{Fashion Friday} Anthro-Inspired Bead and Fabric Necklace

I've had this one in que for a while, but then life happened {having a baby will do that to you, I guess} and I never got it posted.  Well, the wait is over and here it is!  A little bit fashion, a little bit craft and an Anthro knock off to boot!  Happy Friday :)

I saw the Anthropologie version of this necklace a ways back and silly me, I forgot to save a picture of the original, because it is no longer for sale.  But when I first saw it, I thought, cute! followed by, I could make that!  The process is a little time consuming, but the results are lovely.

To make yours, you'll need:

Striped fabric (mine was from the remnant bin at Joann's)

16 clear faceted glass beads (found mine at Michael's)

Scissors, white thread, needle, snap closure

1. Cut a strip from your fabric that is twice the width of your beads and about 24 inches long.  My beads were 1/2 inch wide so you'll need to adjust it accordingly.  You want it to be 1.5 times the length of your beads (I had 16 beads at .5 inches each, so 8 inches total.  Multiply by 3=24.  Ugh, math, I know.)  Fold it in half and do a running stitch along the raw edge-you can skip this step if you'd like.  For me, it was easier to keep the fabric from slipping apart once folded in half if it was stitched in place.

2. Take your beads and begin adding them to your fabric strip.  To do this, start about an inch, inch and a half in from one end of the fabric strip {Remember to keep it folded in half!} and make two up and down folds the same width as your bead, then add the bead, taking the fabric under the bead and repeat the folds on the other side.   

 I found it was easiest to make the folds on one side, thread the needle through the middle, then add the bead on the thread, then do the folds and thread the needle through those.

 

 3. Keep repeating folds, bead, folds, bead until you've used all your beads.

4. Now, for the ends.  Depending on how long you want your necklace to hang, cut two strips of your fabric, same width as your long piece.  Fold each in half and do a running stitch along the raw edges, just like with the main piece.

5. Tie one end to the tail of the beaded piece and stitch an X on the underside to keep it in place.  Repeat on the other side.

6. Sew your snap closure on the ends.

And there you have it-your very own knock off for a fraction of the original price!

Fashion Fridays: Anthro-Inspired Striped Ruffle Tee (and tutorial!)

I am so excited to share this project with you!  A while back, I was cruising through the Anthropoligie website (as I do to drool over all of their lovely things) and I came across this shirt.

How cute is this?!  But it was on the pricey side (duh!  It's Anthropologie!)  Then I thought to myself, I could make that!  Thus the hunt for black and grey striped shirt ensued.  Remember the striped shirt from my post yesterday?  This is what it was for.

To make one for yourself, you'll need:

A striped shirt

Knit fabric to match (I did my ruffles in black, left over from my ruffle tee makeover)

Needle and thread to match your fabric

Fabric scissors, measuring tape, straight pins and seam ripper (just in case)

First thing I did was take off the little pocket on the front of the shirt-it was right where part of my ruffle was to go.   Then, using the Anthro pic as a guide, I measured how long my ruffle would need to be.  Each one was 28 inches long.  

Next, I cut out 8 strips of black fabric, 1 in. wide and 13 1/2 inches long.  I used 4 sewn together for each long ruffle.

I sewed 4 of the strips, end to end, to get one long strip as pictured above.

Then I sewed big stitches down the center of the strip.  Next, I pulled the thread to gather the fabric, cinching it to measure 28 in. long.

  

Evened out the ruffles and then pinned them in place (again, using the picture as a guide.)

Sew down the middle to secure to your shirt.

Repeat on other side.

And volia!  You have your very own Anthro knock-off :)  I'm hoping to get some better pics of the finished product this weekend-it was dark when I finished and my photographer wasn't feeling all that great (we've got a cold going around our house-right now, we're all pretty icky feeling.)

Hope you enjoyed that!  Happy Friday!

I'm linking up at

Fashion Fridays: Anthropologie

I love Anthropologie.  It's another one of those stores that makes me sigh and say "I wish I had money I could just spend with reckless abandon."  They've got all kinds of cute stuff to get you ready for spring.  

Here's a few that caught my eye:

I think these heels are just darling.

I love the color this skirt and the contrasting stripes.

Because every girl needs a simple, pretty black necklace.

Perfect for Valentine's Day.  Or any day you're feeling a little extra lovey-dovey

I love this retro-glam swimsuit.  Makes me wish for summer ; )

I'm always on the lookout for cute, modest dresses and I just love this one.

I love all the pretty details on this shirt, especially the big flower on the front.

I am in love with this bag-the color, the shape, everything!

Love, love, LOVE these cut-away booties.

Such a fun yet sophisticated and pretty shirt.

Want to win this cute reversible bag kit from Tea Rose Home? 

Go enter on her blog-you have til Monday!