Happy holiday time

I am very happy today because of one good news : I was invited to participate in exposition ''Rotterdam Review'' in Studio Hergebruik! If I will be lucky one of my creations will see the ''real world'' and will be shown during month of January in the center of Rotterdam! The most interesting for me is to meet another experienced and young upcyclers and exchange the experience.
Voila, December was very busy with the preparations for the holidays.
And I would like to thank all my faithful and occasional blog readers.
Your support and comments are very important for me, give extra force and wish to go further with new upcycling ideas and constant search in this matter.
I have many resolutions for next year (hope you too) and few fresh upcycling ideas

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and
many many many thanks
Zvet

As last the upcycling ideas for new year tree:
Christmas tree by Design Pack gallery posted by Recycart

Book new year tree by Gleeson Library in San Francisco posted by Recyclart

Shopping cart Christmas tree by Anthony Schmitt posted by Recyclart

Have you bought already your Christmas Tree?
If not check the site of Dutchhandmade team (I am the member also) for great ideas and upcycle2

Jumble parade

Two weeks ago we had a funny exercise to do on my design course.
We have being training our creativity during one lesson.
Everybody had to bring a piece or two of an old cloth and transform it in something totally new.
The main idea was - not to think, just explode imagination. We had only 2,5 hours to prepare our new garments and with the color scotch tape you can assemble easy and fast.
This is the picture of our jumble parade. Can you guess which one is mine?

Later I will show my original piece...

Tjota Tonja - upcycling idea

Tjota Tonja sounds and looks very strange for somebody who does not speak russian.
"Tjota'' (rus. тётя) means ''aunt'' and Tonja (rus. Тоня) is a translation of shorten russian name Antonina.
We always shorten our official names.
For example my name is Svetlana but my family and my friends call me Svet.

And the story of today is about dolls. It is not really my passion, I am not a collector either.
I have discovered recently an interesting blog of Marina Bychkova who makes the extraordinary dolls.
The story of her passion which became a world known with the brand Enchanted Doll called my memories  about the dolls from soviet shops. When I was small they sold a very popular doll "Zolyshka'' (Assepoester). I have tried to find the photo on internet of Assepoester which looks like one I had. On this site there are many examples of soviet dolls and probably mine was more or less like doll on the picture.

I remember I had to choose a toy for my birthday and we went to the shop with my mother. The dolls looked beautiful for me. I have asked my mother to buy the famous Assepoester promising not to damage it and keep it properly. Few weeks after we decided to play a "Hairdresser" with my sister and a poor Assepoester left our hairdresser shop almost bald.

All these souvenirs inspired my new upcycling idea - doll Tjota Tonja.

I had a T-shirt. As some of my clothes, it finished in the box with a spot on the sleeve.

It has a funny applique work of a lady on the front side. 

The label is ''Antognini Jeans'' from which name Tjota Tonja comes.

Here there are - my old t-shirt and a doll. Behind I have used my old pull-over.

I have 2 sons and they play with cars and constructors. 

If you like this doll, just write me email with your address and I will send it to you. 

It can also be used as a small voyage pillow in the car or train. The filling is soft polyester. 

Tjota Tonja will pack her bags and move to another country.

She should be happy, after months in the dark box she will start a new life in the house of a Winner!

Merci! 

As last the photos of the fragile dolls of Marina Bychkova

Pop Top - Upcycle2

Pop Top. What is it? Do you know?
I will make the presentation of this small and very useful thing.
I think everybody drinks time to time beverages from drinking cans.
The stay-tab opening mechanism calls Pop Top.

I did not know before that somebody collects this tabs and makes beautifull thing.

The initiative groupe of Escama Studio from Brazil assembled the hand crafters and local designers to make the recycled fashion accessories using traditional crochet techniques. 

Bag Leda 

Bag Luci

Broach Brooch

Belt Sandra

Behind this beautiful products are people with their stories, hard work and the intention to make this world cleaner. Watch the video showing how the pull tabs bags are made.

And the few words about Ermal Fraze who in 1959 decided to invent an improved beverage can.

First can did not have any openings and people had to purchase a separate opener.

After few adaptations of his initial design Fraze developed a can, known as a pull-top can.

Unfortunately pull-tops cans caused several injuries and drinkers even swallowed it.

Issue was solved in 1977 by the design of push-in and fold-back tab. 

The tab remains attached to the can and the principle is still used for the mass production of beverages today.

As last I would like to refer to the showcased on Brasilia Fashion week in 2006 the work of Ronaldo Fraga.

If you still have in your garage cans from the last summer party and you do not know what to do with them look at the tutorial given by Escama Studio and a treasury collection of designers from Etsy.

and

 try to upcycle too

Winter market in Poortugaal with Kwast & Lijm

Today I would like to make a presentation of the village where my boys go to school Poortugaal.
I do not speak yet good enough Netherlands. When I pronounce Poortugaal it sounds as Portugal.
There is a very big difference! We live in Holland.
But the country Portugal is on my list of places which I would like to visit.
Long description for short story - Winter market
I will make a publicity:

Huge choice of unique items 

for your Christmas and St Klaas presents

when and where

1 December from 14-00 till 21-00

Dorpsstraat

Poortugaal

I will be there together with my friends Jessica, Saskia and Angelique from Kwast & Lijm

We have a stand. Come to meet us and discover our products

These 3 nice ladies have a workshop atelier in the center of Rhoon.

If you would like to organize creative kids party it is the best address!

Here we are in the Atelier Kwast & Lijm

Not really nice skirt

There is a very interesting shop in the centre of Rotterdam which sells very unusual things Studio Hergebruik.
It's stands for ''Studio Reuse".
We always come in when we walk in Rotterdam. It looks like museum of recycling and upcycling.
After being started with my upcycling experiments and also with my work as an independent designer I was looking for a contact with this studio for further promotion of Moi Aussi products.
Last week I was invited to participate in the 3rd exposition of Studio hergebruik.
What a beautiful challenge! Every designer is supposed to send the photos of 3 items with a description for the selection of a jury.
I had already in my mind 2 things - kitesurfbag with Flower and apron Queen of cooking.
And here is a story of 3rd item - "Not really nice skirt"

I have received 2 bags fool of old clothes from one of my friends.
I like very much to work with jeans. When I was removing a stitches I have made a big hall.
It's a painstaking task - to undo all stitches! But I am not discouraged. 
After doing it many times I have worked out few tips and the preparation work seems to be easier now. 
So the initial idea was to make another apron, but with a big hole on the front side it was not possible any more. 
And the example of Formed fitting dress from Ecouterre denim recycling contest stayed in my mind. 
I have tried to go further with the look of a jeans put upside down.
The idea of the skirt was almost compeleted and the sketch as well.  
I have tried it on the dress form, made a selection of the textiles which are to be combined with a jeans.
I was excited to see how new model will look like. 
During a production process I have tried it on myself and when it was not ready yet thought: "oh, it is not really nice skirt; do you think it will be suitable for exposition''. With patience I have finished this garment and added last details - flower appliqué and small stripes. 
Finally very glad with the result I can say - ''It is really nice skirt!''
Hope my photos will attract the attention of the commission of ''Upcycling-recycling Nestors'' and my products will be exposed. Cross the fingers for me!


Front side:

Right side:

Behind:

Left side

Queen of cooking

I get so much inspiration and influence from my fashion design lessons!

We talk about styles, designers, colors, details, tendencies for coming spring.

But winter is knocking on the door. In the morning we feel sometimes the breath of a cold air.

I like all seasons. But it is human - we wish always weather to be less warm in the summer and during winter more colors, more flowers. So do I. I have changed a bit my apron today using black and white fabric and adding a flower. Nice result. Almost ''haute couture'' for such everyday women exercise - cooking. The receipt of my favorite winter dish is simple - few flowers, snowflakes, a drop of humor and your dinner will be appreciated by all family.

Packaging - Upcycle2

Today I would like to make a presentation of the packaging upcycling.
The idea came from an article in a dutch magazine Textile plus.
I have asked authorization to use partly a content of this magazine for the presentation of upcycling ideas on my blog. If you do not read in netherlands, it is a nice opportunity to learn something new about a designers from the country where I leave - Netherlands.
The initial text was published in Textiel plus magazine number 211 in an article ''Van niets tot iets'' by Yvanka Linders. I do not pretend to be a professional translator.
My main purpose is to give you a new source of inspiration.

From nothing to something
Some designers start from an idea and work out it till the concept.
Others start from one material and then look for an idea and a final product.
How can you make something from nothing?
Let's take as example a packaging. We will see, that it can take totally different function then initial one. Why not to blow a new life in it?
Take one material and try to look at it differently.
Remove it from its usual context, give it a different form,  turn it in your hands, cut it.
The result is above your expectations!
If you have a limited choice of the materials, you have more chances to explore multiple possibilities. Limitation stimulates your fantasy and creativity.
Moreover you can practice with simple and low cost things.
In the beginning the expensive materials can block your experiments.
The packaging materials are our everyday basic things which we open and through away normally. Look, play, search and discover one-of-a-kind new form and idea.
Maybe you will see what nobody else have seen yet.
Nice and funny examples

 Chequita chandelier of Anneke Jakobs.

Upcycling designer Niels Craens made his famous lamp Enjoy Twice using cardboard drinking packages.

Dutch designer Wolfram Behrend made a table from typical paperbox from the supermarket

Laptop bag from Portland cement paper bag

Realistic sculptures made from cardboard by Chris Gilmour

A Pavilion of Pallets made by students of Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark

Watch the fun video how it was built

Pallet office by Most Architecture published by Recyclart

Chips umbrella posted by Sunrise Packaging

Chandelier from milk crates posted by Curbly

Mini drum kit posted by Recyclart

And as usual cheer up and try to Upcycle2

My first pattern

I have made the introduction of the association SKVR where I am following the course of Fashion design.
Today I would like to show what we are doing there.
We have prepared the drawing of our future clothing.
The following step was to make ourselves the pattern and the seams from the simple white cotton.
It is already 3 lessons we are busy with this exercise.
And finally I have something to show you.
Our working creative environment:

Transformations of my dress:

Initial drawing:

The final presentation of my dress:

I have to choose the fabric in which I would like to sew this dress.
Next week I will go to the fabric store! There is no idea yet of the color and the texture of textile which I will use. There is something to think about this weekend! J'adore!

Your everyday jeans - Upcycle2

I do not know a person who does not have at least a pair of jean ? 

It became so popular for any age and any style persons. 

Even in the offices it is now-days acceptable by the dress code to wear a jean for the managers. 

It is comfortable, it is trendy, it is sexy and you can wear it for years. I remember DamDam had a pair of jeans which was 10 years old when I put it in the waste bin. It happened before the upcycling revolution came at our home.
I have posted already my own upcycling idea. 

Upcycling is one of the important subjects which interests me and while doing my own search I came across the announcement for The Ecouterre Recycled Denim Challenge supported by Gap 1969 Stream. 

I was planning to post my apron but we left home for vacation. 

Many crafters and designers posted their inventions. I will show some of them.

The famous brands as Levi’s commits to produce the water less jeans. Company focuses on the sustainability, promoting reuse, recycling and upcycling.

I come from Civil engineering world and was surprisingly satisfied to learn that it is possible to make wall insulation from old jeans. Maybe we can earn money soon by selling our old jeans to manufacturers producing this type of construction material.

So you have more ideas now what to do with your old jeans.

Waist bin ? Too easy ! Start to upcycle2

Upcycling denim collection from Ecouterre Recycled Denim Challenge.

Cute for babies:

Bags

Lace denim clutch

Denim accessoires:

Table setting mat

Denim Jacket

Denim corset

Geometric dress

Form fitting dress

Denim table by Ciske van Berkel posted by Recycleart