Born-Again Vintage Book Review and Giveaway! US Only

Whether it is called up-cycled, re-cycled, altered designs, deconstructed or reconstructed, many of us are trying this eco friendly crafting and saving money in this repressed economy. I know when I go through my wardrobe I am more aware to how I can transform a piece that has been in my closet for awhile into something eco-chic. Now, Bridgett Artise and Jen Karetnick are leading the way in show us how to recycle our cast-offs into exciting new designs with their book “Born- Again Vintage” (Random House Book) 25 Ways to Deconstruct, Reinvent and Recycle Your Wardrobe”. Bridgett’s company is B Artise Originals believes that fashion trends come and go like the speed of light, but your pieces are timeless, trendless and more importantly “HOT” proving that with a few cuts and stitches, your entire wardrobe can be transformed! One of the most interesting things I learned about Bridgett is that she does custom orders, if you send in your old prom dress, maid of honor gown or any dress that’s been in the back of your closet for way too long and she’ll wave her magic wand and recreate your garment into something new and chic! Visit Bridgett’s site and see all she offers.

Born Again Vintage, tells you where to go to find those awesome vintage clothes and it is not the trendy Vintage Boutiques. Where you ask? Buy or win this book and you will be an insider in vintage shopping. Create boot pants from sweater sleeves. Make a vest from and old blazer and out-of-date shirt. Put together a chic sweater mini dress from a sweater and skirt or charming sweater corset from a cast off sweater. The tee shirt blouse is created from a tee and an vintage blouse. A darling denim bags from those dated jeans. Use a elegant vintage skirt and create stunning dress shorts. I could go on and on but you will want to open this amazing hard covered book with its stunning pictures and instructions and let your mind go wild.

Co-author Jen Karetnick is an amazing lady you will want to get to know along with Bridgett. Bridgett claims she was Jen’s pain while they worked on this book together. Jen is based in the fascinating and multicultural country known as Miami; Jen is one of the most oddly prolific writers around. An editor, author and poet as well as pen-for-hire, she tackles a variety of lifestyle subjects: food, travel, wine, liquor, literature, health, medicine, sexuality, arts, culture, home, garden, shopping, parenting, children and even cats and dogs and of course “Born Again Vintage” To learn more about Jen visit her site.

This is a book review and a GIVEAWAY to one lucky eco-minded, fashion savvy person. Instead of using Random.org I will put your comment number in a container and the last one picked will be the winner. Giveaway will run from June 2, 2009 through June 16, 2009.

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The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

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