Monday, December 31, 2012

Children of the snow


When little boys are told not to throw snow at each other . . .


It can be just as much fun to load up both fists . . .



Take aim . .


And launch it straight up in the air to land on YOU.


Friday, December 21, 2012

My DIY leather and gold bookmarks


I made these DIY leather gold-dipped bookmarks from an old coat. Get my complete how-to at Dollar Store Crafts.

More leather DIYs coming up.

Friday, December 14, 2012

20 DIYs in 10 minutes

 
 I've been looking for some quick inexpensive DIY gifts for an upcoming trip. Search 10-minute DIY and you'll get a mess.

I should have checked out my own blog first. I have 20 right here, including my most popular post of all time, the Talbot's inspired necklace from your own stuff, which can be done in five minutes, really.


The Kate Spade mini clutch is another five-minute job.


The felt flower pins are maybe 10 minutes.


The dip dye necklace is five minutes to make, five minutes to dye.
 

The Anthro inspired ruffled scarf is 10 minutes.

Then there are 15 more.
Sixteen out of 20 reuse something you've probably already got.

Set the kitchen timer. Go!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

A landmark changes hands

 
Some friends of mine recently moved out of the Hotel Bossert in Brooklyn  Heights, which is being converted from apartments back into a hotel.

I took the opportunity to take some photos of the now empty lobby and roof lounge. The "Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn," the Bossert was built in 1909 and renovated in the late 1980s.

My husband's first apartment in the city was here, which he shared with three other guys back when the place was a rat bunker.

Highlights are the ornate restored ceiling, mural, rooftop view and those fabulous fabulous chandeliers.











Manhattan reflected in the Bossert's roof lounge window.


One of the last lobby guys.


The Hotel Bossert in its new incarnation as a boutique hotel is scheduled to open next summer with rooms at $300 a pop.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Burst your bubble necklace


The iconic and now ubiquitous J. Crew bubble necklace,which sells for $150, is now available at your local mall teenybopper store for around 12 bucks. If you actually paid $150 for one, sorry to burst your bubble necklace (har).

The bubble necklace has been knocked off by Etsy and Ebay sellers for under $20 for awhile. But now you can save yourself the cost of shipping by picking one up from Wet Seal (pale coral, mint and ivory), Charlotte Russe (red, yellow and white), and Rainbow (cobalt blue, deep coral and black).

Wet Seal currently has the necklace 30% off with 99-cent shipping. The Charlotte Russe necklace is 20% off. The Rainbow necklaces are only available in store and range from $8 to $12.

Personally I now own two and long for more due to their immense size and pleasing Fibonacci-like design.

Do you own one yet?

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

My DIY sequin throw


A few months back I picked up six yards of sequin fabric at a thrift store with some vague notion of cutting off a piece to make a sequin collar and giving the rest away. It sat around for months.

 
Then I saw Maryam Montague's home in the May 2012 issue of Lonny. Her Moroccan wedding blanket looked like a solid piece of sequin fabric. (Her home was also featured in Elle Decor. The same or a similar sequin blanket was used as a rug in another room.)
 
I took that fabric out of the bag and did this.
 


I would like to tell you I finished the edges or sewed on some backing but I didn't. It seemed just find the way it was.

For the winter it's been put on a chair as a decorative throw.


Sequin fabric can run $20 a yard, so this isn't the cheapest throw you'd ever "make". But a real Moroccan wedding blanket is about $800. 


Another option is to modify this tutorial from Heather at Home Modern. She used a chenille blanket (smart) and embellished with silver fabric paint as seen below. Instead of paint, you can use sequin trim, which is available at most fabric stores for a couple of dollars a yard.

 
I am of the opinion that one actually can be too rich or too thin. But one can never have too many sequins. 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

15 DIYs with sequins


As promised, here are a whole stack of things you can make with sequins - elbow patches, wall art, chair backs, a photo booth, camera strap, pumps, tote, skirt, pocket tee, shorts, clutch, blazer and the ever popular sequin collar three ways.

Technically, the one right below is coins, not sequins,but you get the drift.


Source: flickr.com via Samantha on Pinterest





 









There's a version of the sequin collar DIY using sequin trim rather than fabric at Thanks I Made It and another one from Life's Obsessions that uses sequin trim to embellish a shirt with a collar.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Inspired by sequins


As the days get shorter and darker, do you find yourself seeking anything that reflects a little light?

Sequins aren't just for beauty queens and princesses anymore. You can wear them with a t-shirt or sleep under them on a blanket.
 





Here's some affordable sequin goodness for your closet or home. Some DIYs are on their way.


  • Reversible sequin pillow $24.99 at Tuesday Morning. (Turn it upside down and it flips to silver.)
  • Striped sequin tank $9.99 at Charlotte Russe. (Solid sequin tanks in many colors also available for $11.99 at Sears.)
  • Sequin collar blouse $11.25 at Wet Seal.
  • Gold sequin skirt $25 at JCP.