DIY: Baby Gnome Hat

March 16, 2015January 19, 20161 Comment

Little baby August was born this past Valentine’s day at a hearty 7 pounds and 6 ounces. But despite his ample weight, this long and lean baby has the tiniest of craniums, causing any and every hat we have for him to slide down over his eyes. The result: one fussy baby! So what’s a mama to do? Make some DIY hats of course!

To ensure our little guy’s noggin was staying nice and toasty in our home and beyond I whipped up a simple yet chic hat design that I could create using various fabric scraps. Using printed fabrics on a bias instead of elastic, and solid t-shirt fabric for the top, August’s “krasnoludek” hats have become an instant hit! Keeping his head warm while adding a pop of color to his ensembles, making these little gnome hats in different color combos is becoming my new pass time, in between feedings and naps at least.

So without further adieu, I bring you a quick photo tutorial on how to make a baby gnome hat (or two or three!) for your own little bundle. Enjoy!

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!

DIY: No-Sew T-Shirt Turban

June 3, 2014June 20, 20141 Comment

It’s the time of year for biking, sunshine and humidity – which can mean only one thing – it’s frizz season!

If you have any hint of kink in your hair than I know you know where I’m coming from. You can be having the perfect hair day, go on a nice long bicycle ride, arrive at your location only to find that you’ve got that finger-in-a-light-socket look, and it ain’t pretty. So what’s a gal (or guy!) to do?

There are tons of products out there that can potentially help, but rather than slop gunk onto your locks try this out instead: a cotton turban headband. Not only will it keep your hair in place, it will also draw the eye away from that halo of fuzz that inevitably develops in the summer months.

Here’s a quick five-minute tutorial on how to make your very own headband using an upcycled tee and a pair of scissors. No sewing machine required! Give it a try and you too will find it’s the easiest way to beat the frizz this season. Continue reading →

DIY: Newspaper Party Streamers

March 12, 2014January 19, 2016Leave a comment

This past month I found myself in a dilemma. David’s birthday was suddenly at hand, we had a party planned, and I totally forgot to consider decorations! With just an hour before the first guests’ arrival, I devised a quick and resourceful way to get my apartment into the party spirit: Upcycled paper streamers!

Sneaking a few sheets of newspaper away from my bunny’s stash, I concocted a simple banner design that only required a few strategic cuts and less than 10 minutes of sewing. The result? A transformed festive space that’s eco-friendly and ready for fun!

Should you be on the lookout for a simple and design-savvy way to deck out your place for an upcoming get-together, give this easy four step tutorial a try!

1) Cut your newspaper into one inch slices.

2) Gather a stack of your sliced paper and cut each strip in half.

3) Align your strips to ensure they’re all the same length. Don’t worry about the width of each being exact.

4) Use a simple stitch and same plain thread to connect the strips together, sewing about a half inch from the tops. Sew approximately 30-40 slips per streamer.

And that’s it! To hang your streamers all you need to do is grab some washi or marking tape and affix them to your ceiling at varying lengths and spaces. You’ll find that the more streamers you hang, the fuller the installation’s look, so don’t be afraid to go nuts and make ten or more pieces!

Do you have a secret last-minute party decor idea that’s easy to make and eco-friendly? Share your tips with us!

DIY: Cozy Sweater Stockings

December 13, 2013December 12, 20131 Comment

I absolutely love the look of soft cozy knits in the winter. If it were up to me I’d enshroud my entire apartment in knit blankets, rugs, pillows and drapes!

But since that’s not currently possible – I’ve had to satiate my urges to make everything soft and fluffy in a different way. Rather than go out and purchase a set of readymade holiday decor, I decided to handcraft a set of rustic Christmas stockings on my own. Utilizing pre-loved knit men’s sweaters, these elegant and wintery gift socks were quick to make and added just the right amount of cheer to our fireplace mantle. Follow my easy instructions below to craft a set of stocking for your home or to give as a gift to your favorite homebody!

Supplies you’ll need: Sharp fabric scissors, knit sweaters (you’ll get 2 stockings out of 1 sweater), yarn for hanging, white thread, sewing machine, embellishments.

Gather up your supplies. Think soft, cozy, and creamy colors.
You’ll need a stocking template. I used the one off Martha Stewart’s website as a loose guide.
Cut out the stocking shape using two layers of your sweater fabric.
Bring the two right-facing sides together and stitch along the sides and bottom, leaving the top un-sewn.
Cut 3-4 inches of yarn. Fold the top of the stocking over an inch around the top and pin the yarn on either side of the top back seam (the one that leads to the heel of the stocking).
Sew across the top of the stocking hem using a zig zag stitch. This will keep the top from fraying and separating as you stuff the stocking with presents.
Choose your stocking embellishments. These will add color, texture and spice to your stocking. You may also want to consider using something that will help identify which stocking belongs to which family member.
Hang, fill with presents and enjoy!

Featured Design: A Perfect Gent

December 6, 2013November 20, 2013Leave a comment

Who doesn’t love a dapper looking gent?! This new incarnation of the classic “Perfect Gent” Pierogi Picnic bow tie design has a new texture and feel, making it even easier to pair with a guy’s everyday wardrobe. Handmade using sweatshirt fabric scraps, the “Perfect Gent” bow ties have a solid structure, soft feel, and clip on back, making it a fast way to add a dash of gentlemanly charm to any outfit. Coming in a variety of sizes, it makes a fantastic stocking stuffer too! Check out the full link of “Perfect Gent” bow ties here.

DIY: Upcycled Infinity Scarf

October 3, 2013October 1, 2013Leave a comment

If you’ve been looking for an easy 10 minute scarf tutorial – your search ends here!

Boggled by the over-the-top prices of currently trendy infinity scarves, I decided to give a DIY version a go. And won’t you know – the end result is cute, stylish, eco-friendly and el cheapo! So if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make your own cotton wrap around scarf, grab a t-shirt and scissors and give this a try!