Rags To Riches - DIY Rag Rug Inspiration

This is literally a rag to riches story. Well, sort of.  I'll explain.

Have you ever seen one of these beauties? Am sure you have at some point in your life.  Can you believe they were made from rags? Yes, you heard right. Rags, my friends. These rugs were crafted from old clothing and fabric that we all have lying around the house including my personal fav, old t.shirts! 

What I love about Rag Rugs

Unique look/design

Awesome texture

Versatility (could work in any part of a home)

Easy to clean

Totally recycled/green

As you may already know if you have visited my blog for more than I minute... I love, love, love a DIY project!  But, what I love even more than that is making something meaningful from otherwise discarded or useless things. 

In other words, I saw these rugs and that was it. Love at first sight. I just knew that I had to make one of these rugs. I presently own 2 of these gorgeous rugs already (I bought them) but now I am gonna jump in and make one!.  So siked! :)

Here is a video that will show you how it's done! Enjoy. :)

Cherio!

Tapestry In Fashion

Hola, Compadres!  I feel like a bad mama. I've been so busy, my poor sweet little blog is not getting all the love it deserves.  Sometimes it is so hard trying to balance it all but like a true soldier I keep at it.

I had a few hours of R&R this today so I decided to spend some time searching for one of the things I am madly infatuated with at the moment.  Tapestry! 

Now I know this may not sound exciting but after this post you will see why I am so hyped. Trust me, a good piece of tapestry is like comfort food.  It is soooooooo good!

Tapestry has always captivated me because of it's texture, depth and personality.  It is so much more than just a piece of fabric. Tapestry has heart. Soul. Love. And history.   Many of them are hand woven and can take months even years to complete. The hard work and attention to detail is what makes these pieces so endearing and special.  I particularly love the fact that tapestry allows for boundless artistic expression. From fashion to decor and beyond, there are no limits, only fabulous-ness.   

Enjoy.

I am still looking for a vest similar to the one pictured here but anyone of these pieces would be very welcome in my closet.  

I absolutely adore this framed piece.  So romantic and dramatic at the same time.  Pieces like these are hard to find but perfect to express one's personality and well worth the time spent searching for them.  

Cherio!

The Power and Glory of The Maxi Skirt

Believe it or not this post was inspired by the hubs.  Every time I wear this look he loves it and can't take his eyes of me and I love that.  Maxi skirts are sassy, modest, elegant and so very feminine.  And depending on how you style them, they can be sexy too.  Also, they transition well from Summer to Winter so it's a win, win situation all around. Hello!

When I say long/maxi skirt, I am not talking about pilgrim-esque fashion or "Anne get your gun" look-a-like garments. I am talking about "work it, bring it, throw it down style" that any woman would love to rock. Though, if you can pull of the "Anne" look, I have mad respect for you.  After all, it takes real confidence to go against the grain. I discovered that personally when I wore my "Lucille Ball" hoop skirt..........but hey, that's a whole other story.

 Bottom line is, long skirts are very smart buys.  They are ultra chic and versatile in both style and fabric choices which makes them able to go from casual to dressy in a snap. That is my absolute favorite thing about these skirts.

My appreciation for the maxi skirt began a long time ago at a wedding ceremony.  I had worn a long gray skirt with a sequined silver top, stilettos and belted sash at the waist.  All day long people wanted to know where I had purchased my gorgeous dress.  Of course it was not a dress but it looked like a really exclusive designer gown........minus the price tag.  Later that evening I wore the same gray skirt with flats, chunky jewelry and a tank top and viola!  One chic casual outfit if I must say so myself.  Such is the versatility of the long skirt.

I enjoy wearing my maxi skirts in Winter with boots and when it's really cold outside I just add some tights underneath.
So comfortable. 
So effortless. 
So chic.
Check out these beauties and if you don't have a maxi skirt already I see one in your future.  Real soon.

Cherio! 

Design Your Own Fabric With Spoonflower.......Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

I’ve always had a burning desire to design my own fabric and now I can with Spoonflower!

What a cool site!  Spoonflower lets you create custom printed fabric with no minimum order 

for $16–$32 per yard. Also, they feature premium and natural eco-friendly textiles too.  You 

design it and they will custom print it!  Wooo hooo! 

With Spoonflower you have the ability to print any drawing onto cotton fabric that you can 

imagine. You can order yards of your own design/s or 8"x8" swatches for around $5.00 a 

piece.  In addition, you can browse through and purchase fabrics by various other artist too. 

So check it out — and go make something beautiful!   Here are a few of my own designs.  Am having so much fun with this, can you tell........ 

Cherio!

Fashion Forward & Creative Ways To Rock A silk Scarf

Silk scarfs are hands down one of my favorite accessories.  Ever.   They are chic, beautiful, and can be styled in so many ways.  A silk scarf can also be worn in both Winter and Summer so this is one accessory that is not only versatile, but super practical and in my opinion, worth every cent you spend on it. 

Gone are the days when wearing a silk scarf meant you had to wear something formal. Now you can wear scarfs with tank tops, sun dresses, shorts, and even straw hats and sandals..... We've come a long way baby!

This video showcases 7 creative ways to wear a Hermes scarf, however, the techniques here can be used for any scarf. Check it out! 

Here are some additional inspiration to help you rock your scarfs and a handy little chart that makes me really happy.  It demonstrates 28 easy ways to wear a scarf.  Woo Hoo! 

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hairstyleswatch

whowhatwear

Image origin unknown

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Well, this was so much fun!.   I was sold on the silk scarf already but now am totally smitten.  You just can't go wrong with one of these.  Vive Le silk scarf!


Cherio!

D.I.Y Headboards Gone Wild!

It is no secret that I am a certified D.I.Y fanatic.  No delusions here, am owning it!  Show me a "how to" project and my happy quotient goes way up.  Don't know why that is but hey, thats how the good Lord wired me.

One of my favorite things to experiment with is headboards.  It is such a splendid opportunity to unleash your creativity and infuse your own personality into your bedroom.  And this my friend is what makes your home uniquely yours so go for it!

Creating A new head board could be as simple as draping fabric over your old one or it could be so complex that it may take many months, even years to complete.  The great thing about it is, you decide what you want.

I have a queen bed that needs a head board so of course I decided to make my own.  I found so many beautiful options.....    These are my favorites so far.  What do you think?

Decorative fabric 

Salvage wood 

A paint job and a strategically placed mirror

A large framed piece of Art

Salvage doors

Antique mirror

Burlap 

Multiple framed photos

And finally tapestry.  

This is going to be so hard to choose but since these are all so gorgeous, I cant go wrong with any of them.  Well, am of to marinate on my choices but I will post a picture of my new head board once I decide and "git er done!"  Cherio!

Bring In Spring With Throw Pillows!

Spring is here and what better way to welcome the season than with gorgeous pillows alive with Spring motifs. Pillows are such a wonderful way to warm up a space.  Think of them as you would costume jewelry.  Although they seem like small details, they can have a big impact on a room... 

One of the things I like most about throw pillows is the fact that you can customize them to fit your personal style. And, if you make them yourself, you can save a bundle!   The sky is the limit here, you really can do anything you want. It never cease to amaze me how people are willing to spend $50.00 - $300.00 on a pillow when you can make your own in less than ten minutes for a fraction of the cost. 

The throw pillow is quite possibly one of the easiest DIY home accessories you will ever make.  All you have do is cut two pieces of fabric of equal size, sew 3 of the edges, stuff it, and close it up!  And contrary to popular belief and opinion, if you dont have a machine you can sew it by hand.  Hand stitching adds a very rustic and "made with love" quality thats hard to find.........and if you do, it may have a $300.00 price tag.  If you think about it, your great grandmother and all the ladies prior to the invention of the sewing machine managed to sew the most amazing things quite well without one.  Now if they could do that, then surely we can manage two little squares of fabric.  Yes we can.

Here are a few creative and fresh ideas for DIY throw pillows.   Be inspired! 

1.  Recycle your old sweaters into gorgeous pillows. If you don't have any old sweaters buy one at a thrift store, now that winter is over you will find them for next to nothing.  Have fun! 

Trash to Treasure Accent Chairs

Image from Little Green Notebook

Every time I see an old chair with good bones, I instantly turn into Smeagol from Lord Of The Rings totally obsessed with "the precious".   Its true.  I know it sounds crazy but no matter how beaten up the chair is, in my head I see it all decked out in fine fabric and looking fabulous.  Like the reupholstered chair above for instance. I love this chair.  How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.....

 Little Green Notebook

Think about it.  You can take an old battered chair with little or no value and give it a whole new life.   Am getting drunk with power just thinking about it.  There are no limits to what one can do with a little fabric and paint. Just take a look at these make overs and you will see what I mean. Enjoy and be inspired!

Image by The Hay Stack Needle

Image above: chair makeover by Design Sponge reader Melissa

Image above: chair makeover by Design Sponge reader Teresa

Chair Makeover by Jessica Jones 

Image above: by Always Mod

Image above: chair makeover by Design Sponge reader jennifer

I found this chart online and its so useful I just had to share.  It shows different types of chairs and the amount of fabric it would take to cover each piece.   

For a tutorial on doing your own chair makeover visit curbly