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!
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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

Shabby Denim Bracelet Upcycle

Courage. We all need it, many of us don't think we have enough of it. Sometimes we just need a little reminder.

Inspirational bracelet

This bracelet began life as a pair of discarded jeans. I tore the legs into long strips, about an inch wide and pulled the loose strands of cotton threads out. Although tearing the denim is not as easy as, say a sheet, it does make for an impressive fray.

Inspirational bracelet

I took three strips of denim, pinned the ends of one side together, and braided the whole thing. It took me two tries because I like a nice even braid and the first one turned out kind of wonky. I sewed the braid onto itself in the diameter I wanted. This was similar to sewing together a braided rug if you have ever done that. I put a strip of denim on an itty bitty embroidery hoop and used a slip stitch and wrote out
C O U R A G E in red.

Inspirational bracelet  

I chose red because the color is associated with courage, life and vitality. 

Here is the back view. I love the blue and shabby contrast. 

Inspirational bracelet

Inspirational bracelet

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?

Adorable Upcycled Skirt

This tiered skirt by the Gap was cute as it was. But now it is at least 20% better with lace on the bottom! So sorry for the lack of a before photo, I wasn't even thinking.....


I think she loves it <3.

Upcycled denim skirt

I began with this reclaimed Gap skirt and machine sewed white lace all around the hem. That's it! Adorable, right??

Upcycled denim skirt

Upcycled denim skirt

Upcycled denim skirt

Here is something else that's adorable.....summertime kids! The girl on the left and the boy looking at the camera are mine. The others are spares. Actually, my blonde model is my son's girlfriend.....

Upcycled denim skirt

Upcycled denim skirt

Upcycled denim skirt