By Roseann

We’ve all seen chains used in about every which way possible these past couple seasons, but you know I just feel that my jewelry box isn’t saturated enough with them.  So, on that note, I would like to give a simple tutorial on how to make a great pair of earrings by creating your own tassel using chains.

Materials:

• 1 yard of each; 4Mm Metal Chain Style: 36941, 6Mm Colored Metal Chain Style: 36956, 3.5Mm Mesh Link Metal Chain Style: 39714
• 2 bead caps
• 2 hat pins or jewelry wire
• 2  earring hooks
• Wire cutters and needle nose pliers

Instructions:

1. First cut your chains into pieces, you can make them the same length or different lengths as I have done; my longest piece is 4”.  Be sure you have an even number of pieces.
2. Divide them how you like so that you have equal pieces for each earring.
3. Thread the hat pin through the ends of your chains and then add the bead cap.
4. Cut the hat pin down so that you have only about an inch of it sticking out through the bead cap.
5. Using the pliers create a small loop as close to the bead cap as possible.
6. Connect the loop of the hat pin and the loop of the earring hook together and wrap the remaining wire of the hat pin around the loop several times to secure.
7. See, wasn’t that easy?

By:Roseann

For this weeks blog, I would like to address that pair of jeans in our closets that haven’t done us any good but take up space.  You all know that you’ve got at least one of those, I happen to have several.  The pair I chose to work with still fit great despite a couple of holes, the problem I have with them is that they just look a bit dated.  So, here is my effort to revive a pair I’ve kept around solely for cleaning my apartment.

Materials:

• Two 7” Blue Jean Zippers
• Scissors
• Hand needle and Thread
• Ruler
• Tailors Chalk
• Sewing Pins
• Iron

Directions:

1. Decide where you’d like the placement of your zippers.  I decided to start the first 6” from my knee. I then measured 7” up at an angle and marked a straight line with chalk. Then created a parallel 7” mark 2 ½” above the first.
2. At the beginning and end of each of your mark make a perpendicular mark ½” long.  Should look like a small T.
3. Cut on the marked lines and the ½” perpendicular.
4. Turn your jeans inside out and fold back the sides of your slashed line ¼”.
5. Pin and press with an iron.
6. Turn the jeans right side out and pin the zipper from the inside.
7. Hand stitch zipper in.  Pay special attention to the ends since they are unfinished.  It is best to do a buttonhole style stitch to keep the denim from unraveling.
8. Wear and enjoy.

By: Roseann

I recently came across a brief interview in Indie Magazine with Berlin Designer Paula Immich.   The interview was regarding a recent collection called “Mit Haut und Haar” (i.e. “with skin and hair”).  In this collection Immich used flocks of hair in seams and collars.  Sounds Bizarre right, however the effect is quite whimsical.  Her collection got me thinking about material and how so often we are used to seeing them manipulated and used in only one or two different ways.  Take chainette fringe, it has been used in such a costumie way, I always think flapper or Vegas every time I lay my eyes on it.  So I decided to do a DIY Paula Immich using chainette fringe, although I live in NYC I still don’t know if I can pull of wearing synthetic hair around my shoulders.  Boring, I know.

Materials:

• I T-shirt
• 1 yard Chainette Fringe, I used a 12” (available by calling 1-800-9-mjtrim) style # 06012-BK.  For a less dramatic look a 6” in recommended.
• Sewing machine
• Thread, ruler, scissors, pencil

Directions

1. Fist locate where the bust point would exist on the T-shirt and mark from the inside with a pencil.
2. Find the center point of your shoulder seam and mark a straight line from the bust point to the center marking of the shoulder.
3. Measure how long this line is and subtract that measurement from 20.
4. Using the measurement found above, find center back of the neckline and measure down mark with a pin.  Now measure from the pin 3” to each side and draw a line from that mark to shoulder center.
5. Cut along this line.
6. Cut the 1 yard of fringe in half, careful not to let it fray and pull apart. It helps if you tape the edges.
7. Starting 1” from the beginning of the cut pin the fringe between the two pieces.  The fringe should be short 1” on each side.
8. Now stitch together. Basically here we are creating a bust and back dart in one, so you want to start and end with a slight diagonal so that the intake transitions smoothly with the rest of the t.
9. Wear and enjoy.

By: Roseann

DIY fashion is all about modifying what already exists in our closet.  Cutting up an old T-shirt and giving it an updated look is still my favorite DIY project, which coincidentally goes along quite nicely with my current obsession, fringe.  Today’s project is quite simple and is a great way to achieve a grunge revival look.  By adding fringe to our T, we get the benefit of pulling off the look with out having to worry about showing too much skin.  We can’t all look like models.

Materials:

• Basic T-shirt, an oversized shirt will work best for this project
• 1 to 1 ½ yards faux leather fringe (I used a 6” to order please call 1-800-9-mjtrim, style number 00807-bk)
• Sewing machine or a hand needle and thread
• Pins
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Tailors chalk

Directions:

1. This is going to depend on your size and how short you want the shirt to be, but I measured and marked with tailors chalk 14” from mid shoulder and cut straight across.
2. The great thing about jersey is that if you pull on it slightly it will hide any imperfections in your cutting.
3. Take a measurement of the bottom of the T and cut your fringe down to the correct size adding 1” to total measurement.
4. Beginning at center back pin the fringe to the bottom inside of the shirt overlapping ½”.
5. Use sewing machine or hand needle to stitch the fringe down.  Fabric glue could be used instead if you’re not an avid sewer, just be sure not to over do it and allow the glue to seep through to the right side of the fabric.  Since jersey cuts clean and this is a bit of a grunge look I didn’t create a hem at the bottom, just simply attached the fringe to the underside of the jersey.
6. Wear and enjoy!

By Roseann

I recently became quite excited about this multi chain and chainmail combo and decided to incorporate it into this week’s project.  Inspired by Fiona Paxton’s jewelry this project is a bit more involved than some of my earlier posts, but with a little patience the result is stunning.  A lot of hand work is involved, but don’t let this intimidate you.  If you are really not interested in taking that plunge a similar look can be achieved by sewing together some embellished appliqués to mimic the breastplate.

Materials:

• 1 to1 ¼ yards multi chain, to purchase call 1-800-9-mjtrim
• Metal sequins
• Glass sew on jewels
• Piallettes
• Beading thread
• Tulle, preferably a heavy one such as crinoline net
• Scissors, hand needle, and needle nose pliers
• Multi strand jewelry clasp
• Jump rings, amount needed depends on your jewelry clasp

Directions:

• 1. Cut a piece of tulle 9”x 7”.
  1. Fold the tulle in thirds so that your piece now measures 3”x 7”.  If you are using cotton tulle you can use an iron to create firm creases, if you are working with nylon spray starch is best.
  2. Begin to embellish. I started with the glass sew on jewels and sort of placed them randomly.  Be sure you leave a ¼” around the sides of your soon to be breastplate.  I made the mistake of not doing so and attaching the chain was a little messy.
  3. I next added the large piallettes and then used the metal sequins to fill in.
  4. Decide where you would like the plate to sit.  Take a measurement around the neck and add 26” to accommodate the additional length of the breastplate and hanging ends.
  5. Divide this measurement in half and cut two pieces of the multi chain.
  6. Attach one side of the plate to the chain beginning 6” from the bottom.  I attached the chain by stitching it to the tulle through the chainmail pieces only.
  7. Attach your multi strand jewelry clasp to the chain using jump rings.
  8. Wear and enjoy

Sometimes design is just that, design.  It is not there to represent anything, say anything, mean anything.  We are pulled in and attracted to it simply for aesthetic reasons.  Inspired solely by organic form these earrings are simple and quick to create.

Materials:

• 2 4” hat pins
• Metal sequins
• Crimp beads
• 2 looped earring posts
• A pencil
• Needle nose pliers

 Instructions:

1. Tightly wrap hat pin around the pencil.
2. Pull your hat pin free from the pencil and elongate creating desired shape.
3. Slide three metal sequins onto the hat pin.
4.   Add one crimp bead and secure using pliers roughly ¼” above the first group on metal sequins.
5. Add three more and repeat until you’ve reached the top.
6. Using needle nose pliers create a small loop at the top of the hat pin and add looped earring post.
7. Wear and enjoy.

I am excited to see the tribal trend taking off this summer.  The look is comprised of bold graphic prints paired with warm tones and natural accents.  This can be a tricky look to pull off, so couple of tips.  When mixing patterns and textures, be sure each piece has one or two colors in common.  Oversized patterns can easily be over whelming, so these dresses and skirts should be short and simple in shape.  When in doubt go for mini, that’s always my motto.  When turning the volume on your outfit up, with bright colors such as orange and fuchsia, turn your makeup down.  Wear a natural eye or lip.  And finally pile on the great accessories.  Load your arm up with wooden bangles or add a mix media necklace over a daring graphic tee.

Materials:

• 7 yards of black 1mm round leather cord
• 3 yards black faux suede lacing
• 2 yards  calf craft leather lacing in antique natural
• 12 inches 17mm metal chain in matte gold
• 1 yard  9mm black metal chain
• 5 horn pipe beads
• 1 jewelry clasp
• 4 jump rings
• Scissors, wire clippers, and needle nose pliers

Directions:

1. Decide on a comfortable length for your necklace to be.  I chose 12 inches.
2. Cut your 17mm chain to the measurement you’ve decided.
3. cut your leathers down into 24 inch pieces
4. Using pieces of tape or string mark the center 6 inches of your 17mm chain.  You want to work with in this space only.
5. Starting with the wider pieces of leather you are going to begin attaching them to your necklace.  Fold leather in half then push the folded center through a link of chain and pull the tail ends of the leather through the loop.  Pull tight to secure.
6. Repeat step 5 with the 1mm cord, but attach two pieces together.
7. Cut 9mm chain into four 9 inch pieces.  Attach to necklace using the jump rings.

Composite and collage jewelry have been a big hit thus far in 2010 and it seemingly will be around for some time to come.  Combining a variety of different elements into a piece gives you, the designer, a lot of freedom for expression and exploring personal style.  I happen to consider myself to be a bit on the bohemian side, so therefore, I’ve created a fun bracelet using a floral appliqué and some buttons to compliment a closet full of denim and prairie dresses.

Materials:

• 1 bangle, I purchased a wooden one for around $5.
• 2 wood star buttons, I 28mm and 1 45mm
• 1 18mm moonstone button
• 1 daisy rhinestone button in smoked topaz
• 1 antique 10x8mm oval rhinestone with setting in crystal ab
• 1 bottle magna-tac craft glue
• The following can be purchased by calling 1-800-9mjtrim
• 1 wood flower pendant #38609 black/dark brown
• 1 sinamay  flower #54254-f
• 2 horn buttons #687087, 1 40L and 1 50L

Directions:

•  
  1. First remove the shanks from the back of your buttons.
  2. The sinamay flower is actually created by smaller flowers so pull it apart; you should be able to get 5 flowers from this one appliqué.
  3. Glue the smaller horn button a top the larger and top with crystal sew on.
  4. Glue the smaller wood star a top the larger and top with moonstone button.
  5. Arrange how you desire and glue using magna-tac.
  6. Allow your bangle to dry for at least 12 hours ideally 24 before wearing.

As you all may know cutting up a simple shirt and making a glam addition to a wardrobe happens to be my favorite DIY project.  I Simple T-shirt is a great canvas for a creative mind.  Today I would like to show how to braid a T-shirt, it is very simple and the result is always funky and chic.

Materials:

• Plain T-shirt
• Scissors or blade
• Ruler
• Beaded AppliqueStyle: 44319
• Fabric Chalk or pencil
• Needle and thread

Directions

•  
  1. Remove the collar from T-shirt.
  2. Find center back and mark with a pin.
  3. Beginning 1” down from the back neckline mark a line 8” across.  Be sure it is center.
  4. Mark 10 lines decreasing the size by 1” every other, your final line should be 4” across.
  5. Using a blade or scissors cut open your markings creating strips.
  6. Grab the second strip and loop around the one above by pulling it behind and then over.
  7. Continue braiding and stitch the last piece to the inside of the final slash.
  8. Stitch the appliqué on to the shirt at the end of the braid to create a finished look.

Hope you guys are enjoying this beautiful weather, I know I am! Today I would like to show you a very simple DIY project that will give any outfit a bit of edge, a creative and chic Zipper Belt.

For the list of materials check out our DIY Page