DIY ROPE NECKLACE and more...

Sometimes I see editorials that fill me such DIY inspiration I feel like I should just quit my job and take up crafting full time. Or become a stylist - one with very limited actual styling abilities but plenty of skill with a couple of balls of neon string. The neon/tribal/beach theme in this shoot had me literally drooling, with the DIY inspiration details a giant cherry on top.

I have a majorly creative weekend planned, and this shoot has inspired me to:

- craft some simple rope necklaces

- make that blanket cape I keep banging on about

- make a skirt out of some mexican fabric

- craft a colourful feather collar

Phew. Lots of work ahead clearly. Happy Friday guys! Have you got any projects planned?

Images: Cosmopolitan Australia December 2011 via Oracle Fox (thanks to these ladies for the tip on this editorial. You guys were right, it's completely up my alley).

DIY INSPIRATION - NEON ROPE BELT

I recently had the pleasure of attending the British Fashion Council's pop up showrooms in Hong Kong where they had S/S12 pieces from amazing British designers like Mary Katrantzou and  Roksanda Ilincic. DIY inspiration abounded! This amazing neon rope belt by Roksanda Ilincic was a particular inspiration - a big coil of rope covered in a tube of neon lycra and tied in a sailors knot. Amaze!

Very happy to see that brights and florals featuring heavily in S/S12. No need to cull my wardrobe just yet!

bottom image: here

DIY ON THE RUNWAY - PRABAL GURUNG SS12

Practically dripping with DIY inspiration. Amazing rope necklines, graphic shaped cut outs, violet dip dye, net skirts and corset body belts were all over the SS12 RWT Prabal Garung runway. Now, what am I going to make first?

Backstage images are so much more satisfying to me than the traditional runway images, don't you think? Images via Garbage Dress

DIY In Colour

This is such an amazing shoot by the gorgeous Zanita and friends. Every single picture has me drooling, and the mix of grey and pops of colour is perfection. What especially caught my eye was the gorgeous perspex and rope jewellery and belts. So. Cool. The jewellery is by Alexandra Blak - I have to thank Zanita for introducing me to this amazing designer! You know what I love most about this post? The eye for DIY detail is impressive - often stylists make the best DIYers!

Loving this top made out of two pieces of fabric.

Amazing neon chain (spray paint your own) and a DIY one shoulder top from made out of jersey fabric.

Knotted rope necklace. Amazing!

Neon tipped sunglasses - pick up a similar style from ebay and add your own neon tips using paint.

Neon rope + carabiner = coolest belt ever!

Images: Zanita Zanita

Can you count the number of times I used the word 'amazing' in this post? Clearly need to find a few more descriptive words....

DIY Rope Belt

Use rope to belt some high waisted pants.

Image: Knock You For Six

DIY LBD #2 - Gucci Inspired Tassel & Rope Dress

A couple of days ago I posted a few inspiration images for the second in the DIY Little Black Dress series (see here). I fell in love with the black tasseled dresses at the Gucci SS11 show, and so this is my LBD inspired by those oh-so-glamourous styles. I went for a much more subtle style than the original inspiration as you can see.

DIY

There are two parts to this DIY - the making of the basic capsule of the dress, then the addition of rope and tassels. You'll need a big thrifted black dress and some rope and tassels.

For the Capsule
1. I turned the sack dress inside out, and overlayed a bodycon dress to get the correct shape - then I pinned it where I wanted to take it in.

2. I cut the sleeves off and the hem of the dress quite short.

3. I took the dress in using the sewing machine and also sewed up the hem.

4. I cut the neckline off completely so I had a tube top style with a kind of cut off triangle neckline. Below is the finished capsule of the dress.

I then pinned and hand sewed 40 tassels on each side of the dress, layering them up for a block effect.

I hot glued two strips of rope together and then sewed them onto the neckline - attaching at the back as straps.

Volia!

I must say that this was quite an involved DIY and took me a little bit of time - you could always add tassels and rope straps to a black tube dress or singlet for a more simple project.

(try not to laugh too hard at my lame pose in these pics - these were the only photos of like 10 that were taken that were passable).

Happy DIYing!