My bedroom bench redo

Hey guys haven't posted in a while but I'm back with a quick cool easy project anyone could do and there is no sewing involved. I have a bench at the foot of my bed that I picked up at my local resale shop about a year ago and it had horrible fabric on it but I bought it for the base that I loved. It has really cool curved legs and it was almost spot on the same wood finish as my dresser. I knew I could find some nice fabric and make it my own. This is my third fabric change on the bench which is a cool advantage to a simple project like this because you can change the look of it whenever you want for such a small amount. You only need a few materials a staple gun mines is light weight, staples, scissors, a measuring tool, and fabric and whatever piece your reupolstering .  I got a really cool fabric remnant from Fishman fabrics its a beautiful colorful linen that looks very high end but since it was a remnant I got it super cheap you want to measure whatever you are going to reupolster before you get your fabric to make sure you get enough. Once you've got your fabric you simply lay your fabric on a flat surface with the wrong side facing up lay your piece your covering on top now just cut around the shape leaving just about an inch all around, you will unattach your piece before hand the only thing left to do now is staple all around pulling the fabric tight you can clean up the back by cutting but nobody is looking underneath but I'm picky like that myself. Reattach your piece and your done. It's that simple now you have a custom piece.
* I've attached pictures of the process hope they are helpful
Til next time ~Shutoka

My new favorite kind of top "The Peplum Top"

Hey friends I wanted to make a quick post about my new favorite top to wear. I've been really liking the Peplum trend in shirts and in skirts so I wanted to make one. This one I wore today I made out of a stretch knit fabric so it didn't require a zipper or buttons. I just cut it to my size and it stretches easy to fit. This was the second peplum top I've made the first one I made is out of a woven non stretch fabric so I had to put an invisible zipper in it. I will be posting about that one once I wear it.The thing I love about the peplum trend is that it is very feminine and figure flattering it really gives that hour glass figure look and accentuates the smallest part of you. I know for sure I will be making many more of these tops in various colors, prints, sleeves, no sleeves, turtlenecks you name it. There are cool peplum top tutorials on YouTube if you want to attempt to make one yourself just search DIY peplum top and many will pop up.Get creative and create something uniquely you. 
~I've included pictures of me in my top I finished today til next time Shutoka   

 

Using every inch

Hey friends wanted to make a quick post about using every inch of your fabric. Sometimes after you are done with a project or garment you may have some left and you can definately create from that. I went through some of my leftover fabric the other day and came across a pretty black and white print fabric I used to make a maxi dress this summer. It's a stretch fabric so I knew that even though it didnt look like much I knew I had enough to make a short sleeve fitted shirt. I simply used a shirt I already had traced around it using it as my template or pattern cut it out, pinned, and off to the sewing machine it went. It was super quick to do. I knocked it out last night while watching t.v. on commercial breaks. Dont let your scrap fabric go to waste theres so much you can do with it. Heres a few pics of the shirt. Til next time ~Shutoka

The fabric store

Oh where do I begin I'm sort of a fabric hoarder myself but I'm getting better. To me the fabric store is so exciting I'm a total fabric nerd and that gets me in trouble at the check out line sometimes lol. It can be very overwhelming at times because of all of the choices available in fashion and home decor fabrics. When I first started sewing I would just go in the fabric store with no plan which can leave you open for buying the whole store. I mainly browse through the aisles looking for something to catch my eye. For a beginner sewer I would suggest that you go in with a plan maybe your working with a sewing pattern shop by project. Its better to focus on one thing at a time. Maybe theres a particular color your looking for or a print I can't get enough of print fabric. Look in some magazines or your favorite clothing stores see whats trending hunter green and blue are really hott right now. There is so much to choose from stretch knits, jersey, wools, leather, chiffon, fleece, faux fur tons of cotton you name it. Look inside your most comfortable clothes you have see what fabric its made of your fabric store has it. Also check the remnant section for deep discounts  this section is where they keep fabric thats low on stock or its the end of the bulk. I frequent 5 stores locally here in Chicago they are  Joann fabrics, Hancock fabrics, Vouge fabrics, Fishmans fabrics and LZ Fabric discount warehouse. If anyone wants a detailed breakdown on either of these please don't hesitate to ask. Joann usually always have sales and you can get on their coupon list theyll mail them and send you to your email. Hancock fabrics honors joanns coupons as well. Fishman fabrics is more high end and designer fabrics. Most projects dont take a lot of fabric I can usually make two garments with just a couple yards. I most recently bought a pretty green jersey knit not even 2 yards and was able to make a skirt and a dress. 2 yards of fabric can also get you 3 throw pillows. Go to the fabric store already theres so much more to see and something for everybody.
* Below are pics from my favorite fabric stores

Don't sleep on your local thrift store

Hey guys hope your week is off to a good start. Today I wanted to talk about a thing I do from time to time and thats thrifting. I love buying shiny new things but I can also appreciate old things and enjoy giving something new life afterall it's in to be "green". I love finding furniture items and cool unique things to accessorize with. My apartment is filled with things from the resale shop brown elephant which is around the corner from my house. I try to visit them atleast once a week in hopes of finding my next great steal. Shop outside your neighborhood as well I'm lucky to have a few good shops around my way but if you dont do a little research and find some to visit.  Thrift stores in nicer neighborhoods have nicer things and prices can follow but your goodwill and salvation army stores always remain cheap even in those neighborhoods.This past mothers day I found my mom a very nice condition antique sofa and chair she absolutely loves it. Just today I found a few nice fall pieces from j crew for 6 bucks each. You can also find cool vintage unique jewlry I always find nice belts too. When I'm shoping I'm looking at the potential of an item some things need a lil tlc or alterations but even after all that you still come out ahead. Reduce reuse recycle I do my part at my local resale shop. Try it sometimes dont knock it til you try it til next time ~Shutoka ;)
*below I've included just a few of my finds 

Outfit of the day

Hey guys hope all is well today I  wanted to share with you a maxi dress I months ago that I'm just now wearing. I bought the fabric back in february when I was in New York for my birthday. When I saw it it screamed summertime and I  had to have it plus I'm a fan of most things floral. Most of my maxi dresses I make in one piece since most of the time I'm using fabric with a lot of stretch so they hug my shape. This fabric has some stretch but not too much so I made it in two parts for a better fit because my upper body and lower body dimensions are a bit out of proportion, thanks mommy for these 42 inch child bearing hips lol I'm not complaining tho. It was still really simple to make I connected the lower skirt to the top portion of the dress and that was it put an elastic casing at the top to hold it firmly in place hemmed it and that was it.  I really love how it turned out and it hits the floor just the way I like too.
* below are pictures of me in the dress til next time ~Shutoka

Quick and Easy Top!

Hey friends hope all is well I'm great I wanted to share with you this cute and very easy top I made and wore today. It can also be worn as high waist skirt its a two for one project.  I made it and threw it right on and headed for the door. Anyone can make this one you can't mess it up. I got the fabric ages ago at Joann fabrics it's 100% cotton. It can be made in an hour or less if your fast and not distracted. The shirt is literally your fabric cut into a square using 2  measurements I used my hip measurement plus a few inches because I wanted the shirt to hang at my hips. For the length I measured from right above my bust strait down to my hips. To make the shirt fitted used elastic thread and sewed a straight line across the width of the shirt you repeat many rows of this I did about 15 this is called shirring its found in lots of clothing it gives that gathered scrunched up look. Lastly I just hemmed the top and bottom of the shirt ironed it and put it on it's that simple. This summer I made a lot of dresses this same way you would just extend the length to however long you want it. This is a very simple beginner project that can be done by anyone really. If you want to tackle this project feel free to leave me a message if you want further instruction it would be my pleasure.
 * Below I've attached pictures from today in the shirt that you can make too ;) til next time ~Shutoka  

Inspiration

Happy Labor Day friends I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. I wanted talk about inspiration today. I'm constantly inspired by many things it's all around us. When I'm inspired it gets my creative juices flowing, but for someone else they might be inspired to go shopping or redecorate or get a cool new do. Whatever your vice it's always cool and nice to transition and evolve. I often get excited and inspired by things like colors, fabrics and even shoes. I mean who doesn't love a good shoe. I often troll the internet and flip through numerous magazines during my creative process looking for ideas. I really love looking at beautiful clothes and then putting my own unique stamp on it. I like to see whats trending but I dont always follow its always wise to keep those classic pieces in your closet. Celeb fashion is always fun I like seeing how they are styled but you can see fashionable people everyday walking down the street. Summer is my favorite season but I'm excited about fall this year I want to explore working with materials I've never worked with like tweed,wool, houndstooth, leather and suede all things I use to be afraid to sew with but I've been inspired so I'm crossing my fingers for some really nice pieces. Either way I will be learning in the process
*I've included pics below of things inspiring me as of late. I'm gonna attempt to recreate so wish me luck, till next time ;) ~Shutoka