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craft, diy

How to cover your ring binder with fabric!

christinahopgood
I’m starting my clothing production course soon so I need a ring binder for my notes and stuff!  I didn’t want to go out and buy one since I already have a bunch of functional ones to use.  This particular one I’ve had since I was 15 or so, and it’s covered with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle contact.  While there is nothing wrong with that, I thought I’d go for a more feminine and less teenaged style, and use this cute blue and pink fabric as a slip cover!  This way, if I feel like being 15 again I can just take it off and see TMNT again. (I was really into ninjas when I was a teenager. I wanted to be a ninja SO BAD.)

 First open out your folder and measure how long it is.  Then add how much flap you want there to be on either side.  I just doubled it essentially, because I wanted to cover up all the weird things I’d written on the inside of the folder.  Plus you want to hem the sides.  Remember to add seam allowances to the height of the folder.
You’ll end up with a long piece of fabric the same height as your folder.  Wrap it round the folder and mark where you need to sew to, and sew it up right-sides-together.  Turn and slip it on your folder!

Done!  It even matches my pencil case!

 It nicely covers up all the weird scribbles the folder accumulated. 

And I can use the cover as a pocket for my notebook!  Or anything else secret I might want to store in there 🙂

cardigan

Miette – Finished!

christinahopgood
Progress post here
I’ve finished my first big knitting project! (That is, if you don’t count the time I knitted a pair of pants).
This was the Miette pattern by Andi Satterlund.  She has some other cute things too!

 I am so happy with my cardigan!  I love the colour, the fit, the length, everything!  It wasn’t super hard either.

This is my happy face when I’ve made something I like!
After the photos we went out to town and I walked around with my head held high!  I felt SO GOOD in this.

 The sleeves are a tiny bit looser on me than on other people I’ve seen, but I’m cool with it.  Gives me a bit of elbow room 🙂

 The front lacework.  It looks really complicated but it’s actually pretty easy to follow the pattern.

 The only variation I made was shortening the sleeve slightly (by like an inch probably).  I have short arms.  

Happy FACE!  Here’s a link to my Ravelry page where I wrote more detailed stuff.

coat, shoes, shopping

A couple of purchases :-)

christinahopgood
I am really excited about these two things!!!

Firstly, some brown sandals I’ve been looking for for AGES!  I didn’t have any sandals because I’ve been away for so many summers, but it seems like the only colours in fashion are coral (pretty, but makes my feet look nude), light tan (again makes my feet look nude), black (very nice, but a bit work-y), or mint (very pretty, but doesn’t go with my wardrobe).  I really wanted some dark brown sandals to go with my dark blue skirts and dresses.

I found them!!!  After so long searching!

 They go so well with my wardrobe and they are pretty comfortable!  I love the low-ish heel, it makes any outfit look a bit better.

I have literally been wearing them nonstop.

My second purchase is if possible EVEN MORE EXCITING.  I bought a coat from Alannah Hill!
This coat took me ages to actually buy.  I went with mum to DFO and we looked at the coats in Alannah Hill, because they were all 20% off the already reduced prices!  There were a couple I liked, but I couldn’t decide and it was still a lot of money.  I wanted a new “good” coat because my old red Japan coat is getting very tired.  I’ll probably still wear it for everyday though.

 This coat was actually not my first choice, there was another one with a fur hood I liked more at first.  Anyhow I went home and came back the next day with Charles, because I figured he’d have to look at me wearing whatever I buy.  We looked at the composition of the coats and the one I originally liked was all polyester.  Ew!  Whereas THIS coat (which both Charles and my mum preferred), was wool and cashmere!  It’s going to be so much warmer in Winter!  Charles commented that the colour is a sort of vintage-red, not like the modern darker reds.  It’s like a fire engine.

I’m so glad I bought this one now 🙂 The other one had toggle closures which means there was a slight gap in the front.  Chilly in winter! This one is so classic. It was marked down to $229 from like $550, and then another 20% off which took it to $183!  Bargain! And I ADORE it.

 The lining is beautiful ballerinas 🙂

 With my new sandals 🙂 What, it’s summer!

It reminds me of some BTSSB coats with a similar empire line.  Except less frills. And more RAD.
I love that photo.

And they’re my purchases!

sewing, skirt

ANOTHER Half-Circle Skirt!

christinahopgood
This is my THIRD half-circle skirt.  That makes one and a half circles, you guys!
My first one (includes instructions to make your own!)
My second one (with an elastic waist)
Pics!  Sorry for looking slouchy and sad, I was feeling a bit slouchy and sad.
Fabric: About 1.5 metres of tartan knit, I don’t know what the fibre is but it’s soft and warm.
Pattern: My own circle skirt pattern
Time to make: a couple of hours, if you don’t count when I had to rip the hem and do it again because it was SO AWFUL.

 The waistband was also cut on the circle.  I just followed a pattern instruction for how to put it together.

 The innards.
So here’s my question: Should I wear it with the tartan vertical (zip at the back) or diagonal (zip at the side)?  Here’s the diagonal view:

I think I prefer the diagonal view, but I might have to re-jig the zip a bit. Please tell me your thoughts!

house, life, makeup

New makeup and jewellery storage!

christinahopgood
Since moving in, I’ve been trying to figure out a good arrangement for my makeup and stuff.  There’s no mirror in the bedroom, where I had it in my dressing table.  I’ve been keeping my makeup essentials in the mirror cupboard in the bathroom, but I wanted everything together where I could see it.  It was annoying to have to keep going to another room.

The bathroom.  No bench space and not much storage.

My solution… put it all in a basket to keep under the sink!  Bring it out to use it and then just put it back!

 All my stuff fits really well in here!

Up the back, my finishing spray, lipsticks, and Australis palette.

My brushes in a cardboard tube to stop them from getting away, my moisturiser and my Naked palette.

All my eye things: mascaras and shadows (except palettes)

It all fits super nicely under the sink!
My other problem has been my jewellery.  I love having my jewellery out where I can see it, but it has all been hiding in my jewellery box.  I went out to officeworks and bought myself a little pinboard and…
Cute jewellery display! All my necklaces and brooches where I can see them easily.  This way I’m sure I’ll actually wear more of my things.

The entire top of my dressing table.

In this little box I keep tiny keepsakes.  This box was given to me when I was really little.  I just love my bears.

My hook earrings.  I have them all hanging off a dessert glass I found at a garage sale, with some of my most-used stud earrings in the middle.
My jewellery box.  Now it’s not cluttered with necklaces and brooches, I keep my rings, stud earrings, pendants, and a couple of other bits in here.

Close up of my little pins.  Kenshin, robo-panda (Aranzi Aronzo), Totoro and dust balls!

Under the top part I keep the things I don’t wear much, some brooches, necklaces and bracelets.  I don’t wear bracelets at all.
I’m really happy with my new arrangements for my jewellery and makeup!  Already after two days, I’ve worn more of my jewellery and my makeup storage works super well.
My next project is our study/my sewing room… Oh gosh.

 Ha! Stay tuned.