ErinElsie: Vintage Fabric

Showing posts with label Vintage Fabric. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

For the love of Fabric!

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On this Valentine's Day, an ode to one of my greatest loves, beautiful and unique fabric!

And then I saw it - peaking out of a rack at a thrift store - this gorgeous, unique chunk of fabric. It was love at first site, a dress from the 70's I surmised. There was this beautiful, crinkled, watercolor fabric with so much potential! The existing dress was quite sad and falling apart at the seams. I had visions of possibilities in my head...!

I love working with denim, and I felt like it would be a fun way to make this piece more wearable and season-less. I envisioned someone wearing this piece as a wrap dress, a casually glamorous swimsuit coverup, or over shorts or jeans etc.

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I draped, and draped and draped...

Sewed, sewed, hand-sewed and hand-sewed....

I often get attached to the pieces I create and this one was no exception. I sold it as I am typing this post and so guess it is time to let it go to it's new home in Dallas, TX! The love story carries on...

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This piece is a little bold, but reminds me how we often get intimidated by clothes or just getting dressed, and we shouldn't be! Try rocking some bold colors and/or little glamour in an unexpected way!

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And as I cannot bear to waste beautiful fabrics, I handmade these pretty earrings out of the remaining remnants :)

shop

Happy Valentine's Day Friends, if and however your celebrate - cheers!

xo,

Erin

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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

A Farewell to Fall (with an Upcycled, Vintage Tablecloth, Wrap Dress Project!)

A Farewell to Fall 🍁🍂

(with an Upcycled, Vintage Tablecloth, Wrap Dress Project!)

Of course I would make a dress out of a vintage table cloth...

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving everyone. As the holiday season is here, I thought it only appropriate to share this farewell to fall, upcycling project with you!

I originally picked up this fall-feeling, oversized tablecloth while on a thrifting adventure with my mom in my Louisiana hometown. Pictured above with some of the other fun items from that thrifting trip, you'll hear more about the other fabrics from that trip in spring/summer!

It was huge and covered in a cornucopia of fall foliage. I immediately knew I wanted to create a whimsical dress out of it!

I'm really excited about how it came out! It's a super easy to wear, generously sized wrap dress. While the print is super fall feeling, I think the heavy dose of green would also make this dress beautiful in the spring! The sleeves have a little bit of drama, and are trimmed in recycled denim, along with the neckline. I also tried to use a lot of the original green trim from the table cloth.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/495708307/farewell-to-fall-maxi-wrap-dress?ref=shop_home_active_1

The back has a gathered detail with a generous amount of fabric. It drapes so beautifully.

Also, change the dress up by wearing it as a statement making kimono.

Shop this dress

As our harvest season comes to a close, for most, the holiday season is full on. If you're going to be gift shopping, please try to patron makers via online shopping sites like Etsy, your local shops, or hand-make a gift!

Happy December Everyone! Thank you for stopping by,

xo,

Erin

Also, save 25% Off on all ErinElsie items, like this dress with the offer code KindnessAlways25. Lots of great, one of a kind gift items popping up in my online shop everyday!

Click here to shop ErinElsie!

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Monday, November 9, 2015

Pouch Perfect! Something Old, Something New...

Greetings! I can't believe it's already November. Freelance projects have kept me super busy, so I am so excited to be back in the home studio making things again! In my busy-ness, I feel like I am always in need of little ways to help organize my daily life. My handbags, backpacks, styling supplies, and sewing supplies tend to get out of control over time and I can't find anything I need. With that inspiration and my desire to put some great fabric remnants to good use, came these little zipper pouches!

I can't ever let good fabric go to waste. Each piece has a story - whether it was the way it was found or the story by which a person gave it to me and I love that. Because I have fabrics in such small and limited amounts, I want to use every last bit of them. In addition to interesting prints and colors, I really love working with denim. It's not unusual for friends to drop off their old jeans to add to my fabric supply :) If any fabric was made to last and be reincarnated into a new item - it's denim.

And how about these great brass zippers?

This floral cotton fabric was give to me by an old neighbor in my hometown. For a long time, she worked at a fabric store and she is starting to giveaway all her fabrics and notions. The quality and assortment of her fabrics are so lovely I'm so glad that she thought of me. I decided to use some of this fabric as a lining - I always want the items I make to be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.

The result? Sweet little somethings to hold your sweet little somethings, or just all those little things that get lost in your giant handbag!

Shop Pouches

Pleated Plaid Pouch

2-Toned Denim Pouch

Seamed Light Denim Pouch

Light Denim Pouch

Blue Florals Zipper Pouch

Get more detailed info and shop all of these pouches in my ErinElsie Etsy Shop by clicking here!

Treat yourself, or give one as a sweet gift with a story that goes much beyond the design!

Okay, back to work for me. I have a few ambitious projects I'm trying to get done! Please stay tuned and hope you are having a lovely Monday!
xo,

Erin

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Monday, August 3, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up- A Few Good Things + a Box of Inspiration

Weekend Wrap Up! A few good things...

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I've got mail!

On one of my last trips home to Louisiana, I visited with one of my parents' neighbors who decided to get rid of most of her sewing supplies and wanted to offer them to me. She, an artist herself, had worked at a fabric store and had quite the organized collection of fabrics and notions. Going through her things, if felt like I was going through her memories. She had stories connected with the fabrics and piles of beautiful lace, some of which dated back to her childhood. I had to leave the goodies at my parents house as I had minimal luggage space, so my mom recently shipped me some of the items.

I feel a little pressure when people pass their things on to me, but touched that they think of me and trust that their old things will live on in special new pieces! It's the heart of what I love to do, create new items with vintage materials - unique clothing with stories that can be passed on for years to come.

Yards and yards of beautiful wool plaids have already got me thinking of fall.

Lace, Lace, and more Lace!

She also had quite the stash of thread, something I can always use!

The best thing about getting a box from your mom? She always includes a sweet note and a sweet treat! My man has a thing for jelly beans in particular :)

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New Thrifted Threads

This past week I was able to squeeze in a treasure hunt at one of my favorite thrifting spots. I was lucky to hit the store on a special sale day, so the prices were even cheaper than normal! I found so many great things and you'll hear more about them in the future!

Most of the finds I am using for the fabrics, but this wrap skirt may be an exception. I originally grabbed it for it's yards and yards of printed and pieced silk for $4 (such a steal!)! It's made with 2 layers and completely reversible. Considering the quality of this silk fabric and the yardage, this original piece would have been a couple hundred dollars! It's quickly becoming one of my favorite summer pieces and I've already received compliments!

The Greater Good

Lastly, I recently watched a powerful documentary that poignantly explains the fast fashion industry. I have included the preview below and it is now available on Netflix and Amazon.

When most people grab a piece of clothing at a store, they often don't think about the fact that it was made the world over, by human hands. Some of the largest companies such as Walmart and H&M are getting away with questionable business practices while earning billions of your dollars in their pockets. There's absolutely no excuse why workers anywhere should be battling for safe conditions and living wages while working for companies worth billions. I've worked in various parts of this industry and this is the kind of powerful information that you can't un-know. It's why I want to my own little company to be one I can feel good about. There are more and more companies doing the right thing and I hope to share and highlight them in the future.

Cambodian factory workers protesting for safer working conditions and a living wage.

“There are hands, physical human hands that touch the things that we wear, and those hands are lives, and they matter... when we buy something, it is a moral act, and there are a chain reaction of consequences, so let’s begin to be more mindful and choose things that support life, not take it away.” - Andrew Morgan.

Rent or own the film today! Visit http://truecostmovie.com for more details.
Available on DVD, Blu-Ray, iTunes, Amazon, or VHX.

Please take the time to watch and be informed about the purchases you make. when you spend your hard earned money, do it for the greater good!

Alright friends, wishing you a lovely week ahead!

xo,

Erin

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