Follow My Friends: WobiSobi

It's time to check out another one of my bloggy buddies.  Today I'd like to introduce you to Anne over at WobiSobi!

Anne says that the name WobiSobi means "absolutely nothing". 

"To me this word means being slightly CRAZY with a touch of class and style.
If Wabisabi can mean loving the slight imperfection in things, then Wobisobi is loving really big imperfections in things and relishing in the fact that being completely off kilter is ok."
           -From WobiSobi's "About Me" page

Anne posts all kinds of interesting and fun projects.  From great Project Restyle ideas (she takes 1 item every week from her wardrobe and makes it into something new):






to super cool fashion and interior design inspiration shots:

to totally unique projects and super cute drawings:

On top of all that, WobiSobi is my inspiration source for accessorizing.  I tend to go with not enough accessories or overboard.  I'm learning how to balance though by watching WobiSobi .

She's also throwing a giveaway this week (ends Friday, March 25th) so make sure to check it out and say hello to Anne.  Don't forget to come back here and leave a comment letting everyone know what you found~

If you'd like to be featured, all you have to do is be a follower and link up your
blog on the "Follow My Friends" tab up top.  Each month I'll feature at least one of you.

Have a great week everyone!

Silk Blouse Transformation

Well, it's been another crazy week of travelling and just all round hecticness.  I hate to say it but I think I'll be glad when my French class is over.  I have to drive to another city each week to participate and it seems like almost every week I get caught in a snowstorm coming home late at night.  So, in order to ease my frazzled nerves here's what I worked on this week...

Awhile ago my friend Gen gave me a pretty silk top that she felt she had outgrown.  I told her that I didn't think it was really my style but, she insisted that I take it anyway and if I didn't like it to just add it to my own pile of clothing donations.

But it was silk!  I couldn't just give it away.  So here's what I did with it instead:

Supplies

And a sewing machine/serger

Steps:
1) Close your eyes Gen...this might be painful to watch.  Lay out your sleeve and cut off the cuff above any stitching.

3) Cut the sleeve off the body of the top, from the underarm straight across.

4) Do the same thing to the other arm.  Now cut pieces from the body of the top in the same shape, long and skinny, approximately the same width.

I was able to get 5 pieces all together, 2 sleeves, 2 from the body sides, and 1 from the body back.  I didn't get all caught up in perfection here.  Because of the crinkle factor of the fabric I just played it by ear.

5) Open any pieces that are tubes, cut out any seam allowances and tags.  Then simply sew all of the pieces together, end to end until you have one long piece.

To create less bulk and tiny seam allowances, I used my serger to create a rolled hem.  If you don't have a serger, don't worry.  You can just do a regular stitch and trim your seam allowances after you've pressed them.

I should also mention that here's where I made one tiny error.  I had every intention of sewing down crocheted lace trim over each of the crosswise seams.  This would've hidden them completely and added a bit more character to the piece.  However, I was having so much fun doing rolled hems I forgot and went on to the next step.  If you want to hide your seams though, this is the stage where you'll add some extra trim over top.

6) Next, fold the whole piece in half lengthwise (right sides together) and sew the long edge closed so that you end up with a big tube.  You can skip this step if you want a flat scarf that's a little wider.

7) Turn it right side out and add some trim to the bottom edges.  If you didn't use an edge that was already hemmed when it was a top, make sure to do a quick hem first.

I played around with some other ideas for trim, like laces or fringe, but finally settled on this lovely beaded edging.  I needed something that would give the scarf a bit of weight and hold it down and this did just the trick.

Make sure to cut your trim about a half inch longer than you need so that you can overlap the ends to stop it from fraying.

And voila!  A shirt that not only one, but two people, didn't want, is now a pretty scarf that I know I'll wear often~

Before

After

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.  Was this a good recycle or should I have donated it?  I forgot to mention that I snipped the buttons off and kept them.  I have big plans for them too!

I've added a few new parties in the linky party tab so make sure
to check them out throughout the week for more great ideas.

And don't forget, if you're a follower,
you can post a link to your blog on the "Follow my Friends" tab.

Have a great week crafting~

Inspiration Shot: Kinkakuji

Kinkakuji, otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion, reflects the sun off of it's gold leafed exterior.

The Golden Pavilion is a Zen temple in Kyoto, which itself is a pretty zenlike kind of place.  I like this shot because I can feel the peacefulness.  I love the how the calm water reflects the scene almost perfectly, and the pine trees act like a natural frame.  Ahhhhhh.  Breathe in....breathe out....breathe in....breathe out.  It's that simple.

Show and Tell: My Artsy Family

I thought I'd let you in on a little secret...I'm not the only artsy/craftsy one in my family.  I come by it all quite honestly.

I've mentioned before that I learned to sew over the years from my mom.  When I was little she made most of my clothes and probably her own too.  Over time though, she has become a quilter extraordinaire.

I think everyone in our family has at least one quilt made by mom.  She gave me this one as a house warming present a few years ago.

 When I lived in Japan she would send me necessities that I couldn't get there, like Kraft Dinner, Miracle Whip, and taped episodes of Friends.  And then I would pay her back in Japanese fabrics.  When I got back to Canada, this cute little quilt was waiting for me, made with many of the fabrics I had sent her.

My dad is also quite artsy.  When I was really little, I remember that we had lots of paintings up on the walls, and they were all his.

He often forgets my birthday, so imagine my surprise this year when he showed up at my door with this.



Sorry, I couldn't get a shot without a reflection in the glass~

It's a beautifully framed print of one of his original paintings.  I'm not sure yet which wall I want to put it on, so for now it sits here in this little vignette.

So there you go, just a couple of my family members who like arts and crafts as much as I do!  How about you?  Are you surrounded by other creative types or do they all think it's a little weird that you stock up on things like paper, glue sticks, and glitter...just in case.  Leave a comment~

Hidden Treasures: Asian Inspiration

If you're not part of the Etsy community (yet), you're missing out on an incredible place that is totally committed to the art of the handmade.  It's a wonderful place to find everything you need, or just want, while supporting fellow crafters and artists.  It's also just a treasure trove of  great ideas and inspiration.

For something new this year I thought I'd post a treasury of various Etsy sellers each week.  Click on the thumbnail to visit the shops and see what else you can find.  And while you're hanging out at Etsy you can feel free to visit me at the Etcetorize etsy shop~

If an item doesn't have a selling amount below it just means that it's already sold.  Check out the seller's store for similar items, you never know what you'll find!

~ I don't usually comment on why I chose a certain theme for the treasuries, but as many of you know, I used to live in Japan and  I still have many friends there.  This treasury is my very small way of sending some love and positivity to that side of the world~

'Asian Inspiration' by Etcetorize

Springtime inspiration from the east~

no 123 Baby Kimono Shoes PDF... sewingwithme1 $4.50	Kimono Girls Japanese Import... JPATPURSES $8.00	Pottery Bowls, Stir Fry Set ... cherylwolff $90.00
Madrone Chopsticks and Fortu... PacificMerchan... $40.00	Bright Pink Sakura Cupcake L... CupcakeSocial $3.50	Charming Pretty Pink Macaroo... SilverLeica $59.00
Cherry Blossoms - Chiyogami ... FiredUpDD $15.00	Japanese Chiyogami Yuzen Pap... geritomsupplie... $3.50	three tiny saki cups ricracandbutto... $9.99
Olive Serpentine Beads - aka... ABeadSea $2.75	PreOrder Cheong Sam Qipao AF... eileensfashion... $55.00	Pink Cherry Blossom Origami ... CatnipStudioTo... $24.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Butterfly Vase

I've been out of town for much of this week, travelling for work, so today's project is a bit on the easy peasy side.  Sometimes I think those are the projects that are the best though. 

I haven't opened my Mod Podge (or as I like to call it Modge Podge) for awhile, so I thought I'd dust it off and pretty up a vase I got with some flowers for Valentine's day.  I'm dreadfully allergic to flowers but it's still nice to have a pretty vase around for silk flowers.

Here are the supplies I used:

Steps:
1) Using a tiny little hole punch, punch out some tiny little figures from pretty gift wrap or scrapbooking paper.  Mine, of course, are butterflies.

2)  Do a dry run on your vase to make sure you have enough little punch outs.  When you're sure you have enough, just paint some regular old Mod Podge onto the front of your vase.

3) Quickly place your punch outs onto the Mod Podge.  Hurry!  It dries quickly.

4) Let it dry and then add a second layer of Mod Podge to seal in the paper.  For a little extra something I used Sparkle Mod Podge.

5) Let it dry again, add some flowers, and that's it!  You're done.  See?  Easy Peasy.

If I had a Cricut the sky would be the limit on this one.  I'd do a lace design or delicate filigree or something.  (I figure if I complain enough times that I don't have a Cricut, eventually someone over at Cricut will notice and send me one to blog about.  Wishful thinking????  Maybe I should start tagging all my posts with "I need a Cricut!")

Leave a comment and let me know what design you'd like to see.  I still have another vase, exactly the same shape as this one that's waiting to be Modge Podged to death.

And don't forget....if you're a follower and you have a blog of your own,
make sure to add a link on the "Follow My Friends" tab up top.  I'll come visit and so will other Etcetorizers,
and from time to time I'll do a full feature post on one of you, like I did here .

Have a great week!