The Sunset Sessions

Friday, September 13, 2013

▲ SALE ON ALL CUSTOM ITEMS IN SHOP ▲

Special shop SALE on NOW through 9/16 Mon(midnight)

Take 20% OFF ALL custom leather clothing and accessories available at: sunset-sessions.com

Click HERE to shop SALE
And enter CODE "CustomsRock" at checkout (for anything in 'Custom Clothing & Accessories')

All leather cuffs* featured in The Sunset Sessions shop are handmade using recycled 1960s-80s vintage leather jackets. Custom ordering allows for special requests: leather or suede finish, color(from a range of natural/non-toxic, water based dyes) and variety of stud options.

*All leather cuffs in shop are made from recycled vintage jackets—except for the special spcaLA design model, which is made from new, contemporary leather cow hides.

Custom vintage military jackets (shown below) range from 1950s to 1970s original styles; and feature a variety of custom stud/design options.

(Pictured above, is latest 1970s camo army military jacket design; available for both women and men.)

(Custom vintage rock tees also available in custom sale.)

Click HERE to shop SALE

And enter CODE "CustomsRock" at checkout (for anything in 'Custom Clothing & Accessories')

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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

▲ DIY DENIM DISTRESSING ▲

I've had a few inquires about the distressed denim which I've been wearing & posting in social media recently, so, I thought I'd post a little DIY "how-to" on denim distressing.

I'll share a method which I've discovered, that is the most cost-effective & easiest way to create the most natural-looking distressing(of any magnitude) to your denim. (This IS also the fastest method, however, this DOES take some time and patience to execute; and really tightly woven denim and/or super distressed denim will always require more time and patience.)

You can create distressing using this method to make styles as simple as THIS:

OR as complex as THIS:

Here are the only basic tools which you'll need; (scissors and tweezers):

STEP 1.
Cut two parallel slices in your denim, wherever you'd like the top and bottom edges of the holes to begin and end:

STEP 2.
Using tweezers, grab each INDIVIDUAL dark indigo thread of denim which runs PARALLEL down each leg; give it a good tug and pull it directly away from the denim stitching. (NOTE: This step works easier with softer or stretch denim, or any denim with a more loose weave. If your denim is very tight or old vintage, you may need to try STEP 3 instead.)

STEP 3.

Using tweezers, grab each INDIVIDUAL white thread of denim which runs ACROSS (PERPENDICULAR) on each leg; wrap one of the arms of the tweezers around the individual white thread and pull it away from the denim stitching. (You'll see this begins to create a stack of parallel white lines of thread.)

STEP 4.

Remove any excess denim threads or loose ends, fibers, with the tweezers, to clean up the area.

STEP 5.

Wala! You have created a "faux" worn-out spot in your denim.

(Just repeat all steps above anywhere on your jeans where you'd like a distressed patch to show.)

If you want a completely hole (exposing skin beneath denim), just remove the white threads until you expose the amount of skin which you'd like shown.

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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

▲ VINTAGE GARDEN DIY STYLE ▲

Working on The Sunset Sessions new studio/workspace, I wanted to add some outdoor landscaping details. There really isn't much natural soil space available, so I've improvised and taken the small space urban garden approach as well as incorporated some vintage elements to the design. Instead of planting directly into ground soil—I've sourced old vintage resources to use as planting beds for succulents. (Being located close to the sea, but also having incredibly variable weather conditions and a rather unpredictable travel schedule which makes it challenging to consistently maintain most flower varieties—I find succulents to work incredibly well here out on the California coast.)

I spent the last couple weekends hitting up flea and farmers markets, sourcing different varieties of succulents, scouting for old pots, tool boxes, coffee cans and...an old vintage Radio Flyer wagon.

I've had the idea for a long time, to transplant succulents into a Radio Flyer to use as a breeding bed for small clippings from larger bulbs, as an alternative small urban garden approach. Then, as they grow into full mature bulbs, they can be removed and planted into larger pots and replaced in the wagon soil with new baby clippings.

The old vintage toolboxes also make great resources for harvesting young clippings, or, to use as a general table top decor, or for styling photoshoots and/or social events.

Old burlap coffee bags also make GREAT affordable planters as an alternative to traditional clay pots. They're a little tricky to set up, but, once you get the solid base filled up and free-standing stable, the burlap actually begins to harden over time (with watering and natural rain water) and develops into a pretty rigid pot.

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Monday, September 2, 2013

▲ A SWELL LABOR DAY WEEKEND ▲

Hope you had an amazing Labor Day holiday and weekend. Mine was pretty A-ok...worked my ass off trying to get the new studio space up & active and ready to rock n' roll; finally snuck out the door for a pretty sweet surf sesh this afternoon. (Photos above via Instagram; check out @TheSunsetSessions on Insta for more.)

It's refreshing to know there are still gorgeous, empty waves out there for the taking--even on days when most beaches are cluttered with BBQs, beer cans and bodies battered in tanning oil. It's rejuvenating to get off the beaten path; I feel completely refreshed and ready to tackle another crazy, fast-paced week ahead.

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