diy denim pt.1of2

in a world where everything is a 1or 0 and i'm glued to a computer screen, i realized i had to go back to my roots and create with my hands using my lovely swing machine. and what better time than now with this lovely spring weather :) i bought a pair of acid wash jeans thinking i could convert them into cute shorts but they're too big! i'm still gonna see if i can make it happen but if not i'm turning those bad boys into pillow cases! but back to the cute short...
studded shorts are all the rage these days

i'm digging the fabric and that jumbo stitch!

to see what's available i headed to the fabric district. first stop, the amazing M&J Trimmings:

endless possibilities!

here's what i'm working with...geek chic with a tres loose crotch

i'll be able to transform these suckas this weekend with a full diy post on either pillow cases or revamped shorts or both :)

the gift of giving

1 month later and i'm in Toronto, done partying and back on the grind. to catch ya'll up to date i arrived here dec 15th and spent lots of time with the fams and stuffing my face. and as per usual i wait till the final hour to figure out what gifts i'll be giving to my 6 cousins and brother. then it hits me...my cousins gifts were archival photos from the 80's of their childhood blown up to 5x7' with vintage frames (i'll post photos of that later) and inspirational quotes printed on neon paper and framed with black dollar store frames. I suggest everyone cover their walls especially their bedroom walls with inspirational quotes. it really puts you in a good headspace at the crack of dawn.
i didn't end up giving this to anyone. could be offence but it's oh so true :) quote from Socrates

"the opposite of courage is not cowardice it is conformity"- Earl Nightingale

"what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us"- Ralph Waldo Emerson

speaking of gifts me and my hubby got the funniest gift from one of my aunts. it's funny because she's filipino...i'm not sure it would be funny if she were say...black. oh i love my family :) p.s. Ainsley has got some great receipts!

Cassette Wallets

as some of you may know i gave a bunch of cassette wallets as christmas presents for my cousins. i managed to make a few more with another slew on the way and am selling them here: frugalartist.etsy.com
a store in Barcelona is interested in buying them :) if i do decide to sell them there it would be for the mere fact to say "i sell my work in Barcelona". so i'll ponder it and see if i can squeeze in extra time to make these suckers.

i did say i would post a step by step tutorial on how to make these wallets but it was just to hard to explain. i did however find this site that has a similar set of instructions here

creative christmas

this year was all about conservation and creativity. i have 7 close cousins and a budget so i took to the internet for ideas for handmade gifts. i came across designer marcella foschi at design boom who took cassette tapes and revamped them into wallets. so of course me and my thrifty self knocked the idea. i did make a couple modifications such as bigger zippers and mismatched zipper heads. and since i personalized them i looked for cassette tapes specific for each cousin. i'll post a step by step this sunday. aren't they delicious?

i used different coloured zipper heads


this was for my lovely cousin Jeigh who appreciates the meaning of 'Flash Dance'

this was such a perfect find for my man 'Sexy Eyes' and only for you Boo Boo :)