DIY fashion box - Collage/Decoupage.

So, I finally finished a DIY that I feel comfortable sharing with the Interwebz.

I made this box for my good friend for Christmas, and placed some goodies inside...it was an old wooden cigar box I found at an antique shop and decided to cover it over with some images from this past year in fashion.  I just tore up or cut up a bunch of old fashion magazines, and kept it black and white to keep things a little more visually striking.

top view of box lid

i used pages from Vogue and some antique book pages

I actually decopaged the whole box first, then used a utility knife to slit open the box around the edges, it made for a very clean design.  

I love collage because it's very "user friendly", non-toxic, and usually yields a stunning result, even if you don't have a lot of artistic aptitude...just a cool way to personalize a gift.  Decoupage is a pretty ancient technique with a fascinating history.  The surrealists liked to play around with this too...

To make something like this, you'll need :

1)  a wooden, cardboard, or paper box

2) Mod Podge (a kind of glue/sealer/sticky thing) and clear Acrylic sealing spray

3) old magazines, old papers, gift wrap, candy wrappers, old letters or whatever you want to use for decorating your box

4) a cheap paintbrush or one of those spongy paintbrushes for applying the glue/Mod Podge

tips: 

-I coat both sides of the image before applying it to the box, with a thin layer of the Mod Podge ~ (then I use the paintbrush to coat the whole box with Mod Podge after I finish my design)

-I sometimes tear the pages/images instead of cutting with scissors for a more organic interesting texture 

-I use an old credit card/library card to gently smooth down the applied paper pieces, working from the center of the image out.

-After you're finished, let the box dry completely (it dries pretty fast tho I waited overnight), then spray apply the clear acrylic sealant to the entire box (I worked outside on a piece of newspaper with this, as it gets pretty smelly/sticky - also helps to hold the can of spray about 10-12 inches away from the box and let it fall over it like a "mist" using quick short bursts of spray)

Let me know what you think! And if you decide to do your own box, leave me a link in the comments, and as always, thank you for reading x

d.i.y. shredded-t, NO KNITTING REQUIRED!

i've been wanting to do a shredded t-DIY for a while now. i found there was something REALLY satisfying about shredding this top.  it's highly addictive and fun to un-ravel something that's already been machine-knit.  i did most of the shredding on the train/bus.  kinda like knitting, only UN-KNITTING. ;)

i found this excellent tutorial from childhood flames. she even includes a video !! so helpful.  i found a silver knit top at the salvation army for $1...unfortunately, i don't have a before pic, but it was a form-fitting, long sleeve metallic vintage knit, probably from the 1980s.  this is what i transformed it into.  wanted to used a metallic knit for a little more texture/visual interest. below i did just a basic style so you can see how it looks on....

love the sleeves! the great thing about this is it gets bigger as you shred it so you can chop off excess fabric if you want once it's unraveled.  i did this sleeve thing just before i took these shots.  i may cut the sleeves even more and wear it more like a tank dress.  let me know what you think! have you ever done this DIY?

effortless spring/summer style: where to shop

i'm really into uniforms.  winter: it's a long black coat, or a faux fur one, jeans, a grey or black sweatshirt, and moto boots.  now that it's getting to be spring, i'm looking into transforming the look into spring... i felt like drawing today so here's my "fun-with-windows-paint" inspiration (i did this with my finger on the laptop's mouse pad ha ha)...and some ideas on where to get the look x

to make the winter uniform work for spring, i basically turn the long black coat into a summer dress...i'm working on studding the collar of a vintage blazer i found at the thrift store.  denim jackets or boyfriend blazers are pretty easy to find at the thrift shop, and they are perfect for the cooler days. i bought some studded belts at the thrift shop, and took the studs off of them, and now i'm putting them on the blazer's collar....

try looking for a maxi dress here:

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/store/lifewear/women-slub-maxi-dress/076889-57

here:

http://www.nastygal.com/product/own-the-night-maxi-dress/_/searchString/night%20maxi

or here:

http://www.hm.com/gb/product/10848?article=10848-B

and check out these great flats (comfy!):

clockwise from top left: asos, zara, asos, H&M.

for the pendant and/or cuff, and bag, i'd head to etsy or ebay.  look at these gorgeous finds!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/121735055/70s-silver-lion-pendant-necklace-bright?ref=shop_home_active

http://www.etsy.com/listing/117854716/woven-southwestern-silhouette-print-tote?ref=shop_home_active

i'm totally digging that southwestern bag...what a cool piece.  love etsy for the amazing vintage, it's always great when you get an idea of something you'd like to have but can't find in your local thrift/vintage shop.

there are also have amazing sunglasses on etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/119813864/70s-ted-lapidus-sunglasses-red-gold?ref=shop_home_active

http://www.etsy.com/listing/112210420/vintage-1970s-sunglasses-oversized?ref=shop_home_active

but check these out too...they are all amazing.  i'm lucky to have my 70s vintage pair, but if i were going to make a "wardrobe investment" this spring/summer, it would have to be on one of these amazing pairs of sunglasses.  it's an instant statement piece you can wear with anything! (and you'll have it for years to come--this look never goes out of style, imho).

look for a floppy hat in a garden or outdoor store...also there are a ton of hats in department or discount stores..so shop around until you find one that suits you! happy spring, and thanks for reading 

xo

the (new) NECKLACE?!! + REALLY REALLY VINTAGE clothing!!!

the collar is a making a major statement--worn as necklace or part of a shirt, many of the collars are detachable (i see a d.i.y. in the future-maybe a deconstructed denim collar with studs!)...love the idea of wearing a contrasting black or white collar with a colorful shirt! Just having the collar also adds layers without adding bulk...i've seen them also as necklaces too, with studs, spikes, part of ombre-dipped pieces...such a great accessory, a little different and more subtle than wearing a big necklace!


photo from the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University

update: just got a text from my friend who told me about

 this beautiful wool and velvet icelandic collar

she saw recently.

the collar, which was made in AD 1600-1700 (can you believe it, looks so recent), has a "secret worn close to the heart", in the form of love letters that were folded into the garment while it was being made...i absolutely love this idea of making clothing personal and meaningful, a one-of-a-kind piece that has deep meaning for the one who wears it.  it's a whole different way of looking at clothes. our culture is so disposable today, and often i find myself caught in this same trap-getting excited about a style bargain on mass-produced, impersonal items at stores like h&m and F21!

if i ever get up the energy to start making my own accessories, and clothing, it's this kind of energy i want my garments to have--

futuristic western: DIY studded-jacket

This DIY looks cool and, it's very easy to do.  i finally got around to making a studded collar, something i have been wanting to do for a while now.  this is my first time working with studs, and it was fun, and (almost) painless ;) the whole thing start to finish, took maybe a half hour?

here's what you will need

1 a jean jacket or vest
(this one is from salvation army, and cost maybe $3-4 don't buy something expensive, there is absolutely no reason to)

2 studs. i picked mine up at m&j trimming in new york. (they have great products...SO easy to overspend here) but you can find 'em online too. try here.

3 a knife or nail file to bend the spikes down once they are pushed through the fabric

the materials. i used "colonial gold" pyramid studs, which i bought at m&j trimming in nyc. a nail file, or a knife, to push the studs down, and a vintage jean jacket

 i line the studs up before i push them in.  it's easier to make a pattern first before you go through all the trouble and then decide you don't like it.  also, i line up the two on the the end of the row first before placing the middle one.  much easier.

 i only bend one little arm of the studs down while i'm attaching them.  this holds them in place so i can check placement before pushing them all into position with the file/knife.  that way i can make sure they are where i want them before committing...again much easier if some need to be moved or adjusted slightly.

 

viola! the finished project! denim is a little tough to stud, especially with the pyramid pieces.  they start to hurt your fingers after a while. really easy though! just takes a little time and patience.

pimp my.......BLOG??!?!!

pic of a roberto costa "maria zuerta" recycled necklace. genevievesweb.com

now, that's some serious BLING!!!!

since i began blogging, i realize my blog is not very flash-y, bloglovin-y, or full of  contests and giveaways...in time hopefully it will b all of those things...
wait,
let's have a contest right now: pimp my blog?! winner gets to be featured on this site and be shared with all my one follower(s)!!

(hmm. maybe better to wait on that. but seriously, if u wanna help me pimp my blog, drop me a comment! :D)

a designer who embodies "conscious style"...conscious of the environment, recycling, using what you have...brings me to today's post on the brilliant work of Roberto Costa, whose beautiful "Maria Zuerta" line of jewelry has me full of shopping lust.  each piece is crafted from recycled materials. this line breathes new life into jewelry by re-configuring old, un-used, cast-off pieces.

i discovered "Maria Zuerta" here, (and if you're not familiar with this boutique, please check it out if you're in/around NYC, it is amazing)

i'll be using this as inspiration for an upcoming line of jewelry i plan to develop: all one-of-a-kind pieces using recycled and found materials...it may take a while to gather them, but that's part of the process...

the spirit of a dress.

one of the things i  LOVE about thrift shopping: sometimes i find a garment with a life of its own. i found this authentic bohemian dress at a Maine goodwill thrift store last year. i believe the dress is from the late 1970s-early 80s. i made the bone necklace this morning for the shoot. (will have to make it more permanent). my mom gave me this soup bone, just wrapped a chain around it.

(and, i finally decided on the neon pink
nail polish)

salvation army STYLE !

HAVING AN EYE:
OK. so ...
i realize many of us have ENDLESS good taste, style, and creativity (!!!) but we lack an ENDLESS suppy of $$$$$$$$$$. sometimes, even getting things on sale, or "for less" is not helpful or, even possible!!! being an artist by trade i am always trying to find ways to get around having NO cash. so, i'm starting this new tag "$0.99 store STYLE". i mean, this is REALLY tight budget, as in NO budget

---->i am a FAITHFUL THRIFT-SHOPPER  (my past two trips have been AMAZING, i have found a SONIA BY SONIA RYKIEL dress with THE TAGS STILL ON IT and what i believe to be, AN AUTHENTIC GUCCI BAG !!!)(see pics above--if anyone knows how 2 authenticate the bag, please, lemme know in comments)




Remeber my friends:: NEVER STOP LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION 'CUZ U NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT !!!!!