Tutorial: Make a Cuff from a Sandal

As promised, here is a simple tutorial that will teach you step by step, how to make a cuff from an old sandal (or a new one, if you prefer) . I took the pictures during the course of three or four days in various stages, that is why you'll see different backgrounds, sorry about that!  

1. So, here are my sandals, pretty beat up. I wore them for two straight summers all the time! They've been through sprinklers, dirt, sand, concrete, you name it! They were only $10.00 which probably explains why they broke after 2 summers!

2. Turn them around and there’s a hole in the sole. This made it easier to cut them.

3. So I cut all around the sandle.

4. This is what I’m left with.

5. I fit it around my wrist to see what it looks like.

6. It’s a little too long so I cut a bit. Yours can be whatever length you like.

7. I cut the point off too.

.

8. I try on again. I like it.

9. Now I have to even out these strips

10. Much better

11.Now I take out my soft piece of leather and measure. I will be putting snap closures on these pieces. I need four pieces the same width as the length of the cuff.

12. These are the bottom pieces, Good side facing down

13. Now put the top pieces on top of the other two, good side facing you, to see how they measure up. The strips will be sewn, sandwiched in, between the two pieces.

14. Okay, now take the top pieces off and start with one side. Sew the strips onto the bottom of the leather piece, the one with the good side facing down. Note: I have a singer factory machine and I use a number 16 needle to sew this. I am not sure how it would go with another type of machine. Please make sure your machine is able to sew leather.) Then do the other side.

15. Now put the top piece, with the good side facing you, on top of the strips (remember, we are sandwiching the strips in between these leather pieces and then sewing). Start sewing as close to the edge of the leather strips as possible (NOTE: I used brown thread because I had it in my machine already and I thought the subtle color contrast would look nice. I also decided to add rows of stitching for a quilted effect. I liked the way it came out. Now do the other side

16. This is how it looked. A bit uneven so I had to cut around to make it an even rectangle.

17. Now to add snaps. I bought these snaps in bulk from DesireMeNow, check out her shop! The tool I bought separately.

18. The package will give you instructions on how to apply the snaps so I won't bore you. One thing I will tell you is that it is easier to apply the snaps if you make a hole before applying the snap. You can buy a leather whole punch but I just used an ice pick. Works
just as well.

 Here it is front and back.

And now on my wrist.

A couple of shots worn with an outfit. I love it! You can still wear it in the fall with 3/4 length sleeves.  It's a little superheroish. But hey, with all I do, I can be considered a superhero mom. I wouldn't wear two at the same time though. Don't want to be mistaken for Wonder Woman!

So get out those old sandals and start working! Leave a comment and let me know what you think of this tutorial. I always welcome feedback. 

From Sandal to Cuff

This is what I worked on yesterday. Last year I made my sister and I cuffs from boots, you can see it  here and get the tutorial. 

Now I am on to sandles. I have had this idea in my head a couple of months after one of these sandles got a hole in the sole. I think I purposefully buy cheap shoes so they can break and I can make something from them. Well, I love the way they came out! Tell me what you think. More pics and a tutorial coming soon!

Akawelle Jewelry: Talk About Transformation!

18" necklace, AKAWELLE.COM


I came across Akawelle Jewelry while reading an issue of Lucky Magazine. I couldn't rip the page fast enough as I knew I wanted to write about it on my blog.

These beautiful charms are made from discarded bullet casings by Lovetta Conto. Lovetta was forced to flee war-torn Liberia with her father when she was a little girl. The 18 year old says, "I thought if I could take something that caused so much pain and destruction and melt it down into something beautiful, I would be showing that transformation is possible." All the profits go to Strong Heart Fellowship Program, which benefits kids displaced by conflict. Check it out, these pendants are beautiful!!!   

Founder of Akawelle Jewelry, Lovetta Conto

Another Wardrobe Transformation!

So here's another wardrobe transfomation. This past summer, I was looking through my closet and noticed this aqua blue top that I hardly wear. I had to ask myself, why don't I wear this top?  What's up with that? I realized I didn't wear it because it was kind of ill fitting, so I said to myself, either you transform it or it goes to the salvation army. I chose transformation and this is what I came up with.

Here's a pic of the top pre-transformation. My son took the picture so he chopped my head off, lol.

Then I looked in my fabric stash and found this cute polka dot fabric that sort of had the same aqua color as the top. You might recognize it from this post.

I made a skirt out of it. Then I cut the top so that it met the skirt at the waist and sewed the two together leaving enough space so that I could insert an elastic. Voila, instant dress. I paired it with a belt and it looks really cute. I wore it a lot in the summer and even wear it now, with a long sleeve top and boots.

What do you think?

Reconstruction from the Past

In keeping with my targeted posts, I am showing you one of my past t-shirt transformations that I never posted. I forgot who gave me this t-shirt but it was clearly too big. I added subtle flutter sleeves and a slit neckline.