DIY

Inspiring DIYS

Ivania, from Love Aesthetics: The branch clothes rack

What gave you the idea?
I saw furniture made out of branches and tree logs in an interior magazine but it was all way too complex to make. I'm a bit impatient so I thought of something more simple. By hanging the branch you don't need to worry about an entire construction of a clothing rack with wheels or it being stable enough. It's also very handy that it floats in the air because now there is more room for storage underneath. I saw this branche lying on the side of a road in Brussels (where my mother lives) and it had such a particular shape that I took it home all the way back to The Netherlands.
 
Was it hard to make? How long did it take?
No it was very very easy! I painted the branch, hung two hooks to the ceiling with metal wires where the branch can hang in like a swing and that is about it. It took me 30 minutes.

What is people reaction to it?
Everybody reacts very enthousiastically. Specially because it is such a cheap and easy solution that they can make themselves.
Houses in The Netherlands are very small and you can fit in a branch everywhere because it takes up no floor space and you can decide about its size.
You don't have to invest thousands in design furniture!

Do you do a lot of DIY projects?
All the time! When I need something I try to think of a quick solution. I've always been making my own things out of practicality. For example if I needed a skirt I would just cut a dress in half.

Mandy, from Oracle Fox: the winged headband

"I'm afraid the idea was not entirely original as I knew that I'd seen a similar headband at some stage. I was shopping in a jewellery shop called Equip (a high street chain store in Australia), and I saw winged necklaces and I think it may have triggered in my subconscious to make a headband.  It was a very easy process and I just used jewellery making pliers to add the second wing to the first necklace and just shortened it slightly, and all in all it probably took me about 20 minutes. I think I even got two necklaces for the price of one as there was a deal going and it probably cost me only $10 to make, but the effect I think is magical."

Mandy, from Oracle fox

Liz, from Pop Culture Afternoon: the velvet turban

What gave you the idea?
I just really wanted a turban but couldn't find the right one. I had some extra velvet fabric and just started to play with it.

Was it hard to make? How long did it take?
It was super easy to make, probably took 20 min tops!

Do you wear it often or do you keep it for special occasions?
I've since acquired a ton of new turbans, so I wear it less than before.

What is people reaction to it?
Everyone really loves it, I actually made one for a friend.

Do you do a lot of DIY projects?
Not as much as I would like to, but I try to get crafty at least once a month.

Liz, from Pop Culture Afternoon

Evita, from Jelly Jelly Beans: the key necklace

The idea is from one of necklace that I bought long time ago, it looks old and so mysterious, and I always thought it must be so cool to find a necklace that have many keys with layers chain. But after I searched everywhere I just couldn't find it. So I was so thrilled when my sister told me about this cool store near her apartment, where there are so many beads, pendants, chains and everything! And when I went there, it was like heaven! So I bought the materials there and for all materials (little bell, keys, chains and some little ring to connect the keys to the chain) it cost about 7 dollars. It took about a half an hour to make it, it was super easy!

But sadly I don't wear it very often, it's quite heavy with so many keys. But I Love it! One of my favorite DIY.

Diana, from Cruel Kid: floral skirt

"We all know the amazing mesh-jumper from AA. And so I also fell in love instantly as I saw the lovely fabric.
All the more I was surprised to see a similiar pillow on my mums sofa when I visited her on a rainy sunday morning for breakfast.
So I accepted my faith and stole the pillow, what a shame..

The square piece of fabric was so easy to alter into a skirt, I only needed to cut one single whole and remove the zipper. Of course I hat to sew the border. I also added a tull skirt below to have a bulky effect. The whole criminal project took about
half an hour, not a big deal.
The first time I wore it, it was on a party, but I keep it for special occasions cause its really an eye-catcher.

So, if you see a pillow case like this, get it. illegaly."Diana

Barbro Andersen: leather shorts

What gave you the idea?
I got the idea from Zara. I desperately wanted their amazing shorts from the SS 2010 collection, but I couldn't afford it, so I went out and bought this over-sized leather pants at a thrift-store for about $6 or $7.

Was it hard to make? How long did it take?
No, it wasn't too hard, but I had some trouble figuring out some of the technical details to begin with. I used a lot of pins, scissors and measuring-tape and spent about an hour on it all in all.

Do you wear it often or do you keep it for special occasions?
Yes, I wear it all the time! It's one of my "safe" items, which I choose to wear if I'm in a hurry or can't find anything else to wear. It's comfortable and easy to combine with other items in my closet. And it's pretty!

What is people reaction to it?
They think it's awesome! I was even featured in one of Norways biggest fashion magazines with a little DIY tutorial. That made my day!

Do you do a lot of DIY projects?
Yes, I guess I do. My latest addiction is knitting, and I'm currently working on a navy short-dress. I made two different short-shorts as well; one in gray and one in mustard with a little bow on the side. I'm also one of those who adjust hem-lines on clothes, and I generally put some kind of personal twists on most of them.

What gave you the idea?
The inspiration came when I was browsing blogs and came across a piece from Karla Spetic's AW10 collection. First I fell in love with the colours, and was hoping to find something similar - thick, sweet-coloured knit, but decided it should show that it could be done with any two sweaters out there so I settled for a mundane set.

Was it hard to make? How long did it take?
I first thought that, because sweaters are knitted, it would start unravelling or coiling up as I cut it, but surprisingly it kept its shape even througout the sewing! It took about 2h in total.

Do you wear it often or do you keep it for special occasions?
I do wear it often, but because the blue is a rather special blue it's usually hard to match with a lot of oufits. But if I'd made it with a more digestable colour I'd have worn it everyday.

What is people reaction to it?
People don't seem to notice it at first, but when they do they do a mini doubletake and ask where I got it from ;)

Do you do a lot of DIY projects?
I try to, but it's quite difficult as it's rather time-consuming in terms of gathering the right addon materials and choosing which piece in the wardrobe to sacrifice!