Thrift Store: Kelly Green Shirt

The flash on my camera made this green shirt light up neon- it is not this obnoxious. It is a happy Kelly green.
I bought this shirt at that 1/2 off sale at my favorite thrift store.
This shirt is XL, but I really liked the color- so I looked forward to resizing it and structuring it.



I had great expectations for this green blouse. I really really really want a shirt like this- with a fantastic bow!

I tried slimming down the sides- first. I tried it on- saw I needed about an inch off each side and stitched accordingly.

It was really long- so I cut off the bottom- thinking I could make it a cute peplum. (In hindsight- this was a big MISTAKE- stick to the inspiration picture! But I didn't- I switched gears half way in.)
I cut the collar off also- because I want a cute bow.

I thought I had- thought this through... but a peplum bottom AND a bow.. is a bit much. Especially because If I am going to wear it as a peplum- I need to wear a belt to hide the buldge where the buttons line up.

See how it kinda puckers? The bow is cute-  right? It isn't as big and flouncy as the inspiration picture. But I was thinking about bows and interpreting. I can't have anything too big and bulky. I touch my chest and gesture near my chest and face a bunch- so I don't want anything that might snag on my hands.

 

Here's my refashioned green/bow shirt- with my skirt I made from a pattern!

 

 

I know how much people enjoy seeing heads in pictures- so I asked my 8 year old to take a picture. A bit fuzzy. Naturally I couldn't find the bow! (As of now, I pin in on when I want it- because I kinda like the mandarin collar when I wear it out like a peplum shirt.)

 

 I am going to get my husband to take a picture of me- but I just wanted you to see the photography talent I live with.

Do you wonder why I take bathroom headless shots?

Wonder no longer.

 

In the end- I deemed this a DIY Failure- it looks very homespun.

That is not the goal/look I am going for.

I want classy.

chic

something that doesn't draw attention- or need endless tucking in.

The shirt, because I cut it, won't stay tucked in.

I am disappointed because... I do love the color and think it would have been a great

blouse in my work wardrobe.

 

So the lesson learned: stick to the inspiration photo.

See it through- don't "improvise" on a whim and cut.

I can't take the peplum off- because that leaves the shirt too short now.

 

It's sad, but now this happy Kelly Green shirt sits in my RIP pile.

I keep all these, in hopes I will be able to use parts of them in another project.

If not- I think at the end of the year, I will make a scrap quilt out of the pieces.

ya know my motto:

USE IT UP < WEAR IT OUT# MAKE IT DO= or DO WITHOUT

 

 

Inspirational Blogger: Rita

So Rita is a really cute blogger that has all kinds of great DIY ideas.
I loved her Shabby Apple inspired dresses she made!
Whenever I stumble upon a new reFashionista... it really inspires me....
 that.. I can do this!

I can create cute/chic clothes using my creativity and sewing skills.
(And it doesn't have to cost a zillion dollars!)


http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2011/06/dress-refashion-inspired-by-shabby.html

http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2011/07/shabby-apple-inspired-dress-2.html

http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2011/05/shabby-apple-inspired-dress.html

For this green/striped dress- I like the bigger stripes better on the original- but I think her other knock-offs are spot on!

Vintage

Love this gal: http://luckylucille.com/

She set a really great sewing goal this year: 12 Month Pattern Challenge.
12 months /12 patterns.

She is the blogger/seamstress who inspired MY sew along in July!
(She said she didn't plan to host a sew along for her goal- and I was sad! I would have TOTALLY played along!)

So that is why I decided to host my own!
I think if July's Link Party is a success- then I will host another one in December! That way all of us, inspired by the 12 Month Challenge- can then show off our creations for the last 6 months of the year.


Here is a blog- that inspired LuckyLucille. She is just as adorable!

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.