chicsteals_2013diysAnother year has gone by, and now it’s time to do my yearly wrap-up of content. (This was supposed to post New Year’s Eve, but my home router is broken, so I had to write this at my local Starbucks, using their wi-fi. Thanks, Starbucks!!)

Every year on New Year’s Eve I republish a list of all my DIY’s that I shared on this blog during the past year. Just like last year, I decided to do a Best Of list as well, to share some of my favorite content from this past year with you:

pinterest officeIn January, I finally left that job I had been so excited to get back in June of 2012, and I went freelance. Even though I didn’t really announce it on the blog (because there was really no one “last day” that I could mark on my calendar), it marked a major turning point for me. Back to working from home, I shared 7 tips to Create a Chic Office Space. (Full disclosure: I’m STILL not done with my office makeover…I have a couple unfinished piles of stuff to purge. Though it’s significantly better than it was a year ago!! And no, that’s not my office above 😉

diygoldwordart_done4For my new office space, I created DIY Gold Pushpins, DIY Gold Typography Word Art, and DIY Paper Glitter Diamond Duo.

outfit1.16.13_necklaceOne of my favorite DIY posts ever, my DIY Spike Beaded Woven Choker Necklace, proved especially popular that month.

diybeadedcollardress_done5I also guest-blogged for the London Times fashion blog a number of times, creating four DIY’s exclusive to them: the DIY Beaded Collar Dress, DIY Metallic Envelope Clutch (from a file folder), DIY Watercolor Scarf, and DIY Mesh Bag (from a T-shirt).

rosecabrhinestoneearrings_step14I covered 7 Major Spring Trends for 2013 (that you can DIY!) and DIY’d Prada’s Rose Cabochon Rhinestone Earrings with some clay and scrapbooking brads.

diyspikeendbangle_done5My DIY Spike End Bangles 3 Ways was an easy hack to create your own bangles for a fraction of the cost of CC Skye or Vita Fede.

outfit2.27.13_outfit1In February I started collaborating with photographer Brooke Morse, to get out of my backyard and get some great outfit photos around Portland. Some of my favorite include the Graphic Black and White, Hot Pink Kitties and Angling Retention Prohibited, and the outfit in honor of Rock the Red Pump for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

0.1piece3girls_tiffanybeanintroI also featured Brooke in the first of my One Piece, Three Girls series with Portland boutique Mabel + Zora – along with my marketing guru, Kristin.

0.1piece3girls_flutterintrophotoThe second installment of the series I shot at Flutter, featuring bloggers Suzannah from Adventures in Dressmaking and Rachel from Transient Expression, and designer Wallis of This Old Blouse. Such a fun little corner of Portland!

pdxbloggers_backtoschool6I became more involved with Portland Bloggers this year, designing their new logo, tweaking their website, and attending events.

diychanelbutterflybag_done1With a number of other DIY Bloggers, I participated in the DIY Bloggers Collaboration Week, with readers submitting pieces they wanted tutorials for onto our shared Pick Your DIY Pinterest board, and each blogger providing the full tute for the most re-pinned pieces. I created a DIY Chanel Leather Perforated Butterfly Bag, which was extremely involved!

freepeoplediyevent_10I hosted a fun event at Free People Portland in March, teaching attendees how to make their own DIY Wire-Wrapped Gold-Dipped Quartz Necklaces. It was a blast!!

For Music Festival season I shared a list of Music Festival Must-Haves, Easy Music Festival DIY’s, and DIY Gold Leaf Head Chain for Music Festivals.

dress2I also finally shared the pattern for my DIY Labor Day Dress – Made from a Sheet!

Houseline_AW2013lookbook9I also started sharing lookbooks from a variety of Portland-based brands, as well as brands I love from Japan. Some of my faves: Pendleton The Portland Collection, REIF, Houseline, m.soeur, and The Dress & Co Hideaki Sakaguchi.

diynaturaldeodorant_doneI made some healthy DIY Natural Coconut Oil Stick Deodorant, that I’m still using now!!

In June I headed off to Tokyo for a month for my family’s annual trip. While I was away, I was helped out by some awesome guest bloggers from HapyFriendsShoppe (DIY Laced-Up Sunday Tee),  Domestic Slice (DIY Raffia Wrapped Necklace), and stylist Amia Serrano (How to Create a High End Look on a Low End Budget).

littlewarrior_decemberplaylistMy dear friend Lex Casciato (AKA Little Warrior) also began contributing monthly playlists to listen to. You can access all of them here!

CreativelyChic_on_WebTalkRadio.netI continued producing my Creatively Chic podcast until September of 2013. Some of my favorite episodes were interviews with Outi Pyy, of Outsapop.com, Amber Kemp-Gerstel of DamaskLove.com, and Amy Anderson from Mod Podge Rocks!.

sweetdressbook_cover2

Some of my favorite books (and accompanying reviews) from this year: Flower Recipe Book, Sweet Dress Book, Draping: The Complete Course.

luckyfabb_diyskirtIn October I attended Lucky FABB and my DIY Ballroom Skirt from a Shower Curtain was a hit!

1weekhalloweenteaserFor Halloween I produced 1 Week of Halloween DIY’s – with a DIY tutorial every day (courtesy of a box of supplies from Martha Stewart crafts).

0.diybreakingbagpuppets_introphotoTo celebrate the final episode of AMC’s Breaking Bad TV series, I created DIY Breaking Bad Stick Puppets – and shared the cutting templates for all of them.

1.diyfriendshipbangles_introphotoIn November I started guest-blogging for WeHeartThis – you can see my tutorials for them here.

So here is a collage of all my tutorials from 2013 (49 in all):chicsteals_2013diys

And, from previous years…

allmyDIYs2012

My DIY’s From  2012 (29 tutorials)

My DIY’s from 2011 (46 Tutorials)

My DIY’s from 2010 (63 Tutorials)

My DIY’s from 2009 (51 Tutorials)

(some of them may be missing photos b/c of my move to WordPress awhile ago – if you see any posts missing photos, please let me know! {Leave a comment on the post} Thanks so much!)

2013 has been a great year for me…hope it has been just as wonderful for all of you!

May 2014 bring even more wonderful things for everyone~

xo

Carly


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