Here in the Northern Hemispere it’s the start of some cool then chilly weather, and will most likely remain that way for months to come. The good news? We still have plenty of time to explore our legwear options! Enter the fabulous Miss Shini Park, creator of the popular and uber-stylish blog, Park & Cube. She shows us with easy-to-follow directions how to DIY yourself a fabulous pair of tights.
It’s no secret I’m a sucker for shamelessly glamorous (and over-the-top gaudy) accessories, so in my efforts to get my “jewelry wardrobe” prepped for the fall, I decided to create this feverishly flamboyant (and easy to make!) gold geode cuff inspired by my style heroes, Kelly Wearstler and Anna Dello Russo.
Supplies: Geode, rock, or crystal of your choice, molding clay, gold paint, gold cuff
1. Assess how flat the base of your geode is compared to the curve of your cuff. Add a chunk of clay to the base of the geode and press/mold it to get it in all of the geode’s nooks and crannies. Press the clay firmly to the geode to ensure it sticks
2. Press the bottom of geode with the clay firmly to the top center of the cuff and mold it to fit the cuff’s curve.
3. Remove the geode with the clay and paint the side of the clay with your gold paint. Let it dry.
Once the paint is dry, place the geode back onto the cuff and press firmly for a couple minutes. Note: If you press firmly enough, the geode will stay on the cuff when you wear it but will not be permanently stuck so that you can change it out with different rocks in the future. If you want to permanently secure it, add some super glue underneath the clay before you press it onto the cuff. ENJOY!
As I mentioned in the Splatter Paint Oxford DIY, I have been seriously scanning my closet for my next splatter victim. I’ve had my eye on this white blazer tucked back in the depths of my “archives” (I like to think of my clothes as art) and haven’t been able to stop imagining how deluxe it would look with a splash of black. Remember, there are no limits to this project and the best part of it, you really can’t mess it up! I typically lean towards a high-contrast, graphic look, but when it comes down to it, just think of all the possible color combos! Side note: this is a fabulous party idea to get together with your friends.
Supplies: 2-3 jars of fabric paint, paint brush (foam or flat brush), blazer, and newspaper
Preferably outdoors or in an open, uncluttered space, lay down your newspaper wide enough to cover the area that your paint may hit. Also, it is important to line the inside of your blazer with the newspaper to ensure the paint doesn’t coat the inside of your jacket. Next, lay your blazer down as flat as possible and let the paint fly—Drizzle! Flick! Swirl! Splash! Put as much Jackson Pollack into it as you want and paint the buttons for an added pop! I recommend letting the painted side dry for 24 hours and then repeat the process on the other side. Have fun making beautiful, wearable art!
more DIY from Katie here
Collars as accessories are big news just now, and they also happen to be one of the easiest DIY’s ever!
1: Ingredients
A plain shirt, single studs and scissors.
I used a mans shirt, which I bought for £5 in Primark. Men’s shirts are best for this kind of project since the collars are starched or reinforced with plastic, which means the collar doesn’t collapse under the weight of the studs. I used screw back studs, which looks neater at the back and won’t pull whatever you are wearing.
2: Remove the collar
You first must detach the collar from the shirt. Carefully unpick all the stitching along the neckline until the collar comes away from the main body of the shirt. Sew up the edges again so you now have a nice, neat stand alone collar.
3: Make your pattern
Mark on your collar the pattern you want the studs to form. I used 10 studs for each side in a triangle formation. When you are happy with the pattern, use either a scalpel or hole punch to make little holes for the studs to go through, and then start studding.
4: Studding
Carefully push the studs into all the holes you’ve made.
5: Wear and enjoy!
This method can also be used on collars still attached to shirts, to freshen up old shirts you might have lurking in your closet.
The gifts look so beautiful under the tree and it’s really a fun project to do together as a family. Here’s some really cool ideas we’re thinking about this year…happy wrapping!!
