The Purse That Wasn't

I've become hooked on Swap-bot after completing my first - the April Black and White Swap, hosted by the Shopping Sherpa. The handbag I made was well received in Canada. So I have found myself committed to 3 more! "Show Me Your Town" "Candy From Your Part of the World" ...and finally...
"The Purse That Wasn't"
The mission: Your job, should you decide to accept it, is to take a container that wasn't a purse and make it into a purse/tote. There are ideas for cereal box purses and knitted plastic bag totes on the web just to name a few. How about a purse from a book or a game board.There are no size requirements. Just don't use fabric. See what you can do. Remember to send on time and that we are all different. It should just be fun to see what you can come up with. Use your imagination. Send what you would want to carry.

So mine is made from a plastic shopper and cute masking tapes from Smiggle. The handle is pink plastic tube. I do hope my random swap partner likes it!

Hugo's New Room

Hugo's room is a triumph of my DIY-ing by design and has been a steady project for me. The linen was made, walls painted, mural designed and executed nicely, I upholstered the chair, hung the romans and re-fashioned the 'speaker-light'. All is finally complete and I can now reveal...

In detail: The Mural
The main wall colour is "Academy Grey" and the white is called "Geisha White", both by Wattyl. I decided to do a tree silhouette, but spent far too long choosing a style of tree which I was capable of doing well. Inspired by several sources - there are so many examples of well done tree murals (my favourites are here and here). It wasn't until I saw Redmag's beautiful mural for her little boy's room that I decided to just go for it! Then the next day I bought this at Don't Tell Phyliss (in Kingston) which helped me with a direct style of tree to go with. I drew it freehand with pencil, then painted.

Frustrated by a lack of boy-able bed linen which suited my aesthetic, I decided to make my own. The fabrics are quilting fabrics, Wise owl print, Amy Butler full moon polka dot, and Heather Ross Goldfish. (ordered from Duckcloth, Quilt Fabric Delights and Funky Fabrix)

The 'Speaker-light' was made a long time ago, but remains one of my favourite re-fashions to date (details on how I made it will be posted soon).

The room is quite restful with mod clean lines and fresh uplifting colours with fabulous doses of natural light - I love it!

Project: April Black and White Swap

*Updated May 30 - the handbag arrived safely "Comment: I LOVE my beautiful new black & white fabric handbag!!! It is just perfect and I will start using it right away. Thank you for this wonderful gift." So now I can show you the whole thing...

Finished... 1 black and white item, but just a preview until it arrives in Ontario, Canada for my random swap buddy in this April Black and White Swap organised by The Shopping Sherpa.

Going cushion crazy

How to girlify a man shirt

Another Wardrobe re-fashion...I bought this man-shirt at an op shop on the $1 rack, I quite liked the stripes in chocolate, tan and beige on white, but it was decidedly box shaped and dull. To make it more feminine, I got out the red paint (everything I wear seems to have red accents right now!), drew my own stencil by hand and went to work...

I also chopped off the sleeves, gathered them and re-attached them to the outside of the shoulder seam - quite pretty and very unique!

Worn here with some neck spaghetti as seen here.

On the left is a (slightly) batwing top in stretch print green and black fabric - I have had the fabric for years and never knew what to do with it, then suddenly! - very comfy and a bit chic.

On the right is my neck spaghetti, worn dripping at the back, something easy and colourful!

Vintage inspired Jacket

Next Wardrobe Refashion project is this 'vintage' inspired jacket. No idea where I acquired this dress pattern from, but I unearthed it from the unused. I had long admired the sleeves on this dress and suddenly decided to have a go at a jacket inspired by the top half of one of the dresses in the pattern.

 

As most of the pattern pieces had seen better days, I needed to re-trace the tissue. In doing so I decided to add some swing to the back of the jacket (I think that was successful!). The fabric is a beautiful wool upholstery fabric... so if anyone want to sit on my jacket - it has excellent rub rates! The fabric has made the jacket quite weighty, but I quite like that... it's warm! 

 

I used the same cotton print fabric used to make this skirt, so it is demure to wear buttoned up, and a surprise flash of colour to wear  partly open. I added a cuff to the sleeves to add length and, I think, quite a nice detail, and oversized vintage green buttons finish it off.

 

Very cute!