Dec 13, 2010 | DIY
My tutorial for this sparkly, holiday-style jeweled DIY cardigan clip was featured in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of Style Sample Magazine (see pg. 20!). It’s super-easy to make – with just a glue gun, some sparkly buttons, and some trim scraps you too can make one in no time.
As the holidays approach, we’re all looking for that perfect accessory to elevate a blah outfit into FABulous; office-wear into party attire; the everyday into elegant. And what better than a functional closure to your sweater (or jacket, or scarf) that can double as a statement brooch? Clip it on, bling it out – however you wear it, it’s sure to be the focal point of any outfit!
Materials:
*stiff felt, cut into 2 circles (each about 1.5″ diameter)
*scrap of lacy ribbon
*assorted jeweled buttons
*2 shoe clips
*short length of chain (about 3″)
*Optional: 2 jump rings
*Optional: 2 brooch pinbacks
Tools:
*scissors
*glue gun & gluesticks
*pliers
*needle &thread
How-To:
1. Start by stitching the lace around the edge of each felt piece, in a spiral. (Although you can use the hot glue for this, the stitches look neater.)
2. Hot-glue the buttons on top of the lace.
3. Turn each felt piece over, and hot-glue a shoe clip onto its back. Keep in mind that in order to wear at the front of a jacket or cardigan, each clip has to open outwards, so make sure they face the right way before you glue them down.
4. Add the chain to the bottom of the felt pieces. I attached it using jump rings, but if you like you can just use hot glue to affix it, hiding the ends underneath the lace.
5. Optional: If you’d like to wear this piece as a brooch, also glue a pinback to the back of each felt piece.
You can try a number of configurations, using ribbons, soutache braid, fancy trims, different chains, studs, vintage findings, or even stick-on jewels (form the scrapbooking section of the craft store!) The sky’s the limit!
And make sure the very next time you rock it out – you tell everyone that you didn’t buy it…you DIY’d it!
I love how it looks like a little smiley face! (Once you see it..you can’t UNsee it!:-/)
And if you’re interested in the other features in this issue (like an interview with Project Runway Season 6 finalist Althea Harper and the how-to on making your own badge for your blog)…
Read the full issue online here
Thanks so much to Tamia and the team at Style Sample! I truly appreciate the inclusion and am honored to be a part of this great publication.
[And since they are the only magazine currently dedicated to bloggers and the art of style blogging, please help support this great publication by reading, contributing, or even purchasing the print version online. Thanks so much!]
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 11, 2010 | Media
source unknown (Google images)
As many of you may have read, the New York Times posted an article online last month about nutria fur currently being marketed as the new “guilt-free fur.” The argument is that since the nutria (giant swamp-rodents) are a threat to Louisana swampland and are being killed anyway in order to protect this fragile ecosystem, then instead of thoughtlessly discarding the carcasses it’s better to utilize the fur. …And make it into fashion.
Found on Flicker
A designer makes necklaces out of the teeth, Etsyans craft merkin panties and jewelry out of the fur…oh, and Michael Kors and Oscar de la Renta also incorporated nutria fur into trims and linings in their recent collections. Saks is currently the largest retailer in the United States that carries nutria fur items (check out this Nutria Fur Jacket from Maison Martin Margiela!).
Remember Elaine’s “rat hat” from that episode of Seinfeld? That Russian “sable-esque” hat was supposedly nutria, according to the storyline. And maligned as “not even a good rat-hat.”
So what do you guys think? Is real fur in fashion items okay if the animal is killed as a pest anyway? Is it right to attempt to wipe out a species if it threatens a long-established ecosystem? Will people begin to embrace nutria and being to rank it on par with fur in general – or is the “ick” factor too strong?
What are your thoughts? And would you ever buy or wear nutria?
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 10, 2010 | DIY
Feathered things are experiencing a revival lately – and I’ve been hankering after a maribou feather clutch for awhile. But I’m not going to buy when I can DIY for much cheaper! It’s sooooo easy too…
DIY Marabou Feather Clutch
Difficulty: (Easy/Beginner)

You Need:
*old clutch-style purse
*tacky glue
*marabou boa
*scissors
How-To:
1. Lay your clutch flat and visually estimate how far apart the pieces of your boa need to be to get the kind of coverage you want.
2. Spread the tacky glue in vertical lines down the front of your clutch, and across the top below the clasp.
3. Starting from one side, lay one end of the boa onto the glue at the bottom of the clutch.
4. Fold the boa piece over at the top of the clutch, and then loop it down towards the bottom. Snip at the bottom of the clutch.
5. Repeat for all the lines of glue until the front of your clutch is completely covered. Allow to dry and then trim the ends so they’re all one length.
Pretty easy, right? To cover both the front AND the back using this method, you’ll probably need two boas. And you could use any type of feathers that suit your fancy…they don’t have to be marabou, and they don’t have to be in boa-form, either.
Did You Know?
“Marabou” is a term for fluffy feathers – and most “marabou” feathers available for crafting, fishing lures, garment trims, or millinery supply are actually turkey or chicken feathers, not feathers from the Marabou Stork (which are extremely expensive). Feather supply companies may obtain their feathers from birds that are killed by the meat industry, or the down may be plucked from the bird as the seasons transition and it has no need of it anymore (termed “live-plucking”). Feathers also may be collected as they naturally molt (like peacock feathers), or from birds’ nests (like eider down).
So finally, welcome to DIY Roundup 8! If you’re unsure how to link up your tutorial (or finished project), here’s how:
Just click the light blue “Add Your Link” button that appears to the bottom left below. Follow the instructions in the Inlinkz window, pasting in the URL of your project or tutorial (from your own blog, Facebook page, Flickr account, Craftster.org, CutOutandKeep.net, etc). Don’t forget to write the NAME/DESCRIPTION of your project – like “Bow T-Shirt” or “DIY Lanvin Necklace” – not your own name or your blog’s name!!! You can link up any piece you’ve made or tutorial you’ve written from any time, not just in the last two weeks (though it would be nice if it’s a recent project, just to keep the content fresh). It’s all about sharing and bringing in more like-minded visitors to your site!
So now you get to share your own DIY’s! If you have a DIY project or tutorial that you’d like to share, please feel free to link below! (However you can only link YOUR OWN PROJECT. Please do not link others’ projects!)
If you’ve linked up your project to the Roundup, feel free to grab the button below.
Can’t wait to see everyone’s projects!
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 8, 2010 | From You, Life
It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten to Formspring.me, and there’s been questions piling up. Here’s a bunch that kind of pertain to me, & my opinions etc.:
hey carly! what do you think about lauren conrad’s book style? thanks!
Well, I haven’t read it (and I have never seen “The Hills” so have only an inkling of her claim to fame), but if there’s even one tip or idea in there that is helpful or new then it’s all worth it! More power to her!
Socks or bare feet (and why)??
Socks…and legwarmers…and slippers! My feet and ankles get really cold year-round. Probably bad circulation or sumpin.’
how did you do the gradual glitter manicure that you have on your nails in the diy challenge tutorials?
Done by a gel nail professional in 3 layers. She mixed gel with fine glitter, spread it on the nail, then hardened them. Then she mixed more gel with medium-chunky glitter and spread it on the nail tips, and hardened them. Then she sealed it all with another layer of clear gel and hardened it.
I love your photos – they look so professional..what type of camera do you use? Does it have a timer where you take your own shots or do you have a photographer?
Thanks for your kind words! For most of my photos we use a Canon EOS 40D with a removable Speedlite 430EX II Flash and a 77mm (woops, my bad – edited 12/10) 24-105mm f/4 L lens. The shots were I am visible or both my hands are in the shot (like my tutorials) are taken by my husband. The rest of them are taken by me. Sometimes when traveling it isn’t efficient to take this heavy camera and all its equipment, and so then we use a Sony Cybershot DSC-TX7
. The Canon has a self-timer but to our knowledge it will only take one shot at a time, so it’s just easier to wheedle my husband into taking my shots, though I am barking out directions on how to frame me and what details to take every step of the way.:-)
Hi Carly! I was reading you post about you Husband and you anniversary. I know you said you guys were fated for each other and I wanted to know if you believed in soulmates? Thanks for answering!
Sure I believe in soulmates – i.e., two people who feel so deeply connected they feel it’s at their souls. I also believe that someone could have many soulmates; i.e., a different person who just fits perfectly with them at a certain point in their lives. However, I don’t think one’s soulmate is necessarily the best person to spend the rest of your life with. All of us change due to environmental factors, pressure from jobs, family roles, friends, changing situations, and maturity – someone who fits perfectly with you at a specific point in your life may not still fit with you 10 years (or even 5 years!) down the road as you change and mature. I think the key to finding a successful long-term relationship is not to find the person who fits perfectly with you at the current moment, but to find the person who is a good-enough-fit for you, at present and in the future, and all the changes that you will weather throughout your life. The median of all the ups and downs, if you will. And if that person happens to be your “soulmate,” then you’ve just won the lottery, lady!:-)
Hi Carly! I love your website and all your DIY’s. I’m an aspiring graphic designer and I wanted to know how did you go about getting/finding jobs like your recent one for Set Theory? I’m really interested into becoming a freelance graphic designer as well
Thanks for your kind words! I haven’t had an exactly stellar record in the the getting/finding jobs arena, and have only looked in the obvious places (postings on Monster.com or Craigslist, for example). The “Set Theory” thing was a fluke, really – I just happened to meet the creator of it, and volunteered my time doing whatever they needed for the shoot. Volunteering your skills or interning could be a great way to get people to vouch for you, to network, and to stay connected to your industry. You could get involved with your college alumni group in the area to network that way as well, or see if there are professional associations in your field. You could also check out Meetup.com for informal gatherings and groups that might be of interest. Also, definitely check out NubbyTwiglet.com if you haven’t already, as she is a freelance graphic designer and has a ton of tips for doing that, as well as advice on branding, portfolio-creation, networking, and marketing yourself. It’s a must-read.

Part 1: What do you consider to be your personal favorite and least favorite of your own physical features?
I like my face in profile – I can see a number of my female ancestors in its shape. Least favorite: a tie between my jawline and my knees…neither of which can be remedied by working out, diet, or anything else DIY.
Part 2: What are personal favorite and least favorite character traits about yourself? Emotionally, mentally, etc…. ????
Favorite: I’m really quick at thinking up solutions to problems…except when they’re my own LOL. Least Favorite: I take everything reaaallly personally. Comments on my blog, people who stop following my blog, people who don’t return email, family not celebrating a holiday that’s really important to me… The ideas of “let things slide off your back” or “go with the flow” are difficult for me to master.
Do you have any fashion/ or just blogs that you love to visit everyday?
I’ll visit TLo.com daily since I love their witty sense of humor, and I’ll always pop in and check …love, maegan to see what she’s been up to. Outsapop.com I’ll visit every couple of days, along with a couple other style blogs. But those are probably my big fave 3 right there.
Hope that satisfies some of your curiosity!;-)
Next up in Part 3: DIY’ing answers!
Ask me anything
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 8, 2010 | DIY
Again, 2 weeks condensed into one cuz I’ve been lazy.
The Ongoing Project DIY’ed Tom Binns’ rhinestone, pearl, and safety pin necklace. I love her version and can’t believe it wasn’t on my radar before!
Faux fur bootie covers – so lovely! Required2BeInspired DIY’s her own version, inspired by a pair of Dune boots she saw on ASOS.
Speaking of ASOS…Love the idea of Minx nails but the $50+ price tag + salon appointment hassle is scaring you off? Try the $12 DIY version – Nail Rocks, available at ASOS.com. I just ordered meself the gold metallic, but they also have animal print, lace print, and designer graphic prints…and I’m dying to try them all.
Ever wanted to DIY your own knitwear? (*Guilty!) Trendy Workshop allows users to create their own sweaters, scarves, dresses, and more in cashmere or cotton. Based in France, the company has an online editor where you can choose from different silhouettes, colors, sleeve styles, text, and detailing for each piece. Once finished you can have them produce and ship you the finish piece, and/or add it to your own webstore on their platform.
And – more nails again – sometimes glittery polishes just aren’t…glittery enough, ya know? Kate from This is What I Do DIY’ed her own version of the glitter manicure…with real glitter, and it looks just perfect. (found via A Pair and a Spare)
Nixxi’s No-Sew DIY dress tutorial on Ecouterre is amazingly simple…and stylish, and multifunctional! Got 5 minutes? Give it a try!
The 34 Great Homemade Gifts You Can Make list from Get Rich Slowly is an oldie but a goodie – and a great list to turn to for inspiration when it’s well into the holiday season and you’re in need of creative gifting inspiration.
And BurdaStyle is having an amazing Holiday Giveaway a DAY (until December 30th)- just leave a comment on each giveaway post on their blog, and you’ll be entered!
Hope all of you had a lovely two weeks filled with DIY!
All imgs from their respective sites except the cookie jar mix, which was from here.
xoxox
Carly
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