Alyssa Milano's Pants

Save the Turtles

to be auctioned off for the National Wildlife Federation

I finally finished the first of the bags I am making from Alyssa Milano’s pants for my Gulf Project. I would have finished last month but my in-laws were here and things just got so busy. Here it is and I totally dig it even though it was a pain in the ass to finish it off.

Most bags I make are pretty simple. I thought this one was going to be simple too, but I was wrong. Sometimes upcycling demands a bit of creativity, patience and brut force. Pants were designed to be pants, not bags. The way things are cut is to accommodate a body with curves and angles. It can be hard to find or create the straight lines I want for the bags.

The fabric is awesome! I love the texture, it’s soft and almost oily to work with (very fitting).  I didn’t actually run into any problems until the end. I had decided to use the cuff/hem of the pant legs as the hem for the opening of the bag. Usually this makes the bag even easier to make. Not this time.

I wanted the hem to be straight up and down. There was a bit more flare in the pants than I’d realized. There was more fabric on one side of the fold than the other. I don’t have a big machine to stretch this and make it work. On my little machine it bunched. This meant I had to stitch it in by hand. Not my favorite thing to do!

The bag looks fantastic. I wanted to have a subtle design that related to the Gulf crisis so I decided to do a turtle with a deep green patterned fabric. I really like the fabric, together with the oily black color of the pants I 100% got the effect I was going for. On it’s own it looks like a nice bag with a toned down graphic. When you think about the Gulf you see more. It is now a murky image of a turtle swimming through oil.

I have one more pair of Alyssa’s pants. When I have finished the bag I am planning with those I will organize the auction to sell both bags to raise funds for the National Wildlife Federation. 

 

Working Vacation

Ginkgo Mini Wallet

I've been away from home again! I feel like I've been away more often than not recently. It isn't going to change either. At the beginning of November I am going to New York and when I get back I'm not even going home! I'm going to be staying in Santa Cruz for a while to get a treatment for Lyme disease and will be there until probably December! For those who are interested I am going to be doing a post about the Lyme side on Lymenaide soon.

Prezzie from Keri

I managed to be super productive while I was away this time, YAY. I met up with a bunch of friends and had a great time. I finally met Keri from String Bean Studios in Santa Cruz, a fellow Lymie and a crafter. Keri makes amazing jewelry and she gave me a little prezzie! I also got to hang out with my cutie patootie niece, love her.

To top it all off I whipped up four new mini wallets. I had planned to finish off the first of my Alyssa Milano bags, but... grrrrr, the bag didn't want to cooperate and I left my hemming tape at home. So close though, the bag is nearly done. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Alyssa Milano donated two pairs of pants to be upcycled to raise funds for the National Wildlife Federation. See the post- http://bit.ly/9nMclI

I also went to one of my favorite fabric stores on earth. Hart's Fabric in Santa Cruz totally kicks ass! I could spend the entire day in there. That would be very dangerous though, way too much temptation.

All up it was a fantastic trip with beautiful weather and walks on the beach... I really don't want to go home yet, but I will be back soon enough!

Checker Me Out Mini Wallet

See all the new mini wallets- http://bit.ly/b8VjMs

Alyssa Milano Donates to Upcycled by Ash

photo used with permission

 Thank You Alyssa!!!

Getting a donation from Alyssa Milano seemed like a good reason to do my first ever vlog post. Alyssa sent me two pairs of pants to be upcycled and sold as part of my Gulf Project to raise funds for the clean up and animal rescue efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. Donations will be made to the National Wildlife Federation.

Huge thanks to Alyssa Milano for donating her pants and helping me raise more funds for the Gulf. I can't wait to get my scissors and tear these pants apart. Let the craftivism begin!

When the bags are completed and ready for auction it will be announced here on the Upcycled by Ash blog, on twitter @upcycledbyash, and on the Upcycled by Ash facebook page. Follow me on twitter and like me on facebook to stay up to date!

Cherry Blossom Tote

 Cherry Blossom Tote $65

SOLD

I am really looking forward to getting my photographer back, taking these photos on my own is hard work. Today I enlisted my mom's help and realized how much Sander and I have learned since we started taking these photos.

I was very excited about making this bag. I took photos of the whole process with the intention of making a tutorial. Unfortunately the photos are horrible. I'm not just saying that, they really are bad. The problem isn't so much the actual photos as my fabric choices. I went about the process in the wrong order.

I decided to make this bag and then that I would make a tutorial of it. I realize now that I needed to choose my fabrics specifically to make a tutorial. This bag has two dark fabrics and mostly dark thread. That doesn't make for very descriptive photography. It isn't very helpful if you can't see what I am talking about because the fabrics and threads all blend together!

I will pick some more appropriate fabrics and do the tutorial later this month. 

About the Bag-

The Cherry Blossom Tote has black canvas at the top and bottom with a bold cherry blossom panel in the middle. The strap is also black canvas with red stitching for visual appeal. A pink zipper closes the bag. The interior lining is the same cherry blossom material with one pocket. 

The measurements of the bag are 14 inches across at the top, 11 inches across at the base, 11 inches deep and 4 inches wide.

This item is part of my Gulf Project to raise funds for the clean up and rescue efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. 50% of the proceeds of this item will go @NWF or @nature_org, buyer's choice. 

To make a purchase contact me at:
ashvantol@gmail.com or send me a tweet @upcycledbyash

Payments are via PayPal, Credit Card or Personal Check

I Love Celeb Pants!!!

So awesome when celebrities help out for your cause! 

It was hilarious when Alyssa Milano started sending sexy crush tweets to the Old Spice Guy. She made him a video challenge from her bathroom clad only in her towel to donate $100,000 to the National Wildlife Federation. The real, Real Man Challenge.

Then Keith Powell stepped up and took her challenge to be a real man. He started a page on firstgiving to raise funds for the National Wildlife Federation. He promised to make a video thank you to one person who donated to the cause per day.

Of course I donated and asked him for his pants! Super stoked to get a video thanks and I can't wait to get my hands on those pants.

Help Keith prove to Alyssa that he is a real man, make a donation to the National Wildlife Federation on Keith's firstgiving page, you never know you just might get a video thank you- http://www.firstgiving.com/realkeithpowell



Old Spice Guy's videos to Alyssa - http://www.buzzfeed.com/nikoguy1/alyssa-milano-crushes-on-isaiah-mustafa-5xy

Keith accepts the Challenge- http://www.buzzfeed.com/kzoopsf/keith-powell-alyssa-milano-real-man-challenge-1a1 (very funny!)

Orange Appeal

 Orange Appeal For the Gulf Wallet

SOLD

50% of the proceeds from this item went to @NWF.

I love the colors of this wallet! It looks so great. I finally pulled my finger out over the last few days and got some wallets done. More great, unique designs to be posted in the following days.

This wallet isn't so much upcycled as it is freecycled. Freecycling is about giving and getting for free. People have been kind enough to send me fabric donations that they already own to make my items. When I get donations like this, the materials have not been previously whereas my upcycled items are made form clothing someone use to wear.  It's all about reduce, reuse and recycle!

The quilted fabrics of this wallet are rich reds, oranges and browns. I used the same colors for the stitching.I added a nice orange zigzag stitch to some of the pieces on the outside of this wallet for fun detail.  The interior has eight credit card pockets and two deep pockets for bills/checks/receipts. A simple snap closure keeps your valuables secure inside.

Price includes shipping and handling. To purchase an item, send an email to me at ashvantol@gmail.com or a tweet @upcycledbyash  

Dream Big, Aim Higher

I’m often called an optimist, to put it kindly. More often the average person perceives my glass half full positive outlook on life as naivety.

They are wrong. I am not naive. A dreamer yes, but don’t be surprised when I turn those crazy dreams into realities.

I honestly do believe that one person cam make a difference. It may not be our personal immediate achievements that are so impressive. The most impressive and most important thing those of us who dare to dream do, is to inspire others to do the same. Now the one becomes many and the results become much more impressive.

@TVD_Chloe

Today I want to tell you about another dreamer in out midst. Her name is Chloe, she is 16 years old, and I would be willing to bet she is doing more than you are to make the world a better place.

I first met Chloe on Twitter. Most probably know her as @TVD_Chloe, TVD standing for The Vampire Diaries. The Vampire Diaries is a hit show on the CW Network. Chloe is a huge fan; I dare say one of the shows biggest fans.

Five of the shows cast/former cast members had helped me out with a Lymenaide project this May to make public service announcements for Lyme disease. When I posted the PSAs to the Lymenaide YouTube Channel I was amazed by the support we suddenly received from the Vampire Diaries fans. One of the standouts was, of course, Chloe.

She posted, re-posted, tweeted, re-tweeted, remixed and even did some fundraising for our cause. I can honestly say, I think that TVD fans are one of the most Lyme aware groups of people on the planet in huge part to Chloe’s efforts.

Inspired by Ian Somerhalder, who plays the sultry vampire Damon on the Vampire Diaries, Chloe began tweeting her heart out about the crisis in the Gulf.

I have to say that I live a fairly sheltered media life. Until recently we didn’t even have a T.V. in our house. It was Chloe, and through her, Ian Somerhalder, that made me decide that I could and I would do my part to help with the clean up and rescue efforts in the Gulf. (click here to read about my Gulf Project)

Chloe has gone balls to the walls with her Gulf campaign. She tweets like a mother bird saving her chicks, sharing updates and making people aware of the current status of the oil spill.

To start, she had t-shirts designed which she sells on Printfection with all the proceeds, $9 per shirt, going to GulfAid. Chloe, the little social media Diva that she is, also vlogs about the Vampire Diaries and the Gulf on her YouTube Channel, Vampire Diaries Vlogs. Chloe caught the eye of the V.D. cast and now in addition to her shirt sales, she is also going to be holding an auction to benefit the National Wildlife Federation with items donated from not only the Vampire Diaries, but from the Twilight Saga as well. Way to go Chloe!

Learn more about Chloe and what she is doing on her sites-

Twitter
@TVD_Chloe
@VampireSupport 

Websites
Vampire Support - http://vampire-support.blogspot.com/ (auction updates and info here)
Oh My Salvatore - http://www.ohmysalvatore.com/ 

YouTube
Vampire Diaries Vlogs - http://www.youtube.com/user/VampireDiariesVlogs 

Support Stores
Printfection Store - http://www.printfection.com/vampiresupport
Zazzle Store - http://www.zazzle.com/vampire+support+buttons

What are you doing to make the world a better place?

Chloe's remix of Lymenaide's Lyme disease public service announcements

Red, White and Blue Tote

Red, White and Blue Tote

SOLD

After the massacre of the pants, in this case overalls, I am left with the pieces to puzzle back together. This is the fun part!

Nani, @VictoriousVixen, has been trying to get me to some freemotion for a while now. So, I put on my big girl pants and showed that new sewing machine that's been intimidating me who's boss! You know what... that new machine rocks! It is so much better than the one I had. 

In case you don't know the "new" machine is actually my grandmother's 10 year-old machine. She bought top of the line. Lucky me!!!

The Red White and Blue Tote is the latest of my messenger totes to raise money for the clean up and rescue efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. 50% of the proceeds went to @NWF.

I love the big back pocket on this bag, the benefit of upcycling overalls! I also put two pockets inside instead of just one like the other bags have. The main stitching is navy blue and almost invisible. The lining is a red, white and blue flower pattern leftover form some little girls dresses I made last year. 
 
to purchase an item, send an email to me at ashvantol@gmail.com or a tweet @upcycledbyash   

For the Birds

For the Birds

SOLD

This bag was a bit more work than the previous ones. It was worth it though. I love the way it turned out!

I've been asked where I get my images. What? What do you mean where do I get them? I make them. For this particular bag I had seen a photograph in a quilting magazine of a small, very intricate and detailed quilt. I loved it and decided I wanted to do something similar, but much simpler.

Using the image of the small quilt as inspiration, I pulled out my pencil and paper and drew the outline of my bird. Then I transferred that to the brown fabrics and cut it out (I had attached iron on fusing to the back). I cut out the yellow piece, the feet, the beak, the clouds and the tree freehand. I then pieced it all together on the unfinished flap of the bag and used a small, tight zigzag stitch on the sewing machine to embellish and permanently adhere it to the flap. Oh yeah and I used some beads for his eye. 

This bag use to be my friend Jenn's ugly pants (her words not mine). The tree came from a pair of my old pants that I have already made a bag with, Beige Bag. The clouds are the lining of a dress. I'm wearing the dress in the Red Flower Bag photos, pre-upcycle. When he was taking the photos my husband also took the time to tell me how much he didn't like the dress. I've only worn it twice in 3 years so I'm obviously not to fond of it either. The rest of the material, the part that makes up the bird and the lining, is all scrap that I have had laying around for at least a year. I think that the brown is leftover from the hotdog costume I made my dog for a contest.

to purchase an item, send an email to me at ashvantol@gmail.com or a tweet @upcycledbyash  

The Snappy Dragon

Snappy Dragon 

Awarded in a Giveaway

As I was working on this bag I suddenly thought of my twitter friend @TheSnappyDragon how could I not name it after her!  According to her "The Snappy Dragon lives in a cave somewhere off the coast of a pretty island. Frequents old baroque castles as haunts as well, and counts the Loch Ness Monster as a trusted confidante."

He turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

This morning I dragged my butt out of bed early. It wasn't that hard since for some awful reason I had been awake since 5:30am! I couldn't fall back asleep, the dog was hogging the bed and my husband's elbow was jabbing me in the back.  Oh well at least we got the photos of the bag taken before he took off to go kayaking for the day. I'm sure there will be a nap in my near future.
 

First Sale, First Donation

YAY!!! I have officially made my first sale from this site. Normally I wouldn't be so excited, but for some reason when you are giving and getting it makes things better.

The Sea Turtle Messenger Tote was sold today to Heather in Texas. She is going to give it as a gift to a friend who works with sea turtles! Awww.

I wrapped the bag up all pretty and pulled out my iPhone to find the post office. I know, it's sad, I didn't know where the post office in my own town was! Long story but basically I live in one town and my post box is 20 mins away in another town. Yay for the iPhone!

So here's the breakdown-

$120 - $3.78 for PayPal fees - $4.71 for shipping fees = $111.51 ÷ 2 = $55.75. So I am donating $55.75 to Nature Conservancy @nature_org, Heather's pick for the receiver of the donation.

Bye Bye Turtle Tote, I will miss you but you are doing so much for the environment being all upcycled and donation worthy!!!

Finally Some Upcycle Photos!

Thank you to my wonderful husband who took photos of some of my upcycled items today. We had a bit of a photo shoot this morning. I am so glad I am not a model, that was a lot of work!!!

So without further adieu, here they are-
to purchase an item, send an email to me at ashvantol@gmail.com or a tweet @upcycledbyash

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sea Turtle Bag to Aid the Gulf 

SOLD

50% of proceeds went to @nature_org.

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Pelican Bag to Aid the Gulf 

SOLD

50% of proceeds went to @NWF 

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Red Flower Bag

GIFTED

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Beige Bag 

SOLD

Latest Project

I don't have photos, well I do, but they are terrible ones taken with my iPhone and uploaded to tweetphoto. They aren't on the tweetphoto attached to my @upcycledbyash account either. They are on my @lymenaide account. That was getting kinda weird since that account is for Lyme disease awareness.

Weird because I have been posting about the bags and wallets I am making to support the Gulf. Hum, yeah most people don't care but some were getting cranky that Lymenaide appeared to be "raising funds" for the Gulf instead of Lyme.

So now here I am starting form scratch to give a home to the other causes I care about.

And, moving onto the topic...

I am making upcycled messenger totes and wallets with Gulf themes to help support the cleanup and rescue efforts in the Gulf. The bags will be sold, here to start with. I guess I'll have to look into Etsy as well. Anyway After all the shipping costs and fees, 50% of the proceeds will go to the National Wildlife Federation @NWF or Nature Conservancy @nature_org.

Yes the other 50% is going to me, but you can feel good about that too. I am currently unable to work because I suffer from a chronic illness. You will never guess what it is. Yeah, you're right, it's Lyme disease.

And, another reason to feel good about these items, they are made from mostly upcycled clothing or fabric items that would have been thrown away if they hadn't been made into something new and totally exciting. 

That was actually a hit-on line a guy used on me once, something New And Totally Exciting. His name was Nate. Do you see it? Yeah, lame! It didn't work for him, but it does work for my upcycle projects!!!

If you are antsy to see these things despite the bad photography here is the link to the tweetphoto account where they are- http://tweetphoto.com/28799329 You've been warned about the crappy photos, you better check back here soon to see some decent ones!!!

If you want to see what I did for my last project for Lyme disease here is the link- http://www.youtube.com/user/lymenaide Just to tip you off, this link does not take you to bags. I made commercials last time.