Feb 25, 2015 | By Carly J. Cais, From You
As you may know, I designed some fabrics awhile ago and offer them for sale by the yard through my shop on Spoonflower.
At first I created them because I couldn’t find any galaxy-print fabrics that I liked, and I wanted to play with the trending print. After I opened my shop though, people that I didn’t even know began purchasing my designs and using them in their own projects. I was so thrilled to see other creators designing with fabrics that I had spent so long laboring over their designs, their colors, their pattern repeat until my eyes were practically crossed!
Some people were kind enough to share with me some projects they had made:
Source
Like Yannick who goes by @yansev on Instagram, who made this amazing wakeboard cover using my palm tree fabric. (He’s working on a line of wakeboard covers coming in Summer 2015 – follow him on Instagram for updates!!) Whoever thought of making a wakeboard cover with Spoonflower fabric…isn’t that cool??!
And Maria, who made this galaxy-print tote she offers for sale in her Etsy shop 162Pens.
She also made this cute little pencil case/makeup pouch too.
Her craftsmanship is just beautiful…you should definitely check out the other pretty designs in her shop to ogle!
Thank you everyone for sharing your amazing projects with me! I’m so happy that you found these fabrics useful and fun for you:-)
Just to share some more ideas, I made this DIY Flat Bottomed Zip Pouch with my Sideways Palm Tree Tropical Photo Print in organic cotton sateen…
…this DIY Galaxy-Print Mini Skirt with my Alternate Blue Galaxy Print in organic cotton sateen…
…and this scrunchie with my Red Star Field Galaxy Print in silk crepe de chine.
In addition to fabrics, you can also get any of these prints available for sale as wallpaper or gift wrap too!
I’m so happy that something like Spoonflower exists, where fabric designers can made beautiful fabrics come to life, and people like me, who just like playing with pattern and color, can even aspire to be a fabric designer.
If any of you have used my Spoonflower fabrics for anything, please share your projects with me! I’d love to showcase them on Chic Steals 🙂
xo
Carly
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Feb 23, 2015 | DIY, Fashion
Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week has wrapped up, folks…London Fashion Week is drawing to a close…next up, Paris and Milan. Already some great DIY ideas are surfacing for Fall 2015 and I’ll bet you want to get right on top of those and start thinking about how to incorporate these trends into your wardrobe for the upcoming season. Here are some emerging looks from the runways:
Though it’s hard to tell from the photo, hand-stitching some delicate silver ball-chain to the edges of your clothing a la Alexander Wang can look edgy and cool. Create a faux quilting effect on a dark pair of shorts using iron-on pearl nailheads and trim like at Alice + Olivia. Hand-sew a swatch of shearling to a jacket collar to make it ultra cozy.
Add white brushstrokes of fabric paint on the hem of a trench to make a bold statement like Band of Outsiders. You can mimic the Kaelen look by chopping off a shoulder from a long shirtdress (and finishing the hem by tucking under and securing with fabric glue or a line of stitching)…and add some ribbons looped into bows at either side of the skirt.
Go leatherette like L.A.M.B. by sewing some leather patches onto a sweater at the front and elbows, creating a patched leather skirt to match. Go full on cray-cray like Libertine and add a variety of appliques to a standard wool coat to make it vibrant and colorful.
Tartan and lace go together like peas and carrots. Do like Marc Jacobs and slit a pleated plaid skirt at the folds, adding lace strips in-between with some hand-sewing or hem tape. Create an embellished sweater like at Markus Lupfer and hand-stitch clusters of beads onto a thrifted turtleneck to downplay all the brown tragedy.
Get out the white fabric paint and go all Jackson Pollack on a black suit like at Norma Kamali. Upgrade a well-fitting vibrant coat with a line of contrasting piping, sewn on higgledy-piggledy with a pipin foot like Peter Pilotto did.
Do double-duty DIY inspired by Preen by Thornton Bregazzi by adding tiny hand-stitched clusters of dark beads to a cropped cream sweater, and bright lacing and iron-on appliques to a standard plaid skirt. Get sexy like Proenza Schouler by cutting slits in a slinky knit dress (just overlock the edges after cutting so they don’t unravel!) and wear a pair of fishnet tights underneath to add the appeal.
Get into dip-dying by dipping a cream turtleneck fisherman’s sweater into indigo dye like at Sea. Add a bit of sweetness to a mini LBD like at Vera Wang by stitching on white flowers (pulled off a silk flower!) and securing with a white pearl in each center.
Make a standard gray turtleneck more fun like at Vivienne Tam by taking an open flame to a piece of polyester or rayon to burn it into a fun and raggedy pattern (which may take a few tries!) Hand-sew your hand-made lacey fabric onto the chest and shoulders of a sweater. Add texture like at Zero + Maria Cornejo by sewing lines of black fringe up and down a charcoal wrap coat.
Any brands or collections that seem to lend themselves to DIY in your opinion? Let me know in the comments: I’m always on the lookout for any new lines of interest!
xo
Carly
All photos from Style.com; photo collages by me.
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Feb 20, 2015 | Fashion
Welcome to another installment of
Chic for the Week, where I share a couple shopping picks that I can’t stop thinking about.
Actually, Chic for the Weekend might be more appropo. And it’s technically the last weekend before March arrives, so I’m on the lookout for some pale, Springy items to usher in the season.
Here are some items that have been on my shopping wishlist lately:
1. Besides a 401K, EVERY lady needs a fluffy tulle skirt in her life, one to twirl and play with and feel utterly feminine and childlike again. Behold this Amore Tulle Skirt, currently en route to moi, which will look amazing under a moto jacket or with a tanktop camisole a la the opening credits of Sex and the City.
2. A skirt this sexy requires a lovely and ladylike piece of jewelry to set it off, and this Rose and Pearl Choker Necklace hits both the edgy contemporary note of the open fixed choker necklace popularized by Celine and Karl Lagerfeld, and a vintagey vibe. L-O-V-E!
3. It may be stating the obvious, but tongue-in-cheek accessories are totally my thing. This All Dressed Up Clutch is oh-so-cute (and super-affordable, at under $15!). Great for tucking under the arm and organizing all your essentials.
4. To keep with the soft pastel feel, this Come On Downy Cardigan is the perfect pair for the fluffy tulle skirt, since it’s equally fluffy (and your significant other won’t be able to keep his dirtymanhands off of you! 😉
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
xo
Carly
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you click and buy something through one of the links above. My full Disclosure Policy is here.
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Feb 17, 2015 | Fashion
Mismatched rhinestone stud earrings: I forget. Sequins sweatshirt: Romwe (old, similar
here or
here. Rings: mocha,
Shashi solitaire ring in rose gold,
Gorjana “G” stackable ring set. Hard-sided geometric clutch: ASOS (old, similar
here). Quilted Faux Leather Midi Skirt:
DIY (
tutorial here).
Follie Platform Pumps
: L.A.M.B. Manicure:
OPI Liquid Sand Nail Lacquer in Get Your Number
. Dog: Pudding the Shih Apso.
It will be Spring soon.
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Feb 16, 2015 | DIY
So it’s still Winter and I wanted a (p)leather skirt – midi length, so demure, yet made of a material that’s a little reminiscent of biker gangs. That’s just how I roll.
Midi-length leather and pleather skirts have been a Winter staple for awhile – and I love that the quilting pushes it into Chanel-esque territory without being anywhere near that price-point. Plus quilting can hide fabric (or pleather) that is actually quite cheap and force it to look more expensive. And no hemming required! Here’s how:
You Need:
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Feb 14, 2015 | Life
May you spend it with someone you love today 🙂
xo
Carly
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you click and buy something through one of the links above. My full Disclosure Policy is here.
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Feb 12, 2015 | DIY
The big V-day happens to be Saturday this year, and it’s now a countdown to what to get, what to make, how to profess your undying love to the one true person in your life. Here are a couple ideas from my archives if you need something to make last-minute:
DIY Ombre Typography Pillows
DIY His and Hers Leather-Bound Book Necklace/Keychain
DIY French Macaron Stack Card Holder Memo Stand
DIY Patterned Silver Leaf Photo Frame
DIY Faux Geode Quartz Paperweight
DIY Healthy Natural Coconut Oil Stick Deodorant
And, from a previous year: 15 DIY Valentine’s Day Gifts for Everyone.
And, if you’d prefer not to give a THING but instead perform an action and make it a memorable experience instead: Romantic Ideas You Can Do At Home for Valentine’s Day Infographic
And, for those wanting to celebrate their singledom, here are a couple great ideas for you too!
7 Single Gals Valentine Day Ideas
xo
Carly
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Jan 31, 2015 | DIY
Hello friends! Gee, this past month went by quick, didn’t it? I wanted to try something a little different as a recap and dig back into the Chic Steals archives for Januaries past to share some of my favorite posts with you that you may have missed. This month marks my 7-Year Blogiversary (can you believe it: SEVEN YEARS!!) and so I wanted to go way way back to near the beginning and see if there were any gems back there. Check out these fun projects and posts!
Cutting Edge Innovation in Eco Fashion and Style (for FashionTribes.com)
This may have been back in 2010, but some of these innovations are still pretty cutting edge today!
DIY Jennifer Behr Spiked Turban
I had a lot of fun with this project, eating cheese straws and moaning about the price tag on the original. It’s fiddly and difficult to make, but the result is pretty cool.
The Easiest Party Skirt to Make…Ever
I made this skirt out of a bunch of rectangles cut in satin. It turned out pretty well (though the tutorial has no step by step photos so be forewarned).
What is the Fashionista’s Dilemma and What Is Your F.A.P.?
I mused about fashion morality in the face of modern fast fashion. How do you create your Fashion Acquisition Policy into what works for you?
Current Obsessions: Sally Hansen Nail Effects Nail Polish Strips
I have no idea why, but this was one of my most-shared posts of 2011. It’s basically a how-to apply those nail polish strips out of the box.
DIY Woven Ribbon Sweater
Just like at Christian Dior. And totally removable, so when you get sick of it you can start afresh.
DIY Dyeing Feature in Lucky Magazine
I scanned these magazine pages in because I thought they were particularly helpful in dyeing your clothing and accessories. Even boots!
DIY in 5: Cage Cuff
Soooo easy: just wire two cuffs together to make a longer cage-like piece of jewelry. Easy and fun.
DIY Jil Sander Gathered Ruffled Peplum
Kind of a silly, but very fun, accessory. Wear over different skirts in contrasting colors.
DIY Beaded Collar Dress
I guest-posted this for the London Times blog. Great for zhushing up plain resort wear.
DIY Metallic Clutch
I guest-posted this for the London Times blog. I used metallic shelf liner paper over a file folder.
DIY Spike Beaded Woven Choker Necklace
This was one of my most popular tutorials back in 2013. Kinda fiddly but well worth it.
DIY Prada-Inspired Rose Cabochon Earrings
These were super-fun to make, with a huge visual impact. You could even buy the cabs already made (I spied them in the scrapbooking section at Michael’s!)
DIY Vintage Iron-On Decal Leather Keyring Charms
Such a cute project…these would make the perfect gift for someone special.
How to Use the Cartwheel App to Save at Target
If you’re not using the Cartwheel App every time you go to Target, you’re totally missing out! You could save a TON more over Target’s already affordable prices.
DIY A-Morir Embellished Sunglasses
I totally tricked out my sunglasses with rhinestones and beads. VERY 1950’s.
How to Keep Your Clothing Looking Bright and Chic with Clorox
For any brights, you can easily keep them from fading by taking a little extra care when laundering. Here are the tips and tricks to doing that.
DIY Free People Wrapped Quartz Bangle
This was such a fun, easy project – that ended up looking fantastic and was my most-read post of 2014.
DIY Windowpane Print Sweatshirt
Easy to do this trendy windowpane with some trim and double-stick hem tape.
xo
Carly
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Jan 30, 2015 | DIY, Life
1Â /Â 2Â /Â 3Â /Â 4Â /Â 5Â /Â 6Â /Â 7Â /Â 8Â /Â 9Â /Â 10Â /Â 11Â /Â 12Â /Â 13
Adding embellishments to pieces (crystals, studs, trim, iron-ons etc.) is one of the easiest ways to breathe life into your clothing and accessories and give them a whole new makeover. I’ve done a number of DIYs in the past that involve different materials and techniques (like my DIY Vinyl Eyelash Applique T-Shirt, DIY Sequin Trompe L’oeil Peter Pan Collar T-Shirt, and DIY Jennifer Behr Spiked Turban for example). I’ve found a number of tools are extremely useful in adding all those bits ‘n’ bobs (they save a ton of time!) – and here are my faves:
1. Hardwood Handle Awl
For poking holes for studs and screw-spikes, you need an awl. Period. This will make tiny precise holes (NOT slits like scissors) and the spike screw-thread will do the enlargening itself. Much better to cause as minimal damage to the fabric as possible. The hardwood handle allows for long usage without fatigue in your hands (and if you’re embarking on a large-scale studding or spiking project, you know exactly what I’m talking about!).
2. Chain Nose Pliers
For bending the studs teeth at the back, I always use pliers – though there are also stud prong press tools available for this specific purpose.
3. Creative Crystal BeJeweler Pro Embellishment Tool
For adding hotfix crystals or nailheads to your projects one-by-one: completely necessary for precision and beautiful designs.
4. Dual Duty Plus Button Thread
TOTALLY different from regular cotton mercerized or polyester thread. Did you know? I didn’t for a long time – and I’d been sewing on buttons using completely the wrong thread for like FOREVER. It’s thicker, stronger, and more durable than the regular threads, so get this if you are sewing on any buttons or button-like embellishments.
5. Dritz Fray Check
You’ll need this as a double-security for the ends of trims that could fray when washed. If they can’t be heat-sealed with an open flame (like they have beads, sequins, or are mostly cotton) then add a daub of this on the ends to prevent fraying.
6. Chalk Pencil
Marking chalk set – I use this SOOOO much! I can mark with a different color than for the sewing lines or matching lines when making a piece, and it stays fairly sharp and accurate. I really love this little tool.
7. Dritz Curved Needles
For sewing rhinestones in settings (with sewing holes in the back) onto fabric surfaces easily.
8. Aleene’s Jewel-It Embellishing Glue
For gluing crystals or other embellishments that don’t have sewing holes. Not ideal, but sometimes you have to cut corners.
9. Leathercraft Pyramid Rivet Studs Setter
If you’re doing large-scale studding on leather this will save your hands from massive pain.
10. Martha Stewart Multi-Purpose Cutting Heat Tool
I use this mostly for the mini-iron capabilities. Not completely necessary (in a pinch I’ll just grab my regular size iron and be really, really careful) – but this works great for larger iron-on embellishments that don’t fit the Hotfix iron tip, and for small appliques. I don’t particularly like the hotfix tip (not enough options), but the cutting tip is useful for cutting stencil vinyl.
11. June Tailor Non-Stick Pressing Sheet (18″x18″ size)
For appliques and fusibles. You could also use a regular 100% cotton pressing cloth, but the non-stick one is better for fusibles.
12. Beadaholique Perfect Positioner/Jewel Setter Tool
Needed for rhinestone placement and setting. And when you’re going through a lot of stones in an intricate design, this will really cut your workflow time in half.
13. Variety of Machine Feet
Multi-foot set – if you’re doing embellishments that require a sewing machine (like adding ruffles, or leather pieces, or pearl piping) — you will need a ruffler foot, piping foot, or Teflon foot to deal with these different materials and make the whole process faster. (the pack pictured is for low-shank machines)
And of course a screwdriver for tightening screw-spikes, a lighter for heat-sealing trims, and a pair of scissors for cutting.
Need more Must-Have Tool Sets? Check out my Must-Have Tools for Sewing DIY’s and my Must-Have Tools for Jewelry DIY’ing!
xo
Carly
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you click and buy something through one of the links above. My full Disclosure Policy is here.
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Jan 21, 2015 | Beauty
So yesterday I gave you a peek inside my $5 newly organized bathroom drawer. Today I wanted to share a roundup of my must-have beauty items to see Winter through to Spring. I’m super-pale and have strawberry blonde hair, so the color palette I use most days is very light creams and beiges, with a bit of baby pink thrown in. Subtle and understated, and isn’t too thick to cover up my freckles. Plus, I’m always on a budget and looking for a steal…so none of these items will break the bank. Here are 7 of my faves:
1. Sonia Kashuk Brow Definer
It took me forever to find the right-colored eyebrow pencil for my super-light eyebrows. They all looked harsh or weird. This one is warm-toned, but not overly so, and stays and stays.
Fair Skin/Light Hair: Taupe 09
2. Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Plumping Lip Gloss
I LOVE this lip gloss – it adds shine, sheen, and has enough light pink color to counteract even the darkest lips (like mine which are beetroot red). This gloss evens them out, plumps them, and is just my fave. I prefer the original, not the Xtreme version. It’s a little hard to find now. Look for it at Target or your local grocery store, or buy here
.
Fair Skin: Sheer Pink
3. Physicians Formula Nude Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow
The perfect nude eye shadows to do a very subtle gradient. When I’m in a rush, just a couple dabs of the lightest shimmer under the browbone pulls the whole look together and adds sophistication without any other work.
Fair skin: Natural Nude
4. YOUNIQUE Moonstruck 3D Fiberlashes
I wrote a review of this product earlier this year and I just love it. It adds so much length and gorgeousness…like Kim Kardashian except better.
5. L’Oreal Visible Lift CC Cream
Keeps my skin glowy and moisturized even through dry, harsh weather. And feels weightless when on.
Fair skin: Light/Medium formulation
6. Sephora Double Contouring Cream Blush
This color is great because it’s buildable (from sheer to intense), and bright – looks just like pinched cheeks on a cold, cold day. I adore it with silvery eye makeup for that ice queen look.
Fair skin: No 03 Poppy Pink
7. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer
For concealer you should make an investment: it needs to have staying power, be creamy, and have enough coverage to really cover those dark circles. This is the perfect hue for someone with super-light skin like myself, and it actually makes me look wide awake because of the orange undertones.
Fair skin: Color 1
All these colors aren’t to say people with darker coloring wouldn’t look good in them! I’m not trying to exclude anyone at all – these are just my favorite products for a sheer and natural Winter look.
xo
Carly
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you click and buy something through one of the links above. My full Disclosure Policy is here.
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