Thursday, June 9, 2011

Cuff Love

This is the first cuff I ever made and I think I'm in love. Talk about a quick and easy project... and beautiful too! (I love instant gratification projects!) My base fabric was a strip of canvas and I just started layering laces and cheesecloth and more laces and ribbons and finally sewed on a row of buttons. It has a button and loop closure but I may change that because it's hard to put on by myself. Here's some more views:
Then I thought... hmm. What if I used some brighter fabric and some metal embellishments and made a funkier mixed media cuff? 
I sewed some black netting over some metal washers on some painted fabric squares. Then sewed those squares to some hand dyed fabric which was sewed to my canvas strip base.
To add some more metal goodness, I sneaked some metal Heishi Beads from my inventory at Artistcellar and hand sewed those on between the squares. To close the cuff, I added two metal snaps. 

I really like the way it turned out. So I made another one. They are like potato chips... can't have/make just one! This time I took step by step pictures. My focal point was a beautiful fabric ribbon flower my friend Sox sent me.
First, like with the rest, I started out with a plain canvas strip that I ripped to size. 
Next, I got out my Brocade Stencil and some Adirondack Color Wash Spray.
Gave it a good spritz with the Color Wash spray in Denim. Oh yeah, I'm real precise here. I just layed the stencil on top, just like you see in the picture. 
Next I auditioned some laces. I found some that was just the right width and transparent enough to let the painted base show through. 
And sewed it on top of the canvas base with a regular straight stitch on the sewing machine. 
Next I wanted a narrower ribbon to run up the center. I wanted it to stand out so I went with this heavier, opaque trim and stitched it up the center. 
Before adding the delicate flower, I needed to figure out a way to close it. I went with two white metal snaps, so easy to put on the ends. 
Last, I hand sewed the ribbon flower to the center of the cuff. Viola! A beautiful, delicate Flower Cuff! 
What do you think? You want to make one now don't you? I'm warning you... they're addicting. But if you do try it, send me a link in the comments section cause I wanna see too!

11 comments:

  1. These are wonderful and I'm so excited about the step-by-step instructions. Thank you. I plan on making some very soon.
    Thank you for sharing.

    Rita A.

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  2. Oh my gosh - I LOVE these!!! Now I DO want to make some myself. I don't know where I'd wear them, especially here in Pittsburgh, but you never know. Maybe I'll start a trend here. That means I'll have to actually go out sometimes! Thanks for sharing them!

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  3. Fabulous easy, quick artsy project to wear and personalize!! Love your designs!

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  4. These look so beautiful, and you're making it look easy enough to try. Can't wait!

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  5. oh boy - delicious! I do want to make them. I will have to finish cleaning up my art room for sure. Your instructions came out really well!

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  6. Well, after i saw this post, i was like, "why the hell aren't i following this blog?"

    am now.

    Xx,
    A

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  7. I like these a lot. I doubt if I'll be wearing one, but I may have to make for my grand-daughter :)

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  8. OOOoooo! Love the blue and white, absolutely would have worn that today with white shirt blue skirt to church. I think it was made for me, must copy! Never thought about making cuffs.

    I have been busy pruning my shrubs and trying to intervene to stop "shrubuse" in the neighbors yards. The landscaping side of Lisa would be weeping if she drove in my neighborhood!

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