Lilly Pulitzer fabric Hair Bows

I just added a number of new bows to the etsy shop in a style that I've been working on for a little while now.   I played around with sewn fabric bows for a while and they always seemed to be a little too floppy, so now I've changed the construction and I'm oh-so-happy with the results. So fun! These are perfect party favors.  I've added a 'grab bag' listing to the shop for ten bows for that reason.

I can make these with any pattern seen in the shop of course.  I'll be adding more over the next few days.  Here's a peek at a few that I've already placed in the shop.

Run for the Roses Print found here

Braz. Ave. Bow found here

Grab Bag Listing found here

Kissue Hair Bow found here

Heavy Browsing: The Worst of Online Fashion

Funny websites are a must for me.  They break up my day and I love them for it. Here's one that I recently heard about on Pinterest.  It's called: Heavy Browsing.  The two women who created the site post photos of ridiculous clothing articles and accessories that they've found online.  Here's how they explain it on their homepage:

"Silk blouse enthusiasts Alison and Divya have been trolling the Internet for discounted designer items for years. The only thing they love more than online shopping is passing judgment, so naturally they have joined their two favorite pastimes to create Heavy Browsing. For every chic pencil skirt in an online clearance section there is an ill-fitting bodysuit on the next page just begging to be mocked. Alison and Divya love both of those items, just for completely different reasons."

Works for me.  Here are a few of my favorite selections from the site:

Marc Jacobs $395 via Yoox

From Yoox $98

$59 from Oak

And then there was this purse....Oh no, I like it!

Be forewarned, while the captions that the two women add are a huge part of what make the site funny, they can be colorful with their choice of words.  I'm guessing that you can handle it.

-kristina

Lilly Pulitzer Fabric Lamp Shade

I made this lamp shade the other day with a wire waste basket (found at the dollar store) and various Lilly fabric strips (some vintage prints, others are newer).  It's for our twin daughters' room.  I have to admit, I just love the way it turned out.  Here's a tutorial, if you'd like to make one yourself!

Lamp Shade made with Fabric and Dollar Store Trash Basket

What you'll need:
One wire waste basket (I found mine at the dollar store)
Aprox 1.5 yards of fabric in what ever colors your heart desires
One Lamp that has a screw top shade holder.

-I cut strips of fabric about 1.5" wide.  The length doesn't really matter, but you probably want them to be at least 36" or so, so there's enough to work with.

-Start at the "bottom" of the basket (which becomes the top of the lamp shade).  Tie a knot in the end of the fabric strip so it doesn't slip though and make sure that the knot is on the inside of the basket ( I know, kind of a given.)

-Weave the fabric strips in rows.  I skipped a hole or 'diamond' on every weave that showed on the outer potion of the basket (this allows more fabric to show and less wire).

-Now just weave and weave and then weave some more.  I worked on this in spurts, I added a strip or two when I had a few minutes.  All said, it took about 2-3 hours to weave.

-Once the entire basket was done, I glued the tails of fabric on the inside so they would be secure and made certain that they were very short.  I didn't want any fabric to get near the bulb.

That's it!!

You can see in the photos that the colors really glow when the light is on. Love that!

Lilly Pulitzer Fun

I made this comic last week (on someecards.com) when I was thinking about the fact that Lilly always lifts my spirits.  It kind of sums things up for me.

Source: Looking4Lilly

Punk Rock Prep

I grew up in California in the 80s.  My friends and I were a suburban dwelling wanna-be-rebellious lot.  We sported asymmetrical hair styles and loved punk rock skater boys (think Nicolas Cage in Valley Girl). While I never wore Doc Martens, I had a crush on many a boy who did. As a result,  I've always had a penchant for these utilitarian, steel toed boots.  They just remind me of the crazy times we had as teenagers.

So, when I saw these in my daughter's size, I had to buy them.  But, even with that cute floral pattern, I haven't been able to get her to wear them. She thought they still looked like "boys boots". So yesterday, I took out the black laces and made these with Lilly fabric, in the 'Monkey Trouble' pattern. 

I used electrical heat shrink tubing for the aglets (those little plastic ends on shoe laces).

How fun are they? She wore them today. Success.

I'm working on a few pairs right now to add to the etsy shop.

Lilly Pulitzer Fabric laces

~Kristina