Bobbin Talk

Debra Rapoport - The Artist - Part I

Debra has been featured numerous times in various publications including New York magazine as a really stylish woman with a unique style, so I was really excited to meet her. What I discovered was that she doesn't just have a love for fashion and accessories, she is a genuine artist who creates incredible wearable art pieces. She has been creating for years with a consistent concept of utilizing found or used objects and her ability to create interesting objects but stay true to her vision is fascinating! It is impossible to show you in one post all the wonderful things that I photographed so it is my pleasure to bring it to you in a few different posts!

The first one is about this neck-piece created out of shredded newspaper wrapped in vintage silver thread, vintage metallic copper ribbon, dried baby eggplant

How You Could Recycle Your Old Buttons

I'm sure most of you have a bunch of unidentifiable buttons, pins and other small objects carefully compiled in a bowl and you think some day... some day I'll need one of those and if I throw it away I'll never be able to find a matching button but that day never comes, does it!?! So if you've given up on waiting and you are just about ready to throw them out but your heart still aches at the thought of it, maybe you can just hot-gun-glue them on a vintage bag that you love but needs a face lift. Spray paint them in the ever so fashionable color of your choice (that could be 80's hot pink for all I know) Fay did just that with her favorite travel case. And no I don't have photos of step by step how to do it. C'moon it's really easy:
1. Empty jar with buttons
2. Don't prick yourself on random open safety pin hidden in the jar
3. Select brooches and buttons you want to use and object to be covered
4. Grab a hot glue gun and glue them all in any fashion you like and really anywhere you like
5. This step is optional and certainly the messiest. Make sure you do this in a well ventilated area and cover the floor with newspaper. Spray away and let dry!
What really makes this bag for me is the well thought out pattern she created with the buttons and the fact that some of them are upside down. Love the overall texture!

photo of Fay Leshner's bag by BobbinTalk

Happy New Year!!!

All the best for the new year!!! Looking forward to new adventures and meeting new people!

Do You Keep Your Stuffed Animals?

I bet you never thought of making a functional hat out of them! That's exactly what Fay did with her beloved stuffed animal, she just couldn't part with. She gave this one a second life and now it gets out of the house more than ever before! Can you say: recycle, re-purpose, reuse? Mind you creating the pattern for the inner lining, putting it together and making it fit right on her head was a complicated project!

I am always happy to see my students' projects come to life throughout the year, but I have to admit end of semester really brings the treasures out! This DIY hat was presented in my Accessory Design class at Parsons as a part of the final project. You gotta love Fay for being true to her colorful unique personality on a day she wasn't feeling well!
I have another group of students presenting tonight! Needless to say I cannot wait

DIY Projects - 'Tis the Season

Seems that everywhere I turn there is a new fabulous Do It Yourself project, ranging form brilliant to laughable. Here at BobbinTalk I've decided to take a shot at it and bring you some unabashed Fashion, Design and How To videos at the BobbinTalk You Tube channel. This one is actually the second in the series. Let me know: Yay or Nay! And keep in mind we don't claim to be professionals here, but we do know how to put our fingers at work {and that's mostly by burning them or sewing right through them}

A BIG Thank You! to Fay Leshner, a fashion design senior at Parsons for being a good sport and having that special knack for ughhhh... burning fingers and speaking in tongues!

A Holiday Vase Done Your Way

I caught the Holiday decoration bug and even though we haven't bought a Christmas tree yet I pulled out all the ornaments and wanted to do something with them. This has to be one of the easiest DIY projects ever and can be done in any variation you can think of... really! Just grab an empty vase or any other glass vessel and fill it up with the ornaments of your choice. Voila! You got yourself a centerpiece!

I also tried it with two angels

This is what I used: four small and one large disco ball ornaments {they reflect the light from any angle} and two crystal angel. You can use anything you like, just make sure they fit in the vase you are using and be careful not to drop them in there. I broke one already :(

Next comes a vintage wrought iron birdcage I have. I'm filling that one with extra large ornaments and will perch a bird or a Santa on top of it.

OutsaPop and a DIY Ruffle Piece

I love OutsaPop's edgy zipper made accessories! She is a crafty fashion addicted girl from Finland. See all the zipper pieces in her flickr set {HERE}

Take a look at her Ruffle Tutorial too. It looks so much fun and it's so easy to make! Check out the full tutorial {HERE}

Her blog about fashion, recycling, sustainability and crafts, called OutsaPop is {HERE}

Climate Neutral, Socialism Reminiscent t-shirt

This t-shirt might be appreciated much much more from fellow natives who grew up in the Eastern Block. It's somewhat of an inside joke for everyone who HAD to wear the real red tie. For all else I'll say: It's an Earth-positive, climate neutral tee that doesn't hurt the planet, unlike the idea of the tie itself, which was a symbol of organized brainwashing.

It's funny NOW! Kudos to Denitsa for making it happen!

Just say" Pionerche!"
Pictured above: mythical Zafko & Frank, Berlin, 2009
Buy the tee at Malette

Upcycled Business Cards

One of the best ideas I've seen lately for recycling paper and creating business cards. I'm sure there are plenty of boxes ready for recycling after all the 4th of July festivities. Don't throw them out! Put them to use! If you'd like to be more fashionable you can always use your PRADA shoe boxes or shopping bags.
This video is from Danielle and is part of the Indie5 YOUTUBE channel.
I already cut up every single box I had for recycling and ordered my custom stamps from Terbearco. Check out their Esty shop {HERE}.
They will create for you any custom stamp you like!