Inspiration: From Some Where

Have you ever been blog surfing and found a movement- that you just didn't know was out there- but you are so "into" already?

I have loved thrift shopping... since I was a teenager. (We're talking 30 years give or take.)
I have been trying to re-fashion/up cycle clothes for about 20 years. (On and off, here and there- as I have said, my things have looked more homespun... kindergarten craft project and not fashion forward... or even wearable. I will try to find some pictures of my past creations.)

I love that up-cycling and re-fashioning clothes is now trendy!

"Chic"

Not just "socially acceptable" but....

Socially responsible

 

I found this designer label from the UK called: From Somewhere

Their motto/mission?

 

"From Somewhere is a designer label that works primarily with pre-consumer surplus from the manufacturing houses and textile mills of the luxury fashion industry.

The label is a pioneer in combining sustainable thinking with fashion-forward design; bringing quality and craftsmanship to “exquisite rubbish.”

 

 

I love this!

I love this idea/concept.

I love everything about this- I just don't know where to start!

 

I also found last night.. late.. late at night.. and didn't tag it for later, now I am kicking myself- because I was dreaming about this her all night....

 

Anyway- I found a blog by a seamstress last night who works at a THRIFT store in London that does the same type of thing!

 

It's a charity/thrift store that collects donations and sells them on consign- pretty normal business plan. We have a bunch of these around the United States too.

 

But they have a side "boutique" of items that have been up-cycled by their team of Re-fashionistas!

The Re-fashionistas only get articles of clothing that were damaged donations.

Ya know... the junk.

The clothes that have stains and rips and such.

 

The trashed clothes- get washed and then re-made into something fashionable.

Love-love-love this!

 

I am on board.

We will see where this takes me.

I am excited.

 

 

 

Past Crochet scarf projects

Here I am wearing a cute red scarf I made, following the directions I found HERE at Redheart.com  (My son was goofing around with my camera- taking random pictures- as I was deleting them... I noticed, my red scarf! Now I don't have to use my bathroom picture!)

This is a fun scarf to make- and simple! I only know two things about crocheting- a single crochet and a double crochet. I have made this scarf 4 times total. One in red, I kept for myself. One in purple- I gave to my sister two years ago for Christmas. Last year I made 2 more, multi-colored scarfs and gave them to my mother and my grandmother for Christmas.

Another Garment Down

Oh dear peeps!
Another article of clothing has suffered under my hands.

I had such great success with my black t-shirt, making a cute peplum, I wanted to try again!
Except this time- I had to resize the whole t-shirt.
Last time, the shirt fit my body.
This shirt, I love the color, but over time it has stretched and become very baggy. (100%cotton if that makes any sense.)

So I had to cut the sleeves off and make it smaller. I thought it was going along great!
I was getting so excited.
I used a million pins- to space out the ruffling on the peplum.
(The sleeves did turn out good- that was my first time doing that!)

Look how the peplum is all bunched and puckered.

Not very pretty or flattering.
A sad fate for this top.
(But I had stopped wearing it- because it was so stretched out.)

I think I will keep it- just because I love the color so much and it can add a nice pop of color under sweaters (that will hide the DIY:FAIL element.)

So sad.
I guess the lesson learned from this fail- is the fabric choice? A t-shirt is and always will be a t-shirt- don't try to make it something it is not.

Casualty= 3

Project: Adorable Upcycle apron

Remember the bag I made out of some beloved jeans?

It was time to accept that they just aren't ever going to fit again. (sniffle) I'm over it.

Really-

I better be over it- because the jeans are no longer intact!

 

Now they live on as a really cute bag ...

 

 

But I have the top half of the jeans left. Not wanting to waste-  I looked for another project.

I found this cute apron!

click here to see the original tutorial- at Life Made Creations.

I thought this would be a WONDERFUL project to do with my daughter-for-the-week.

Finished Project: straight skirt

Straight skirts- you can find them everywhere! Here is a little number I saw at Walmart this morning. $21? When straight skirts are so easy to make! No need to buy- I found some cute fabric on sale for $1.50 a yard! Perfect for someone learning to sew.

I modified my skirt from the tutorial that I shared on Friday.  Instead of two side seams, I just made a tube- having only one back seam.
I started by measuring my widest part. (I don't want my skirt to be too tight around my thighs.)

 

 

The fabric is folded in half- so I cut my measurement in half but added back an inch for my seam.

I also measured how long I wanted this skirt plus an inch for the hem.

I stitched up the back seam (so it would lay flat and not bubble over my butt), and then folded over the top- to make a casing for the elastic.

I measured my waist and that was the length of the elastic to this measurement.

Super simple skirt!

Fast and straight stitches- right in my comfort zone!

Cute-  but maybe too much in my comfort zone?
I mean... I want to learn to sew.. using patterns.
So my next project is going to be with a pattern! (gulp)
There! I've committed myself!

 

Here I am at work.  I am trying to be better about taking pictures out and about-

and not sneaking around in bathrooms snapping pictures.

(But no promises- you might see more pictures in bathrooms.

You've been warned.)



Inspiration: Simple Pencil skirt

I've made two of these types of simple skirts. Merrick is so adorable and her restyles- seem simple enough.

Here she shares a tutorial on how to make a simple skirt.

These are so cute! And really a great simple project for the beginner seamstress.

This might be a project I tackle with my "daughter-for-a-week".

We'll see if she is interested in learning how to sew.

 

It just seems silly to buy this type of skirt. Pay $20? or more? what for?

Thanks Merrick for your cute re-styles and great tutorials!

Style Rut?

Spygirl is a very quirky fashionista, but I love her Idea- 52 ways to re-pick and remix your wardrobe and create new outfits.

It's a link party- every week.
52 pick-me-up

She is an artist- and has a series of fashion sketches that are amazing!
I love her series of "fashion icons"- who are fellow fashion bloggers.

This is of Sue- at A Colourful Canvas. I visit her blog on a regular basis- she is so bubbly. The clothes/ outfits she makes (sews) are always so happy!

I think it is important to add whimsy in my life. It is so easy- to fall into a rut of the mundane. I love my creative outlets that add joy, laughter, humor into my life.

Especially in a career (ASL Interpreter) where I spend my days- conveying the thoughts & feeling of others and not any avenue for self-expression. I NEED AN OUTLET. lol



( I am babysitting a little 9 year old girl for a week, while her parents travel Europe. At first panic set in... what are we going to do??? I am babysitting her brother also- but boys... no problem. Toss him into the mix I already have. A little girl? That's a horse of a different color. I bought some "girl" stuff. Remember "Fashion Plates"? I played for hours with mine growing up. I bought a set so we can do this type of creating/fashion designing together.)

Sewing Project: Reversable Bag

I have needed a new "scripture" bag for months... maybe a year. My cute bag I used in Hawaii- gave up, and broke down. :0( It didn't like the transition to Utah climate.

I found a really cute tote pattern at Joann.com. You can see it here and download the pattern!

I decided, after looking at the pattern, I might need to find a easier pattern. I wanted to use supplies I had on hand- and I don't have any batting required for the Zest Tote. (Although it is adorable!)

So I found a great bag, with a wonderful tutorial by Very Purple Person, she even provides a free pattern to download! (Click HERE)


Happily this pattern fits perfectly on the boot cut portion of my jeans I wanted to re-purpose into my new scripture bag.
 (Cute jeans- right? Sadly they don't fit.)

 

I followed the pattern.

I read and re-read the tutorial.

It was a great/fun project that took me about 6 hours from start to finish.

 

One side is sturdy denim

The other is made from extra curtain/couch pillow fabric- lol!

 

 

 

 

Sew so cute! I would highly recommend this project for a newbie.