My Simple Boot Strap DIY

Because I'm not courageous enough to have an asymmetrical haircut, get a sleeve of tattoos, or have unusual piercings, I have to get a little punk rock in in more subtle ways.  I figured studded boot straps were a good accessory to add just a teeny bit of rock & roll to my outfit.

These were so simple to make, and luckily I had all the supplies already.  I was originally going to stud the entire way around, but once I got three in, I kind of liked that look.  Who knows, I may end up adding more later.

Here's what I used to make them:
- black leather (or vinyl as a budget option, and JoAnn has some pretty believable faux leather)
- silver and gold tone double cap rivets/studs, size small (I got mine from Michael's)
- a leather punch (also from Michael's)
- a rivet setter & anvil (but you could just use a hammer and a hard surface)
- large brass rings

Here's how I made them:
- I measured how long I needed each section of leather to be, and added some length so it could be doubled under the the studded/riveted area
- Cut my leather strips with an exacto knife.
- Folded the leather around the brass ring.
- Punched my holes in the leather where I want the studs to go.  It's probably best to measure, but I just tend to eyeball everything.
- Hammered in my rivets/studs.
- Moved onto the next side and repeated all the steps to get the leather around the second ring.
- Did the same thing all over again for the second strap!

It's super simple, and these slide off, that way I can wear them on other boots!

a pretty storage DIY

if you're like me, you leave things laying around on about every surface rather than finding them a home and keeping them there.  it's terrible, but i've always been like this.  luckily, there are lots of pretty options in the way of bowls, trays, baskets, etc. to catch all of the things that never get put away!  one of my favorites to make is fabric bowls or baskets because they're easy, cheap, and pretty!

what you'll need for this project: clothesline or cotton cord (i use nylon clothesline because it comes in about 100' packages for just a few dollars), fabric, thread, scissors, sewing machine (or you can do it by hand but it will take a  lot longer).

first, cut your fabric into strips about an inch wide or a little more.  the number of strips you'll need for your bowl or basket depends on the size you want and on the length of your strips, so start of with fewer than you know you'll need, that way you don't waste fabric!

to start your bowl or basket, fold one end of your fabric over the end of your clothesline.  keep that pinched and start wrapping your strip around the clothesline at an angle.

once you've gotten a few inches of your fabric wrapped around the clothesline, pin it in place because you're almost ready to sew!  fold your fabric-wrapped clothesline so that you make a coil.  start sewing at the end, in a circular pattern, so that your line of stitched radiates out from the end.  use a zigzag stitch and be sure you're getting both sides of the clothesline.  continue wrapping your fabric and sewing.  once you get to the end of a piece of fabric, just wrap a new piece over that end and keep on sewing!

once you've gotten the base as large as you want, it's time to make the sides.  to make sides, simply fold your bottom up (with the foot still down and the needle still through your clothesline).  to get walls that are straight up, fold your base so that it is perpendicular to the table.  if you want tapered sides like i did, fold your base up at about a 45 degree angle.  then keep sewing round and round just like before!  (sorry, i got a little ahead of myself before i thought to take the picture).

continue sewing until you've gotten the walls of your bowl or basket as high as you want them.  now it's time to decide if this will be a bowl or a basket.  for a bowl, you don't need to do anything.  for a basket, it's time to make little handles.  all you do is pull up a part of your fabric-wrapped clothesline and don't sew that to the body.  backstitch what you've sewn, then move onto the other side of the handle and start sewing again.  repeat that step for a handle on the opposite side.

take a break if you need.  when i make large bowl or baskets like this one, there's no way i can do it all in one sitting.  so i get a glass of tea and flojo and i enjoy craft talk over a few whole wheat noodles.

now you're ready to finish off your bowl or basket!  just cut your clothesline a little shorter than your fabric and wrap so that the end of your clothesline is hidden in the fabric.  then just keep sewing like you have been until the end is sewn down.

and now you have a pretty and handmade place to keep little bits and pieces, and no one has to know that this isn't where they really belong!  if you decide to try this out, i'd love to see your final product, or hear what you thought!

DIY: let's ruin that dress!

do you have clothes in your closet that you just don't wear? or, like me, a stack of clothes so unworn they never make it out of that folded stack on the dryer? if you've been following me on twitter, you probably know i've really been trying to downsize and donate. i have - had, rather - a dress made from really pretty fabric, but i just couldn't wear it any longer. i never, i repeat, NEVER, have a problem with clothes being too tight in the chest, but this dress was, and i can't help but think it was to make IBTC members like me feel a little better about, uh, our smallness. so i decided to shred it up and recycle it!

for this project you'll need a dress that you want to ruin (i liked that this one was lightweight, flowy fabric so i knew it would hang nicely without being stiff), scissors, an iron, elastic, a sewing machine, and a friend to keep you company, especially if you're a slow sewer like me.

i should have taken a picture before i cut off the top half, but of course i don't think about it until after it's gone. anyway, cut that sucker up! iron out any wrinkles or creases. around what will be the waist, fold over a section larger than the width of your elastic. then make one more crease, that way you're elastic is completely hidden in a little pocket with no raw edges.

ask a friend for their opinion if you're not sure about what you're doing. or, if things are going smoothly, why not sing together? i suggest something fun like this that one or both of you can dance to should you need a break.

i like to get a section of elastic in its little pocket and then pin it so that when i pull it as i sew, it doesn't get lost (because it's frustrating trying to fish it out later). sew, sew, sew, and pull the elastic as you go. when you've sewn just about all the way around, STOP! leave about an inch open so that you can sew the two ends of elastic together, then go ahead and sew the elastic pocket closed.

you're finished! and might i suggest - assuming your skirt is printed - that you pair it with another non-matching print? i think it's more fun that way. now when people compliment you on your skirt, or ask you where you got it, you can give a shy smile and say, "this old thing? oh, i made it."

do you recycle or remake any of your clothes? if so, what have you made?

a GLITTER diy!

i don't know about you, but i love some sparkle - especially in the form of glitter (and a sequin skirt, but i still don't have one of those). i've been on a bit of a mission to find clear nail polish with BIG pieces of gold glitter, but i've come up empty-handed. i'm sure it's sold somewhere around here, but with all the busyness that comes with this time of year, i've not been able to look everywhere in this city that sells nail polish, so i figured i'd just save some time and make my own.

what you'll need: clear nail polish (be sure you get some that's thick as i learned on my first attempt that the glitter will NOT stay even remotely suspended in the thin, watery polish), glitter. i found this tube of big gold glitter at michael's for $0.99.

i forgot to take a picture of this, but to get the glitter in the bottle of nail polish without a beautiful gold mess, i folded a small piece of paper in half, poured some glitter into it, and then dumped the glitter into the bottle from the fold of the paper. mix it up, shake it around, dance for a minute, then go paint your nails!

i'm going to go ahead and tell you that, like my underwear, i do not spend a lot of money on cosmetics. i'm cheap. i bought the N.Y.C. brand polish for less than $2, and although i haven't been wearing it long, i think it works fine for this project.

also, i have to tell you that painting my nails is sort of like a celebration of accomplishment for me! i've been so incredibly busy making jewelry to have orders filled, shipped, and delivered by christmas that i had a breakdown and cried like a baby because i felt so overwhelmed that i haven't been able to do anything that, yes, is unimportant, but fun to me. since i've finally finished the christmas orders so i know my hands will have a break for a little while, i decided there was no better time to paint my nails, because with a slow down in business, the polish would actually last more than a few hours!

them branches are good for hangin'

I don't why I called this post such a ridiculous name, because I can assure you I don't talk like that off the internet! Anyway, I've been wanting to make this type of display for quite a while now, but I just had to figure a time when Chris and I both didn't have anything else going on (I'm a terrible carpenter, so I require his assistance). The other weekend, I got an email inviting me to another art fair (at this gallery) on July 24th, and since I had such amazing luck last time, I knew I wanted to do it again, which meant I needed to get these displays made sooner than later!

I didn't think while I was working on them to take pictures along the way, but they're super simple to make, so I thought I'd tell you how...

The first thing we did was went through the woods looking for the perfect branch. My advice would be to get one from a recently fallen or dead tree, but not one so dead it'll break from the lightest touch. If you get a green branch, you're going to have to set it aside for a few days and let it completely dry.

Once I selected my branches, we went back to the garage, and I cut the end/bottom flat with a band saw, then I cut the little branches back far enough so that they were strong enough not to break when something was hung from them.

Next (this is where Chris comes in), the lumber was cut into two 4"x4" pieces. Then the base of each branch was measured, and Chris drilled a hole that size through the lumber, in which to place my little trees.

Once the branches were set into their blocks, a wood screw was used to "pinch" it in place and ensure it wasn't going to wiggle, spin or fall out. Then the last thing to do was paint! See, it's an easy project, and a fun way to display your jewelry!

Lastly, if you're in or around Charlottesville, Virginia, you should stop by and see me at The Bridge on Monticello Road from 10am to 5pm!

two things i love around my home

Once again, I'm joining in on the fun and sharing two things I love around my home. This time, it's all about pretty victorian people! The first is this little Victorian couple. They're super old, and I got them a few years ago for $3 or $4 from my favorite antique store. They sit on the mantle in my living room. The second thing I love is this vintage porcelain and brass lamp with a two pretty victorian ladies. I'm completely obsessed with buying and rewiring old lamps, and luckily it isn't an expensive habit. I got this one for $4 and the rewiring supplies were only $4. Aaaaand, don't forget to join the knick knack exchange!

Now onto something I've been working on... I started making this cluster to wear as a brooch, but then I held it up above my ear and decided that I'd like it more as a headband. It's a combination of silk, lace and vintage buttons (I also hoard vintage buttons).

I'm certainly no model, and one day I'm hoping to find a vintage head mannequin (if that's even what they're called), then I hope to have some decent pictures to share!

If you want to share the two things you're loving in your home, you can link up on Kassi's blog or you can leave your link in the comments. Also, show me what you're working on! If you're a dinosaur toes fan on Facebook, you may even win a cold forged hammered brass bangle if you show me your projects!

from unknown clutter to bouquet

While I was doing a good old fashioned cleaning out of my desk drawers, I happened upon some felt and I know there is more in my "studio room" closet, but I'm not sure where exactly, and I'm not up for that search! I didn't know what else to do with it, so I made this little bouquet...

You know how sometimes you make something, and you're just not sure if it looks right? Like it would look better if it were exactly the same, but made by someone else? I'm having that problem with this brooch. I can't decide whether or not I like it. Anyone have any other good suggestions for felt projects? I'd love to hear!