BBC's "blast" DIY videos

the bbc has a project called blast that aims to encourage the creativity of youngsters between the ages of 13-19. as a part of this mission they have a great interactive portal full of videos and information to foster that creativity, that includes DIY fashion videos, illustrating how to restyle a sweater/jumper into a hat, how to make a sweater out of several pairs of socks (!!), a fab tute that shows how to make a bleach stenciled tee, and some ideas on how to customize trainers/sneakers.

for whatever reason, the videos are not embed-able, so you have to go over to the bbc blast site to get a gander at the aforementioned.
useful ideas for creative-minded DIY'ers of *any* vintage, i'd argue...yeah!
many more videos of a similarly fun and fashionable DIY-flavored ilk may be found on the blast DIY fashion downloads page.
(via outsa pop)

etsy love: melaniefavreau

i've decided to try and squeeze in an etsy love or two a week in this bright, shiny new year. because? because there are so many amazing artists and designers i've stumbled across over at etsy! i keep collecting their etsy shops in my favorites, and i REALLY want to share the love (and show you the amazing goods they make). i loved making these posts last year but i often wrote so much (because i was so inspired!)...it was a tad exhausting. :P
sooo....as far as these posts go from here on out, there'll be less emphasis on verbosity on my part (thank goodness, right?), and more emphasis on showing off said designers/artists amazing products.
sound good? good.

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jewelry designer melaniefavreau hails from montreal. working primarily in sterling silver, ms. melaniefavreau fashions cheeky, irreverent, and often surprisingly sleek charms, rings and ear adornments, some of which riff off the shape and concept of some ubiquitous items of daily life, like diamond rings, bread bag ties, and number tickets (like the ones you find at delis and markets).

i don't wear much silver anymore, myself, but i've gotta say, those long thin earrings are, in my not so humble opinion, incredible. very minimal, and sort of maximal at the same time (due to their size). wow. now, if only they came in gold...! :)

omg!: some picks from interweave crochet magazine's winter 2009 issue

(images via interweave crochet magazine)

shown here are some of the stunning, on point, ridiculously amazing crochet patterns featured in the latest issue (winter 2009) of interweave crochet magazine. i'm absolutely obsessed with that last sweater and it's ginormous, delicious oversized bow. and that ruffled neckwarmer thingy?? holy gods it's fan-freakin'-tastic. *faints*
i saw these photos as previews on their site sometime back in the middle of december (get a gander at these and more here) and was so haunted by them that...i proceeded to jaunt down to my local borders nearly every single day over the holidays, hoping it had arrived (they were slow getting it on to the stands). i can be a tad crazed when i really want something!

now, to find the time to obsessively work on such pieces... hrm!