Feb 20, 2012 | DIY
Bib-style and collar-style, multi-tiered, embellished, spiky, organic, tribal necklaces have been all over the runways for a couple seasons, and it’s high time to add one into regular rotation in one’s wardrobe. But it’s so easy to make one out of bits and pieces floating around in your craft drawer!! This particular project utilizes craft foam that, once covered in paint, studs, buttons, and beads – looks high-fashion and “artsy” without the high price tag.
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Feb 18, 2012 | DIY
counter-clockwise from top right: Free People Vintage Bolo Necklace ($298), Elliot Atkinson Runway (photo by Morgan O’Donovan for DazedDigital), Egoist Cross Stone Bow-Tie NC (1,995 yen), DIY by me
I am such a necklace person; I always feel naked if I’m not wearing a strand (or two or three) of something metal and glittering at my neck. But sometimes I want to break away from the something-pendantlike-strung-on-a-chain rut…and the bolo tie necklace is the perfect piece to do that. Whimsical and retro, this style of adornment has been seen lately in the offerings at Free People and the runway at Elliot Atkinson (and was in countless shops when I visited Tokyo last Summer). Of course you can find bolo ties on Ebay or thrift shops…but you can also make one that’s all your own quite easily – and from stuff you probably already have in your craft drawer! Here’s how:
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Oct 24, 2011 | DIY
The organic quality to much of Pamela Love’s work captivates me. I love the metals mixed with gemstones; the rough shapes coupled with geometry. Trending this Fall are her fabulous pieces for Spring: rough-hewn, almost spiritual works. This crescent-shaped necklace studded with gemstone points is surprisingly easy to make – and satisfyingly chic.
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Sep 27, 2011 | By Carly J. Cais, DIY
I finally finished a pair of earrings this weekend that I’ve been working on for so long…I had attempted making them numerous times before but just couldn’t seem to get them exactly right.
I’ve always been drawn to the rough imperfections in natural stones and crystals, far more so than anything ever cut or polished by humans. Geodes are the perfect example of this: the jagged, rough crystals inside that are at once both perfectly symmetrical and so perfectly without order.
I surrounded two halves of a split geode crystal (technically a thunderegg, I guess) with black epoxy resin; then hand-set hematite-colored Swarovski crystals around the perimeters. Pewter French hooks finish off the earrings.
Given their sparkliness, contours, and depth I found they were incredibly hard to photograph late in the day and on my own, in the mirror. I’ll have to try when it’s nice and bright outside!
I’m also going to experiment with another pair, this time with Silver Shade Swarovskis around the geodes. I just couldn’t decide whether the dark hematite gray or crystal-like Silver would look better! There’s something I like about the smoky gray color glinting against the black resin, though.
Hope you guys had a great weekend!
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 6, 2011 | By Carly J. Cais, DIY
It was my best friend’s birthday this week and I had wanted to send her something I made. Unfortunately it took me a lot longer than I had anticipated to make all the bracelets I had wanted to, so I ended up popping them in the mail a little after her birthday.
It’s been 20 or so years since I last made a friendship bracelet, and I remember back in the day only being able to make the kind with the diagonal stripes. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to make the chevron, crossover, diamond-patterns, or Chinese staircase bracelets. The bracelets I made back in the late 80’s were pretty horrible; too loose or too tight, bad colors, wayyy too short… Now in 2011 there are tutorials all over the place and following one closely I finally was able to make a double diamond-patterned bracelet (the navy one above).
I was thrilled.
I also sewed in rhinestones and beads into my bracelets, and did wrap bracelets with bright embroidery floss and ball-chain and rhinestone chain, similar to what Honestly, WTF had posted on their blog a little while ago.
I figured that, no matter how old we get, sometimes something as both cheesy and iconic as the friendship bracelet can bring a little pop of color to an outfit – and a smile to one’s face.
Happy Birthday, J!!!
I hope she likes them.
xoxox
Carly
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