Eyeglass Lens Trash to Treasure

When I took my little de-cluttering adventure, I was also given several old eyeglass lens. At one point in time I cam across a picture of an eyeglass lens modified into a necklace and thought that it would be a great way to make your own styles. Since I do not wear glasses this material is not readily available but when I was given some I could wait at the chance to start in on making my own. But there are a few details that I missed with the first go around. **Like you can't drill holes in real glass! Only plastic lens work.** So the first half of this tutorial is done on a separate project and the final product is a completed project to show what can be done. ENJOY!

Step 1: 

Step 2: 

Steps 3-4:

Step 5: 

After you drill a hole and attach your jewelry pieces and this is what it will look like.

*Just an FYI from experience, use really sharp drill bits.*

Overall this project was fun but I ruined 4 other necklace pendants from a dull drill bit so on the next go around I will start fresh and new. But my do I get compliments on the vine earrings you see above!

~With Luvz,

Dez

Fringe Benefits Necklace

There is a lot of times that I fail at creating what I believe to be an easy feat, but I rarely throw these projects or ideas out the window. I toss them to the side lines for a spark of inspiration for another day! This has helped me to see many of my ideas come to fruition over time as well as given me a stock pile of to dos/ one of these days. But it didn't take long for this to take off and in the end I was pleased with the outcome as usual. 

This project came about when I tried to make one of the recent chestplate style necklaces that are decorated with anything from vintage nicknacks to beads or flowers and such. I am into big statement pieces and I found the pattern on sale for pennies on the dollar so I decided I would try. As always I use what I have lying around and this project was no different. So here it is in stages for you to ENJOY!

As I began my adventure I realized my OCD is too picky for leaving even the smallest of details un-noticed sometimes. And in this particular instance it was my sewing to blame! 

 

 I started with some scrap satin and some old hem tape ribbon. And before I knew it I had a necklace base to work with... Or so I thought....this (above) is the 'big' problem I couldn't look past before I ventured into decorating the top. No problem for some; they would just begin to cover and be done with it. But me, no its not that easy. I let this thing bug me for weeks staring at me on the floor, tossed around the desk, cluttering the craft table and getting eyed by the dogs for a chew toy. But that all changed on a little trip to great mentors house for a craft room de-cluttering session. 

From this little extravaganza I was generously given a large oatmeal canister full of random trinkets, some useable and some just random to say the least. And in my treasure trove I discovered this fringe. No snags to deal with and just long enough to cover the necklace base. 

So I clipped the fringe to the top of the necklace to determine the length and keep it attched while I sew.

After the fringe was sized to fit. I sewed with a straight stitch along the edge and attached the fringe. And Voila! 

 My Creation!

~With Luvz,

Dez

Finished Blanket Project

The blanket has finally been done. With a little more than 3 days to gift it! The following is a walk through of how I did it, more or less what I did to create it from beginning to end. Enjoy the picture show!

Two precut fabric pieces I got on clearance at Walmart for $6.

Cut the edges, (originally I planned to tie the edges together however I changed my mind once I started to do it.) This often happens during projects : ) I still like the fringe look so I kept them on the edges. And decided to find a different way of connecting the two sides together.

To keep from stretching out the shape and eliminate so time pinning and measuring a quilt like style of stitching the two sides together I decided to use the pattern as inspiration. I stitched small circles in the center of the design wherever the design allowed and kept it from the edges to make it cohesive. Above is what the circles look like on the pattern side. Below an up-close of the circles. (*And no they are not perfect but neither was the whole idea and thats okay because my kiddo will never know the difference or care for that matter! )

Then there is the back side (BELOW). The best part is the circles are almost invisible!

Finally I had two sides with fringed edges and circles sporadically connecting the two together. So i laid it out as flat as I could get it and pinned very closely together to keep from distoring the shape as much as I could. Then with a larger stitch length (3.5) on my machine I stitched a straight line along the edge. As you can see I left a large hem for the fringe and my own aesthetic touch! 

 Overall this project turned out okay. Yes, I could have let my OCD kick in and completely started over when the tying didn't work as planned but my motto is you get what you get and don't throw a fit. So I took what I gave myself to start and rolled with the punches and in the end I am proud of what it is and look forward to surprising my kiddo this weekend with all her wonderful gifts!! 

~With Luvz

Dez

Always playing catch up....

I have been busy like crazy crafting. Something that comes at random and leaves behind little trinkets to enjoy. So for a short briefing on the creativity I have been doing. The best way for me to explain is show it off!  A photo album is one way of showing off your treasured family and friends so this is an array of photos and snid bits of info on some of them. Going into detail is not really my thing lately so here is a fast forward version of how creativity has flowed into reality...... ENJOY

Finishing my thesis dresses....

The front of the dresses will all resemble this design as closely as possible. 

The back of the dress. This is missing the rouched back panel but is pretty much complete.