Bahia Dress

 A week from tomorrow, I'm going to be on a plane to the beautiful coastal city of Salvador, Bahia. I'm going with a theater company to study Brazil-African culture for two weeks! If you've never heard of Salvador before, go here and check out all amazing photos and videos. We're going to be singing, dancing, eating, celebrating, attending festivals, watching capoeira, meeting artists, and, of course, spending time on the beaches.

Needless to say, I'm beyond excited.

So, in anticipation for my trip, I made myself a dress! I call it the Bahia Dress. I fell in love with the fabric, especially after seeing all the pictures of the colorful city I'll be staying in. It's a bold print, with simple spaghetti straps and an elastic waist; summer-y, but not too casual, and it could be dressed up if I wanted! I made it about six different times, cutting up the same fabric and putting it back together until I was fully satisfied. 

I also found those shoes at Old Navy for $2.47, which was a total steal! I'm not really a "heels girl" but I couldn't pass them up for that price.

I'm debating how to finish the back of the dress. Originally, it was just a halter, but then I pinned the straps straight. Now I'm thinking I might cross them, for some added support. Who knows! This dress has been through nip-tuck enough times that another little fix wouldn't matter.

I just love how flow-y and comfortable it is! Perfect for Brazil weather, with a high of 82. And what a nice change from the 95 degree weather we've had all summer!

Anthro-inspired Bobby Pins

Anthropologie has these adorable bobby pins out right now called the Sparkling Fete Bobbies. They're cute, but for $24, I (and many other bloggers out there) was convinced I could make my own for a fraction of the price!


There isn't much involved in this tutorial, because it's mostly about being creative! Overall, the project took me about 20 minutes, and cost me close to nothing!

You will need:

• Jewelry glue or E-6000
• An assortment of cheap* earrings, buttons, beads, etc.
• Bobbie Pins with a bevel or flat end (I got a $2 package of ten at Hobby Lobby)
• Pliers and wire cutters

*I say cheap jewelry for a reason. Cheap earrings tend to be very light weight, which means less pull on your hair, which means the pins will hold better.

Assemble your materials! 

Use the wire cutters to remove the stems of the earrings.

I used my wire cutters to flatten and bend a long crimping bead to fit inside the bevel.

Using the anthro photos as inspiration, begin to arrange and glue your pieces together! Let them dry completely before touching or wearing.

TADA!

Wear your Anthropologie-inspired bobbies with pride!

Part of being an actress and a student is that I can't (won't) spend a fortune on my clothes. As much as I love anthropologie's easy, hippy styles, I don't like the 3-digit price tags.

$598? It has no reviews because no one can afford it.

From time to time, I peruse anthropologie's website in search of outfits that could be recreated at a fraction of the price. The other day, I came across this:

and I fell in love. From the easy shift, to the sun hat, to the lettuce, it just screams early August. So, I picked up some Twisted Cotton Twine from Lowes ($2.98 for 420 ft), some sale fabric from Hancock (around $11 for 1 3/4 yard), and I'm off! I'll post the materials and the progress tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have the full outfit done by the time the month is out!

O brave new blogging...

I've got this thing against blogging. I'm not entirely sure why, but I've always avoided creating a blog of any sort, like I avoid the plague or unloading the dishwasher. But, after my  Mom kept pleading with me to start a craft blog, I've given in. 

I'm an actress, a knitter, a fairly lazy chef, and a beginner sewer. I've got a love for the theatre, the outdoors, and any crafts that I think I can manage. I love making things-- clothes, decorations, gifts, you name it!-- but, more than that, I love making new fashions from recycled stuff. One man's trash, right?

This blog will be a place for me to post all my creations, and a place where I can hopefully inspire others to create as well!