Website designer Linda Woods, who created my blog and taught me to use it, challenged me to refashion some worn-but-still-loved shirts into new items.
I made three into pillows, but couldn’t complete the project without making at least one handbag. Here are the before and after pics.
If you need a custom web designer or social network marketer, Linda can be reached at: lindawoods1@bellsouth.net.
Tags: "jeweled shirts", "shirts become pillows", Custom Bags, custom web designer, ReFashion, social network marketer
My dear friend Tahra showed me this beautiful piece of Egyptian print fabric, and I guess she saw me drool, because she gave the fabric to me. I made it into a skirt for my mom, and lucky for me, she didn’t care for it, and gave it back to me.
I made it into a purse for myself, which I am carrying this winter. I love the navy, teal, and gold with just a touch of tan and red.
The icing is a flattened “evil eye” glass bead. My friend Carrie (who writes a highly entertaining blog, “bilingual in the boonies”) brought it to me from Greece. The bead is a perfect complement to the fabric, and I attached it to the top as a closure device. I just flip it over to open and close the bag.
Thanks to two friends, I have a one-of-a-kind purse. And really, shouldn’t sumo have an uno by sumo?
p.s. Check out “bilingual in the boonies”, even if, like me, you know nada espanol.
p.p.s. Did I mention that Tahra is a TV star? She is the star of TahraTime, which is syndicated on many PBS stations. How cool is that?
double-click on image to enlarge
Tags: cotton, custom purse, Egyptian print bag, handbag, one of a kind, OOAK, purse, unique, uno by sumo
bridesmaids threaten to throw down
When my sister got married 35 years ago (yikes!), these were the bridesmaids’ dresses we wore. I recently found my skirt in my mom’s attic, and thought it would be cool to make Sis a purse from the floral skirt fabric.
I used a tip from Mary Mulari, Queen of ReFashion, to make a handle that can be carried short and doubled, or long for a shoulder strap. I made belt loops and used scrumptious yarns to tie around the bag. Inside, the usual: zipper pocket, key fob, and big deep pockets.
When I proudly presented the purse to my sister, she didn’t recognize the fabric. Well, it has been 35 years. Yikes!
Kika is beautiful, exotic, and sophisticated, and I hope that this uno by sumo purse is perfect for her.
The shell is made of black & white cotton toile with black dupioni silk, bonded to cotton canvas. The front features a removable drop of black and red beads.
The lining is black & white poly/cotton gingham, with a key fob, zippered pocket, and three large deep pockets.
Dimensions are 13 x 4 x 10.5 inches.
Kika, your new purse is on its way!
a peek inside
Tags: cotton, Custom Bags, purse, silk, toille, uno by sumo
These handbags are basically the same, except for the fabric and trim. Each is one of a kind, because I won’t make another bag of the same type in the same fabric choice.
I call them uno by sumo, which is the guarantee that nobody else will be carrying your bag.
Each bag features a print fabric bonded to canvas for strength and durability. I like to use silk for a contrast trim, but sometimes use another coordinating fabric, as in the bamboo bag on the left.
The inside has a keyfob, a zippered pocket, and three large deep pockets whick keep small items from disappearing into the bottom of the bag.
Dimensions are 11 x 13 x 3.5 inches, perfect for carrying one cat or two small kittens.
Mimi at rest
Don’t let this sweet face fool you; Mimi is a tiger inside. She stalks, she crouches, she hides.
Someone gave me a cute but very large scrub top in a cat print. Since I already have no less than six cat print tops to wear, I chose to make this one into a pet bed. Mimi says that it fits just fine.
Tags: cat bed, cat furniture, pet bed, ReFashion
Below is a bag I made for our former lab manager Kim the Fish Lady. Kim was all about fish. Fish bowls, fish stickers, and colorful little plastic fish, which she gave as rewards for good customer service. I earned a few myself, and made some into earrings.
Kim eventually moved to a bigger pond. Saddened to see her go, we determined to give her the best send-off ever. We gave lots of fish gifts, and I made this fish tote for her. The outside was canvas with fish images, and the lining and matching mini-purse were made from a cool Laurel Burch fish print fabric.
I covered a board with batting, more cute fish fabric, and iridescent ribbon to make a memory board. I hope Kim is happy in her new job, and I hope her memory board is covered with happy pictures.
This is a huge tote I made from fabric that was given to me by a sweet little girl named Jenny. I wonder what ever happened to her. (Jenny, if you read this, we all miss you.)
My friend and co-worker Karen (the Work Goddess) mentioned that she uses her own bags at the grocery store (yay, Karen!), and needed another big sturdy bag.
She really liked this one, so now it goes with her when she shops.
A sundress in the thrift store called out to me: “Hey, sumo, got three dollars?” To make a lovely summer tote, of course I did.
I didn’t think to make a “before” picture, so I have recreated it (left) to the best of my artistic abilities.
I did take a picture of the finished bag (below). Very handy indeed.
My long, long-time friend Marty Anne asked me to make a bag for her. In her soft southern drawl, she only specified “something simple, with feathers.”
Here is a picture of Marty’s bag. I put some feathers on it, along with some beads and an arrowhead that I made out of polymer clay.
Inside it has pockets, zipper, and keyfob. Marty Anne may like simple, but I like details.
Tags: design, feathers, purse, something simple, unique bag