Velvet Hood

It has suddenly become Autumn in Melbourne and I have been so enjoying the crisp mornings playing in the park with Casper, who only ever wants to be outside. I try to take him to the park as much as possible so he doesn't get crazy inside the house. Since the weather has been getting cold, this morning I set out to make him a really warm hat. 

I just made up the pattern by measuring his head- I think I could make a tutorial as it was pretty simple pattern drafting.

The hat is made from this wacky tartan velvet that is very old and very beautiful to touch. The lining is made from an old lambswool jumper that had a few too many holes to be saved. I think it will be perfect for this winter especially for wild and windy walks on the beach.

How to Make Hand-Painted Shoes

Ingredients:

an old pair of leather or vinyl shoes

acetone

paintbrushes

good quality acrylic paint

a pair of rubber gloves

an old rag

acrylic based clear gloss sealant in a spray can

a container of water

Step 1: In a well ventilated area (outside is best), gently wipe down the shoes with acetone on an old rag. This will help to break down whatever paint or primer was on the shoes originally, and prepare the surface for painting on.

Step 2: Mix a base colour, and paint directly onto your shoes, being sure to cover evenly and neatly. You may need to tape off the edges of the shoes if you are using a bold colour. Set shoes aside to air dry.

Step 3: Mix the colours that you will paint your design on with. I have chosen to paint with a coral pink and a mint green.

Step 4: Start painting! Remember to keep the design simple as you will be painting both shoes fairly rapidly- acrylic paint has a drying time of about 15 minutes.

Once the first colour is on, wash your brush and begin to paint with the second. Repeat this step until you have used all the colours and your design is complete.

Step 5: Spray shoes with clear sealant. Be sure to spray from a distance and keep it evenly distributed. Less is more! You can always repeat this step if you feel there is not enough coverage. According to instructions on the bottle, let air dry for 2 to 24 hours.

Step 5: Thread your laces on and admire your new one of a kind painted shoes!

Hand Painted Shoes

I have wanted floral Dr. Martens for ages, but they are pretty pricey. So I figured I could probably paint my own, right? 

I looked up some tutorials on the internet, but none seemed to have enough pictures and information. So I gathered what knowledge I could, and set about painting a test pair of shoes.

They totally worked, didn't they? I mean I have worn them a bit and they have cracked in the obvious places, but they still look cool. Which is why, when I have time I will make a tutorial with a real pair of Docs and everybody can have their own hand painted shoes! 

The car in the photos is my Dad's, it's a 1960 Holden FB and he's been driving it since 1982. 

And because you can't write a post about something blue without acknowledging Casper's baby blues. Sigh, he's bluetiful.