metal

leather tote bag made from old jackets

/ Susanoo
leather quilt bag and studs

Quilting model called card trick. Green suede and blue/red leather bag. Studs I first placed on the handles to make them more durable to handle weight but after noticing that silver colored studs really make the bag look more interesting I also decorated the pattern in the front. All leather are old jackets that I was not able to mend anymore but pieces that I salvaged works just perfect in this bag.

Tilkkutyötekniikalla ommeltua nahkaa. Lainasin kirjastosta aihetta käsittelevän kirjan ja löysin muutaman mallin joita halusin kokeilla nahkalaukkuun.Tämän mallin nimi on card trick-korttitemppu. Valitsin punaisen, vihreän ja sinisen nahan. Sininen nahka on laukussa myös takakappaleena ja olkahihnoina. Vuoriksi laukkuun löysin tukevaa collegekangasta. Laukun koristelin vielä sisustusniiteillä jotka ensin kiinnitin vain vahvistamaan olkahihnoja mutta kokeiltuani yhtä niiteistä tilkkujen yhtymäkohtaan halusinkin niitä enemmän. Nyt perinteinen värikartta sai uutta potkua niittien elävöittämänä.

handpainted red and orange leather earrings

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

I often paint and glue my leather parts for the earrings in advance. When I feel like it. Then I use the painted leather when my ongoing design needs it- it can take for a year or a week or just hours. Depends on the flow.

These leather parts I made one summer evening but something more important came along and I put the designs aside. Now when cleaning up my desk and the drawers I found these red and orange leather designs I knew that it was their time to shine.

The metal chain is from old bracelet that I found from charity shop and took apart. I love the way the thin chain moves, reminds me of misty mornings and spider webs in the forest.

The fabric is old IKEA curtain.

Intercoiffure photoshoot “white nights” with Susanoo refashioned clothes and acc.

/ Susanoo

Intercoiffure Finland spring&summer 2015. Style White nights, hair Katja Perkkiö (Tina´s), photoshoot Luiza Lehtinen, make-up Ara Koivula (Bang by Ara).

Styling and close up craft photos Susanna Kaunisto.

Dress is made out of an old 80´s white leather jacket. Front of the dress is actually the back of the jacket leaving the back of the dress open and making it sensual and feminine.

Neckpiece is made out of the same jacket crocheting narrow slices of leather together. Adding a massive silver colored chain into the necklace makes it an outstanding piece and a perfect pair to the simple dress.

diy crocheted white leather and silver colored chain neckpiece

Mekko on tehty vanhasta 80-luvun nahkatakista. Takin etuosa on nyt mekon takaosa, jättäen selän avoimeksi vyötärölle asti. Helmaan ompelin somisteeksi ns. “kalanpyrstön”. Kaulakorun materiaali on samaa nahkatakkia josta leikkasin suikaleita ja virkkasin ne yhteen. Tyyli on modernin puhdas mutta samalla rosoisen romanttinen.

diy leather dress out of old jacket with matching neckpiece

diy leather dress out of old jacket with matching neckpiece

cross stitch bag “Gypsy Lady” with #

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

work in process, trying out different ways to decorate

This is a circa 1960s-70s cross stitch of a painting by “Torino” – Little is known about Torino other than he was prevalent from around the 50s to the 70s and there are a few versions (poses) of this “Gypsy Lady” print.

Came across this cross stitch work at second hand store. There it was lying amongst other finished and half finished needle works just for 3€. I knew at once what I wanted to do from it certainly something that will not go unnoticed. First I was playing around with the idea to really make the gypsy lady fierce with tattoos and make-up but after a few try outs I skipped that idea. The cross stitch work is beautifully done and it would be a shame to hide it. I needed a piece of fabric to go with it and choose checkered black and white, to make the whole look more contemporary. When the two pieces were joined it felt like the bag needs a message. Something to do with gypsy way of life, for example fortune telling, freedom and spiritual things. So I came up with the hashtag sign. Under the # one can imagine these words.

Back part of the bag is done out of recycled leather and handles are from old thrifted bag. The leather pieces that hold the handles are parts from a belt and the black rings curtain parts. So again 100% recycled, remake and zero waste.

handles from old bag, leather parts to hold handle old belt

diy gypsy lady cross stitch bag with # decoration

diy gypsy lady cross stitch bag with # decoration

Intercoiffure photoshoot “behind the scene” with Susanoo refashioned clothes and acc.

/ Susanoo

Intercoiffure Finland photoshoot spring&summer 2015 trends at Suomenlinna Helsinki Finland. With the best crew of hairstylists, make-up artist and fashion photographer. And models were awesome too.

Click here to see the video

What Susanoo did
-styled four different looks based on a mood board from Intercoiffure spring&summer trends.
-designed and sewed clothes for all four styles
-designed all jewellery and accessories

 

Fashion photoshoot Intercoiffure- styling and clothes by Susanna Kaunisto

design bag with hologram details plus one old necklace

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

This bags idea I got from fabric sofa samples which I found from Kontti second hand store in Finland. Here I connected evenly measured stripes together with zig zag seam and created a modern and sharp background for my holographic decorations. I used earlier these small triangle shaped vinyl decorations for my wristlets to Intercoiffure Finland fashion photoshoot and now after few years “resting”  they still do the trick in this diy bag.

Pattern needed to have right dimensions for the small sized bag so I tried out different variations and found the one that worked for this design.

Strap is made out of old necklace, really thick but light metal chain. Tassel is the pendant from the necklace. Ones again totally recycled bag, every part of it is reused material.

 

My friend called the pattern “Iris” – the blue royal flower. I like the name. Let the bag shine like royalty but act cool and streetwise when needed.

diy bag from fabric sofa samples with holographic details

Earrings using triangle shaped leather/plastic

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

I have started to use this way of working with small leather scraps and other materials. First I cut out the shapes I want and glue them on to a piece of leather- let the pieces dry over night- after that I add a quite thick coat of decoupage lack on the surface- after the lack is completely dry I cut out the shape I want. Here I used old leather scraps and one old plastic snake pattern belt. Metal parts are from old bracelet.

These earrings I cut out as half moon shape and added o-rings from an old bracelet to give them more body and movement.

Susanoo design tassel earrings from second hand materials

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

These two pairs of tassel earrings I made out of quality yarns that I always buy second hand from charity/flea markets. Here I combined other elements with the tassel earrings such as old jewelry parts and fake leather from one old belt.

I love old clip earrings and some of my handmade earrings I design in a way that it is easy to slide it into the clip earring.  In this way you can change the look of the pair of earrings easily.

 

The red tassel earrings metal part is from old metal bracelet which I formed into a circle to fit a red bead in.

 

starched denim and hand painted leather

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

Handpainted leather earrings and starched denim earrings.

Denim starched with sugar and hot water gives endless possibilities to form whatever you can imagine after the fabric is soaked with the mix. Even 3D is possible if you have patience to form it first and then wait for 2 or 3 days until the piece is totally dry.

When the starched denim piece is dry you can  for example paint, punch or glue the pieces how ever you want. Easy and fun.

metal/thread/stones neckpieces

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

 

From second hand store found some metal plates in different sizes. I like to combine different materials and as usual I just started to test and try how it would look like when I crochet silk thread around the metal. It was not easy cause the silk is so slippery but I am happy how the silk looks together with the beach glass that I glued on top of it.

By using some hanging leather decorations also covered with stones the whole necklace looks airy and floating. Here I paired it with my white diy t-shirt.

 

The sand colored smaller neckpiece is done with the same technique only here I wrapped the thread around the metal part instead of crocheting. Stones are handpicked from the shore of lake Vättern.

 

Yellow thread tassels combined with the metal plate. Card is by emmajansson.se

studs and squares

/ Susanoo

diy leather bag picture taken in Centre Pompidou Paris Susanna with her diy leather bag in Centre Pompidou Paris

Idea of this leather bag began when I found a pair of leather trousers second hand. I often buy worn and outdated but good quality leather clothes second hand…of course if the price is ok, under 10€ is still a bargain of a good leather.

In this case I cut out the front and the back pieces for the bag from the leg part of the trousers because leather on the legs were in good condition and I did not have to do any extra seams. I tryed out different motifs on the bag but finally I ended up playing with the swiss cross and by adding black leather squares the pattern looked deeper. Studs are there to “rock” the bag but the style is still versatile to combine with different looks and outfits: preppy, rebel, chic etc.

Because I wanted the bag to have “one piece look” so adding in handles was out of the question. Instead I cut out holes to the top part, folded the seam allowances from the cut out to the back and glued them with a flexible glue. Lining is done out of leather and denim, I repeated the same cut out hole and then I just glued the front and the back together. So more glue than seams on this leather project. Glue I used was BISON transparent, it was really easy to work with and now after carrying various loads in my bag for a week around Paris I can say that the glue hold the leather together super good.

Photoshoot is done in Musée des Arts et Métiers and Centre Pompidou in Paris. Thank you Paris!

avant garde

/ Susanoo

diy free hand lettering with silver paint on jumperFinnish designer Anne Linnonmaa long cardigan with diy black back part

The avant-garde (from French, “advance guard” or “vanguard”, literally “fore-guard”)are people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture and politics.

Sometimes creative process can begin with only a word…in this case a word I came across printed on a t-shirt and after studying the meaning I could relate to avant-garde easily…being daring, innovative, experimental and stating out your own ideas with a bold or unusual way. If I have a statement written on my clothes it has to be saying something I can truly stand for.

The gray jumper is of course a bargain found on second hand, woolblend mens basic knit which I shortened leaving the hem raw without any sewing. Cuts in the elbows gives the altered knit a rough and worn feeling. By wearing under the piece coloured or textured layers it is easy to make different combos. Lettering I made free hand with silver acrylic paint.

Another garment upgrade I did to a Finnish designers Anne Linnonmaa long cardigan. Found this extra nice piece also second hand and after a while decided to give it more outstanding look, something that complements the piece but makes it more unique. To the back piece I cut out from another jumper a sleeve which I attached with basic zigzag stitches. From the same jumper I also cut out a pocket piece and placed it on the front of the cardigan only on the other side…cardigan did not loose its original shape or look but it became more outstanding and bold.

shiny leather bag with zig zag pattern

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

Recycling second hand leather jacket

This black leather bag with modest shine is actually a gift so the size of the bag and as well the color combinations are carefully thought trough. Inside the bag needs to fit a smart phone, wallet and home/car keys and the person who is going to to get this likes shades of black and grey…and of course silver color. For easy carrying cross body the strap is longer and a flap with magnetic clasp safeguards carried important items inside the bag.

I took apart my latest second hand bargain, long black leather jacket and cut the parts for the bag from the back and the sleeves of the jacket.  Adding silver colored leather stripe decorations (cut out with my Fiskars zig zag scissors) enhances the shape and personalizes the whole bag. I used the same zig zag pattern in strap fastenings and in the lining.

Unique details with Fiskars zig zag scissors

diy-black-and-silver-leather-bag-with-matching-details

diy-leather-bag-with-silver-colored-leather-details

diy-black-and-silver-colored-leather-bag-with-unique-details

diy-black-and-silver-leather-bag-with-matching-tassel

 

zig zag cross stitch bag

/ Susanoo / Leave a comment

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

 

 

 

 

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.

 

black / white / studs /// repeat

/ Susanoo

I am so into stripes at the moment. Black and white can not ever go wrong, timeless color combination and easy to mix and match with a variety of other colors and styles. Material for this bag is cut from second hand leather jacket and trousers…the white jacket is already several years old. Stripes are 3mm wide and I joined the pieces together by zig zag stitch.

Lining for the bag is denim that also supports bags structure. Shoulder strap is taken from another bag and the studs and other metal pieces are also recycled from old bags. Pattern and placement of the studs are irregular…it needs to feel like the deco just “rain” on the bag.

diy bag with stripes and studs, all parts recycled

diy bag with stripes and studs, all parts recycled

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

matrix rings

/ Susanoo

Found laying around in the garage a piece of metal with holes. I used tools which made easier to bend and cut the metal. Outcome is a pair of rings with a rough and unfinished look! And why not use the bigger one also as a pendant with a leather cord?

Rei’itetty metallilevy, peltisakset, vasara ja metalliviila ja vahva visio mitä teen sattumalta löytyneestä metallinpalasta.

Muotoilin sormuksen metalliputken ympärillä pyöreäksi ja viilasin kaikki terävät kulmat pois. Toisesta sormuksesta tein peukalosormuksen josta taivutin metallin ulospäin. Hain sormuksiin viimeistelemätöntä, raakaa ilmettä. Pujottamalla reikiin nahkaa, ketjua tms. sormuksen ilmettä pystyy muuttamaan ja pitkänomainen sormus toimii myös kaulakoruna.

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

hyped up wristlet

/ Susanoo

These hologram wristlets I made for a fashion photoshoot. The style that had to be created stated “futuristic”. My inspiration came from sport fashion and fencing. Material on the wristlets are soft plastic that was easy to sew and the reflecting part is self adhesive vinyl. I wanted to create the feeling of weightless body armor that just floats on your skin.

Muotikuvauksiin tekemäni hologrammirannekkeet. Rannekkeet täydensivät tyylisuuntaa tulevaisuuden klubbailijasta, yöelämän futuristisesta tähtösestä. Inspiraatiota hain urheiluvaatetuksesta mm. miekkailusta ja show-painista sekä avaruus/tulevaisuus aiheista. Materiaaliksi rannekkeisiin valitsin taipuisan ja ohuen muovin jota pystyi helposti ompelemaan. Päällystin rannekkeet hologrammiteipillä niin että käytettäessä ihoa näkyisi myös rannekkeen alta ja hopeinen hologrammi ikäänkuin leijuisi käden päällä. Rannekkeen sivuihin ompelin mustaa kangasnauhaa tukemaan kiinnittämisessä käytettäviä muttereita.

diy plastic wristles with self adhesive holographic vinyl

 

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

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

Miniature denim cubes

/ Susanoo

 

diy miniature denim cubes and vintage page from Vogue

 

I have always been a fan for all things miniature. These small denim cubes started out as a test to do something three dimensional out of denim but soon I noticed that I had done already few in a row…and really enjoying hand stitching the sides together. Some of the cubes got beads as numbers on the sides- small soft dices and one cube got really attitude after adding studs!

diy miniature denim cubes with tulip petals

diy miniature denim cubes with copper colored beads as numbers

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

“foil effect”

/ Susanoo

 

This biker type woolen jacket I found second hand for a bargain price. The jacket was to me like an empty canvas, just waiting to be standing out from any other black jacket. It had military style buttons which I replaced with some simple black round buttons. First I thought to sew something on the jacket, leather or denim but after a visit to the best fashion pages Vogue.com my vision become clear and I came up with the paint idea. And also with inspirational help of a knit dress from Guy Laroche.

Oh and the hat is vintage…and my boots too.

Susanna wearing her diy woolen jacket with Anne Linnonmaa vintage cardigan and woolen vintage hat

Susanna wearing her diy woolen jacket with woolen vintage hat

pouches with art

/ Susanoo

For carrying mobile phone cross-body. All pouches are made from recycled materials; denim, leather and all the metal parts are from thrifted bags or jewellery. Lining is made out of old scarves, as long as they have silky and smooth surface to easily slide in and take out the phone. I used various type of cords for the strap…from shoe laces to self made ones.

Some of the pouches I painted and stamped with lines and circles and the swiss cross symbol was just perfect for the more simplified and sharp look. Love to use also washing instructions from old garments as decoration.

Now I just need to find homes for these unique pouches…

diy denim pouches black and white artsy picture

work in process stamping, painting and decorations

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

Gold painted denim

/ Susanoo

diy denim bag with painted gold colored waves and matching tassel diy denim bag with painted gold colored waves on the rooftops in Kloksteeg Delft Netherlands

Free hand painting on denim. Bought this denim fabric for 2€ from local thrift shop…it is a large piece of denim, almost three meters so this bag will be the first one of a bigger wave-family.

I lined the bag with the same denim fabric so the bag both looks and feels sturdy…easy to also carry heavy items and the bag keeps its shape even when half empty. Shoulder straps I padded to add extra comfort and fastened them to the bag with gold colored badges (which I found on a flee market in Ghent…30 pieces for 2€).

And the tassel…cause what would a bag be without a matching tassel? Painted some black leather with the same gold color and finalized the tassel with twisted metal wire (done from an old bracelet). Now waves and vibes for good times!

 

 

 

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.”  ;-)

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.