recycle

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

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

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

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.”  ;-)

denim wrap & Hermès

/ Susanoo

diy denim wrap skirt from old jeans, pattern from vintage leather skirt

 

The gored skirt is made of several triangular pieces of fabric, known as “gores.” The gores of a skirt are smaller at the top of the waist and wider toward the bottom of the hemline. When these gores are stitched together, the skirt takes on an A-line shape that works well for most body types. This design allows for a flattering fit at the hips and ease of movement while walking.

I bought second hand two pairs of dark denim jeans (5€) and re used them for my denim wrap skirt. I left the hem raw…in time being the hem will soften nicely and create a perfect worn look. I used my old, favourite leather skirt as a base when drawing the pattern. The back pocket from the jeans serves now as a handy front pocket in which my phone or other important stuff easily fits.

The silk top is made out of an old vintage Hermès silk scarf…yes it felt wrong to cut it but I use more the top now, the scarf I used mostly as a hairband.This way I can enjoy more of the beautiful motifs on the scarf; wearing a piece of artwork and true craftmanship.

I want to share with you one interesting fact about Hermès scarfs (source Wikipedia)

“Contemporary Hermès scarves measure 90 cm × 90 cm, weigh 65 grams and are woven from the silk of 250 mulberry moth cocoons. All of the hems are hand-stitched. Scarf motifs are wide-ranging, two silk-scarf collections per year are released, along with some reprints of older designs and limited editions.”

Hermès scarf top and diy denim skirt

diy Hermès scarf top and denim wrap skirt with zipper

 

•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.

 

 

|| mindful ||

/ Susanoo

Some pics of my jewellery diy year 2015.

I was trying out different techniques, such as self made clay and ways of decorating the clay with paint and nailpolish. In my older posts you can find more about these experiments. Some of the pieces turned out nice and few (above and under) became my favourite.

diy pendants from natural stones and odd metal parts

I picked up small stones whenever and wherever I found interesting ones. I let the shape of the object guide the way I am decorating and painting, by doing this I am merely enhancing the hidden beauty already existing.

collage of diy pendants from different materials

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

denim refashioning projects

/ Susanoo

“Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The lord of the Rings

This was just another of my denim clothes refashioning projects. Crafting with old denim clothes is thrifty and you will have a unique garment; here I sew together a pair of jeans and an old denim dress which was outdated in style and shape. The jeans are added to the dress horizontally from the waist and they make a nice fishtail shape to the front. Stars are added for that final, signature touch.
Out of the remaining denim pieces of the dress, I made a clutch with quilting technique, adding a metal handle and a lobster clasp for funky detail. I love to work with denim, you can simply take some of the scraps from your stash and get creative!

 

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

 

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

inklike linen bag with IKEA stencil

/ Susanoo

Linen bag with denim straps. The idea for the pattern came from IKEAs packing material, it was firm enough to work as a stencil. With the black fabric paint and by repeating the stencil I created unique pattern on the fabric. Linen should be worn wrinkled, it is the nature of the material, so this bag just looks more interesting when it is really worn.

Pellavakangaslaukku denimhihnoilla. Idea kankaan kuviointiin lähti IKEAn pakkausmateriaalista, tukena ollut pahvi oli muodoltaan mielenkiintoinen ja käytin sitä sapluunana. Mustalla värillä painaen toistin kuviota muutamaan kertaan, tässä painotyössä ei tarvinnut olla millintarkka, lopputulos on yksilöllinen ja rustiikki kuvion ja värin, koon ja muodon vaihdellessa.

diy linen bag stamped with IKEA packing material

silvered pack

/ Susanoo

This is my first ever back bag made out of leather. Pattern is simple and again the design is zero waste; old second hand leather jacket to be re-used. I decorated the upper and lower part of the bag with silverpainted triangles and also by adding decoration with studs and some fringes in the bottom this bag gaines more rock credibility.

Selkärepun tarina alkoi pienestä kankaisesta repusta jonka joskus itselleni ompelin vanhasta jo tiensä päähän tulleesta rakkaasta paidastani. Halusin kokeilla nahkaa repun materiaalina ja tehdä siitä yhtä yksinkertaisen muotokieleltään kuin kangasreppuni.  Varastossani oli useita sisustusniittejä ja sommittelin niistä kolmiomallisen kuvion repun etuosaan.Halusin myös vuorittaa repun niittien takia ja ompelin vuoriin myös taskun pikkuesineille. Kuviot on painettu hopeamaalilla reppuun, painovälineenä toimi muotoon leikattu meikkisieni. Nahkahapsut repun alareunassa liikkuvat kantajan liikkeiden mukaan ja antavat myös ilmeeseen särmää ja rock-henkeä.

diy black leather back bag with studs and fringes

diy black leather back bag with studs and fringes