Urban Snippets: Headband HOW-TO (re-purposed from an old dress)

Urban Snippets: Headband HOW-TO (re-purposed from an old dress): Hi! It's been a long while since I've given you snippets! I've been through a few reject phones lately, which means fewer photos and, as y...

Urban Snippets: Secrets of Circles, Rocks and Waters.

Urban Snippets: Secrets of Circles, Rocks and Waters.: It's not often that I get to spend a day together with both of my kids. One that is not interrupted by hockey practice, ballet, or work at t...

Secrets of Circles, Rocks and Waters.

It's not often that I get to spend a day together with both of my kids. One that is not interrupted by hockey practice, ballet, or work at the salon. So, today I jumped at the chance to spend time with the kids and took them to the Brooklyn Children's Museum. We planned ahead and arrived before the other locals. (I love Brooklyn in the morning!) And most of our time was spent exploring the visiting exhibit, Secrets of Circles. It might seem a tad unimpressive at first, but upon a closer look we discovered a number of irresistible and interactive activities that kept our attention.

And, thanks to our friend Dani, our eyes were opened to mathematical, left-brain thinking and we were made aware, not only of how rocks are formed, but also how to arrange them to calm the rushing waters. Hmm...how is it I've made it this far in life not knowing how to calm the waters by such a simple approach? I mean, I know how to shut off the water supply, but subtle calming? Perhaps this idea is something I could further explore in my own personal waters. . . I'm still thinking. I'll drift along for now, and reflect on my wonderful day of learning and exploration.

Pasha having some wheel fun. *Ahem*

Fantasia the 260 lb Albino Burmese Python 

 

The sign reads, "one person at a time". No problem, I wasn't going to get in anyway.

Olesya drawing l.e.d. circles at the Circles Exhibit

O in a round boat from Thailand, I believe.

Pasha doesn't remember this tunnel, but he was here before in his pre-school years.

Pasha and another neat attraction

Fantasia. Glad she was sleeping behind thick glass.

Urban Snippets: ARROJO To-Go!

Urban Snippets: ARROJO To-Go!

Arrojo education To-Go!

Slope Suds and Arrojo

At the Arrojo check-out a few weeks ago:

Me: "Yes, I'll take one Arrojo hair-cutting class...to go please, with a G-bob and layered bob on the side. Thanks!"

Them: "Would you like regular or super size?"

Me: "Well, if it's Arrojo, any size will do!"

Them: "What salon are you calling from?"

Me: "Slope Suds Salon... you know, the Arrojo Ambassador Salon in Brooklyn?"

Them: "hold please..."

...pause...

Them: "...thank you for holding, ma'am. Mrs. Mironov? I understand that there has been a special arrangement. Nick wants us to send over one of the best educators available. Ma'am...ma'am...are you there?"...

...fast forward a few weeks...to today, 9/26/11.

The first. ever. ARROJO hair-cutting class at Slope Suds was AMAZING! Our team loved Carmel, the fiesty, Irish stylist/educator from Arrojo with a heart of gold. (Oh, yes I did.)

Our stylists all learned something new today and we are proud to be the ONLY salon in Brooklyn with such excellent, advanced education. That's Arrojo education TO-GO! 

THANK YOU NICK and CARMEL!

...a few shots to remember.

Carmel sharing her wisdom. 

Carmel, adding her expert signature to a Graduated "g" bob

Doll heads will always be put to good use here at Slope Suds

Eager students. We always crave top-notch education.

 As Nick Arrojo says, "always learning, always growing!"

Urban Snippets: Headband HOW-TO (re-purposed from an old dress)

Urban Snippets: Headband HOW-TO (re-purposed from an old dress): Hi! It's been a long while since I've given you snippets! I've been through a few reject phones lately, which means fewer photos and, as y...

Headband HOW-TO (re-purposed from an old dress)

Hi! It's been a long while since I've given you snippets! I've been through a few reject phones lately, which means fewer photos and, as you can see, I love to base my topics on fun, colorful images. So, it's great to be back! Thanks iPhone 4!

And thanks local shop (Brook Vacuum in Park Slope) for selling me a great Singer serger that has been making me go sew mad with my creativity! I found a dress lingering in my closet the other day that would have never, ever, ever fit my upper half after child number two. SO, I chopped the dress in half, used the bottom half as a skirt and the rest of the scraps to craft a headband! Woot woot! (My neighbor had asked me to mend her headband the other day, so while doing so I kinda memorized all I'd need to know to make one of my own.)

Here's what you need:

A scrap of lightweight, cotton fabric with a great print (roughly 14in.x8in.) Maybe even an old sheet or bandana would do!
A matching or coordinating scrap of fabric (2in.x11in.)
Matching thread for your machine
1-7in. strip of elastic, 3/4in. wide

1.  Take your amazing fabric scrap and measure it so you can cut a clean, 2in.x11in. long rectangle. This is to cover your elastic band. (a.)

2.  Cut another scrap to measure 14in.x8in. with your fave part of the pattern centered nicely as your focal point. This is the main body of your headband.  (b.)

(a.)(b.)

fabric scraps from an old dress

3.  Then serge or zigzag the raw edges of both pieces.
4. Take piece (a.) and fold it right sides together and stitch from top to bottom down the raw edge. Repeat with piece (b.) (1/4 inch seams)

5. Turn both pieces right side out and press with an iron. *note* On my headband the fabric was prettier on one edge, so I made sure to shift the fabric so that the seam was on the center bottom side of the headband. Otherwise you wouldn't have gotten to see the lovely, yellow flowers.

6. Thread your elastic thru piece (a.) with this handy little bodkin. A bodkin is a bit easier to use than a sharp, tricky safety pin, but that's an option as well.  Your fabric will gather up, so space it evenly. Use the sewing machine to tack the elastic in place on either end. Your tacking stitch should be horizontal to the serged edge of the fabric.

http://www.spinblessing.com/item.php?art=051221522284

7. Take the remaining piece (b.) and fold it in three as you would a paper fan or accordion. The key is to get the end size to match up with the width of your elastic band.

8. Baste (a.) to (b.) with right sides together, being sure to catch the elastic in the 1/2in. seam you create. Once you've positioned the headband and tried it on for size you can go back and stitch it for good. You'll want the headband to fit slightly snug, but not so snug that it pops right off.

Finished headband

9. For good measure, go back and re-iron everything so it will look nice and crisp. If the ends of the elastic pop up and bug you like they did me, go back and lay them flat and stitch them in place.

Here's what it looks like on me. An aerial view, cause it was a long day! ; )

Let me know if you need pointers or if this is just completely confusing. HAPPY SEWING!