new in the shop - vintage gloves!

these vintage gloves have actually been in the shop for a couple of weeks now, but i just added another two pairs this afternoon so i thought i should make a little announcement here. since this is supposed to be a companion blog to my shop and all. :o) i am really loving the long nude & brown gloves at the moment, which seem like such a great lightweight alternative to leather or suede. hop on over to the shop to check out all the different colors & styles! 

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

inspiration - rike feurstein

images: rike feurstein

i first spotted one of german hat designer rike feurstein's knit pieces last month on camille tries to blog - check out this incredible blue-purple gradient cowl which nearly knocked the wind out of me when i saw it. i immediately began a hysterical quest to find out what on earth the fantastic stitch technique was so i could learn it as soon as possible and diy my own gradient cowl. i stumbled on this great tutorial via honestly wtf for the "no knit" scarf before discovering that the amazing stitch in question was developed and patented by rike herself. it's such a beautiful, mesmerizing stitch - i just get lost in the simplicity & chunkiness of the pattern and adore the playful use of color in her pieces like that one bright pink row in the middle of the light pink scarf... brilliant!

there has been speculation that the stitch might be based on the tunisian crochet stitch - a gorgeous type of crochet with a knit look that i've been intrigued with since taking the craft up. seeing as most of my projects this year were based on the single, double, and half-double crochet stitches (i.e. the most basic of stitches) i am in awe of the thought of inventing your own stitch - and such a gorgeous one as rike's at that. 

my crochet projects are starting to wind down a bit now that i'm really starting to delve into sewing. i've got a couple of completed pieces from last month that i'll be sharing with you this week and am now getting starting on my last project of the season - a pair of mary jane-type slippers. i might try to squeeze in one quick spring scarf based on the light pink / hot pink stripe one b/c i'm just so smitten but we'll see. there are a couple of projects i wasn't able to get to this year - a purse and a couple of blankets all involving granny squares, which i still have yet to learn. but, it's exciting to have some projects & new techniques to look forward to in the fall and i'm sure  by then i'll have even more projects added to the list.

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

i hope you are all having a lovely day!!!

sending lots of love your way this valentine's day...

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

all we are is stars

lucius and his first mustache finger : tara mcpherson

for my second pleated skirt attempt, i combined it with another diy project i've had on my "to do" list since last summer - making some sort of space garment. originally, i was planning on making a galaxy t-shirt dress but then decided it might be more fun to make some custom fabric instead. i used this "going to space" tutorial from unicorn parade almost to the letter except i didn't have any spare brushes on hand (besides tooth brushes for splattering) so i stuck to medicine droppers for applying the bleach & dye and used my gocco to screen print the stars instead of hand painting them. 

since my last skirt ended up so stiff & sculptural and was a polyester blend (and, polyester interferes with the bleaching process,) i went with a much thinner bottom weight this time made from 97% cotton/3% spandex. i cut the front and back fabric pieces out before bleaching & dying and ended up going through the entire process a few times until i was fairly happy with how it looked, and then screen printed the stars. i used strips of the untouched, crisp black fabric to make an extra-thick waistband (6cm wide instead of 4cm) and finished the hem off with black bias tape to pull it all together.

i'm really happy with how the skirt came out, especially since this was my first attempt at bleaching & dying fabric (i've never even tie-dyed.) it would have helped to have a few hubble pics of nebulae on hand for reference on the larger shapes but i didn't think about doing this until the very end. one thing is discovered is that bias tape is pretty much my new favorite thing EVER as straight & decent-looking hems continue to pose a major challenge for this beginner seamstress. overall, i'm completely smitten this skirt & the adorable little stars - it's incredibly lightweight but still stiff enough to keep its sweet silhouette and i love the polished look of the bias tape!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

*outfit details: vintage lace half shirt/wedding dress top // pleated skirt pattern - diy couture // black lita - jeffrey campbell // rings - forever 21, ebay 

inspiration - miu miu capelets & mules

images: miu miu

i am completely in love with miu miu's adorable off-the-shoulder capelets that were such a big part of her spring 2012 collection. now that i've officially been bitten with the "make your own clothes" bug, i've been on the lookout for a simple diy garment project to tackle in between pleated skirts and thought a capelet might be just the perfect project. a quick search brought me to this off the shoulder capelet diy tutorial on FtAshion so you know what i'll be making as soon as i have a few extra dollars for fabric & velvet ribbon! i particularly like the baby blue satin one w/ the navy velvet tie but also love that black & white patterned one - so cute!

i loved everything about this collection - not just the capelets - and fell especially hard for all those mules. i am loving the pink & red pair at the moment but that may just be valentine's day talking - on most days i think i'd go for the the blue velvet or pink satin pair... so girly! to tell you the truth, i'm actually not quite over miu miu's gold glitter peep-toe booties with pink suede from fall 2011 - too bad i can't figure out a way to diy all these amazing shoes!!!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

first pleated skirt!

i am sooo excited to share with you my first hand-sewn garment ever - a two-toned, hand-silk screened pleated skirt created from diy couture's easy-to-follow instructional book how to make a pleated skirt. 

the skirt is made from two pieces of fairly thick bottom weight fabric (65% cotton / 35% poly) in gray and electric blue that were sewn together. i used my gocco to screen print the blue fabric with a super cute friends with you inspired pattern before sewing. the stiff fabric and pleats kept reminding me of cheerleading skirts and seeing as friends with you is in the business of spreading friendship and joy, i thought the name "good cheer" fit this skirt perfectly! 

i followed the book's directions to the letter, making 12 pleats in the front, 12 in the back and a 4cm waistband. it was really tough working with this thick bottom weight on my first try, especially since it's 35% polyester - it was really difficult setting the pleats and the overall shape is very sculptural... it sort of has a mind of its own. while i loved the stiffness of this bottom weight during the printing process, i made sure to pick a much thinner, mostly cotton version for my second skirt. 

overall, i'm crazy thrilled with how it came out and *love* it to pieces. i'm still in total disbelief that i'm actually making my own clothes and have to keep reminding myself - it just seems too good to be true! but, it's not - it is true - and, it's all thanks to diy couture who demystified the process and made it simple enough for me to take the plunge. what i found out in the end was that making this pleated skirt was easier than a lot of other non-garment projects i've made in the past. when explained in an easy-to-follow format that's aimed at the beginner, you'll be stunned and how quick and easy making your own clothes can be!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

*outfit details: vintage purple striped ruffle jacket // black tank top - james perse // pleated skirt pattern - diy couture // black lita - jeffrey campbell // vintage clutch // rings - forever 21 // large gold hoops - ebay // vintage black doll's hat

inspiration - meadham kirchhoff

you've probably already seen pics of meadham kirchhoff's S/S 2012 collection floating around, but i just had to add my two cents in as this is one of the most exciting collections i have ever seen in my life, ever, and i'm pretty much in love with every single aspect of it down to the tiniest detail.

i don't even know where to start - the pastels, the bright colors, the stork feathers & pom-poms or the playful nods to harajuku girls, marie antionette and all those beloved lisa frank & sanrio stickers from my youth! this collection kinda makes my head explode - i want to wear every single piece of the collection so i can finally get a "deranged dolly" look going full swing. i am loving the pastel make-up and big, crazy hair as well and will definitely be borrowing heavily from these looks for spring (although probably toning it down a bit!)

i can't even fully articulate what about this collection has got me so gaga - it's so overwhelmingly pleasing that i'm pretty much speechless. it's just pretty much a perfect mixture of all the color, texture & imagery i love in life wrapped up & tied with gorgeous beaded bows & feather pom poms... *swoon*!

really, i can't say it enough - this collection kills me dead.

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆