Upcycling Expert - Annie Temmink

Annie Temmink

Annie completed her BA in sculpture and math from Davidson College in North Carolina, and received a Thomas J Watson Foundation Fellowship to travel independently for twelve months studying fashion and textiles.  From Indonesia to Japan, India to Uganda and Tanzania, she worked with village women, dove through sprawling second-hand markets and explored fashion in the world’s biggest cities and smallest towns.  The scope of her studies took her from preparing plants for organic dyes to exploring the factories that produce clothing for brand name stores.

Much of Annie’s inspiration comes from common or unwanted materials whose wide availability sparked her interest in recycling materials six years ago. Now she transforms repurposed clothing into sculpture for solo exhibitions and larger installations. Her work catches attention including that of trend forecasting companies in New York and private collectors on the east coast. Annie looks forward to blogging about her experiences and showing you how to create fabulous projects (clothing, jewelry and beyond) with materials from Goodwill.

Annie currently designs and makes clothing and accessories (and dances like-a-fool) in Charlottesville, Virginia. To learn more and to see Annie's projects visit: www.artemmink.com

Making a Halloween Cuff

Posted by Jamie Klinger-Krebs on Oct 16, 2013 2:28:00 PM

cuff1 2.fwSometimes the hardest part about getting into the Halloween season is deciding what to be. Good costumes take time to put together, but key accessories can help you create the look you want and give you flexibility if you change your mind at the last minute. For instance, you may have your heart set on dressing up like your favorite Alexander Wang protégé when your friends tell you they all want to go as monsters instead.  With this furry cuff you can spice up either outfit and others too!

You will need:

-Black leather or stiff cotton (use leather goods from Goodwill!)

-A wig, fur,  hair (look for it in the Halloween section at Goodwill!)

- 5’’ of Velcro

cuff 3To get started, cut a piece of leather two inches taller than you want your cuff, and slightly longer than your arm or leg (or wherever you will wear it).  If using for your lower leg, sew in two darts (narrow triangles).  You can wrap the leather around your leg inside out.  Then just pinch in the extra fabric and sew it down.  This will give it a nice, snug fit.  To finish, trim the edges.

cuff 4Next sew a band of Velcro to one edge.  Find the right placement for the other piece of Velcro, by measuring on your leg and marking it in place before sewing down.

cuff 5Next cut a strip of fur, or a strand from a wig and sew it one inch from the bottom of your cuff.

You will want at least three rows of fur or hair for good coverage, so space the others evenly, leaving half and inch at the top.

At this point you are ready to go, but I like to cut a two-inch strip of leather to bind the top edge (this gives it a cleaner look).  Just fold the strip in half and sew over the top edge. You can make several and stack them or play with different sizes and colors. Be versatile this Halloween, and shop Goodwill for all of the accessories you’ll need.

cuff7 8.fw

Topics: upcycle, Halloween costumes, Halloween, Upcycling Expert, Annie Temmink