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This necklace design shows one way to add just a little extra pizzazz – and highlights the idea of repeating a motif or design element:
The crystal rhinestone pear jewel as a design element is repeated three times here. The central two-jewel “duo” pendant measures just a smidge over one inch long and is the focal of this necklace. Yes, it’s available here in my Etsy shop – all these jewels are (of course I used my own stuff for the example here)!
I repeated the “crystal teardrop” element in two similar-but-not-identical shapes. It doesn’t have to be teardrops. Try the same idea with round beads or crystals, in ascending size to the central, larger pendant.
It adds an extra bit of design excitement 🙂
This idea isn’t original with me – it probably started back in the Stone Age. Take the idea – run with it – make it your own!
I saw a beautiful – and inspirational! – quilt this morning at All People Quilting, part of the Better Homes and Gardens family:
Of course, just seeing this quilt is inspiring – the intricate, lovely design, and those cheerful happy colors! And then we get to the “DIY inspiration” I mentioned.
First, you could buy one from the designer, which would mean you’d have a beautiful piece of useable art and an heirloom for your kids. But if you want to Do It Yourself (or have to because, well, funds are limited) – think about it. You could use a quilt design as a template for recycled fabric scraps, discarded t-shirts, or old neckties, and use the design as a quilt – or as wall art.
Take the idea further – you wouldn’t have to use fabric. How about cut out magazine images? construction paper, or too-creased-to-use-again wrapping paper.
You see what I mean? Endless options – and using recycled materials, almost cost-free.
There are a LOT of inspiring quilts out there. Until you can buy one of these masterpieces, well, make your own!
Today I wanted to talk about upcycled fashion – with the emphasis on “fashion”. Also on style, and affordability, and great, unique design.
Case in point:
Now this is a great dress. It’s one of a kind – you’re not going to see it on everybody else wearing stuff from the Mall. It looks really comfortable without being all fussy. It’s feminine without being, well, all fussy and cutesy. It’s washable (stop laughing; that’s major important!)
And it’s upcycled – made of fabrics and garments that were discards or rejects or out of style or who knows what – it’s a wholly new dress. And it’s got great style – with the right accessories, a woman from 20 to 50 could wear this dress. Or from 15 to 60. It looks *good* 🙂
This is just what clothing ought to be. A little bit fun and original. Washable. Affordable (try buying handmade garments for less!) Upcycled. And, it looks great.
Lisa at Great Fabrications SRF started her shop focusing on bags (they’re great) – and now is showing us garments as well. This is a trend we want to encourage 🙂
P.S. Lisa has a lovely vintage shop as well – Jay Bird’s Vintage – with some totally yummy items for your home. There’s an aqua pyrex which is totally calling my name….. it may be gone by the time you get there 🙂
I had intended to do a blog post about another goodie altogether, and I will, later. But then, just a little while ago, by complete accident I saw these:
I’m not usually into “cute”. But these? These aren’t just cute, they are adorable and darling and other words I don’t usually associate with salt and pepper shakers.
I want them to have a good home. They’re from the 1950s. They should be loved for at least another 50. They are currently living with Ms Jeannie Ology on Etsy and I know she wants them to have a loving home too.
If you search for them and they are already gone, I will be sad with you – but then you should look around at Ms Jeannie’s other vintage treasures because there are many and they are wonderful.
Truly, almost, really as special as those little ducks.
Interesting: I was scanning through British ‘Glamour’ magazine’s Street Style pages recently, just because it’s fun to see what real people – young, pretty, and stylish, but still real people – are actually wearing. I saw a lot of interesting outfits, which of course is why I look.
NOT ONE person I’ve seen so far, has been wearing high heels. None. Flats, boots, trainers (sneakers), you name it: no stilettos. Maybe the Brits know something about comfort *and* style that we haven’t quite got to yet?
In that spirit, I’ve found some yummy vintage boots over at Etsy. Love these:
Because those are like the greatest vintage boots on the planet. And then, there are these:
I don’t usually use this word (acronym) because it’s so overused, but this time I have to: OMG, this woman’s got some great stuff in her shop! She’s Sazzafrazaz on Etsy and, well, like I said: the greatest vintage boots on the planet.
AND great prices too. If these boots are gone, BELIEVE me you’ll find more to love. Go! Yes, I meant now!
“Jewels, stones, rhinestones” – those are all words used “in the trade” (how’s that for an old-fashioned term!) to describe the glass jewels that sparkle so beautifully in affordable costume and fashion jewelry. Truly, you don’t need gemstones to have beautiful baubles!
Case in point: some beautiful Light Siam Red jewels I have in my shop right now. Most of these are vintage style, but they’re actually new jewels. The look – classic (and classy!)
Think how gorgeous these’ll be with black, or black and white, or red, or navy, or used as a “new neutral” with turquoise or emerald! Yes, contrasts can be fantastic. The beauty of these glass jewels is that you really can play with new ideas – not spend a fortune – and look like a million bucks 🙂
This is good on so many levels. You reuse a cool vintage chandelier that comes from a thrift shop or your attic. So: recycled and re-used, which is wonderful.
And: you’re feeding birds! Also wonderful.
And: it looks so classy!
I found this fun DIY over at Craftster.org which is so full of great projects, you could surf there for a year and still be finding new stuff.
But this one? is on top of the cool list 🙂
You know that wonderful color known as vitrail? It’s also called “rainbow” and I just got some lovely little round jewels to go with the vitrail rhinestones in my Etsy jewelry supplies shop.
They’re “rivoli” jewels – that means the faceting comes to a gentle point rather than a flat “table” on the top. And no two are exactly alike – they shimmer with blue, green, tans, purples, and a bit of pink – every time you move.
They’re just gorgeous!
It’s Memorial Day weekend, the last full weekend in May, and for those of us in the U.S., this is the start of summer. And it’s finally nice outside, after the weirdest May in quite a while (rain, snow, and temperatures ranging from 30 to 100, and I’m not kidding).
So my thoughts turn to summer dresses, which are wonderful and beautiful and my favorite way to dress, and comfortable and pretty and do you get the idea I like summer dresses? That would be yes.
So you know I was happy to find these lovely dresses, in an Etsy shop that’s new to me, called Folk and Fables.
She has some wonderful vintage items – like these:
You see what I mean about lovely – and the dresses cost just $28 and $48 – so fabulous! And if those dresses have already been bought when you go to peek – believe me, there are a lot of pretties in this shop.
Go there! Yes, I meant right away – you’re going to love it 🙂
I recently found a simple, easy to follow post about doing your own product photography. It’s cheap, it’s easy to understand – not only what she does but WHY she does it – and the tips really do help! I found it over at Apartment Therapy which you know I think is pretty wonderful anyway.
And talk about wonderful – the article will help you make your product photos can look like this:
By starting with this:
Obviously there’s a lot more detail when you read the article. I think you’ll find it as useful as I did 🙂
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Jewelry and Accessories
Vintage, Recycled, Upcycled!
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