Add a Bloom to your Sole

It truly doesn't get any easier than this...

 BEFORE

One pair of un-inspired, semi pretty blue leather kitten heels

A flower clip set from H&M that cost $3.95. 

This type of clip works best.

AFTER

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.

Belt your Shoes

A little effort adds a lot of look to cheap vinyl shoes.

BEFORE

I was going to glue a ribbon across these shoes but, I saw shoes with buckles and a light bulb went off...find some skinny belts and use the buckle for the embellishment.

First stop was a Salvation Army store and there I found the PERFECT belt. A double skinny belt for $1.50. Unbelievable!

AFTER

Carefully measure the length and after the belt is cut if you sand the edge on the back with a finger nail file it won't look like such a cut, harsh edge. I used Gorilla glue to attach the belts because I've used Gorilla glue for numerous shoe repairs and I've never had a problem.

Painting Leather Shoes

Next I decided to dabble in painting shoes.

BEFORE

This is a well loved, well worn asymetrical leather wedge that can be dressy or casual. 

Seriously I have taken just these shoes on various trips.

Anyways, I have worn the shoes so often they were on the edge of being boring. I had loved them plain so I decided to see if my love would be reignited with a change of appearance ( that happens with lots of old people things ).
My first thought was to go wild and try an animal motif but, then I remembered how much I liked these shoes and how good the chance was that the animal look would not turn out well so...

I finally went for a conservative stripe that I knew would work out.

 Maybe when I have shoes I don't like as much I'll try the animal thing.

AFTER

Now I love my shoes again and the best part is I don't think anyone will suspect that I painted them. 

The best compliment for a DIY project is NO ONE asking if you did it :)

It's a rather long story on selecting paint for "painting" my leather shoes. A leather shop in Jerome, Arizona uses Fiebings leather dye to paint its leather belts and purses. Fiebings can be found online BUT they will not deliver to a California address because of EPA regulations.
Also now unavailable in California is a leather spray paint that I had purchased over a decade ago to change pink leather ballet slippers into white for a competition.
Tandy leather sells nothing that will change the color of cured leather, only raw leather.
Sassyfeet ( sassyfeet.com ) recommends an acrylic fabric paint for leather AND synthetics; sealed with Future clear acrylic floor wax.
Told you this was a long story...
Anyways I was passing a dirty, old sketchy shoe repair that shall remain nameless and there was the banned Color Spray that I had used so long, long ago.
And it worked great.
I always seal new shoes and any surface treatment ( pen, paint, bleach, etc. ) with just a regular water and stain repellent available everywhere.

When using spray paint take the time to really over up what you don't want spray painted. Anyone that has ever used spray paint understands what a pain is over-spray
The spray worked great and I'm heading back to buy some more colors because I don't think I'll find this Color spray again soon.

BEFORE

AFTER

A subtle dash of color blocking that perked up my favorite leather sandals from last summer.

Summer Fun

Cowabunga!

This wave is made from strips of denim...

Maui Fabric Mart

My luggage definitely did not have room for a fabric purchase but, after driving by Fabric Mart twice I finally had to go inside!

285 Dairy Road, Kahului HI 96732

www.hawaiifabricmart.com 

Don't let the small exterior fool you because this store is FULL of rolls and rolls and rolls of Hawaiian fabric. 

Most of the fabrics are 45"wide cotton/poly blend, few silk and hemp. This is the selection of 100% cotton fabrics. 

...and in the back of the store MORE rolls of fabrics Every color combination you can imagine. 

Since I still have Hawaiian fabric from my last trip to the islands I was fairly resolute about NOT purchasing more...BUT that resolution flew out the window when I spied this fabulous fabric with my favorite shade of green background.

I now have fabric for project #1, 287  

Cedros Design District, Solana Beach

A hidden gem named the Cedros Design District exists in Solana Beach ( north San Diego county ).

There are about 85 quirky, independently owned shops selling everything from antiques to plants to home furnishings to pet supplies to clothing and more.

It's a great way to spend a beautiful afternoon.

www.cedrosavenue.com

House of Vintage is one of the Cedros Design District most quirky shops and I believe the sign out front says it all,

"This is not a museum-this junk is for sale"

In the back of the converted house is a room full of vintage everything sewing- from patterns to trims to notions to threads to all sorts of odds and ends. 

But make no mistake- the stuff is OLD.

The doors of this cabinet are old wooden yardsticks glued together. 

I'm totally using this idea somewhere in my sewing studio...

now I just have to start buying up wooden yardsticks! 

And on top of the fabulous wooden yardstick door cabinet was the crown jewel of sewing related items.

A vintage Brother sewing machine in the most delicious shade of PINK!

No idea if it works or not but, when it's that pretty who cares.