What you’ll need:

• a curb link bracelet
• embroidery thread
• two bobby pins
• a pair of scissors

Cut 2 sets of 15 strands of embroidery thread, with each strand measuring four times the length of the bracelet. Knot the all the threads at the top, leaving about 2 inches of slack. Sandwich each set between a bobby pin – this will help you easily weave the threads through the links of the bracelet. Lay the threads to the left of the bracelet. Pull the first color (coral) from under the first link and over the top of the left side.

Lay the second color (blue) over the first color (coral). Pull the second color (blue) from under the same link and over the top left again. Repeat the steps, moving onto a new link: put the first color (coral) on top of the second color (blue) and pull it out from under the 2nd link and over the top left. Lay the second color (blue) on top of the first color (peach) and pull it out from under the 2nd link and over the top left again. Because the links of this particular bracelet are large, I wove the threads through twice on each link.

If you are using a smaller linked bracelet, you should weave through each link once, as pictured above on a different bracelet.

Repeat the steps until you reach the end of the bracelet. Finish it with a knot and trim the ends.

Cool video showing you how to convert a mens button up into a dress. Very cool.
"This video is about the transformation of the shirt, which once was lost in Ira's place by some guy. She made a new dress of it and you could do the same. It's simple and easy but looks just great!"
Music: Amplified Orchestra - I Want You

Been a while! But Ashlin KATASTROPHE dropped off a menagerie of new patterns for anyone out there who still likes out DIY section.. and you should. Because it's awesome. Meet your new Asymmetrical Vest Capelet Pattern.

These instructions are based on VOGUE PATTERN No. 8426, published c1943.

There are only two pattern pieces (well, the pattern does include one for the hat band, but since that's made of grosgrain ribbon, it seems redundant). The top of the hat, as you can see, is slightly oval shaped, and measures 7 1/4" by 6 1/2". The side piece is about 19" long. There's a 1/2" seam allowance on these.

Cut one of each piece out of your chosen fabric, a stiff interlining fabric (the pattern calls for buckram; I used a stiff felt-like pelmet interlining, which is very easy to work with), and lining fabric (I actually dispensed with lining the hat since no-one's going to see the inside).

Mooove over acrylics, milk paint is back. In recent years, this medium has been popular for historical furniture reproduction, and even as a natural alternative to latex for interior walls, but have you considered using it for your latest DIY creation? Found in everything from cave paintings to King Tut’s tomb, this handmade substance was a predominate component in decorative art for at least a few millenia, until the industrial revolution came along. Casein, the protein found in milk, makes an extremely durable binder for pigments to adhere to most porous surfaces. The rustic finish is not usually desirable for fine art, and it fell out of favor all together with the advent of convenient, but far more volatile, canned paint.

High demand in the home improvement market for water-based low or no VOC coatings has brought eco-friendly technology to mainstream retail stores, but I have yet to see it available in the small sizes that artists and crafters lean towards.

Making your own milk paint can be an inexpensive, natural alternative to collecting a zillion little plastic bottles of mass produced polymers. If acrylics are not disposed of correctly, synthetic resins can seep into ground water. Although most craft paints are non-toxic and water-based, their manufacturing and shipping contribute to pollution as well.

There are as many different ways to make milk paint as there are applications. It can be created quickly from dry powdered milk as needed by mixing 1 part powdered milk to 1 part water, and adding a color concentrate to achieve the desired shade. You could experiment with food coloring, Kool-Aid or cake dyes to start, but to go au natural, you’ll need pigments. I’ve listed some good tutorials and recipes below, as well as natural pigment suppliers. If I’m not mistaken, many of these pigments serve a dual purpose to dye fiber. I’ll be covering this subject in an upcoming post.

So, consider the possibilities… create your own textile designs on organic cotton, brighten up some old furniture, turn plywood trash into an art piece, or give your pet rock a bit more personality. Whatever the application, this is an eco-friendly alternative for one of the most problematic commercial supplies in existence:

• Milk Paint Recipe on Appropedia
• Fabric Milk Paint Instructions at Helium
• Powdered Tempera Milk Paint Recipe at eHow.com
• Milk Paint Supplies at NaturalPigments.com
• Milk Paint Recipes and Pigments at EarthPigments.com

Do you cry over spoiled milk? These companies offer milk paint in a dry form that is pre-mixed with pigments. The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company even has a product called “Safe Paint” that can be used on non-porous surfaces:

• The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company
• The Real Milk Paint Co.

Image credit: meantux on Flickr under a Creative Commons license