Day 19- A Little Braided Bracelet

3/18/14

Today's undertaking was small, but a finished piece nonetheless. I spent the evening at my grandmothers house and brought yarn and beads with me, intending to make a braided bracelet and add beads. Once I got situated to work, I realized I had needles but no thread to sew in beads, and they were far too small to string on yarn. My new challenge was to make something interesting from the yarn alone. 

I started with the loop for the clasp- I knew I would be using a button I brought as the closure so I created a loop that I wrapped with yarn and knotted to start the braid. 

In every piece I make I attempt to learn something or try a new technique, so even with tonight's simple project I decided to try doing a crossover braid which was something I'd never tried before. I created two parallel braids and switched a group of strings from each to give the appearance of a crossover. 

I braided the two small braids into one fat braid for the middle, and then brought them back to two small braids and knotted off the end of the bracelet. Adding the button neatly at the end was the biggest challenge, and I chose to do a fringe because I thought it added a little flair. When it's on the wrist I'm not sure it lies right, though. It may need to be stitched in the right direction. I ended up tying it off in a knot to keep it smooth. 

It definitely isn't my most exciting piece, but I finished a piece today and learned something new, so I would say it was definitely a successful project. 

Back home tomorrow to oodles of eager materials! 

Xo, 

Arielle 

Day 18- The Patterned Mini Backpack

3/17/14

Pardon the interruption in posts, I was off schedule for a few days but now I'm back!

Today, Mom and I went to the Harrisburg Fabric Outlet today for a little inspiration. I had bought Day 17's ribbon there a few years back and was hoping to find it again, although we found they'd sold out. I found a really unique navy and white printed ribbon with an abstract image of a face on repeat and though that would be really interesting to sew side by side to create fabric. I paired it with a navy/white polka dot fabric and decided to make a mini backpack.

I sewed strips of ribbon 13" long side by side to create fabric. I made a small piece and bordered it with the polka dot cotton to make a small pocket for the front of the bag. I sewed it down and stitched down the pocket making two smaller areas to hold smaller things like a phone and pens, securely. 

I added the polka dot fabric to the bottom of the front panel to be the base, and stitched the corners of the bag towards the outside to give it shape. 

Folding in the corners of the bottom to close the bag.

Folding up the bottom corner and stitching it down flat to the front.

I made an additional piece of ribbon fabric for a flap to cover the top of the backpack, and sewed two pieces of ribbon back to back with a stiff strap material to make the shoulder straps. They were secured to the sides of the bag on the top and bottom. (They do need to be made longer though! I'll need to get more ribbon!)

Backpack, Polyester ribbon, cotton fabric

Matilda models Day 18

That's all for today, but I still have a lot of catching up to do! I'll be in the car and visiting relatives tomorrow so it'll have to be a small portable project. This was a good challenge; I'm going to try another backpack one of these days!

xo,

Arielle

Day 17- Ichthyology Meets The Sewing Machine

3/14/14

Today's piece is really wacky. I guess I'm trying to compensate for the fact that I was unable to post yesterday evening because I was feeling so sick. I promise to complete yesterday's project and get it up ASAP! I'm home with my parents for a few days which means I don't have my crazy piles of materials, only the few things I shoved into my suitcase and the stack of random fabric scraps in my parents' house.


This morning I started with a ribbon I bought a few years back that I absolutely love. I was experimenting at the time with a new technique where you sew two pieces of ribbon together side by side with no overlap by using a zigzag stitch. You can create fabric this way.

I found an absurd piece of fabric from the time I made my dad a pair of shorts when I had an operation and needed some new pajamas. The fabric has fish on it. It looks like an aquarium. Not something I'd usually use to make anything... except maybe sleeping shorts. For some reason however it struck me this morning as looking totally wild with the ribbon I was working with. So I committed to using it in the piece I was making. Well, almost committed. If it was coming out really ugly I probably would have stopped. 

Ichthyology meets my ironing board. 

I finished the ribbon fabric and made cut-out handles in either side. I used the fish fabric as a border around the handles. (In retrospect I think it would look better to make a 1/4" trim the whole way around. Live and learn) I also used the fabric to seal the sides and make it into a little foldover bag. I angled the corners at the top to give it shape. 

You can either use the bag upright or fold it over as a little clutch. I think this shape would be great with a variety of materials. Maybe less wild ones. Still, I think this would make a rockin' bag to take on vacaction! It would definitely benefit from a little chain so you could wear it on your shoulder. No one wants to carry things on vacation. You need both hands for your mojitos.

Foldover bag, cotton ribbon and fabric

I really love the way it looks folded over.

My mom says I need to stop making clutches. So I guess tomorrow will be something other than a clutch. Like a shoulder bag. Ha.

I do love this ribbon technique though, and you will definitely be seeing more of it!

xo,

Arielle

Day 16- A Bag of Braids

3/12/14

Today started with a large hide of leather and the idea to make a bunch of tiny braids but little idea of where I would go from there. This seems to be they way things are with this project. It's freeing because the piece can really go anywhere, but it ends up being very time consuming because I try a million things on the way to making it work. Today's piece could have benefited from better planning especially about the amount of leather because I ended up having to make the back of the bag out of a different fabric. If I make the piece again it will be much smoother.

I cut lots of little strips from the leather about 14" long and braided them. I experimented with different braiding techniques and even braiding the braids, but I ended up just sewing them to the leather in an over-under pattern to give it some more texture. 

Attempts to braid the braids for a more interesting effect. Could've been great but they weren't long enough.

The crisscross effect I ended up with utilizing both the finished and suede sides of the leather.

After the braids were done I stitched them to a piece of matching leather, and covered the edges with a frame of leather. That's something I definitely would do differently next time. The braids are very thick and difficult to sew through. There is definitely an easier way of constructing the piece that is less hazardous to my sewing machine.

The braided portion is tucked into a mitered frame of leather for neatness.

A peek at the inside material.

I used an undyed linen as the lining and the strap of the bag. The strap makes it a shoulder bag but it tucks in as well. I actually think this piece would be really cute as a backpack!

Shoulder Bag. Leather, Linen

I'm utterly exhausted today. Looking forward to a more lively tomorrow!
xo,
Arielle

Day 15- Just Gotta Have Another Leather Bag

3/11/14

There are so many beautiful pieces of leather in my newly organized stack of materials. So far for Create30 I haven't used much leather, so decided to sort through and chose one of my favorites: a taupe piece that is very textural and has a variegated dark/light finish. I paired it with a piece of light grey Ultrasuede and planned to make a small tote bag, but the piece ended up working well as a foldover clutch.

I cut the Ultrasuede to be the base of the bag using pinking shears and made a scalloped edge. After several attempts to sew along the edge I conceded that it was never going to come out even, and opted to stitch a straight line across the Ultrasuede.

I inserted an ivory metal zipper with gold teeth towards the top of the front of the bag. The zipper was actually missing the pull, so I was happy for the opportunity to make my own from the Ultrasuede.

After inserting the zipper I stitched a piece of Ultrasuede across the top of the bag to close it, and use a small piece to make a tie for the zipper pull. I attached it with a large gold jump ring.

Foldover clutch, Leather, Ultrasuede

The finished piece ends up hiding the scalloped edge when folded over but I don't mind, it's a sweet little surprise when you unfold the bag.

I need to start planning my bags and clutches out ahead of time because the zippers and linings need to be put in first. During Create30 I find myself mostly designing as I go, responding to what works and going with it, so the practical aspects tend to get pushed to the end and do not come out as well. I'll definitely attempt a more well planned approach for my next handbag.

xo,
Arielle

PS- This item is now available for sale in my Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/SalkinAccessories

Day 14- Made of Magazines

3/10/14

For my piece today I made some paper beads from magazine paper. See the accompanying DIY post on Making Paper Beads if you'd like to try making your own!

I started with magazine paper with some pinks and neutrals. I rolled paper beads in two sizes, but I only ended up using the ones that were about 1.25". To add a bit of glamour I lightly spray painted them gold. I love the effect on the beads because you can see the color and text through the paint but it gives them a great metallic sheen.

I flattened the beads with my fingers and threaded them onto Swarovski head pins. In order to thread the headpins I had to use a pin and needle to open up a hole through the bead. A small awl would be a convenient tool next time.

I used the headpins to affix the beads to two pieces of balsa wood. I filled in the spaces between the paper beads with gold tube beads.

I used the headpins to affix the beads to two pieces of balsa wood. I filled in the spaces between the paper beads with gold tube beads.

I knew I wanted to make a jewelry piece but I decided on a necklace because I was concerned with how delicate the piece would be on the wrist or hand. I thought it would be interesting as a piece that resembled a collar. I think it needs to sit closer to the neck so I may go back in a cut a piece out of the back and add a clasp.

To finish the piece I trimmed the headpins in the back and added another layer of balsa wood to strengthen it. I used an elastic cord with beads for the length of the necklace.

Necklace: Paper, Swarovski headpins, glass beads, elastic cord, balsa wood

I know it's been a lot of necklaces, I promise to change it up tomorrow! I am happy that this piece is very different than anything I've done so far.

xo,
Arielle