DIY: Festive Fall Garland

November 17, 2014November 15, 2014Leave a comment

Pumpkins deep jewel tones and warm hues, spicy candles and cozy fabrics all of these things are what make autumn my favorite season. So when dreaming up a new look for our fireplace mantle, I knew I wanted to combine all my favorite elements of fall into the spread. Pumpkins. Check. Wine colored mums. Check. Now for the finishing touch: a fun upcycled garland.

Pom poms, those delightfully little fluffy balls of yarn, are one of my secret obsessions. I will use any excuse to make a fresh batch – affixing them to gifts, headbands, art prints and more. So when choosing the texture of my festive fall garland the choice was easy.

Now when choosing the colors and textures – that’s where a bit of experimentation came into play. Digging through my drawer of varying fabric scraps, I settled on a warm cream linen, rich pumpkin velvet, and grey and lilac t-shirt cottons. I then grabbed a ball of white yarn that had been sitting untouched after a summer project. Cutting, wrapping and slicing I found that the linen frayed too much and didn’t have the fluffy outcome I wanted. The velvet and cottons, however, worked out perfectly!

So without further adieu, I now bring you an tutorial on how you too can make one of these festive pieces for the season. Play with a variety of colors, textures and pom pom sizes to give your garland a twist of your very own.

Lay out your chosen fabric
Cut the fabric into 1/2″ strips
You’ll need 4 strips of fabric per pom pom
Tug both ends of each strip to stretch and fluff them out
Wrap the first strip around four fingers
Wrap each of the remaining strips around the first
Using a shorter excess strip, place the string between the center of your fingers and tie a knot
Pull the pom off your fingers and cut the looped ends
Fluff and trim your pom so all the ends are similar in length
Cut a long piece of yarn onto which you’ll tie your poms
Center each pom along the yarn mapping out the spacing
Tie the yarn across the center of each pom and pull into place

And there you have it! In fifteen minutes or less you can be on your way toward making a festive fall garland of your very own! Should you give the project a try – be sure to share pictures of your final creation with us on Facebook or Instagram!

Greening Martha: Eco Chic Autumn Table Runner

November 12, 2013January 19, 20162 Comments

There are so many incredible DIY craft tutorials out there to try – but how do we scratch that creative itch without compromising our earth-loving-ethics? That’s what the “Greening Martha” series is all about! I take some of the most lusted after Martha Stewart tutorials and give them an eco-friendly makeover, making you feel better about indulging your crafty cravings!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought it was high-time to get some seasonal tutorials going. This month I’m bringing you a DIY twist for dressing up your holiday table: the Eco-Chic Autumn Table Runner.

Designed after Martha’s “Festive Fall Felt Trivets“, my rendition of this uber cute seasonal decor utilizes leftover fabric scraps from sweatshirts and t-shirts instead of virgin materials. By using textiles that you already have lying about your home you can spice up your Thanksgiving spread without purchasing new fabric, which wastes valuable resources and pollutes the environment.

For an in-depth account of the full effects of the textile industry, read this report from the Indian Textile Journal, which documents each step of the fabric creation process and its impact on the planet.

So in the true spirit of the “Greening Martha” series, here’s a fun eco-friendly tutorial that will have you jumping for joy with your Thanksgiving table design, while feeling good about your conscious craft choices.

Eco Chic Autumn Table Runner

Supplies Needed:

+ Various fabric scraps or used t-shirts, sweatshirt and other textiles
+ A sharp pair of fabric scissors
+ Fabric chalk, marker, pencil or crayon
+ A leaf (go get one from outside!)
+ A threaded sewing machine or old fashioned needle and thread

Gather up your fabric, paying particular attention to the color scheme. Warm, earthy autumnal tones are best. Also try to find a variety of fabrics to create a more rustic look. Think cotton, knits, fleeces and other cozy textures.
Grab your leaf and set it down on your first piece of fabric.
Outline the leaf’s shape using fabric chalk, a marker, crayon, or anything else you may have lying around.
Cutout your leaf outline – doubling the fabric if you want to be extra efficient.
Trim up your leaf cutout to ensure it’s look even sharp.
Repeat steps 2-5 with your other fabrics.
Once all your leaf shaped are cut out, set your sewing machine to a zig zag stitch pattern. If you’re stitching by hand – skip this step.
One leaf at a time, stitch across the surface of the shape, lining up your next leaf just after you hit the edge. Alternate the orientations of the leaves with each new shape addition to ensure a more natural pattern.

And that’s it! In fifteen minutes or less you can have an eco-savvy, super chic table runner with which to adorn your Thanksgiving spread. It’s an easy, affordable, and of course, earth-friendly way to liven up your space without compromising your ethics.

Is there a sustainable how-to that’s caught your eyes for the holidays? If so – share the link in the comments below!

Events: Renegade – Creation Station

August 17, 2012August 14, 2012Leave a comment

I have started a tradition at my in-person events to always have some kind of earth-friendly craft ready and waiting for fans to make. And this September’s Renegade will be no different!

Since I’m not sharing a booth this year I’ll have a bit more space to stretch out – so I’m planning to insert what I’m calling the “creation station.” This little nook of my tent will feature supplies and instructions on how to make your very own green-it-yourself bracelets. Created from the remnants of my cotton-based designs, these accessories will be a fun way to get fair-goers to try their own hand at crafting. I’ll be hand-dying each strip in advance too – so that the finished bracelets have a lovely ombre effect.

So if you’re planning on coming by the fair on September 8th or 9th, be sure to set some time aside to make your very own fabric bracelets. There’s nothing better than a free, green and trendy souvenir!

Trends: Neon Florals

June 4, 2012May 27, 20122 Comments

The weather is warm, the season is right and I’m seeing neon patterns every which way I turn! I’m loving the neo-floral prints I’ve been spotting on blogs, etsy and beyond. I’m not usually a fan of the style – but something about turning them on their head with neon hues makes them cutting edge and worthy of my devotion. So if you’ve feared looking like a sofa, try out one of these looks to take this trend for a spin.

turquoise clutch from barefoot bag shop, vintage skort from pierogi picnic, fantasy floral art from april awakening, elle on lookbook, kryz on lookbook

Inspiration: Suitcase Dresser

February 27, 2012February 6, 20122 Comments

One of my goals this month is to re-organize my studio to make fabrics easier to find and to ‘unclog’ the creative block messiness encourages.

So I’ve been hunting for ways to do so while keeping things green and aesthetically inspiring. That’s why I fell in love when I found this suitcase dresser! Easy enough to make on your own – this idea take vintage luggage and transforms it into a utilitarian designer’s dream! I don’t have the space to make something like this now – but I am keeping it in mind should I ever decide to do away with my current dresser.

Inspiration: Colorful Crate Storage

November 2, 2011November 1, 20112 Comments

I am just gushing over the form, function and style of this fun entryway made completely of wood storage crates!

I have already been collecting salvaged boxes like these with the help of friends. But seeing them in action at home (and not just for lugging merchandise to shows) I have had a mega dose of inspiration. Thanks to the photo above I will be converting my current studio storage to a crate system that will be customizable, eco-friendly and unique!

Hats off to Apartment Therapy for posting the pic that inspired my future super storage! Once my project’s complete I will be sure to share the photos here.