London/UK Olympics--- Ready Set GO!

I admit I would love to head "cross the pond" and take in some of the London Olympics.  Having lived in Atlanta during our turn in 1996, I know it's a fun 17 days! So as I went about looking for something with the Union Jack on it to make me feel a wee bit more involved, I found nothing more than a pair of anklet socks.  Not nearly enough inspiration! Time to get busy and make one of my own!

With a gently-used grey and red hoodie that I had found when thrifting, I began my experiment.  Could I make my own Union Jack and put it on one side of a hoodie bolero?  Using a XXL navy blue velvet top (also warehoused for thrifting but waiting to be cut for trim), I started making my own flag on the navy blue background using strips from a white baby rib tee and some of the matching red of the hood that I had removed before starting.  Before long, my flag was taking shape, but I hit more than a few glitches.  At one point, I was even tempted to trash the whole idea, but gave myself 5 more minutes to work on it.  Lo and behold, it started to have that handmade charm.




Before too much longer, it was ready for some of the same blue trim (edged with a zigzag for extra pop). I pleated it around the perimeter and then perused the sleeves For that final panache, I decided to add bubble cuffs (think merry old England) and whipped some up from the navy velvet shirt scraps.






Done at last! I may not be able to visit England this time, but I will be watching the opening ceremonies in my Union Jack bolero.  This one is just too near to my heart to sell.


If you enjoyed this post, I humbly invite you to subscribe to my twitter feed found @braitzatl and check out my upcycled creations at www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com.

A Monarch No More- Create Fab Yard Art

About 8 years ago, I happened upon a giant metal butterfly at OldeTyme Pottery.  Somehow, my mom and I got it home and I painted it as a monarch butterfly. Faithfully, it guarded my waterfall and flowers, but lately had begun to look a tad tired.  The orange, yellow and black were fading and pieces of the original metal were showing through. Atlanta summers can be really hard on outdoor art! It was time for an upcycle- for my favorite pal in the garden!

Enter some inspiration from unlikely places.  First, I came across a fun gift card at Target in an intriguing set of colors.  It was also in the shape of a butterfly, so it was easy for me to connect the dots.  Follow that up with the perfect recyclable bag at my local TJ Maxx- again in a similar color palette- and I was convinced!

With a quick rinse from the hose and a return to a solid color--- courtesy of Rustoleum 2x Cover Satin in Aqua (found at my local Home Depot), I was in business.  With some artistic help on color from Nikki, it took about 10 days to complete a new and improved addition to my garden.  One that I will enjoy for years to come!

An Entrepreneur is Born!

Ever since she was little, Nikki has shown an entrepreneurial spirit.  When she was 10, she began making really cute hairbows and posted them on my fledgling Etsy site.  While having a big time with all kinds of fabulous ribbons, she made herself a little profit while getting a taste of what you can do with energy,  artistic talent and drive. After making the bows for our school cheer squad for 2 years, and making a killing off her no longer adored American Girl dolls, Nikki continued to hone her artistic skills by drawing and excelling at school projects.


Fast forward to 13 and Nikki is at it again. From her broadcast news position at school, she brought in different coffee mugs to enhance the set.  With a revised look for the set, the cups came home and Nikki had an upcycling inspiration------playful pincushions made from the cups.  After all, why should all pincushions be red, stuffed with hard sand material and made in China?

She started by deciding on a name- Corky Red Curls- and creating the logo above.  Perfect for her and the whimsical nature of her creations.  She procured an new email address and began working on her Etsy website, so she would have a venue to sell her fun items.  One of the first cups---cows paired with a fabulous checkerboard silk topper-- is shown at left.  Wouldn't this pincushion make you smile?

She soon moved past the cups that had once adorned the broadcast studio to other objects like this strawberry bowl.  A larger pincushion could hold more and might work better for a serious seamstress.
















The next one she made- I Like Mike- is my favorite.  Made from a baby food monster bowl, it is my favorite color palette. (Not to mention that it's black and white pin part looks like Jef's hair from the Bachelorette!)

And finally, a few more.  A sly fox (called Swiper after Dora the Explorer), a wise old owl and a steaming cup of espresso joined the group.  She's had a lot of fun being original and artistic.

With some imagination, careful thrifting and a lot of rummaging in my studio for leftover material, Nikki struck gold----and created some cool pincushions.

Jack-o-Lantern Halloween Hoodie --Boo!!

In case you didn't know, Halloween is only 134 days away.  So, it seemed totally natural to me- a major Halloween lover (ck out my Pinterest board on Halloween!)--to create a Halloween Hoodie at the beach.  With the use of a ton of scrap fabric and ribbon in my studio, I was able to craft a hoodie I am super excited to present.

Made from a black Danskin cardigan hoodie base, I removed the zipper and hood and cut it to a more flattering shape.  With the remainder of a giant plush Halloween pumpkin pillow my daughter mutilated for her cell project in life science, I added a huge Jack-o-lantern grin to one side of the new shorter bolero.

Then, the fun began.  With a myriad of minky, corduroy, knit and other fabrics, I started assembling the hood. (It's a version of the ones I made last year with some Katwise twists----she's the upcycled coat guru on Etsy- thrown in.)

One more admission- I love luscious bubble cuffs.  It was only natural that I add some in a wonderful orange minky that I had in the studio. A giant shoestring and some trim around the perimeter complete my fun look.  A giant button can hold the hood closed in position if desired.



So fun. Now, it's time to consider making some great witch feet for my table. Stay tuned.

If you enjoyed this blog post, I humbly invite you to visit my website- www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com to see more upcycled creations or to follow me on Twitter @braitzatl.

One-of-a-Kind Reprised

Several years ago, I found a wonderful sweater base in grey and black stripes.  It was unusual, interestingly made and had some elements I could accentuate as I upcycled it.  By restyling it from a boring pullover and adding some hot lime green trim, I called it the Zoe.

It was very well-received and helped me be accepted into an American Craft Council show in GA as one of 10 up and coming Indie designers to watch.  As you can imagine, I was excited and even more thrilled when they chose it to appear in the show's program.

The Zoe sold quickly, and I have often been asked to make another.  Unfortunately, I had not found a base that was slightly off the shoulders and unique like the original Zoe was made from....until now.








This past week while thrifting, I came upon a pristine cotton blend top that had very interesting elements.  It was nearly off the shoulder, had similar stripes and very interesting sleeves.  Long black cuffs reached almost to the elbow and a vertical stripe ran down the sleeves.  To top it off?  A perfect t-shirt in a great chartreuse shade was also there.


Home I went and cleaned, re-cut and created the Zoe 2 (with help from Debra!). It's not the same, but one-of-a-kind things never are. The sleeves are very unique- you can push them up, leave them down or even turn the cuffs up.  I love the updated look --it pays homage to the Zoe, but is a tad edgier. Mission accomplished at last!

If you enjoyed this post and would like to keep up with what we are producing at Echo or the art we are musing about, I humbly invite you to follow me at braitzatl on Twitter or visit us at www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com

A New Take on the Old Hoodie Classic

Hoodies have been around for years.  Recently, you can even see them cropped and sleeveless.  So it was when I found two---both in pristine condition- with great design elements.  As an upcycler, I like to pay homage to the original designer by complementing and advancing the best elements of a garment.  In the first instance, I was honored to be playing around with an Ed Hardy sleeveless hoodie.  It was super soft and had a great print.  So, in order to put my spin on it, I added plaid shoe string ties to allow the wearer to close it but not zip it, so that what they chose to wear underneath would show.  I also added a complimentary button on the back so that the wearer could keep the hood up, displaying the cool print on it.




The second hoodie was short-sleeved and had a great pink camo print.  The original designer had put great  navy accents on it so I left them undisturbed.  Instead, I added oversized skater shoestrings to tie it shut---once again eliminating the need for the zipper, and another hood button.  Now both are updated and will allow the unique wearer to feel like they the one-of-a-kind creation they truly are.













If you enjoyed this post or want to see more designs, I humbly invite you to follow me at braitzatl (on Twitter) or visit www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com

Bowling Anyone?

I think bowling shoes are kinda fun. If you can get past the idea that someone has worn them before, you can really enjoy their geeky coolness.  So, when I spotted a teal cardigan sweater with cool periwinkle paisleys and swirls, I started to get the deja vu feeling on bowling.  Go figure?

I liked the trim- a chartreuse and periwinkle stripe, and wanted to incorporate it somehow in my new design.  By carefully trimming it off the sweater around the perimeter, I was able to seal the edges with a zigzag stitch and then re-attach it as trim.  Kinda fun.  I was even able to use the buttonhole and buttoned edges as the front trim.

I now envision this sweater with a pretty periwinkle or chartreuse tank, some white jeans and.....some snappy bowling shoes.  Or, I guess you could just wear it out to the movies, to dinner or to the office.  Boring!

If you enjoyed this post or would like to see more creations, I humbly invite you to follow me on Twitter at braitzatl or at www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com

It's a Pink Kind of Day!

In one of my favorite books, My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, there is a line that says:


"But when my days are Happy Pink

it's great to jump and just not think."

And so it was when I began my latest three upcycled sweaters- a happy day with three great sweater bases- barely used.  Ahhhhhhhhh. So much potential.  With help from the a superior seamstress named Debra, look what they became!

From a nice hot pink pullover to........Spring Dot!

From a demure pale pink cardigan to ...... Pink Frosting!

And finally, from a frumpy pullover to... Asian Blossom. 

Hopefully, they are much improved.  Just like me after my enchanted Pink Day.


If you enjoyed this post, I humbly invite you to follow me on Twitter at braitzatl and on facebook as Echo Clothing Company.

Latest Paper Doll? Meet Casey in the Aspens

I am going to confess.  I love aspen trees- especially as they turn yellow and "twinkle" in the fall.  It's a magical combination against a western sky---and nothing along the East coast, except maybe for a flaming red maple, comes close.  So, as I continued my Serendipity series of grown-up paper dolls, I added Casey in the Aspens.

Working on this piece allowed me to literally peel the paper bark off the trees and put it back on again using various archival handmade papers from my flat file.  So fun!  And Casey watches it all, in her boots with skirt, hair and bow blowing in the breeze. (Gave me a momentary memory of Marlo Thomas in That Girl throwing her hat up in the air.) So much fun.  Can't wait to start another and really wish I could just snap my fingers and borrow that skirt tomorrow......

I humbly invite you to follow me on Twitter at braitzatl

Too Soon for a Tutu?

I have to admit---- no matter how old I get, I still love a tutu.  Whether it's on a teeny little spinning girl, or a grown up lady who is young at heart--- love, love, love them.  So, when I discovered this great floral sweater that reminded me of my childhood bedroom (all periwinkles, lilacs and soft blues), I envisioned a matching tutu-like skirt.  Only problem?  Couldn't find one.  So, enter a little ingenuity and Target!  I found a fun triple tiered skirt in the girl's department.  Snatching up a roomy XL, I headed to my local fabric store for inspiration.  Found it in the form of two shades of tulle- a lavender and a lilac. (Even the colors sound fun!)  On the right below is a pic of the beginning of my tutu vision.




For the bottom layer, I added diamonds of double layered lavender tulle every 1.5" or so along the gathering of the original layer.  By turning them diagonal, they added some fluttery interest at the bottom.  I left the original purple layer in the middle alone, as it matched the top well.  For the top layer, I added tulle by repeating the bottom layer concept, only with lilac diamonds, slightly closer together.  

The end result is an Easter outfit I can't wait to sport. Spring has come early in the ATL, so I don't think it's too early to take my new skirt out for a spin. Add a little black bolero sweater and some ballerina flats and I am ready to twirl.  Happy Spring!

Taking a jacket and tee from fun to fabulous

Most of my fashion ingenuity is focused on upcycling sweaters into new creations better than ever before.  But occasionally I come across a jacket, skirt or tee that just calls to me with possibilities.  Two such garments grabbed me this week, and I decided to share them as I hibernate from the pollen haze that has attacked the ATL.  (I put my life-and sinuses-in jeopardy just by dashing outside to snap some quick photos.)




The first was a cute tee shirt that reminded me of an English Garden.  What made it so cool was that the back, sleeves and front were all out of different, but complimentary, patterns. It was also made of a heavier weight t-shirt material that might make a better bolero.












So, with a quick cut of the trusty sewing shears, I had a better shape.  Some fun pinky-purple striped trim (from another tshirt cut up long ago) was just what it needed to take it from English frump to British funk.














The second took some courage to cut as it was quite cute before I started.  I began with a lined  t-shirt blazer that was a cute blackish-navy and cream stripe.  Great basic pieces with tons of potential.  Drawing on my reservoir of courage, I cut the lower 1/2 of it off and started rummaging around the studio for something to take it from good to great.  Enter some black and cream polka dotted material- very soft and pliable.  By doubling a row of it, I was able to pleat it around the bottom to create a new, fresh take on the original jacket.  A row of red rayon trim- stitched on the edge to give it a slight curl- made it nearly complete.  Finally, a fun polka dotted rosette (stolen from my daugher- don't tell!) completes my new look.  It's called Peppy and will be rocking my Etsy site shortly. (www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com)

A Better Mousetrap?

Sometimes, I come across a great piece at a store that is almost perfect.  Key word? Almost.  Maybe it's the fit, the color, the styling, but it just needs a little something.   This past week, I stumbled upon a sweater at Anthropologie, one of my favorite stores- not only for their clothes, but because of their great displays.  The store inspires me, plain and simple.  So, when I saw a small striped sweater on clearance, I danced right to the checkout with it.

What I loved about it was the back.  The front is a relatively simple crew with two cute pockets.  But the back---wow.  Only two buttons at the very top, then totally open.  I thought of it over a long white tank, and mused---great potential. Yet, it needed a little something---perhaps in the way of color--- to tie it into my black pants or make it a smidge more interesting.














Enter some red sheer polka dotted material from my studio and a leftover black and white bottom from a sweater that had been made into a bolero.  By attaching them to the interior edges of the back and letting them drape, I created a more interesting back---- which still pays homage to the open idea, but without the hassle of pulling it together over my tank.

With the back complete, I needed to add clue on the front.  So, by attaching a leftover ruffle that could be tied on one side to the interior top of one pocket, I introduced just a little pop of color and maybe a curiousity of what you might find on the back.















Finally, I attached two buttons--- different sizes, but complimentary.  Not only did they complete the look, but helped hold the pocket upright as well. Different, unique and colorful---just what I had envisioned.



When I was finished, I realized what had inspired me. I had inadvertently created a simpler, backwards version of one of my favorite designs from 2011- a turnstyle (see Smoke Flowers below).  Perhaps my upcycled sweater was a slightly better mousetrap (for me at least), but it's nearly impossible to improve on Anthropologie.......

Smoke Flowers

Tee Toppers Are Born

If you live in a warm place like Atlanta during the summer, you are constantly bombarded by hot and cold, hot and cold.  It's hot as blazes outside, so you are comfortable in a sleeveless top.  You walk into Willy's, the movies, Yogli Mogli, Target, (fill in your own blank here), and it's oh so cold. Enter my idea for "tee toppers", named for the perfect little shrug to throw over a tee.

In my post as designer for Echo Clothing, I am constantly grabbing up gently used tees and cutting them into shreds for trim.  Sometimes, it pains me to do this because they are cute and beg to be left whole.  As luck would have it, I started to come across good as new tees at my favorite thrift haunts, as well as super-reduced tees at regular stores ($3-4).  An idea was born.  Why not take them, recut them just like our bolero sweaters, and trim them with strips from other tees?


 







Not only would they be lighter than ordinary sweaters that might be too hot in the south in the summer, but they would be "green", original and a great way to transition between hot and cold. As an extra bonus, they could be washed in the washing machine, hung to dry----unlike some sweaters that have to be dry cleaned.  Even better!








Just like with sweaters, where we can alter a pullover, cardigan or crop into another shape, I decided to let the sweater lead the way (which I guess makes me a "sweater whisperer.") If it has a regular scoop, it typically gets a hook and eye (hidden of course) at the top.  If it scoops lower or is a v-neck, it may just be a standard bolero with no tie or hook.  Check them out. They are as unique, different and fun as the women whom I am hoping will enjoy them.

If you want to see what inventory we currently have available, check out the new on-line arm of Echo Clothing- www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com. We keep posting as we make them.