By britt on November 4, 2009
Just wanted to share this great tutorial that I used to make these tiny baby shoes for Piper. The easy-to-follow tutorial took me about one hour from start to finish and was generously provided by Joanna of Stardust Shoes. I want to make more, maybe with some cuter fabric. I used really soft white leather for the soles (left over from this necklace project) instead of the bonded fleece recommended, which worked out quite well. So if you are looking for a baby gift and have a bit of sewing experience, check it out. I wonder if I could convert the pattern and make some slippers for myself…
Posted in projects, tutorial | Tagged baby gift, baby shoes, baby tutorial, fabric shoes, tutorial |
By britt on November 2, 2009
I’ll admit it. I get a little emotionally attached to clothes. It’s not like I cry each time a sock goes missing (although that sure does happen a lot), but I have a tendency to hold on to things past their prime if I have fond memories associated with them. This skirt is a prime example. The eyelet had ripped off in one area and I had stitched it back on. The lining was threadbare in places, and a couple of the side seams were starting to pull apart. I have had this skirt for at least five years, three summers of which I wore it to death. It served me well in Mexico because it was comfortable to tromp around in, ever so light, and it actually looked better a little wrinkled. Now that’s my kind of skirt.
But it really wasn’t wearable any longer. In fact, I hadn’t worn it at all this past summer. It was too worn to donate, but I held on to it because it seemed to have a little life left. And now, with this dress for Piper, I have found a way to happily part with it.
First, I removed the little metal grommets from the eyelet. They had started to fall out, and I didn’t want them to be a choking hazard. Then I ripped the skirt apart (and cried a little… just kidding), reinforced some of the seams and added light fusible interfacing to the panel that would end up being the top of the dress. For the pattern, I used a dress that I bought for Piper, tracing the outlines onto kraft paper with a spoked tracing wheel. It left a nice little dotted line on the paper for me to cut out after adding seam allowances. (This Built by Wendy book
taught me that trick for transferring patterns.)
The skirt had a string attached to the waist, I guess so you could hoist up the top layer a little to show off the eyelet. I promise I never did that. But I was able to repurpose the string into little ties on the back to accommodate a baby’s adorably large head.
(Forgive the wonky hanger - I had to twist it up to get the tiny dress on it.) The whole project took just a little over an hour. It helped that I didn’t have to hem it at all. It’s much too large for Piper now, but it will hopefully fit her in the summer, when it’s much more weather-appropriate.
It’ll be good to know that my skirt went to a better place… on a cute baby.
Posted in projects | Tagged pattern transferring, recycling, refashion, sewing |
By britt on October 30, 2009
This post is a little homage to The Darjeeling Limited, because the Louis Vuitton collection of luggage featured in the movie would be ideal. Number four (of eleven), shown above, is just what I have been looking for. But, alas! These were auctioned off, likely for many thousands of dollars. So I must look elsewhere. Here are the runners-up:
Clockwise from top left: Billykirk Waxed Cotton Leather Tote, $356; Warsaw Bowler Bag, $85; Carga Industrial Felt Weekender, $345; The Brothers Bray & Co Weekender, $98.
Clockwise from top left: Billykirk Mason Bag in Striped Ticking/Black Leather, $297; Peasants and Travelers Weekender, $138; Matt & Nat Bauhaus Greybag, $175; Lou Dalton Weekender Boiled Wool Bag, $528.20. *If you are in a DIY mood, check out this great tutorial on drafting your own pattern for a weekender bag.
I think luggage should be classic, utilitarian, and even a little masculine. I ended up getting the Brothers Bray & Co weekender from Urban Outfitters because we needed it for this weekend, and UO is literally three blocks from our house. Instant gratification! We’re heading to Nelson for the weekend, but I’ll be back here next week with some projects to share.
Have a good weekend!
Posted in Uncategorized |
By britt on September 24, 2009
My ideas are often a little too grandiose for my skill set. Seriously. I have these projects stuck in my head, and no clue how to follow through. Instead of taking the time to learn, I tend to run ahead to the next project, leaving behind a messy path of tools and supplies. Not good (especially in a tiny apartment - I wasn’t kidding about the messy part).
I have a two-part plan. Part one: organize. Part two: learn some real skills. Part one has been sort of dull, just sorting my woven fabrics from my knits and that kind of thing. I’ll spare you the details. Part two is definitely more Cucumbersome-relevant. Right now, I am tackling the intimidating art of sewing with stretch fabrics, with the help of the book Sew U Home Stretch
. Turns out it is not all that scary, and I will be sharing some of the results with you soon.
So while I’m reading books, drafting patterns, and separating grommets from studs, feel free to peruse the gorgeous photos in my flickr favorites (shown above). I’ll be back very soon with some projects. Completed projects.
Posted in inspiration |
By britt on September 15, 2009
Here is another series of free downloads that I have come across. These are all courtesy of the creative Miss B (you may know her from The Bright Side Project). She has lots of digital downloads available on her blog blahg, from mailing labels to photoshop textures. You can browse through them here. The images shown above are a few of my favorites. The “Get Excited and Make Things” poster print (8.5″ x 11″) was actually created (and generously provided as a free download) by moleitau, but Miss B has adapted it into five different colors, for your color-coordinating pleasure.
Check them out: Library card bookplates, Get Excited poster, folded mini notebook.
Thanks, Miss B!
Posted in freebies | Tagged bookplate, free download, freebies, poster |
By britt on September 4, 2009
I would like to introduce you all to my niece, Piper Isabella. She was born yesterday (so as the saying goes, she is probably pretty gullible) and I can’t wait to meet her. You might see a few more baby-sized tutorials here (like this one) in the future because I plan on being the best aunt ever.
Posted in life | Tagged baby, baby tutorials |
By britt on September 3, 2009
And by “I”, I mean Erica Domesek. I’m really loving this statement necklace that was featured on Refinery 29. She uses upholstery trim - that’s genius! It has my head spinning with possibilities.
Check out her site, PS I Made This, for other ideas.
Posted in links, projects | Tagged DIY, statement neckace |
By britt on September 1, 2009
Drinking tea is such a lovely ceremony, what with the dainty cups and small spoons and little dishes reserved only for steeped tea bags. The aroma is such a huge part of that experience. Sadly, I’m finding that one can only drink so much tea in a day. So why not pull those luscious scents into our lives in other ways? This was my thinking when this idea popped into my head. I whipped up a batch of small Earl Grey tea soaps (see my instructions below) and folded them into individual tissue tea bags.
I have included a full, rather detailed tutorial for you to make these yourself. You can even download my tea soap tags, if you are so inclined. Each tag has a “Made by” and “For” on the back, so you can give these little soaps as gifts. You could also write a tiny message on the inside of the tag. I assure you that these are extremely easy to make, and cheap as well.
Click through below for the free tag download and how to!
Continue reading “Time for Tea Soap”
Posted in freebies, projects, tutorial | Tagged chai tea soap, DIY, earl grey tea soap, earl greyer tea, free download, green tea soap, soap packaging, tea soap, tutorials |
By britt on August 28, 2009
Seriously in love with these vintage-inspired trouble lights. Wouldn’t one of these lovelies look beautiful strung above a wooden table and tolix chairs? Of course, with such a setup one would be forced to eat aged chevre and torn bits of crusty bread with a glass of red wine for every meal… Sounds perfect to me.
Mechanic’s Beacon Lights 1, 2 & 3
Posted in home, links | Tagged anthropologie, tolix, vintage trouble lights |
By britt on August 28, 2009
1. Spotted Deer Notebook, Anthro 2/3. Diamond and Stripe Notebooks, Present & Correct 4. 2010 Deluxe Wall Calendar, SusyJack 5. Memoir Stapler, Anthro 6. Pixel Colored Pencils, Fred Flare 7. Poketo Notefolio, Poketo 8. Washi Paper Masking Tape, MoMA Store 9. Clock8, Mike Reynolds 10. The Public felt case in blue, EtCetera Media 11. Arrow Clips - Quiver of 5, SusyJack
It must be Back to School time because everyone seems smitten with office supplies right now, myself included. For this series, I tried to focus on items that would make you happy every time you reached for them. Need to jot down a note? Oooh, just use one of these square pixel pencils and a retro argyle notebook. Maybe then you can tear out the note and tape it to the wall with a little Japanese masking tape. See? Happy.
Posted in links | Tagged back to school, colorful office supplies, office supplies, office supply roundup |
