Feature + DIY Group Projects 1 and 2

Hey guys! I've been featured by Marie Young from the awesome Good Lookn Out blog. Head on over and check it out. Thanks!

Now back to the regularly scheduled program..

I volunteer at a women's residential treatment center once a month teaching an arts and crafts class. I began last month and the ladies made graphic tees. This month this ladies made rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. This is always a fun time and I thought it would be cool to share a little something about what I do outside of blogging. There are currently 6 women participating in the class.

DIY: Oversized Bow Tie

This week's DIY project is an accessory. I decided to make an oversized bowtie or pussy bow.  Supplies: fabric pins scissors sewing machine ruler chalk

• Using the ruler and chalk, cut 3 pieces of fabric; 10x40 (tie), 3x5 (middle bow), and 8x14 (main bow)
• Interfacing can be applied to the main bow to have a stiffer look. I decided I wanted mine to hang more like a pussy bow. Fold each fabric in half right sides facing each other.
• Sew a seam on the long side of both the middle and main bows.
• Turn inside out and iron flat.
• Fold in half and sew a seam on the short side of the bows. This will create a tube or circle.
• Slide the main bow through the middle bow and adjust.
• Take the fabric tie which should be folded in half and measure 2 inches from the raw edge. Draw a diagonal line from this point and cut at angle. This will make the ends of the tie pointy instead of straight.
• Sew around the tie leaving an 1 inch gap or opening.
• Pull tie inside out and sew the opening closed.
• Iron flat.
• Pull one end of the tie through the back of the middle bow and repeat for the other end.

Are you into wearing bowties or do you think it's something for the boys?
Outfit Details: shirt NY&Co | thrifted jeans Seven for all Mankind | jacket H&M | oxfords Miz Mooz


The Style Record | Whitney Nic James | Monday Mingle | Funday Monday | Do Tell Tuesday

DIY: Blinging Beanie

Supplies:
beanie
buttons with bling
needle and thread or medium safety pins

• Decide where you want to place the buttons. You can use 1, 2 or more buttons.
• Hand stitch into place with needle and thread or secure buttons with safety pins if you want it to be interchangeable between different color beanies. (As you can see, I switched the buttons to my red beanie.)

Outfit Details: thrifted turtleneck H&M | men's cardigan Target | DIY acid washed jeans | boots Dolce Vita | beanie Target

Linking up with: Monday Mingle | The Style Record | Monday Funday | Monday Bloom  | Two Birds

DIY: Bowties

Being that this is a holiday week, this week's DIY project is quick, fun and easy. Bowties! This took about 20 mins and I made 2. One in quilted leather and one in denim, both from my scraps stash.  Supplies: 1/4 yard of fabric or any scraps or old articles of clothing chalk glue gun pin back

• Cut out a 6 inch by 3 1/2 inch piece of fabric.
• Draw a vertical line and horizontal line on the wrong side of the fabric.
• Place a drop of glue on the right side of the fabric where the lines intersect in the middle.
• Fold in half lengthwise and press close.
• Place a drop of glue close to the edge on the vertical line and fold the fabric back. Press down.
• Continue this on both sides creating an accordion effect.
• Cut out a 3/4 inch by 2 1/2 inch strip.
• With the bowtie facing down, place a drop of glue onto the edge of the strip and press down onto the center of the bowtie.
• Wrap the strip around the center and apply a drop of glue to seal it closed.

denim shirt H&M | stripe cardigan Thrifted | plaid shirt Target

You can easily make this yourself!

Linking up with: Monday Funday | The Style Record | My Style Monday | Monday Bloom | Monday Mingle

DIY: Circle Scarf

Happy Monday! I'm back with another diy and this week it's the circle scarf. This is a pretty easy tutorial you just have to make sure you have the right size fabric. I used a wild/safari looking print fabric that I was given for free when I attended the sewing conference last month. The fabric was about 2 1/2 yards and I cut off half a yard because I wanted my scarf to be 2 yards long. Here are the steps.

Supplies:
1 - 2 yards of lightweight knit fabric (the longer the fabric, the more you can do with it)
pins
scissors
sewing machine

Fold the fabric in half lengthwise right sides facing each other. Make sure the selvage edges are together and pin.
Sew a zig zag stitch about 1/2 inch away from the edge
You should now have a tube. Iron the seams flat. Turn the fabric inside out.
You can stop here if you want. Because most knits do not fray, you can wear your scarf as is.
Bring the bottom right side of the fabric to the top right side of the fabric. You should now have a half tube.
Sew the fabric together around the raw edges with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Leave  about an inch opening.
Pull the scarf through the opening to the right side of the fabric.
Hand stitch the opening closed using a slip stitch.

You can also check out a quick video tutorial by DIYRaven to get a better idea. There is also a cool diagram from American Apparel showing 10 ways you can wear a circle scarf.

Source

H&M tank | Old Navy men's jeans | Madewell sandals

Linking up with: Visible Monday | My Style Monday | Monday Bloom | Monday Mingle | Funday Monday | Brag About It | Real Girl Style | Kiwi Womens Style | All Things Pretty

Gold Sequins

This past weekend was busy as predicted. Unfortunately, I didn't get to complete my sewing project but I did cut out the pattern pieces and pin them down to the fabric. It's a start! Saturday, Mel took two of her god kids to see the movie The Croods. It was so funny! If you have any children make sure you take them to see it. Even if you don't you should check it out. I think I was the loudest one laughing in the theater. Sunday was a beautiful warm day out in the bay. We spent the day outdoors and basked in the sun. Okay, we didn't bask, but we did enjoy the warmth. I decided to wear a skirt which I rarely do and I'm becoming more open minded about it. Here's how I styled my gold sequin skirt.

Did you do anything exciting this past weekend?

Outfit Details:

Gold Skirt - Jc Penny Similar

Tee - Ross Similar

Hoodie - Old Navy

Boots - Shoe Dazzle Similar

Detached Collar - DIY

Mid-Week OOTD - Detached Collars

Hey there! It's Wednesday and it's time for my OOTD for work. I know I'm kind of late, but I really like the detached collar trend. You can buy it already made or you can make it yourself. It comes in different prints and patterns and with many embellishments such as studs, pearls, and diamonds. A few weekends ago, I went to a couple of thrift stores specifically to find some shirts that I can make my collars with. I found one with a nice print and one that was all white (yes it was both clean and white).

DIY

So I have been working on making and creating my own pieces of jewelry. I have made bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings. Most of these pieces are pretty easy to make.