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How To: Boring Sweater to Awesome Halter Dress – Guest Post by Kat Roberts of We Can Re-Do It

by MissMalaprop on August 3, 2011

I have got one awseome DIY tutorial for you today, brought to you in the form of a guest post by Kat Roberts. Kat has worked as a footwear and handbag instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and at Brooklyn’s 3rd Ward, so she’s well qualified to teach some crafty, DIY fashion inspiration. Below she’ll show you how she turned a boring old sweater into an awesome halter dress. Kat’s tutorial has me wanting to hit the thrift stores in search of the perfect sweater to transform! You can check out more of her DIY tips & tricks at her own blog, We Can Re-Do It.

Sometimes making clothes scares me. I do ok at it, but I’m WAY more comfortable when in charge of shoes, bags or jewelry. But in the grand tradition of my never meeting a pattern that I didn’t like, I knew from the moment I saw this secondhand sweater that it’d be coming home with me to be my new project. I have to admit that I’m pretty damn pleased with the way this dress came out!

The only items needed to transform this sweater in to a dress were:
*second-hand sweater
*4″ of 3″ high elastic
*22″ of twill tape
*scissors
*seam ripper
*double-stick tape

To start out I laid the sweater out flat and beginning at each of the bottom corners I cut diagonally up the top.

The front and the back were now connected by just a few inches of sewing on each side of the collar. Using a seam ripper I separated them and positioned the pieces so that the good sides were together and sewed along the two sides, stopping on each side 3″ from the top.

This 3” gap is where the elastic was inserted and sewn into place.

Tada! A skirt! This was the point where I’d originally intended to the project to end.

Although the skirt was great, there was a LOT of material still left. I decided on improvising a little so I could make good use of it.

By cutting off that excess fabric and then opening the seam on one of the sleeves I was able to quickly come up with the decent makings of a bodice.

Because my machine doesn’t love to sew sweatery stuff, I added one extra step here. Before finishing off the sides I laid down some double stick tape ¼” away from the edge and then gently turned the area to be sewn over it to make a nice clean line. That little bit of adhesion was enough to stabilized the edges and prevent unfortunate bunching once I got it on the sewing machine:

To create the straps I cut the twill tape in half, giving me two 11” pieces, put them in position at the top corners of the bodice and sewed them into place.

The very last step was attaching the bottom of the bodice to the front top edge of the skirt, by sewing between the two pieces of elastic.

Loose, comfortable, and a little hippy-dippy. Pretty much my standard summer fare.

Kat Roberts is an artist, footwear instructor, accessories designer and enthusiastic recycler in Brooklyn, NY. You can see her experiments with recycling and repurposing on her blog We Can Re-Do It.

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Indie Artist Interview: Sandy Philpott of Uptown Redesigns

by MissMalaprop on July 19, 2011

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I was recently introduced to local handbag designer Sandy Philpott of Uptown Redesigns. She recently moved to New Orleans from Annapolis, Maryland. She creates one of a kind purses, totes and handbags from out-of-style leather coats and other materials, including a new line of made-to-order “Military Tent Totes” utilizing the canvas from US Army tents. I chatted with her to find out more about her work and what inspires her.

Tell me a little about yourself.
My background, training, and professional experience are in Education, but my heart has always been in the world of design. I made a purposeful career switch a few years ago out of a corporate position specifically so I could use the other side of my brain and my heart. I always loved to sew and love the challenge of figuring out how things are made. I also have a strong affinity for textiles (vintage and new), and have an endless stream of ideas of how to use and reuse them.

My husband and I recently moved to New Orleans from Annapolis, Maryland. We fell in love with New Orleans years ago, and after many repeated visits here we decided to relocate for good. We couldn’t be happier!

My design style has been described as practical, elegant, and streamlined. I like to utilize high-quality, durable materials, and avoid gimmicky details. I create things that I would actually use, and that will stand up to the test of time.

How did you get started making things?
Growing up, I used to always watch my mother sew. I then took the traditional home economics courses that everybody else does in middle school, and I just really liked it! I sought out a more advanced tailoring course in high school, and started to challenge myself with more tricky designs like a tailored blazer and 5 pocket jeans. From there I continued to sew things out of necessity: drapery, pillows, quilts – you name it!

I love to figure out how to make things, and get way more satisfaction in crafting them myself than in buying them from a store. I am often unhappy with products I see in stores (both in quality and in design), so I like to take matters into my own hands to make sure I end up with exactly what I want.

What inspires your work?
I’m currently inspired by the actual leather coats I work with. I love all the details of the original coats, and am always on the hunt for beautifully worn-in leathers and unusual colors or features. I am also inspired by quality design and old-school craftsmanship – especially what I see in vintage clothing. It’s true, “They don’t make them like they used to,” and I miss that old-fashioned attention to detail found in vintage handmade things. And I think it goes without saying that New Orleans itself is a very inspiring place! I draw upon things I see, hear, smell and taste here every day.

Outside of your creative business, what are your other hobbies and interests?
I’ve always been a runner, and now I love running though Audubon Park. I also like to garden, to travel, and I especially love food and wine!

Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve made?
Each piece is so unique, because they are all individual designs. I often fall in love with them, but am also happy to see them get paired up with the right new owners too.

I really enjoy making custom bags for clients that bring me their own coats. For instance, I made a bag out of a woman’s husband’s old leather jacket. He passed away many years ago, but she still held on to many of his things, including his favorite leather coat. It was not the kind of thing she was planning on wearing, but she could not part with it so she asked me to redesign it into a bag. Now she can carry the bag and a piece of him close to her every day (see above)!

But, yes, there is one bag that I just cannot let go. I found a great old lilac-colored vintage leather swing coat in an eclectic vintage shop in Baltimore. It was like nothing I had ever seen before and I transformed it into a similar A-line swing shape bag while retaining its original vintage charm. The color is incredible; I have yet to see such a unique coat! It called out to me and the bag is still in my possession today. I don’t think I can ever sell it!

Where do you see your company in 2 years?
I’ve been in operation since 2009, but I am just now getting started in New Orleans. I plan to spend my immediate days getting involved in the local market here (markets, festivals, shops, clients, custom work, trunk shows), and making New Orleans an integral part of my product and designs. Ultimately, I envision having a working studio space with perhaps a seamstress or two that could also host a small walk-in boutique area for clients to visit, shop for bags, and also drop off their custom orders. I also plan to expand my online presence and to make sure that every bag I ship reflects my love for New Orleans in it, including a “Handmade in New Orleans” label!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?
“Pick one thing, and do it well.” I have a million ideas and could probably go in lots of different directions or even produce more things than just leather bags, but I think it is important to focus on one thing and do it really well. I think people should be able to clearly explain their business, purpose, or mission in a just few short words or phrases.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started in pursuing their creative dreams?
Remember that it is a business too. Turning your creative dream into a reality has its definite super-high points and creative energy surges, but the whole thing is still a business operation and it is important to stay focused and manage all parts of it. It is also important to have a plan and to stick with it. It is so easy to get sidetracked!

Thanks so much to Sandy for sharing her experiences! She keeps a constantly rotating boutique collection for sale on her website and in her Etsy store, plus she announces new design releases regularly via her Facebook page.

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Colorful Summer Time Favorites – Guest Post by Brittni Mehlhoff of papernstitch

by MissMalaprop on July 12, 2011

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I’m excited to bring you today’s guest post, by Brittni of papernstitch, a fab site devoted to all things handmade! Look for a guest post by me on Brittni’s blog very soon!

It’s that time of year again: summer. July is one of the hottest months of the year in Florida, which is where I am writing from today, and with the temperatures still rising around here, it’s really put me in the mood for a dip in the pool. Now, considering I don’t actually have a pool, I thought I would “cool off” with some of my summer time favorites from around the web instead. This roundup up is all about color. So, let’s put a little pep in your step with handmade goodies from across the rainbow - neon oranges, bright reds, grass greens, and ocean blues….

1. Orange Faux Wood Grain Ceramic Planter by McCheek’s Mayhem: Bring the colorful outdoors inside with a few succulents housed in a planter from McCheek’s. Perfect as a centerpiece for your once bare dining room table.

2. Azure Fine Art Photograph by Irene Suchocki: Don’t have the budget to travel to the French Rivera this year? Me either. Luckily, Irene of isphotography is capturing the moments you and I dream of with her Azure print.

3. Bouquet Headband No. 2 by Pretty Good Things: Show the world how much you love the colors of summer with a cheerful headband filled with flowers.

4. Flower Print Pillow Sham by Small Talk: Rest up after a long day at the beach with a mod print pillow from illustrator Alyssa Nassner of Small Talk.

5. Hopscotch Placemats by Red Clay Home: Add a little color to your next meal without having to pile up the veggies with these lemon lime colored placemats.

6. Banded Bandit Dress by Sew Moe: Head out to the boardwalk with a comfy dress that will keep you cool.

7. Scandinavian Picknick Poster by Handz: And finally, what summer would be complete without a picnic? If it’s too hot to sit outdoors with a basket of food, maybe you’ll settle for this Scandinavian print instead.

What will you be doing during the warm summer months to keep it colorful (and cool)?

About the guest post contributor: Brittni Mehlhoff specializes in marketing the work of talented artists and designers for the curated art and handmade exhibition site she founded in 2008 called papernstitch. She is also the editor of a handmade and diy blog by the same name, dedicated to creative business tips, diy projects, and handmade features. When not working on papernstitch, Brittni is dreaming up fun little tutorials, crafting projects for her home, and adding to her growing art collection.

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How to Set Up a DIY Photobooth – Guest Post by Rebekah of 504 Stitches

by MissMalaprop on July 10, 2011

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So my awesome partner-in-crime, Rebekah of 504 Stitches, recently posted this killer tutorial on her blog, about how to set up a DIY photobooth. She’s been running some summer camps for kids recently, and I LOVE this project that she did with them. I asked her if it was okay to share her post with you guys, and she said sure thing! I hope you enjoy!

DIY Birthday Party Photo Booth

A DIY Photobooth is a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to any party or gathering. This is my favorite way to capture friends and family having fun, acting silly and smiling, like really smiling. Ditch the formal family photos, grab some props, your camera and shoot away.

Before the Photobooth day gather a few things and prepare with some basic equipment to make this project easy to set up and the photos easy to share:

Easy photo sharing – I use Flickr where I upload the photos. You can set the viewing permissions if you don’t want the photos to be public and just share them with family and friends.

Camera + Tripod (optional) - I use a Nikon D40, but you can use whatever digital camera you have. I like to use a tripod as so can adjust the height and invite kids to snap a few photos too.

Photo Printer - if you have guests who will want to take home photos, or you want to print them out and leave them as party favours (great for b-day parties) a simple photo printer like the Canon Selphy is my recommendation. I did a photo booth for my friends’ wedding and printed out photos for the guests, which made the best wedding present (a direct quote from the bride).

Extra tools to make it even easier – get yourself a remote for your camera so you can capture yourself in some shots, your guests can use it too and free you up to enjoy the fun. I got mine on Ebay for about $4. The Eye-Fi wireless memory card makes uploading photos to your computer and Flickr automatic.

Capture Amazing Photos!

Backgrounds - I’ve used a number of different things for backgrounds and they set the mood and ground your photos, adding colour and theme.

Family gathering such as an anniversary – vintage quilts hand made by family members are a precious way to add a sentimental touch

Theme Weddings and Parties – use a thrifted sheet and pin up stars, or inexpensive party decorations

Outside or Causal events – use a colorful printed vinyl shower curtain or printed fabric

Seasonal Parties – wrapping paper, flags, streamers are easy to find and easy to string up or tack up on a wall. In the photo above I used a roll of wrapping paper taped up on a closet door.

Props Make Everything Better

Props - I’m always on the look out for props. Halloween, Mardi Gras and Easter are the best time to stock up on silly stuff. I have made some of my props too and I store everything in a vintage suit case to keep everything in one place.

My list of must have props:

Hillbilly teeth, funny sunglasses, lots of wigs, mustaches on sticks, small white board or chalkboard for people to write messages on, scarves, hats, fake bloody knives, nerd glasses, devil horns, angel wings, and of course anything oversized.

Extra special props can include:

Large Picture frames, cool vintage chairs, large beach balls, vintage cameras, guitar, and any hand made props

Capture those real smiles when they aren't looking!

Tips for taking great photos:

Note – I didn’t edit/ crop most of these photos so you can check out my set up. I put up a shower curtain on a swing set and held it in place with some wood planks.

- Feel Free to direct your subjects, but also let people do their thing and have fun interacting with each other in front of the camera.

- A great way to keep people in front of your camera is to suggest actions : “Jump! Keep Jumping! Throw your Props in the Air! Everyone switch Wigs! Switch Again!”

- I love asking people to pose and “Work it!” , ”Love the Camera!” I’m always surprised when I put on a Zoolander type voice and people of all ages respond with the best poses and faces.

- Keep it moving, if you sense a lull in the action tell people to get in front of the camera.

- Groups of friends will naturally find their own ways to use props. In a group setting don’t try force people who don’t know each other into a photo together.

- Set your camera shooting mode from single frame to Continuous so you can shoot many photos quickly. Check out Digital Photography School to learn more about shooting modes and other cool camera stuff!

- Hold the camera in a position that you can get good photos and start to click away, but look away and talk to someone beside you. Your subjects will be acting silly and posing, thinking you aren’t taking photos. This is a great way to get amazing photos of shy people, especially kids.

- If you are using a DSLR with an adjustable lens, set your shooting mode to auto, but your lens to manual. This allows you to keep shooting and get the proper exposure and focus super close to your subject or further away especially if you want to capture a lot of action quickly. Use this in conjunction with continuous shooting mode for awesome “live action” shots!

- If at all possible use natural light. I prefer to shoot outside or by a large window so I don’t have to use my flash. I actually don’t really know how to get really beautiful photos’ with flash/ low light/ night time. I’m hoping to be able to learn more about lighting and flash photography this winter.

Editing and Sharing your photos

- For all my editing I use Picnik and I love it. Pay for the premium version ($24.95/year) which allows you to upload and edit as many photos as you want and allows you to save photos on your computer and to Flickr and other photo sharing sites. I use Picnik for almost all the banners, badges and graphics I design for my website.

Use Picnik's Collage Effect to Make "strips"

- The editing tools I use most are the cropping and re-sizing features. I was taught from a teacher whose philosophy was that a good photo is taken, not edited to look like it’s a good photo. Because I come from a film photography background I remain a purist when it comes to taking the perfect picture in my camera.

Before:

After with cropping:

- You can order prints online right from Flickr and Picnik and many other photo sharing sites like Photobucket and Picassa.

- Upload photos to Facebook or Flickr to share.

- Burn photos onto disks and send them out to friends and family as a thank you for attending your event.

- If you like to scrap book you can create keepsakes and add photos from your photo booth.

Each time I do a photo booth I fall more in love with my camera, photography and the amazing tools available online. Doing photography this way has built my confidence and made me much less shy about taking photos of people.

You can check out the rest of my photo booth photos on Flickr.

About the author: My name is Rebekah Apotre, owner of 504 Stitches where I teach sewing lessons and crafty workshops. Currently I’m in the process of donating 300 pairs of handmade slippers to The Pink Slipper Project – you can sign up to join me and get access to free patterns here. Read all about my crafty adventures at 504stitches.com

NOLA folks – don’t forget, the Speed Dating Style Networking event that Rebekah concocted takes place THIS Thursday, July 14th at 7pm at the AllWays Lounge. It’s FREE to attend – just reserve your spot here.

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