DIY with Academy of Handmade: The Original Gangster Fringe Banner
Original Gangster Fringe Banner Bourbon and Goose's Photo Studio Created by Academy of Handmade
If you don't know by know, I'm a huge fan of DIYs but I tend to just pin them instead of doing them. If you saw me with a sewing machine or glue gun, you would understand. Now I didn't think this would be an issue until it was time to decorate the B&G photo studio. Being at The Unique Space, it's important to represent your style—cliché I know but it's the truth. Well, this was kind of stressing me out because most DIYs are too pretty for me. I'm more a girl that loves Bender from The Breakfast Club, rapping to Snoop Dogg (old school) and wearing Angelika blush from NARS with combat boots. Luckily for me I have crafty friends and I'm a member of the Academy of Handmade so when KC and Sharon offered to help me solve my decorating woes, I completely jumped at the chance to work with them. Always inspired by what these two ladies are teaching and sharing, I was stoked to see what their thoughts were when it came to my idea of recreating this Etsy fringe banner I found through Refinery29 but with a gangster twist. The studio has plenty of real estate when it comes to wall space, so naturally I wanted to put a banner that spoke to my roots. Well, actually my love for early 90s rap. Fast-forward to me shopping the alleys of DTLA and discovering Avant Trims thanks to a suggestion from Sheryl of Eastside Handmade and getting 9 ft of black fringe all while trying to keep my cool that I was actually avoiding another trip to Joann's (you missed my meltdown there 2 months ago). Next step was getting to work with KC and Sharon in the studio, photographing and crafting. The day was filled with learning new tips and tricks, laughing our butts off and unplugging from being girl bosses. But enough of my chit chat, if you want to do your own Original Gangster fringe banner, download this free tutorial here and be sure to share with your friends. Oh, and it would be totally awesome if you gave Academy of Handmade a like on facebook. Something tells me this won't be the last DIY you'll see from my collaboration with Academy of Handmade.
Tools of the trade
KC from MAKE SHOP LIVE teaching this girl how to sew
Tip from KC: Pin those letters to make it easier on positioning your letters
Cricut makes things so much better
Cricut's magic: perfect cuts / Tools of the trade
KC from MAKE SHOP LIVE working her magic
Tip Alert! Keep that fringe in place by removing the white thread at the END of the project, before hanging.
Photo Credit: Eileen from LA LOVETTA / Original Gangster Fringe Banner
Sharon's frenchie Turner taking a cat nap at the B&G Studio