Making Clothes with Stories: Spring cleaning, when friends and family give me things...

Happy Spring!

I've been swamped with freelance projects for about the last 2 months and have spent too much time away from creating and my sewing machine! As hard as it is to step away from my design work, I look back and see that it was a much needed break. I can sometimes get burned out and put too pressure on myself to turnover new work quickly. The reality is that that is not the kind of items I make. 

 When I'm away from my workspace, I day dream ideas with the fabrics I know I have waiting for me. By the time I actually can get back to it, my mind is overflowing with inspiration and I can't wait to begin. 

It's always about the fabrics for me; finding and collecting unique textiles that inspire me, and breathing new life into them. Here's a little spring preview of some of the materials I'm about to dive into.  
  
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Friends and family give me old fabrics and discarded clothes when they clean out their closets, and I love it! I often receive materials in the mail. I love that the people in my life take part in the work that I do, making it seem even more sentimental and interactive.



My friend friend Jessica hunts estate sales with her mom in her native Iowa, and they send me lovely little curated boxes of goodies. I love every little piece in the most recent box!
  

She always includes notes. Handwritten notes are the best, I include one with ever order to my customers. A recent favorite from her was this little silk bundle they found at the estate sale of Lois Rayman, a fifties model and actress.  

Picture courtesy of Cedar Memorial

My favorite is this painterly silk fabric 🙌. 

oh the ideas...

When friends clean out their closet and think of me... I love incorporating denim into my work, and these old Levi's from my friend William will find their way into some new spring ErinElsie pieces. 

While visiting my Louisiana hometown, I collect fabrics here and there. Sometimes from family, old neighbors, thrift shopping with my mom. It's often too much to carry back, so my mom sends little care packages and packs the goodies with fabric. USPS flat rate boxes are the best :)

These items below are from my cousin Jamie, perfect for spring.

I've been collecting a lot of beautiful vintage lace, and I want to try and work them into more modern pieces. This lace comes from a neighbor in my hometown. She owned a fabric store and has passed on a lot of beautiful items to me. 

The last care package I received from my parents came complete with a Rouse's king cake - it didn't last long!

These beautiful embroidered bits came a while back from my Aunt Delsie & Uncle Mike, and I've been anxious to incorporate them into some spring summer pieces. 

Finally time to get back to my lonely sewing machine!

Thanks for stopping by. Hoping you all have a lovely weekend and week ahead friends! Live in Color 🤗!

xo,

     Erin

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

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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 

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Other Links:

✰ Website: http://www.erinelsie.com

✰ Instagram: https://instagram.com/erinelsie_official/ 

✰ Instagram: https://instagram.com/erinblank_designer/

✰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ErinElsie/360147150720430

✰ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErinElsie_Inc

It's all in the (Denim) Details!

Hey Ya'll! 

I had to throw in the ya'll as I recently returned from a trip home to Louisiana. One of my best friends got married, and it was great to have a little girl time + a little family time. I'm busy with a freelance job this week; and since I don't have the time to create in my home studio, I'm just taking a little time to share about some recent work that came out of the studio.

There's definitely a noticeable pattern in my recent designs - lots of denim details! I love how the neutral denim compliments the bold patterns of these vintage fabrics, while also adding a little structure and edge. 

Americana Cold Shoulder Top

Americana at its best. A little bit structure and a little bit boho. This chic and breezy top is made of reclaimed, vintage fabric, as well as light blue recycled denim parts. 

Although it make look complex, the fit is actually easy. The trapeze silhouette drapes gently away from the body. The back has elastic, revealing just enough back and shoulders to keep it feminine and flattering.

Shop this top!

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Hawaiian Trapeze Top

Flow-y pieces can be flattering, it's all about shape and proportion. The trapeze silhouette of this tank drapes gently away from the body, and I love, love the print of this vintage Hawaiian fabric. It was salvaged from a shirt I picked up in Hawaii a couple of years ago.    

 My favorite part of this top is the back, it shows just the right amount of skin. The adjustable tie closures at the shoulders add just the right amount of sweetness. 

Shop this top!

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Gray Graphic Print Convertible One-size Maxi Dress

A bold print, denim details, and versatility take this maxi dress to the next level! The black denim details pull it all together. 

Ties along each side allow you to wear this dress a few different ways. You can simply tie the sides together to secure it and have them dangle, you can tuck them in and hide them, or you can cinch the front in for a different look. The back tie slides through the denim detail like a draw string, so you can adjust that however you like as well.

Shop this dress

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It doesn't get more classic than denim. A textile that was originally created to make tough, long lasting work clothes, a quality denim will truly stand the test of time. When I walk into a thrift store, I'm always blown away by the racks and racks of discarded denim in perfectly good condition. A lot of my personal favorite pairs of jeans are from thrift stores or are hand-me-downs from friends. 

Thanks for visiting! Have a lovely weekend, in your favorite denim ;)

xo,

     Erin 

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Other Links:

✰ Instagram: https://instagram.com/erinblank_designer/
✰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ErinElsie/360147150720430
✰ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErinElsie_Blank

✰ Website: http://www.erinelsie.com

Coffee Talk, R&R and Homemade Chicken Soup for the Soul

Greetings Friends!

 It's finally starting to feel a little more like fall here and I love it. I've just finished up a long freelance styling job. It was a little intense and physical, but I love that I get to meet and work with interesting and nice people, and it beats the cubicle any day (no offense to cubicles, it's just not the life for me). It's the non-structure that allows me to work on my own design efforts and I'm grateful for it. I'm a under the weather with a cold, so I thought I'd just share a few recent reflections of gratitude and inspiration. 

 The first day after wrapping that job, I was excited to jump back into ErinElsie Fall/Winter design projects, but unfortunately I woke up with a sore throat, runny nose, and achy body. I was forced into a day off of rest and recovery; probably a blessing in disguise as sometimes you really do just need to stop and rest. The best part of all, I have a man who can cook, and his homemade chicken soup certainly is helping! The warm and simple soup helped me physically, but the fact that he dropped what he was doing and made it for me fed my soul - a reminder to always be grateful for the little everyday gestures of love.     

This past week, my Nan Jule passed away. She was my great aunt, my grandmother Elsie's sister, and such a perfect representation of the strong and loving ladies in my family. The kind of ladies that will ride a tractor, catch their own fish, cook the most amazing homemade food, and take care of virtually everyone around them. I have vivid memories of my grandmother and Nan Jule talking on the phone to each other loudly in French.  When we would go over to Nan Jule's house, she would give us these little bags filled with candy and one dollar bills - what child wouldn't love that! It makes me smile to think of those days and I am grateful for the memories. The day after she passed, a little heart appeared in the foam of my homemade latte. Simple it may seem, but this little sign made me smile and gave me a sense of peace with it all. 

And speaking of signs, this was on a building across from the one I was working in. I just happen to glance in a certain direction and saw my last name, Blank. In a place like Manhattan where there are buildings on top of buildings and new and old ones sandwiched together, it was a pretty neat coincidence. I never tire of checking out all the old buildings here and learning more of the history, and now I shall do a little research into this one.  

And lastly, just a little bit of inspiration I came across on instagram from @ekoluv and @emilykatesymes. In building my business, it's more than just turning out clothes. I want to build an ethical business I can be proud of - one that is built on passion and not greed, and one that appreciates craftsmanship and artistry. In whatever you do, be the change you want to see in the world!

Ok, now back to my hot tea, rest, and recovery so I kick this cough/cold!

Thanks for following along on my journey and be well!
xo
 -Erin

http://www.erinelsie.com 
Follow along on Instagram: ErinBlank_Designer

Silk printed shorts - My easy DIY thrift store conversion!

Happy Monday Folks!

I was so excited about my recent thrift store conversion, a little project I did just for myself, that I wanted to share it with you all! In one of my past thrift store material hunts, I had picked up some printed silk shorts for about $5. The original pair were drawstring, with a very awkward length. I knew with just the right tweak, these could be some of my favorite shorts of the summer. 

Below a glimpse of the original pair. This print on long, dated shorts would be a bit overwhelming on any figure.  

I've been loving the trend of soft and easy printed shorts for summer. You can dress them up or down, they travel super easily, and they keep you cool on hot days. Mine are real washed silk - natural fibers breathe so much better than all of the many poly blends out there. That's one of my favorite things about treasure hunting in a thrift store - finding great quality fabric inexpensively.  

 This image courtesy of www.thefashionhive.com .

The Project

Step 1. I think short lengths in bold prints are all about proportion and you should find the one that works best for your body. Also, if your someone who is a little self conscious about wearing shorts, these are a great trend. They are not form fitting and I love that. I created a slightly curved cuff that worked best on me and pinned it in place. These is probably the step that takes the longest and might be easier if you have a friend helping you pin them. 

Step 2. I top-stiched this cuff down. I usually like to hand sew hems, but for these the sturdiness of the machine stitching worked better to create the shape I wanted with this soft silk. I then gave the finished hem a light tap with an iron and...   

Voila!

 

I hope you had a great weekend and find a little crafty inspiration with this easy DIY project idea. Many thanks for following along! 

Have a great week!
xo
 Erin 
http://www.erinelsie.com 
Follow me on Instagram: ErinBlank_Designer