Dangle, Dangle! Hand-stiched earrings...

I hope you all are having a good week! Sometimes over the weekends I need to take a break from my larger sewing projects. When you do it all, the design + construction, it can sometimes drain my creativity. My fingers rarely remain idle though, and this past weekend I stumble onto some tinier projects. 

Earrings! Denim, leather, velvet, silk...beautiful remnants that took on a beautiful transformation! I love a bold earring, but they can often really stretch and strain your earlobes. I love the idea of these fabric earrings; a super bold look, without killing your ears! Plus, I never let really awesome fabric go to waste. 

Shop these and other one of a kind items in the ErinElsie shop!

Have an awesome rest of your week, friends! Stay tuned fore more updates and blog posts. Thanks for taking the time to catch up with me,

xo,

     Erin 

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Live in Color: Sharing a few bits from my inspiration board...

Greetings!

I hope you are all having a good week. I'm in the midst of some freelance work by day and my own work on an ErinElsie collection by night. Getting inspired is always a great stress reliever for me so thought I'd pass along the gesture by sharing some of my most favorite bits of  recent inspiration. 

Above, some bathing suit designs by the artist, Sonia Delaunay circa 1920s.

Image found here: stylesight.com 

Sonia Delaunay was a painter, illustrator, textile designer, and clothing designer who was a pioneer of abstract art beginning in the 1920s. In 1964 she became the only woman to have had an exhibition at the Louvre Museum in her own lifetime. Learn more about this artist here: britannica/Sonia-Delaunay

Two models in Sonia Delaunay beachwear, 1927. I gravitated towards this image right away and love that these outfits could indeed look great in black and white or as colorful prints. 

Images courtesy of blog.stylesight.com

How fun are all these pieces on the below vintage pattern? I'm still loving the trend of 2 piece sets and crop tops. There were so many fun takes on it in the late 50s and early 60s.  

Image found here: pinterest

I love sifting through old advertisements. Sometimes they can feel so dated and sometimes they can feel surprisingly modern. This ad below was for beach towels and I love love the prints and the idea that you could mix these patterns in a look. 

...and in the studio

I'm working on a few beach-y carryall bags. If perhaps you're intimidated by putting bold prints in your wardrobe, then try incorporating them with accessories. 

I'm also loving how this array of kimono-style tops is turning out! I'm trying to get this all out in the next couple of weeks.  

Alright, and now time for that glass of wine...I hope your week is going well, and if not - hang in there, the weekend will be here shortly!  Many thanks for taking the time to read along.  

Cheers friends,
 Erin 
http://www.erinelsie.com 
Follow me on Instagram: ErinBlank_Designer 

An infectiously happy print , my quick Saturday morning project.

 This past Saturday morning I was able to sleep in, rejuvenate, and unplug from the world a bit. I spent some time with my much neglected pile of "personal projects." These are projects that I set aside with good intention to at some point make for myself. At the top of my pile was this dated (and dated in a bad way) 80's dress with shoulder pads that I picked up inexpensively at a thrift store. I was drawn to it for it's beautifully bold print, and the soft ease of the fabric. In the warm summer months, I go for easy and comfy pieces, swathed in summery bright prints. 

The original piece

My quick idea to upcycle this particular dress was inspired by this Instagram photo of Karlie Kloss in this piece from the Reformation, http://thereformation.com/. It can be a little intimidating to cover your body in a bold print, so I love how this print is being broken into 2 pieces with just a little peek of skin. 

@Reformation

I also love that "crop tops" have emerged in a major way this year, but in a classy way - much like those of the 60's and 70's. Below is a vintage 60's pattern image I've been loving as inspiration for some of my summer pieces. Courtesy of Pinterest 

The Project

Step 1. Cut the dress into it's 2 parts. The dress had button closures all down the back, making it work especially well for turning it into 2 pieces. 

Step 2. Remove the shoulder pads. I wanted this top to be soft and simple for hot summer weather and the shoulder pads needed to go! 

Step 3. Refinish the top of the skirt and the bottom of the top by adding a hem stitch. I also gathered the front in the center a little to add some shape to it. This helped achieve the proportion I wanted.    

I think crop tops and bold prints are all about proportion and you should find the one that works best for your body. For this look, the higher waist of the skirt looks better on me. Also, if I'm showing a little tummy, I look to keep the rest of the top more covered. 

 

This was such a quick and easy project that even you basic seamstresses and seamsters out there can do. Not a bad look for an inexpensive thrift store find and a Saturday morning! 

I think there's something infectious about a beautiful bold print! As I took my new 2 piece look out for a spin on Saturday afternoon - it was warmly received with smiles and compliments. It is a simple thing, but your clothes should make you happy and feel comfortable in your own skin! I like to live in color :)

Also, a shout out to my awesome Dad. I wish I could have celebrated Father's day with him. He really sets a standard of what a loving and supportive dad should be and I feel like a lucky gal to have him in my life. 

I hope your week is off to a great start. Many thanks for following reading along! 

Happy Monday!
xo
 Erin 
http://www.erinelsie.com 
Follow me on Instagram: ErinBlank_Designer

Remnants, Repurposed into Accessories

Remnants,  Repurposed into accessories

As most of my fabrics are special, often vintage, and in small supply, it really hurts me to throw anything away- even the scraps. If they are lying around my workspace long enough, they often speak to me. I'll look at a little scrap and suddenly see the earrings that they can become. Once I have that visual in my mind, I usually start to work on it right away as I'm generally too impatient to sketch. They are often the perfect little distracting projects to work on while I need to step away from larger, more involved ones.

These pieced leather and lace earrings have such amazing color and are super lightweight, perhaps my favorite characteristic of fabric earrings. They won't take a tole on your earlobes. 

brilliant-green-leather-and-lace

I always have earring in progress around the workspace, when I need a peaceful hand-sewing project. 

These are the only pieces I have left of this fabric and the print so perfectly worked as a pair. 

A bold statement and also so lightweight and easy to wear. 

purple-print-fabric-and-leather earrings

I always keep inspiration around and I've been wanting to experiment with fringe...

 These leftover sweater parts were so fun and colorful and just spoke "statement necklace" to me. I'm glad I finally was able to use them. They are remnants from a hand-stitched sweater project- you can check out here  angora-mix-media-boho-sweater

angora-and-leather-statement-necklace

It's inspiring to me when I can envision the beauty in something that someone else might otherwise discard.  Hope you can find the beauty in your everyday!

Be Well!
xo,
 Erin 
http://www.erinelsie.com 
Follow me on Instagram: ErinBlank_Designer

Here comes the sun...

Greetings Friends!

I know it's been a very long time since I've blogged, but I promise I have been a busy bee! Success doesn't happen over night, but I've also learned to revel in this journey and celebrate small successes along the way. There's a lot in store for ErinElsie in this next year- a few promotional collaborations, I'm working to offer size ranges in some small collections, and much more -  so stay tuned!

 I can't believe it's already March 1st. Although it's still very much winter here in New York (35 degrees right now), it's spring in my mind. I'm digging out all my beautifully bright fabric - mostly an array of florals. I diverged a little in fall/winter, but bold color and unique prints are the most inspiring to me and at the heart of what I do - and they make me happy! Tops, dresses, skirts and some oversized clutches are coming soon :)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/181029614/one-shoulder-floral-waterfall-gown?ref=shop_home_feat_3

https://www.etsy.com/listing/178454101/floral-art-clutch-taupe-orange?ref=shop_home_feat_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177056059/hawaii-high-waisted-maxi-skirt?ref=shop_home_active_2

Thanks for taking a little time out with me and have a lovely weekend and week ahead!

Cheers,
 -Erin
http://www.erinelsie.com

Follow me on Instagram: erin_e_blank
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