DIY Studded Denim Jacket

The inspiration.  Kate Moss in Burberry

Me in my creation

The denim jacket.  An american staple as far as I'm concerned.  We loved them in the 80's, we love them in the 2012.  Timeless, dependable, functional, versatile.  They're also a fabulous canvas to add studs, rhinestones, paint, or whatever your bling of choice is.

We've all had our fair share of a stylish denim jacket.  There were the acid washed, the wool lined, and one of my favorites the white denim jacket.  Once as a fifth grader I was walking through a 5-7-9 store (you know, that store where they only carry sizes 5, 7, and 9).  As I browsed through the endless parade of colored bangles, cut off shorts, and midriff shirts I stumbled upon this awesome acid washed denim jacket!  It was meant to be worn big and baggy (why that seemed appealing to me I will never-ever know), and I coveted that thing until about the 7th grade when I decided to just let it go.

About 10 years ago I rediscovered my love for the denim jacket.  I was in a Forever 21 store in Austin and came across one.  All of a sudden I was that curly haired fifth grade girl with bangs again.  But this time there would be no sleepless nights over the denim jacket that got away.  I bought it.

I wore that thing all through college until about 5 years ago when I went in search of one that fit a little better and wasn't so um- snug.  One of my favorite go-to stores is American Eagle.  I absolutely love their denim, sun dresses, and endless clearance racks.  As I walked by one day I noticed a sales girl pushing a hanging rack of denim jackets.  I quickly scooted in and found one in my size!  I've been sporting said jacket now for a few years.  As much as I love my denim jacket I was ready to add a little pizzaz  to it.

Here are the inspiration pieces by Givenchy and Burberry, how I did my jacket, and the steps to create your own.  Happy studding!

Burberry

Givenchy

Givenchy

Supplies:


Jacket; denim, leather, jersey, whatever floats your boat
Studs
Jewelry pliers


So, I stumbled upon like the coolest thing ever.  I went in search of packaged silver studs as I had done before but was unable to find them.  I was determined to find something that would work.  But, I didn't want the iron on studs.  I wanted the ones with the little teeth.  I thought I'd try the trim isle and just see what they had.  Lo and behold, it was like someone had read my diary, there was studded trim on a bolt that you could purchase by the yard!  AND, it was 40% off!  But seriously.  Who read my diary?

I recently found an awesome site where you can find studs at fantastic prices.  Studs and Spikes has just about every type of stud detail you can think of.  I'll be going here next time around.

This is what is left of the vinyl after the studs are detached.  Wonder what I'll make with this.

Construction:

1.  Carefully remove studs from strap by opening back teeth and pulling off with pliers.

2.  Begin to apply studs by pushing them through your fabric.

3.  Secure studs to item by pushing teeth together on inside of fabric.  

4.  Be sure to push teeth all the way down.  If you do not they may scratch skin or snag clothing.

5.  Enjoy your studdliness!

I just did the side of both arms.  But, I"m seriously thinking of studding the collar too.

DIY T-Shirt Headband

It was around week two of recovering from my tonsillectomy that I had finally had enough of sitting still.  I knew that I could not start any new projects that were going to be to intensive and I knew I had to still take it relatively easy.  I had been wanting to make Miss Micaela a few little headbands.  So, I played around with some jersey knit that I had, but it was looking a little bulky.  I decided that in order to stick with my new profound sense of upcycling that I would track down items that I was no longer using and would Cut. Them. Up.  I went into my closet and decided to reuse old t-shirts that I was not ever going to wear again. T-shirts from spring break's past and shirts that I'd been hanging onto for one reason or another.  And, I must say that cutting and tearing into t-shirts after being bed ridden for two weeks was awesome.  It was Therapy many times over!

I encourage you to clean out the closet, reuse fabrics you have.  Don't stop with t-shirts.  You can reuse scarves, belts, jackets, shoes, and on and on.  You'd be surprised what great colors and fabrics you can make things out of if you just look to what you have.  Get to cuttin' up!  I'm looking forward to sporting a few of these myself!

T-shirt hot pink headband.

Before

Try to use fabrics that have stretch to them.  This will give the wearer longer use.

Black tulle and pearls were added to this one.

Supplies:

Construction:

1. For headband, measure from top of forehead to back of head (top of neck).  Add about an inch for sewing.

2. Decide how wide you want your headband, then double it or fold fabric in half.  You will be sewing two headband pieces together.  My headbands were around 2"-3".  If you make them too thick it is a little harder for tiny heads to keep them on.  

3.  Cut two headband pieces of the same size based on your measurements.

4.  Sew two pieces right side together, leaving ends open for turning.  If you sew the ends this will add bulk to back of headband.

5. Sew ends of headband together to form full circle. Try on headband and then trim access fabric.

6.  Cut pieces for flowers.  I will be posting a tutorial on how I made mine very soon.  But, in the meantime there are tons of tutorials online.  

7.  Sew your flowers.  In order to add dimension and interest, make your flowers all different sizes.

8.  Hot glue or sew on rhinestones, pearls, beads, etc.

9. Hot glue or sew your flowers onto headband.

10. Wear and enjoy! 

This headband is something baby girl wears almost daily.  We have lots of pink outfits!  I added rhinestones to the center of the flowers.

PJ's and Pancakes Party! Baby Girl Turns Two!

This is a wreath covered with linen strips tied in double knots.  It is showcasing Miss Micaela's big day with her initial and happy birthday written on the chalkboard.  This sign is great for any occasion.

Friday, February 12, 2012.  Our live's changed forever on that day as our baby girl came into this world.  Micaela Elisabeth has filled our family with so much joy, laughter, and PINK!  After two boys we were ready for a little girl.  But, nothing could have prepared us for how in love we were about to fall with this sweet little girl we now call "Tinker".

Little Miss Tink is a girly girl.  She likes clothes, jewelry, shoes, bows, baby dolls, and food.  Lots of food.  What better way to celebrate her 2nd birthday than with a laid back PJ's and Pancakes birthday party?  Complete with pancakes, sausage, biscuits, and lots and lots of pink!

The first thing I always do for the kids' parties is decorate over our island.  It is where we always have the food buffet and cake on display.  Here are some pics of what I did decoration wise.  I absolutely love these tissue pom-poms that you can pick up at party stores, Michael's, or Hobby Lobby.  I've seen tutorials where you can make them.  But, these were inexpensive and not near as much work.

This was the set up for the food.  We had pancakes, fruit toppers, biscuits, gravy, and of course mimosas.

I made this Happy Birthday sign out of graphic card stock and letters that I traced on paper and then cut out, then I glued the flags to the ribbon.  This is a sign I will use again and again.  And, I just love it because it is so girly and shabby chic.

Little Miss Tinker in her silk pj's on her 2nd birthday.

We opted out of doing a cake and decided to stick with the theme and do a little short stack on a cute platter with two candles.  It was precious and so convenient!  

Mommy and her baby girl.

My sis Val and I.

My sweet husband Jim is such a sport when we do our little themed parties.  I don't know who has more fun, us or him!  

Daddy and Tinker.  I found her jammies that came with a matching set for her baby doll.

Roses are red, violets are blue...

L.O.V.E.

This one's for the hubby.

Roses are red, violets are blue...there's nothing as sweet as giving a custom made Valentine's card from you.  I love nothing more than making handmade Valentine's cards.  It gives you a chance to customize a message and put your own little signature on something that means so much.  Here are a few of the cards I'm handing out for V-Day this year and how I put them together.

I purchased one of those large 12x12 designer paper booklets.  The 12x12 size is perfect for getting several cards out of each sheet.  In order to save on the graphic paper I first cut out plain white card stock and folded the printed paper over it.  I only covered the first few inches of the back of the card.  It looks like a border and allowed me to make my graphic paper stretch even further for more cards.  This particular booklet I used is called "Lost & Found" (sigh....how romantic).  It came with 180 sheets and had the shabby chic vintage prints I was looking for.  These little notes are so sweet I kind of want to frame them, or mod podge them onto canvas.  Hmmmm.....do I hear my next DIY project?

The word "Valentine's" is rather long.  In order to help it fit better on the card I made a wave-like feature by glueing the ends and the middle.  It looks like a little flag blowing in the breeze.

Did the same wave-like feature here.  Love these happy little birds.
A card like this is so versatile.  "Happy" is on the outside.  On the inside you could write "Valentine's Day" or "Birthday", or "Anniversary".  Keeping it relatively simple will allow you to use these cards for any occasion.

This one will either be Miss Micaela's birthday card or Valentine's Day card.

Oh my gosh.  I love my sewing machine stamp.

Don't throw away scraps!  I used them to help add little "fireworks" to the cards.

While I've been out post-tonsillectomy I had so many friends and family come by and visit, send texts, cards, even bring food by for my sweet family.  I wanted to create a custom card for each of them to let them know how much I appreciated their thoughtfulness.  Of course, to put my own little signature on it I used my most favorite stamp of all time; my sewing machine stamp!  I appreciate my loved ones "sew" much!

I found my alphabet stamps at Hobby Lobby.

Therapy donates to charity!

Therapy studded shoulder bag

I absolutely love this fabric.

Every year the Children's Orthopaedic Society hosts their Annual International Culinary Affair.  Attendees tantalize their taste buds and sweeten the senses by enjoy an evening of food and wine tasting while listening to the sweet sounds of local musician Junior Vasquez.  

All proceeds benefit the children and families of west texas and eastern New Mexico.  The Children's Orhtopaedic Society has provided countless families with food and gas vouchers, spica cast car seats which are in most cases too expensive for families to purchase on their own (the cost of a spica cast car seat is $600), and an ultrasound machine for the Children's Orthopaedics of Lubbock "COOL" clinic.  This ultrasound machine now makes it possible for families to receive ultrasounds in the COOL clinic at the time of the visit instead of having to pay for a separate visit at another facility.  This is more convenient and cost effective for patients.  Many patients that visit the COOL clinic in Lubbock, TX are from around the area and must travel to visit the clinic and receive healthcare.  Providing the ultrasound in the clinic helps these families avoid additional costs.

This year I have made a special Therapy item for the International Culinary Affair silent auction.  I am donating this blue tie died bag with studded details.  I love this bag so much I just might have to bid on it!  

Here are a few pics from the COOL clinic.  Notice the handsome doctor?  Yeah, he's awesome.  So awesome I married him :).

A Texas Tech Red Raider patient visiting the COOL clinic.

Dr. Gutheil performing surgery on a COOL patient. 

This little boy is so sweet and such a fantastic patient.

I encourage you all to volunteer in your community.  What a difference it makes in those lives that need a little help.  Get out there and volunteer at a church or school, or your local hospital.  There are countless organizations looking for people to donate their time and talents!  The reward you will feel personally is priceless. 

Taking a "Chance"...

Blarney Stone Equestrian Center

Horses

Do you ever have a moment in your life where you just need something?  You don't know what it is.  You can't quite put your finger on it, but it's something.  And, it's there.  Always there.  Even when you have everything you could ever wish for.  I had finally come to a point in my life where I knew who I was, I knew what I wanted, and I was happy.  My wonderful husband and I had three amazing kiddos, our lives were filled with so much love and laughter.  Life was great.  But, still there was something calling me.

Was it a quarter-life crisis, a bored housewife thing, or was it just that I knew there was something else in me?  Maybe it was a little bitta' all of it.  I don't know.  All I know is I finally found what that something was and I've never been so grateful.  For me this something turned out to be horseback riding.  I think at some point or another every little girl dreams of pink ponies and riding on a rainbow.  We look at horses and imagine that we are a princess.  It is a very enchanting thing those horse dreams.

I remember having them as a little one.  I used to beg my mom for a horse.  I think she, like so many other parents, just thought it was a phase.  Well, if it was a phase I've never grown out of it.  And, I finally got to the point in my life where I had the time and the means, and finally the guts to try it out.  And, I had my husband cheering me on encouraging me to go for it!    

Every person needs a place where they can be themselves.  A place that brings out the best in you and makes you work out the worst in you, a place where you can vent.  For some it may be a gym, a yoga studio, or a pottery class.  For me this place is the Blarney Stone Equestrian Center.  I had been referred to Blarney Stone by a college friend of mine who was also a wife and mother.  She was such an inspiration to me.  I wasn't aware at the time that so many life lessons were about to come to me in the form of a horse.  The horse that was about to start teachin' those lessons was a horse named Chance.  A fitting name really.  Because, Lord knows this horse has taken a big chance on me.  


His name is Chance, but to me he is known as Sir Chancelot.  I met this horse July 2011.    I'll never forget the first time I met him.  It was a hot west texas summer day, my heart was racing, and I was scared to death.  There I was, 33, a mother of 3, and wife to the most amazing man I've ever met.  There I was, being introduced to this beast that I was to brush, hoof pick, saddle, climb on, and then tell him what to do.  I was so impressed by my instructor's faith in me.  Her name is Kathleen O'Shea.  Kathleen is the kind of woman you can trust but you don't ever cross her.  She is an amazing horsewoman, but also a pretty incredible human being.  Her patience and encouragement has meant so much to me.


After I finished brushing Chance I saddled him up and got on. As I got on him I remember thinking "What the hell am I doing?  What is wrong with me?  I have children and a husband who count on me, and here I am doin' my damndest to get myself hurt. Or worse!  I really need to get some help."  But, I also knew at that moment it was a turning point in my life.  I had finally done something I had always wanted to do.  And, I was never more scared or more excited to learn something new.  Even if it turned out I was terrible at it, I could say that I'd given it a try and I'd given it my all. 


I must have looked like one of those test drive dummies the first time I rode that horse.  I said to Kathleen "I may have looked like an idiot, but that sure felt good!"  Maybe it was a bit of a surprise to both of us when I showed up the following week for my next lesson.  Then it turned into two lessons a week.  And now, if it were up to me I'd go every day.  


I am so grateful for this "Chance" I took.  I'm so grateful that I finally had the guts to do it, and I'm so grateful that there was this wonderful place for me to go and be myself and fulfill a lifelong dream.  I've learned so much about the horse world.  But, I've learned even more about myself.  I've learned that I have to give myself a break- I can't always be perfect, I cannot control every situation, I've learned that I'm tougher than I thought I was, learned to really stand up for myself and what I believe in, that it's NEVER too late to try something new, and most of all I think I've learned to learn from my mistakes.  Lessons I will never forget.


Take a chance.  At least you wont ever have to wonder "what if?"  I took that chance, and I'm a better person for it.  I'll never be the same and I'm so grateful for that.  And, as it turns out, I'm actually a pretty damn good cowgirl. 

Sir Chancelot and me.

Chancelot and Miss Lily

Chance