Front Crate on Bicycle - DIY Revealed

What kind of wine crate do you have on the FRONT of your bicycle? Where did you get it? Who makes them and can I buy one? This is a series of questions I get every then and again.

So for those readers who wanted to know -- another DIY is revealed!

As you can see (below) the crate is a recycled CD or compact disc holder. Once these were a very popular way to keep and display your CD collection. Note: I found mine at yard sales.

I adore the "Napa Valley..." logo on the crate -- and that is precisely why it is often perceived as some sort of wine box. However I wasn't so crazy about the "Compact Disc Digital Audio" logo so I sanded it off -- you can compare the finished crate photo above to the one pictured below, the crate below has NOT been sanded yet.

Nestled within the crate is another rattan basket that fits snugly inside...

Lastly the means of attaching the crate to the handle bars is quite straight forward. I used straps that came with the buckles already on and I purchased them from my local leather works supply shop. You can make your own buckle straps if you want too. That is if you are willing to do a little leather working 101, requiring basic skill sets and tools to make them.

I additionally reinforced the centered positioning of the crate by wrapping some lacing around the bicycle stem and handlebars for extra stability.

This front bicycle crate is small enough so as not to require any additional support utilizing a bicycle porteur front rack. Added bonus is that I can remove the crate without too much bother. I find it a perfect size and fit with my bicycle handlebars. Best of all my little bicycle 'wine' crate offers a nice, handy place to store items I want quick and easy access to!

Hope you enjoyed the DIY!

DIY - Attach a Wine Crate to Your Bicycle Rack -- Version 2 Updates

A very Merry (and Red) Christmas Poinsettia in my front bicycle crate to start things off with!

A while ago I did a post DIY - Attach a Wine Crate to Your Bicycle Rack. Since then I have collected lots of various wine crates, wine boxes, slated style crates of all sizes and woods types. I like to switch it up a bit -- never wishing to permanently bolt one particular crate to my back bicycle rack.

In this example I decided to use very thick leather latigo strips to attach (cinch) my crate. I was going for a more natural earthly look...

The crate pictured here is one I found at the thrift store. I believe it to be a gardeners caddy. The handles are turned down. With the handles turned down it provides a convenient way to support simple cloth canvas tote bags -- voilà a simple pannier.

For some time now I have been collecting vintage wine crates, plus collecting wine boxes from local vintners like say-- a spiffy Bonny Doon wine box . The problem I have is this. I'm not sure I want to go drilling holes in some of the nicer vintage and collectible ones in my collection. There are a couple I'm willing to sacrifice, so we shall see.

I keep recalling this tale I was told -- someone found at a thrift shop a rare vintage Dom Pérignon Champagne crate for $2.00. He promptly drilled holes in it and attached it to his bicycle rack. Oh, NO! The box was worth a pretty penny. The holes knocked at least $100 of its value should he ever decide to resell it!

In this next version the vintage beverage box crate is bolted on the back rack...

The crate is attached to the bamboo bicycle in the foreground. The bamboo bicycle was rather nice in and of itself! I like how a beverage crate was used - Par-T-Pak. Sounds like a party to me!

The Jewelery Box...

I have finally opened my online Etsy shop.. Fashion Wonderland's - The Jewelery Box!

All pieces are handmade by myself. I am still looking for supplies and hope to make many more pieces and add them to the shop soon! Check out my shop and see what you think! 

Plus just for my lovely readers here is a 10% off voucher code!
E19DF890

You can shop The Jewelery Box here.

DIY Skirt Guard - Raleigh DL-1 Gets a Corset!

As promised here is my newest DIY project-- a bicycle skirt guard! Starting off with photos of the finished project...

The Design Process


It started within day one of owning my Raleigh DL-1. Wearing as many long skirts as I do, I realized how much better it would be to have a skirt guard on my bicycle. I began searching for a second (same circa) Raleigh fender that I could “sacrifice” and drill holes in (objective to preserve my original fender). The only skirt guards I’d come across that held any aesthetically pleasing appeal for me were the traditional European style skirt guards – the ones that require holes drilled into the bicycle fender.

Eventually I did find a couple fenders perfect for the job. However I was continuously either outbid or they sold lightening fast. I simply gave up on ever finding a second fender to “sacrifice”. Instead I challenged myself to come up with some other solution! Besides, I absolutely knew I was never going to be reduced to drilling holes in my original fender. For what? -- just to accommodate the traditional European style skirt guard I fancied? No, no, no!

I experimented. I tried my hand at crochet and macramé skirt guards quite some time ago. I wasn't happy with the results. In my original crochet skirt guard I used the little clips. I realized I was not a fan of clips. Since my early attempts, others have since taken up the challenge to design crochet guards or macramé guards. While I liked these traditional designs they still mainly involved drilling holes in the fender, which I remain completely adverse to.

Onward. I knew I wanted my skirt guard to be made out of something light, something sheer. Something in subtle colorations. I did not want it to be solid skirt guard. I wanted it out of something gossamer light so that the air could blow through it – reasoning something solid might act as a sail does in the wind.

Yes, and perhaps some lacing would be nice…

I sketch new design ideas all the time. In one of my sketches I began seeing exactly what I wanted! Yes, the lacing I wanted, the sheerness I wanted.

Stuck, then I got very stuck. I didn't know how I was going to make it -- I just knew that I would make it eventually. I kept returning to my sketch pondering design execution. Over time, different ideas as to what materials I could use would pop into my head. I’d mull these ideas around. I rejected quite a few.

On trips to the hardware store, trips to the fabric store – I was always on the outlook for possible materials and components to make my skirt guard out of.

One weekend feeling particularly creative I decided I was just going to go for it. I’d already come up with the netting I planned to use for it -- via a magical, discovery - brainstorm - eureka moment! Then with one, last fruitful trip to the hardware store and a trip to the fabric store I discovered the last bits I wanted to incorporate. Satisfied I sat down and made the thing in an afternoon, at one go.

I photo documented the entire “start to finish” process of the making of it. As you may recall from a previous post I encountered corrupted photo memory card issues. So there are no DIY pictures to share with you, only the finished project.

Here are some helpful hints as to how to make your own:

You will need to make your own pattern based on your wheel / fender size.

I used a synthetic “all weather proof “ netting in black. It is sew-able.

I used black anodized metal fittings I found at a hardware store. Originally I was going to use grommets, but I liked these better. The anodized black was in the same tonal shades as my vintage bicycle.

I used suede leather lacing. I was going to use all weather nylon but it looked too new and shiny to my eye.

That's it. Good Luck. Have Fun!

DIY...

I love jewellery and have thought why not make my own, so I bought these gorgeous semi precious stones from eBay which I have yet to use and I also attempted my first necklace! A little simple but rather cute if I do say so my self. I think it might look a little better if I add a little black ribbon or something. What do you think? I can't wait to start experimenting with the stones!

Please credit me if you use these images elsewhere.

At the Train Depot - Suitcase DIY for my Bicycle

Don't you love it when the perfect vintage travel suitcase fits just right on your bicycle's back rack! Here's a bicycle DIY if you can find one of these. It's a 60's Samsonite. It can safely transport camera and tripod when I need it to - besides serving as a really cute train suitcase.
Oh, that last photo is how I transport my shoes when I deem them cherry enough and I want to keep them nicely pristine, meaning I wear flats for the ride.

Speaking of trains I'm off on a train journey and will be gone a week. Expect the next post after I return!

DIY - Bicycle HandleBar Bag

Is this a fancy new bicycle bag? ...

I'm sharing with you a simple DIY for a bicycle handlebar bag.
This is a handlebar handbag that serves dual purposes. Handbag purse and/or a handlebar bag.

You start with a shoulder strap bag like the one below....

After you've unbuckled the buckle you wrap the strap around....

You wrap the long end around the one side then cross over to meet the short side of the strap which you've also wrapped. Buckle.

All done! All these fine leather bags with the exception of one bag have been thrifted! Average price has been $2.80.


Below is another bag, a vintage coach bag living a new life as a handlebar bag....

Even a backpack can work...

***

Here is another type of shoulder strap bag I like even better, if I can find ones with strap like these. The strap is detachable on each side. Each side is basically equal in length. It makes it much easier to wrap and I like the symmetry.

Hope you enjoyed this little DIY for a handlebar bag!
To my men readers - I think there are several styles of handbags here that are handsome enough to be a consideration for your bike.

* Handlebar bags can be found at Bicycle Beautiful -- my new little etsy shop

DIY - Attach a Wine Crate to Your Bicycle Rack

Here's a simple DIY. It's a Wine Crate or basically how to attach one to your back bicycle rack. A reader wanted to know more about mine, so here goes...

The really hard part is finding a good quality wine crate. The one I have is solid oak. I looked for a good year before I came across this one. It is just the right size to fit on my back rack.

Now comes the bungee cord part. You want to find ones that are the right size, so they loop and attach with just the right amount of tension to hold the wine crate secure.

Next you want to thread the bungee cord so as to make it be as inconspicuous as possible - for aesthetic reasons! I fiddled around for some time to find the right method to keep it nicely concealed, yet sturdily doing it's job.

Lastly for added flourish and panache I use my own DIY sourced cargo straps. I scoured around (thrift stores) to find D ring belts like the one above and the one bellow. I use them in all types of ways. The pretty flower belt (above) always seems to go on my wine crate to hold things in place, and as you may well have noticed here and here. .

This super rugged D ring belt is used to roll my picnic blanket - which I take with me whenever I go for county picnic outings on my bicycle.

Hope you liked this super simple DIY. AND Thank Goodness for thrift stores.