Monday 5 March 2012

Painted Lady - My Hippy-tastic Jeans



A festival in the UK in March? We should be so lucky. Yesterday we took Gilbert to Wales to test out his new (via eBay) carburettors in readiness for when the season starts. There's no outdoor frolicking for us until the end of May and it's probably just as well, winter's returned to the Midlands with snow flurries and sub-zero temperatures.



Saturday's Arctic conditions meant putting the gardening on hold and finding a project I could do indoors. 


These car boot-bought jeans were crying out for a makeover. 


I bought these fabric paints as a job lot for £2 from a car boot sale a couple of years ago.


I couldn't be bothered to brave the garden shed for a paint brush so I made do with a couple of eye shadow brushes lurking in the depths of my make-up drawer.


I drew some random designs on the jeans in pen and filled them in with the paint.


They dried in a couple of hours and were ready to wear on my road trip.

Flared jeans (£1, car boot sale), TopShop tiger top (£3.99, Acorns Hospice), Psychedelic scarf (50p, Salvation Army), Dolcis suede platforms (£4.99, PDSA), 1950s Scottish mohair cape (50p, jumble sale), Deco leather belt (Inherited), Temple beads (India)

I'm linking this to the Ethical Fashion Bloggers DIY post.

Don't let that sunshine fool you, it's freezing here.
I'm dying to get back out in the garden, here's hoping Spring returns soon.

68 comments:

  1. Love them, fab idea for a revamp.
    I bet you are itching for festival season to begin! Are you doing a lot this year?
    Sun is deceiving, I went out without a coat earlier, f-f-f-f-reezing!
    xx

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  2. How fab!

    My mum spent ages sewing sequins to the hems of her jeans in the seventies and then without thinking, ironed them .. needless to say they all melted!

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  3. faboo jeana and that top is awesome!!!!
    hugs,
    reva

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  4. Fab idea, looking good. So glad you two were not out in Gilbert when the snow came down, and it is still frezing today.

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  5. aahh those are such good fun ;-) they look ace. Its freezing here to i don't like it at all the thermall's are back on. Its nice if you find a sunshine spot in the house to sit in though close your eyes and you can pretend you far far away ;-)) dee xxx

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  6. What lovely designs! And your cape is wonderful. Wonderful!

    It is pretty cold here as well, not freezing during the day, but the coldest it's been all winter. Such bizarre weather; one day all the windows are open in the house, and the next we can't get warm. Take heart though; Spring will be here soon!

    xo, Anita

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  7. These jeans remind me of a time when I adorned my jeans with glitter and fabric paint in my teens! I really wish I still had them now, I love what you've done, very you xxx

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  8. Those look great!! Can't believe you did it with an eye shadow brush, LOL, you sound like me, I am always using odd things...hey,
    whatever gets the job done!!
    love this outfit!

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  9. Love how you used eyeshadow brushes for this!

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  10. What a great makeover! They look fantastic. So glad you weren't actually going to a festival especially when I looked out of the window Sunday afternoon and it was properly snowing brrrrrr

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  11. Wow these are awesome! Always wanted to try fabric painting, looks like fun :)

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  12. they look fantastic, and I love the top you are wearing too! x

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  13. Trust me to get the wrong end of the stick. I thought it was a bit early for a festival!

    It has gone really cold here again hasn't it? Still, the jeans look as warm as they are groovy :)

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  14. Fabulous jeans. I just love your hippy-look.

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  15. The finished product look ace! So very you & much more exciting. I always paint with eyeshadow brushes when I can't find the proper thing too, haha.

    Catherine, XO.

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  16. Is there no end to your creative talent?
    I think we're all itching to put the woolens and furs away now, but that wind bites so hardit's almost worst than just steady cold weather.
    This summer will be a scorcher, trust me - I just know it!
    Hopefully we'll have out trademark beautiful September too, Krista needs to see Britain at its best.
    Love your hair in the pic with it flowing in the breeze - authentic hippie style.

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  17. They look incredible and will be great for your festivals.You look beautifully hippie. Hope the weather stayed ok for your welsh trip yesterday. We managed to get a little digging done in-between the down pours.

    You right about the sun being very deceiving, its freezing here too.

    X x

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  18. Ah, good thinking. I'm not a great painter, but I think I have an idea now that I saw your take. If I do a version, I'll be sure to link to you for inspiration. I just love your blog Vix. Thank you!

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  19. lovely idea and it seems not only easy to do but also high finished! and this means double-fabulousness!
    besos

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  20. hey, those are fabulous! well done!

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  21. Farking brillant! Uber hippy-tastic!Those jans are a great shape,and I've said it before,but I'll say it again-you rock pants like no other!!! This tiger print them going lately is making me frisky for animal print!I was stoked to find that leopard hat,but I'm not certain aboutt he style yet!Time will tell!Fab cape-I found one in a similar colour a wee while back,but different print.It's like a blanket, and will be superb in the depths of Winter.
    Funny how we all jumped on the festy thing!!! I guess we all love seeing you festing.......hahahaha
    Love YOU!
    Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  22. Painted jeans and pretty things!!! Look at how long and lovely your hair is ~ dang girl!!! I am in love with your bad ass customized jeans! Nothing says I define myself more than a pair of painted on, sewed all over crazy patch me up mis match jeans. I love what you did! They also remind me of a very sweet pair I worn to death in college that were covered in velvet patches where my ass cheeks used to peek out :)

    Sending you a big warm hug sweetie!
    ~
    Krista

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  23. Amazing!! They look great! x

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  24. It is freezing here also I think like 7F ...I am completely a popsicle today. I hope it warms up for you! Love the jeans I just bought a pair very similar I love a flared jean. Great idea with the paint looks fantastic when I was in Highschool I used to embroider my jeans all the time I loved putting turtles on them lol!! Lets hope it warms up soon Love Heather

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  25. Love what you did with the jeans! And I myself hope that the weather clears up soon - I miss summer!

    >'.'<

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  26. What a great way to brighten up some jeans. They look so bright and colourful now. x

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  27. What a great way to brighten up some jeans. They look so bright and colourful now. x

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  28. Those jeans look wonderful, Vix, what a talented woman you are! I am always so impressed with your creativity.
    Love the cape, and especially love the rather minxy face in the final photo - you look fabulous!!

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  29. really damn hot flares, dear vix! xx

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  30. Great jeans! and i love your cape too xx

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  31. Just fab. What a dab hand you are and such an exciting array of paints! You'll have to let me know how they wash (machine etc) Now I just sound like someone's mother! x

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  32. I did wonder about a festive in March! Anyhow good to hear Gilbert is ready for the season when it does start.

    Love the jeans - very cheetful :)

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  33. What's with this weather? Can it just be Spring already please!
    Fab jeans :-)

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  34. Wow, you're such a creative lady! I love what you have done with the jeans! I only have one pair of jeans, me and denim really don't get on!

    Hurry up warmer weather and longer days! x

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  35. They are fantastic! In fact I have the 'wanties' for the whole outfit. Luv it! And how much has your hair grown since I last saw you? Wow, it's really long and looks lovely all loose and flowing. Mind you as I type this the turquise wig is looming below me!!
    Z xx

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  36. Dearest Vix,
    How awesomely creative :)
    I love how you couldn't be bothered to brave shed & used eye-shaddow brushes instead, they obviously worked a treat.
    I bought a pair of vintage jeans yesterday and I have to say that I am very tempted to jazz them up now after seeing the fabby result of your efforts.
    Strangely I don't feel so cold today but lots of people have bemoaned the dropping temperature & chilly winds, I think those icy cold qualifying open water dives the other week changed my body's perception of what 'cold' is ;)
    Hope you & Jon are doing grand.
    Lot's of love,
    Jennie
    xXx

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  37. Those jeans are great, love the revamp! You and Jon would need to snuggle up under loads of blankets with plenty of alchohol to stave off the chill!

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  38. Amor you are such a creative genius!
    using eyeshadow as paint.
    love the cherries you drew.
    your cape is awesome with hippylicious jeans.
    your hair does look longer and bouncy.
    luv ya

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  39. I keep dreaming of good weather everyday, hopefully soon I can wear my sandals! Love this festival-denim makeover Vix. :)

    -Madison

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  40. Oooohhh, these jeans remind me so much of the ones I used to wear in the 70s. How much I loved them! All festival ready, Vix! xo

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  41. Hi Vix!

    I am back!
    Lovely what you did with the jeans
    Can't do any gardening yet here still snow on the ground
    Too much i say but we should get nice temp this week.

    Lots of friendship

    Ariane xxxx

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  42. Hah! Fab jeans! This brought back memories - I used to love hand painting my own t-shirts as a teen.

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  43. A cool DIY! I have the perfect jeans, now just to get the paint...! Love the animal print top, too.

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  44. I LOVE the tiger print top with those colorful jeans!

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  45. Oh wow! Seeing those jeans brought back memories...some of my friends and I used to paint our jeans back in the 80's...

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  46. how fun! I've been wanting to try panting some pants but I'm having the hardest time deciding what to put on them.

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  47. You are so freaking creative! That top is perfect.

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  48. What a great idea! So creative!

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  49. How cool are those jeans! Is there no end to your talents? ♥

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  50. How awesome are your little flowers! You look great and I love the cape :)

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  51. I love what you did with a pair of boring jeans! They look so good now, and so you.

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  52. The eye shadow brushes probably gave you better control anyway. Yeah for quirky jeans. Your post reminded me of the embroidery I once put on my jeans. Simple little flowers.

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  53. those jeans are great! and i like how you designed it to reflect your personality! :)

    <3, Mimi
    http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

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  54. Great hippy jeans!!! The painting is so very cool.
    Yay a beautiful painted lady in the garden!!! That's a butterfly isn't it???
    Love v

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  55. ... bet the Guardian will pinch this idea in the next couple of weeks;)

    Your post and all the comments are making me reeeeaaaallly nostalgic for all those patches we had on our jeans in the 70s...

    snow? how bonkers! I am DETERMINED its not cold - but it bloomin' well is - bbbbrrrrrrrr! xx

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  56. that outfit - swoon!
    I cannae believe you got that cape for 50p! bargain! I'm well jel!

    xo

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  57. I LOOOOVE those jeans - they are frickin fantastic! And that tiger top is spectacular... I would wear it every single day!

    You've got more winter and we had more summer today.

    Love you more than sunshine! Sarah xxx

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  58. hahaaaa, cute DIY project. so unique.
    i prefer more high waisted pants... this one would be far tooooooo low for me. ;)

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  59. Is that a cape? Love that! And the paint job on your jeans is great -what a great score on the fabric paint. I want to paint my pants now too.

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  60. They look fabulous. I love the cherries.

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  61. Gilbert would have been so proud to have your lovely arse in those awesome jeans on his seat. What a fantastic project ... they look straight out of Woodstock hon, but I know they wouldn't have stayed on for long, or anything for that matter back then hehe!! Oh I have the same cape in greens and blues!!! Aren't they incredibly warm? And with that incredible tiger top that is burning my eyeballs!!! You are such a gorgeous, gorgeous woman! xoxo

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  62. I haven't used fabric paints since I was a child. Definitely getting the urge to get some now!

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  63. loving the paint job.....it feels and looks a lot like late November in London!!x

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  64. I think you have just inspired me to do the same thing...Or at least try it out and pray that it turn out to be a blob :)

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  65. vix this is really a great idea!!!! i love your cherry hippy jeans sooo much and now they are really unique!!! also that headband is fabulous!
    big kiss,mary

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  66. So love your painted jeans! I am embroidering a pair right now so I shall be done in about a month....lol we are sharing the same cold sun too!

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  67. Thanks for sharing this post Vix! This brings back some great memories. We would buy our jeans at the Army Supply and decorate them ourselves. xxoo

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Lots of love, Vix