Daily Style: Thrifting all the way

You can find all kinds of cool vintage stuff in thrift shops, but you can also find some casual essentials that seem to be almost new or at least in very good shape. Everything you see on these pictures is thrifted...no...wait..the tank top I'm wearing underneath the sweater is not, and it probably cost me more than all the other pieces put together!

Outfit details:

Sweater: thrifted Mango, 4 euros

Jeggins: 5 euros

Boots: vintage Vagabonds that my mom used to wear about 15 years ago!

Handbag: 0,7 euros

DIY Recycled Pencil Holder

I think I'm going through a nesting fase at the moment. I've put up curtains, moved furniture around, organized, bought fabric for pillows and made little useful accessories for our home. And this recycled pencil holder is one of those little projects. I was cleaning out my sewing studio, and realized it needs some pretty organizers.

The best part is, that I didn't buy any new supplies for this project, I found everything I needed in my stash. And it's very eco, since I recycled a couple of Pringles packages in the process.

Here's how to do it:

Part I

1. For the first part of the process, you'll need

• Pringles cans, 
• a rotary cutter/knife/scissors, 
• ruler and pen, 
• old newspapers,
• decorative spray or spray paint in the color of your choice

2. Mark the cutting line with a ruler and a pen. Just measure how high you want your pencil holder to be and mark that hight all around. Now use a rotary cutter, a knife or scissors to cut the top part off along the marked line.

3. Prep for spraying by stuffing the cilinders full of newspaper and laying a paper down to protect your floors from the paint. 

4. Spray paint the cilinders. I did two coats of paint, and added one coat of hairspray to make the paint shine.

Part II

1. Once the cans have fully tried, it's time to decorate. I use some lace and ribbon scraps I had left from previous projects.

2. I glued the lace to the can with superglue, adding a dip of glue every couple of inches along the lace and gently pushing the lace to the cilinder.

3. Make sure the ends of the lace overlap slightly and then glue the ends together.

4. I added some ribbon to the edge of one of the cilinders, and lace to the other. 

I love my new pencil holders! And I'm so glad to finally start organizing my studio better. I've always thought a pretty place helps creativity along, so I hoping making my studio prettier will give me a better creative vibe.

Happy crafting, my friends!

Wardrobe Reinvention: 3 ways to wear a basic white button-down

I think it's high time for another round of wardrobe reinvention! Whenever I feel the routine creeping in, I know it's time to have fun and create outfits I haven't put together before.

As you might have guessed, I'm not an office gal. I'm a musician, and thankfully, that and being a student allow me the freedom to dress however I want. So, a corporate type of clothing like the basic women's button-down doesn't often find it's way into my daily style. But, since I do own a button-down that I got from a thrift store some years ago, and it's still hanging in my closet, I was up for the challenge.

Outfit details: Knit button-up blouse - Reserved (many years ago) / Skirt - thrifted / Boots - Mom's old / Bracelet - made by me (tutorial)

To make the shirt more me, I removed the collar, although a collared shirt would work equally well, if not better, in these ensambles.

For the first outfit, I paired the button-down with a fun polka dot knit and added a pleated skirt. A fun fact - the skirt is thrifted, but the label says Zara Kids! Ha! It's adjustable in the back with elastic, and I love it, because it allows me to alter the hight where I can wear it. Loosen the elastic and but the skirt on the hips, tighten the elastic, and wear it up high.
Oh, and the red tights and leather boots were a must for this outfit.

Outfit details: Fuscia crochet blouse - made by me / Jeans -  supermarket find / Flats - old, can't remember the label / Earrings - gift / Rose ring - made by me

The second outfit might be my favorite, because it combines all the elements I love at the moment. A comfy pair of jeans, a basic piece and a pop of color. I'm so craving colors lately, so naturally I had to find a way to make the basic white shirt a little bit more colorful.

Outfit details: Knit dress - refashioned by me (H&M originally) / Crochet shawl - made by me / White retro boots - from Mom's youth

The third outfit is perfect for winter! It's got layers and warmth, and it's cozy. And I love the white retro boots form my Mom's closet. They are quite a bit worn, but I'm hoping I can give them a little update with some glue and oil. We'll see. I don't dare to take them out on the slippery icy sidewalks yet, but once the snow clears, I'd love to wear them.

Did I mention how much I love wardrobe reinvention? If not, you should know I love it a whole lot! Hopefully the next installment will be soon.

Refashionista: Old-fashioned shirt into a loose romantic blouse

Hello! Today I finally decided to finish one of my old projects: make an awkward, old-fashioned shirt into a beautiful blouse.
I found this shirt from a second-hand  clothing store about a year ago. I just loved the floral pattern! It has been sitting in my cupboard, waiting for some style refreshment for way too long.

I'm sorry about the pictures, as the pattern of this fabric is very bright, it is almost impossible to see the differences...Before the makeover, the shirt had plain sleeves, a collar and buttons. I left everything untouched, except the collar and sleeves. I cut the blouse a loose neckline and made the sleeves a bit tighter at the ends. And that's it!

By the way, meet my kitty! Her name is Nyx and she is the kindest and most adorable little creature in the whole world! I used the collar from the shirt to make a small kitty-collar for her :) She wasn't as amused as I was...

Sunday Snippets: relax+reload

Horses. 

The sweetest little girl.

Old-school fun!

One happy girl.

This weekend was all about taking time to celebrate, relax and reload. We celebrated my Mom's and brother's birthday (they're born on the very same day) and Estonia's Independence Day, slept in, went to see the horses, and spent time with relatives. And to top it off, the weather was sunny! It was heavenly! Weekends like these are what keep me going and make me one happy girl.

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend full of creativity, good times, and lots of rest!

Weekend DIY Inspiration: Bright colors

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

I'm craving bright colors at the moment. Every fiber of my body is waiting for spring and sunnier weather. So, it's only natural that I'm so inspired by all the bright colored DIY project that have been popping up all over the blogosphere. I hope you have a little bit of creative time this weekend to spend on a pretty project!

50s inspired casual hairdo

Hey everyone! Today I'm going to show you some tips how to wear your hair in a slightly pin upish style!

I love to do it when I have curls. I never do curls with heat, I always do them with headband and with no hair styling products.

• Firstly after taking headband off, comb your hair to make curls a bit more loose.
• Then  part your hair diagonally and work with both sides separately.
• Make your hairline to about 3 sections and start to put them one by one to the side (but not too tightly!)
• When you have all the sections on the side then twist them slightly upwards (so the last section that is nearest to your ear, goes on top of the first and the second section).
• Attach it with hairpins.

Do the exact same thing with the other side.

And you are ready!

Daily Style: Visiting the doll museum

Today I'm going to the doll museum with my mom and sister! There's an interesting international exhibition called "Shocking Dolls". We are going there to see the art of a Russian-Canadian doll maker, Marina Bychkova. I discovered her on the internet a couple of months ago. Her dolls are just incredible artworks, very carefully crafted and emotionally touching.

 As I got ready for seeing some dolls, I felt like wearing a sweet and girlish outfit..

Outfit details:

Dress: H&M from thrift store

Cardigan: really old one from Mango

Scarf: my mom made it!

Mary Poppins Boots: Aaltonen

DIY: Feather hair accessory

Hello guys! Today I'm sharing one of my latest projects with you - a hair accessory with feathers! It's really summery and fun, and adds playfulness and colour to your hair! It's really easy to make and I hope you'll enjoy it  :)

Be sure to click "read more" below to see the full tutorial!

Daily Style: Winter casual

There's still no spring in sight in our neck of the woods. Today we're having a snowy and sunny winter day with -7C, so the dress code is warm and comfy. And to top things off, I've caught a nasty throat infection. How's that for a fun start of the week!? Well, I hope things will go uphill from now on.

Outfit details: 

Knit vest: vintage, Mom's closet

Tee: Heart back tee

Jeans: supermarket find
Infinity scarf: made by me (pattern here)

Boots: Tamaris (last season)

Refashionista: Pearls & sequins embellished shoulders

Restyling a sweater can be as simple as adding some pearls and sequins on the shoulder creating a whole new feel. The idea came to when browsing Pinterest and seeing all those statement shoulders with lots of bling. And the process is so simple, all you need is some pearls, sequins, a needle and thread and time.

I love all that jazz! I only wish I had more patience to create an even more dramatic shoulder. The beading took a little bit more time than I'm used to spending hand-beading, but I'm loving the end result. There a few more easier techniques you could use to create this effect, but that's another post.

Meet Elle

Last week I told you that there were going to be some changes on Pearls & Scissors. Well, there's actually going to be one big change called Elle. She's the cutest little redhead and she's going to be joining the Pearls & Scissors team. We're a team now!

I've always wanted to grow the little P&S team of one, and Elle is the perfect fit. She is so talented, and stylish, and she's going to be sharing some amazing DIY and style posts with you. But, why am I babbling away, let's hear it from the horses mouth.

Hi everybody! I'm Elle and I feel really exited about joining Hanna on Pearls & Scissors! I've always admired her as a creator of beautiful things and as an inspirational person. As I've always loved creating cool accessories and messing with different styles, I'm really happy to share some of my ideas with you!

Well...a little bit about me.. Like Hanna, I'm also a musician, a classical pianist to be exact. Mostly, my days are filled with practicing piano, but I also enjoy storm chasing (but since I live in Estonia, almost only in my dreams :D). And when I'm not practicing, I love crafting, sewing, messing with my hair and petting my cat!

Hopefully we'll have heaps of fun together!
See you guys! ♥

I hope you'll give Elle a warm welcome! I'm so excited to have her on board, and I can't wait to share all the awesome projects we'll create together with you. xo Hanna

Just for You!

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all of you. All the comments, e-mails and good words mean the world to me. I love sharing my passion and inspiration with you and you inspire me so much in return.

So, to say thanks you, I'm offering a 30% discount in my shop just to you, my lovely readers. Enter the coupon code "VALENTINE30" at check-out (valid all through this weekend, until the 18th). Treat yourself to something pretty, because you deserve it!

Happy Valentine's!

My style: Red and black

This week I've worn mostly red and black. I mean, it is Valentine's Day tomorrow, so I guess it's forgivable if I've had one too many red&black outfits this week, right? It's a great contrasting combination, and I love pairing those two into outfits. It's one of those combinations you can put together on a lazy day, because you can be sure they'll work great.

Outfit details: 

Dress: refashioned by me

Jacket: thrifted

Boots: Rieker

Necklace: vintage clock, gift

Earrings: Pearls&Scissors