Hey everyone!I am getting ready to go back to school on Tuesday and have been working all day to get stuff done for McCalls. So far I’m pretty much caught up. I just love the beginning of a new school year, it always feels like a fresh start with so much potential. Now that I have my designs done I am starting to work on a project that my AMA (American Marketing Association) board wants me to put together. It will be an event in the Spring for a fashion show at PSU. I am really exited about the event because it is something that I am very passionate about…..fashion! We will be collaborating with the Art Institute of Portland and my marketing peers at PSU to produce this event, the design students will bring the fashions, we will market & advertise the event, and of course do the necessary fundraising. I think it will be a great experience with something that I am already interested in! I also get to help to bring fashion to my school!!! How fun!!!

Best!

Melissa

Hi All!

I know several of you have asked about the next season of DIYStyle. Drumroll please…………we start upload tomorrow, and subsequent Tuesdays with DIYStyle Projects! AND, since the feedback on the summer Quick Takes was SEW (I couldn’t resist!) positive, we have decided to start delivering DIYStyle to you in smaller bites, 2x a week! So, each week you will get DIYStyle Tuesdays which will focus on a new fab project, and then on Saturday, you will get DIYStyle Weekend, and that will be a selection of sewing tips, exciting places and people we visit, designer interviews, and other surprises to get your weekend off to a creative start. 

Even though September 30th marks the end of National Sewing Month……..we have only just begun to get you lots of inspiration and encouragement to keep on sewing and designing your own fashion. Our first project for the season is part of the Go Green! Sew Green! initiative that National Sewing Month encourages. A super cute purse fashioned from repurposed sweaters (a fall must-have) found at the local resale shop.

And, we have some blog treats in store for you too! Amy Butler has checked back in with DIYStyle after her incredibly busy summer (watch out Martha!!) with a scrapbook of photos and lots to tell. We’ll post that on Wednesday, and we’ll be having other “special guest” bloggers throught this new season.

Just a reminder to subsrcibe to the RSS feeds so that DIYStyle blogs and vodcasts always come straight to you, and if you check email, join as a Creative Chick to start receiving our DIYStyle news updates (more on that later).

It’s a fashion forward Fall ‘08 with the help of your Creative Chicks team at DIYStyle.We’re excited for all the support and notes from our growing community………pass the word to all the other creative chicks in your life about DIYStyle, and let them in on the fun!

Cindy

Worn out deck cushions? Well, that was my dilemma, and after shopping the stores for new replacement cushions (eeek-the prices!!), I decided on what I thought was the smarter option…slipcover them myself! But whoa…have you seen the prices on that treated outdoor fabric?! It would have cost me more to cover them with that than to buy brand new cushions. I knew there had to be a better option, and after some sleuthing, I found my solution!

A local department store was clearancing out their outdoor tablecloths (treated for sun, water resistant….AHA!). Used as my “fabric” this was a fraction of the cost of the outdoor fabric I just could not afford. So I bought the largest tablecloth they had, and some coordinating inexpensive natural colored canvas, and made slipcovers for the cushions. It’s a super simple design, made with an opening like a pillow sham, to insert the cushions (the opening sets under the seat where it won’t show). I added some matching ribbon ties, and now I can slip them off for washing and storage when I want.

I even went back and bought the matching tablecloth that zipped around my umbrella, and now I just need to hem it to fit my curved oblong deck table. All for WELL under the $200 the other fabric would have cost! Now with deck re-painted, I feel like we have a brand new outdoor space. And the weather has been so nice here lately in the St. Louis area, I’m hoping to enjoy some breezy evenings lounging with a glass of wine after a long day here at DIYStyle!

Let DIYStyle know what you have been sewing this summer, and what you’re wanting to sew for fall. And, we’d love to see some pics too, so send them along. We’ll even post some of your projects in upcoming blog entries–so send us the results of your creative endeavors! I can’t wait to see what you have all been busy with.

 Cindy

I’m back from filming the next seasons episodes of DIYStyle in Saint Louis. It was a packed couple of days and it turned out to be really fun! I had prepared for filming by watching some older episodes to see what I could change or improve on. We made some really great projects that will be fun for making presents this winter, and included some creative tips that will help you fashionup your wardrobe.

Something to look for is our “zipper clutch” it turned out to be soooo cute and would be a great Christmas present for your girlfriends. I think I’m going to make all of my roommates one! Another cool thing with the clutch is that you can use lots of different fabrics, we used an inexpensive faux suede, but you can use tapestry fabric, Ultra Suede (as it you don’t need much so it wouldn’t be too pricely, but would look REALLY expensive), a faux leather or faux patent leather. You can also use a nice velour or velveteen (look for non ravelling versions) to make a great holiday bag.

Another super quick project to look for is our poncho! We made one out of a sweater knit and a polar fleece. They made two completely different looks that were equally cute! The one thing you need to keep in mind with this one is the drapiness of the fabric. Get creative with the textiles you choose….you can re-do a project many times and get a different outcome each time! 

Melissa

Oh my gosh!!! I can’t believe my summer is over and I am back to school. Can life get any crazier??!! This year I am a resident assistant which is a 24/7 job. I am taking 17 hours of classes and doing some work for DIYStyle. Now I know I can handle all of this….the thing I’m worried about is my APPAREL CONSTRUCTION class. Even my mom is gearing up for the stress. I know the basics of sewing and how to make small things, but this is a different story! For example I made my highly fashionable eco-tote bag at the DIYStyle party in Chicago, but making outfits for a whole semester is going to be an experience. I really enjoyed my summer job with DIYStyle and doing office work tasks; I think I really enjoy the business end of things. For my major of Fashion Merchandising though I have to know the basics of sewing. Seems crazy, right??? Maybe not. I just hope my mom can be on call 24/7! Wish me luck!!

Sarah