Category: DIY

August 25, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist

So I’m stretched out reclining back and relaxing on a beach somewhere off the coast of Africa, or maybe on the deck of a yacht in the middle of the ocean catching all the warmth of the sun’s rays as the sprinkles of water gently caress and cool my face. The mix of cool refreshing mists along with the sun’s warm embrace while listening to the sounds of the ocean cradles me into the deepest and most peaceful of slumbers. Of course this is just me wishfully thinking and picturing it all in my head…Duh lol. But a girl can dream and it’s only right I’m cute and comfortable for the special occasion…right??

.

.

Well this outfit is all about capturing that carefree resort wear kind of vibe where you leave all your worries behind and just enjoy the moments of pure tranquility. Nothing says carefree like a free flowing jumper that captures and releases the winds, moves with the grace and beauty of a dress but exudes all the confidence and flexibility of a pant. For this look I chose this fiery burnt orange number that was thrifted new with tags, might I add lol. I love this bold earth tone color because it contains both the warmth of a brown as well as the energy and spirit of a red.

.

The jumper is very comfortable and strapless donning the most darling double ruffles along the top of it adding just a touch of quaint femininity. I love how simply relaxed and easy the fit is with just a high elastic waist and wide leg pants. The cotton gauze material from which it is constructed makes it extremely lightweight, breathable and absorbent making it a great staple piece for any summer wardrobe. 

.

.

The pockets are also a nice touch and a great added bonus on this piece. Don’t you just love the presence of pockets sometimes? I mean, you may not use them for anything else other than your hands or freeing your hands up at times but Hey, that’s what we need them for!! My hands and I are always apppreciative for a garment with pockets lol!!

.

.

I decided to pair the jumper with this African printed long batwing style cardigan I bought on clearance last summer. I love the contrast of the basic black and white color with the intricate mixed pattern designs to pair alongside the brighter jumper. I thought the roomy and relaxed batwing style worked well with my overall easy and free flowing resort wear look.

 

.

.

For my shoes I went with these African style printed peep toe heels I bought from Payless…Yes, I said Payless lol!!! I bought these a couple of summers back also on clearance and I just absolutely fell in love with them the moment I saw them!! I simply adore the printed fabric along with the wooden cork heel and how extremely comfortable these are. I thought these were a perfect addition to my outfit also giving off that nice contrast against my jumper as well.

.

.

I decided to pair my outfit with my thrifted vintage Lady Pride tote handbag just to add another nice pop of color. I thought the emerald green was just a nice touch alongside the burnt orange and it didn’t hurt that there was a pop of the exact same orange on the handle of the bag as well. I love the snakeskin print on the bag with this outfit because it adds even more depth to the overall look.

.

Last but not least I paired the look with this mustard yellow jersey hijab. Why? Because it just worked OH soooo perfectly lol!!! No but really, can you think of another hijab color that would’ve pulled this outfit together any better?? I thought the mustard yellow looked amazing beside the burnt orange and further heightened the overall look. I added some touches of African jewelry like a cuff and earrings as well as some bangles I made out of kente fabric last year. I loved how everything came together in this outfit with the play on of prints and mix of colors. I would totally pack this look away for an exotic vacation or a caribbean cruise!!

.

.

Welp, I hope you all enjoyed this fantasy resort/ vacation look of mine and I pray I can turn that fantasy into a reality soon lol. Until next time you guys…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!! *waves*

.

What I Wore:

Jumper: $6 @Park  Avenue Thrift
Cardigan: $3 @Shoppers World
Peep Toe heels: $12 @Payless
Vintage Tote Bag: $5 @Goodwill

July 17, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments

 

So if you follow my page on FB you probably already know that I celebrated  Eid Al-Fitr, the holiday following Ramadan, just a few weeks ago and told you all how thrifting played a big role in pulling my outfit altogether. Well…I didn’t want to leave you all hanging and not talk about the actual accessories I wore. So here are all the deets!!

 

So first off, let me just say that this was thankfully by far the easiest Eid outfit I was able to piece together due to already having purchased a dress on sale from the previous year. Therefore, I was already winning in that department. Then in recent months through thrifting I had also already purchased a cute little silver iridescent glitter envelope clutch bag for only a couple of bucks. So when I ran into a cute pair of silver iridescent glitter Enzo Angiolini peep toe pumps that matched the bag perfectly and were only fifty cents it was a wrap!! lol 

.

I knew I wanted to make accessories that matched my shoes and bag. So, of course, in true thrifty hijabi fashion lol I looked into my closet first for things that could possibly be refashioned and luckily I found another old thrifted bag I hadn’t used in ages. The color and material were perfect for the neck piece I wanted to make.

.

As beautiful as the material from my bag stood alone, I still wanted to match the bling and sparkle of my shoes and clutch. So first I thought maybe I could find some glitter fabric that matched. So I looked online and searched a few stores, but I had no luck finding a suitable fabric that had the same type of consistency quite like my other thrifted items. So I ended up buying a silver iridescent glitter sheet on vinyl backing which matched perfecly.  I didn’t quite know how I was going to make it work with it not being actual fabric, but I was determined to come up with something, and I think I managed to pull it off…


If you have read my last DIY refashioning post then you know I made one neck piece already. So after cutting out a sizeable piece of material from the gold handbag I used the same neck piece previously made as a pattern to trace and cut out the very same shape. That was pretty simple…right??

.

Now what isn’t pictured is how I stripped the vinyl backing away from the glitter side. It was way too stiff and I needed the material to be more pliable for the piece I was making. So stripping it away was extremely essential in making it more moldable.

 

Ok….here comes the hard part lol. Now I had to decide how I would actually utilize the glitter sheet in my actual neck piece. So I played with it a little, and then decided to take the same previously made neck piece and cut out the same shape on the glitter sheet. 

.

From there I traced and cut out shapes from the glitter piece using my gold piece as my guide. These are the shapes I came up with. I placed and stuck the individual glitter pieces on the one gold piece using rolled clear tape. I used tape beforehand so I would be able to structure the pieces first before actually gluing them in place with fabric glue..
Once everything was adhered I used my safety pin to poke holes on each side and place my o-rings, chains, and clasps. .
My earrings were a last minute decision…the easiest 5-10 minutes for sure!! So taking a piece of the glitter sheet I folded two corners over into triangles. I then glued each side down and cut them both out. 

.

So to further decorate and give the earrings more support at the top, where I would be placing the hooks, I used a little of the gold material from the bag and glued it down on each side of the tip. Once adhered I placed on the o-rings and fish hooks.

.

And there you have it…a completed jewelry set ready to sparkle, shine,and slay!!!

.

 

.

.

 

 

 

 

What I Used:

Old Thrifted Handbag 
Glitter sheet
Fabric glue
Fish hooks
O-rings, Chains and Clasps

June 15, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments

Hey you guys!! *Waves* So I’m back with another awesome refashioning /upcycle DIY from another thrifted handbag. If you read and loved my first blog about the loads of jewelry I made out of a few of my old and thrifted handbags then I have another goodie in store for you!! I’m telling you I will never look at handbags the same way again lol. For this project I used only one handbag. It totally caught my eye while out thrifting recently due to all the beautiful embellishment and at a whopping 50 cents I Could Not pass up on this amazing little find. I knew I could put it to great use and that’s exactly what I did!!

 

So I loved the idea of using this gorgeous material from the handbag and putting it to use in some home decor. So I thought, “Why not make some decorative vases using glass bottles and the fabric?”.  For this project I used two different glass bottles and three old seltzer water bottles in all. The first bottle I used was a tall slender one. I first cut pieces of fabric for each of the bottles. I then simply used some E-6000 (industrial adhesive) and applied that directly to the glass and wrapped the material around the bottom of it. Pretty simple enough…Right?

.

For the second type of bottle I used two altogether. These were shorter and more shapely so I didn’t use the same simple technique as the first bottle. For this particular one I once again applied the adhesive to the glass and then wrapped at a slight angle starting from the top. This one was definitely a little tricky because I could not simply wrap it down smoothly and evenly onto the actual form of the shapelier bottle. Therefore I did a little overlapping, draping and molding. As you can see I molded the bottom by pinching it into a  particular seashell-like shape and design.

.

And there you have it…Voila!! A brand new  set of vases to decorate as you wish!! I chose to put flowers in the tall long slender one and keep the other two as complementary accompanying pieces. Check out the video below for an even closer look!!

.

.

And of course I could not use this handbag for home decor alone when it just screams “Bling Bling”!! lol So it was only right to make a few jewelry pieces as well. The first thing I noticed on the bag was the side panels. The side panels had this Perfect soft V-shape and I immediately thought, “Statement Necklace Bib!!” So I simply cut out the shape from the bag and glued down all of the edges with fabric glue. After that I simply made holes on each side where I would connect the chain with the o-rings and clasp. And again…Voila!!

.

Lastly I made a pair of earrings. Again very simple. I just cut out long pieces of the material and I begin to cut the ends into step-like blocks just to give them more of a design. After that I simply made my holes where I would connect my o-rings and fish hooks. And again…Easy Peasy!! I loved how these turned out looking like skyscrapers in the night. I call them my “upside down skyscrapers” earrings lol.

.

Overall I really loved creating these pieces!!! They are so gorgeous and the material from the handbag did exactly what I thought it would do. Now I probably wouldn’t  normally wear both of the jewelry pieces together but for demonstration purposes I couldn’t resist being extra lol.

.

 

.

I have one more piece of jewelry I may create with this last piece of material and I will probably post that one on my Instagram. What do you think it will be or what would you make…Hmmmm??

 

And to think I did all of this with a 50 cents bag?!? *Gasp* Never underestimate the value in something!! Welp…until next time folks!!! *Waves*

 

What I Used

Thrifted Handbag

Glass bottles

Fabric Glue

Industrial Strength Adhesive

Fish hooks

O-rings

Chain & Clasp

 

June 1, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments

So it’s sundress season, you love the look and feel of these lovely revealing dresses but you don’t want to necessarily show skin. So what’s a girl to do…Hmmmm??? Whether it’s because you want to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays, prevent the heat from beaming directly onto your skin or you just don’t want to uncover those portions of your body there’s a quick and easy fix for that. I love maxi sundresses but as a muslimah and hijabi covering takes precedence so stylish and cute coverups are always a must for me in these warmer months. 

For this look I decided to go with this blue spaghetti strapped maxi dress by Spense made out of a soft viscose fabric. I love the airiness and organic flow of this particular fabric. The A-line shape gives it that beautiful and subtle flare that works great with everyone’s shape and moves so elegantly. I adored the large paneled ruffle at the hem adding just an extra touch of femininity and movement in the overall dress. Sometimes the simple details in a dress is what actually makes it eye catching. The shape, fabric and minor details in the hem are what especially grabbed my attention to this dress. Furthermore, I love simple pieces in solid colors because they are the easiest to mix and match in various outfits. This dress is definitely one of those pieces.

.

.

I went with this cropped khaki jacket as a coverup. It was suited towards the casual look I was aiming towards. The neutral shade of tan in the jacket worked really well playing the background while ensuring the colors in my dress and hijab would truly stand out and pop. If you wear a jacket in the warmer months it’s important that it’s breathable, lightweight and unlined. Also the pieces you wear it over being armless or backless don’t hurt either…makes for great air ventilation lol!!

.

.

My hijab was an essential ingredient to this entire outfit…the color is everything!!! I’m loving everything about this emerald green this season. This is by far the best fabric in my honest opinion for a hijab. It’s made out of a stretchy non cotton jersey fabric and the drape of it is outstanding. You really can’t go wrong with this fabric because it’s really gorgeous and feels absolutely luxurious. Can’t you just tell this is my favorite hijab right now!? lol Anyways, I wanted another standout and stand alone color in my outfit and I thought this color alongside my royal blue dress worked just perfectly!!.

I tied my bag, shoes and earrings altogether with the same cognac color scheme. I love this color as a more dramatic yet still neutral accent because it has those rich and earthy hints/ mixtures of browns, reds and oranges which can complement almost anything beautifully. This vintage leather handbag I recently purchased with the one strap briefcase-like handle is one of my favorite style of handbags and will definitely be a staple piece in my wardrobe for many moons to come. I love the simplicity and old school charm in this bag.

.

.

I also paired the outfit with a pair of cork platform strapped heels by Gomax. I love the look of these heels but I found that the heel and back of my foot being enclosed along with the front strap being wide caused my toes to constantly slide forward. Cute shoes overall just a little annoying at times lol.

.


.
And of course I can’t forget my new refashioned earrings…yet again lol. These are probably my favorite pair of earrings right now. I love the drama and lightness of them without the weight of wearing a substantially larger pair of earrings. You barely even notice they are on and were the perfect complement to my simple easy breezy look.

 

What I Wore:

$3 Royal Blue Maxi Dress @Park Avenue Thrift

$3 Khaki cropped jacket @Goodwill

$6 Platform sandals @Goodwill

50 cent Vintage leather handbag @Park Avenue Thrift!!! (sorry I had bag turned to back the whole entire time :-/ ) 

Fringe Earrings Refashioned by Muah!!

Total Outfit Thrifted For Less Than 13 Bucks!!

 

 

 

 

May 26, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist

Stepping a little outside of my comfort zone I decided to purchase a leopard printed blazer/ jacket some months ago. Now, I must confess I am no avid leopard, cheetah or any other animal print fan for that matter so this was a real reach for me lol. Sure, I’ve worn small accessories and such with these wild and feisty prints but that’s typically as far as it goes for me personally. Honestly, the thought of looking like a proud poacher who dragged her game back to her closet and skinned it’s entire hide for her latest “killer” outfit always mortified me lol. But fashion isn’t always about repeating what we’re comfortable with. Comfort creates complacency and fear leads us to stagnation and total boredom. And fashion should be annnything but boring. So I decided to muster up enough courage to walk out on a limb on a tree in the jungle somewhere lol and take a walk on the wild side!!! *Eartha Kitt Purr*

.

In light of the  weather warming up I didn’t think I’d be able to wear this jacket till the fall so I immediately jumped at the chance to wear it when the temps suddenly took a dip a couple of days ago. The texture of the jacket being extremely soft and supple has a really luxurious feel to it. Aside from that it had the most elegant black leather- like trim/piping up and down the lapel and hem. The overall impeccable quality of the blazer is what actually set aside my doubts and sold me on purchasing it. 

 

.

Now the  biggest part was figuring out what pop of color to wear with the blazer. I find that animal prints can be rather overpowering and while it is a statement piece I don’t want it to do all the talking. I think pairing this type of print with an equally bold yet beautiful color is what gives it an even nicer and more subtle strength. The emerald green blouse was a perfect color choice to go with this jacket. I thought they complemented each other extremely well without one totally overshadowing the other piece. 

 

.

I  balanced the top of my outfit by toning it down with a pair of black wide leg Express pants. These are a really great staple item to have in your wardrobe and are absolutely classic and timeless. They work well with all shapes and can be styled in numerous ways. These pants may actually be the oldest living thing in my closet right now. I think I’ve owned these for almost 20 years. Thank goodness the waist is elastic!! lol 

.

Again I infused the emerald green into my outfit with this vintage tote bag by Lady Bride. I loved the retro look and the versatility of how it can be worn long or folded in half. I thought it worked perfectly with my total ensemble.The orange on the handles was a really nice touch to add more pops of color into my overall look. And if you hadn’t noticed yet, there’s a snakeskin pattern on it as well which surprisingly just totally worked for me. Me, wearing two animal prints in one outfit, “Who would’ve thunk it!?”lol.

 

.

I loved these camel colored Levity block heels which also brought out that same pop of orange color in my handbag with just a hint of it around the toe of the shoe. The thicker heels are great if you like the look and feel of heels without the balancing act that follows for some lol.

 

.

Last but not least a simple black hijab seemed most befitting along with a pair of my new refashioned fringe earrings from of an old thrifted handbag. Check out my last post for more details on that particular DIY and more.

.

Overall, I was very pleased with how this outfit came altogether. Sometimes in order to appreciate new things we have to step outside of our comfort zones and give them a try first. Fear and Fashion can not coexist!! Fear of trying something different will have you in a fashion rut quickly. It devours all sense of establishing our own creative voices and self. The goal should always be to challenge and not completely change who we essentially are.

What I Wore:

Leopard blazer: $12 bought NWT @Value Village
Wide leg Express pants: No clue…realy old?? 
Green Blouse: $2 @Park Avenue Thrift
 Levity heels: $6 @Goodwill
Lady’s Pride vintage tote handbag: $5 Goodwill
#thethriftyhijabi

 

May 23, 2017 SanaSakinah 9 comments

I am so very excited to finally be able to share this post with you all!! I have been holding on to this project for the last couple of months *Exhale* lol. It was actually this very project in particular that really made me put my scissors and fabric glue down and start planning the launch of this very blog. As I delved into and worked on this particular diy/ refashioning venture I stopped and thought to myself, “This is really genius!! People need to know about this!!”. So before I get right into it here’s how it all came about…

 

So as the seasons change, the days get longer, the nights get shorter and spring gets underway we as people start to declutter our lives cleaning out our closets, putting our winter clothes away into hibernation, purging our wardrobes and airing out all of our sacred living spaces. This is a ritual that usually happens every year for many and when it’s all said and done we end up with that big garbage bag full of “stuff”. That trash bag full of our once beloved items that have now worn out their welcome now sits somewhere in our houses or cars collecting the same dust we once cleaned away waiting to be passed along to charity, someone else or even thrown into the bottom of a garbage dump.
. 
Whelp… my bag sat in my bedroom corner for weeks without me batting as much as an eyelash till one day I needed a pair of blue and white earrings after the ones I had on suddenly broke. Needing a quick substitute I pondered what I could possibly come up with as I scanned around my room when my eyes landed on that very trash bag full of all my once loved items. Then all of a sudden it hit me!!! I thought about a particular old thrifted handbag I had placed inside.

 

The shoes I had on were the very reason I purchased that handbag in the first place because it matched them perfectly. So I thought, “Why don’t I repurpose that fabric and make me some new earrings?” Ah HA!! Yup…sounds like a plan to me!!! A little cardboard from a microwave popcorn box, fabric glue, some fish hooks and moments later…Voila!!! I had a new set of matching earrings.

 

.
Seeing all the material from the purse leftover I made another pair of earrings out of the strap, a bracelet/cuff and a choker to complete my set. I used an old metal cuff I had lying around for the bracelet and I used a piece of the strap for the choker as well. I purchased some chain that came with o rings and clasps for the choker from a local store.

You can find me here in my last post donning a pair of my refashioned earrings.
.
Now before I had even started on that bag I saw another old thrifted handbag laying amongst the heap of used rubble…a fringe one which I’d worn a million times and absolutely adored. So I thought, “Why not use the fringe to make another pair of earrings?” These were really the easiest because I only needed to cut, roll and glue them into shape.
And this was only the beginning….
 
My biggest haul of all came from this spiked handbag which I turned into a complete jewelry store. Ok, not really but a seriously elaborate jewelry collection nonetheless lol. I was totally blown away by the amount of cool jewelry I was able to make out of this handbag!! The sturdy and durable leather-like fabric and metal spikes made it perfect for all the different pieces. Sorry I had already started to dismember it at this point in the pic lol. But honestly this was such an easy project and I moved so swiftly creating all the pieces that I didnt document many of my steps.
.
Many of the shapes were already precut into the bag so I only had to remove the stitching to detach them.
 
For the other pieces I cut them by hand and used the metal spikes as a pattern to guide and cut alongside. I used velcro sticky backs as a closure for the arm cuff and bracelet and a little fabric glue to mold the earrings into the shapes I desired.
.
I also made a choker as well as a 1 and 2-finger ring cuff. I just rolled and super glued for the ring cuffs and I used an old ankle bracelet chain and clasp for the choker.
.
My absolute favorite piece out of this entire project by far was this necklace I made out of the purse’s two handles and the adjustable strap. I simply attached one handle to the hooks of the strap and used gorilla glue to attach the other handle onto the actual strap. I  absolutely Loved this piece!!! I used a couple of precut pieces from the handbag and glued metal hooks onto them to make a matching set of earrings. I didn’t put a back on them yet but I think posts or clips will be best.
.
So before you throw out the old to make room for the new recheck that garbage bag full of your once loved belongings and see if any of them are salvageable. With a little imagination and a little time you’d be amazed at how quickly you can turn something old and boring into something new and exciting!!!
What I used:
Old and Thrifted Handbags
Cardboard
Fabric glue
Gorilla glue
Fish hooks
Safety pin (for poking  holes)
Chain, o rings and clasps
 
 
 
 
May 16, 2017 SanaSakinah 8 comments

Cheers to the weekend and pulling back the stuffy and unyielding layers of that 9-5 attire that consume many of our daily lives!! For many the weekend is all about kicking back, leaving that stack of papers you left on your desk completely behind, unwinding your thoughts and finding your happy place of zen. This look is all about capturing that sense of casual comfort and peace with just a tad of sophisticated flair.

 

 

For this look I decided to go with an all time favorite of mine which is a long kaftan tunic top. I love this style because it is extremely comfortable and has that easy going and effortlessly relaxed appeal. These are usually an absolute favorite for me in the warmer months due to them being very lightweight and breathable. I liked this cotton tunic in particular due to it’s juxtaposition of the beautiful burnt orange and lemon colored floral prints against a subtle white plaid and solid black background. I thought the contrast was really different yet absolutely perfect for spring without being too cliche!!

 

I decided to pair the top with one of my favorite staple pieces…a pair of blue denim jeans. However you can choose so many other bottoms to style with this kind of top that would work out perfectly fine. I went with a lighter medium shade of blue denim for this look rather than darker to better complement the top and to brighten up the entire outfit.

For my shoes I went with these comfortable camel colored leather moccasin flats by Minnetonka. I’ve had a number of different shoes made by this brand and I can assure you they are a must have and feel amazing on your feet. Besides the comfort I love the craftsmanship of the shoe from the hand sewn stitching on the toes to the non slip rubber grip soles. Trust…you won’t be sliding anywhere in these flats for a looong time!! lol

 

I thought this beautiful black linen and camel colored leather handbag by The Limited was a great fit for my total ensemble. I loved the old school vintage briefcase style handle and the mix of fabric with  leather. It gave my slightly lazy lounging weekend look just enough of a slight sophistication and more polished finish. Sometimes it’s all in the accessories and handbags where our clothes actually start to really speak and tell a story. I try to keep in mind the story I’m conveying in my outfit when I choose my pieces. Comfortable, casual and  classy is what I was going for.  What story do you want to tell in yours???

 

 

Last but not least I paired the overall look with a long solid black (rectangular shaped ) hijab and yup it’s that slip and slide material  that I often dread lol. And Yes I readjusted all day *sigh* but the fabric does drape absolutely beautifully. It may only last a half hour before you have to readjust it lol but it gets the job done nonetheless!!

 

And oops!!! I almost forgot about my refashioned earrings. I made these from an old thrifted purse strap I was getting ready to throw away when suddenly a lightbulb went off!! Actually a million lightbulbs went off in perfect domino fashion lol but I will be covering that in another upcoming post along with my other refashioned jewelry out of old hand bags. You don’t want to miss that so Stay Tuned!!

 

 

 

What I Wore:

Floral printed Tunic Top: $6 Park Avenue Thrift

Lee blue jeans: 25 cents…Yup!!!

The Limited handbag: $6  Park Avenue Thrift Outlet

Minnetonka moccasin flats: 25 cents Park Avenue Thrfit Outlet…Score!!!

All for a grand total ooooof *drum roll please….* around 13 Bucks!!! #thethriftyhijabi