Three Sheets to the Wind: Upcycling Old Linens

I am a BIG fan of vintage, needless to say this includes vintage sheets. I especially adore the plethora of old floral print sheets that continually beckon to me from the thrift shop's linens section, and I'm always on the look-out for quality items to reclaim and upcycle. On a recent scavenging trip, I found the remnants of someone else's attempts to upcycle these lovely, nostalgic textiles of yore. They had cut sheets (and some other fabrics) into long strips and sewn the strips together at the end to create a sort of yarn or cordage. I was instantly drawn to the tattered, shabby look. 

Once the sheet strips are cut and sewn into lengths, they can be used for all sorts of creative applications. One thing I did was use some long strips to tie around the tissue wrapped packages I ship from my Furious Designs shop. You use it as you would a normal ribbon, and it adds a cute, shabby, decorative yet eco touch to packages and gifts. 

I also knew that I wanted crochet some of the ribbon-like cordage. It crochets up quickly and easily into braid-like chains. If you leave enough length on each end so you can tie it, these work great as headbands. The crochet work has a bit of stretch, which makes if super comfy and the tie closure makes it really adjustable. So cute! This can also be worn as a chunky fabric necklace, which I think looks pretty adorable too!

Thinking about wearing the crochet chain as a necklace made my mind wander and it went to some beautiful places. I wondered how it would work to incorporate one of the crochet chains into a dress or shirt, and I'm really pleased with the results of my prototypes. 

Creative Advertising

I've been messing around a bit lately with a bit of super simple, creative advertising for my Furious Designs. Below are some of the results:

It is fun (and time-consuming) to work on the graphic designing and promotional aspects of product marketing...it can be overwhelming sometimes, especially when you are also the sole person designing and manufacturing the goods. Fotor is a free and super convenient photo-editing website, and I used it to make the above Furious Design's promos. 

I've also started messing about a bit with the free photo-editing program, GIMP. It is a lot more complicated to use than Fotor, and so not as user-friendly. But unlike Fotor, you can continually edit and change your picture, using layers. A few examples I made using GIMP are below:

GIMP is free but very close to Adobe in its photo-editing capabilities. However, this makes GIMP a little more complicated to master. I'm sure I'll get better as I continue to explore the possibilities and learn GIMP better.

Outfit of the Week 2/3/13

                                                     MintRainbows-->

 <--ScarlettGarnet








                          UnlimitedCraftworks-->

<-- TammyJoFashion

                      EpigramVintage-->

 <--PoisonPuddingFaire

Sustainable Wednesday

I decided to add a new weekly post to my blog--Sustainable Wednesday. Every week, Sustainable Wednesday will highlight various aspects of sustainability, especially focusing on people and their efforts to reduce human impacts and preserve a healthy environment and culture for planet Earth.

We've all heard the cliche--if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, if it is broke and it can't be fixed, you may find that it can be repurposed and turned into something entirely new. Repurposing is quite the trend these days, but smart, resourceful people everywhere have always lived this way. In today's post, I'll be introducing you to three artisans who make new and beautiful things by recycling used, unwanted and discarded materials. 

Meet Northern Floridians, Jen and Dale. This couple works together to make lights from unusual repurposed objects such as baskets, collanders, and vintage bowls which the sell in their Etsy shop, UpReNew. I love their eye for simplicity and design.

Now, meet Schuan Carpenter, of Seattle, Washington. I fell in love with Schuan's craftsmanship the first time I stumbled upon one of his recycled glass greenhouses on his Etsy shop, Little Mansions Design. They are oh-so-sweet! Each one is made largely from salvaged/reclaimed wood and windows.

 And what about Clone Hardware? Run by Alisa, of Ontario, Canada, this creative little Etsy shop features funky cyber jewelry made from upcycled computer parts and electronic waste. Who knew the insides of your computer were so aesthetically pleasing?

 

That's it for today. Stay tuned for the next Sustainable Wednesday blog post and until then enjoy!

Crafting Holiday Style

I've been wanting to make some gifts for family and friends for the holidays, and today I finally was inspired to dig into it. After rooting through bags of fabric scraps I had several nice Christmas print calico and an idea was beginning to form in my mind--a festive garland, something that is durable and decorative and can be reused every year and even be a family holiday heirloom. I cut out some triangles and just went with my creative groove. After adding some decorative trims, I sewed everything up onto a some sweet vintage, red acetate seam binding, and added the final touches--some golden and Christmas style dangles (upcycled earrings and mini wooden toy trains and such). I am totally pleased with the results.

After completing the garland, I was inspired to start rooting around for more holiday fabrics to work with. I found a few bags with unfinished sewing projects some unknown, fellow crafter had never completed (this is one of the things I love most about being the scavenger that I am--discovering other people's unfinished or abandoned projects and giving them new life/bringing them to completion). I was excited to find a set of tree appliques, already cut out and assembled, just waiting to be sewn together, so of course I did!

To the person who cut out and pieced these so lovingly together, I thank you for your beautiful works and the opportunity to bring them to completion with my stitches. They will both be finished into sweet little gifts for someone in my family. I think I'll sew seam binding around the edges and a couple loops at the top so they can be hung using a dowel rod, or bamboo. Or maybe turn them into pillows? We'll have to wait and see where the creative roads take me this time. <3
 

Minimalist, Classy, Mother of Pearl

This past week, my daughter's and I celebrated their father Travis' birthday; he would have been 41 this year. He passed away almost seven years ago now, and though time passes it does not heal all wounds (I hate cliches and that is one of the worst); we merely learn to live with them.  

For me, November is always a somewhat difficult month to get through. The seasonal transition to Fall/Winter always makes me feel a bit forlorn, introspective, and filled with a deep longing to move or migrate. Instead, I hunker down; I bake a lot, cook warm comforting foods and create. 

The last few days I've been working on a series of classic, simple, minimalist earrings made with antique and vintage mother or pearl buttons combined with upcycled jewelry elements. I have always adored the luminous sheen of mother of pearl, and I absolutely love the delicate simplicity of these unique eco earrings. 

One of my first purchases from Etsy was an vintage tin with dogwood blossoms filled to the brim with antique and vintage mother of pearl  and white milk glass buttons. 

If I'm feeling colorful, I might use some of the other vintage buttons I have been collecting.

 I use jump rings and jewelry pliers to link the buttons together for a truly unique classy look.

Below are some picture of some finished pieces, which will be available for sale soon on my Etsy and Copious shops.