Ring Around the Rosie (Winter DIY Series)

As I cry over the outcome of the Redskins playoff game, I bring you part two of my Winter DIY Series.  Like I said yesterday, these are simple projects that are fun to make and great gifts!! 

 

Today's project is a country-chic drink coaster made out of an old CD; easy and super easy to customize (depending on how you decide to finish it).

For this project, you need an old CD or DVD (mine is a Conair blowdryer tutorial), a long bit of twine, some felt, spray paint, and a simple glue gun (be sure you have many, many glue sticks on hand).

I started by wrapping my twine in a spiral shape from the center of the CD moving out, using my glue gun to attach the twine as I went along. 

After I completely covered the CD in twine, I cut the end and secured the loose end with an extra bit of glue.

Next, I traced my CD on my felt.  I cut out that circle and used my glue gun to attach the felt to the exposed underside of my CD.

After securing the felt, I filled in the center of the coaster (CD) with a small spiral of twine that I glued to the felt underneath.

After adding the center, I was essentially finished my project.  However, to give the coaster a more uniform look (and to contrast more with its companion gift), I decided to spray paint the top part of my coaster bronze with a multi-surface metallic paint.  After allowing the paint to dry, I had my brand new coaster (aka, half of my Dad's Christmas present)!!

Stay tuned for even more fun, easy DIY tutorials for any occasion.  Have a good night, all!!

Love, Leaza

Seven AM, The Usual Morning Line-up... (Winter DIY Series)

As I said in my last post, I've had a lot of extra time on my hands during break.  Since I've hardly had any time to myself since the summer, I have a mile long list of DIY projects that I have wanted to complete.  I've actually impressed myself with how many projects I have tackled over the past three weeks and I am thrilled to share them with you.  These are all super simple projects that have only taken me a few hours at most; these are great for the beginner crafter to try.

First up, I created an upcycled sweatshirt based on Jessica Simpson's top in this photo:

I have had a basic light brown sweatshirt for a long time that I never really wear.  I got it at Forever21 about a year or so ago when it was on sale as a "yellow-tag deal".  As cozy as it is, I find it spending more time in my backpack than actually being worn because it fit a little oddly and was just too plain... don't get me wrong, I love basic neutral pieces more than most people, there was just something weird about this shirt.

But of course, I love my warm clothes and couldn't stand to see this warm shirt go to waste.  It reminded me of a blank canvas, and though I wanted to upgrade it, I wasn't quite sure how.  So I searched sweatshirt DIY projects on Pinterest and was pin-spired by a tutorial that I found on the blog Wobisobi for this Jessica Simpson top.  It seemed simple enough to try and complete in about a day at most, so I gave it a try.  I didn't follow the tutorial verbatim, so take a look at my project!!

First, I cut the neck out of my sweatshirt.

This step terrified me, since I am never good with  freehand drawing, especially with
fabric paint.  Luckily, my abstract "leaf" pattern turned out pretty well.  I filled in the
outline by spreading my fabric paint with a paintbrush, making sure to stay within the
lines.  (To make this step easier, you could pre-draw and and cut out a stencil made
 of poster board or cardboard with an exacto knife.)

I then created a similar design in the bottom corner of my sweatshirt.  I filled in the
design by spreading my fabric paint with my paintbrush again.  After I made sure
that the pain was evenly spread over my design, I let it sit for a few hours to dry.

When the paint dried, I used fabric scissors (you could use a sharp exacto knife)
to cut out the cutouts that I had predetermined in my design.  After shaving away
a few loose threads, I had my brand new sweatshirt!!

I hope you give this tutorial a try to dress up any old, boring sweatshirts you may have!

Until next time, my awesome readers :)

Love, Leaza

Something's Coming, Something Good

Since I've been on winter break, I have a bunch of new DIY projects coming in the next week. Get ready to get crafty with me!!

In the meantime, check out these project sneak peeks:

Be back soon!!

Love, Leaza

To Love Another Person is to See the Face of God

Happy New Year!! I hope that everyone has had a fantastic holiday season and I hope that your 2013 is filled with love, peace, and blessings.  I am sorry that I have been MIA as of late; my laptop had completely broken and I was absolutely swamped with schoolwork and holiday preparation and celebration that I didn't even have time to borrow one of my siblings' computers.  Luckily, I have a new laptop now so I am back and ready to write for the new year!!

Now, if you've seen some of my other posts, you may have noticed that I am a fan of most musical theatre... I mean, it is my major after all.  So naturally, I had been dying to see the Les Miserables movie adaptation for months before it was released on Christmas Day.  Somehow, I managed to survive until last Wednesday at 3:10.

What was my take on the film??  Overall, I loved it.  I thought that it was the most well-done movie musical adaptation that I had ever seen.  I thought the acting was superb throughout, as well as most of the singing.  I also am head-over-heels for the concept of the actors singing live on set; it adds so much more realism and grit to the overall work, and it gives me substantially more respect for each of the actors.

In addition to being stuck by the beauty of the acting, song, and story, I was also in love with the set and costumes that really truly were the glue that held all of the various elements of the production together and made it even more beautiful.  To honor the movie, I've decided to write--what else?-- an inspired-by fashion post!!

Who Am I?

The movie centers primarily around the life and times of Jean Valjean, played by the brilliant Hugh Jackman. Valjean is an ex-convict living in France during the early-1800s.  After a priest inspires a spiritual epiphany, Valjean disposes of his former identity by breaking his parole and turns his life around, becoming the successful and respected mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer.  However, when he learns that a man bearing his face is going to be arrested as the missing ex-con, Jean Valjean, his conscience forces him to turn himself in, thus erasing all of the life-changes that he has made over the past eight years.  Luckily, he manages to evade recapture and adopts Cosette.  The two of them live on the run in order to keep Valjean out of prison once more.

Give Valjean's 1800's neutrals a feminine twist by layering a studded collar blouse under a black sweater emblazoned with a metallic cross, an allusion of Valjean's deep faith.  Layer a statement necklace with charms shaped as crosses under the blouse's collar for added interest and a pop of purple color.  Olive green skinnies and black androgynous smoking slipper style flats add to the neutral theme, and the black peacoat helps to keep warm yet classy in the winter chill.  Finally, add a touch of whimsy with this fun peanut butter and jelly ring that alludes to the story's inciting incident.

I Dreamed a Dream

Fantine (played by Anne Hathaway) is a worker in a factory which Valjean-as-Mayor owns.  After being fired from her position, she attempts to make her way on the streets, dedicating every penny she earns to her illegitimate daughter Cosette who is being cared for by nearby innkeepers.  Fantine grows more and more desperate, selling her hair for money and eventually sinking to prostitution as a last resort.

Get a Fantine-inspired look with this simple pink dress, the color that Fantine is wearing when we are initially introduced to her in the film.  A loose-fitting waterfall cardigan is a stylish allusion to the rags that she eventually wears, just as this double buckle belt subtly alludes to her corset during her time as a prostitute.  Keep warm but practical in these thick knit knee socks paired with rugged combat boots.  Accessorize with this pretty, embellished choker necklace (Fantine is rarely seen without a choker in the stage version!).

I Am the Law

Inspector Javert (played by Russell Crowe) begins as Valjean's prison guard who grants him his release from jail after the 19 year sentence.  He has a very strong sense of right and wrong and adheres to the letter of the law.  After learning that Valjean has broken parole and disappeared, he dedicates his life to finding and re-capturing Valjean, to Javert, will always be "a fugitive running, fallen from God, fallen from grace".

Get Javert's no-nonsense look with this sheer button down layered over a bright red camisole.  Add a military inspired navy blazer, as it is Javert's signature piece.  Khaki cords and black riding boots are clean-cut, warm, and classic.  Accessorize with fleur de lis earrings (Javert is the symbol of French law, after all), and add this unique jewel-encrusted brooch to your blazer to give off an air of authority.

A Heart Full of Love

Cosette (played by Isabelle Allen and Amanda Seyfried) is Fantine's illegitimate daughter who is housed by an innkeeper family when her mother is no longer able to care for her.  She lives a Cinderella-esque existence; the innkeepers treat her as a servant while their daughter Eponine is treated like a princess.  Upon her mother's demise, Valjean rescues Cosette from her cruel life and takes her with him as he evades Javert and seeks sanctuary in various churches, convents, and moves from home to home every so often.  Inside the gate of one of those homes, Cosette meets and falls in love with a young student revolutionary named Marius Pontmercy.  However, after Valjean and she leave that home after a home invasion, she fears that she will never see Marius again.  Cosette serves as a symbol of quiet love and strength throughout the film.

Cosette is probably the most feminine character, so start this look off with this gorgeous light blue Modcloth dress.  Add trendy chunky lace up booties and opaque black tights to keep your look simple, period-appropriate, yet still trendy.  To keep warm, add this cape-style cardigan, similar to the cape that Cosette wears while traveling.  Accessorize with a unique pendant necklace that references young Cosette's iconic dream song, Castle on a Cloud.  Add a few rings; this heart shaped one references her romantic nature and the butterfly alludes to the butterfly that was sitting on the gate during her duet with Marius (did that distract anyone else?).  Finally, add this beautiful lace and floral headband to your hair, an allusion to her final costume from the film...

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

Marius Pontmercy is a student revolutionary who, though he comes from wealth, sympathizes with the plight of the poor and fights for them.  He falls in love with Cosette, and when he realizes that his revolting could cause his death and thus separate the lovers, he is faced with a conflict of his head and heart.  He is also pined after by a grown-up Eponine; however, he is completely oblivious to her affections, seeing the poor street urchin as merely a sister.

Get Marius's simple look with a royal blue pussy bow blouse (the bow is similar to Marius's intricately styled scarves) layered under a tweed blazer that boasts the colors of the rebellion.  Black skinny jeans and flat booties keep your look no-nonsense and ready to fight (the pop of blue on the sole of the shoe both matches the shirt and gives the look a trendy touch).  Add a beautiful black and gold ring that is similar to Marius's family heirloom which serves as a big plot device.  Get in touch with Marius's romantic side by painting your nails in the color Je T'aime (which means "I love you" in French) and adding this simple cord bracelet with a pretty gold heart charm.

Masters of the House

The Thenardiers (Madame and Monsieur) are the innkeepers who are charged with Cosette's care.  They are awful guardians, as they are nothing but thieves, con-artists, and common criminals.  They keep every penny of Fantine's money for themselves, just as they steal from all of their inn's visitors.  The conniving duo provides the comedic relief that is much needed in such a dark film, and Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen keep the audience in stitches.




Steal the eccentric duo's fashion with this daring look.  Mix prints and textures by matching these paisley printed  jeans with a sheer black polka dot blouse layered over a gold sequin bandeau top.  Add a blue velvet blazer with royal blue "power heel" booties.  Next, layer on the accessories! Pile on bangles, rings, and necklaces of all shapes, sizes, and metals; more is more when you're the master of the house!!  Don't forget an on trend oversized clutch in order to store all of the money and bling that you've stolen from your customers!

For even more inspiration, check out CollegeFashion.net's post on fashion inspiration taken from Eponine, Enjolras, Gavroche, and the Friends of the ABC.  And if you haven't seen the film yet, hurry up and get to your nearest theater as soon as possible (don't forget your tissues)!!

Have you seen the film yet?? What did you think of it??  Did you like these more modern interpretations of the movie's fashion?? Let me know!!

Love, Leaza