nature

green silk/black leather/swarovski crystals earrings

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Few years ago I found green silk yarn from nearby charity shop. As I was going through my material boxes, looking for a pair of shoulder pads to another project I came across this hidden green silk gem. I imagined a summer party, soft warm evening air, long chiffon dress, barefoot and these earrings with long green silk tassels.

Silk yarn was in tight bundles and curled so I needed to first soak the yarn in water and let air dry to get it straight.

My work flow when creating my earrings is unpredictable, I cannot say directly when my earrings are ready. Sometimes I leave the whole design process for weeks on my table and pick it up again when I feel like it. Here on these “green garden party” tassels I was not able to decide how the top part of the earrings would look like, first I let them to be quite minimalistic but later on decided to add more beads and some nude colored swarovski flower shaped crystals. Minimalistic was not the right feeling for these silk tassels, they needed to shine and catch every glimpse of sunlight.

I love the boldness, the movement of the silk yarn and the touch of raw arts and crafts feeling.

Denim jacket from old shirt and skirt

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Susanoo refashioned denim jacket

For this denim jacket refashioning I used one old mens denim shirt (labeled James) and one worn out denim skirt. Shirt I used was size L so I was able to play with the size by gathering some of the excess fabric to the back.

How I did it

Original sleeve cuffs I cut off and attached denim pleats instead.

attaching pleats

planning pleats

susanoo refashioned denim jacket_pleats please

As usual when I am into these refashioning pieces I do not follow any plans. My way is to go step by step, feeling the fabric and trying the piece on often between different stages just to see how it acts when on you.

my work flow

original shirt

Adding the belt done with light/dark colored denim pieces gives the jacket more feminine figure. Cotton lace was a last minute fix to hide the masculine front piece.

I am super satisfied how this denim refashioning piece turned out; modest flamboyant with contemporary twist.

 

Susanoo design long cardigan with wool/alpaca scarf

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This post is oldie but still goodie, I made it in Delft, Netherlands some years ago (2016).

My long cardigan is self-made from woolen blend jersey. It is a pattern from 1992 Burda which I altered by lenghtening it and also took away the collar. Rounded patch pockets has a lining inside them and pockets are big enough to create an eyecatching element in the front but also super comfy to keep your hands in. My back bag is made from old leather pants and decorated with studs.

I bought 8 rolls of Ambiente black wool/alpaca yarn (not cheap) and crocheted the scarf with 15 sized hook (made from bamboo). Reason why I spent so much for the materials were that I wanted a black basic scarf with quality material; alpaca mixed with virgin wool makes the scarf super soft and quite light to wear. The extra that makes the scarf pop are the tassels I made from the same yarn.  Susanoo remark: the yarn was bought in Delft from a nice, small yarn shop by the canal called Knotten.

Susanna with diy long cardigan and alpaca scarfSusanna with diy long cardigan and diy leather back bag in Delft Netherlands

Fall/winter is the time of the year when you can daringly play with your outfits- layering different materials and shapes takes the whole look into new dimensions. Why not layer a long cardigan with a short leather vest and experiment freely by mixing scarfs together with different sizes and colors.

grand Ibiza bag

/ Susanoo

 

The bag is made out of a cool vintage tanktop I found. Super easy recycling for old tanktops to turn them into handy and cool bags…just with one seam!

Pictures not taken at Ibiza :)…photoshoot took place in Finland springtime by the lake.

Big tote with medieval touch

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Photoshoot for the bag took place in very mystical surroundings….

This project was started up by two pieces of fabric sofa samples that I found second hand…and one belt. Idea was to make a roomy bag, easy to sew and without any super fancy decorations.

But as the project went on I wanted to do something extra, to give that unique touch to this bag also rather than leaving it just black. I found from my cross stitch stock this “dragon”. It´s almost ten years ago I bought it and now was the right moment for it. By placing it in the middle of the bag it serves also as a pocket. Buttons are vintage too, red ones to boost up the red from the cross stitch.

Canvas belt found second hand had some nice studs on it and looks amazing as handles for the bag. By hand stitching some decor to one of the handles makes it look raw and crafty and the pattern just “created itself” while stitching.

Overall look of the bag is a little bit medieval- maybe thanks to the studs and the dragon. Location to shoot the bag was in this case easy to figure out- it is an old mill from 17th century in Röttle near Gränna Sweden. I think I felt some vibes from times passed by while taking pics there…

 

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.

striped clutch

/ Susanoo

diy striped leather and suede clutch made out of old trousers

diy striped leather and suede clutch made out of old trousers

Zero waste clutch bag; made out of old suede trousers and a white leather vest into my all time favourite clean and graphic pattern stripes. Pattern that looks good with almost any outfit you choose. Triangle decorations on the sides add interest and more body to the clutch. By adding the option that I can wear this bag also on my shoulder makes it more versatile, although the solid purpose is clutch in which only the necessary items fits in, such as lipstick, keys and my phone.

Tämä laukku sai alkunsa inventoidessani nahkavarastojani. Löysin palan hiekanväristä nahkaa ja mustaa mokkaa joista leikkasin samanlevyisiä, suorakaiteen muotoisia paloja. Ompelin palat yhteen värejä vuorotellen ja aikani valmista nahkapintaa katsellessani päätin tehdä siitä kädessä kannettavan laukun, clutchin. Laukun sivuihin ompelin tehokeinoksi “kolmio”nahkasomisteen, näin laukku sai myös yksilöllisen ilmeen. Lisäsin laukkuun olkahihnan joka näin muuntaa kädessä kannettavan myös olalla pidettäväksi. Olkahihnaa vaihtamalla laukun saa myös nopeasti päivitettyä asukokonaisuuteen sopivaksi. Irrotettava metallinen olkahihna löytyi kirpparilta mutta hihnaksi käy myös vaikka ohut vyö. Clutch ei ole tilaihme mutta mukaan mahtuu kätevästi kuitenkin kaikki tarpeellinen.

 

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

 

 

 

 

leather bag with suede letters

/ Susanoo

Watching anime gave me the idea for this bag. I strongly relate to the phrase and I think that the emotions described as “mono no aware”  are similar to the ones that are present when I seek for ideas. Beauty lies silent and hidden and it never reveals itself when one is looking for it, beauty happens.

Mono no aware on japanilainen sanonta, jonka yleensä käännetään tarkoittavan “herkkyyttä asioiden edessä.” Sillä viitataan kaihoisiin tunteisiin, jotka syntyvät kauniiden asioiden katoavaisuudesta ja hetkellisyydestä.

denim shirt with metal

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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.

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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

Miniature denim cubes

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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

check it out

/ Susanoo

laying dress patterns on checkered fabric

stamping free hand cut shapes on the dress

 

This red checked fabric was a last minute found from a thrift store for 2€ and after this pic I knew what to do out of it. Pattern for the dress is again from 90s fashion magazine Burda with some slight alternations. The dress turned out to be too easy and “nice” so I cut out some free hand patterns and stamped them on.

It was supposed to be tough looking chick wearing a checked punk inspired dress with dr. Martens shoes…but it turned out to be slightly nicer version of that. When you want the picture to be taken full torso and you wearing the dress it is hard if you have to do it by yourself—-but hey let´s use a selfie stick—which is not as easy as I thought it would be…photoshoot took place in the botanical garden of Delft.

Susanna wearing diy checkered fabric dress with vintage leather jacket and Converse sneakers

leopard print backbag

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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.

 

 

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

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.

arboretum garden gem

/ Susanoo

diy leather ring with black wooden beads

Stones that I picked from the sea shore. Some of the stones I painted and added metal wire to hang the cord from. You can choose a variety of ways how to work with stones, leather is one of my favourites. The ring on the red leaf is made out of leather and bound together with wooden beads. Photoshoot took place in northern Finland,  Arboretum Tornio.

Meren rannalta poimittuja kiviä kuvattuna Arboretumin vehreyden keskellä. Luonnon muovaamissa kivissä on hienoa erilaiset pinnat ja värivaihtelut, kivet ovat myös sellaisinaan valmista korumateriaalia. Meren rannalta tarttui mukaani muodoltaan kapeita kiviä. Kiinnitystavan valinta kaulakoruun voi olla mitä mielikuvituksellisin, kuparinväriseen pyöritin metallilankaa ja toiseen kiveen liimasin ruskeasta nahasta tupin josta kaulanauhan voi pujottaa.

diy copper colored stone pendant with metal wire

diy copper colored stone pendant with metal wire

diy stone pendant with leather

azure

/ Susanoo

Susanna taking photos of her diy´s by the shore

Creativity and new combinations to old and forgotten jewellery. The turqoise pendant is a pairless earring together with some silver and glass jewellery. I love to do my photoshoots outside and especially by the water. The light is usually amazing and the clear water reflects it beautifully. Seashell pendants are easy to do, just find ones with already a hole in it and simply wear it.

 

Hopeakaulakorun uusi elämä. Yhdistelemällä parittomia korvakoruja, eksyneitä helmiä ja unohdettuja riipuksia voi saada aikaan uusia ja yllättäviäkin kokonaisuuksia. Kaulakorun yhdistävänä elementtinä toimii turkoosi väri ja hopea. Iso turkoosikivinen riipus on se pariton korvakoru ja puolikas eksynyt hopeasydän vanhasta kaulakorusta saivat uuden elämän. Turkoosi lasihelmi on riipuksena ketjun päässä. Kaulakoru tuo persoonallisen lisän vaikka yksinkertaisen korun parina.

Rannalta voi myös löytää simpukan kuoria joissa on jo valmiina luonnon muovaamat reiät hopeaketjulle.

sea shells on silver chain

sea shells on silver chain

 

contrast bag

/ Susanoo

Sewing together suede and leather. Same color brown and black but different surfaces makes together interesting combo. This bag I wanted to carry only in my hand so the handles are made shorter. Lining is made out of rigid denim so the bag keeps the form even when you are not carrying so much stuff in it. Leather material recycled and second hand jackets.

Kädessä kannettava nahka/denimlaukku. Laukun idea lähti tilkkutyöskentelystä, olin jo ajatellut pitkään tehdä laukun yhdistämällä samaa väriä eri pinnoilla. Leikkasin laukkuun mustasta ja ruskeasta nahasta ja mokasta kolmionmallisia tilkkuja jotka yhdistin vuorotellen pinnan elävöittämiseksi. Laukun materiaali löytyi taas kirpputoreja kierrellessä, vanhoja nahkahousuja ja takkeja. Laukun takaosa on tehty mustasta denimistä ja laukku on vuoritettu tukevalla paksulla vuorikankaalla. Laukku on siis ryhdikäs vaikka mukana kannettaisiin vain vähäistä määrää tavaraa ja rennompi vaihtoehto asukokonaisuuteen kun et halua kantaa olkalaukkua.

diy bag with suede and leather triangles

diy bag with suede and leather triangles

leather heaven

/ Susanoo

 

Leather can be worked into so many different shapes and the best part is that time always makes leather look better…and cause you can leave the edges raw it is an easy material to work with. All jewellery is made out of recycled material…it is amazing what you can find from second hand stores: old jewellery, brooches, pins and old medals from which new unique creations can be done. Only add imagination!

Nahkaa eri muodoissa. Kaikki korut on tehty kierrätysmateriaaleista; vanhoista vöistä, hylätyistä koruista, kellon hihnoista yms. Nahasta saa punomalla tehtyä nauhaa jota voi käyttää riipuksissa ja käsikoruissa. Ketjuja ja vanhoja koruja löytää helposti kirppareilta…pengo sotkuisimmatkin pikkulaatikot ja löytönä voi olla aitoja hopeakoruja, vanhoja mitaleja, pinssejä ja kaikkea muuta hylättyä mutta silti ehjää koruihin sopivaa materiaalia.

diy bracelet by gluing leather on the surface

diy leather and denim bracelets