Tuesday, November 19, 2013

French Cuffs and Cufflinks DIY

I like to dress up a bit during the holidays and nothing says "SWANKY" like French cuffs and cufflinks with an outfit.  They look great on both men and women and with this DIY, you can have the look in no time.  If you have a stash of vintage buttons that you need a project for, this is it.  These cufflinks are also a wonderful gift for the fashionista in your life!

Some fancy versions
Here's the DIY video
YOU'LL NEED
Long sleeve shirt
Sewing machine with zigzag
Matching thread
2 large & 2 small shank buttons
6 jump rings
Needle nose pliers
Scissors
1.  Cut the buttons off of your cuffs
2. Fold your cuff exactly in half
3. Mark through the button hole to the other side of the cuff
4.  Stitch a button hole the same size as the other on each cuff

5.  Add a jump ring to each button
6.  Connect the two jump rings together to create your cufflink 
You could use a small section of chain if you have something that is strong enough.
So fancy!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Corset Back Blazer DIY Made with Safety Pins!

When I was a fashion designer, I put at least one lace up corset in every collection I showed.  They were always my best sellers!  Though not the easiest garments to make, because of the boning and structure, I enjoyed creating them for my collections and boutique.  This corset back blazer is a very simple way to get the same effect with just a few supplies I'll be you already have.  Use this technique to fit a loose blazer or create the look of a smaller waist on a fitted blazer. It's up to you.

Watch the how-to video
 If forget which collections these photos are from, but as you can see the corset played a very big part in my work.


 YOU'LL NEED
2 yards 1/2"wide ribbon
20 large safety pins
Ruler or tape measure
Pencil
Blazer that needs some sprucing up
 1.  Find your princess seams.  They are the seams between the side seam and the center back seam.  If you don't have princess seams in your jacket, just mark a line 1/2 way between the center back and side seam of your jacket.
2.  Mark up 6" on each princess seam of your jacket. 
3. Make line10 dots starting at the 6" line straight up the princess seam.  Mark another 10 dots 1" away from the first line of dots.
4.  Repeat this on the other side
5.  Using your two sets of dots, pin in the safety pins with the end of the pin facing toward the center of the jacket
6. Make sure they are evenly spaced
7.  Do this on both sides 
8.  Starting from the top two safety pins, lace your jacket like you would lace a shoe

9.  Have someone help you tie your jacket while you're wearing it so that you don't tie it too tight.

Enjoy!  






Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Mustache Necktie DIY to Celebrate Movember

Mustache Necktie DIY to celebrate Movember
Now just in case you don't know what Movember is, it's a month long event involving the growing of mustaches to raise awareness for prostate cancer and other male cancers.
Today while I was shopping I almost bought a pair of mustache sunglasses to show my support.  However, at the last minute I realized that I can't wear sunglasses at night so I decided to make another accessory that I won't have to take off when I'm inside.  
That's when I came up with the Mustache Necktie!
For this project I used Jen Goode's new Jumbo Design Wheel Mustache Stamp….It's awesome and so is Jen!  Check out her bloggers in this Movember blog hop here: 
You'll Need
Cream or white necktie
Colorbox ink pad in black (or a color you like)
Lesley Riley TAP (Transfer Artist Paper)
Home copy machine
Iron
Scissors
Create your mustache design using the Jumbo Design Wheel on plain white paper 
Place your mustache paper in your copy machine and 
copy the design on some Lesley Riley TAP (Transfer Artist Paper) on your home copy machine
 Once it's copied, trace around the tie and cut out the TAP
 Iron it on the necktie and you're done!
How easy is that!
Now get out there and show your support, OK!