Spring Summer 2015 Top Fashion Trends

  My last trend report for 2015 was for jewelry designs. Today  I will talk about a few key fashion trends for 2015 spring summer fashion. This year the popular items are: safari jacket, Baja inspired prints, drawstring waistlines, baggy bermudas and the spring anorak. The jumpsuit is still popular in soft fabric, and the denim is coming out in light colors, called "powder wash denim".

   Here are some of my picks for the key designs: This spring summer season Culottes are a fresh alternative to skirts…They are styled with slouchy layers or a slim-fit top. They can be done in crisp wovens , denim and leather. Here are a few examples:
                                                                    Debenhams

Karen Millen

This is my short version of it, which can be worn as shorts as well. You can find it in my shop here:

The full circle skirt is inspired by the 1950’s fashion. Coming in various lengths depending on the market, could be a great item for any woman’s closet.

                                                                   House of Fraser

Marks & Spencer

The classic shirt dress has new details, and we can find it with a dropped waist or relaxed fit. The defined waist is still in.

                                                                    Joe Fresh

Marks & Spencer

Tommy Hilfiger

J Crew

Matching separates are in, a look that is young and fresh, especially when it involves simple, boxy and cropped tops with coordinating shorts, skirts or cropped trousers.

                                                                          Oasis

                                                                          Primark

I will close with the jumpsuit, because if its resiliency through years of trends, and show you a couple designs, one of them being the romper version by Old Navy.

Tommy Hilfiger

Old Navy

I hope my presentation will inspire you to refresh your wardrobe and go out and shop, or make something confident that you are right on the mark.

Until next time,

Zoica

Friday Finds Hand Hooked Tapestry and Snow Fashion

Welcome to this week’s Friday Finds! This week’s theme was “Snow Fashion” and we selected a lovey treasury curated by Vanessa Turnbull from “HeartWishezStudio. In her Etsy shop, Vanessa offers unique hand hooked tapestry wall art, needle felted gifts and souls searching acrylic paintings.
If you are looking for a unique gift, stop by her shop.



Here is one of her creations, a hooked rug tapestry wall hanging:

 Hand Hooked Rug Tapestry Wall Hanging, “Winter Moonlit Treetops”

Treasury by Vanessa: "Snow Fashion" We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week’s treasury theme is “Christmas trends”. If you have a treasury you would like to submit, just send me or Susan a link via Etsy convo by Thursday afternoon and we will take a look. Remember, if your treasury is featured, we will feature an item from your shop. Thanks for stopping by! Until next time… Zoica

Unique Bride and Groom or Anniversay Gifts

If you are looking for a unique gift to a new married couple that moved into their first home, or a gift for your parents who are celebrating many years of marriage, here is an idea: A custom hand drawing of their house with a custom message, ready to frame.
This is something that would be cherished and last for years to come.
It could be a special Christmas gift for the couple who is celebrating the Holidays in their first home, too.
 The drawing could also have the couple's names, wedding date and address, and a special message like:
 "Our First Home"
"And They Lived happily Ever After"

You can find these drawing examples in my Zoia shop.

 Here is an example of my popular hand drawings:

Custom House Portrait, Anniversary Gift, Custom House Drawing

Here is a watercolor house drawing decorated for Christmas:

  

Custom House Portrait, Christmas Custom House Drawing

I hope you like my gift idea. If your loved one is a young girl, teen or tween I have multiple custom illustrations in my shop, and remember that your idea can be brought to reality too!

Until next time...

Zoica

   

Visit Zoica's profile on Pinterest.

All Things Paris- Wall Art

   Sometimes we just need a special piece of art to complete an already decorated corner or an empty wall. It could be a girl’s bedroom or a college dorm, and that hand made piece would add a special touch to the room.

    Today, something amazing happened and I need to share it with you. A customer from Europe purchased one of my drawings not just because she loved it, but because she said that the girl in the picture looks just like her, including the coat. How many times that could happen to an artist? All I could say was to congratulate her for looking like a fashion model. I am so happy that my pieces are seen as an image of a real person. It is exactly how I feel.
   Here is the watercolor print that she got:


                                 Watercolor New York Girl Fashion Illustration

Coming back to Paris, toady I will share with you a few Paris inspired, some mixed with fashion art pieces that I or Susan created.

Enjoy!

My rain in Paris watercolor...

                                           Red Umbrella Watercolor Fashion Illustration

Susan's Paris sign....

                                                          Paris Sign - Paris Mileage

My girl in red dress...

                                    

                                           Girl in red dress watercolor fashion illustration

And Susan's Paris is always...

                                                                     Paris always a good idea

I hope you enjoyed my selection. 

Until next time...

Zoica

10 Cheap and Easy Decorating Ideas to Spruce Up Your Kitchen

Do you want to update your kitchen without spending a lot of money?  Here are some cheap and easy decorating ideas to help you spruce up your kitchen.

1. Frame everyday objects like silverware.

Pinterest

 

2. Fill a bowl with legumes - like this hurricane vase filled with dried peas, beans, and popcorn.  Add a candle and tie with a string and you have instant art!

 

My Hearts Desire Blog

 

3. Fill white pitchers with kitchen utensils. 

 

The French Inspired Room

 

4. Add fresh flowers and a bowl of gourds.

 

Home Bunch

 

5. Add shelving and jars to display and house food items (this gets them out of the cabinets).

 

Ella Claire Inspired

 

6. Update an old clock like this one that I did for my kitchen.  For complete tutorial and free printable, just click on link.

 



Susan Newberry Designs

 

7. Add an organization station - Looks good and keeps the whole family organized at the same time!

 

Ciburbanity

 

8. Update your kitchen hardware.

 

Two Boys One Girl and a Crazy Mom

 

9. Add a chalkboard or paint a kitchen wall with chalkboard paint.

 

Pinterest

 

10. Add personalized kitchen art like these two from Etsy.

 

Susan Newberry Designs

 

Zoia

 

If you have any other kitchen ideas or if you try out one of these, we'd love to see them.

 









Thanks for stopping by...

 

Until next time,

Trend Alert: Black and White

The classic black and white color combination makes any room — from bathrooms to bedrooms — sophisticated, chic, and timeless.

If you are looking for an art gift for a special someone or you are ready to redecorate a room, a hand drawn watercolor print or a typography art might add the perfect finishing touch to your décor.

Here are some of the fashion, love, and inspirational prints that you can find in our stores:

Vogue watercolor print from Zoia...

                                 

                                    Black and White WatercolorVogue Poster Print

                                               


A Fashion Illustration Inspired by a Marchesa gown from Zoia...

Fashion Illustration Print Marchesa Black and Gold

 

A Kitchen Trio set from SusanNewberryDesigns…

FALL SALE Eat Drink and be merry 

Inspirational Print with a 1950 Chanel dress by Zoia… 

 1950 ChanelDress Watercolor Print

A perfect Anniversary Gift from SusanNewberryDesigns….

What I Love Most About my Home is who I Share itWith You

A hope you enjoyed my little collection of black and white prints.  

Thanks for stopping by...

Zoica



Personalized Wedding Gifts

Looking for a special gift for special couple?  Personalized gifts make amazing gifts that will be treasured by the bride and groom for years to come.  Take a look at some of the unique items that you can find at our stores.

Customized Wedding Art from Susan Newberry Designs...

Customizable Initial Print

Customized Wedding Art from Zoia...

Personalized Watercolor "Just Married"

 

 

Wedding Guest Book Alternative by Zoia...

 

Custom Wedding Dress and Tuxedo Sketch

 

Personalize with name of couple, honeymoon location, favorite sayings, etc...

 

Custom Wedding Typography

 

Save the Date Printable by Zoia...

 

Kissing Couple with Balloons

 

Customizable Wedding Print by Susan Newberry Designs...

 

Life is a Beautiful Ride

 

 

Printable Wedding Invitations by Susan Newberry Designs...

 

Best Day Ever Invitation and RSVP Card

 

Love Invitation and RSVP Card

 

 

Check out our stores, Zoia and Susan Newberry Designs for more customizable wedding and anniversary gift ideas.

 

Until next time...

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 



 



How to make a reversible hobo bag

Before the summer is over, I would like to share with you a fun sewing project. I will show you how to make a reversible hobo bag, using 1.25 yards of 2 different types of heavy cotton fabrics in 46” width. If you have only 1 yard, you can cut the strap in two pattern pieces and still use it too.
The bag is unique because has side pockets( total of 4) which you can use at one time for your phone, bottle of water, baby bottle, etc.
 I used a black/white print fabric from Ikea for one side and a denim for the other side.
There are only 3 pattern pieces: Body (pattern1) Strap/side/bottom (Pattern 2) and pockets .Here are the steps:
1. Cut both fabrics, including pockets.

                                         
                                               

2. Fabric A. Sew the Pattern #2 Strap/Bottom together at the widest point. Press seams open. Now you have the straps and bottom of bag.
 3. Serge all 4 pockets edges and sew the top edge by turning it 1”. Press( with iron) the seam allowances of the other 3 sides by folding them towards the wrong side.

4. Sew Fabric A pockets on each side of straps 1.5” bellow the top edge level of bag.
5. Pin the body (Pattern #1) of one side of bag by matching the notch on the bag with the seam of the bottom of bag. Sew it all around slowly at curve ( you have pined a straight seam with a curved one and need to end up with a curved seam).

6. Pinned and sew the other side of the bag’s body.
7. Press all seams open and clip at curve to release tension.

                                           
                                                 

8. Fabric B. Repeat steps from Fabric A.

                                                   

9. Sew the ends at top of straps together on each bag. Press the seams open.

 10. Position one bag inside the other by placing right side to right side of both fabrics. Sew the fabric A to fabric B around one side of the opening only, all the way to the straps going full circle. Use the two matching threads. Press the seam open.

NEXT STEP IS IMPORTANT but helps you not to sew it twisted, so it would turn out properly.

 11. Turn the bag right side out so you have right side of the fabric outside and inside as well. Fold the unfinished edge in the middle area of the bag( seam allowance width)by holding the two unsewn edges of fabric right side to right side and the tab sandwiched in the middle. While holding this edge place a pin on the wrong side through both layers. Turn the bag inside out gently so you do not lose the pin. Pin the rest of the edge. (If you do not use the tabs, still turn the seam allowance and hold the edges by hand while turning the bag inside out).
12. Sew this last edge, by leaving around 4”-5"unsewn hole around the wider area of the bag( before you reach the straps, because it would be too narrow and very hard to pull it through if your fabric is heavy) so you can flip it. Press seams open, while is still not flipped.

                                   

13. This is a bit tricky, but not hard :). Pull the whole bag slowly through the opening that you left. Fold(tuck inside) the seam allowance of the area that you left open and press it with the iron in place. Close this opening by sewing an edge stitch (really close to the edge) with matching threads.

                                         

14. Complete the bag by adding an edge stitch to both sides of the bag’s opening.

Voila!

I hope you found it easy to  make. The pattern is available in my shop.
Thank you for stopping by!
Zoica