Being born on Earth Day gives me a certain obligation to follow the eco-friendly trend. I like to imagine myself as Princess of Nature since that title sounds so lovely, don't it? Ever since I learned those three magic words in elementary school, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse I've been adhering those codes to my royal life. Sure I love thrifting and dumpster diving, but I love re-making things from junk even more.
If you have been reading this blog, you must know by now that I am one hardcore DIYer. I am also a hoarder. I can't seem to let go of many things whether it be the stained girl scout shirt still in more drawer or the hubcap I randomly found on my adventure filled night to the Getty. (The hubcap was sadly thrown away during move out day because my dad decided to bring the sedan for all my things. all my things. I have a lot of things). Because of these two tendencies I have two large trash bags filled with fabric scraps that were left over from summers of random DIYing and my recent fashion show collection. I just can't let go. Not even of a little piece of fabric.
Thankfully, I listened to my instinct and saved the scraps because I found a new way to reuse these scraps in my everyday wear. Nothing earth-shattering here, just really simple and easy to do scrap projects for what else - your head. I have a self-professed love for all head deco so this was such a wonderful way to satisfy my craving while saving the last few dollars for Europe.
Some of these require no sewing at all! Perfect for all you DIY hungry fashionistas lacking a sewing machine or steady hands to thread the needle through the eye.
Like what you see? If you picked yes then good for you keep on reading. If you picked no is it because it's too much, too tacky for your taste, too weird for your chic? Then don't give up just yet because you can make anything to suit your own personal taste. That's what I love about DIY. It's your fashion.
So if you like what you see or you want to try to like what you see, I'll teach you how to make these. They're super easy and I bet most you could even do without a tutorial. But I'm feeling generous today. I'm in my mother teresa mode and nothing can stop me now.
First thing, these pieces (except Braidy Bunch) were attached to my head by a black ribbon. If you like, you can put these scrappy treasures on hair clips, headbands, scrunchies, pins or anything you like! Once again it's your fashion.
In my now attempt to be all professional sounding with official instructions here are the materials you need:
Scraps in all sizes, colors, shape. Don't discriminate!
Scissors
Hot glue gun
Ribbon
Safety pins.
Sewing Machine or thread & needle
Yarn
Any other bits and bobbins you want to add.
Hands
Mind
Heart.
I'll start with the Twisted Cloud and Leprechaun Petals since they were the easiest.
First take a piece of scrap, preferrably a piece that is more squarish or roundish in size anything that's not super long and thin is what I'm trying to say.
Fold in the edges toward the center. Just fold. Fold it like you mean it. Twist it like you want it. Shape it as you like it.
Most of the edges should fall somewhere into the center.
Pin down and sew an 'X'.
Done.
Now just add a safety pin on the back size and loop it through a ribbon.
Braidy Bunch and Exploding Veins
- Take fabric and cut into long strips. If strips aren't long enough you can always connect more pieces.
- Braid it like a normal braid.
- Tie the ends together with a little extra at the end so its like a bulbous rash on the top of your head. That's the braidy bunch for you.
- For exploding veins, you braided fabric should be a little on the stiff side. Tie it in all random shapes and 3-D if you like.
- Glue down to keep shape.
- Slip ribbon through.
- Done again. Wow that was fast!
Periwinkle Barnacles
- For this one, take little rectangular pieces and just tie knots. Knot it like you know it.
- The knots should form a circular shape. Cut loose ends.
- Make many of these.
- Clump together and use yarn to connect together. It will be a puzzle. Just try to make all the pieces attached.
- Attach ribbon on left and right side of mass
- Done. Now you can have a barnacle on your head.
As you can see, my instructions are rather lame. But that's the point. The point is to just get out your scraps and your trash and just do whatever. Play around with easy techniques like braiding and knotting and weaving and who knows what concoction you can come up with. Just remember there's no such thing as wrong. "Ew" maybe. But never wrong. I thought Periwinkle was super wrong at first but I've come to love it and it's wrongness is so right in my eyes.
Now go play with your scraps, create something "ew-abulous" and show me. I swear I won't laugh. Maybe just a little. But I laugh because I love it.
Off to packing again.
