art

shades of green with black

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

Green stands for balance, nature, spring, and rebirth. It’s the symbol of prosperity, freshness, and progress. In Japanese culture, green is associated with eternal life and in the highlands of Scotland, people used to wear green as a mark of honor. Green is the color of love associated with both Venus, the Roman goddess and Aphrodite, the Greek goddess.

And green hues are also the base in my artsy small bag, together with black patterned leather and gold colored metallic parts. My wardrobe were one green bag short, that I could notice when I was choosing my outfit one day and the last detail was missing: the green bag. In this design I joined triangle shapes out of different structured leather and fabrics together with zig zag seam. As usual I started up not really knowing how to fix the handles but in the end it all came together part by part. It is totally 100% recycled materials, made out of thrifted bags and belts.

diy-greenish-leather-bag-side-view-of-handle-fastening

 

diy-greenish-leather-bag-with-unique-decorations

I am experimenting different ways to do leather decorations.

I love to take photographs of my designs, usually I take my back bag carrying my Canon and the design plus a variety of stuff you might need when taking photos outside (clamps, tape, silk paper etc.) This photoshoot took place one misty morning upon a hill here in Gränna. The weather was just perfect, mysterious shapes and blurred colors everywhere. Enjoy the pictures, I do for sure!

diy-greenish-leatherbag

Little bit of staging does wonders.

diy-greenish-leather-bag-with-cross-body-strap

diy-greenish-leather-bag-with-metallic-details

moment of reflection

Taking a moment of reflection.

I could not refuse the temptation to take a selfie.

 

zig zag cross stitch bag

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Cross stitching crazyness! Really how can people give/throw away these beautiful and extra nicely stitched piece of art works? I believe there will be a time when these vintage cross stitch handcrafts will be worth gold.

But until that, let`s do a bag out of one zig zag patterned, thrifted cross stitch. It was a pillow cover when I found it from second hand Erikshjälpen Jönköping. Mostly when I come across these old handicrafts they are pillow covers or wall decorations. The colors on this one are bold and I like how the lilac color pops up from the whole palette. I had a piece of brown leather from one earlier project and decided to go towards gold color in the metallic parts and decorations. For the lining I choose sturdy denim so the bag will stay in shape even when empty.

 

Again all parts fort this bag are recycled from second hand bags. My mission is to buy as little as possible straight from the craft stores but to do a bag with good and functional elements requires a lot of different metallic parts. Such as magnetic closures which I usually take apart from my second hand bags. Handles and straps are also quite tricky;  to do a long leather strap requires a lot of good leather and usually that is hard to achieve with leftover leather scraps, so again second hand bags to the rescue!

I am pleased how solid the outcome is, all colors match together and even the gold colored labels fit in with the look.

diy bag photoshoot by the waterside with hand lettered board

diy bag with recycled cross stitch and leather

diy vintage cross stitch bag photoshoot by waterside with thriftwood

 

 

 

 

Three T-shirts

/ Susanoo

There is a number of ways you can repurpose a basic jersey tee—everything from braided accessories to full-blown woven rugs. It is all about making yarn out of your old, worn and torn T-shirts…and it is super easy just check out these instructions. For my bag I used three old T-shirts and the color stripes I crocheted horizontally…I did not decide the pattern or shape of the bag beforehand, I just went with the flow. When the bag was ready I came up with the idea to add long shoulder strap so that it would be easy also to carry the bag across my chest. Tassels I made out of black cotton yarn and by adding two different buttons I wanted to underline bags rugged hippie look…and buttons are of course vintage!diy crochet bag made out of old t-shirts with old button from the 50´s

denim shirt with metal

/ Susanoo

 

Simple denim shirt that I turned into a vest. Metal rings round the neck are thrifted, bag with 30 pieces for 2€. I sew the rings loosely so it is possible to decorate the neckpiece with for example a scarf or more metal accessories. By turning the hem to the sides in the front I created handy pockets.

Denimpusero muuntui jakuksi. Kauluksen tilalle ompelin kaulasomisteen johon pujotin metallilenkit ja kiinnitin ne paikoilleen. Metallilenkkien alta voi vielä pujottaa lisää denimiä tai vaikka värikkään, ohuen huivin. Denim on aina kuulunut suosikkeihini, kangasta voi työstää monella tapaa ja reunoja ei tarvitse huolitella, raakareunat denimissä antavat asuun kerroksellisuutta ja elävöittävät kankaan pintaa. Etutaskut käänsin puseron helmasta.

diy-remake denim shirt with metal details and pockets

I often take pictures of my designs by the waterside.

 

walk on the wild side

/ Susanoo

I am amazed how this pair of single colored, old and basic sneakers turned out after some camo pattern refresh! For the camo patterns I used old leather scraps from which I cut out rounded shapes and simply glued them on! I were inspired by a cool designers outfit.

The botanical pics I took here. Great place for inspiration and downshifting.

diy camo sneakers with shape cut leather decorations

Intercoiffure photoshoot “fjord” with Susanoo refashioned clothes and acc.

/ Susanoo

Intercoiffure Finland spring&summer 2015. Style Fjord, hair Sanna-Mari Mustajärvi (Bang by Ara), photoshoot Luiza Lehtinen, make-up Ara Koivula (Bang by Ara).

Styling and close up craft photos Susanna Kaunisto.

Velour, leather, metal and chiffon. Top is made with Burda pattern and the material is a second hand long cardigan. Skirt is Finnish vintage leather made by Friitala, I turned it inside out to give the material more deeper color, shortened it and made a belt from the hem. Long chiffon skirt under the leather skirt is made out of curtains. Necklace is made out of jewellery that I found second hand, pieces are tied together with leather strips. My inspiration for this outfit is a brave and mythical woman warrior from the land of elf, trolls and castles.

Velouria, nahkaa, metallia ja sifonkia. Toppi on tehty Burdan kaavoilla second handina ostetusta pitkästä jakusta. Hame on Friitalan vintagea, mokkahame jonka käänsin nurin jotta väri olisi syvempi, muokkasin myös hameen pituutta ja ompelin vyön ylijääneestä helmapalasta. Sifonkihame nahkahameen alla on maahan asti ulottuva pitkillä halkioilla, modattu vanhoista verhoista. Kaulakoru on kuparinvärisellä spraylla maalattua metallia, osat vanhasta kaulakorusta jonka kokosin uudelleen haluamaani muotoon. Kaulakorun osat on liitetty toisiinsa nahkasuikaleilla. Inspiraation tähän asuun hain tarujen ja myyttien maailmasta, naissotureiden vaatteista.

Intercoiffure Finland photoshoot "Fjord", acc. and clothes by Susanoo

Intercoiffure Finland photoshoot "Fjord", acc. and clothes by Susanoo

dare to be SNOBBIG

/ Susanoo

avant

This clutch is actually a placemat called SNOBBIG from IKEA. Structure was quite stiff so it was easy to handle.  First I sewed the lining and decorative ruffles and the belt while the placemat was still flat then I joined the sides together.  For the lining I used one old t-shirt from which the ruffles are also done. Studs are actually plastic ones and each of them hand sewn.The lock is an old belt.

Shirts are my older DIY designs, necklace a showpiece for a photoshoot. Ankle boots and hats all vintage and second hand findings.

Susanoo diy and collected vintage items show case

cheetah print bag

/ Susanoo

Thrifted the skirt already while ago and did not really know what do with it. Animal print; black spots on turqoise, glittering base is not really my type of fabric but this crazy combo could work on some smaller surface. Inspiration for the shape I got from a round leather bag and I wanted to experiment the shape on this fabric. Adding some support inside to keep the form as round as possible was necessary and using foamy placemat cut into shape worked out perfectly. The shoulder strap and zipper are both thrifted, it is amazing how much accessories for sewing you can find second hand for only few euros…these things usually build up the price on a bag but in this case the total cost for the bag was 5€. Oh and the denim jacket is also second hand…just adding a lot of different fabric patches to make it fab!

diy cheetah print bag from old skirt

fabric sofa samples- a bag

/ Susanoo

I do find the Finnish Red Cross Kontti second hand department stores very exiting and worth a visit every time. They have a special deal for all the craft items they sell…it is priced by weight. So these fabric sofa samples (at least over 20 pieces in one bag) were all together 2€.

 

My first try out from the samples is this bag. I used five of the samples and the lining and handles are made out of old jeans.

I added the chain which is an old necklace and the decoration parts in the handles and on the both sides of the bag are actually from various old bags.

And a bag is not finished until the tassel is there! Inspiration picture for statement bag, click!

diy bag from fabric sofa samples with recycled jewellery and parts from old bagsdiy bag from fabric sofa samples with recycled jewellery and parts from old bags

davinci

/ Susanoo

Delicate and dreamy leather pendants. Top that is used as the background is one of my old designs, simply a pattern with triangle and a circle. The jewellery I started calling DaVinci…cause at that time I was reading more about his designs. All materials are again recycled…pieces from old jewellery.

Symbolism and mysteries fascinates me and one way or another leaves their signature in the outcome…

 

Headpiece is also one of my old designs.

 

diy dreamy and delicate leather pendants called davinci

blue pipes with “Dream boat”

/ Susanoo

diy blue leather jewellery background art Robert Giusti

Arts and crafts. Because I love leather, because I love finding different ways to express my love for leather, because combining recycled jewellery and leather makes awesome and unique outcome.

I searched for some cool backgrounds for my “blue pipes” and found a book graphis annual 83|84 from which I picked these ones to tell a story with my jewellery. I think  the pics I found are just spot on…especially the one with the bird…”Dream Boat” by Robert Giusti.

diy leather pendant with second hand silver colored rings

diy leather pendant with second hand silver colored rings

leopard print backbag

/ Susanoo

diy animal print back bagdiy animal print back bag with recycled decorations

The leopard print fabric and the cute Hawaiian motif one were a gift from a friend. What to sew out of these fabrics? I am not a big fan of animal printed clothes…so I came up with the idea to join both fabrics in the same item – a backbag. The Hawaiian print fabric I used as a lining. Shoulder straps are from thrift shop; a belt with gold colored studs 3€ and the chains from an old necklace. It is more my style to wear animal print as accessory – as a contrast or matching part of my outfit.

 

Photoshoot took place at harbour; beatiful sunny day and glittering water. From nationalgeographic.com: “Leopards are strong swimmers and very much at home in the water, where they sometimes eat fish or crabs.”  ;-)

•a keen eye•

/ Susanoo

diy leather bag made out of old leather jacket, decorations white leather inspired by abstract art.

This bag is made out of an old leather jacket and because I am working with an existing garment I have to constantly adapt my design to work with the details of that particular garment.

Decoration was inspired partly by abstract art and partly by the interesting eye icon that has been popping up in the fashion shows quite a lot. See mind blowing Viktor&Rolf spring 2016 couture pic.

I sew the original care label from the jacket to the front of the bag, completing the story of repurpose and zero waste.

 

 

botanic plate

/ Susanoo

diy stamped old plate with real leaves

Nature-inspired patterns on an old plate, by stamping with real leaves. The plate is an old metal plate that has a beautiful patina and can not be used any more for serving food but as an interesting eyecather in various installations it would still be an unique piece. I collected some leaves that had nice forms and and used them as stamps. It is easier to stamp with a leaf that has an even surface so the stamped image will look sharper and all fine details will also transfer properly…althought in this case there were some paint splatters but still the outcome feels old, just like the plate.

 

 

flower power

/ Susanoo

diy crochet fringe bag and converseThis crochet fringe bag was born in wintertime in Finland Lappland. I found second hand a box filled with untouched black cotton blend yarn rolls. I knitted and crocheted many various things out of the yarn but this bag became my favourite. In my mind I was carrying it in snowy scenery because it looked kind of winterish and warm finished but when I unpacked it in summer I realized how perfectly it even fits summertime also!

It is crocheted with a big sized hook into a rectangle piece and then folded to the shape of a bag and hand stitched together from the sides. Fringes add the hippie look and I also placed some silver colored buttons on the flap to make the bag stand out.

cobalt combo

/ Susanoo

diy bracelet with leather cord and second hand jewellery diy bracelet with leather cord and second hand jewellery

More small craft projects from denim. A pendant and a bracelet…both are easy to pair with any clothing and colors. The good thing is, these bracelets stands alone well, or can serve as a foundation to any arm bracelet setup you feel up to.

Black cord bracelet has a collection of old, various glass and metal beads. The clever, small magnetic closure for the bracelets is more neater than just using the clasp…and much more easier to put on your wrist.

Denim jacket is an old project, soaked in bleach from its arms and hem so that the outcome of the bleached parts is uneven and dramatic.

 

 

 

dotty

/ Susanoo

diy white leather tassel with dots and old button

More tassels now with dots. I found some paint from a leftover black leather color bottle and started to try out different patterns and stamping on leatherpieces. Not having anything particular designs in my mind I just had FUN! Dotted some pieces of leather and turned them into tassels. Using only glue I put the tassels together and finalized the top with matching button! Photoshoot is done with planet magnets from MUJI attached to a radiator.

flash! bang!

/ Susanoo

Jersey fabric from the golden 90´s with some bold statements on. The words were so cool and graffitilike so I cut them out and sew them on denim. I have a pro camerabag for my Canon but it is quite big and boring and often I just want to carry with me only the camera when I go on a photoshoot- so why not carry it in a cool and funny bag! I padded the bag with foam to secure the camera from getting any hits. Shoulderstrap is long enough to carry the bag across shoulder to hip and it is made from an old canvasbelt. The denim tassel was originally created for another project but by adding a wooden pearl to it tassel was a perfect match with my new bag.

diy camera bag out of 90`s print fabric and denim tassel

diy camera bag out of 90´s print fabric and denim tassel

a pair of purses

/ Susanoo

 

Levi’s, the blue jeans. When I am figuring out how to reuse old jeans I often turn them inside out. When jeans are crafted with finess also from the inside it is a pitty not to show it. Levi’s jeans pockets are one good example of “art” inside the garment. How clever to print the info about the jeans in a pocket! Nowadays it is more and more often for example that the washing instructions are printed on the garment instead of sewing an extra, itchy label.

The pockets I carefully unpicked and then sewed together with a same size denim and installed a zipper. Lining inside the purse makes it easy to use and hides the uneven seam allowances.

Purse with the denim handle; the black triangle edges is handpainted. I gave my friend one of these and she is using it as an mobile pouch. Old Levi’s jeans pocket now travelling around the world as pouch- filled with facebook, twitter, apps and more…what a nice thought!

That’s one of the best parts about reusing or recycling old denim jeans, the fun ways you can use the pockets, lables, belt loops, etc… in your denim projects. – See more at: http://www.denimdoover.com/2014/02/denim-storage-case-for-a-phone-or-electronic-gadget/#sthash.LCCJ5Bqg.dpuf
That’s one of the best parts about reusing or recycling old denim jeans, the fun ways you can use the pockets, lables, belt loops, etc… in your denim projects. – See more at: http://www.denimdoover.com/2014/02/denim-storage-case-for-a-phone-or-electronic-gadget/#sthash.LCCJ5Bqg.dpuf
That’s one of the best parts about reusing or recycling old denim jeans, the fun ways you can use the pockets, lables, belt loops, etc… in your denim projects. – See more at: http://www.denimdoover.com/2014/02/denim-storage-case-for-a-phone-or-electronic-gadget/#sthash.LCCJ5Bqg.dpuf
That’s one of the best parts about reusing or recycling old denim jeans, the fun ways you can use the pockets, lables, belt loops, etc… in your denim projects. – See more at: http://www.denimdoover.com/2014/02/denim-storage-case-for-a-phone-or-electronic-gadget/#sthash.LCCJ5Bqg.dpuf
That’s one of the best parts about reusing or recycling old denim jeans, the fun ways you can use the pockets, lables, belt loops, etc… in your denim projects. – See more at: http://www.denimdoover.com/2014/02/denim-storage-case-for-a-phone-or-electronic-gadget/#sthash.LCCJ5Bqg.dpuf

spirit away

/ Susanoo

Homemade clay pendant painted silver gray. This freehand shaped necklace clay pendant I paired with geometric shapes. With a black, diamond shaped and a silver coloured rectangle one. Every piece of the big “clay family” pendants that I did have had an unique outcome and some are still under process. The spark to create something out of these pendants can come everywhere…just looking at a flower, urban shapes and colors in the city, fashion editorials…and I am sponging up the ideas and formulating my own creative outcome.

Spirit away: To carry someone or something off mysteriously or secretly.

 

robust hues

/ Susanoo

What to do with the leftover leather scraps from various projects? Tassels; they are fun to make and you can easily decorate anything with them. Put them on your key chain. Spruce up one (or two or three) of your purses or even attach one onto a jacket zipper. I have signed my tassels with an unique leather strap finishing on the top which I cutted out to a weavy form and then wrapped it tightly around the tassel using glue. Another small design part is the cut out round piece on the top of the tassel from which the cord comes out..glued tightly to its place. I really love it how the colours in these photos blend together, the old brick stairs were just the perfect background for the tassels and the vintage bottle.

woodland

/ Susanoo

 

wood pendant with copper wire

One of a kind. Material for these small craft projects I found when hiking with my friends in an old-growth forest and I wanted to cherish the memory of this sunny day in the forest and up in the hills and made these little gifts to my fellow hikers; keychains and necklace. Objects are made from one branch that had a smooth and worn surface. I cut the branch in 5cm pieces, used a nail file to smooth the sides and the surface. You only have to do as much as you see fit as far as cleaning goes. Colourstripes on the keychains adds a modern touch and with the small hook on the top of the keychain it connects easily to a key ring. Around the necklace wooden pendant I twisted thick copper wire and thin copper wire is the chain of the necklace.

wood pendant with copper wire

clay pendants and plain patterns

/ Susanoo

pattern: a natural or accidental arrangement or sequence

There are several ways you can make homemade clay for making ornaments, necklaces and for other projects and crafts. When shaping my small clay objects I usually go with the flow and the shapes are more raw and plain than complex and stiff.

My clay recipe is quite simple, I do not cook the mixture or use oven, I simply let the objects air dry for a couple of days. When the clay is dry and hard I give the surface final touch, usually it is painting with different techniques. Why not even leaving the pieces undone! Here I wanted to try out a surface that looks like marble but in the end the result looked more like color splashed on the object. I used one color, black, rather than mixing a variety of colors so I got a more simple look. The necklace looks good paired with one coloured garment and stands out perfectly.

 

 

rings and squares

/ Susanoo

Dyed duvet cover with indigo blue washing machine color. To make an abstract ring pattern, I  bunched up a small wad of fabric and placed a plastic ball inside and a rubber band around. The areas covered by the rubber bands created small, abstract rings of white.

Read more about the techniques called shibori dyeing.

Denim bed spread…there’s about 3 whole pairs of jeans in this one, and all sorts of odds and ends. This model was super easy to put together, no demanding quilt patterns just sewing big squares together. Done-in-a-Day!

masking

/ Susanoo

Art done from jewellery with photo editing.

 

A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes.

Naamiot antoivat ihmisille mahdollisuuden salata henkilöllisyytensä, ylittää sosiaalisen aseman tai sukupuolen asettamia rajoja ja kääntää arvoja ylösalaisin.Yleensä naamion tekijä saa itse päättää millaisen naamion hän haluaa valmistaa. Joskus naamion ulkonäkö voi ilmestyä tekijälle unessa tai näyssä. Naamiot kuvaavat eläimiä, ihmisiä tai henkiä. Yhdessä naamiossa voi yhdistyä monta asiaa, vaikkapa monen eri eläimen piirteet.

 

 

silhouette

/ Susanoo

Pendants made out of thin silver wire. Inside the round pendant I crocheted a delicate “web” out of metal wire. Final look on these pendants I wanted to be more simple and raw than flawless. Black chain pendant is actually one old long chain which I cut into smaller pieces.

Paksusta hopealangasta väännettyjä riipuksia. Pyöreään hopealankariipukseen sisälle virkkasin ohuesta rautalangasta “seitin”. Tein kiinnityskohdat samaa hopealankaa kieputtamalla, eli riipukset on tehty yhdestä yhtenäisestä palasta. Tavoittelin riipuksiin ja työnjälkeen askeettista ilmettä, ei viimeisteltyjä kaunottaria. Riipuksia voi käyttää myös korvakoruina, kolmio toiseen ja ympyrä toiseen korvaan tai vain yksi kerrallaan. Musta ketjuriipus on vanha, pitkä ketju paloiteltuna. Pujottelin uudet, lyhyemmät palat yhteen ja viimeistelin päät mustilla helmillä.

fringe pouch

/ Susanoo

This vintage pouch is from Stockholm. To give it more personality and to match it with the rest of my wardrobe I added some fringes and black studs.

Vintage mustan pikkulaukun löysin Tukholmasta second hand-kaupasta. Laukku oli kaunis mutta halusin päivittää sitä vaatekaappiini sopivaksi. Hapsut ovat muodissa joka vuosi vaatteissa ja asusteissa joko pääroolissa tai efekteinä. Elementtinä hapsut ovat katseenkiinnittäjiä ja niiden avulla näkymätön muuttuu hetkessä näkyväksi. Pikkulaukkuun leikkasin kaksi riviä nahkahapsuja jotka liimasin laukun etupuolelle. Mustat kartioniitit viimeistelevät yläreunan ja merkitsevät kohdan josta hapsut ryöppyävät alas. Tämäkin laukku toimii vaikka seinälle ripustettuna katseenvangitsijana!

bag with studs and fringes

This bracelet is bended from silver wire and the ring is connected to it with a delicate chain.

diy bracelet and fringe pouch

 

mimic

/ Susanoo

Black leather with different techniques. One with fringes and the other one is odd shaped piece which I gathered together from one side and fastened it to the leather cord. Used alone it makes a statement to your outfit and even looks more dared with added jewellery on top of it.

Mustaa nahkaa eri tavoin työstettynä. Halusin tehdä ison kaulasomisteen nahasta ja liittää yhteen eri tekniikoita. Laskostettu nahkapala on kiristetty langalla yhteen, en siistinyt palan alareunaa jotta nahan luonnollinen kauneus ei häviäisi. Toisen somisteen hapsutin ja rullasin pieniä nahka”kukkia” koristeeksi. Kaulanauhaksi letitin nahkaa ja kiinnitin kaikki yhteen niskasta painonapilla. Kaulasomiste on käytössä hieno sellaisenaan tai vaikka yhdistettynä toisen korun kanssa. Sisustuselementtinäkin koru toimii ja “telineestä” sen voi helposti ottaa käyttöön ja säilyttää myös näyttävästi.

leather and doll

doll with leather cord

 

 

 

alchemist amulet

/ Susanoo

Natural stones transformed into pendants with copper color. The striped pattern I achieved by first masking the stone with small tape. All decorative parts are recycled and from old jewellery, color combinations I tried to keep in the warm shades of brown, gold and copper. Background is a board game called China chak, made in Finland by Nelostuote.

Luonnonmateriaali kivi muuntui kuparin värisillä yksityiskohdilla koruksi. Raidallisen kiven teippasin ensin jotta väri ei tarttuisi kuin haluamani kohtiin. Koruosat ovat vanhoista kaulakoruista, yhdistelin ja kokeilin vapaasti eri osia, pitäen värimaailman ruskean, kuparin ja kullan sävyissä. Koruja voi käyttää myös vaikka avaimenperinä tai sisustuselementteinä. Kun korun yhdistää esimerkiksi samansävyisen valokuvan tai kuten kuvassa, pelilaudan kanssa saa erikoisen yksityiskohdan sisustukseen.