DIY Tie Dye

So if you didn’t know we have the most fantastic range of tie dyed tee’s now in store at HC. All of our tee’s have been hand dyed with procion MX dyes, so not only does the color last longer and is more vibrant but each one is unique!

As we know girlies, sometimes the men’s tee isn’t the most flattering for our shape so if you’re really loving the tie dye and want that special hand done piece but struggling with the fit, here’s our tutorial on getting the best cut out of the tee! It’s simple to do and completely changes the look!

1. Take your tee, fold it in half and cut the neck line and bottom if you want to crop it too! Don’t go overboard with the neckline – we suggest cutting a maximum of 3 inches from the original neck!

2. Once you’ve snipped it, give the edges a gentle tug to help the material roll back on itself and make your rolled hem.

3. Then fold back the sleeves a few times and rock it over your new denims or skinny skirt!

For something a little different why not try cutting upward slits into the bottom to create a fringe edge instead of completely chopping off or maybe cut the tee lower in the back? 

♥

xoxo

Recycling, upcycling, repurposing.

By now I trust you've already noticed our overwhelming passion for upcycling and repurposing all kinds of "waste" and unwanted objects. This way of doing things has quickly evolved into a lifestyle, and now we find ourselves applying it to nearly everything that we do and produce. So, for those that aren't very familiar with these relatively new eco terms I'm going to try to explain them very quickly.

Let's take, for example, a shabby old chair. If you want to recycle it, you'd have to shred it down to it's raw material - wood - and then use that material to make something else. Yes, recycling helps us to reduce the amount of raw materials that we extract from nature, but it is not an entirely ecological activity, because it involves (in most cases) complex industrial processes.

Let's say you are happy with the overall design of the chair, and just want to upgrade its look - in that case upcycling is the thing to do! Strip down the old paint, cover the seat with a funky new material, add embellishments and give it a new soul while keeping its basic structure!

If, however, you are not interested in changing how the chair looks but what the chair does, repurposing¹ is the word! Who says that you can only use a chair to sit on? Who says that a box can never become a bookcase? Yes sir, a VHS case can indeed become a shelve! A cheese grater makes a great lamp shade, and a wine rack makes a great display for accessories! You just have to use your imagination.

I hope these definitions inspire you to look at wasted objects from a new perspective, but if you'd rather have some "hands on" inspiration just pop into our shop and have a look around. At Hubbard's Cupboard you'll find not only stacks of awesome eco-minded products, but also fresh upclycling and repursosing decoration ideas! You're more than welcome to pop in :)

¹ A lot of people might argue that upcycling and repurposing are the same thing, but I disagree. The first one involves transformation and the second only requires imagination.

And now for something... kinda cute!

I think it is about time we had a little Hubbard’s Cupboard spot here on our blog!

As you well know by now, Hubbard’s Cupboard is not just a store. It is a meeting place, a movie theater, a mini concert venue and a workshop for all things vintage and quirky. Inside this creative hub live together all sorts of suppliers and artisans, who we will be introducing here, one by one, every week!

Today we'll begin with Something Kinda Cute, a design business created by Shell, our friend and partner in crime – you know Shell, right? SKC specializes in quirky and creative wedding stationery. When they are not designing personalized invites, they are planning events, showcasing at fairs, building new ideas, and even wining awards!

With such hyper-active talent driving the business, no wonder SKC grew into an established and well-regarded brand, with clients spread all over the UK. Shell is also in charge of the Little Wedding Emporium at Hubbard's Cupboard! So, if you'd like to check out SKC's latest designs and browse for unique wedding items just pop in for a visit!

xo xo