FAUX LEATHER SWEATER DIY

Grüetzi!  I’m excited to be blogging from Switzerland.  The husband and I will be based here for the next three months while he is a visiting fellow at the University of Basel.  I finally have a chance to practice my non-existent German on the unsuspecting masses.

Before I left home I reinvented a few items of clothing and some decorative pieces, which I’ll share in the coming months. I’ll also post a few travel photos and tips, so check back often for some European inspiration.

First up, I converted my husband’s old sweater into a fitted faux leather top.  I loved wearing his oversized sweater on wintery days at home.  But it turns out that the moths in my closet loved it too.  When the sweater became too embarrassing to wear, I decided to reinvent it by keeping the wool sleeves and adding a faux leather body.  Now I have a new piece to wear around Europe, which, judging by all the faux leather jackets in Switzerland, is bang on trend.

Supplies:

Old wool sweater

1 yard of costume pleather (should have some stretch if you want a more fitted top)

Black thread

Scissors

Chalk

Method:

1) Carefully remove sleeves from body.

2) Use the old sweater bodice as a template to cut a faux leather back and front.  If you prefer a more fitted top, cut faux leather to preferred size, using the armholes of the original sweater as a template.  Just remember to add a ½ inch seam allowance.

3) With right sides facing, sew front and back of bodice together.

4) Insert the sleeves and attach to bodice.

Why not reimagine an old piece of clothing from your closet? If you’re stuck, send me a photo and I’ll try my best to help. Nicole

SHOU SUGI BAN OUTDOOR TABLE DIY

When we needed an outdoor table for our recently completed patio, I figured I would have to build one myself.  A few years ago, my husband Jeremy designed a beautiful table for our front deck.  However, being finished in polyurethane it needed constant maintenance.  As he watched the polyurethane crack and mold grow underneath, he was in no mood to make another.  That was until I uttered the words “Shou sugi ban”.  His eyes immediately lit up.  I had him hooked! 

Shou sugi ban, or Yakisugi, is a traditional Japanese method of burning cedar (sugi) before finishing it with natural oil.  Normally used as exterior siding, the charred wood is pest and rot resistant for up to eighty years.  So, charring is a beautifully simple way of ensuring the longevity of wood.  Here are a few contemporary examples.

Clockwise from top: Fujimori's charred cedar house, Ubon, Hunsett mill, De Noorderparkbar, THOUGHTBARN office, Havet cabinet.

  

Though a few expletives were uttered during the making of this table (which come standard with my husband’s DIY projects), it was easy to make.  Once charred, the wood appears a silvery grey or shiny black depending on how the light hits it.  We love how this table turned out. 

Materials:

Hairpin legs (we bartered for a second-hand set at a local street fair, but you can purchase them new here)

2 laminated pine panels 47 ½ “x 15” x 1 ½ “

2 pieces of pine 27 ½” x 5 ½ “x 1” (supports)

1 Bernzomatic UL100 basic propane torch kit

12 wood screws 1 ¼ “

12 sheet metal screws 1 ¼ “

White Rust-Oleum spray paint

Linseed oil/ other natural oil

Sponge brush

Wood glue

Sand paper 

Drill

Clamps /tie downs

Step 1:

Use sandpaper to remove any rust from the hairpin legs and to help the paint adhere.  Spray paint them in a well-ventilated room.

Step 2:

Glue the two pieces of laminated pine together and clamp.  Let it rest on a clean, flat surface for approximately 2 hours while the glue cures. 

Step 3:

Glue the supporting pieces of pine approx. 5” from the edge of either end of the table.  Evenly space six wood screws along the length of the supports and screw into wood, making sure they go into the base of tabletop.

Step 4:

Assemble the Bernzomatic torch kit according to instructions.  Light and begin burning the wood, following the grain. 

NOTE: Burn the tabletop in an area clear of vegetation. 

Step 5:

Once both sides are sufficiently charred, use a brush or wet rag to wipe off excess soot.

Step 6:

Use the sponge brush to apply several coats of linseed oil to the tabletop.

Step 7:

Use the sheet metal screws to attach legs to tabletop.

Sit back and enjoy your new table:) Thanks for visiting. Nicole

HEXAGONAL TRIVETS DIY

Who knew I would love power tools?  For years my dad worked as a carpenter.  I never thought to ask him how to build things since I figured he would always be there if I ever needed a cabinet or shelves.  So, after relocating to San Diego I found myself in trouble: my dad was in Cape Town, my husband hated home improvement and we had a house that needed a lot of upgrades.  I needed to find someone handy with a saw.  The solution (after much deliberation) was for me to take a carpentry class.  When I enrolled last spring I could have never guessed how much I would love it.  Now, my husband and I have dreamed up so many projects that I’ll need years to finish them all!

These plywood hexagons were originally cut for a project at the hubster’s office (more on that later).  They had been lying in a corner for a few weeks—like many of my projects seem to do—while I contemplated the next step.  With a friend having recently purchased a house, I knew I’d have to come up with a good house-warming gift.  I hit on the idea of using some of the hexagons to make trivets.  I think they are hip, pretty and fun, just like their soon-to-be owner. 

NOTE: These instructions are for making plywood hexagons.  If you have never used a saw (and you don’t want to lose any fingers!), try making the trivets out of cork.  All you’ll need is a utility knife.  

What you’ll need:

¼” or ½” Plywood (at least 10” x 10” for each trivet)

Pencil

Compass

Ruler

Table saw

Miter saw

Sealant (linseed oil or beeswax)

Optional:

Acrylic paint

Painter’s tape

Paintbrushes

Plastic containers

Step 1:  

Draw a hexagon on the plywood. 

The easiest way I found to do this was to use a compass.  Set the compass to a radius of 5” (or larger for a bigger trivet) and draw a circle.  Don’t change the angle of the compass.  Mark a beginning point (A) along the circle. Place the point of the compass on A and mark a second point (B) 5 inches away from A along the circle.  Make sure that a line drawn between point A and point B is parallel to the edge of the plywood.  Continue moving the compass point to the new mark along the circle in order to mark all 6 points of the hexagon.  Once you have all the points marked, connect the dots to create the hexagon. 

Step 2:

Use the table saw to rip (cut with the grain) the wood along the top and bottom of the hexagon.

Step3:

Crosscut the plywood with the miter saw along the outer edge of the hexagon.  

Step 4:

Set the miter saw to 30 degrees and cut the remaining sides of the hexagon.

TIP:  Use the first hexagon as a template to draw the rest.  That way they will all be the same size. 

Step 5:

If you like the natural look, seal the trivet with linseed oil/beeswax to prevent staining. 

To add some colour and designs to the trivet, use acrylic paint and tape before sealing.

Happy crafting!  Nicole

 

FUROSHIKI DIY

I have never been good at gift giving.  This stems mostly from the fact that I am constantly forgetting people’s birthdays!  I also REALLY dislike shopping.  With Mother’s Day around the corner, I am happy to say that even though I do not have a gift for my mother-in-law yet (sorry Cynthia!), I have made some furoshiki: Japanese gift-wrapping cloth.  These can be reused--to wrap future gifts--or as pretty picnic napkins after gifting.

Materials:

18” x 18” bleached muslin/cotton fabric (use a larger piece of fabric if you prefer a larger furoshiki)

black fabric pen

red fabric paint

paint brush/sponge brush

ruler

pencil

painter’s tape

scrap paper

white thread

sewing machine/needle

Step 1:

Make sure the fabric is a perfect square.  Cut any excess.

Step 2:

Use a ruler and pencil to draw your design.  Geometric patterns work well for me as I’m not much of an artist, and I do like bold graphic patterns.  For my furoshiki, I drew horizontal black lines and red diagonal stripes.

Step 3:

To prevent staining your work surface, place scrap paper between your tabletop and fabric.  I used some tape to hold everything in place while painting.

Step 4:

With the fabric pen and ruler, draw the solid lines.

Step 5:

Tape off the areas that you don’t want to paint.  Firmly press the tape to the fabric as you are taping.

Step 6:

Using the red fabric paint and the sponge brush, paint the diagonal stripes. Recoat if necessary.

Step 7:

Once paint is dry, peel back the tape.

Step 8:

Iron and sew the fabric edges.

The DIY for the copper vases can be found here.

 To all the mothers, may you have a wonderful Mother’s Day!