Cute Prairie Style Apron Upcycle

Here is a fun one. I found an adorable dress (several sizes too small of course) at the Salvation Army recently. It was a sweet floral with blue binding details and was fully lined in cotton, giving it a wonderfully full skirt. So, what did I do? I cut it up, of course! Unfortunately I cut at the wrong side. Ooh, I was so mad at myself! The skirt had the cutest slit pockets EVER! It would have made the most adorable apron detail and I ruined it. Ugh! So I picked myself up after my screaming, floor pounding tantrum and sewed the pockets closed and moved on.

 Here is an earlier tutorial I posted on how to make these skirts. I made this skirt exactly the same way. This is what I love about upcycling (besides that 3/4 of the work is already done!), that you can do the same thing over and over and end up with a very different result every time.

Although the dress was very current and more "urban", I love the primitive, prairie, sort of "Little House" pioneer woman glamour this apron has.

Primitive, prairie style apron upcycle

Primitive, prairie style apron upcycle

Isn't this The. Best. floral fabric ever? I made two sets of fabric earrings and am also making hoop art with it.
I still have a bit of fabric left over. Maybe a coordinating necklace?

Primitive, prairie style apron upcycle

Aaaand, here are those pockets. Isn't that just awful? Grrr.

Primitive, prairie style apron upcycle

I love the romantic flowiness of this apron and I even kind of like the silly story those blue slits tell. Kind of.

Crocheted Sea Pennies

     I got the idea from Grow Creative to make a sea penny bracelet. Sea pennies are the easiest if you know how to crochet a circle. It's basically the first ring of a crocheted hat, lol! She hot glued her pennies to felt. Totally cute. But I always find a way to burn myself with hot glue. So I sewed the pennies together with the same yarn. They're pretty solid. I then crocheted some ties. Totally cute if I may say so myself. Since it's my blog, I may.

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

I got really into it and added beads! The beads were crocheted in on the first stitch of the first DC in the circle. I then threaded the tails on to a needle and secured the button better.

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

I didn't mean to make the ties contrast but I ran out of the orange cotton. I rather like it this way.

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

This is probably my last foray into the beaded version, it does take longer. And I'm a tad on the lazy side.

Crocheted sea penny bracelet 

What do you think? Would you wear these?

Linking up with Savvy Southern Style and others listed on my right sidebar ----->>>

Cocktail Ring Upcycle

This piece was fairly accidental in its making ~ I didn't have it planned at all. I bought these blank rings because I wanted to make crocheted flower cocktail rings ( I did make one, stay tuned for that ). However, I was looking through my jewelry makings and I happened across a cute broken floral necklace. I did buy it broken from the Salvation Army about two years ago and still had some left over flowers :)
I looked at the flowers and then pretty much ran for my glue gun and the rings. This was the easiest craft EVER! And, one of the cutest if I may say so myself. So now, I just might be on the lookout for more costume jewelry that I can take apart.

Cocktail ring upcycle

The little holes left over from where the necklace chains went aren't really this visible in real life.

Cocktail ring upcycle

Really, guys, find a trinket you love, make sure any backings or chains are removed, add a glob of hot glue to the ring form and squish your trinket in. Hold it together for a minute or two and you're done! I found my rings at Hobby Lobby.

Cocktail ring upcycle

The rings are even adjustable.

Cocktail ring upcycle

 I had some "help" when I photographed this ring.

Cocktail ring upcycle

Cocktail ring upcycle

Cocktail ring upcycle

I made one with a black flower as well. Its so stinkin' cute! Its all wrapped up for a birthday gift. I can't wait until she sees it!!!

Shabby, Sunshiney Denim Bangles

Ooohhh, these are fun. I ripped some denim into strips and used some strips of gorgeous vintage yellow and white sheet and braided them together. They look so warm and sunshiney and I am still feeling the franco kick. Sooo I embroidered "Soleil" onto strips of denim in a buttery yellow thread and attached it to the bangle.

Shabby Soleil Bangles

Shabby Soleil Bangles

Shabby Soleil Bangles

Shabby Soleil Bangles

Do ya love my models? My son and his girlfriend. Aren't they so sticky sweet? I love that she is so willing to model for me!!!

Upcycled Earrings

Here is what I was working on when I got the call to go to San Martin. They are beaded earrings, the denim beads were upcycled from jeans. I love the shabbiness of the frayed denim against the rich burgundy colored glass beads. And, against the wood beads. Oh, and against the Asian style glass beads. I love these, there will be many more in my future, not just denim but printed cottons as well. I will have to do a tutorial on how to make these upcycled beads. Stay tuned!
{ by stay tuned, I mean, please follow along! Facebook, GFC, Linky, its all there on the right side bar }

Upcycled denim beaded earrings

Upcycled denim beaded earrings

Upcycled denim beaded earrings

Upcycled denim beaded earrings

New Denim Beaded Necklace Upcycle

Here is another denim bead project. I'll say, making these beads is rather time consuming. Each one only takes a couple of minutes but after an hour of doing this I have a depressingly small pile of beads, lol! I like to mix the denim beads with other types of beads as the denim beads are rather light. I don't like a super heavy necklace but I do like it to have a bit of weight, to be able to lay properly.

Denim beaded necklace

This is a fairly long single strand necklace. Not long enough to wear doubled but it does lay below my boobs.....

Denim beaded necklace

Its fun! I love the mixture of fall colors with the blue denim. This would surely go with the tribal themed fashions popular right now.

Denim beaded necklace

Denim beaded necklace

The beads were from two thrifted necklaces that I unstrung.

Denim beaded necklace

I disturbed this little guy's nap when I came out to take photos. He ran away then came out to watch me. We have been trying to go back and find him, he is too little to be out on his own and we are going to have a HOT weekend. I would hate for something to happen to him :-(

Denim beaded necklace

Scrappy Floral and Denim Cuff

I'll tell you what. There is something so satisfying about taking a piece of fabric and tearing it into strips.

Riiiiiiiiiiippppppp

Am I right? Well, I cannot just be tearing fabric up willy ~ nilly now, can I? It's not like bubble wrap, where you pop 'till your heart's content and the bubble wrap is rendered useless. Anyway, I was mesmerized by looking at Pinterest the other day and found some beautiful fabric cuffs there. Are you following me on Pinterest yet? I did repin some of my favorites . . . .

Here is the result of one of my fabric tearing sessions. This beautiful, dainty floral was a medical scrub shirt that I found at the Salvation Army last year. I just loved the print and since there weren't any funky medical type stains on it (it was probably worn by the chick who takes your temperature in the doctor's office) I totally snatched it up and have hoarded it since then. The denim came to me by way of my very generous neighbor who gave me his jeans after his gastric bypass surgery did the trick and made him skinny. The button was off a denim dress scored at the Salvation Army.

Scrappy fabric cuff

I sewed the two sides of the denim together in a contrasting lime thread, in a zig zag stitch.

Scrappy fabric cuff

The floral was pleated and sewn on with a triple straight stitch. I would guess that that floral isn't going anywhere now!

Scrappy fabric cuff

Scrappy fabric cuff 

A button reclaimed from a thrifted denim something or other provides the closure.

Scrappy fabric cuff

I did the button hole in the same contrasting lime thread.

Scrappy fabric cuff

What do you think? I think I hear more fabric calling my name. Riiiipppppp.   http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Tough and Tender Scrappy Cuff

I was up at six this morning, indulging in my Pinterest obsession. Anyone else obsessed? Ya, I am just joking, I know you are all obsessed . . . . I wanted to see what others are doing with fabric cuffs. Because, again, I know I am not the only one. 

I found some beautiful, romantic cuffs made with scrap (vintage) fabrics. I gathered inspiration from cuffs such as this one :

Vintage2Glam on Etsy

And this one :

Retro Café Art Gallery: Bird Fabric Cuff Bracelet 

I love the super ~ girly romantical stuff but I wasn't quite feeling it for my cuffs today. Maybe with a couple of glasses of red wine and some swooney music in the background I could get in the mood. But, hey, for a cuff made from men's jeans, a men's button down shirt and a vintage button, I did pretty damn good.

Scrappy fabric cuff

Although a button is featured, this cuff actually snaps. The button is attached to the fabric flower and then to the cuff.

Scrappy fabric cuff

The men's shirt was torn into strips for the scrappy look and pleated on to this cuff. Two seams in a straight stitch attach the fabric to the cuff.

Add caption

There is a zig zag stitch all around the perimeter of the cuff. If I dare say so myself, the stitch is nearly invisible because the thread matches so darned well.

Scrappy fabric cuff 

I used double snaps lengthwise, because, well, I just wanted to. 

Scrappy fabric cuff

What do you think? Romantic enough? Or do I need lace and stuff?

Katniss Girl on Fire Cuff

The inspiration ~

Katniss ~ Girl on fire

The embroidery ~

Girl on fire cuff

Girl on fire cuff

Girl on fire cuff

Girl on fire cuff

Girl on fire cuff

Girl on fire cuff

Girl on fire cuff