Lots of making

I have been crafting and sewing so much lately trying out new patterns and ideas. You can see some of it on my youtube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@sofiaolteanu/videos

The papermaking has not made it on there yet but maybe in the future. I still got some experimenting to do to get the best paper. And I just ordered a new mould and deckle, from Etsy, that hopefully won't disintegrate when I use them. Like the picture frames I'm using now are starting to do. They were perfect when trying out papermaking and seeing if it's something you wanna continue doing but when dipping in water over and over they start to fall apart. I got the cheap A4 size photo frames you can find in dollarstore. 

I soften the paper a day or two before I use my mixer to make pulp. 

  

I will make notebooks from some of it but I think the thicker pages I will try and sell as is.

Doggiebag

So I got a little crazy a while ago and made a shoulder bag from a stuffed toy. I have actually been looking for the perfect soft toy for some time and a couple of weeks ago I found it. 

Nice and round doggie that's big enough to hold all your stuff.

It's really fun and crazy and turned out better than I expected. 

Here you can watch the video I made

Vacation and sewing

So I have a bit of vacation from my job now and I'm taking the time to do some sewing. I have a few projects that I have already finished like a footstool for my workbench. 

You can see the how did I do it video here (subscribe to never miss any of my videos)

I am also working on a vest that I am making from two old wool blazers. It is kind of taking forever since my cat first plays with the fabric and then falls asleep on the vest. 

I hope I get to finish it soon because it is getting cold here and a nice warm vest would be perfect right now.

The pattern is free to download here 

I hope you all enjoy spooky season, stay safe and cuddle your loved ones both with and without fur. 

New hoodie

I've been thinking of doing a hoodie for a while now and I finally finished the projects I've been working on so I could start something new.

I made it in a flowery fabric with an old bathrobe as insulation on the inside, to make it winter safe. It was a pretty easy and fun project and I just used an old hoodie for pattern. That is one of the best way to sew your own clothes. Take apart and copy the clothes that already fit you and that you know you like. 

There will be a YouTube video on the making of this hoodie in a couple of weeks. In the meantime you can check out all my other videos.

Cold cream

So I made my own version of cold cream. Cold cream has a very long tradition in skincare and has been used for everything from nightcream to shavingcream to skincleanser. In vintage recipes they added borax but it seems a bit harsh as a skincare additive so I excluded it. 

Oilfase:

49% vegteble oil  (Use what you have. I used 22% grapeseed, 5% cacaobutter, 10% jojoba, 8% cameliaoil ,4% black seed oil)

10% beeswax

10% emulsifier (5% vegetal(Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside), 5% basemulgator(glyceryl monostearate))

Waterfaes:

19% water

8% glycerine

2% urea

1% salt

Coolingfase:

1% preservative (phenoxyglycerine)

Weigh the ingredients for the water and oilfase in separate heat-resistant beakers. Weigh the waterfase and beaker so that after heating you can replenish the water that evaporates. Place them in a water bath and heat until all the solids are liquefied. Then pour the waterfase into the oilfase and mix with a handmixer until cool. 

Weigh the ingredients for the coolingfase and add to your lotion when it's started to cool down about 40 degrees celsius. 

Mix thoroughly. 

Drying flowers

Since it's late spring or early summer all the flowers are blooming and wanted to see if I could dry some of them to later make them into jewelry. So far I just put them in with some silica gel and I will see if that works. I think I will also try and press some of the flowers. 

So far I have not had any success with dandelions in silica gel so I will try and press those. 

Updates will be coming when I find some good ways of preserving them. 

Bags

I finally finished the camouflage bag for my co-worker and the minute she came home with it her young daughter stole it so I got myself another order for a bag. 

I already this second bag started because I kind of wanted it for myself but thought well if she wants it why not finish it for her. 

The bag got a thumbs up from the kid so I went ahead and finished it. 

Below you can see the camouflage bag. I have a video of the making of this bag. It just needs some finishing touches before I upload it to Youtube.

Ordered some clothes

I've been thinking for a while what to do with a gift card I was gifted at Christmas last year. And after watching a video on YouTube I got the idea that I wanted to buy some cheap China clothing just to take them apart and use them as patterns. I mean the best patterns are from clothes that are already sown and fit you. 

I think I got my money's worth. 6 items of clothing. 1 coat, 1 jacket, 1 top and 3 dresses. All different models and modifiable.

I just hope they gonna fit when they arrive. 

I know cheap clothing and fast fashion are the worst you can get if you wanna save the planet but I figure that with those clothes I can remake some of my old things and probably also limit my fabric waste. I have some ideas on what to do with all the scraps.

So with that I hope you all had a nice weekend and I hope I can inspire others to sew more and upcycle.

Work and more work

It seems like I'm working all the time but I have found some time to finish a dress I started and I'm working on the camobag for my co-worker. The video for the camobag is also coming along pretty nicely. All that is left now is to attach the handles and zippers. 

A few days off

I finally have a few days off. I hope I will be able to re-start my youtube channel and finish some sewing projects during this time. 

I already have a few videos on youtube but I want to re-edit them and add some music. I also want to make an introduction video. After that, I have a feeling it will be a vlog-style channel. 

Here is a link to it. It is at the moment empty but I hope to correct that soon.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCheFzGDnMPy65z1QS8kPRQw

Youtube

So I have this YouTube channel. It only has a few how-to videos but I was thinking of reviving it and make a DIY vlog of it. Something nice and simple that show what happens on my worktable and show of my creative process. And maybe I can inspire other people to DIY and upcycle. 

I already have a few video ideas and I will see how it turns out and decided if it's something to keep working on. 

I will put a link to here in blog soon 🙂

Making a bag

So the bag for my co-worker is currently been made. I got the structure and inside lining already done. With lots of pockets. I slaughtered a pair of my husbands old workpants because they always have a bunch of good pockets. I made it in a size that fits an ipad. I found that is a really good size in a handbag, not too big and not too small. And it fits an ipad or any other 11 inch sized tablet. 

I will make my own camouflage pattern and hope it will turn out ok. I'm gonna make a video and put the process on youtube. 

When you need to clean...

....But you don't have energy. You think your home looks like someone played jumanji. Basically any time you think you need to clean but inspiration is lacking. 

I have the best solutions..... Watch an episode of 'Hoarders' or check out this youtube channel. I promise you will think your home looks amazing after watching an episode. You will probably also be amazed how some people can live like they do. 

Sunday tip!

So it's Sunday again. The week just whooshed by. I hope everyone had a good week despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

To offset the depressing route the world is currently on I wanna recommend a YouTube channel. It's a channel for everyone that wants to become a better you and elevate your energy and shine. It's even a good channel if you feel a bit low and need an energy boost 

Inspire nation with Michael Sandler

Enjoy 

Sunday tip!

I'm going to make this post a weekly thing I hope. Every sunday I'm gonna recommend something that I  love or find interesting and maybe you find something you also love.

I will start this off with a yoga practice that has saved me from so much pain. It's a yin yoga practice for the lower body and more specifically the hips. It's been a lifesaver since apparently my backproblems starts in my right hip. 

https://youtu.be/N5m29_2ZinI

It's a practice by Travis Eliot about 1,5 hour long and it stretches the hips, lower back and legs. So take som time for you and stretch out on the floor this week. 

Custom work

So I just had a request from a colleague to make her a custom handbag. In camo. And now I have ideas. Like I wanna try and make my own camo-print using fabric scraps. And put in lots of compartments and pockets. I'm gonna have so much fun with this one. 

Breaking up with carbs

I recently watched this documentary where they claim we don't need carbs and carbs causes low-grade inflammation in the body. They then went on to try out different diets like low carb and then low fat and see what happens. They saw that the low-carb diet made the test people lose weight and feel better with more energy. 

If you think about it it kind of makes sense because there are essential fats and proteins but no essential sugars. And to be honest, sugars are a very recent invention in our history. 

Here is a link to the documentary 'Fat fiction' if you wanna see for yourself.

https://youtu.be/TUADs-CK7vI

I like eating food with no carbs. I have lost some weight and I'm not as hungry as I used to be. 

Finally

It´s finally done. My first handmade notebook with handmade paper. 

It was a really fun process and I will make more of them. When I have a few I´m gonna put them on my webshop and see if someone wants to buy them and give them a ew home. 

Recycling

I just love to take old stuff and make something new from it. And making my own paper is so much fun. After it dries you can use it as is or bind it into a notebook, which is surprisingly easy. You can find tons of bookbinding tutorials on youtube. This is the one I used for the bookbinding. 

Here is one for the actual papermaking process 

Zombie mode

I have been working the nightshift all weekend so now I feel a bit like a zombie. So after I make some food I will sit on my sofa and start to write a story while I wiggle my toes and pet my cat. 

Notebooks

I just got my first notebook bound and now I'm working on the cover. It will be cardboard covered in different fabric pieces. I will also include a pocket for pens. I will try to finish the sewing tomorrow so I can start to put everything together. 

I hope that I in the future will be able to sell these notebooks with recycled paper and fabric. 

Here is a good tutorial on bookbinding

My non walk-in closet

Today I finally did it. I cleaned my closet and ended up with some stuff to take to second-hand, a lot of stuff to re-fashion and some stuff I will try to sell. So time to put some items up on my webshop. 

https://sofia-soap-and-design.onlineweb.shop/

I only have Swedish shipping on the site at the moment but contact me and I will fix it for you. 

How to upcycle a sweater to a dress

First, find the sweater you want to remake. I chose this hoodie since it was a little too short for comfort.

Measure where you want to cut it. I cut it off just below the boobs.

Pick out the fabric for the skirt-part of the dress and lay it under the cut-off sweater. Add some seam allowance on all sides.

I find it easiest to take a dress I know fits good and use that as a pattern. Cut out all the dress pieces. I just cut out the skirt-part for this one saving the top-part as it is. 

First, sew the sides of the skirt together. You might have to take in the sides of the sweater a bit before sewing the skirt to the sweater. 

I modified the arms a bit, making them slightly longer so they fit over my hand. 

This is a very easy modification that can turn your old worn favorite sweater into something new. I saved the arms for this one but you can easily make it armless. 

Jasmine nightcream

This is a very luxurious, rich cream that smells of jasmine. Perfect for nighttime.   

Oil:

13% mangobutter

4%  emulsifier (vegetal: Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside

2,6% jasminewax

2,6% sunfloweroil

2,6% arganoil

2,6% squalane

2,6% grapeseedoil

Water:

53% water

10% glycerine

3% urea

2% quinoa protein

1% honey

Cooling:

1% preservative (phenoxyglycerine)

Weigh the ingredients for the water and oilfase in separate heat resistant beakers. Weigh the waterfase and beaker so after heating you can replenish the water that evaporates. Place them in a water bath and heat until all the solids are liquefied. Then pour the waterfase into the oilfase and mix with a handmixer until cool. 

Weigh the ingredients for the coolingfase and add to your lotion when it's started to cool down about 40 degrees celsius. 

Mix thoroughly. 

Now it's ready to be packed up. I used an old smaller winebottle but you can also find very good squeeze bottles on amazon.

New dress idea

I have some things I want to do with my old clothes to minimize my closet size and turn my unused clothing into something I will use. So the first thing on my list is to remake a sweater, that is to short, into a dress. I will cut it off some, save the arms and hood and make a knee-length dress with elongated sleeves. I have really cold hands so I like long sleeve I can hide my hands in. 

Will make a step by step instruction if someone wants to also try.