20 DIYs for your summer wardrobe

Although it looks more like October than May outside right now, we've also already had some real warm sunshiny days. It's safe to say, summer is here! Which also means, it's high time to take a weekend and update your summer wardrobe. I haven't had much time to prepare mine with the finals and all, but as soon as I get back from my trip to Germany, I'm going to get on it. So, I wanted to share 20 of my best summer wardrobe DIYs with you today.

This is my very favorite maxi skirt ever. Like, seriously, I probably wear it 3 out of 4 days during the summer. And it's made from an old dress a friend gave to me. Thank you, Merly!

My first Shibori attempt was a huge hit. Shibori just says summer and music festivals to me, so it's the perfet technique to update a couple of plain t-shirts. Here's another method to try.

If Shibori is not your thing, fabric dye could still be a great tool for wardrobe updates. I love how it transformed this simple white summer dress. I don't think we're through with the ombre effect just yet.

Just like skirts and dresses, t-shirts are a must for the summer. They're comfy and easy to dress in. But, they can also be a bit boring. A simple lace heart update goes a long way.

Speaking of t-shirts. This refashion is one of my all time favorites. Finding refashionable clothing is my favorite way to prepare my wardrobe for a new season.

I'm a fan of buttons, as you might know. Adding some pretty buttons to the collar of a jacket or the pockets of pants is a fun and easy way to add some color.

This cardigan refashion is one of the most popular refashions I've made. And, it's perfect for refashioning a cardigan to match your summer dresses.

A pretty button-down needs a waist? Well, this easy shirring tutorial might be the solution.

 Who new that sleeves can be turned into cute tops? Well, they can and here's how.

 If a jersey dress just looks too plain, try adding a zipper.

I just couldn't leave these sparkly sunnies out of the mix. I mean, what's a summer wardrobe without some awesome eyewear.

Summer and skirts go together like fire and marshmallows, so whip up a skirt or two with this easy gathered skirt tutorial.

And a skirt needs a tee to accompany it. Make this cute lace detail tee (I've worn mine to pieces already).

 Summer is the perfect excuse to turn a pair of old jeans into cute cut-offs.

Maxi dresses are the perfect throw-on outfit during summer. Just one item, and it always looks pretty. I recently updated this maxi dress tutorial.

I love how a simple fix can make a pair of shoes look as good as new. Perhaps you also have some shoes that could use a little spruce-up? Try swapping out the insoles.

Adding pretty fabric flowers to a simple tee is another quick and easy refashion. Only takes about 30 minutes.

Lace additions happen a lot in my studio. I love lace. I think it goes with pretty much everything. Lace tees, lace dresses, lace hems - I love them all. So, why not add a bit of lace to a pencil skirt for a little extra charm. 

If you're having trouble with strapless dresses not staying where they should be, try adding ribbon straps. Looks very cool, but is fairly simple to do. Not to mention the added comfort factor. 

I'm off to Cologne tomorrow for two weeks, so the blog is probably going to be quieter than usual. I'll still stop by every now and then for some outfit posts and a couple of updates. I'm also working on a personal post which may or may not include a video of me singing, so stay tuned for that.

Have fun updating your summer wardrobe and I'll see you around!

Words for the week // No.2

For this week, I chose this powerful quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. It's easier to be afraid and only see the obstacles along the way, than to be brave and see the opportunities ahead. I must admit, I've been more scared than brave lately. With my voice problems this past week and my last and most important final being on Wednesday, worry is quick to step into my mind, and I think we all know how that can spiral into self-pity and sadness. Both of which do absolutely no good nor help me solve the problem. So, I need to stop worrying and start believing that everything is going to be fine. I just have to keep my dreams in mind and let them lead the way.

What challenges await you this week?

Sunday Spirit: Blog news and some delicious chocolate rolls

This is one of those odd posts with a bunch of things thrown together. I just have a few things I wanted to share with you.

First things first. When you're ever in Tallinn, you have to try out these chocolate rolls from the local Narva cafe. They are to die for! I'm serious. For some odd reason they only have them once in a blue moon (I haven't figured out their torturous scheme yet), but they are so worth the wait.

Now that that's out of my system, we can move on to other news. I've been taking the Blog Life e-course from A Beautiful Mess, and loving every lesson. I highly recommend it to everyone thinking about starting a blog (for fun or with a career in mind) and to seasoned bloggers as well. I'm learning so much and feeling so inspired. The biggest noticeable change I've made since starting the course is joining Google Adsense and serving ads on my sidebar. So, I know that advertising on blogs is a very controversial topic. Some people don't mind sponsors and sponsored content, but for some it spoils the fun, and it can look a little tacky.

So, it thought I'd share some of my thought on this topic. At this point, I feel I need to start monetizing my blog more to be able to keep up with the quality of the content I want to share with you. I'd love to share more original DIYs and refashions (we all love a good DIY, right), but that takes a lot of time. As a student with a small income, that time should be spent on making a living. So, if I want to keep blogging, I need to make it a part-time job. And I really want to continue blogging.

What are your thoughts on this subject?

His & Her Style // Dreams of happy days

Happy Friday, my friends! It's been one of those weeks. The past couple of days have been rough. We had our ensemble exam on Tuesday and it went great, but then, on Wednesday my voice was so week and tired, I couldn't get a proper tone out. With two more exams within the next few days, needless to say, I've been very worried. I'm trying my best to keep this weeks words in my mind and just take things as they come.

She's wearing: Jacket - thrifted&refashioned // Peplum top - made by me // Jeans - Miss J // Bag - made by me // Scarf - borrowed from Mom // Shoes - Walking 

I love looking at these photos we took this past weekend. Reminds me of the happier days. I know this is just a passing problem, and that sunshiny days with no worries will soon be back in my life. And, with a little bit of luck, and a lot of care and patience, I will make it through my finals and the entrance exams in Cologne in two week (yikes!).

He's wearing: Plaid shirt - thrifted // Trousers - thrifted // Scarf - Reserved // Shoes - Kangol

I don't know what I would do without this guy. He's the most supportive fiance a girl could ever ask for. He makes me laugh and holds me tight when I feel sad. And then I don't feel that sad anymore.

Our next exam is tomorrow, so wish us luck!

5 ways to save money on crafting

Crafting has been my favorite hobby for the past 10 years, so I'm not new to fabric hoarding or compulsive craft supply shopping. It seems that every time I discover a new craft, I go a little nuts. Like that period back in my early sewing days where I just couldn't walk by the fabric store without stepping in and buying some cute fabric. Then, when I discovered knitting, I would buy skeins and skeins of pretty yarn (most of it still unused). And after that there was jewelry making - I just had to have all those pretty beads, clasps, earring findings, elements etc. Does that ring any bells?

It's easy to get carried away when you're passionate about something. At one point I realized how much money I was spending on my hobby. The saddest thing was, I didn't even use most of the supplies I bought. I still have loads of fabric from my early shopping days, and yarns from way back when.

Over the past few years I've developed a few golden rules that I try to follow to save money and keep my passion from taking over my bank account. Today, I thought I'd share some of my rules, and other tips for saving money on crafting.

1. Make a craft plan. Oh, yes I said it. Plan your craft projects. Having a realistic craft plan is the key to saving money. First, make a list of things you want to make. I usually scribble down all my ideas and then pick one or two I want to work on in the next week or two. Then evaluate your time allowance - do you have enough creating time to make those projects? The plan only works when it's realistic :). Once you have a plan in place, buy only the supplies you need for the next 2-3 weeks. Of course, this doesn't mean I never buy anything outside my craft plan, but it has cut down my spontaneous oh-what-a-pretty-fabric type of purchases.

2. Plan projects with supplies you already have in mind. Another big one. The more you use the supplies you already have, the less you spend (duh). It's a no-brainer, really. But, in all honesty, haven't we all bought a new fabric, because we just couldn't find that perfect match for this new pattern we want to make from our stash? I can totally relate, but, instead of running to the fabric store, you could let your current stash inspire you. Instead of starting with the pattern, why not start with the fabric? That goes for other crafts as well.

3. Get thrifty with your materials. Thrift shops are a great place to get new materials. You can find pretty vintage fabrics for real cheap there, and you get bonus points for being eco-friendly. The earth wins, and you win :). Perfect for home decor and fashion projects.
I've also gotten a lot of fabric from friends and family. Many of them have fabric they bought in the Soviet days to get clothing made, but haven't used.
Another way to get thrifty with you materials is to reuse them. Made a dress that just didn't come out right? Be sure to unpick the zipper, remove the buttons, and if you can, reuse the fabric for another project. Same goes for store bought clothing. If you ruined a perfectly good shirt with you iron, remove the notions and reuse them. Or, if your purse is too warn out to wear, remove all the hardware.

4. Have a craft budget. For me, this was a really big step. In the early days, it was really easy for me to get carried away and not think about the money I was spending on my hobby. I mean, what's 2€ on a zipper here, and 5€ on fabric there. But, at the end of the month it added up to more than I was willing to admit. So, now I set myself a crafting budget for the month. When I haven't spent that amount this month, I can transfer it to the next month. Or, if I'm over my budget this month, I take it off from next month's budget.

5. Sell, and trade materials with fellow crafters. So, we all have materials that have been sitting on the shelves for years, and we know we're probably not going to use them, ever. Why not sell them, or trade with other creatives.
Clothing swap parties are super hot (and I've also spotted a few fabric swaps), so why not have a craft supply swap party? Invite some friends over, and have fun sipping wine and trading your supplies.
If you don't know any creatives, or just want to get rid of the supplies and not accumulate more, why not try and sell it online or at a flea market? If you sell your supplies, you get at least some of the money back, and you can invest it in future projects.

I hope you got some ideas on how to keep your creative fire from burning a hole into your wallet.

DIY // Simple fabric flower stud earrings

This project was inspired by a pair of earrings I saw on Etsy a while ago. I loved the simple yet charming nature of those simple fabric flower studs, and wanted to try and make my own version. I love using up scraps of fabric I have left over from other projects, so I'm always on the lookout for simple projects that need little fabric. These earrings were the perfect fit.

After some trial and error, I figured out a very simple method of making the fabric spiral flowers I wanted to create. If you also want a pair, this is what you need:

• Fabric
• Double-sided tape
• Earring posts with bezel cups
• Glue
• Scissors

First, you have to make fabric tape, which is actually very easy to do. Cut two 10cm long strips of double-sided tape and tape them onto fabric. Cut the tape out and your fabric tape is ready.

Now, remove the backing from the tape and start rolling the tip of the tape, like you would when covering a cord with it. Once you have a tube about 5 cm long, cut the tape, and roll the tube into a spiral. Before cutting the tape, make sure your tube is long enough to fill the cup of the earring when it's spiraled into a circle.

Once you've made two spiral flowers, add some glue inside the bezel cups, and insert the flowers (spirals).

Let the glue dry, and your earrings are ready to wear.

I hope you like this little project. Happy making!

Words for the week // No.1

I feel it's something I need to constantly remind myself of. I don't need to be perfect. You don't need to be perfect. Because, well, no-one really is. We tend to forget that sometimes, and put so much pressure upon ourselves to be the best, to do things just right, to jump over our own shadow. I have those moments all the time. I'm an over-achiever and a perfectionist by nature, so admitting I can't be perfect is hard for me. But, in the last few years I've learned to forgive myself my faults and love the person I am, with all the little (and sometimes big) mistakes I make along the way.

This week I feel I need that reminder again. The next few weeks are full of really important steps in my life - exams I want to excel in, that will partly determine what my future will look like. It's hard not to expect greatness from yourself at times like these, when the outcome really matters. But, I can only do my best, right? The best that I'm capable of at that exact moment in time. So, that's what I'm going to tell myself over and over again...

Just do your best, and that will be enough.