DIY Style – Fabulously Green

Tag archives: DIY Style

DIY Style File | Not Your Grandma's Sewing Patterns

12Feb08

Has Project Runway Season sparked a sudden pang to learn to sew? Whether you’re a maven with an overlock machine or a fashionable first-timer learning the difference between a needle and thread, you can find some au courant patterns that reflect your chic modern style and creative spirit. Burdastyle is an open-source pattern and how-to site featuring easy to difficult projects that are oh-so wearable.

Sew Many Goodies:

Free instructions and downloadable pdf patterns ranging from a gorgeous Garbo Skirt to a gaga grocery bag like this one below
A visual feast of end results (called “creations“) showing members’ takes on a pattern
A sewpedia with pictures to help you learn lingo, styles, fabrics and more
A forum to share tips, sewing Rx questions and offer mutual inspiration

Make it Fabulous: Style by Rescue

Raid the Goodwill or your local thrift store for your blank canvas. Gives you the freedom to experiment, goof up without guilt.
Raid your closet for cast-offs begging for a makeover.
Raid your boyfriend or S.O.’s closet for neglected tees, shirts, denim. You can dye them a radical color and transform them into a to-die-for outfit.

Editor’s Note: I’ve been MIA of late I know. It started with throwing out my back and subsequent physical therapy (good God am I at that age where I tell everyone and the postman about my back ailments? Stop me now.) Between designing my client’s residence, launching a job search and gluing myself to CNN like a election junkie, while doing my physical therapy program I’ve had little desire to string words together to make a sentence. Many of you have sent me some fabulous finds and I thank you for continuing the hunt for fab green ideas! Slowly catching up so stay tuned…

Filed under Budget Fashion, DIY Style, Fashion - Women, Refashion+Refurb| Tagged Burdastyle, design-it-yourself, DIY Style, sewing patterns | 2 Comments

Holiday Style File | Getting Ornamental

14Nov07

Photo courtesy of splityarn

Here’s an easy idea for tree ornaments. Make them for you or send them as gifts.

Design it yourself:

1. Get your blank canvas: a package of class glass ornaments from a crafts store (I get mine at Michaels).
2. Be innovative: use whatever lovely leftovers you can find. This is the fun part. Consider it your own designer’s challenge. Channel your inner Martha. In the famous words of Project Runway’s Tim Gunn: make it work.

Odds and ends or unexpected textures work best and can even tell a story. Yarns from knitting projects, ribbons from birthday parties, confetti in your hole puncher, toothpicks, rubber bands, scotch tape (sculptor Tara Donovan’s work might inspire some out-of-the-ball thinking here). Or use your hole puncher to make confetti. If you have a paper shredder, you can create ribbons from virtually any paper source like magazine ads, old photos, etc. The more your reuse, the greener it is.

3. Fill ‘em up and you’re done!

Variation: Wishful Thinking
I made these five years ago for family and in-laws from used leftover vellum. Three different colors. I composed a one sentence wish for each member. Then I cut them into ribbons placing each person’s wish into the respective family ornament. People loved them and spent an hour shaking them up and reading their individual wishes. Martha would have been proud.

Big design day ahead. Until tomorrow!

Filed under Gifts+Gifting, Handmade, Refashion+Refurb| Tagged Christmas, DIY Style, Eco-friendly, Handmade, Holiday Style, make your own ornaments, Ornaments, Recyclable, Recycled | 5 Comments

Felt Furnishings from Illu Stration

10Nov07

It’s always exciting to see what’s new at Illu Stration, Mary Ann Williams’ German-based design studio known for innovating exquisitely tactile felt furnishings and accessories.

Mary Ann sent me these photos earlier in the summer (oops) but aren’t they perfect for late fall? Oak Leaves is a modular system which are either available assembled or as a do-it-yourself kit in a box for your own inspired creations.

Oak Leaves interlock into virtually any size or shape. Some suggestions from Mary Ann include shaping them into pendants (like the hot scarlet number shown above), rugs, wall panels, cushions, lampshades.

Softer and more enduring than a crunchy pile of freshly raked leaves…perfect for jumping on and rolling around in.

A snow white cushion, adds form, function and fun to any living space.

Like the pieces we’ve showcased before, these felt-Flokatis are made from renewable, biodegradable wool. Their interlocking nature means you can create and recreate to your heart’s content. For more information, visit the Illu Stration website.

Filed under Furnishings, Handmade, Interior Design, Lighting, Rugs+Carpet, Small Space Style, Wallcoverings| Tagged Biodegradable, Changeable Style, cushions, design, DIY Style, Eco-friendly, Furnishings, Handmade, home, Illu Stration, interiors, Mary Ann Williams, modern decor, Reusable, style | No Comments

DIY Style File: [re]Store those Shoes

23Apr07

If you’ve been warming up to the idea of greening your wardrobe on a budget, here are a few ways to “chic up” your shoe collection and unleash your inner designer.

TIRED TURNED TRENDY
Mary Kay Newcomb generously shares how to turn those tired into trendy ankle boots. Her Shoe-torial is packed with instructions, sources for design-it-yourself inspiration and photos. Worth a click and a bookmark.

CUTTING EDGE STYLE
This one involves playing with sharp objects so proceed with caution. All you need is an exacto knife and a stencil design to create your own inspired style. Inspiration and instructions found at meandering.

For more tips on how to update your style check out Treehugger’s piece on how to Pimp Your Shoes.

Other fab green ideas anyone?

Filed under Budget Fashion, DIY Style, Fashion - Women, Shoes| Tagged DIY Style, Eco-friendly, fashion+style, Shoes, style, Treehugger | No Comments

Project Runway Ignites Passion for Re-fashion

13Jul06

In celebration of tonight’s season 3 premiere of my favorite show Project Runway, I ordered a new book to help get me on my sewing way: 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, and Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special. Here’s an image of a design found on p. 72. Looking at the customer reviews on Amazon.com the designs are styling (with a youthful bent) and the instructions are foolproof. They better be since I barely know how to sew. But I figure it’s a low stakes way of experimenting. I’ll update you on my progress.

If you saw tonight’s episode, the designers were asked to create an outfit from materials found in their apartments. Ottomans, rugs, shower curtains and duvet covers were ripped to shreds and transformed into gowns, baby doll dresses and coats. Talk about refashioned. And if you are a PR fan, I’ve included photos of my favorite recreations. How do you rate them? If you didn’t see it, what are you waiting for?

A flapper-like dress made from coffee filters by Michael. Very Gatsby, and it scored my winning vote. The texture was gorgeous like a pleated silk and it was truly innovative. Sadly it didn’t take first prize by the judges but it did qualify Michael to go on to the next round:

This ensemble exudes Grace Kelly glamour with a little modern bling bling (and ching ching) on the hemline. Designer Laura reused a fur rug, metal leaves from a chandelier, an IKEA mobile and upholstery fabric. She earned my points for bringing disparate materials together and making an elegant, cohesive ensemble:

This dress won tonight’s challenge. It was a well designed and tailored gown from a bedsheet. Not particularly innovative, but definitely the most beautiful, wearable garment on the runway tonight. Congratulations Keith (though his attitude could use some refashioning).