11 Ideas Gathered from Photos
Hey y’all,
My objective in this post—as always— is to stir your inventiveness.
Because the combination of do-it-yourself and the unconventional bohemian spirit involves more than just one’s own personal style in the way each of us dress, it also includes the way we adorn our homes.
On my DIY Bohemian Facebook page, I’ve started including projects other than specifically clothing and accessories. I have long been interested in making certain decorative items for the home, and used to do it a lot. I LOVE making things!
I feel inspired to widen our conversations about creativity to include decor. Here is the first of such.
My post title carries the idea that you really don’t always need a tutorial. Many times, all you need to do is look carefully at a photograph of something to get a good idea of how to make it… or, to get an idea for something similar.
Of course, I will continue to share with you my tutorials, as I do my projects.
I hope to do some of these! But, in the meantime, take some incentive from the following.
Study Photographs
Lantern Birdhouse
For instance, when I saw this lantern birdhouse, I just fell in love with it!
Granted, the birdhouse needs to meet certain dimensions to fit into an antique lantern.
But, it’s DO-ABLE!!
I absolutely adore this idea! Who’d-a-thunk-it? Spoons for cabinet handles! 😀
Antique-Spoon Cabinet Pulls
By adding little individualistic touches like this, you can really “bohemian-ize” your home!
Remember: Bohemian = unconventional.
Antique-Shabby Chic-Bohemian Style
What a fabulous idea for a chair cover!
This fits into bohemian decor, as well as, shabby chic—and any manner of unique styles of furnishing your home.
Eclectic is the way to go when you want
original and nonconforming!
Simply fill your living space with things you adore!!
Ya know that collection of doilies you’ve been hording for a really great project? This is it!
Paintbrush Still Life
This is a work of art in mixed media!
For those of us who are drawing impaired, there’s still a way to be artists! Well, besides dressing in an artistic manner! …which, in itself, actually is mixed media art!! Lol.
If you hold onto things in hopes of finding further use for them (as I do), then, this is your project! Or, you could probably find scrubby old stuff at a rummage sale—or, in someone’s curbside trash pile—for free! Hey, I’m not above it! Lol.
Old beaten up paintbrush + a picture of anything + doodads = art!
Clever Necklace “Tree”
I really like this one! But, then, I really like ALL these ideas! …or, they wouldn’t be on my post! Lol.
If you’re at all like me, you have LOTZA necklaces!
The “necklace wearer” really NEEDS something on which to organize her many strands, chains, pendants, etc., etc.
Putting them in a bowl just gets them all tangled up! No good! They must be hung.
My own “light-bulb idea” was to hang them on the arms of a brass T-shaped, two-candle candle holder.
But, I love the pictured idea, too—It also makes a very attractive wall hanging! 😀
This is a fun no-sew, no-glue way to spiff up your kicks!
No matter what kind of boot you love—ankle boots, cowboy boots, boots with spike heels—any boot can be easily embellished in this way!
Get a kick outta your boots!
Simply wrap your boots in belts!
Anything from leather to glamour and glitz brings more bohemian spirit to your favorite footwear!
Chains work well for this, too!
Multiple Belts
Here’s another good look using many belts!
Though, this shows using all narrow ones, belts of differing widths would be attractive—even pairing a couple of wide belts together, with them hugging your hips, adds a contrasting texture to smooth or feminine fabrics.
This is one I’m eager to create!
I love the tattered look!
Even though this shows using an eyelet lace-up in the front, which I love, I think you could even use the waist area of jeans or shorts—or,fitted skirt, for the base of this “fairy belt.”
Just add streamers of colored fabric sewn to the inside bottom edge.
Fairy Fabric Belt
Wear it over a skirt, short or long, slim or gathered for added appeal!
Here’s a variation of, basically, the same idea…only with a more western appearance.
This way of patching is worth making holes just so you can patch ’em!
We all hate to say good-bye to our favorite jeans. Even though, distressed denim is cool, there will come a time to either patch
Happy Patching!
’em or pitch ’em. I vote for patching! 😀
Use colorful and sturdy material, such as upholstery fabric. You can get upholstery scraps from sofa cushions and throw pillows.
- Turn the jeans inside out,
- pin on a patch,
- run it through your sewing machine many times,
- turn them right side out. 🙂
Vintage Clipboard Frame
Well, this may not be a clipboard, but that’s what I may use. I may smear some colored paint on it and sand in a few places when dry.
I love all the pieces that make this little work of art so interesting: the antique photo, the spool of
thread, and what looks like a drawer pull with some crochet peeking out under it.
India Bells
This, too, is a must-do for me. 🙂
I just got a pair of purple skinny jeans for a quarter! Can you believe it? And I believe I have just the skirt to make the bell bottoms from!
Please pin images from this post
on your
DIY and Fashion boards
WE ARE NOT ALL CLONES, SO WHY SHOULD WE BE EXPECTED TO LOOK ALIKE?
RE-INVENT THE CLOTHES YOU ALREADY HAVE!!
READ ABOUT THE BEGINNINGS OF THIS BLOG IDEA.
Love love your site!!!
O Missy! That means so much to me!!!
Your encouragement is so … well, ENCOURAGING!! Lol.
Feel free to cruise around … It’s full o’ funky stuff! 😀
Blessings,
Cindy
You are what I always wanted to be … a brave innovator. Now I’m gonna be one, but I’ll be an OLD innovator. LOL!
Patricia, there is no such thing as old!!!
Yes, our bodies start to decline, but the REAL you never ages! Your spirit is always young and vibrant, always capable of creating, always full of ideas ready to “hatch.” PLEASE don’t think of yourself as old; think of yourself as mellowed, softened, full-flavored, ripe, at your peak.
As one is longer on this earth, hopefully, each of us is stronger and knows herself better. She is wiser and less gullible as she learns from experience. As for me, living through life has taught me how much I need to trust God. And, ya know, as I learn to allow Him to put my days in His divine order, I have found out that He does just that, and my days run much smoother; God is a wizard of a scheduler!!! And, I have also learned that we have only today: The past is gone, and the future is not yet lived. God is already in our tomorrows. He knows what we will need, as He supplies all our needs according to HIS riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. So, as we trust Him, He will work out all of the details; we don’t need to worry. In fact, worrying gets in His way because He is not free to work on our behalf as long as we are holding on to something trying to figure it out ourselves. And, believe me, trusting God for the outcome is much better than imagining the worst, when we don’t even know that the worst will ever come. I simply say, “Thank You Lord, for taking care of me.” And, He does!!
But, as for the outer us, don’t fall into the trap of dressing “age appropriately.” I hate that expression!!! That just means we have to look like old women!! Lol. . No, dress personality appropriate!
Patricia, I’m a late bloomer, too. Now, that you know yourself better, dress the way YOU want to dress. Share YOUR ideas with ME! We all need to be primed by each other for the pump of creativity to start flowing!
Be yourself.
Blessings,
Cindy
Hi Cindy. I just stumbled on your site and am so excited to see more. What an inspiration you are! I am 70 years young and live in Australia. Thanks so much for your wonderful thoughts. XX Lilla.
Lilla,
How wonderful to hear from you!
Thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad you “stumbled!” Lol. Please look around.
I’d love to hear about some of your ideas, too.
You have made my day! Life has been difficult lately and I haven’t posted in quite a while. Now, I’ve been so busy with work, which is a blessing, but being constantly busy gets old, too. So, hearing from you, in the land “down under,” is exciting to me and breathed some life into me.
Please let me hear from you again.
Many blessings,
Cindy
y’know what, Cindy? I’m 78 years old and a Christian of 52 years-and-counting——and I know only GOD could have led me to your
wonderful, if unimaginable individuality in dress, decor, etc!!! Your
Christian testimony ‘surprised’ me and truly, 100% blessed my heart today!!! I’m thankful for meeting someone so special and also ‘in the Lord’ and am rejoicing in letting you know how much your blog has meant to me today. And for eternity. Love to you, spunky, spiritually strong girl…..and may God continue to work in and through you for many years, according to His will & good pleasure!
susan jo renshaw
My dear Susan,thank you so much for your encouraging and heartfelt comment. I’m so sorry for my tardy reply. I’ve been so busy with work for months now that I haven’t been faithful to my blog.
I’m always so grateful to meet other Christian women across and around the world. That’s one blessing that has come from this blog. I truly thank God for those with whom I’ve been connected because God urged me to start DIY Bohemian several years ago.
I’m hoping to come back to my blog on a regular basis, but God has opened doors for me and I’ve been really busy working. But, this is good. I definitely want to follow His leading. He knows the way, I just want to follow. I’m 68 now (my husband passed into Glory almost two years ago), and have many unfulfilled dreams and goals which I believe He gave me. I’m in that place where I don’t know what I’m doing, but trust that He is taking me to fulfill the plans and purposes He has for me. He told me He is covering my eyes for a while, but to trust Him and keep holding His hand, that He knows the way.
I hope you will find some usable stuff here on my site to fuel your own creativity, and have fun creating your own style.
Many blessings, and I hope to hear from you again,
Cindy
How refreshing reading a blogger who is seeking the Lords direction in her life, and talk about it in a exciting way. The Lord has given you many talents and a creative mind. You are so full of joy and exhibit a desire to help others. I was so surprised reading about your husband passing, and I am amazed how your are doing in such a short time. I’m sure it must be hard for you to travel this road without him, but it is so wonderful seeing you talking about your daily walk with the Lord. I love the way you so freely talk about your age and spread light on the subject. Your positive attitude is a blessing to others. I can relate to this subject because after my husband retired from 34 years of government service God called him into full time ministry. That soon will be 13 years ago, and we are in our late 70’s . What a blessing it is to walk with the Lord. We can’t do anything without Him . He gives us the strength daily. I look forward keeping up with your post and busy life. May God bless you.
Donna,
Your comment is a blessing to me!
Gee, my blog sounds so good from your report! Lol. I’ll have to start reading it! Lol lol!!
Well, my life is not always as great as it may sound, lol, but, yes, my greatest desire HAS to be to follow the Lord’s direction. I was recently reminded in my devotional that the most direct route between point A and point B on life’s journey is the path of UNWAVERING trust in God (Jesus). That’s not easy! In fact, it CANNOT be done in our human strength; it takes the Holy Spirit to impart that gift as we gradually surrender to His prompting. We all, who have received Jesus as Savior, are on a journey of learning to trust God more and more each day, each circumstance, each difficulty and disappointment – with each breath and heartbeat. It’s too easy to let life steer us away from the heart knowledge that Jesus will NEVER leave us or forsake us. Yes, we may know that deep in our hearts, but life in this imperfect world sometimes gives us the feeling of being alone or forgotten, or that life is just passing us by. I’m guilty! Sometimes, because I’m working SO much – and I’m grateful to God for the work!, but I wonder if I will ever “enjoy life” before I get too old and decrepit!! For months, I haven’t had time to even try to be creative. Well…enough of that!!
Yes, I agree, God has blessed me in recovering from the passing of my Jerry. For 10 months, I had a REALLY hard grieving time… I was SO CERTAIN that God would heal him on this earth… However, it was God’s plan to take him Home (to Glory) to heal him completely. But, after 10 months of so much crying and feeling loss, it suddenly broke. I know it was God lifting that heaviness off of me. Actually, the heavy work load has been a blessing, not only financially, but to keep me busy since I have no social life.
Donna, realize that every day you have with your husband is a gift of God. Never take it for granted. Jerry and I never were able to travel, which is still a heart’s desire for me, but as I look back over the years, I see how God brought us closer together as true spiritual mates, and taught us how to deal with each other’s quirks to the point that we seldom argued anymore. It was 16 years of a learning experience. Many blessings on both of you for your ministry to others.
Because God so definitely told me to start this blog (and kept “elbowing” me , stronger and stronger, till I caved – lol), I know He has a purpose in it. I hope to revive it when the time is right.
Many blessings,
Cindy
You are so amazing and I truly mean that. I’ve never creations like yours! I absolutely love your site. I want everything you make! Can you come to Michigan and live in my house? I need your talents to come alive in my house.
Hi Barb,
Your comment is such an encouragement! Thank you. It’s people like you that keep the candle of hope burning in my heart.
Blessings,
Cindy
I love the clothes you remake. I’ve thought of putting together a couple or three skirts of different length. I gotta see how I can sew them all together. So your things are beautiful
Thank you Patricia.
Go for it!
Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/diybohemiangroup/
I’ve been so busy with work, that it has taken me away from my DIYBohemian site. I hope to return here.
Thank you so much for your comment. Feel free to explore my site. It’s loaded with stuff! 🙂
Blessings,
Cindy