Vintage & Antique Armoires at Apartment Therapy. I love the armoires, but of even more interest to me is the gorgeous slab table in the center of the room.
Top Right: past & present: fireplace history at design*sponge. This reminds me of one of the fun walls from the Sims 3! Very Versailles!
Bottom Left: Palette & Paints: Blue Painted Fireplace from Myles Henry at Remodelista. There is something just so incredibly charming about this blue fireplace hearth. Not to mention it’s one of my favorite shades!
Bottom Right: Amy's Dashing Details House Tour at Apartment Therapy. I’m a fan of vingettes with photos, paintings, and other accessories, and this one just struch me as so clean and bright. Love it!
What are you loving out there lately?
I saw so much cool stuff on the blogosphere this week, I just need to share it! Here goes!
Remodelista has a great tutorial on an instant gold painting! It’s gorgeous, bringing light and sparkle to any room. What a statement!
Fantastic DiY on how to make faux Depression glass, beautiful ruby colors! Great for holidays or just everyday décor!
And your dose of fashion, a great DiY on the stud cuff, a versatile and classic wardrobe statement!
I love all these projects and hope to try them soon! What’s popped out at you this week?
I have finally had the opportunity to create an heirloom version of my Anne Boleyn replica necklace, and I’m delighted beyond words about it. I put together a sterling silver charm and Grade A freshwater pearls traditionally knotted on silk thread for a perfect treasure to share. I decided that such a beautiful gift needed a lovely package to arrive in, so I fashioned a little pouch to hide the main event, attached to a simple recycled-paper card.
I hope the giver and getter both enjoy the surprise! Also… finally took some photos with Nick’s fantastic DSLR! I could get used to this!
What’s your favorite way to package up a gift or handmade product?
I am ridiculously in love with this ghost chair from Reiko Kaneko, featured on design*sponge. I bet there’s a way to DiY this! Maybe I’ll try it!
