Of Pinks and Fairy Tales: Anthro-Inspired

Showing posts with label Anthro-Inspired. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Brook&Lyn-Inspired: Surrounded Necklace

I would like to say this is Anthro-Inspired... since more of you are familiar with Anthropologie and can relate to the concept. But the truth is, I got the inspiration for this first from Donatella of Inspiration & Realization. Have you been to her blog? You really should visit... I'm in love with everything she made!

I saw her tutorial for this necklace.

Agate slice crochet jewelry. Click link for Donatella's tutorial.

These are inspired from Brook&Lyn's pieces from the 'Surrounded' collection. Then last week, while surfing for some inspiration, I saw that Brook&Lyn pieces are now being carried by Anthropologie.

Brook&Lyn necklaces on Anthropologie.

I love the necklaces! However, I don't have agate slices, nor do I know where to get them here. And I don't know how to crochet... I tried to learn when I was younger and my sister is really good at it... I am not. I might try again in the future, but for now, I will improvise.

I have these pendants in my stash and was initially planning to use them:

Bits and pieces of shell set in resin.

I got them for around $1 each, I think, from Quiapo, Manila back in 2007. I couldn't decide which one to use because I only had enough rope for one necklace. While rummaging in my supplies drawer, I found this:

It's a white child-sized glass bangle I also got back in 2007. Since it's small, I've been using it as a pendant for another necklace I made a long time ago. I thought the technique will work well with this too and decided to use this instead and got to work.

I used a glue gun to attach my rope around the bangle. And then, since I can't crochet, I decided to line the area between the bangle and the rope with some rope chain.

Attach the locks and ta-dah, done!

I love the simplicity of this. I think I want to make more using my other pendants. I'm buying more rope this week and get to work on the others. I think this technique can be used with any flat pendant you may have.

By the way, don't forget to check back again tomorrow for my first Creating Success Around the World interview! I will be having one very talented lady as a guest.

See you tomorrow! :)

I am linking up to the following link parties:

Monday, June 6, 2011

Turquoise Love

Hello again! After my 2-week hiatus, I finally had time to finish a couple of projects which I will be sharing with you this week. But before that... I want to share this...

It's been a long time since I did my nails. But last week, I found a bottle of nail polish in pretty turquoise at a bazaar and I liked it so much I decided to shirk a few chores last weekend to find time to do my nails. I did my toe nails too.

Uhm... Please don't look too closely... I did this myself so it's not perfect ;)

The color goes so well with these turquoise earrings which I got for only P20 (less than $0.50).

And the Anthro-Inspired Trimmed Necklace that I made a few months ago.

And since I'm loving turquoise today... here's a preview of another bird's nest necklace I made with 3 turquoise eggs for a friend.

I hope you all had a great weekend! I'll be sharing one of my new projects with you tomorrow!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Anthro-Inspired Interchangeable Voluminous Scarf

It's been a while since I last checked Anthropologie's website. When I was browsing last week, I saw that they have a lot of new stuff.

I love this:

I don't usually wear scarves, but this one is interesting so I give you:

Mine was a little short because the scarf I used was a little short. And I made mine interchangeable... you can remove the beads and replace it with another necklace. Let me show you how.

For this project, I used:

A scarf (mine measured 60 inches by 20 inches... preferrably use a longer scarf)
4 jump rings
2 clasps
beads
2 large jump rings or 2 chains, 1.5 inches long.
jewelry pliers
jewelry wire

(Please ignore the cord in the photo... I didn't get to use it).

Step 1: On one end of your scarf, take both sections near the corners and tie into a double knot.

Step 2: Take both corners over the knot until you have something like a small ball at the end of the scarf. Then gather the edges of the scarf and secure tightly with the large jump ring. If you don't have a large jump ring use the chains... wrap it tightly around the edge. Open one chain link and attach to the other end before closing to secure.

You should have something like this.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the other end of the scarf.

Step 4: On one end of the scarf, attach a small jump ring to the large jump ring/chain.

Step 5: On the end, attach a small jump ring and a clasp.

Step 6: If you already have a multi-strand bead necklace, you can attach it to your scarf and you are done. Since I don't have one that matches the scarf, I made strung 2 strands of beads and attached jump rings and clasps on both ends.

I made one just a little bit longer than the other one by attaching an extra jump ring at the end.

Step 7: Style! I will admit that I had difficulty trying to get the scarf to look right because as I mentioned, I am not used to wearing scarves so I had no idea what I was doing.

I had to work last Saturday because 2 (not just one... TWO!) of my projects at work... both of which I had been working on for a year... went live! So I came in at the office in the morning, and stayed until around 11PM in the evening. Anyway, I wore my new scarf to work and look what we had for lunch:

Me wearing my scarf and posing beside our 36-inch pizza ;)

There were 12 different flavors of pizza in that one big one! And we actually had 2 of these giant pizzas. And in case you're wondering... no, we didn't finish the pizzas. And I think I will not be eating pizza again for a while.

I am linking up to the following link parties:

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Guest Posting at My Crafty Condition with Anthro-Inspired Earrings: Memory Keeper Drops

I'm guest posting today over at My Crafty Condition with another project inspired by Anthropologie.

Memory Keeper Drops Earrings

A closer look at the earrings:

If you want to make these earrings, head on over to Kalen's at My Crafty Condition for the tutorial.

Click here to go to the tutorial.

While you're there, make sure to check out Kalen's other projects. She has great wall art ideas like this Microsoft-inspired wall art:

Before I end my post... let me just share that it's so hot here. Like really, really humid hot :-/ Like I said... Summer is here!!

I am linking up to the following link parties:

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Guest Posting at That Girl with another Anthro-Inspired Necklace

I was invited to guest post over at Melissa's blog:

This is my first guest post so I'm really excited about it. For my guest post, I prepared a tutorial for this necklace:

Left: Anthropologie's Serengeti Beats Necklace, $58. Right: My version of the necklace

If you want to make one and save $58, head on over to That Girl to check out my tutorial.

Click here to see the tutorial.

Linking up to the following parties:

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Anthro-Inspired Earrings: Swooping Loops

I think I'm doing too many Anthro-inspired posts... and too many jewelry. I would love to get back into sewing projects (I actually have one in the works... and it has been in the works for 3 weeks already) or get on with my plan to redecorate our house, but right now, I simply don't have much time. It's a really busy time at work (and will be until May or early part of June, I think) and Andrea's been sick with alternating cold, cough and allergy for a few weeks already (which means I don't even get to sleep much). Making jewelry/accessories doesn't take up most of my time so I can usually squeeze those in... plus I have demanding customers: my mom and my sister. Haha!

Last Sunday night, I received an SMS message from my sister along the lines of: "Do you have purple earrings? I broke the one you gave me before. Can you make me purple earrings? You can send it to me tomorrow, thanks Ate! :)" (Ate is a term used to refer to 'older sister' or any older female).

She was really assuming I have something ready *sigh*...

Good thing I had something simple lined up on my to-do list. I saw these earrings from Anthropologie:

Swooping Loops Earrings, $48

Here is mine:

Using tan cord and silver findings

These are very easy to make, 15 minutes max and most of that time was spent waiting for the glue to dry.

You will need:
- 2 pieces of cord, each piece 6 inches long
- earring posts
- those silver cap things again to cap the end of the cord
- glue

Step 1: Using your 6-inch cord, make a bow. You won't really need all 6-inches. I just find it easier to tie the bow if my cord is a little long.

Step 2: Adjust your bow to the size you feel comfortable with and cut off the excess cord.

Step 3: Put a little glue inside the silver caps and insert one end of the bow. Do the same for the other side.

Step 4: Glue the bow to the earring posts. Make sure the bow is securely attached to the posts... remember, you will be pulling these earrings off and if the bow is not attached properly, it might come off when you take the earrings off.

If you are using clear glue, dab a little in the middle of your bow too to keep it from getting undone.

Step 5: Wait for the glue to dry completely.

And you have your earrings :)

This is the one I made for my sister:

Using white cord, purple pearl drops, and silver findings

The earring posts I used have a loop (you can see them peeking from under the bows on the one I made for me) so I was able to attach a thin chain. Then I added a pearl bead at the bottom of the chain. And then I asked my husband to drop it off at my mom's house for my sister on his way to work. Order (no payment required though of course, haha) delivered!

Total cost of materials? Pro-rated (i.e. computing the cost only of the portion/pieces of the items actually used) I am estimating, around P10... which translates to around $0.25.

I linked up to the following link parties:

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Another Anthro-Inspired Necklace - Unbreakable Bonding

I find myself browsing Anthropologie's site more often lately. They have a lot of nice things but it just amazes me sometimes how they price things.

Take this one for example:

Anthropologie - Unbreakable Bonding Necklace, $148

It caught my eye because I have beads like that... in different colors. One pack/string cost only around... hmmm... $2? I made them into necklaces for me back in summer of 2008.

Anyway, here's one of my bead necklaces:

You can wear it with the ribbon tied in front or at the back. I made this design in different colors. Here's the white one:

I also have this in deep green and pink... same design. So to shake things up a bit, I decided to make the yellow one into my version of Anthropologie's Unbreakable Bonding Necklace:

Ta-dah! Janelle's Seriously Unbreakable Bonding ;) See bottom of this post to see why I say 'Seriously'

I only had enough beads for half of the necklace so I added a chunky chain for the other half. Total length of the necklace is 22 inches.

Want to make one? I prepared a tutorial :)

You will need:

Resin beads... these are about 0.75 inches in diameter each.
Glue (I used Mighty Bond, the kind that dries fast)
Thin chain that can go through your beads.
Jump rings
Clasp (I used oyster clasp)
Hmmm... I don't know what these are called... caps? See the picture below to see what I mean:

Silver metal cap thingeys and the chain I used

Step 1: Cut your chain into 3 pieces. If you want your necklace to be 22 inches, your chains need to be around 30 inches each (if you have enough beads to make the entire necklace). Since I only had enough beads for half of the necklace, my chains were only around 20 inches each.

Step 2: Put a small amount of glue inside one of those silver cap thingeys and insert one end of your 3 chains.

Wait for the glue to dry before proceeding to Step 3.

Step 3. Start braiding. I made a couple of braids without the beads first before I added the beads. Quick braiding how to:
- you have 3 chains: the leftmost, the center, and the rightmost;
- insert your bead on the leftmost chain, and then cross the leftmost chain over the center chain;
- insert one bead on the rightmost chain, and then cross the rightmost chain over the chain to it's left;

- repeat the last 2 instructions over and over again... making sure that the chains cross below the beads. See picture below:

See? The chains cross below the beads.

Step 4. When all your beads are braided, make a couple of braids with the chain without beads. Make sure that there isn't too much slack in the chains. The braided chains with beads twists and turns and the braid can become undone or messed up if there is slack in the chains. After you are sure that there is no slack on the chains, cut off the excess chain and hold this end with your fingers. Don't let go!

It took several tries for me to get this right because the braids kept getting undone.

Step 5: With your other remaining free hand, put a small amount of glue on that other silver cap thingey. Then insert the chains you are holding in your other hand to the cap and wait for the glue to dry.

And... No, you are not done yet :)

See I read the reviews on this necklace on the Anthropologie site and one customer said:

After braiding and securing both ends of my chains... I can totally see how that can happen, even if there is no slack to your chains... the beads will still move. I thought about it and tried to glue the first 2 beads on each end to each other.

Then do the same for the other side. I also made sure that the chain between them is also glued between the 2 beads.

After that... I closed my eyes and shook the entire thing. When I opened my eyes, I saw that the beads stayed in place! I tried to drop it and shook it some more. The beads still stayed in place! I did say this was 'Seriously Unbreakable' :)

Step 7. Add your jump rings, extra chain (for me since I only had half the necklace), and clasp.

And this time... you are done!

I really love this color :)

And this morning, we had to take our pretty princess to the doctor for a check up for her cough and colds.

I'm wearing my necklace, and we are using our matching bags! :)

I linked up at the following parties!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Anthro-Inspired Bag: Ile Saint-Louis Bag

I saw tutorials for a knock-off of this bag from Anthropologie floating around some link parties last week:

Anthropologie - Knotted Tag-along Tote, $498 (Renamed by Anthro as the Ile Saint-Louis Bag with the reduced price of $288 ;)

The Little Appleseed posted a tutorial and a pattern at Someday Crafts! I checked it out and it looks easy enough to follow (except for the bias tape part... I have never tried using one before) so I decided that this will be my first attempt at making a bag.

After spending all my free time over the weekend...

... Mommy-and-daughter matching bags! After looking at the photos this morning, I only noticed that the folds along the sides are not as noticeable in the bags I made. I only made a couple of folds on each side and they were completely covered by the bow, but trust me... they're there! Also I couldn't find checked fabric in the fabric store at the mall so I had to use one with small beige stripes.

I mentioned that this is my first time to use bias tape...

Yes!!! I did it!!!

I didn't have time to make my own, though I saw a tutorial by Dana over at Made on how to go about making them. Maybe next time. The tutorial she posted on how to sew bias helped a lot though! And I did it the proper way, not the cheating way!!

I used soft cotton material for the bow so it was flopping around a little. I stabilize it, I sewed along the sides of the center:

I think the bag could use a zipper... but that's another thing I have never tried before. I think I will though, because I really want to have a zipped opening for this bag. But for now... my first attempt at making a bag and my first time to use bias tape! I think I learned a lot last weekend :)

Before I end this post, you gals might be wondering what my 1-year-old toddler needs a bag for. Well, every girl needs a place to put her 'essentials':

...you know, phone, keys and 'lipstick'.

I wasn't able to take pictures of us using these yet because I only finished last night (Sunday night my time). I meant it when I said this project took 'all my free time last weekend'. Andrea had no idea what it was when I first handed it to her... but when she saw I was carrying one just like it, her face lit up. She loves rummaging through my bag and I think she will love having one for her own to rummage through.

I hope you all had a productive weekend like I did. (In spite of the very sad news about Japan. Let's all keep praying for them).

Updated 3/17/2011:
We took Andrea to the doctor for a check up this morning and we used our bags!

Updated 04/04/2011:
I was browsing the Anthropologie site and I noticed that this bag is available again... but they are now calling it a different name: Ile Saint-Louis Bag. And they reduced the price, they are now selling it for $288. They have another bag they are now calling the Knotted Tag-along Tote.

I linked up this project to the following link parties:

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Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Monday, June 6, 2011

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Monday, March 14, 2011