Doiley Cuff Bracelet

I'd been toying with this idea for a little while now and I have slowly been chipping away at it this week in the evenings (now work's eased off a bit, I have time in the evenings - big tired grin).

Its a cuff-style bracelet - with a touch of whimsy. You need a thin doiley to do this, I'd looked at using a thicker doiley but it was just too chunky to work with.

First Step:
Fold your doiley into a rectangle.

Step Two:
Embelish as you like! I added buttons and a strand of faux pearls from repurposed necklace.

Step Three:
Add a clasp to the back. You could also stitch ribbons on to make a bow. But I knew that would annoy me, particularly if I decide to wear it to work.

The Result:

Bright 'n' Bold Headband....

Cold & grey + feeling poorly + inside and needing colour =          an accessory that is festivale and fun!

My inspiration for this little piece is a headband called "Camille" on Anthro... but a little out of my price-range and little 'safe' for my colour liking!

To make this cute little number I used:

• A length of sari silk ribbon
• An old long sleeved t-shirt

Step 1:

Cut the sleeve off the shirt and cut two lengths. These two lengths need to go around 2/3 to 3/4 of your head. Cut two lengths of sari ribbon, contrasting fabric etc equal to the length of the shirt sleeve. Intertwine these like the photos below:

This will form the front piece of your headband.

Step Two:

Stitch the ends of each end together

Step Three:

Take a piece of fabric from the body of your t-shirt. This piece needs to stretch outwards and will be the back piece of the headband. Sew it into a tunnel and then turn inside out so you have a nice tube.

Step Four:

Assemble. Fold back the unfinished ends of the tube and poke inside the tube so that they can't be seen. Then poke the front pieces with the ribbons into each side of the tube. Stitch into place and Voila!

Take that bleary day!

One for littlies!

We're having a bit of a Fairy themed morning tea at work tomorrow (long story) for one of our work friends/collegues! We needed to make some fairy wands in a hurry...  but I do think these turned out cute for littlies.

Just shape into a star and wrap the wand part around the join in the star for a stronger wand!

Sari Silk Necklace

The sun was out today - there's a rare sight at the moment! It was still a little cold for me though, so I spent the morning outdoors. As the sun started to set I came inside to work on this piece. There's a necklace on Anthropologie that I lurve, but its $150 and made from old scarves.... so I though, wonder if I could do something like that, and then I remembered I had this bundle of sari silk from a market.

I had a length of chain that I ripped from a $2 necklace I had bought from Target (for the chain - not the actual necklace). Basically I cut the chain in two, and wove the fabric between the last links on each side of the chain. I also added a few knots here and there.

The leftover fabric I looped around to make a flower, securing it in place with gold embroidery cotton and a vintage button. I'm not sure if it is finished yet. I think it could be a bit more outrageously loud - I'm thinking of Aussie label Romance was Born for inspiration.

Can't wait to go a bit crazy with this number!

Another Doiley Brooch

Simply take a smallish doiley. Pinch the middle part of the doiley and stitch the gathers in place. Then add the beads - a pearl in the middle, and then some glass beads around the pearl. Stitch (or glue) a brooch pin on the back. Or you could add this one to a headband? Necklace? Add some ribbon to make a bracelet???? Oh the options!

The odds 'n' ends hair-comb

Another quick little accessory.

You will need:

• Wire
• Beads or buttons
• Hair-comb

Simply wind the wire around the comb, adding beads hear and there. I've also done a comb using buttons. Just as cute. If only I could get them to stay in my hair :s

A little floral brooch number

Fabric flower tutorials are all over the internet and craft books so I won't go into this one too much. I have added a small doiley that I had found in an opshop to the flower. I liked the effect of having it ruffled behind. Then just stitch a brooch backing onto the other side of the doiley.

A boho number!

Saturday arvo crafting with:

• Two old scarves
• An old pair of trousers
• Elastic & cotton.

This idea is based on a skirt from the book "Chic on a Shoe String". My project is a little different and for someone who is a bit larger.

scarves and trouser legs ready to go!

I've basically stitched everything together and run some elastic along the top. I've used the panel of black to separate the two scarves. It makes an interesting boho reversable style number. Except I didn't like it as a skirt.

Do I go crazy with two colours?

It very quicky became a top to layer over my myriad of boring Big W t-shirts!

Got the blues?

A splash of red

I popped a black belt around the top, teaming it with black pants and a black t-shirt. A ribbon also would do around the waist.I think perhaps a thicker black belt would have been better.

Hair-pins & buttons

A quick little easy 2 second idea before the working week starts.
I found another bag of buttons at a local market - and I found these little leather buttons in the bag. I thought they were bit interesting, so I popped them on a hair-pin. Voila!

Playing with an old T-shirt

It's a wet, misty weekend here, and all I want to do is snuggle near the heater. I've also tried to fold the washing that has been draped over the clothes airer for days, trying to dry in this miserable weather! While folding I felt a sudden rush of inspiration to play with this old T-shirt (a $6 cheapie from Big W).

I've had this broderie anglaise style trim. I bought it a while back, thinking it may just come in useful for something fun. I played with the trim and T-shirt for a little bit, thinking of the possibilities.

In a (Laura Ashleyish inspired moment) I decided to stitch it around the arms and neckline. This did look gorgeous - but alas was not for the fuller figured lass like myself. Added way to much bulk to the bust and waist.

Solution???? I went really OTT, flamboyant and dramatic. I may wake up tomorrow and think this looks dreadful....




It does actually look heaps better on. Big stitched bow, and the drapey bits of the bow kinda down-size the bumpy bits.

Still may stitch a pearl or button onto the middle of the bow. Or I may wake up tomorrow and take to it with a seam ripper. :)