How to make a walk-through Pinterest Board
I love Pinterest, not only for all the ideas and information but also to help clearly see what your personal style is. However, I have been frustrated that when you make a board, you can’t move the actual pins around to group things, like you can move boards around in your profile area. Where there is a will there is away.
I decided to experiment with a board – My Dream Home and environment. The idea was to have a virtual walk through – from the approach, through the front door (it was hard to choose from all the magnificent doors in my door’s board), through the house into the garden and eventually to my garden cottage studio – dream away!
How?
Simple Really …
First I created to boards and kept them secret rather than public. The first one I used as a gash board to collect all the elements I want for my dream house – a source board from which I could pin in the order I want. When I completed that, I started to pin what I wanted to be my last pin on the board and worked my way back to what I wanted to be the first pin.
When finally I was happy with the board, I went to edit the board and changed it from secret to public and pinned what I planneed to be the first pin while it was visible as an invitation.
Have a look at my Dream House
Now that’s what I call a proper dream board, rather than trying to find pictures to cut out. You can use it for many other applications too, I will love to hear what your ideas about it are.
Hip Bags to Compliment your style
Hip bags can be so much more than pure utility hands-free bags. They lend themselves especially to creative interpretation and as an accessory to compliment a particular look.
Here’s some inspirations spark your creativity.
Image from Imgend.com
From JungleTribe
Here’s some great ideas for recycling old denims into hip pouches.
From KayLim
Great idea for embellishing old denim pockets in whatever style you want by dying, adding lace for a romantic look, as the bag from Gypsecouture below.
Or, add patches images, studs for a steampunk look. The CrustPunk from CivilianDisarm can serve as an inspiration.
Love these Hip Pouches with Attachable Mini skirts from AHni Radvanyi on Etsy for a Steampunk look.
From LunaDesign
The idea of combining an overskirt and utility bag works especially well.
Adorable Pixie Felt Hip Bag from Frixigirl Etsy
Boho Hip bags
This ethnic style hip bag is from AvesofJiJi Etsy
Traditional Ethic Design is a great source for inspiration.
Love this Renaissance style festival pocket in rich fabrics from Sandalamoon Etsy
And this beautiful pocket belt in tapestry from Bluemoonkatherine – see her shop for lots more gorgeous pocket belts.
More sassy ideas from Gypsecouture
Great idea for making Crochet Hip bags from HorizonsEd3e Etsy
You can also attach a crochet bag to strips of lace edging, add fringes etc as in the inspiration from Etsy
Gorgeous Fringed Hip bag from Emma Pintado
Military Style
Convert Utility Belt and Leggings from Crisiswear
Great Steampunk harness belt From Ethiscrea
Vintage Military Utility belt
Fynbos Floral Inspirations
I live in the heart of the Fynbos floral kingdom. The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of the six Floral Kingdoms in the world, and is the only one contained in its entirety within a single country. The Cape Floral Kingdom compares with some of the richest floras worldwide, surpassing many tropical forest regions in its floral diversity.
No wonder their beauty are an inspiration to so many artists Here are some of my favourites
This beautiful graphic Pincushion (Leucospermum) design is from Skinny Laminx based in Cape Town
Pincushion Design by Skinny Laminx
Lasercut card – Table Mountain
Little Garden
These lovely cards are from bookhou
Romantic Braids
My eyes opened to incredible beauty and versatility of braids after watching the White Queen. The Queen’s mother’s hair styles – Jacquetta (Elizabeth Woodville’s mom) were especially impressive.
Janet McTeer and Rebecca Ferguson in The White Queen from IMBd
Then of course there are the fabulous plaits from Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones – Daenerys
Braids or plaits have been making a big comeback on and off the red carpet for the last few years. Braids have of course been around across centuries, continents, and genders; from side braids to milkmaid braids, French, waterfall, fishtails, coils, buns and chignons. Their versatility allows incredible complex styles with endless possibilities. They can also work on most lengths of hair. They’re also functional, keeping us cool and unencumbered.
As my hair is below waist length, I started having fun playing with braids.
Here are some of my favourites; some are beautiful yet easy, while others serves as elaborate inspirations.
Godey’s Lady’s Book, May 1866
Greek Coiffure – 1866
The coiffure requires no frisettes, and is both simple and elegant. The back hair is tied rather high, and as tightly as possible; it is then divided into two equal portions, which are both plaited. The first is arranged into two loops: the second forms the third loop, and is then twisted round the chignon and fastened underneath. The front hair is disposed in waved bandeaux; if the hair is not sufficiently long and thick to form the plaited coronet with the end of the bandeaux, a false plaite is added and fastened under the chignon. (Image and text from Koshka-the-cat.)
Online access to Godey’s Lady’s Book
Nina Headdress, 1863, from Godey’s Ladies Book.
Image from A Polar Bear’s Tale
Multiple braid plait.
Easy braid tutorial
Tutorial from IMGFAVE
Hair by Gordon Richie, Photographer McInnes
Image from Rainbow Room
Tutorial from Fashion Diva Design
More elaborate Renaissance Style
Image from Renmoon
From Fashionsy Also click for lots more super easy styles.
Empress Isabel – 1548
From Superior Platform
Image from Trendhunter
Fun idea based on a detail of the Allegory of Spring, 1482, from Sandro Botticelli – hair braid as a choker. Attach a broach to your braid.
Melanie-Laurent
From Howtohairgirl
From Meiliwall
From Arwendë Luhtiénë Emeldir Peredhel
Beautiful multiple strand style
From Jenny Twoshoes
Wonderful inspiration from this Doll’s Hair styling
From Amadiz
You can of course weave into the braids pearls, ribbons or whatever takes your fancy.
From Boulevard Pinki
The series Vikings also brought Viking braids back into the spotlight.
Travis Fimmel’s braided hairstyle
Images from IMDb
Viking Braid
If you want to recreate this Viking hairstyle you have to start by making a regular pigtail with the hair from the top of the head. At the hairline on the back of the neck you braid the rest of the hair into the braid which is then divided into seven parts. You braid these together two, two and three. At the end the pigtail is divided into two twisted pigtails. You can read more about it from the Tollund Man.
An elegant hairstyle with a braided headband; the style mimics the hair seen in portraits and modern film depictions of Regency Era ladies.
The intricate hairstyles of the caryatids on the Erechtheion temple in Athens were recreated. From an article by ArtNews.
Roman Hair Styles
Janet Stephen’s tutorials on Roman hair styles is a must-see for anyone interested in elaborate braiding styles or just for the sake of interest. They are full of tips and ideas. It is actually not as difficult as it looks, though an extra pair of hands is necessary for most of the styles.
Image from DR Redlocks
Here’s how to do the heart braid
Image via pinterest. From bobbyglam.com
Enjoy !
Beautiful plaits in a Da Vinci drawing
Also See:
How to tie a Bow Tie in a Mirror
One of my favourite pieces from my collection of fashion history is a bow tie from AK & CO still in its packaging. What’s really great about it is that it has instructions on how to tie a bow tie in a mirror.
AK & CO Logo
Don’t you just love the logo design?
Isn’t it just great!
Cycles of Fashion – The Bow Tie
| “ | “To its devotees the bow tie suggests iconoclasm of an Old World sort, a fusty adherence to a contrarian point of view. The bow tie hints at intellectualism, real or feigned, and sometimes suggests technical acumen, perhaps because it is so hard to tie. Bow ties are worn by magicians, country doctors, lawyers and professors and by people hoping to look like the above. But perhaps most of all, wearing a bow tie is a way of broadcasting an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think.” | ” |
| —Warren St John, The New York Times[1] | ||
Prince Charles joked that he had become a fashion icon simply by dressing the same as he always had. That’s how trends work: they come around in long cycles that make the old new again every other generation.
But where did bow ties actually come from? Here’s a great video giving a history of bow ties.
Bow ties are cool again and no doubt Dr Who is largely responsible for this. For others like me who are curious as to why Dr Who wears a bow tie here’s a great clip from an interview on SFX’s, where Matt Smith, costume designer Ray Holman and producer Piers Wenger talk to Nick Setchfield about the evolution and design of Doctor Eleven’s sartorial style. And yes, the bow tie was Matt’s idea…
The Doctor
Ray Holman: “We had to go through tons and tons of clothes. I think I took hundreds of photographs of Matt with different ideas, and in the end it all came down to a day when we were all in the room together. We had certain elements of the costume – we knew we wanted boots, we had the trousers, the shirt, there were a couple of different coats and jackets. The tweed jacket went on him and we thought, ‘That’s it!’ And then we didn’t know if it was going to be a T-shirt, if it was going to be open-necked or if it was going to be a tie. Matt said, ‘Can I try a bow tie?’ And we all went, ‘Ugh, no, not sure!’ We got a bow tie. I actually put it on Matt’s neck and said, ‘I’m sorry about this, but let’s have a go.’ I put it on him, stepped back, and we just went, ‘Wow!’ It was a really tingly moment when we knew we had it.”
Types of Bow ties – From I Waste So Much Time
Image from The Art of Manliness
Before Matt Smith, bow ties weren’t just a statement of taste. They also spoke to a conservative rebellion against vulgarian culture: a refusal to be blandly egalitarian. They’re jolly difficult to tie, which means that the effort to put one on adds a degree of philosophy to the dressing process. There’s a Taoism to bow tie wearing: one has to be in the right mind to put one on and carry it off. That requires a close shave, a clean shirt, well managed hair, shiny shoes and a jacket carefully chosen to give prominence to the tie. Throw one on haphazardly and you’ll look like an urbane tramp. – By Tim Stanley for The Telegraph
From House of Dara
From The simple solution to expert witness credibility
But not just men can wear bow ties with style …
1943
Karl Lagerfeld
Image from Sophie Mae Style
Image from House of Dara
Love this idea for an alternative way of wearing a bow tie (Click on image for source)
I am sure most of you heard the saying; A gentleman is a man who uses a butter knife even when he is alone.
Just so, you can’t call your yourself a true DIY -er if you opt for a clip on instead of doing it yourself. Here’s how to tie a bow tie from Devoureth Also see how to tie a bow tie in a mirror
Learning How to Crochet
After finding that wonderful crochet book, my head was spinning with ideas and possibilities, but then a little voice inside me said, ” Not to rain on your parade, but you can’t uhm … actually crochet.” I have been so busy over the years making stuff that I have “forgotten” that I haven’t taken the time to learn to crochet. But since I now have all these ideas it was a good time to start.
Ah, the wonders of the internet and bless Donna from Naztazia. She has two wonderful videos to teach you all you need to know to start crochet.
Part 2
After watching the two videos, I was hooked. Luckily I already have a full set of crochet hooks, inherited from my granny and mum and yarn from my other projects so, there was nothing to stop me. I started by just freestyle crochet, choosing I yarn I liked and then see where it took me. Focusing on patterns, counting stitches and figuring out the abbreviations was just too much while I was getting into the swing of holding the yarn and mastering the basic stitches.
My first piece a heart bracelet, made from cotton twine. Ok, it did not start as a bracelet and the happy mistake became a button hole but it was fun. I learnt all about crochet in a straight line, the turning chain and how to hold a crochet hook.
The only extra I learnt was how to crochet a simple heart from my Valentine’s Post.
So, now I was ready to tackle a pattern and my first choice were these great Mary Jane slippers from Goodknits.
Mary Jane Slipper tutorial from Goodknits
But I was so enjoying the project and curious to see what will happen if I just continued the edging that instead of Mary Jane slippers I made slipper booties. I also added a felt sole and an extra edging because I know the edges always wear out.
The Zen of Making has a great tutorial on adding felt soles.
Felt soles tutorial from the Zen of Making
But the tricky part still lies ahead, reading a pattern. In my next post I will share my adventures and lessons learnt.
If you have been putting off learning to crochet do it now, it is such fun.
Thread it …
That’a how I feel somedays
I could not resist!
Over 50 of The Best Heart Crafts for Valentine’s Day
Your Name I wrote your name in the sky, but the wind blew it away. I wrote your name in the sand, but the waves washed it away. I wrote your name in my heart, and forever it will stay. – Jason Graham
When you think of Valentine’s Day, the first thing that comes to mind is hearts. After all, it is all about matters of the heart. For the few weeks, I trolled the web to find the most innovative and simply wonderful hearts crafts, whether crochet, sewing, knitting, paper, cooking or whatever hand crafted ideas for hearts. Eventually I was dreaming hearts. You will be certain to find a heart among amongst these hearts that speaks to your heart.
So, here my top picks –
Click on the images for tutorials, recipes or original source
Oldest Valentine card Dating back to 1790, the intricately designed Valentine filled with heartfelt messaging is currently housed at the British Postal Museum and Archive
What would Valentine’s Day without the Valentine’s Day Card?
If you want to make a card that resembles this antique Valentine card, Martha Steward has a great tutorial on how to make it. The text, embellished with stamped and painted designs, is revealed in stages as the card is opened.
Tutorial Martha Steward
or this simpler version and about 40 more great ideas for cards from Martha Steward
At InTec InSights you can type in your own words and produce this heart on the spot using fonts, colour, shape, and backgrounds of your choice.
Love these Craft envelopes Tutorial by Sweet Tidings
Decorate the outside of the card with hearts and inside: Pop-up origami kissing lips card. Full instructions and video tutorial
If you are at loss for words but feeling a lot of love this pocket of hearts is a cute idea.
Pocket of hearts from Nellies Nest
Clever idea for a quick hear stamp – Neuer Stoff
Make your own heart-shaped plantable tags – tutorial from Hill City Bride
You Colour my World
Crayon Heart Valentine’s – full tutorial from Whipperberry
Tug My Heart Strings
Cute idea and tutorial for a heart installation from Oh Happy Day
Lovely idea using wax crayon shaving on wax paper – Martha Steward
Hearts made from rustic floral wire are wrapped with yarn and hung in the window, or you could also tuck a note inside and give it as a valentine. Click for tutorial
Gorgeous hanging ornaments from Betsy Veldman
Valentine’s Garland (and cookies) from Glorious Treats
This woven heart is made from a tissue box! Tutorial – Michele Made Me
Love these newspaper hearts – Photo by Rebecka Ryberg
Visit Rebecka Ryberg’s lovely blog is Vintage Fairy Tales for more inspirations.
A Token of my Love …
A love token made and given in World War I to loved ones to remind them that they are never out of the heart
Make your own love tokens. Here some delightful embroidered hearts – they are quick and easy to make depending on how elaborate your decoration and skill. They are also great to fill with scented herbs or just a few drops of essential oil or your favourite perfume to remind him of you. Scents can linger on fabrics and paper for a long time.
Beautiful beaded, embroidered Velvet brooch heart by The7thMagpie
Felt heart for gift wrapping By Lisa Jordan Lilfishstudios
By Deborah Mellifer Moore
Denim heart by LolliePatchouli
This lovely Vintage Button Heart is from Kandy Newton
Felt heart By Sandhra Lee
You can also make these felt hearts into little pouches for candy or small gifts using the tutorial from Purl Bee
Candy Heart Tutorial from Purl Bee
So cute!
From Yarnspirations, Pattern Ravelry
Beaded and Embroidered Heart Brooch or Lapel Pin, or Pincushion
From Evi’s Country Snippets
Make this Felt heart bag from Martha Steward
You can even romantisize your shoe like these BHLDN
Fabric Heart Bookmark from Sew Many Ways – tutorial
Valentine Wreath From Mine for Making
Such a lovely idea using dry rosebuds
I am Hooked on You
Crochet hearts can be used in so many ways – decorate your clothes or bags; make hair accessories, jewelry and broches; use it in scrapbooking and cards – hang it up …
Heartstrings Illustration Laura Taylor Mark
Chrochet heart from Inpigiama
I just love these Heart pockets from Paper, Yarn and Flour, Tutorial in PDF
Tutorial from Paper Yarn & Flour
Crochet Heart Tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets
You can crochet these hearts in cotton twine and dye them. Tutorial at Jenny Doh’s blog
Jenny Doh also has a great tutorial to use these for making a baker’s twine bracelet
Tutorial from Easy makes me Happy
Tutorial from I heart Handicrafts
Jute Hearts by Sosorosy on Etsy. Love the simplicity. Great to accessorize gift packaging, or to hang strings of them, or for place settings.
Freeform embroided from Luci Florey
Unzip my Heart
How to Make Zipper Hearts
Zipper heart from zippinning
by Create With Bogate
These gorgeous felt and zipper brooches are from IPUBLICATE.
Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. – Song of Songs
Make a rosemary heart – Image from Whimsical Raindrop Cottage
Cinnamon Applesauce ornaments – How to from Katy Elliot
DIY Lavender & Chamomile Bath Melt – Tutorial from Be Beautiful
You can also make these Bath Melts in different scents by for example using rose petals and rose rose oil.
Click image for the recipe from African Aromatics
Make up the tea and put them into little bags like these from Bright Bride as a gift or just indulge in a romantic bath.
Image from Bright Bride
Or these teabags from Her Imajination
Heart Tabag tutorial from Her Imajination
Great Bathbombs tutorial
Wine cork heart from past romantic evenings?
Wine cork Heart tutorial – from The Corner Apartment
Heart Delights – Love is Sweet
Matchbox sweet treat Valentines by Inchmark
Full tutorial from 52Souluo
Sweet heart Cherry Pies – Recipe from Cake student
Marshmallow Heart Pops – Tutorial from Pink Little Cake
No heart cake pan – no problem. Use a square and a round to get a heart shape.
Marbled Red Velvet Cheese Cake Brownies – Recipe Novice Chef
Full Recipe and Tutorial for the red Velvet Cheese Cake at Share our Harvest
Freeze whipped cream on a cookie sheet, use cookie cutter to cut out hearts and serve with hot cocoa
Image PS by Dila
Full Tutorial for Heart sugar cubes from Ruffles and Stuff
Red Velvet Crepe Recipe from Duhlicious
Chocolate Chip Beet Cookies – Recipe from Road not Processed
Recipe by Photo
Heart Ravioli Recipe
Easy Valentine Day Food ideas
Heart Wraps
Two really great ideas for gift wrapping from the Houses that Lars Built
This lovely idea for gift tags is from Sugar Sugar
How to DIY mini Valentines mailbox! Sooo cute! by Hello Monday
Peg your Heart to a Gift box from Hello Naomi
Lastly Heart Inspirations
Beautiful heart rose wreath By Sarah Kaye
Garden Gate Heart Locket…design by Christi Anderson
Heart-corset necklace by wickedgems
Steampunk Heart by Steelhip Design
Gothic Heart by Ukapala
By Jacquline Hurlbert
Love Grows by Minerva Mosiacs
The Key to My heart by Mark Orr
Heart braided hair
Here’s how to do a heart braid
CHILD & CHILD 1880-1915 Winged Heart Pendant / Brooch in the Pre-Raphaelite style
How to make a worn out Collar into Baroque Collar Necklace
I really enjoy taking something that would normally end up in the trash and make it into a something beautiful, into something that is desirable. Upcycling is for me one of the best of human achievements -using our innate creativity to uplift and improve ourselves and our environment. Imagine applying it to all aspects of live.
This once was one of favourite silk shirt but eventually the collar and cuffs became worn through and frayed, and the fabric just started to tear. I so loved the shirt that shared many enjoyable moments with me that I was determined to recycle all of it. ( I have already been using some of the fabric to start mending my piano shawl – more about that “long-mend” in an upcoming post.)
The raw material
I did not take a pic to show the state of the collar was in before I began, as my initial idea was to cut off the collar leaf and to just make choker from the collar stand with the lace and pearl beading, as in my sketch. My daughter really wanted a full collar so it was back to the drawing board. I decided to a reversible Baroque collar that could be worn folded up or down.
You may want to use this idea to make a Baroque choker as it is an easy way of fastening a choker necklace with the button at the back.
Make a choker collar necklace from a n old collar
The pic below of the cuff will give you an idea what the collar looked like. (I have ideas for the cuffs too!)
This is basically the state the collar was in
What do you need to do this project?
For this project I decided not to buy anything but only use what I already had. I am sure if you are already sewing you will have the materials needed:
- An old shirt
- Sewing thread matching the shirt colour
- Embroidery thread
- Beading and Embroidery Needles
- Pearls and Beads
- Lace to trim the collar (optional) – I used a piece of left over lace from another project
Step One: Cut off the collar, or if you want to do it properly unpick the stitches to separate the collar from the shirt and resew. I just hate unpicking .
Cut off collar and lace
Step 2: Before I could get onto the decorative elements I had to mend the frayed edges and to patch the place where the collar was worn through. I used blanket stitch to edge the collar.
In this pic you can see some of the patching and edging finish with frayed bottom edge still to be cleaned up.
Step 3: Once I have mended the collar, I sewed vintage glass seed beads all around the edges of the collar that I salvaged from an old dress. (How to embroider with beads)
Step 4: For the embroidery I used only two stitches running stitch and lazy daisy stitch. I worked out the design freehand – first to hide the mending and then I filled in the gaps to make it pretty. Still really simple so that even a beginner can do it. Freehand embroidery is for me like Zentangle – you start at one place and the design develops. The best way to understand the process is to have a look at the basics of Zentangle.
Seed beads on the edges and running stitch outlines
I developed the embroidery design on the go firstly to cover the patching
Back of the collar embrodery
Step 5: After I finished the basic embroidery with beading, I sewed on the lace on the front parts of the collar.
Step 7: To link the lace with the rest of the design I continued the embroidery and beading so that it formed a cohesive design as you can see in the pictures.
Finished! This will give you an idea how to transform what is basically a piece of scrap into a treasure.
Collar up back view
Finished collar
Collar down back
Collar leaf worn down
Chanel – cream Baroque inspiration
DIY Fashion Sense 