Celebrating Earth Day - Refashion & Repurpose Ideas

I missed it completely yesterday. Earth Day.

Although I had a t- shirt in the process of refashioning and planned to be posted specifically, however it is not yet done so to mark the day - I compiled several projects I've done over the years of how to refashion and repurpose things. I hope you like the selection.

Tablecloth into a tunic                                           Doily turned into a bag

 

 

I still have this tunic and it is as gorgeous as the day I made it. Lovely for some formal occasions although the fabric did not let an inch get loose. The doily bag is mostly used for decoration and I have some crochet necklaces stored there, but would surely wear it if the right opportunity presents itself.

 

 

 Refashioning a Cardigan

 

I participated in Agy's Making Good Blog Train and saved this old, stained cardigan's life  by embroidering flowers. It looks fantastic and I hardly ever get to wear it because Eva claimed it her own.

 

 

 

Old Jeans into a Beach Bag

 

Turning old jeans into bag, especially beach bags has always been my forte. This one is among the most beautifully embellished of all.

 

 

Patchworked Mori Scarf

 

 

 A scarf I made inspired by the mori fashion. Had all the female members of my family drool at this :)

Skirt into a scarf

This is another scarf I made combining Eva's old skirt with my favourite woolen scarf.

 

Belt into a Bracelet DIY

 

This one's been quite easy and effective. Hate throwing belts that still have life into themselves.

 
Well, that is all folks. I hope you get inspired to repurpose and refashion.

Save the Earth!

 

 

10 Fabulous Fabric Scraps Ideas

 

 

 

 

{Fabric Stamps}

Whenever I do a textile project I am left with quite a lot of scraps which I am not eager to throw away. On the other hand they take so much space with their disproportionate sizes and shapes and storing them is a head-scratching job. Recently, decluttering and sorting through my fabric stash, I piled them up in a box, hoping to find the right project to use them for. I thought of fabric beads  and necklaces first {you know me}, but decided to check up on some fresh pinterest ideas. I narrowed the list to 10 awesome projects.

1. The cutest will have to be the Fabric Stamps above.

2. Next, using the scraps to make some adorable pillows

{Tea Cup Pillow}

 

{Raindrop Pillow}

{Sprocket Pillows}

 

 

3. Fantastic toys:

 

 

 

{Fabric Tea Bags}

 

 

 

{Matching Game}

 

 

{Plushies}

 

 

 

{Gone Fishing}

 

 

4. Garlands and Buntings:

 

 

{Garlands}

 

 

{Garland}

 

 

 

{Garland}

 

 

5. Dreamy Dream Catchers:

 

 

 

{Dream Catcher}

 

 

 

6. Warm and Colorful Birdhouses:

 

 

 

 

{Birdhouses}

 

  

7. Upcycling wooden spoons: 

 

 

{Upcycling with scraps}

 

 

8. Fabric Scraps Magnets:

 

 

 {Fabric Scraps Magnets}

 

 

{Magnets}

 

 

9. Fabric Scraps as Wall Art

 

 

{Wall Art}

 

 

 

{Fabric Scraps as Art}

 

 

{Fabric Scraps Art}

 

{Fabric Wall Art}

 

 

 

10. Fabric Scraps Mobile 

 

 

{Vintage Sheet Mobile}

 

 

{DIY Scrap Fabric Mobile}

 

 

{Fabric Tassels Mobile}

New Kits in the Shop

 

 

 

 

All my last kits  sold out so I filled the shop with some new ones. The menagerie is quite unusual .

There is the Four Colored Flower Set (above) consisting of yellow, orange, red and green flowers and leaves.

 

Then there's this one in lovely shades of blue and purple.

 

 

And the granny set.

They are all here
 

DIY Shabby Chic Holder

 

 

 

 

I have had this project sketched in my notebook for such a long time I almost forgot about it. It is an easy, lazy afternoon project which can be done in a wink, and not to mention how adorably cute it is.

 

So what do you need to make this?

 

1. A piece of fabric (measurements depend on size of your hot pad)

2. An Ikea cork hot pad (they come in sets of three - how lovely!)

3. Wide lace piece

4. Ruffled elastic

5. Felt (as backing)

6. Filling

- stapler, needle and thread (optional: a glue gun)

 

 

 

 

 Step 1:

 

Take a plate bigger than your pad, turn it upside down and outline it. 

 

 

 

 Step 2:

 

 Place the lace pocket at the middle of the pad and pin it there as well as at the bottom. Sew the lace along the bottom part. Place the filling on top of the pad.

 

Step 3:

 

 Use a stapler to fix the fabric over the pad. I don't have any so I just used a running stitch to secure it over the pad.

 Cut a round felt piece as the back and glue it.

I don't use the glue gun often in textile projects, because it is neater to sew than glue, so to fix the felt piece I used the blanket stitch.

 

 

 

Step 4:

 

 Remember to add a string or something else at the top for holding.  Add (sew) the ruffled elastic around the pad (at the sides), along the upper line of the pocket -  and you are done!

 

 

 

 

 

This is a gift for Eva. She doesn't have a clue it's for her although she saw me working on it. I hope she likes it when she finds it on her dresser :)

 

 

 

 

On my hook: Crochet Lace Blouse

 

 

When I laid my eyes on this piece I immediately fell in love. It's a pattern by Let's Knit Series. The openwork is amazing and it works up fast. I haven't actually started yet due to too many obligations I have at my job but everything is set. I bought this Turkish yarn in beautiful shades of blue and brown and the yarn feels perfect to the touch. The only thing that I was reluctant to buy it is its size - the yarn is fingering and I will have to use a smaller hook (I am saving my eyes) than usual, but in the end I bought it.

 

You can see  what it will turn like here - this one's color- lot is 3307 

You can also follow Alize yarns on Facebook They have some fab free patterns and graphs.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated by Alize yarns or any associates to write this post. I have years' long experience with this producer and I am immensely satisfied with the quality of their yarn.



The Thumbelina Collection - crochet patterns

 

 

 

As a child I grew up with H.C. Andersen’s tales.

I was deeply enamored and enchanted by the magical and bewitchingly captivating world he created in his tales. Throughout my creative career, I have repeatedly sought inspiration in his works, trying to extract that ethereal, wondrous feeling his world creates and transfer it onto my creations.

The Thumbelina Collection is composed of 12 crochet pendant patterns, each featuring a different design and carrying its own story.

 

 

 

This tutorial is composed of the first three necklace designs/ patterns:

The Key to My Heart

 

 

The Pearl Garden

 

 

The Tulip House

 

Etsy     Ravelry

Spring Mori Mood Boards Inspiration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can smell the wakening of nature everywhere around me. It's that particular smell of fresh earth, sprouting grass, early flowers. The trees are crowned with white and pink blooms.  Somewhere in the trees under my window there is a nightingale singing to its heart content. On my window sill my potted flowers seem to be evoked by the force of spring - they seem to gain a darker color and fresher looks. Wherever I look everything sprouts, buds, shoots and springs up.

 

I am ready to plunge into this new life being reborn once more.