How to Tie a Scarf

 Day 4 :: Scarves Week

you know what's so wonderful about scarves ?  they are so versatile ~ there are so many different ways to wear a scarf...

how about tying a scarf on your purse/tote/bag strap ?  years ago i had a small square silk scarf (my favorite scarf at the time) that i tied to my purse strap, i was walking down the Champs Elysees in Paris & the next thing i know... it's gone... forever  :(   that's my "scarf story", but hopefully your scarf won't fall off your purse strap like mine did

 i rounded up several links from the internet about how to tie/wear a scarf & thought i'd share them with you:

:: scarf tying guide

:: 37 ways to tie a scarf

 :: 6 ways to tie a scarf

:: figure eight knot

 :: various uses for a scarf

:: another way to wear a scarf, turn a silk scarf into a necklace

see you tomorrow for day 5 !

Sewing with Scarves

 Day 3 :: Scarves Week

today i bring you some information (some books & links) on where to find ideas for sewing with scarves...

first of all, you've already been introduced to this book: 30 projects for repurposing scarves in Craft Challenge Dozens of Ways to Repurpose Scarves

now be sure to check out: 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Tie & Rock Your Scarf which has a babydoll top, lantern cover, tank dress, replace t-shirt sleeves with poof scarf sleeves, use scarves to add ruffle cuffs to a sweater, use scarves to make covered buttons, plus so many more ideas...

 The Perfect Handmade Bag: Recycle and Reuse to Make 35 Beautiful Totes, Purses, and More has a vintage silk scarf bag

more project ideas:
:: a couple of home decoration projects (such as curtains & pillows) in Fabric Remix
:: pillow
:: small silk neck scarf to little girl t-shirt tunic

 these diy projects didn't call for scarves, but i think they would be perfect projects to make out of silk scarves:
:: eye mask
:: braided headband
:: jewelry pouches

see you tomorrow for day 4 !

Sew, Mama, Sew! giveaway

 Day 2 :: Scarves Week

it's May Giveaway Day !  a big thank you to Sew, Mama, Sew! for hosting such a fabulous giveaway event !

the prize:
one copy of the "Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose Scarves" book (my project page signed by moi) & 4 vintage Vera scarves (use the 4 scarves to create one or more of the 30 sewing projects from the book)

enter to win:
:: please leave an answer to the following question: what is your favorite repurposed project? it doesn't have to be sewing... a repurposed project you've made or one you've seen elsewhere ~ leaving a link to the project would be a bonus, thanks !
:: one entry per person
:: i will choose a winner by picking my favorite repurposed project from all those that are shared
:: open until 11:59 PM Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
:: i will announce the winner once the winner has replied to my email
:: i will ship internationally
:: book & scarves will be shipped by Monday, May 30th, 2011

see you soon for Day 3 of Scarves Week !

Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon

 Day 1 :: Scarves Week

all this week i'll be blogging about scarves & today i'm kicking off scarves week with a quick peek inside the "Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon" book by Susan Seid, it's all about Vera Neumann and her art on scarves...

 :: this is such a colorful coffee table book, a great book to give as a gift, also a quick interesting read

:: get to know the lady behind the ladybug

 :: Vera Neumann believed that fine art should be accessible to everyone, not just to walls of museums & private homes

:: she put her paintings on scarves from botanicals to bold geometric patterns & signed the scarves (like a painting) with a cursive "Vera"

:: later she added the ladybug to her signature ~ a symbol of long life, good luck, & good health

 :: she was the country's top scarf designer

:: the most popular were the 36 or 44 inch square scarves

:: her company produced 500 Vera designs per year

:: Vera chose few colors for her scarves, limiting them to 2-4, making them more fashion-friendly

 :: the Vera company now sells apparel & kitchen linens, but it all started with a silk scarf

:: get this book & get bitten by the ladybug

see you tomorrow for a Sew, Mama, Sew! giveaway

PS share photos of your Vera scarves with the Vera Neumann flickr group

Eyelet Ruffled Halter

 Day 7 :: Spring Kids Clothes Week

you've probably seen this ruffled halter around, i sewed a pink one with white polka dots last year, it's by Oliver+S & the pattern is found in Stitch magazine Spring 2010

each ruffle is different as i was using only the eyelet in my stash, you know, "make it work" (what Tim Gunn says on Project Runway)

that ends Spring Kids Clothes Week for me, i look forward to the one in the Fall

see you Monday May 23rd for a Sew, Mama, Sew! giveaway ~ that will also be the start of Scarves Week here (as you guessed, it's a whole week blogging about scarves)

New Cuffs

 Day 6 :: Spring Kids Clothes Week

this was a super simple & practical project ~ an easy way to get more wear out of some old clothing...

 this pair of blue jeans started to get a hole in the knee... so they were cut, made into shorts & hemmed with vintage ribbon/trim (idea come from here)

 a while ago i bought my daughter a long-sleeved white shirt at a garage sale, only to find out when i got home there were stains on the cuffs. my daughter also had a couple of long-sleeved white shirts where she got paint on the sleeves. so i cut them off where the stains started & sewed on bias tape to make new cuffs. i made the bias tape out of the Liberty of London scarf that was leftover from the Suzanne dress i sewed.

see you tomorrow for day 7 !

Tutu

 Day 5 :: Spring Kids Clothes Week

i guess this can't officially be called clothing, what do you call a tutu ?  an accessory ?  a dress-up item ?

 anyway, this tutu is fun, elegant & lovely... directions came from little things to sew by Liesl Gibson

 it didn't turn out as full as the ones in the book because i bought shiny tulle that was only 54" where the ones in the book were made out of tulle that was 108"... one thing that i did different is that for the gathering i zigzagged over cording which is my preferred gathering method. all in all this was rather a quick & easy project & i would for sure sew more.

see you tomorrow for day 6 !