Hi!
This is my new project, and I'm really hyper about it, but i do know i am not the bestest seamstress out there, its a basic project.... but i still wanted to share with you guys!
My mom used to wear when she was much younger silk hankies / scarves and she gave them all to me a few years ago... I wore them too, and then got tired of them...
So i decided to re-purpose them into something a little more modern

I made simple cuffs
Its pretty easy to do, even for a noob like me
I cut two rectangles of each, one outer shell, one lining fabric, both vintage silk, or old jeans i wouldn't throw away
I also sandwiched in between a piece of felt, to stiffen it up a bit
Once its all sown, i decorated them with vintage buttons, and one or two loops to close it all up
This weekend i plan to try to learn to use my button installer thingy ("one step buttonwhole foot" harhar) and do cuffs that actually have buttonwholes
wish me luck!

heres my latest obsession: modern looking obi belts

various tidbits
the saturday night fever dress is from the era i was born (circa 1977); its thrifted, cost me 1$!!!!
i didnt like the belt that came with the dress (just a plain thin black skinny belt) : it made the dress poof in the middle and was quite unflattering

now about the actual obi belt:
-black jeans outer shell and geometric pattern synthetic inner lining
-the jeans is fab, i bought the whole roll!
-the linig was not so fab rookie error: it was so stretchy compared to the jeans ... so it made my life hell  
-the lining is a dress that didnt fit me anymore i had saved for some obscure reason
-this obi belt is actually just a practice for the next one i'll be making: it'll be in black leather (linning still to be determined)
-original pattern by .me. !

close-up shot

comments well appreciated!

heres a mini tutorial

its fairly simple to do   

i cut two pieces for the central part, 1 of lining, one of exterior fabric, that where 6 inches wide by an undisclosed number of inches long he he its my waist size so say your waist is 32 inches, add 1 inch for the seem
those two pieces are rectangles

then i cut 4 pieces, two linings, two exterior shells, that where 2 inches wide by the same lenght as the center part of the obi (so 33 inches if your waist is 32 inches)

the rest is simple stitching, really

first you stitch the lining to exterior shell (right sides together), for all three pieces
leave an opening to turn it inside out
trim the 4 corners

turn the 3 pieces right side out, press, slip stitch the opening closed
 
then you attach the 2 belts to the larger obi belt
i made the mistake of stitching them as close to the edge as possible, but if you would like it to overlap a bit, which makes it look less frumpy, i would recommend sowing them on at least 4 inches away from the side of the belt

the fact that its 3 times your wastes sizes makes it possible to wrap it all the way around

voilà!

i will make at least another belt, so i will try and remember to take pictures of it as i do it... so my tute can be illustrated!

oh one last thing: i was told that prostitutes tied the belts in the front, for easy access vs geisha's and other women tied them in the back, the proper and correct way

i made these simple silk and wool clutch, inspired by a 1950's vintage pattern

orange and brown

although its pretty self explanatory, here's a small tute

cut two rectangles of each outer shell and lining (i did them 13 x 20 because i wanted a big clutch) and one of interfacing, 1/4 of an inch smaller

iron on medium weight interfacing to wrong side of the outer shell

stitch lining to bag (right sides together)
leave an opening to turn the bag (which i always forget haha)

trim the 4 corners
turn bag right side out, press, slip stitch the opening closed

fold bag with lining on the inside, leaving a little less than a third for the flap

slip stitch the sides together, as invisibly as possible
i also passed over with the machine, to make it stronger

add button (i always use my vintage beauties)

add ribbon

tadam!

i just re-read the flickr user agreement and it clearly states we cannot peddle our wares on there

"Flickr is for personal use only. If you sell products, services or yourself through your photostream, we will terminate your account."
http://www.flickr.com/guidelines.gne

so please don't forget to edit your pictures comments accordingly

see this thread for more info, on the etsy.com forums page http://www.etsy.com/forums_topic.php?thread_id=18481

[MORE]

Since this thread has gotten so big (yay!) I just wanted to remind everyone of a few ground rules to keep things nice and tidy.

1. Please list your store only once.  If you have multiple stores you can post twice, but it'd be nicer if you just update your first post!

2. Please only list your own etsy store, not the stores of others or any non-etsy websites.

3. Please refrain from commenting on other stores.  (PM them, if you want!)

4. Stores will be checked for listings every 6 months. If your shop is empty for two checks, your post will be deleted. You're MORE than welcome to post again if you refill your shop!


Thanks!

jungrrl


hi!
someone in another thread sugested everyone list there etsy shop and a little description in one thread
it would make it easier for all us crafters to know who else has an etsy shop

here's mine!

.tomate d'epingles. handmade jewelry and accessories
Combining vintage, recycled, retro and new materials into unique creations!
Recycled jewelry? How eco-chic!
http://tomatedepingles.etsy.com

[ETA:]

ETA:
i have done the fair! yay!
thanks all for your comments!
it was usefull!

i will be participating in my first fair on July 22nd
i would like your comments on some of my items and on my pricing
thanks!

5$ stud earrings (i have 20 of those)


8$ button rings (i have 20 of those)


6$ button pins or button fridge magnets (i have 20 of those)


10$ multi button dangly earrings (i have 20 of those)

i think the price may be to high for those... maybe 8$?

and the necklaces

12$ single button necklace (i have 10 of those)


14$ multi button necklace (i have 10 of those)


16$ flower button necklace (i have 10 of those)

[in]

i just noticed the "start new topic button"... woot

i would like to hear your thoughts on international shipping....

here are mine:

i'm all for it! and i'm happy to have sold items to Australia and England...

on most of my items, i offer free shipping to USA and Canada, because its not going to to cost me much to send them out so i'm happy to offer the freebie... but shipping outside canada cost lots of money real fast (well even sometimes shipping in canada, but that would be another thread/rant )

so here's my pickle : for now, on those items, i put 0.00$ for local an international shipping, because if i don't it automatically adds shipping to my American customers, and then i have to refund them
i put up
***Free shipping to US & Canada!*** Welcome to international buyers! Please contact me for personalized shipping costs
everywhere in my shop as well

but when i do sell to international clients, i have to send them another bill for shipping fees and, well, i'm scared they'll be offended since it does say 0.00$ international

how do you guys deal with this?

actually I'm so obsessed with button jewelry that its turning into a fetish 

i made these button earrings last night... they are quite an earfull!





i also made several of these button necklaces, heres some of my favorites





(the superb red button was a gift from sjwhidden, who sells awesome bags on etsy)

any comments would be welcome!

thanks for looking!

so i just bought a 5 pounds bag of buttons 
and i kept most of them for sewing projects

but some of them where so nice that i made jewelry out of them


simple red


one of my favs


the button is some type of seashell looking material... its called nacre in french, i think, but dunno the name in English


this one is scratched, i may have to keep it for myself!

and that's where i was when i ran out out ring blanks
thanks for looking!

comments are welcome

Tis my first thread, kinda stressed out !

i made these fridge magnets out of a 2005 Curious George calendar i wasn't ready to part with





i think they came out great (altough the pictures are not so hot)

thanks for looking!