DIY Fashion Week

Me watching New York Fashion Week a few years ago: "Who would wear that?"

Me watching New York Fashion Week as an aspirational frugal DIY design blogger: "I could make that."

Get a full rundown on all the DIY possibilities for Spring 2011 at this article on examiner.com.

Image: Getty Images. Necklace and dress: Lela Rose

My DIY: Felt flowers

A quick and easy DIY for a busy week.

These flowers were so fast to make I forgot to take much in the way of photos. But the principle is the same as for my dahlia from an old shirt. These are easier though since there is no issue with fraying or general limpness.

Cut a strip of felt about two inches wide. For the dahlia, make tapered cuts. For the mum, make straight cuts. Roll the strip and glue as you go. Add a pin back to the back.

Two or three of these on a sweater or knit hat looks mighty cute if I do say so myself. Vintage insect pin optional.

More poufs

In my efforts to keep you up to date with all things pouf and ottoman related, be aware that World Market now has these for $90.

And these for $39. Fulfill your pouf and your suzani craving in one product.

Or DIY it.

My DIY: Dollar Store Abstract Expressionism

I've long been a fan of wild black and white expressionists like Robert Motherwell and Franz Kline.

This Kline painting was featured on the last page of this month's House Beautiful.

Some Franz Kline knockoffs appeared in Kevin Sharkey's vaunted NYC apartment makeover. The one above the bed is too scary to sleep under, but I liked the set in the living room.

Fake art is not a new DIY concept, but I bet this is the first abstract expressionist ripoff to rely on a tossed-out poster frame and some dollar store products.

This golf poster 'challenged' me to give it a makeover.

Take some dollar store poster board cut to fit a second-hand frame. Grab some black acrylic paint, dollar store or otherwise. Get loose. Paint.

To show I'm not a complete dilettante, note that I rejected my first painting. Not enough negative space.

Allow to dry and frame.

The Picasso is also a DIY, using the time-honored artistic technique known as "tracing."

Get some more DIY art inspiration at What the Vita.

DIYable: Hawaiian quilt wall hanging headboard

You can make a wall hanging like this using black and white felt on a black blanket. (Or throw some color in there.)

Fabric glue is very happy with felt, but if you're ambitious you could machine applique. See a similar idea here.

A Hawaiian template similar to the one in the photo is available from The Purl Bee.

Image: Real Simple

Inspired in September: The colors of ripe summer fruit

Welcome to the Inspired blog party for September.

Here is where you can share inspiring rooms, images, art or projects you've done. Just click the link below, add your blog post url and choose an image. Last month's party (our first) got nearly 2,000 views.

The party lasts all month, so feel free to add an inspiration at any time. There will be a button for it at the top left of this blog.

To start off . . . my inspiration right now is fruit. Fruit colors are great for people like me who are

1. Color allergic
2. Entering fall kicking and screaming.

I would be perfectly happy if everything in my closet and home were gray with patches of white and black. But the end of summer makes me crave some color, and I'm not ready for olive or purple, or rust, or heaven forbid, brown.

Fruit colors can be fabulous without being harsh. They pop without exploding. Think watermelon instead of orange, raspberry instead of pink, plum instead of purple, fig instead of . . . well, there is no fig color, but you get the point. All yum and all look really really good next to gray.

Images: Mine; J. Crew; Amanda Nisbet; Mine; Ann Taylor; Mine; Ann Taylor; New York Spaces; My new ikat scarf from World Market now on sale for $5; my new lace cutout thrift store shoes.

What inspired in August

Lush flowers were my initial inspiration in August. From that, I actually made a few brightly colored fabric flower brooches.

Here were some other inspiring posts:

Elisa @ What the Vita found four color palettes that work with grey.

Ally @ From the Right Bank shared a stunning view from a rooftop Swedish apartment.

Lucy @ Four Walls and a Roof encouraged me to collect more stuff with her review of Thomas O'Brien. (I actually did something with this inspiration. Will post soon.)

Elizabeth Abernathy reminded me of how much I like sketches and monochrome art in general. (Did a little something with this. Will post soon.)

Pauline @ Struggling to be Stylish boldly added lush flower fabric with her bedroom makeover. (She's also giving some away.)

Will @ Bright.Bazaar posted three colorful glass-bottles-in-a-window arrangements.

Mise @ Pretty Far West made her own glass bottle window arrangement.

Full House and The Estate of Things have both got me wanting a folk art coverlet.

Monika @ Splendid Willow has me figuring out how to get a vintage star chart.

Geneva @ A Pair and a Spare has me collecting brass buttons to make a version of this terrific fashion embellishment.

Thanks to Skyla @ Sanity Fair, I want the Kate Spade book clutch.

I. Cannot. Believe. It's September. Already.

Image: Vintage Rose Garden via Little Blue Deer