Left: Shopbop Center: Anthropologie Right: Nasty Gal When I was a kid I made friendship bracelets, but I never managed to finish any with complicated designs. They seemed to take forever to make. A couple of years ago I made a few, and to my surprise, they didn’t actually take that long. All you’d need […]
DIY Braided Thread and Chain Wrap Bracelet Tutorial
This fun bracelet DIY is a great way to update your wrists for spring. It’s pretty easy to make, and very customizable. I used gunmetal chain and cool colors (or mermaid colors, as I came to think of them), but with different colors or a gold or silver chain you can go for a totally […]
DIY Waxed Canvas Tote Bag Tutorial (Part 3)
Finally, the last part of this three-part tutorial. First I sewed the body of the bag, then I waxed it, and now I’ll show you how to add leather straps. This bag, by the way, is super sturdy. It’s designed so that the bottom, which carries the most weight, has no seam, and the addition […]
DIY Waxed Canvas Tote Bag Tutorial (Part 2)
In part 1 of this tutorial, I showed you how to sew a simple canvas tote bag. Today I’ll provide instructions for how to waterproof the canvas by waxing it with a mixture of beeswax and paraffin. Until I experimented with this bag, I had never waxed canvas, or any fabric. But it turns out […]
DIY Waxed Canvas Tote Bag Tutorial (Part 1)
As you may have heard, it rains in the Pacific Northwest. A lot. That’s how we grow those giant moss-covered trees and all of that local produce we’re so fond of. But sometimes that means that you need a waterproof bag. So I recently experimented with waxing canvas. I started with this tote bag that […]
Links I Like
If you have the tools, these simple wooden rings look like a fun DIY project. The colored studs on this pouch are so cool. The secret? Spray paint! Get the tutorial here. This looks like the easiest bandeau top ever, and a great way to re-use old leggings. This hedgehog pincushion is out-of-control cute. I […]
DIY Vertical Succulent Garden
June 3, 2013 update: Here’s the vertical garden, hung up: I’ve been wanting to attempt this project for the longest time, but I wasn’t quite sure how I wanted to do it. There are versions out there (like this one), that use a picture frame, but then you basically have to build a box for […]
Adventures in Ringmaking
On Saturday I got the opportunity to do something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time, which is learn advanced jewelry techniques. Though I have some books on metalworking, I’ve found that I really learn so much more from in-person instruction. So I took a ringmaking class at my favorite local jewelry/bead supply […]
DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
In the US, Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 12. I went through my archives and found some projects that might make great Mother’s Day gifts. You’ve still got a week, which is plenty of time for a DIY project, and moms always love stuff you make with your own two hands. These […]