Reworked Retro

It’s no secret that I’m a vintage vixen, however the pickings are pretty paltry now that retro is trending both as an inspiration for new design as well as a tool for reworked design. I know girls and guys who spend hours digging their way through the clothes racks of op-shops and resale boutiques only to find that the gems are picked clean and only tarnished tanks and tees remain. 

Personally I love reworked vintage fashion and am happy to share my recent finds. I’ve compiled this list of my TOP Reworked Retro Sites of the moment for you to look at. You can click on all the links below and check them out:

Cassie Ponds of Make Amends

Reworked one of a kind Make Amends fashion

Make Amend is a fashion label from independent designer Cassandra Pons that embraces a mix of redesigned vintage and handmade garments from 100% recycled materials that are cute, quirky and totally one-of-a-kind! Cassies creations are available in sunny Townsville, Australia at Katelyn Aslett Artisan Couture as well as online.

ModCloth  In case you have been living under a rock, this online boutique offers both inspired vintage as well as vintage fodder for the fashion-minded.

Homespun Vintage

Homespunvintage is the creative cooperation of two designer moms, Kathlene Kirnan Linehan and Corrie Hill Sullivan. Their complimentary styles offer a great selection of reworked vintage designs for boys and girls.

One of a Kind Vintage by Spanish Moss

Spanish Moss founded in 2006 by Vincent and Suzanne Ford Carafano, Spanish Moss specializes in top shelf vintage collections, artisan designers, and an in house ready-to-wear, American Gold.

Urban Outfitters has introduced an exclusive online collection, One-Of-A-Kind, which boasts one of a kind vintage pieces following the success of their in store Urban Renewal offerings featuring reworked vintage pieces, including denim, accessories and jewelry.

Miss Selfridge has started to incorporate small vintage inspired collections in some of their stores.

Etsy offers indie designers a great marketplace for everything vintage and handmade. 

Use Your Own Space to Create a Personal Yoga Retreat

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For me, there's nothing like a nice relaxing session of yoga to get my day started or to unwind at the end of the night, but sometimes, the cold weather gets in the way of going to a yoga class, which gets in the way of relaxation.  

 

 

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Lately, I've been thinking of ways to incorporate a yoga practice into my lifestyle so I can get the benefits of yoga even when I don 't make it to the gym, and that's got me thinking about creating a yoga space of my own. 

 

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Most of us don't have a full studio or yoga room in our home, but can make use of an extra room or  an unused space to serve as our own personal yoga space.

 

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A big open space, like a garage or a spare room, is great for yoga.  With a little effort any space can be your yoga space, even a small one. While it's important to choose a spot that is uncluttered and free of any distractions, all you really need is a mat. You can practice moves you learned in class for increased benefits, exploring your own body on a more personal level by tailoring the yoga routines to your own needs, or you can use an instructional DVD and YouTube videos if you're unsure of how to begin a practice and need a little inspiration.



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While you may not get the same structure that you get from attending a studio yoga class, you will have the benefit of being able to practice yoga whenever you need, along with having the benefit of  a practice that is solitary and personal, which may be even more enjoyable.


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An extra room can be transformed into a place for yoga practice with the addition of therapuetic scents, yoga accessories (such as yoga blocks and eco-friendly mats), and calming music; making it an easy way to incorporate a little tranquility into your daily life. 

Fun Trashion Accessories You Can Find on Etsy

 

I have explored Etsy's website in the past because I think it's a cool place to look for one of a kind items to purchase and a place to get creatively inspired for my own projects.  Recently I have had more time to look at the offerings available on the site and have found myself pleasantly surprised to see that among the many crafts made with traditional supplies, there are also many people using upcycled materials to make intriguing stuff, "trashion" that is.  They even have an Etsy Trashion Blog that is composed of Etsy sellers who focus on recycling and upcycling found and discarded materials, according to their site.

 

While there are many people online selling items they call "trashion" (some of which are less than fashionable or creative to put it nicely)  there are also creative individuals using re-purposed  items and traditional "trash" items to make very cool and very chic products, many of which are sellers on this site.

 

Here are some of my recent favorites:

 

 

 

Earrings



Dr. Pepper Earrings - wearwolf Etsy

Home Decor Items



Cork decorated wall hanging - KristinRebecca Etsy

Jewelry

 

 jewelry made from watch and computer parts - sleeplessstoryteller Etsy

 

Purses

Plastic Grocery Bag Clutch -Ekisa Paper Beads Etsy

 

 

More Jewelry

 

Upcycled Cuff Bracelet - truformjewelry Etsy

 

 

What to Wear This Valentine's Day

For the person who's looking for something different, clothing with subtle hearts can feel holiday appropriate and be worn year-round:
 

 

 

Photo from ModCloth.com

For those into trendier, bolder looks, something in fuchia will set you apart from the crowd:



Fushcia-dn't Have Dress
Photo from ModCloth.com

For a laid back nod to the season, a Valentine's themed screen tee requires minimal effort but is still fun:



thegoodwitchclothing
Photo from Etsy.com

For those who don't love Valentine's Day, there are fashionable tee's to spread your message as well:




Broken Heart T-Shirt
Photo from cafepress.com

 

 

For those who prefer to be subtle, small accessories make their own statement: 



Heart Ring
Photo from freepeople.com

For the girl who wants to look feminine and stylish, a pink dress in a flattering cut is perfect:





Splendid
Photo from lyst.com

Visual Inspiration For The Week

A few things that will be on my mind this week when looking for inspiration for crafting, creating, thrifting, and enjoying:

 

 Fashion Inspired Decorations

Porcelain Shoe and Hat Figurines

I love clothing-inspired accessories almost as much as the real thing and I'll be searching antique stores and thrift stores to find more favorites to add to my collection. 

 

 

 

 

Intriguing Artwork

 



Brian Dettmer Prehistoric Societies, 2011, Allegheny College Re-ContTEXT: Book as Object

 The piece, Prehistoric Societies was one of the many interesting book inspired exhibits at my schools recent gallery show, Re-ConTEXT: Book as Object.  As an extreme reading junkie and book lover, it not only gave me a nice chance to take a break from studying and enjoy art, but also to re-imagine the way I see books and to think about the transformations an object can make (especially important as a lover of all things upcycled and repurposed!)

 

 

Possible Craft Projects  

Beaded Doll Jewelry

 

A friend of mine received this hand-me down necklace from a co-worker, and I can think of several beadwork projects that I might be inspired to take on after seeing this hand-crafted necklace and wanting one of my own. 

 

 

 

Upcycling and Crafting Combo Ideas   

Repurposed Silverware Art

 

Flowered Lamps

I often collect old saucers and cups for the sheer prettiness they evoke.  Aside from a few that serve as catch-alls or jewelry holders, most don't get a lot of use.  These pieces, done by local crafters really have my mind turning, thinking of new ways to re-use those pretty old plates that would otherwise end up as unwanted clutters on the thrift store shelf, or mismatched settings that would remain unused. 

DIY Inspiration: Fall Festivals

One of my favorite things to do is to explore local fall festivals.  I love to bundle up in a snug knit sweater and long scarf and mill around looking at the displays, watching the Autumn leaves as I pass by. 

Although I don't usually buy a lot at the festivals, they are a great place for me to find ideas and inspiration for my own DIY projects.  A few weeks ago, I went to Applefest in Franklin, Pa, and saw a few displays that really have me thinking about craft projects and upcycling projects I can try out this fall. 

Shadow Boxes

One thing I saw was a series of shadow boxes featuring different insects and butterflies, which were odd but quite striking at the same time.    I don't think I'll be making any insect art of my own any time soon, but I really like the idea of bringing the outdoors inside when choosing decorations for fall.

Butterfly Shadow Box

 

 Glass bottles-turned birdfeeders were another project I saw, and things like these are definitely a favorite of mine. I like these, because they are fairly simple to construct and make use of bottles, which people seem to discard frequently. Glass bottle upcycling projects are quite trendy right now, and they really make for some chic accessories.

 

 

 I also really like these cutting boards made from old glass bottles, though a project inspired by this craft would definitely be the most challenging.  For those of us without kilns or other glass cutting tools, finding another use for our glass bottles is probably the best bet.  

Cutting Boards constructed from old glass bottles

There are lots of ways to re-use those bottles that don't include major construction issues, such as turning them into a vase for flowers, a hair band holder, or using them in an art project. But if you're really enticed by the upcycled cutting boards, you can always head out to a fall festival and try your luck at finding a well-crafted one, or head online to purchase one from the shops on Etsy. 

Chic Chalkboard Wall Hanging You Can Make On The Cheap

 

In planning dorm room decorations for my senior year at college, I wanted to keep it sparse so that end of the year packing and clean-up would be a breeze.  In my attempts at minimalism, I overlooked the fact that an undecorated dorm room can be quite ugly on the eyes; not at all a good environment for a creative and crafty person like me. 

 

 

 

Not wanting to spend a lot of money and not wanting to create a lot of extra clutter, I decided that my goal would be to create some cheap and easy decor from the things I have in my room already or things found.

Using just paper scraps, old cardboard, chalk and tape, I created a cute Chalkboard-Inspired wall hanging that ads a personal touch to my boring white wall above my desk; a simple project that can be done by anyone looking for a cheap update or to create some decoration in a temporary space.

 

 

Here's how you can make your own:

1.  Find a scrap of paper, newspaper, or cheap poster board to create the backing.  I used a square of paper leftover from another project. 

 

 

2.  Cut cardboard into  inch wide or two inch wide strips to use for the border of the frame. 

 

 

 

3.  Cut the ends of cardboard strips diagonally so that two strips can connect to form corners. 

4. Tape the cardboard strips to the outer edge of the paper square to frame the square. 

 

5.  Match the strips together at the corners. 

 

 

 

 6.  Continue placing strips around the edge of the paper until you have created a full frame.

 

 

7. Use excess cardboard to cut out small heart shapes, which can be used to decorate the frame. 

 

8.  Place hearts on corners or anywhere that needs a bit of sprucing up. 

 

 

9.  Use chalk to write an inspirational quote, to-do list, or goal board.