The Lazy Jeweler

Summertime turns my relaxation mode on. Fortunately, I can let the gemstones do most of the work for me.

For instance, among my latest listings on Etsy, there's that bold agate necklace above. The richness of colors guarantees a stunning effect...

And what about the peaceful labradorite? It makes you feel like wearing the Northern Lights...no fuss, no drama, just a gorgeous token from nature.

Last but not least, I'm proud to introduce you to pyrite, which looks like silver, actually being...stone. Basically a new way to wear metal jewelry without spending a fortune! For me, it was love at first sight!

Have a nice sunday,

Elettra

The Silk Obi Belts are On their Way Out of the Kitchen!

Silk obi belts may seem very easy to make, but are in fact the result of a few, very precise seams! This tutorial is similar to the padded obi's, but adapted to a much more delicate - and expensive! - fabric: silk. You'll especially need to be very careful with the outer seams, because it is a little harder to go straight.

You're going to need:

half yard of silk (about 50 cm)

fabric marker (chalk)

scissors

matching thread

Take your half yard, or meter, of silk, and lay it out horizontally on the table. Cut it like this:

Now you have three long strips. Put aside the larger. Take one of the smaller, and sew together the longer sides. Leave alone the ends, for the moment. After sewing, reverse the fabric inside out.

Do the same thing with the other. You now have the belt's strings, each about 110 x 5 cm (44 x 2.4 inches). Set them on the iron board with the seaming face down, and...iron! Make them a nice hem -at least for the two ends that are going to show!

Take the bigger piece of fabric you previously put aside. Double it, from left to right, obtaining a big rectangle, which should come out about 21 cm x 55 cm (8 x 22 inches). 

Now, with a fabric marker, draw the central part of your obi belt. Here there are many possibility, of course. I suggest drawing a simple rectangle modelled on your own waist height.

For instance, to get a corset belt, like mine, I'd make it 14-16 cm (6 inches) high, while to get a sash belt, 10 cm (4 inches). To be fair, my obi belts, which must adapt to every size, has a central part of about 16 x 45 cm (6 x 17 inches). This way I obtain a corset obi belt which can also be folded, and be worn as a sash.

Back to our project: sew along your marks, and, again, reverse the fabric inside out. Iron if you like a more neat result, and while ironing, set up the hem (do not sew it yet)!

At this point, the three parts of your obi belt are ready to join. Let the long strings slip inside the central rectangle, pin them in place, and sew. As you may see in the picture below, I made a clean double seaming, which holds in place both the belt's string, and the rectangle's hem.

Usually I add to my obi a belt loop, which is basically a huge eyelet. You can do it easily with the "button and hole" program of your sewing machine.

....And with the leftover?! A nice headband!

Hope you enjoyed,

Have a nice week end,

Elettra

Of a Blooming July in Dublin

Ireland is also known as the Emerald Island...for, I guess, the ever-green fields, and woods. But it's not just the lawns, or the greens. It is in each and every street. Living here, I eventually understood gardening. Well, at the beginning, I thought of it as a local neurosis, but now I really appreciate it. After all, neurosis may be contagious. And so refreshing...