Upcycling A Vintage Leather And Fur Coat

Black leather coat with black mink fur lining and beside it is the upcycled black leather coat shortened and the fur vest with pockets. all layed flat on tables

This fall, I was approached to upcycle a vintage mens full length leather coat lined with mink fur. This type of coat was popular in the 80s. If you come from a northern climate, you will appreciate how warm this is in -30 degree weather when the cold chills your bones quickly and the wind is unforgivable. However, in the mild West Coast climate, this coat is not practical and let’s face it, the design is outdated. My client held onto this coat over the decades since it was a considerable investment, and approached me to see how I could turn it into something practical for the Vancouver lifestyle.

Here is the before and beautiful after.

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Latest Mending And Alterations Projects In The Studio

4 garments on laid on a table

As summer has come to an end I wanted to share with you a few mending and alterations projects I did for clients over the past few months. People come to me with various issues and I thought it would be fun to share how it’s possible to transform a piece that is loved but whatever reason, is not wearable. Here are four before and after projects done over the course of the summer.

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A Stylish Way To Make Jeans Bigger

Close-up of dark skinny jeans with dark blue side panel

 I have this pair of jeans that I found in a thrift store which were perfect for my needs at the time: dark blue, skinny, and high waisted. It felt like the ultimate find in the often hit or miss world of thrifting. Fast forward a few years, these fabulous jeans have either shrunk dramatically, or my body has started growing. 

Because they still have lots of life in them, I figured I had two options: pass them on, or make my jeans bigger by adding a strip of denim on each side. Since I’m still quite attached to them and always up for a mending challenge, here’s how I enlarged my jeans using the strip method.

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Restoration Of An Heirloom Jacket

Silk Jacquard heirloom jacket restored with red bemberg lining and white satin hem, on wood table

A few months ago a friend came to me asking if I could restore her treasured silk bolero which belonged to her grandmother. Well loved and worn, it had a large tear under the left armhole, was fraying at the seams and near the shoulder. Although this was a large challenge, I gladly accepted and just recently completed the restoration of this beautiful heirloom jacket. Here was the process.

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A Memory Quilt Becomes A Comfort Piece During COVID

Modern Mending Memory Quilt

About two years ago, I was asked to make a memory quilt for a young boy. This piece was probably one of the most inspiring, emotionally powerful, collaborative and technically challenging pieces I have worked on as a freelance designer. With permission, I am delighted to share a few insights on the process and special outcome of this powerful quilt.

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