DIY halloween costume - the night

Between unpacking and reorganizing, these days, I don't have much time for anything else.

...But it's HALLOWEEN!

For the party I made a quick costume with what I had and what I could find in a single trip to the local supermarket (while buying groceries).

Many years ago I bought in Venice this gorgeous Half Moon mask, 

made of papier maché and covered in gold foil.

Having this mask as a start, 

I decided to make "the night" as a costume.

What I already had:

In my mom's stash ... blue tulle (about 3yards) and blue ribbon (about 2 yards)
From a previous costume I had a pair of goldish gloves.

What I bought:

Local supermarket sells these gold and blue glow in the dark stickers with stars and moons (in the toys section).

--> Make a night costume in few steps:

I doubled the tulle and ruffled at the top, and sew on the ruffled edge some blue satin ribbon.

Then I placed the stars all over the outer layer of the tulle, and hand stitch a single stitch on the star, to make it stay.

With some leftover tulle, I wrapped my head and made a bow in the back.

Ring and bracelet are two hair elastic bands with  two stars and two moons sticked on both side of the elastic to make it stay.

A blue dress and a blue pair of shoes... these are real clothes. 

Done.

Ready to party!

Happy Halloween ☆★☆NIGHT☆★☆ to you!!

xox, d.

inspired by: jet-lag activity

Good {early} morning, world!

When I'm jet-lag... I am pretty much in: 

can't sleep - have to do something - right now - state of mind

Therefore, loaded with a good amount of caffeine...

I started to play with blogger, and one thing lead to another

I prepared

this totally-awesome-page

where there are all the links of the DIY and tutorials organized

BY DESIGNER
(in alphabetical order, too)

I thought that rather than add more and more tags on my sidebar, 

which looks already crowded enough,

having a page (which I have to remember to keep updated, but I will) 

would be a better option.

By clicking on the picture of the inspiration DIY or tutorial, you'll be directed to the original post... 

(That implies that this morning at 4:00 am I was also learning some HTML tricks!!!)

If you want to know how, this is where I found the tutorial:

http://www.betatemplates.com/2011/02/creating-picture-link-in-blogger-posts.html

It's really easy to follow (if I could make it, you can too: FOR SURE)

Let me know what you think of this page and if you like it!!

xox, d.

i've got m@il

A bit of Amazon splurge!

They were all on sale, 

...I couldn't resist.

... look what's inside...

it's like yoga for seamstress!!

I'm not sure if I will ever be able to make anything like this,

but I'll never know until I'll try!

Can't wait to learn.

...It will take a while, 

since I'm moving in a month, 

and things are getting hectic over here,

but... hey, a girl can dream!

xox, d.

got fishtail?

Got tail?

a DIY one, indeed. 

Phillip Lim you inspired me, again.

This sweater refashion is in my 'DIY' folder since last year, and for one thing or another, I didn't get around to do it until today.

left picture from net-a-porter, collage by moi

and... the B side

left picture from net-a-porter, collage by moi

I started from a cashmere twin set: the short sleeves shell was perfectly fine, while the cardigan was getting a bit worn out in the front.

First, I ripped off the sleeves on both, then sew the long sleeves onto the shell.

--> The Tutorial

I tried to get pictures of the process, but working with dark colors doesn't help my clueless as a photographer.

Plus, I don't have much time to try to learn, since, heck, I'm also packing!
Therefore: my shortcut is my notebook!

Once you have your panel, pin it starting from the center, onto the top part of the cut, and work until you get to the end of both sides.
I hand sew it using some yarn that I unraveled from one of the sleeves.
Don't pull the knit, and work slowly.

Note that this kind of alteration will work only with a light knit, if the knit is chunky, the result would be clumsy.

It's really not worth it to destroy a twin set if you can avoid it, but you can still MAKE IT WORK (gotta love Tim Gunn!!) with a similar weight knit in a different color or with a lighter / darker shade of the same top you're working with.

xox, d.

will party here

doilies galore

Stash busting project alert!

I made this:

It was inspired from this:

photos from Vogue.com

Because I wanted to use all of these:

Therefore I crocheted these:

...and if you think that life in New York City 

is all about drinking Cosmos with girlfriends, 

watch this:

And after several changes, 

I rearranged all the doilies galore like this:

...And crocheted all together like this:

watcha think? Me like it!!

xox, d.

hunted dollhouse

It's well known here

that the little people 

like to decorate their home. 

...A LOT.

The little people are ready to go trick or treating 

...with their costumes

(and looks like the little kids will have a stomachache tomorrow)

There is a whole a lot going on here. Little-Lucky dog on the side is freaked out and wants to go away :)

...And this is a full view of the Hunted Dollhouse!

Trick or treat?

All the decor was made by moi last year:

Pumpkins are made with crayola clay.

The ghosts are square of light fabric with a stand made of wire

The skull and the bones again, crayola clay.

The candy are pieces of candy wrapper with a little bead inside. 

The candy corn are crayola clay cut in triangles and painted.

The costumes are scraps piece of fabric, lace and leatherette.

The wreath on the front door is made with some leftover purple yarn and tissue paper.

The bats are made with leatherette and fishing line.

The treats bags are just like real paper bags, but much smaller!

I couldn't put together tutorials - no time! 

xox, d.

oh là là. links à la mode

Last week I joined the  Independent Fashion Blogger network, which every week, host the Links à la Mode roundup.
I've been reading the Links à la Mode for... forever!

Can you imagine 

how surprised I was when I found out that me, 

the new girl on the block, made it this week?!?!

well, actually my pants made into the list, 

and, for your convenience, 

I enlarged the font and made it red...

you know, just in case you missed ;)

Not only that... I'm quoting what the article says:  (which I'm also highlighting for extra bragging)
"For instance, my favorite links this week all happen to be DIY projects! These bloggers made tutorials for their colorblock hair accessories, faux Phillip Lim slacks and my favorite, DIY sparkle glitter boots!"

Well, needless to say: my week is complete!
Check out also the other bloggers who made into the list, ok??

xox, d.

When Style Bloggers Turn Haute DIY Designers….

By Jessie Thorpe, Denimology


As fashion bloggers, we look for great fashion at affordable prices. Unfortunately, most times high fashion comes at a substantial price tag. Some of us get emphatically crafty to achieve the cultivated couture look we seek. By making adroit changes to items (sometimes slightly pass their prime) they become stylishly spectacular! For instance, my favorite links this week all happen to be DIY projects! These bloggers made tutorials for their colorblock hair accessories, faux Phillip Lim slacks and my favorite, DIY sparkle glitter boots!

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: OCTOBER 20TH

• Beautifully Invisible - 10 Popular Blogging Myths Debunked
• Be Fabulous Daily - How To Sell Clothes on Ebay
• Cadence and Clementine - Black In Fashion
• CosmoLAWlitan - “What’s In a [Celebrity’s] Name?”
• Denimology - How To Wear Flared Jeans Properly
• Dress Code: High Fashion - Investigating Alexander McQueen`s Eshu collection and it's Yoruban inspiration
• Fashion Ice - DIY/Collar Accessory
• His Girl Friday - The Blogging Cycle of Guilt
• Inspiration & Realisation - DIY Foldover Trousers
• Joyful Outfits - How To Wear Denim Shorts For Fall
• Made To Travel - I Made It!: Snake Print Tee
• My Favourite Fashion - Vintage Vision
• Oranges & Apples - Outfit inspiration: Narrative or Functional?
• Parfait Doll - Pink Hair Couture
• Practically Spoiled - Colorblocked Bobby Pins: A Super Simple DIY
• Pretty Innovative - Shedding Some Light on Wearable Electronics
• Sanity Notebook - Personal Wardrobe No 34
• Sprinkles in Springs - DIY Sparkle Glitter Boots
• Statements in Fashion - 2 Simple Ways To Increase Blog Traffic
• Style Abuse - How To Wear Layers For Fall to Winter
• Style Bizarre - Winter Must Have: Wool
• Sugar and Spice - Making Denim Work for AW11
• The Red Dot - Lessons from Paris Fashion Week

SPONSOR:
New Denim at Shopbop: DL1961, Blank Denim, William Rast, MiH Jeans, Hudson, Paige Denim, Rich & Skinny, James Jeans, Goldsign, Dallin Chase, Citizens of Humanity, Ksubi, & J Brand.

PLEASE READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE
If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~Jennine

quick knit: infinity scarf

Challenging myself to use my stash 

it's really getting me into the mood.

The first few days felt like "being on a diet", but now I am enjoying the process and the end results:
#1 - having less leftover yarn and less clothes in my "to-re-do" pile
#2 - I have few more pieces of clothing that are actually "new"

First: pick the yarn.
Because I wanted a fast knit, I joined together several leftovers until I've got it right to be knitted with 6 mm needles.

Time to knit:
* cast on 59 stitches
* and keep knitting, following the pattern on the picture above, for about 21"
* join the two ends on the wrong side

... voilà!

xox, d.

will party here

words to live by

You don't realize how much stuff 

your house can home

 until you have to pack and move.

And I should have learned the lesson, since this will be move #5 in the last few years.

Considering that I have a hard time getting rid of stuff, but I already forced myself to purge a lot of stuff in every each of the moves, I'm still in high water.

Do you want to know how I spent my weekend?

There.
Packing and coursing at myself.

xox, d.

contrast sleeves

Today's story is, again, 

about two pieces of clothing in my "to re-do list" 

for as much as I can remember.

(Another "killed two birds with one stone!)

A short sleeves cashmere sweater, boxy, and almost never worn because of the short sleeves.

A jacket that never really fit me, but like the fabric and the detail on the shoulders.

The tutorial is nothing but: 

RIP THE SEAMS OF THE SLEEVES

PIN, MEASURE, SEW

LOTS OF FABRIC LEFT = POCKETS!

xox, d. 

packing

If  I'm not answering every single comment lately...

I have a good excuse.

Yep, I'm packing.

Not quite 100% sure yet, 

and don't know 100% where yet, 

but I'm getting some stuff packed in any case...

Let's say that in the

worst case scenario,

at least I'm organizing and de-cluttering.

Anyway, these 

space bags are pretty darn cool!

I got these on Amazon (Space Bag 14 Bag Space Saver Set )

If you need extra space in your closets... 

absolutely a way to go!

...And nope, this is not a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% mine (as all the content in this blog), I bought those bags, paid with real money and I just felt it was fair to share.

GTG... back to more bagging, vacuuming and boxing!

xox, d.

neutrals and texture

Last week I saw a sweater in a window
that triggered my imagination.

...And it was a potential stash busting, too!

Got home, and explored my stash, 
where I found all I needed 
(why am I not surprised?!!?).

I love the two neutral tones mixed together, the texture, the idea of super warm in a cold winter day.

left photo from Christopher Fisher collage by moi

Best thing of DIY: you can change things up to suit your preferences! I LOVE high turtle necks, and this sweater is so heavy and warm (and not itchy) that a turtle neck was very much needed!

This is what I used: (all leftovers!)

I used:
* needles 3.5 mm for the 2:2 ribs on the wrist, waist and collar
* needles 4 mm for the stockinette on the back and sleeves
* needles 10 mm for the seed stitch on the front

And, in case you want to make one for yourself, here's the pattern for the raglan sleeve sweater:
I didn't put the number of stitches because need to be adjusted with whatever yarn you'll be using.
The measurement in the pattern would be for a size 2.

click on image for bigger size

happy knitting!!
xox, d.

diy foldover trousers

(and how I'm killing two birds with one stone)

One very large amount of my stash consists in clothes that, 

for one reason or another, 

are in need of a makeover.

With the great inspiration from Phillip Lim (yes, him, again) I'm going to kill two birds with one stone by using my stash and create a pair of pants that fits out of these these two unusable pairs.
... Mission accomplished!

pictures from shopbop , collage by moi

Here we have exhibit # 1 & #2, which are two fine pairs of pants that have issues (in fabric of similar weight)

#1 doesn't fit anymore (let's say that it shrunk...)

#2 has a rip on the back of one leg.

-->Here's how I made it:

1 & 2 * Dissection the two pay of pants, by ripping off the seams. On the camel one, need to rip off only the external one.
3* find the middle line on the legs and overlap the black one onto the camel one, giving that little extra room on the hips (so it will fit again)

1* make sure that everything is symmetrical, measure again and again, then sew a straight line onto the middle line
2* now, fold the black pants and sew the black side with the back of the camel side
3* there will be a lot of fabric on the inside, but try them on and make sure they fit right, then you can cut the extra fabric on the inside

With the extra fabric in the camel color, I'm cutting a replacement part for the front belt of the pants, and three belt loops (this is all I could do with the scrap fabric).
Since I'm giving my pants about an extra inch, the belt is now too short.
The right side still fits because had the under button (which I'm not using anymore), but the left side is now too short.

Now, I'm putting together the belt, the belt loops, and making the slits at the bottom, 

and I'm finally done.

... and happy!

xox, d.



will party here