Repurposed Sari Skirt-Finished

I am almost finished. The only thing I need to do is go back and clip some straggler threads, press a few seams and I'm done, friggity done!

Been Awhile

It's been awhile since I've posted anything to this blog. I'm seriously lacking here, shame on me. Honestly, I haven't really made anything lately, so to speak.

I have been trying to get the DIY (doityourself) forum on tribe into doing project themes. I'm hoping that it would help my creativity and get me a bit more motivated. I'm the head honcho for this so if I'm the one starting it, I should also be participating. So far, I've only done one of the project themes and actually finished. The first theme thing didn't go over so well but I didn't start that one, I just kinda took over. I had something in mind for the project but just didn't get around to it. I still don't have much motivation.

So here are a few pics of stuff i've made in the last few months or I'm currently working on.

Velvet patchwork zill bag:

Repurposed sari:
Before being cut- Pallu





Here is the in works of the skirt I turned the sari into.

Lacy Flowerettes

A few weeks ago I saw a tutorial on making a ribbon flower with the ribbong that has wire running through the edges. I don't remember where I saw it, youtube or maybe a website. I still haven't made one yet. I did however make some stuff using some lace I had. I had some white lace that I dyed using fabric dye, food cloring and antiquing with tea and coffee. I got a lovely shade of purple from the fabric dye, a nice pretty pink from the food coloring and a nice antique color from the tea and coffee. I tried to make green lace but that color of food coloring just didn't want to stay and kept rinsing 99% out and just leaving a very very faint hint of green and you really have to look for it. So that particular piece, guess i'm going to have to buy some green dye, now to just choose the color of green I want.

My favorite is the brown lacey one then
Brown lacey flowerette:


rainbow lacey flowerette:


blue lacey flowerette:

Weekend creation

I finished the last bit of sewing I needed to do on my leather cuff bracelet. It is now done, done, done. I don't think i'm going to add any little extra's to it though it still feels like it needs something. I'll just let it sit and stew for a bit.

edited to add (4-19-10) I gave this bracelet to Zoe Jakes of Beats Antique after the concert at Stubb's in Austin, TX.







I started another wearable piece and finished. Okay, I'm not totally finished, I need to change out all the crystals cause they aren't blingy enough. I used plastic scrapbooking crystals. Yes, I said plastic. I know I should be tarred and featherd for that but, they work so good at the positioning and design. The plastic crystals have a sticky back on them, not a permanent sticky but enough to help with working out a design. Unfortunately I don't have the right size crystals in the color I want to use so I need to get some more. BLEH! If I have to, I can use a back up color but I dunno. I've got so much on my mind right now that it isn't totally thinking straight.

Latest Works

It's been a bit since last I posted. I have some progress pics of a couple of altered headbands and a leather cuff bracelet i'm working on.

Headbands-
#1. Grey satin headband accented with brocade ribbon from Wal-mart and swarovski crystals. I still haven't decided on what else I want to do with this one.


#2. Black satin headband accented with a vintage rose ribbon trim and dome nailheads. I still have a bit of work to do on this one as well.



Leather cuff in the works. This was made from a belt I found at the thrift store. I originally only wanted the medallions and the leather pieces to use in projects. One of the leather pieces I'm going to use as a ponytail holder, it's just the right size. This is, I guess you would call the tongue of the belt, it's the part that the belt connects to, the piece with the holes in it. I was originally going to just throw it out with the rest of the belt that isn't useful but low and behold, it's perfect size for a wrist. I was going to make it a button on cuff but the hole is to small for any of the buttons I have and the shanks on the buttons that almost fit aren't quit long enough. I had to use snaps instead and use the buttons as accents to make it look as if it buttons on. So far I'm very happy with it. I have some more glueing to do and I haven't decided yet if I'm going to add anything extra to it yet.

Headband alteration

In the bellydance community, altered headbands are common. I like the creations a lot more than I do the dance. Don't get me wrong, I love the dance too but it's that creative process that piques my interest more. I finally got around to making an altered headband. The headband I used is wide, covered in a black satin type material. They are readily available in several colors, white, black, blue, orange, purple, red, silver and gunmetal(darker silver color).

This altered headband is actually 2 headbands. I also used some eyelet material as decoration. This is a pic of the headband before I added a few things to it.



This is the headband at the finished stage. I made it so that I could change out the flowers and feather accessories until I decided on a 100% or I may just leave it. I haven't decided yet. I added the afgani or it might be a kuchi pendant to the front, which also can be changed out. The way this headband is put together it opens up the potential for so many additional things.








Here is me wearing it.





I started on another altered headband, this one, that gunmetal color and a very pretty ribbon I got from Wal-mart and some swarovski crystals. I haven't decided yet if I want to alter it towards bellydance related or just altered enough for everyday type use. I haven't taken any pics yet because I haven't decided anything and I still need to clean up the ends of the ribbon and I keep forgetting. LOL!

Using up scraps

What do you do with scraps of yarn? You know that yarn that is not enough for some projects but to much for another, it's kinda in between. I have a few yarns like that.

I got this idea last week to try making a granny square, easy right? Well, only if your paying attention to what your doing. I found this one Never Ending granny blanket square
Simple enough right? Well, my lack of paying attention showed up in the final product, OOPs!






On one of the squares I counted off, not to bad but enough that the 2 squares didn't line up just right. No biggie cause this is my bag and if I really really really get an itch about not liking it, I could take it apart, make it a bit smaller so i'd have enough yarn. You know when you take something apart, the yarn seems to be less than what it was the first time around. UGH! I'm trying to use up some of my yarn, the older stuff. So the bag is new yarn and old yarn. The older yarn is the lovely burgandy color. Of course this Red Heart brand of yarn isn't made anymore. :(

I started another shawl in a varigated Red Heart brand of yarn. Don't know the color name cause I seem to have lost the outer label. I'm looking on Red Heart's website and it is sooooooooo slow. Not having any luck, they say they have 72 colors and it's not showing 72 colors. GRRRRR! Okay I give up, I looked at Red Heart and even I Love This Yarn brands and can't find this particular varigated color. I bought it at Hobby Lobby, i think, thus why I checked the ILTY colors as well. Oh well.