this old dress.

DIY Chevron Necklace

2012-01-20T09:04:00.003-07:00

Love this! See tutorial here :)

DIY studded converse

2012-01-14T04:59:00.000-07:00

Rob Ryan

2011-10-13T06:28:00.001-06:00

this is absolutely amazing

repurposed library

2011-08-29T23:50:00.002-06:00

via: oh, hello friend

shoes

2011-08-29T23:37:00.001-06:00

not mine but I like them

DIY Braided Hex Nut Bracelet

2011-08-15T16:08:00.004-06:00

photos: honestly wtf

Who knew nuts and twine could look so chic! I found this amazing DIY tutorial over at Honestly WTF and had to try it...and HONESTLY this site is my new obsession! I've already bookmarked at least three more DIY's...Weeeee! Head on over and be addicted like me!

Anyways, I couldn't find twine in the proper thickness so I opted for some black suede instead and here's how it turned out:

I love it! Check out the full tutorial HERE to try it for yourself! PS. I LOL'd when I told the guy at the hardware store I was looking for SMALL NUTS. HAHAHA ok that's all...happy monday everyone!

turband three ways

2011-08-11T11:39:00.002-06:00

How To Tie A Turband 3 Ways from LEAFtv on Vimeo

song of the moment

2011-08-11T10:30:00.004-06:00

toofar by weirddough via clothesencounters

soooo chilllll

Aztec Nails

2011-08-10T14:20:00.003-06:00

photos: boom nails

Gah! I love these minty aztec nails...my two obsessions at the moment can you tell? LOL To check out more of Emma's AMAZING nail art head over to her site Boom Nails! From leopard print to mini mustaches, this lady can pretty much paint anything on your nails. WEE! SO FUN!

Recycled T-Shirt Knotted Bracelet Tutorial

2011-08-08T17:22:00.007-06:00

HEY!!!!! I'm backkkkk!!!!! Much apologies for being MIA for so long! A quick update: I finished my first year of teaching and I didn't die (yippee!) and I'm home in Canada for the summer, then heading back for another year in Macau :)

I've gotten a lot of requests for a how-to on the recycled t-shirt knotted bracelet I made a while back....SOOOOO I ended up making a video tutorial for you all :) I decided to jazz up the bracelet by painting on a leopard print and adding a few gold chains! These steps are optional but I think it looks pretty radical yeah?

OK hope you enjoy the tutorial and lemme know if you have any questions or comments. I'm thinking of giving one of these leopardy wrist snugglies away so check back soon! Have a lovely day! Smile :)

Toilet Paper Roll Sculptures

2011-05-06T02:00:00.003-06:00

WOWZA! How incredible are these toilet paper roll faces by Junior Fritz Jacquet!

DIY Balmain Inspired Mini

2011-04-26T19:24:00.003-06:00

photos: a pair and a spare

If you've got some ribbon, lace, and sequins laying around why not fancy up an old skirt like this one found over at A Pair and a Spare! I love the finished product! Click here for the full tutorial. Happy crafting!!

video of the day

2011-03-29T07:11:00.000-06:00

This is pretty sounding...and the kitty is cute too :)

project restyle

2011-03-25T01:29:00.004-06:00

photos: Sew I Thought

The ever inspiring Angie over at Sew I Thought does it again with this amazing recycled dress project. I'm in love with this skirt...the sweetheart waistline is beyond adorable :)

also on repeat

2011-02-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

makes me smile every time!

on repeat

2011-01-23T05:34:00.000-07:00

I want to make this

2011-01-15T23:04:00.002-07:00

photos: nastygal

This would be a fun project, yes?

Life as a cat

2010-12-29T19:54:00.002-07:00

Woah

DIY earrings from necklaces

2010-12-24T14:18:00.001-07:00

Can't get enough of their videos.

jim's pancakes

2010-12-20T11:20:00.002-07:00

photo: jim's pancakes

Tee Hee

yes, please

2010-12-11T20:44:00.004-07:00

I'll have this room please, thanks

there's no place like here

2010-12-07T19:56:00.001-07:00

DIY plumbing supplies bracelet

2010-12-04T16:35:00.003-07:00

photo: style hurricane via: outsapop

Love this. Check out the tutorial by style hurricane for more details.

Video of the day

2010-11-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

DIY: Shearling Boots

2010-11-22T18:00:00.003-07:00

photos: my vintage secret

Oh boy, how cozy are these DIY shearling boots by My Vintage Secret?! Head over to her page here for full instructions on how you can make a pair of your own. Happy winter-is-coming!

clothesencounters

2010-11-22T00:10:00.002-07:00

To fill my void of thrifting here in Macau I love to watch these two lovely ladies as they go on their second hand adventures . They are THE best kept secret on youtube and I can't stop watching their videos!! Check out their youtube channel "clothesencounters" to see for yourself!! P.S. I want Jenn's hair. :)

witches finger cookies

2010-10-28T01:52:00.011-06:00

Gross!! Witches finger cookies make a great Halloween treat! They're super easy, fast and ultra-tasty :) Here's the recipe I followed or visit the link here. Enjoy!

*Tip* Make sure you chill the cookies in the fridge for 10 -15 minutes before baking to prevent them from flattening.

Witches Finger Cookie Recipe

Yield: 5 dozen

1 cup sugar
1 cup Butter, softened
1 Egg
1 tsp Almond extract
1 tsp Vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups Flour
1 tsp Salt
3/4 cup whole Almonds, blanched
2 squares of melting chocolate, or chocolate bark

Combine the sugar, egg, butter, almond extract, and vanilla in a bowl. Mix in the flour, and salt. Cover and refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes, or until it’s firm.

When you’re ready to shape the cookies, only take out a small portion of the dough at a time. Shape the cookies into fingers by rolling and working with your hands. Score the top of the cookie with a knife or spatula to make it look like the wrinkles in your knuckle. Press an imprint into the tip of the cookie with your finger to make a spot for the almond finger nail. Press an almond into the tip of each finger to look like a fingernail.

Placed on a cooking sheet lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray and bake at 325` for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies are a very light golden brown. Let the cookies cool on a drying rack.

Use melting chocolate to go around the outside of the almond nail, giving a ghoulish appearance. Just melt the chocolate, put it in an icing piping bag, and cut a very small hole in the tip. Then pipe around the nail.

I made them with my class the other day it was was really fun....look at all the creepy fingers....yuck!! EEEEEEEheheheheheeeeeheeeheeeee Happy Halloween!

recycled chair hangers

2010-10-23T08:40:00.003-06:00

via: sfgirlbybay

I love these wooden hangers made from vintage repurposed chairs by Antonello Fuse. For more info or to purchase, visit resign.

video of the day

2010-10-17T06:33:00.002-06:00

I like this

photo of the day

2010-10-17T01:57:00.002-06:00

via: ktinkoff

where.did.he.come.from? eeeeee.

recycled t shirt project inspiration

2010-10-10T08:52:00.008-06:00

Whoa it's me! So I thought I'd test out the whole video making thing. haha. May I remind you I have zero skills in movie editing/public speaking/speaking to no one in front of my computer (lol) so I might be slightly awkward. or a lot! eeeee! I wanted to show you this neat top I found that I might try to recreate on my own t shirts...lemme know your thoughts! Ok, have a good one, bye!

recycled toilet paper rolls

2010-10-07T11:29:00.005-06:00

I like these tiny scenes by Anastassia Elias.

Lovely toilet paper roll cut outs. Found here.

guess what I'm making?

2010-10-04T10:36:00.007-06:00

A recycled glove chipmunk!!! Remember this little guy from a few posts before? I went to my favourite japanese dollar store and picked up all the supplies. Lucky me! they had (almost) everything I needed! (they didn't have pipe cleaners...no bendy legs for this furry friend, oh well) I also couldn't find a plain brown glove so I settled for this striped beige one instead. I like how the blue stripe makes it look like he's wearing pants AND the brown stripe on top worked out perfectly as his nose! Wowee! Well he's a work in progress, the hand sewing is making my fingers a little tired so he's just gonna take a small rest tonight. What a fun project, I'm already thinking of making a glove skunk....glove rabbit....glove kitten, oh he's going to have so many friends! I'll be sure to show you once he's all put together :) Click here for the full DIY instructions.

photo of the day

2010-10-03T04:31:00.001-06:00

cute things from asia vol. 4

2010-10-01T02:51:00.003-06:00

oh just another day in Macau where dogs go for "walks" in their charlie brown stroller. haha.

raspberry pink

2010-09-18T20:02:00.005-06:00

bientot la rentrée by rasberry pink

I love this fall look created by raspberry pink over at polyvore.com. I would wear every single piece! Lalala. Have a fun almost fall day!

cute things from asia vol. 3

2010-09-18T04:52:00.004-06:00

bunny mug from "daiso" in macau. aka. japanese dollar store! gah!

teeheehee, I giggle every time I sip my green tea from this mug!

should I get this?

2010-09-10T21:55:00.003-06:00

I've always wanted one...and I think it would make cute music with my ukulele!

bunny love

2010-09-05T09:57:00.003-06:00

photo: seriouscraft

want.to.take.him.home.real.bad.

Raven

2010-09-05T07:57:00.002-06:00

photo: mjolk

I like this.

cute things from asia vol. 2

2010-09-04T22:02:00.003-06:00

meow! kitty stationary from korea

recycled glove chipmunk

2010-08-30T07:58:00.004-06:00

via: recylart

Tee hee hee....isn't he nice? Full DIY instructions here.

video of the day

2010-08-29T05:04:00.003-06:00

recycled t shirt embroidery

2010-08-29T04:09:00.004-06:00

Housewarming present for Brayden! My first time embroidering....please ignore the wobbly wheels! haha. Follow this tutorial by My Vintage Secret for instructions on how to make your own!

cute things from asia

2010-08-29T03:42:00.011-06:00

handmade ring and earrings from korea

stay tuned for more cute things from asia!!

red lips

2010-08-25T06:16:00.002-06:00

DIY draped skirt

2010-08-14T20:37:00.025-06:00

photo: Anywho

A while back I posted about this amazing DIY Burberry inspired skirt project that's been really popular among bloggers lately...AND since I've returned to my home-and-native-land of Canada I could finally get my hands on some second hand jewels, put my sewing machine to good use and (try to) recreate this lovely skirt. Three cheers for fun projects! Hip-Hip-Horray!

I scoured the racks for some kind of plus size cotton jersey dress with enough fabric for the skirt and happened to lay eyes on this little...I mean LARGE fella'. The dress is made of a thick almost sweatshirt-like material in a nice dark grey color which is perfect for mixing and matching. Lucky me, I snatched him up for only $4.99. What a steal!

Here's the dress before: Notice how my shoulders are defined to perfection. You can thank the magic of the ol' pad on the shoulder for this trick on the eyes.

...and here's what "this old dress" (wink nudge) turned into. TA-DA! I like it!

It was a pretty simple project and didn't take much time to make...not to mention super comfortable and earth friendly! The waistband was a bit tricky for my untrained self, so it's only half sewn until I think of some brilliant way to fully secure it. Ideas are always welcome!! (help me) haha. Here are the DIY instructions compiled from the original post by Anywho and the ever inspiring Angie over at Sewithought with her take on the skirt.

1. Use a high waisted bodycon skirt as a pattern (I added about 1/2″ around for seam allowance I also added about 3 inches on the top of mine to make a waistband. Because I made mine from an already made item I used the hem of the dress so if you are not remaking an item you may want to add some allowance for a hem.)

2. Cut 8 wide pieces. (I cut 4 pieces and folded them in half – my pieces were 10 inches wide and 24 inches long. Sew these pieces in order to make 4 tubes)

3. Cross two tubes to achieve a draped affect. Repeat with the remaining two. (Just use the front piece of your skirt for this.

4. Pin everything down all the way around then take the back of the skirt and attach it to the front piece. (I pinned my draped pieces down and sewed them on before attaching the front and back pieces together.)

Happy sewing day everyone!

paint by numbers

2010-08-13T16:31:00.004-06:00

photos: meesheo

Recycled wood necklaces by Meesheo!

reMade USA

2010-08-12T15:43:00.012-06:00

photos: reMade USA

Oh wow oh wow. How amazing are these leather bags created by Shannon South for reMade USA? Wanna know a little secret? These lovely gems were all made from second hand leather jackets and lined with recycled cotton! Shannon believes in designing products that reuse materials and are locally made. As she says, "why create yet another product to add to the gazillion already on this planet!" Yes! Yes! Wanna know another secret? If you so happen to have an old leather jacket lying around your house or found one of your mom's old leather bombers circa 1978...you know, the shoulder pads, the elastic waist bottoms, don't forget the lovely patchwork design...you can send it in to reMade USA and choose the style you like and da da da DAAAA, a fabulous new/old upcycled leather bag just for you! Give your dusty old jackets a second chance and head over to reMade USA for more info. Happy Thursday everyone!

I'm alive I promise

2010-08-08T23:20:00.012-06:00

Sweet heavens where have I been? Sorry for my sudden unexplained hiatus. Please accept as my apology this dream-like photo of my boyfriend and a small furry friend we encountered during our travels. Meow, she's sorry, meow, please forgive her. If not, I hope at least this friendly image makes you smile just a little, it certainly does for me. :) <--- see. Here's a super quick run down of what I've been up to over the last six (gasp) months:

a. completed my placement in Macau. ate a lot of food, mostly in the form of buffets.

b. graduated from my education degree = I'm a real teacher!! yippee!!

c. petted a lot of furry friends. they really love dogs in Macau...not to eat, only to pet.

d. traveled to Malaysia. so so beautiful.

e. then to Guilin, China. don't let the "hot dog" on the menu fool you.

f. boyfriend visits after five long (long) months. love.

g. more travelling, first to South Korea. first time at a public bath house aka. nude spa. kinda liberating.

h. next to Qing Dao. home of the Tsing Tao brewery. yep, that beer you buy because it's cheap.

i. and finally Beijing. climbed the great wall of China! hard work but breathtaking!

j. return home to Canada. wow I missed you and your clean-I-can-actually-see-the-sky air.

k. fill my void of thrift store shopping immediately. lol.

l. commence ukulele re-learning. missed you little guy.

m. getting ready to head back to Macau at the end of August for an another year! (what?!)

Crazy right?! I figure I'm young (ish) don't have too many things I'm tied down to... and when will I ever get this opportunity again? So I took a leap and signed on to teach for another year. I'm really excited to start my first real teaching job and put all my education to good use. So here I am, putting finishing touches on my lesson plans and packing once again for the big move. What comes next? I don't know! that's the fun part!

Don't worry I didn't forget about you, more posts coming soon!! What do you think of the new template? I thought I'd spruce things up a bit since it's been in hibernation for so long. haha.

Thanks for reading! Meow!

DIY recycled t shirt braided neckpiece tutorial

2010-05-29T07:00:00.017-06:00

This tutorial will teach you how to make your very own homemade recycled t shirt braided neckpiece!

For this project, I used XL t-shirts I got from a local thrift store but you can also use store bought jersey fabric as well. Let's get started!!

MATERIALS NEEDED:

- Cotton fabric OR two XL used seamless t-shirts (no need to buy new)
- Fabric scissors

That's it! WOW!

ABOUT THE FABRIC:

Go to your local thrift store to find mens or ladies XL cotton t-shirts. I say XL because the width of the t-shirt will determine how long your neckpiece will be and the length will determine the thickness. As inspired by pixie market's braided neckpiece I chose black and white as my color palette but you can choose any color combination you crafty heart desires! Also, avoid using t-shirts with seams sewn on the sides as they will look unsightly when braided. No no no to seams.

INSTRUCTIONS:

If you are using a t-shirt first you need to WASH it....who knows where it's been or who's been doing jumping jacks in it. Yucky. Next you want to lay it flat and cut out the body of the shirt by cutting off the hem on the bottom as well as the top portion of the shirt by cutting right under the armpit.

Ok here we go! weeeee!

Cut 1/2 - 1 inch strips along the width of the fabric creating loops. I cut out the strips freehand...you do not need to be exact, but try to make sure that the strips are about the same size. If the edges are jagged it's ok...they will be rolled up anyways.

You will end up with something like this:

Once all the strips have been cut out, gently tug along the length of the strips to curl the edges under. Make sure to stretch each loop out evenly, otherwise you can end up with some longer than others.

If you used a t-shirt for this project, cut through one end of fabric so you have long strands of cotton instead of circular loops. Leave two or three strands aside, as you will be using it to secure the braid later on.

Next you need to divide your strands into groups of three to prepare for the braiding. Make sure to have both white-white-black and black-black-white to give your neckpiece more dimension.

You will need to find something to anchor one end of the fabric to keep the strands in place while you braid. The only thing I could think of using was one of the table legs from my coffee table! haha. It worked really well! Leave a small amount of fabric at the top to be unbraided as this will be used to tie the two ends of the braid together. I will now leave you to your search of something to anchor your scarf. Good Luck!

Now it's braiding time!!! Yahoo!! I believe that most of you know how to preform a simple braid, but just in case you don't....watch this video here. Braid down the length of the fabric again leaving some of fabric unbraided at the bottom. Make sure you braid a small section at a time as the strands below the braid get tangled fairly quickly. Brush through them every so often to prevent this from happening.

You'll end up with something like this: Here's what black-black-white and white-white-black looks like when braided, looking good eh?

Once the braid is complete, gently remove it from whatever you used to anchor it and tie the two ends of the braid together with a double knot.

One down!! Keep up the great work!!

Repeat the above steps for the remainder of the stands. NOTE: As seen in the final neckpiece the length of the braids are varied, some shorter than others. To achieve this, simply leave more of the fabric unbraided at the top and bottom. You'll have to eyeball the braids to make sure you have an even distribution of lengths.

1 braid, 2 braids, 3 braids.........about 12 braids later your neckpiece is finally started to take shape! Aw, hi friend, you're looking swell :)

Trim off the excess fabric around the knots so you're left with enough to make sure your knots don't come apart. This step could be optional if you like the look of some strands hanging loose.

Almost there! You can do it! Now gather all your braids together at the knots. Spread the knots out a bit so it won't be too thick to cover up. Using the strands you set aside in the beginning, wrap them around the all the braids near the knots once and secure with a double knot. With the remaining fabric, gently wrap it around the knots until they are completely covered up....again secure with a knot and tuck in the ends.

Yipee! You're finished! Enjoy your new homemade recycled t shirt braided neckpiece!

Aw, I like.

Comment below if you have any questions, thanks for reading :)

Double T Shirt Dress

2010-04-28T02:36:00.008-06:00

What do you do with two old t shirts on their way to the donation center? Make a dress of course! From the creators over at takeoffyourclothes, this breezy dress is made from two t shirts sewn together at the neckline, the sleeves are turned in and sewn shut to make pockets! So c-c-c-lever!! The dress can be worn several different ways and the comfort level is a-ok. I bet this would make a fun DIY project...scour your dad's closet for some vintage tees and away you go! la la la. IMAGINE all the different color combinations you could come up with .... mint green + grey, sunny yellow + navy, any color + black ... wowee, just in time for spring!

I also love this little number I like to call: "I'm a t shirt....just kidding...I'm a dress!!" also by takeoffyourclothes. Like what you see? Visit their etsy shop for some of their other t shirt creations. Dum dee dum, have a lovely week.

Pssssssssssssst black and white braided scarf tutorial coming right up!

Lullaby

2010-04-26T08:35:00.005-06:00

Can't sleep? Zee Avi will sing you to bed with this sweet lullaby medley.

Song of the day

2010-04-05T03:46:00.012-06:00

Tallest Man on Earth - Kids on the Run

Oh meet me when the morning fails on the fields of desire
Oh meet me when I lost my part in the choir of dusk
Where the promise to lead what is right
As we both know how fields will turn white
And know I will never speak of days
Cause I know you wont count them.
No we have never grown a day from the poison we shared
And we’re walking our crooked backs home
But will we ever confess what we’ve done?
Guess we’re still kids on the run.
And no we will never be a part of the pictures once taken
When we’re feeding fire with the flames til no memories gone
And the cold sky will write us a song
But will we ever confess what we’ve done?
Guess we’re still kids on the run
And the reflections in their eyes
Sure could paint us as killers
Oh, I’ll be there.
And til the terror of our time
Could forgive us as lovers
Oh, lets break some hearts….
And no i will never speak of ways ’cause i know you wont try them
But all the weapons raining from the sky will be ours to embrace
And the cold sky will write us a song
But will we ever confess what we’ve done
Guess we’re still kids on the run.

Listen to the song HERE.

In love with this song right now, actually the whole album for that matter! Make sure to give it a listen, it's worth it :)

Video of the day

2010-03-30T00:25:00.002-06:00

Good song, good hats.

Polaroid Film Now Available!

2010-03-23T11:18:00.007-06:00

Attention all Polaroid lovers! Yes, that's you! Starting March 25th the much anticipated revival of the polaroid film can now be in the grips of your instant-film-loving hands!! Packs of the newly developed film now dubbed PX100 and PX600 will be sold for $22 a piece courtesy of The Impossible Project. Thanks friend. In the meantime, dust off those Polaroid cameras, maybe give it a shine, and prepare for the wondrous day that will be Thursday! WEEEEEEEEEEEE, I think I just peed a little.

Video of the day

2010-03-23T05:11:00.003-06:00

love

Scrap Wood Bunny

2010-03-17T05:24:00.015-06:00

By the way, in case you don't already know...bunnies + me = love. I came across this GIANT bunny constructed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman and wished I could keep him in my apartment as my pet. Here's what Hofman had to say about this epic creature, also known as....

The Giant of Vlaardingen

2002 - 2003 8 x 10,5 x 5,5 meters Salvaged wood, nails and screws

"It took three months to build to a sculpture out of salvaged wood, with the assistance of local people. The sculpture is an assemblage, and although the quality of the wood was poor, it stood on three locations!"

Who would have guessed scraps of wood could come together as something so adorable! Psssssst visit his site here for some of his other works of art....with project titles such as "Lion avec ballon" "Bunny Candybottle" and "Rubber Duck," you can only imagine what you are about to see. Enjoy.

Listen to She & Him "Volume Two"

2010-03-16T06:55:00.006-06:00

Exciting news for all you She & Him fans out there!! As most of you know their new album fittingly titled "Volume Two" doesn't officially come out until March 23rd, but you can now listen to the entire album here courtesy of npr music. If you're as excited as I am, you best head on over for a little listen of your own! Ooooooh these melodies are as sweet as jellybeans and gumdrops, can't wait to put this on my Ipod! Dear M. Ward and Zooey D, you complete ME :)

Photo of the day

2010-03-12T10:11:00.004-07:00

One of my favorite cafes in Macau.

DIY Burberry Skirt: Part II

2010-03-12T03:52:00.011-07:00

Oooh, so apparently this DIY Burberry Skirt has been around for a while and it's been blog-hoppin' ever since :) Check out these two versions of the drapey skirt made by Style Hurricane and Monaby. Aw, pretty. I love the softness of these fabrics and colors.

Update: I made one! click here to see.

DIY Burberry Skirt

2010-03-11T18:24:00.004-07:00

Oh wow oh wow, I came across this through OutsaPop's blog and I just HAD to post it. You can find instructions on how to make it here. This is such an interesting looking skirt, you just KNOW people are going to ask you where you got it from...you reply: Oh this old thing? :) I want to try this but I'm lacking in the sewing machine department here in Macau but you should definitely give it a go! Happy sewing!

Update: I made one! click here to see.

What's In Your Bag

2010-03-04T03:24:00.006-07:00

Oh how fun. I got this idea from Punky Style's blog and thought it would be neat to share with you what's in my bag, or my bag of the moment:

Bag: "Jimmy Choo" satchel from Malaysia. It's a really nice light taupe color but it's hard to tell in this picture. Clockwise from the top: Red China Blues by Jan Wong...it takes me foorrrevvveerr to read a book so this will probably be in my bag for a while, Sunglasses from Malaysia, Guess wallet...again in taupe, E.L.F . mineral eye liner, E.L.F. blush and bronzing duo, Maybelline eyeshadow quad in "stylish smokes" (such pretty colors), E.L.F. blush in "candid coral", Everyday Mineral s blush in "summer stroll" (can you tell I love blushes), Everyday Minerals sunlight concealer, Ecotools retractable kabuki brush, Carmex, Kiehl's mango lip balm, Cover Girl lipstain in "bit of blossom", Camera, USB stick, Ipod shuffle, Ipod touch, The Body Shop tea tree oil blotting sheets, Moleskin journal and charcoal, Keys. P.S. Notice the lack of CELLPHONE, haha. I decided not to get one in Macau and it's actually really liberating.

A little note about Ecotools: they produce eco friendly makeup brushes made with sustainable resources such as bamboo, recycled aluminum, and cruelty free taklon bristles. I have the full set and they are the softest brushes I own...soft like bunnies, wahoo!

I TAG all of you who have a little blog space of your own to create a post about what's in your bag...share your link in the comment section below so we can all have a little look see. I had so much fun making this post and I know you will too....ooooh, have a lovely day.

Upcoming Tutorial

2010-03-04T02:48:00.008-07:00

Hi Friend. As you know, last month I came across pixie market's black and white braided scarf and was immediately inspired to create my own DIY recycled t shirt version. After scouring the streets of Macau in search of a thrift store to purchase some old tees unsuccessfully, I sadly accepted the fact that my love affair with second hand shopping will have to be put on hold for the time being. Sigh. I reluctantly purchased some new shirts and began crafting away! I haven't completed the scarf yet but so far I looovvvee how it's turning out. Yahoo! I've been taking photos every step of the way to put together a tutorial for all you craft lovers out there...oooh how perfect for a lazy sunday afternoon and a delicious cup of tea. Here's a sneak peak of what I have completed so far, what do you think?? Check back soon for the finished product and instructions on how to make your very own. I hope you like it :)

In Love With: Leanne Marshall

2010-02-27T00:39:00.031-07:00

La la la. If I could be dressed by any ONE designer, it would have to be the most darling Leanne Marshall! Some of you may remember her as the winner of Project Runway season 5 :) I was rooting for her all the way...and when I saw her final collection, I fell in love. Aw. She has a unique way of pleating, gathering, and layering fabric that makes all her pieces look like what can only be described as perfectly decorated cakes. Oh yum. Her designs are so detailed and interesting that you can't help but take a second look....not to mention her use of SUSTAINABLE materials such as bamboo jersey, organic cotton and hemp to create her line of eco-friendly clothing. Oh I think I'm love, I am. Let's have a little look-see at Leanne's work and maybe you will have a love crush too! Weeee!

Here are a few looks from her final collection for Project Runway:

Oh wow oh wow, here's a video of the show:

MY OH MY, great music right? Visit Nathan W. Mckee's (Leanne's boyfriend! ha!) myspace page here. Be prepared to have it on repeat after a small sampling.

On to her Spring 2009 Collection, sooooo pretty :)

Video of the show:

Wowee! Are you in love yet? Here is her newest collection for Fall 2010

Did I mention that she has an Etsy shop? Nothing is for sale at the moment but you must check out the sold items to see some of her previous designs. Oooooh I had a hard time choosing which item to feature because they are all so lovely....hmmmmm I enjoy this dress a lot:

oh how dreamy.

I also enjoy the lack of pants in her designs, Yippee!! Only dresses and skirts for me!! For more information on Leanne and a closer look at some of her creations make sure you visit her website, blog, and etsy store! Comment below and let me know what you think! Have a cozy day. Yay!

Photo of the day

2010-02-22T07:43:00.003-07:00

Aw. Something soft and nice to brighten up your day.

Shredded Circle Scarf

2010-02-22T07:20:00.007-07:00

Oh look what we have here. I've been seeing shredded items popping up everywhere and these circle scarves from urban revision's etsy store caught my eye...I love the soft colors and cozy potential of these friendly neck pieces. I tried to recreate the look using recycled t shirts and it only turned out medium nice. Hmmmmm the shredding process is a little tricky to master, you best be careful or you'll end up with huge holes....not so friendly. BUT check out this DIY tutorial I found on childhood flames' blog that teaches you how to shred a t shirt, video included....give it a go maybe you'll have better luck than meeeee! Weeeeeeee!

Featured: Milwaukee Art Museum!

2010-02-12T06:10:00.010-07:00

Oh wow oh wow! Last month Kristin Nelson, the Lead Instructor for a program called the DIY Studio at the Milwaukee Art Museum contacted me about featuring my recycled t shirt knotted bracelet as one of their MAM after dark projects. Every after dark event has a theme and guests have a chance to learn how to make DIY projects that coincide with the accompanying exhibition or theme of the evening. Last month the event had a green theme with a recycled art fashion show, so the focus was, as Kristin says, repurposing materials! Here are a few pictures of the bracelet making in action:

Haha, look at those boys crafting away :) For more information on the Milwaukee Art Museum and the DIY studio, visit their website here, and for a more images from the event including the recycled art fashion show, visit their flickr page here. oh AND here's the original recycled t shirt knotted bracelet post if you so wish to mosey on over. Yipee! thanks, SUPER thanks to MAM and Kirstin for featuring my project as part of the after dark series, I feel nice inside to have been chosen. Aw. Real nice.

Nataly Dawn

2010-02-09T05:46:00.003-07:00

Oooooh, let me introduce you to the loveliness that is Nataly Dawn, also the lead singer of Pomplamoose! I was first introduced to her by Adolescent Waves, the winner of my october contest, thank you friend. I fell in love with her Feist meets Regina Spektor-esque sound. Here is just a sample of some of her delicious melodies, check out her youtube page here for some more of her solo projects! Happy listening....Aw, how nice.

Pixie Market Inspiration

2010-01-19T03:34:00.007-07:00

Ohhhhh I came across this neckpiece over at Pixie Market and thought it might be neat DIY project to try using of course...recycled t shirts! I like the contrast between black and white and the texture of the braids. I might give it a go...what do you think?

video of the day

2010-01-17T09:26:00.009-07:00

Oh how lovely this little lady is, I just can't get enough. Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I've found my way to Macau, China and I'm in love! Such an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. The people here are incredibly kind and there are many tiny shops and cafes lined on every street...more importantly, the food is unbelievable!!! I will post some pics up soon...but for now, enjoy this lovely tune. It'll make you smile a little bit I'm sure.

Contest Winner!

2009-12-22T22:27:00.007-07:00

photo: a new york city life

YAY!! Congratulations Alicia from the the most lovely "A New York City Life" you are the winner of the 100 Subscribers Contest!! Please email me will your mailing address and I'll send over your goodies, yipee! Thank you everyone for entering....one more week until the big MOVE, I can't believe it!

100 Subscribers Contest!

2009-12-13T19:35:00.012-07:00

As promised, the 100 Subscribers contest has arrived!! First of all, I want to thank all of you for visiting me here at this old dress. you're nice! Seems like just yesterday I started this little space. aw. As a token of my appreciation here's a little give away to celebrate your continued support! Here's what's up for grabs.... one winner will receive the following two items:

BLACK with BLUE/GREEN splatter recycled t-shirt scarf
GREEN recycled t-shirt knotted bracelet

Items are handmade by ME and are featured in my Etsy shop this old shirt....here is your chance to win!

How to enter:

Comment below with your email address and answer the following question:

"If you could pack only three things with you in a suitcase, what would you bring."

As you know, I'm moving to China at the end of the month, Yahoo! Packing, packing away, dum dee dum.

I will use random.org to choose one winner. Contest ends Monday December 21th 12:00am mountain time.

*contest open worldwide

*contest open to subscribers only...for a chance to win, don't forget to follow me.

*click follow, under neat people on my sidebar

Happy Holidays and Good Luck!

- contest closed -

Photo(s) of the Day

2009-12-13T06:36:00.006-07:00

How nice. These delightful photos were taken by Josh over at Pictures Painting Paper. All photos are taken in medium format on thirty five millimetre film....here are two of my favorites: "india on the beach" and "party time" To see more of Josh's photography, head on over to his blog here and subscribe!

Thomas Brodahl

2009-12-08T15:48:00.003-07:00

photos: thomas brodahl

Neat-o! I stumbled upon Thomas Brodahl's Tattoo a Day project while perusing some possible tattoo ideas. I've been wanting one for a long time and I THINK I may have figured out the design I like....I'll keep you posted if I actually DO IT (ahhhhh I dunno, I have a low pain tolerance!) Anyways, here's what he has to say about his tattoo sketches:

"Every day I'm gonna draw/write a saying or lyric or phrase on my arm. Document it here. They will be like temporary tattoos. Hopefully the sayings will stick in my mind if I look at them all day. Maybe the meaning of the words will also sink into my body, along with the ink."

What a cool idea, here are two of my favorites. Check out his flickr page here to see the rest of his "tattoos"

This Old Shirt In Stores!

2009-12-07T16:37:00.007-07:00

photos: bento shop

Well actually just ONE store but weeeeee! To all you readers down in Pennsylvania be sure to check out the newly opened Bento shop for a chance to purchase my recycled t shirt bracelets! Bento shop collects and sells handmade goodies from local artists and artists from around the world. Visit their blog here for more info and store location!

New Beginnings

2009-12-05T23:43:00.006-07:00

photo: the quote book

Hi friends, sorry for the (huge) lack of posts lately! I have been super busy finishing up my semester at school and student teaching full time...but congratulations are in order for me because I'm officially on holidays!! YAHOO! In other exciting news, I'm moving to Macau, China for my very last semester of school ever. I will be doing a six month placement teaching at a local school over in the land of delicious pork buns and other tasty treats. (I love food) I leave at the end of this month and I have never been more nervous.....it will be a time of many "firsts" and I am anxious to see what is to come. I will continue posting while I'm over there so keep checking back for more updates! AND check back VERY soon for one last contest before I head off in celebration of reaching 100 followers! Thanks to everyone for visiting my little space here at this old dress, you're nice.

The Impossible Project

2009-11-04T12:52:00.004-07:00

photos: the impossible project

Exciting news for all you Polaroid lovers out there!! The Impossible Project team "has been founded with the concrete aim to re-invent and re-start production of analog INTEGRAL FILM for vintage Polaroid cameras" They're mission is to try to find new technologies and methods to re-invent the much loved integral film since it's production was shut down in 2008. The film is set to hit select stores in 2010! I have a sad 5 exposures left in my Polaroid camera so a big yahoo for The Impossible Project! Click here to learn more and to show your support!

Shoes!

2009-11-04T11:28:00.005-07:00

Oooooh. although I live in my flats, this video makes me want to put on a nice pair of heels and go out on the town! I love the brown gladiators right at the beginning. How about you? Check out more of christttiiinnneee's videos here!

Video of the Day

2009-11-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

Green is my favorite color.

Blog Awards!

2009-10-23T14:32:00.017-06:00

This is looonnnggg overdue, but thanks to Amber over at France, FTW! for picking my blog as one of her "lovely little blog award" winners! Yipee! Photo from her page as well!

Here’s the deal. Name 10 things about yourself & give the award to 10 blogs you love.

Here we go!

1. Carrots intrigue me. At one point in my life everything revolved around carrots, my halloween costume, my art projects, I made carrot shaped cookies, key chains etc.
2. I play the ukulele!! I'm still learning but let me tell you, it's highly enjoyable.
3. Bunnies complete me. Love to pet them, hold them, snuggle with them, dream about them.
4. I'm in school to become a teacher! Those kiddies say the darndest things. ha!
5. I pretend I can sew. Lately I've been buying a lot of vintage skirts and refashioning them to make them a bit more modern. What a money saver! Wahoo!
6. I have a not so secret crush on Zooey Dechanel. (who doesn't?) I love her style and quirky personality. What a dreamboat she is.
7. I am currently obsessed with watching Hell's Kitchen and The City. Never miss a show!
8. Hot Dogs are my friend. Those little doggies feel so nice in my belly.
9. When I was small I left bowls of milk out on the porch to get little kitty cats to come over and visit me. My dad did not approve.
10. I used to have a gerbil named Munchie. He had a leash and I took him out for backyard adventures.

I give this blog award to:

Les Paquerettes
Chrissstttiiine
Oh, Hello Friend
Pictures Painting Paper
Count Me Out
Tulip Society
Under Lock and Key
That's Chic
Josie Bean
A Few of My Favorite Things

AND I tag all you readers to comment below to tell me three little facts about yourself! I'd love to get to know you better :)

October Contest Winner!

2009-10-19T19:33:00.004-06:00

Woohoo! Congratulations are in order for Michelle from Adolescent Waves. You are the lucky winner of my October Contest! I will send you an email shortly to get your mailing info, how exciting! May I just add that Pomplamoose has quickly become MY current music obsession...so fun and catchy. Check out their myspace page here! Special thanks to everyone who entered, I have found some great new music to enjoy! Weeee!

New Thao Album!

2009-10-14T18:29:00.010-06:00

Wahoo! The wait is finally over for the new Thao album! I just bought it and let me tell you, it does not disappoint! I saw them live in Seattle and it was magical. Head on over to their myspace page to sample a few songs for yourself. Dum dee dum, excuse me while I indulge myself in these glorious new tracks!

P.S. Thanks for all your comments for the October Contest so far (2 days left!) I've discovered a few musical gems...can't wait to announce the winner!

Fall Picks

2009-10-12T17:56:00.007-06:00

Ooooooooh, I've always heard of this site polyvore.com but have never really played around with it.....and the verdict is, it's sooooo much fun! You get to pick and choose from a huge selection of items to create your perfect look. Yipee! Here are my picks for fall! Good thing this is only a pretend outfit...look at those prices, yikes!

Photo of the Day

2009-10-12T15:39:00.002-06:00

Don't forget to enter my October Contest! Only five days left!

Yellow Bird Project

2009-10-12T15:21:00.011-06:00

I came across this booth at the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco and thought it was such a neat concept. Yellow Bird Project works with indie artists to create unique t shirt designs and all the proceeds go to charities as chosen by the musician! Collaborating with artists such as The National, Ra Ra Riot, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, etc. these t shirts are totally one of a kind! Yahoo! Here are two of my favorites, the one by Bon Iver is definitely on my wish list. Click here to check out their website!

Quote of the Day

2009-10-07T21:43:00.005-06:00

- Maira Kalman (The Principles of Uncertainty)

Calgary International Film Festival!

2009-10-07T10:58:00.013-06:00

Last week I saw a few films at the Calgary International Film Festival and I'd thought I'd share a two of my favorites!

The first film, Unmade Beds, is a quirky yet tender story about two characters Axi and Vera living in London. Oh how lovely this movie was, it was so refreshing and the soundtrack was amazing. With "hot monkey" as repeating song lyrics, you can't go wrong. haha.

The second film is called My Dog Tulip (aw) and is the first full length hand drawn animated feature film. Cute and hilarious, this movie was absolutely endearing and will definitely be a hit among all you dog lovers!!!

Hopefully these movies will be in rental stores soon so you can check them out for yourselves. Happy Film Festival everyone!

Don't forget to enter the OCTOBER CONTEST!

October Contest!!

2009-10-02T18:46:00.004-06:00

As promised, the October contest has arrived!! Here's what's up for grabs.... one winner will receive the following two items:

HEATHER GRAY/ROBIN EGG BLUE recycled t-shirt necklace
CHARCOAL/YELLOW recycled t-shirt knotted bracelet

Items are handmade by ME and are featured in my Etsy shop thisoldshirt ....here is your chance to win!

How to enter:

Comment below with your email address and answer the following question: "what is your current music obsession?" Can be a song or a group name, add a link if you like. I've been looking for some new tunes lately, this will totally help me out :)

I will use random.org to choose one winner. Contest ends Friday October 16th 12:00am mountain time.

WOOWEE GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!!

- contest closed -

First Love - Chips Wow

2009-09-20T19:09:00.004-06:00

Oh how I adore this lovely tune. I got my ukulele and I loooooooooovvvveee it. I can almost play a whole Danielle Ate the Sandwich number! haha. Maybe I'll post a little vid up myself....or not, I'm nervous. Any other ukulele lovers out there? Comment below!

New Etsy Shop Items!

2009-09-19T17:25:00.004-06:00

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Sorry for the last of posts lately. I've started my last year in Education and student teaching is consuming my life. pooper. I will try to update whenever I get a chance....I wiiiiiiillll. Dum dee dum, oh yes, I've finally added a whole bunch of new items to my Etsy shop so sneak a peek whenever you get a chance!

I've been feeling pretty inspired lately and have all these iteas of new peices I want to try to make so I'll keep you posted for sure. October contest coming soon, keep reading for a chance to win!

Market Collective

2009-09-07T11:06:00.001-06:00

Yoohoo, I wish I had taken more pictures from the market I did recently but I just wanted to show you the business cards I made! I found the most adorable stamps at Michaels for only a dollar each! I loooooooooove bunnies so I just HAD to pick this one up. Aw. Also pictured are some of the belts that were on sale. Check back soon, so very soon because I'll be adding a whole bunch of new items to my Etsy shop! Yahoo!

Video of the Day

2009-09-03T23:34:00.002-06:00

HIHO, I'm back from my trip to San Francisco and I'm in love! The foooooooooood, the music, eeeeeeee. I'll post pics a little later on but for now, here's a darling video by none other than...Nessa!! I hope you enjoy :) Stay tuned for more contest fun and recycled t shirt goodness! Hope you have a fuzzy day.

Zee Avi

2009-08-24T17:19:00.002-06:00

Eeeeeeeeee, I get to see her live in San Francisco this Friday! Wahoo! I was first introduced to Zee Avi by the lovely Carlene at ItsHeavenly and have been listening to her music ever since. Click on her album cover on my sidebar for more info.

Psssssssst. Wanna know a secret? You know how much I ADORE the ukulele and all the lovely ladies I've featured on my blog........well.......I bought one!! It's coming in the mail and I just can't wait to learn how to play. OH it shall be delightful. Yay!

Etsy Frontpage

2009-08-21T01:59:00.005-06:00

Oh boy OH BOY, I can't believe I made it on Etsy's frontpage once again! My neon necklace was featured top right among other hot and flashy items. They have done wonders to help promote my shop...four sales today! hmmm I think I'm gonna have to replenish the goods soon. haha Keep your eye out for some of my new creations soon to be on sale. I can't wait, I cannot! Oh Etsy, how can I ever thank you enough...you're swell.

Recycled T Shirt Knotted Bracelet

2009-08-18T00:03:00.006-06:00

Aw, these bracelets are so snuggly and soft you don't even know you're wearing it! What a great way to use up the scraps left over from whatever t shirt project your working on. This knot is just TOO lovely, I think I'm going to try this one next. hmmm looks tricky.

Update!! Video Tutorial HEERREEEE:

Recycled T Shirt Knotted Headband

2009-08-16T09:58:00.005-06:00

Yahoo! I've been really loving all the knotted rope accessories that have been popping up all around and thought I could try recreating the look with t shirts! It took me forever to find a how-to on tying this knot...but here it is, in case you want to do some knotting of your own! I present to you the Josephine knot! haha. HI Josephine, you look nice today. Sorry the colors are kind of drab...I blame the drab weather we've been having. No sunshine and rainbows here. boooo. Lemme know what you think. Knotted bracelets still to come :)

Recycled T Shirt Scarf

2009-08-15T20:03:00.007-06:00

Woo wee what do we have here? Half circle scarf, half multistrand goodness. Lemme tell ya, this little guy is super versatile! I've found so many ways of wearing it...a shrug, a belt, a knotted neck piece, and the list goes on. I'll post a few pics of what I've come up with a little later on. Stayed tuned folks, more recycled t shirt goodness to come!

Recycled T Shirt Braided Belt

2009-08-14T22:55:00.005-06:00

Continuing with the braided theme...I made some belts as well! Look familiar? Totally inspired by the American Apparel fine jersey braided belt (as seen below) but for a fraction of the cost!

All you need is an old t-shirt, some scissors...the rest is easy as pie....mmmm.

Quick mini tutorial:

- Find an old large sized seamless t-shirt. The wider it is, the longer your belt will be.
- Cut the hem off the bottom of the shirt.
- Cut three 3/4 inch strips along the width of the t shirt. ie. from armpit to armpit.
- Gently tug on the strips to stretch them out, they will naturally curl.
- Cut the strips so that you have three long pieces instead of loops.
- Tie a knot at one end of the strips and anchor it with something heavy.
- Braid down the length of the fabric and secure the ends with another knot.
- TA DA! Enjoy your new recycled t shirt braided belt!

Recycled T Shirt Braided Headband

2009-08-14T22:36:00.007-06:00

Dum dee dum, sorry for the lack of posts lately. It's raining, it's pouring and I've been crafting awaaaaaaaaaay. The next market collective is fast approaching and I've been trying to create some new items for my table AND I'm hoping to add a few new goodies to my etsy shop as well. I made these braided headbands while watching 13 Going on 30 on TV....hahaha what a delight! Oh Mark Ruffalo. Anyhoo, these are SUPER easy to make, perhaps I shall do a tutorial?
I hope you enjoy!

P.S. How did I get those colors you ask? Bleach is my new best friend, HI friend.