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!

Photo-shoot of upcycled aprons

It is almost 1 year that I have started Moi Aussi and this blog. There were many times I was going to stop my upcycling experiments because of the many reasons. We have moved to another house, completely renovated it and we got a 3rd son. I was busy with many things but did not have enough time to keep up to date my blog and my Etsy-shop. During this year I have realized that my main product will be the apron from upcycled jeans. It is original and fun and I am very proud to put useless thing to another life-cycle.
The experience on the markets in the Netherlands, reactions within Etsy-community and my friends, support of my family and my husband prove that I need to continue.
One of my friends, photographer Frank van Naamen proposed me many times to make a photo-shoot of my aprons. As I was not a good model during the pregnancy, he has made a photos with different models. I was very happy with the photos - they are funny and clearly shows my creations.

I have used these photos to change the banner of my Etsy-shop.

From september my aprons are to sale in the shop Style Depot in Rhoon (Netherlands)

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

Upcycling idea - kitesurf bag

Last week I have received the kite surf from one of Damdam's friend.
Kite was laying for one week as a big mass in our entry waiting his turn to be upcycled.
I speed up to open it and cut.
It is nice material to work with. Light and at the same time solid, the fabric has a thin grid to strengthen it.
It should resist against the wind pressure and a fall on the water. I do not know much about kitesurfing.
Even if my husband is fun of the water sports and of kitesurfing particularly, I can not talk hours about it. He can!
And as usual there is a story behind upcycling idea.

It was about 7 years ago. I did the kitesurf training. Surprising!
For summer vacation Damdam organized the training in french sport center UCPA.
If you take time and open website of this organization, you can notice that there are so many activities which you can choose.
I was young, naif and in love with my crazy husband. He did not even asked me which sport I would prefer to practice! He new that when you are beginner you need somebody to help you to operate the kite. As a happy young wife and also happy victim of my Damdam's hobby I learned few things about kitesurfing, wind direction etc, etc.
We were 10 in our group, only one lady. Guess who was it?
After 4 days everybody could swim with the kite in his hands, few man even took the board and could make 4-5 meter before falling into the water. Our trainer worried to leave me along with my kite, I was too much dangerous.
At the end I new that it would never become my sport.
I like to observe kitesurfers far from the beach. We are lucky to leave in Holland where the sandy beaches are huge and I can play with my boys safely while our Damdam amusing with the waves.
But his passion becomes also mine. I can do so much with the broken kites! It is 5-7 m2 of fabric!
First test is a simple bag. The colors of kites are usually bright with interesting picture.
Here it is, my kitesurf bag:

Upcycling idea - Dress Natasha

I was absente for hole week for very good reason - vacation!
It was so nice to come down from Netherlands to the south of France
You automatically multiply the temperature from here by 2 and as a result a lot of pleasure to walk on the sunny streets and to seat in the cafe, always with the sun
But home missed me and my upcycling experiments also
Just next day after return I have finished the dress
I have called it Natasha
And as usual there is a story behind...
My sister Natasha asked me to saw the skirt similar to such which I have in my Etsy shop (Skirt Fleur)
That skirt is very small, for girls of 4 years old
I have started with the same idea, picked all my cut pieces of fabric from old jeans and pants
For first time I have made my own pattern of the skirt
but
immediately  it was obvious that it will never be possible to repeat the design
The pieces of fabric are too small for the women skirt
The advantage of upcycling and creative work in general is that you never know how the end product will look like
After few sessions the skirt became the dress
I had to use the new fabric as well, the top part is upcycled t-shirt
Here it is, my wonderful dress Natasha
It will be soon available in my Etsy shop