DIY-Master Fleur Creates the Fluffiest La Sardina

Self-confessed world enthusiast Fleur is passionate about many things, but her true love is crafting. Since childhood, she has constantly been on the hunt for her next DIY project, whether it's transforming street finds or upcycling thrifted treasures. Inspired by her surroundings, she began sharing her creations on Instagram under the name Fleur It Yourself. With her creative mind, she’s the perfect candidate for customizing the La Sardina DIY (or FIY.) Let’s dive into her creative process!

Hi Fleur, welcome to Lomography Magazine! To start, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your creative style?

Yay, thanks for having me! My name is Fleur, I’m 30 years old, I live in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and I’m a true world enthusiast. There are many things in life that excite me, but what I truly love is crafting. I’m in love with all sorts of crafting techniques, but there’s a special place in my heart for fiber arts. There’s just something about materials like fabric, yarn and threads that inspire me so much and that offer so many possibilities. I often work with materials like these to create colorful, bold and happy projects.

On your Instagram, Fleur it Yourself, you showcase an amazing variety of DIY projects. From upcycling street finds to transforming unique items from charity shops. How did your passion for DIY begin, and what inspired you to start sharing it with the world online?

Ever since I was a little girl I loved crafting. I would make beaded bracelets with my mother and younger sister and make animals out of Perler beads. Being creative just made me so happy! I joined a sewing course when I was 15 years old, started my own online magazine Holy Glitter Zine when I was 20 years old and taught myself so many new techniques along the way, all thanks to the many amazing tutorials available online. During a grown-up life with work and adult responsibilities crafting has always been a way to find joy and escape daily life.

I decided to start my Fleur It Yourself Instagram in the summer of 2023, after many friends encouraged me to share my DIY projects with the world. Until then I did share some of my projects on my private Instagram, but I didn’t feel the need to share them since I made them for my own joy. However, when I realized I was also giving others joy with my colorful projects, I decided to share them and it turned out great! Since then I have met so many inspiring and wonderful persons (online) and that makes me very happy.

We’d love to hear more about the inspiration behind your La Sardina DIY project!

Well, one of my all-time favorite crafting techniques is latch hooking. I discovered it last year and let me tell you: it blew me away! There’s just something so mesmerizing and mindful about hooking small pieces of yarn to a canvas grid, creating art in the meantime. To many it sounds like the most boring thing in the world, but I’m a true fan. So when I saw that it was possible to customize both the front and back pieces of the La Sardina DIY camera, I instantly knew I wanted to add a latch hook piece to it!

Since I love colors and flowers (my name literally means ‘flower’ in French), I decided to make an abstract flower design and latch hook it. I wanted the small pieces of the camera to really pop, so I spray painted those a bright pink that contrasted with the colors of the latch hook flowers. And of course everything is better when you add a bit of glitter, so I added a small touch of glitter to the lens ring.

How did you like customizing the La Sardina?

It was excellent! It was so easy to disassemble the camera and to literally do whatever I wanted. I especially loved that the lens is quite long for a camera this small, because this way none of my yarn pieces would cover the lens whenever I’m taking photos. I love that La Sardina is perfect for adding both 2D art (for example adding illustrations to the front) and 3D art like latch hooking. Also, it is such a cute camera, just look at it!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start DIY projects but doesn’t know where to begin?

If you don’t know where to start for a DIY project, start looking at the things you loved as a kid. That really works for me! Did My Little Pony’s, glitter and cartoons make you happy back then? Make something that resembles those things. Also, do it together with your friends. I love crafting by myself, but I adoooore having crafternoons with friends. You can inspire each other, share ideas or even make something together. And remember: a DIY project never has to be perfect, so don’t let that hold you back either (I know that can be hard sometimes, but you’re capable of making wonderful non-perfect things!)

Now that you’re owner of a personalized analogue camera, do you have any DIY ideas related to photography in mind?

OMG yes, so many! I love doing photoshoots with friends (mainly for Holy Glitter Zine), so I would love to take portraits of all my friends, decorate the printed photos with stickers, gemstones and other cute items and turn them into birthday cards I can send them! I’ve also seen these amazing projects online where people punch small holes in photos and crochet a cute border around it or embroider over the photo. I’d really like to try that.

Finally, is there anything you’d like to share with the Lomography community?

It’s YOUR life so make DIY projects for YOU! In life you should never be held back by what other people could possibly think of you. Just do whatever makes you happy.

Thank you Fleur! Want to see other DIYs from Fleur? Check out her Instagram and Holy Glitter Zine!

Got inspired and looking for your first DIY project? Look no further, and start with the La Sardina DIY!

written by lomocato on 2025-02-06 #gear #people #videos #art #craft #customize #la-sardina-diy Share Article