Accessories- things like bags, belts, shoes, and scarves- are an unlimited source of creativity when it comes to getting dressed and perfecting an outfit. But they are also an amazing source of upcycling potential, from creating new wearables to reusing them in unexpected and clever ways. Here are some great examples of how to upcycle accessories, either your own or thrifted finds.Read more ›
Travel Patches on a Leather Tote Bag
July 26, 2023 · By · 2 Comments
Years ago and in a roundabout way, I received this VERY inexpensive and somewhat imperfect leather tote bag. It was perfectly functional and well-made. It simply used imperfect leather that the maker couldn’t use on a full-price bag.Read more ›
Decorating a Tote Bag with Leather Leaves
September 26, 2021 · By · 3 Comments
If you’re familiar with my book, “Crafting with Flannel”, then you may have seen that I decorated a tote bag with a touch of flannel. Well, I wanted to do something similar this year with some leather scraps. My plan? To decorate a tote bag with leather leaves.Read more ›
35+ Upcycling Ideas for DIY Bags
June 24, 2021 · By · 6 Comments
Accessories are, by far, my favorite form of fashion. Specifically, I love unusual jewelry (vintage or upcycled), scarves, and bags (thrifted or upcycled). So, it’s not exactly surprising that I have quite a few blog posts for accessories. I might actually have more tutorials for DIY bags (or upcycling bags into something else) than any other accessory.Read more ›
Refashioning with Ribbon Belts
August 12, 2018 · By · 9 Comments
When I was a teenager, I had grand plans that involved collecting snippets of vintage jacquard ribbon (and non-vintage, if pretty enough) to decorate “all the things”, such as handbags, headbands, and t-shirts. But I quickly found out that the gorgeous ribbon I coveted so much was expensive…and my plans fizzled out. Fast forward a couple of decades, and I’m back at it with an alternative (and thrifty) plan: What if I used some ribbon belts from the thrift store to embellish different accessories?Read more ›
Recycled Tote Bag from a Framed Cross Stitch
February 1, 2018 · By · 45 Comments
Framed cross stitch pieces are something I see at thrift stores all the time. And while there are modern versions of cross stitch that have become very popular (with sassy sayings), the older ones seem to get tossed in the donation pile. When I found this 1980s-era country cross stitch, I immediately thought that it would look SO CUTE as a recycled tote bag for grocery (or farmer’s market) shopping.Read more ›
Decorating a Tote Bag with a Snowy Scene
November 20, 2014 · By · 23 Comments
Truthfully, I didn’t NEED another tote bag- let’s face it, who really does? But I found this blue canvas bag on a thrifting adventure and it was in great shape for a great price! I decided that it was the perfect candidate for embellishment and wondered if the navy blue would be a good backdrop for a snowy scene.
