Tomorrow  is the big day.  May* and I are headed off to help out at a big music festival near our home and we are so excited for the day to finally be upon us!  We have been working diligently this week to get things done on the festival grounds – but before the madness began, I made sure I had enough time to make myself something I have been dreaming of using at the festival for months.  Of course I procrastinated a little and only made it last week, but it turned out wonderfully and I couldn’t be more happy with it!  Because I will be working all day at the festival, I needed something to carry everything I need in it – phone, aspirin, sun block, chapstick, etc. – without being weighed down by my super wonderful but big, bulky purse.  If you have been reading our blog for even a short time, you probably know that I am completely in love with “non” fanny packs, or “hip bags” so that is what I decided to make.

A few months back when I was looking around on Etsy.com, I stumbled across a seller named Carrot Cake and I FELL IN LOVE with all of her stuff.  I have a big thing for bows in addition to hip bags and she has created something she calls a “Fancy Pack”.  It is brilliant.  The sides of the bow are actually pockets so you can be super cute while being efficient with your storage space because you wear it around your waist.

I decided to try my hand at making one and I thought I would share a tutorial in case anyone else wants to try it.  It definitely would have been easier for me to just buy one from Carrot Cake and I’m sure it’s finished more professionally but mine will work great for tomorrow and I am so excited to use it!  If you are a little frightened of making one yourself, I would definitely check out her site – she has so many great things!

Materials:

1. Vinyl – I bought a yard from Walmart and it’s actually more like pleather(you won’t use a whole  yard)

2. An old messenger bag with webbing strap

3. Durable thread(I used upholstery thread)

4. Sewing machine and large needle in your machine to go through multiple layers of vinyl

5. Sticky back velcro

6. Scissors, pins, any other sewing supplies

Step 1: Detach the strap from your bag and cut 4 8″x16″ rectangles of your vinyl material

Step 2: Cut a piece of the canvas from your messenger bag small enough to fit inside the vinyl pieces.  Place your vinyl right sides together, pin and sew around 3 sides, leaving one of the smaller sides open(repeat with other 2 pieces of vinyl)

Step 3: I decided to put my canvas inside the “pocket” after I sewed the edge.  Put the canvas in the middle(this will make it more durable and able to hold it’s shape better).  Place the two double-sided pieces of vinyl together with one opening on the right and the other opening on the left, pin.

Step 4: Sew 3 sides together leaving one of the longer sides open to create a “pocket”

Step 5: Cut a 4″x6″ piece of vinyl and fold it in half long ways with right sides facing.  Sew the long open side closed and turn right side out.  Fold it in half again with short ends together and sew them closed to create a loop, turn the loop right side out with the seams on the inside.

Step 6: Accordion fold your large vinyl pocket how you want your bow to look and slide the loop on and over to the middle, now you have your bow!

Step 7: Thread your strap through the back of the loop and sew the strap to each edge of the bow(obviously not sewing through the whole pocket but just one side) so that the weight distributes evenly when you put things in it

Step 8: Use your sticky back velcro on the tops of the pockets so your goodies don’t fall out while you wear this super cool belt/hip bag around

And you’re done!  And it even has an adjustable strap  so you can wear it low on your hips or high around your waist.  Who says fanny packs have to be ugly?!

Even if you plan to try this project out yourself, go visit Carrot Cake’s shop – she even has suspenders and hair accessories with bows!  I definitely plan to purchase something from her soon!  And if you DO attempt this project, send me some pictures, I would love to see how it turns out and any improvements you might make!

Karen Elson The Ghost Who Walks

Open shelving in kitchens is better than cherry pie – and I love cherry pie.  I’m actually not sure why I made that comparison, it just felt right at the time so I went with it.  Open shelving doesn’t only have to be a couple of boards laying across braces(although I do LOVE that look), people are also just taking off their cupboard doors to display their dishes.  As a person who spends most of their money on kitchen supplies, I am definitely a fan of showing it off and I don’t want to hide it behind a couple of sheets of wood.  Yes, keep the cabinet doors underneath to hide the really big pots and ugly flamingo bowls you got from Aunt Sally for your wedding and only pull out for the rare occasion that she drops into town, but otherwise – be proud of your dishes and let them shine!

For goodness sake, I know you want to see these pictures but what are you still doing here?  Go, take a screw driver or even just your bare hands and rip the doors off your cabinets right now!  You might even be able to make a cute table or a pair of wooden clogs with the scraps of wood.  Okay – maybe not the clogs, but something.   And seriously…don’t even get me started on this open pantry.  I’m salivating here.

(All photos from Houzz.com)

I came across this uber-cool collection today, and I am smitten!  It’s a designer by the name of Dunhill and this is some of their Fall 2010 collection.  It’s brings to mind the look of Gattica or even Inception.  I know we all like to be comfy in our clothes and that’s understandable, but how incredible would it be if men wore suits on a daily basis – just because?

What do you think?  Do you prefer your man in low waisted jeans and a t-shirt, or would you like him to be in a Joseph Gordon Levitt-esque suit and tie?

Throwing something on the grill or spending a day at the pool are necessities for summer – but you must also hit up at least one music festival to make this time of year official.  It’s about hanging out with friends, the sun and sometimes sand, getting dirty and feeling pleasantly exhausted afterward, and hopefully good music.  The team of MayDae* has spent months working for a music festival this year and it’s finally here on Saturday!  Even working, it is a must to remain perfectly dressed and accessorized – and it is definitely possible.  This week our Etsy.com picks are all about having fun, staying cute and well-prepared, and listening to a little music – with thousands of other people.

May’s Etsy Picks:

Great earrings and breath taking hair.

Amazing net top

Cute and comfy.

Such a striking look.

(earrings from This ILK, stage photo by Solid Ashes, net top from Santoki Vintage, vintage sun hat from Vera Vague, black t-shirt from Babooshka Vintage, sunglasses from Duchess Vintage, aberfraw deckchair from Gallant and Jones, flower dress from The Bea Project)

Dae’s Etsy Picks:

Comfy playsuit

I apparently…love hip bags(NOT a fanny pack!)

Drink water.

(navy blue playsuit by Miss Minette Vintage, good morning sunglasses from Thrush Vintage, Flaming Lips photo by Anne Blue Siegler Photography, denim hip bag by Emma Pintado, floppy hat from Prance & Swagger, beeswax lip balm from Tasham Spa, lace up flats from Peacock Feet, water bottle tote by Pacific Coast Highway, lawn chair from Yellow Dog Vintage)

This will be a work weekend with a heavy load – but first, I’m headed to a press conference today.  What are you doing for your break from the daily grind?

A little bedroom inspiration on this fine Thursday.  As soon as I get a break, I am going to do a complete bedroom overhaul.  Paint, paint, and fabric.

(all photos from Design Sponge)

Today  I am wondering how I never knew about Noa Noa.  I mean – I know there has to be a lot of fashion labels that I don’t know about, but after stumbling upon some of these photos recently, it baffles me that I had no idea this Danish company existed.  Their clothing is feminine and delicate, which I love – but the thing that causes my heart to go pitter-pat are their photographs and the portrayal of their style and design…incredible.

(www.NoaNoa.dk)

Last weekend I took a much needed break and went thrifting for almost 3 hours by myself.  I found some cute stuff – wanna see 2 of them?

This vintage toy bin is made to look like a circus wagon of some sort.  Definitely hand made (which I adore), and so unique.  It immediately made me think of this.

When I brought it home, my thought was to have it hold stuffed animals in my kid’s bedroom (because we all know that stuffed animals are huge, never get played with, and just take up an inordinate amount of space), but, I quickly found out that little circus wagon here will never be sturdy enough for a bedroom that houses a 7, almost 5, and 3 year old.  I can imagine the first day – packed to the brim with toys, books, and blankets, and my 3 year old riding on top for approximately 1 minute until the handle comes loose, the wheels roll off, and the sides drop to the floor.  It would have made me cry.  Alas, circus wagon will happily adorn my “Make” space and hold my fabric; looking lovely whilst doing so.

My favorite part?  The casters.  I would love if everything in my house could be on vintage casters.  Actually, I read an article once that featured a man who lived in a big industrial warehouse with concrete floors, and all of his furniture was on casters.  He was able to move everything around whenever he wanted.  So cool.  I don’t remember anything else about where I read it, so if you know what I’m talking about – send a link!  My second favorite part?  The $3 price tag.  Such a good deal!

I also happened upon this bag of vintage wooden hangers (only $.25 each!), and fell instantly in love.  No, I won’t be using them for my pants, but maybe for something like this?  Sneak peek to give you an idea:

Second hand shopping and cheap unique finds – double yay.  What is your favorite purchase from a  thrift store or flea market?

It’s that special time of week when the sister-team of MayDae scours Etsy for our current favorite items.  This week we narrowed it down to our favorite art prints, and believe us, it wasn’t easy!  If you ever need some kick-in-the-head inspiration, browse through the print category on Etsy, and be prepared to want every piece you see.

Do tell which of these you would like to hang on your kitchen wall or place on the shelf next to your bed.

May’s Etsy picks:

*Note to friends and family – if you want to buy me a mid-July present just for the heck of it,  choose one of these.  Thank you.

I want this.  I need this.

Wise, very wise.

I love this with a passion.

The eyebrows are my favorite.

Isn’t this just confusingly wonderful?

(Kiss from Near Modern Disaster, “Hello, Also” by The Big Harumph, Robot coffee love from Hearts and Laser Beams, John Keats quote by Color Bee, Whistle from Hello Marine, Conan quote by Charm Studio, record play from John W Golden, blood vessels from Jeak,  ladies singing by Horse Drawn Carriage, scissors by Paper and Canvas)

Dae’s Etsy picks:

Reminds me of a love story that could be from the Little Prince

Glasses.

Yes it is.

“I like your scarf.”

(Monsieur by cosas minimas, I love you blogs and coffee from MadeByGirl, Love by Holli, Portrait from Be Happy Now, Cheer up by Paper Pattern Silk, Let it go from Nan Lawson, Yellow bike from letterhappy, Imagination from Studio Mela, Needle and thread by Virginia Kraljevic, I like your scarf from Ashley G and Drew)