Show must go on

After almost 6 moths of designing, sewing, setting up my new shop Cabassole I am back to the up cycling part of me. Back to Moi Aussi activities and my main product - apron from upcycled jeans.
I have received positive feedback from my Etsy friends who are also constantly busy with the improvement of their shops and products. One of the comments was about sides of my apron, which are not covered with fabric.
In the beginning I was using only front of the old jeans.
Then I have decided to use the back in order to propose the bigger size.
The back of the same jeans is always larger.
It is funny, but women choose only aprons made from front.

The main purpose of the apron is to protect our clothes during cooking.
One evening I did not want to work and just browsed blogs of couture, recyclers and eco-fashion designers.
Without any purpose, just to pass time. Suddenly new idea highlighted my mind - how to improve my design.
Here it is my apron from upcycled jeans with the side parts from new fabric.
Cook in style and upcycle toooooo!

Rainbow bag - 1st upcycling idea of 2011

Hi everybody
Finally after big break of the Christmas and New Year holidays I can type the story of the brand-new upcycling idea - Rainbow bag.
I feel that denim becomes my favorite material for the reuse projects. Being busy for 4 months with the collection, cut and reuse of it I cumulated a small bag of the jeans cuts.
It looked like this

Initially I had the idea of the christmas decoration. But I was so buy before Christmas that finally I have abandoned this idea.
In this beginning of the year I wanted to create something bright, collage of colors in combination with the dark but fashionable denim pieces. Another small bag of silk cuts waited his turn as well. I am shamed to show the photo of my studio. It represents a big big mess! I wish I can organize it the near future. But it is another story, the story of my new studio....shhh... it is only a project yet
Ok, in my small atelier 2 bags decided to place themselves nearby and highlight me a new bright idea.
I do not have a photo of the second bag content. There are a cuts of the silk fabric. I bought it in the month of december a long narrow piece of silk on the handwork fair in Rotterdam. The colors are my passion! I came across a belgian store. They sold beautifull threads for knitting. In their factory they produce luxury silk fabrics as well. When they start a new pattern the colors have to be tested. Thus come out long pieces containing the stripes of every color used for particular pattern. It is really beautiful! I could not leave this shop with empty hands. On the top part of every stripe there is a hand writing which delimite a narrow piece. It could not be used in any big project. But being a collector of amazing useless pieces I have left them for the ''better days''.
This is my new delightful creation - Rainbow bag.
Inside I have used a pocket from one of my jeans.
Now available in my Etsy shop

Today morning we were doing photos of my products with Damien. We were trying different position for this bag and children were observing us. Suddenly Gabriel came with his favorite bag and asked to make a photo of his bag. If mama shows her bag, I would like to show mine. The photo is so funny and connected with the upcycling story, that I have decided to show it. If you prefer the bag with Thomas train I will send you the address of the shop

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