Dress Inspiration

I love this dress.. the ruffle detail especially.
Kristina has a full blog post about how she created this- you can read here.

Sew Old School

So- I thought this whole, up-cycling and reconstructing clothing was so new!
A new concept for a generation more aware of reduce-reuse-recycle- how naïve of me!

Of-course not! duh- is how I feel now.
I found a blogger at Of Dreams and Seams who has a couple of original German Pattern Magazines from the 1940's! How amazing is that! She says in each copy there is a page- of refashioning ideas!



They certainly had to use all the resources they could get their hands on. In this example, they suggest using an old long-sleeve blouse on which the collar, buttons, underarms and cuffs are torn up and turn it into this cute short-sleeve version, for which you can cut away all the problematic areas...

They even provide the pattern and show you how you best lay it out on the old piece of clothing (bottom of the page):
I hope Of Seams of Dreams will share more of these vintage ideas. Here is her recreation of this 1940's blouse. So sew cute!



You can click HERE to her tutorial. WARNING: her blog banner is a bit creepy looking- I am not sure what that is about. I am trying to look past that, because she shares amazing ideas. I like to look for the good in others, find the similarities and accept we are all different. But ... hum... yeah- every time I go there... my stomach turns. Just to warn you.

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.

 

 

 

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.)

Resized: Blue Dress

Merricks Art: does it again. This time she used a easier way to re-size a dress- I really want to try. You can see her tutorial here.

How cute is that!? 

She found the dress on the sales rack of Old Navy for $12!
Learning how to do simple tailoring/sewing really can save you lots of money!
(And you will always have cute clothes that fit you!)
Love this idea... you can be thrifty and still be stylish- without spending a lot of $$.

Wish I had known some of these skills as a poor college girl... young mother...etc.. but better late than never! It is always a great time to jump in a start saving money!

Wardrobe Architect

Revolutionary Idea!
Taking inventory of all your clothes.
This was a challenge from the Wardrobe Architect. Why clean out your closet- with no plan.
Click HERE you have to read- and she has a free template to do your own Closet Inventory!

I really liked how she suggested, taking inventory of how I spend my time. Do my clothes reflect this accurately? For example, if 80% of my wardrobe is dresses... do I wear dresses 80% of my time?

I texted my sister this idea- and she said, she would need a lot more pajama's. lol

It got me thinking though.
I use to run every day (when we lived in Hawaii). REALLY! Every Day!

I don't run in Utah as much. More in the spring/summer...less in the fall and not at all in the winter. WHY? I looked at my wardrobe, and don't have any warm running clothes. All my exercise clothes are T-shirts and shorts. No wonder I don't exercise when it is cold? It's not rocket science and it's not that I am lazy...

I don't have the proper clothes! duh
So that simple concept- made me a believer.

I am going to take inventory of my clothes. Then I will really know what I have, what I have enough of, and where the holes are in my wardrobe.

 (I already know I have enough skirts & dresses.  I love buying them... I don't know why. I even like sewing them.. but I don't wear them very often. I wear them more in the Spring/Summer... only on Sundays in the Fall/Winter.)


I picked a 3-day weekend to tackle this project.
It was a TASK- going through all my clothes. (Kinda made me sick to my stomach a little- to be honest.) But it was so good for me! In a therapeutic kind of way.

I made a pile of clothes I want/need to tailor/fix/mend
Made me sort through and pull out clothes I really don't love... why keep them? I have so many other things?

And forced me to face the fact: I should NOT be sewing dresses and skirts! I need to make, pants-shorts- jackets, etc... casual tops.

Cute Stylist

I found this picture on Pinterest- in my search for professional work attire- that is classical. I love the yellow shoes- and I could wear this outfit interpreting!

Blue/grey suit- on the wish list.
Mustard Flats- I have been looking for some... but I guess this fashion phase is long past.

As I have been "researching" on line- for sewing tips and inspiration, I found a cute blogger at ExtraPetite.com has been very inspirational- as far as my work outfits. (That is her niche.)

She layers, she combines colors/textures, etc..
She occasionally thrifts and tailors clothing... very classy and classic looks.
(My goal this year.)

She has an amazing collection of coats! (Trench type) I am thinking I need to get a trench in a cute color. (I bought my current winter coat in Hawaii- when I learned we were moving back to the mainland. It was $15- has kept me warm... but it is black. NOT a fun color.)

She gives other great tips- like Here she shares how to tie belts.
My boys always roll their eyes- when I try to wear a belt over my sweater or shirt. I could use a little mentor in this area. lol

Monday I will be posting my Project Sewn project. We were suppose to be inspired by SHOES. It was a fun challenge.

happy valentines day!

Little Red Dress: Resize

Stumbled upon this amazing: Re-designer.

How cute is she?
You can visit her on her blog Merricks Art. Here's the link to the tutorial about how she downsized this dress!

So amazing what you can do- when you know a bit about sewing and clothing construction!

What I love- is this process could take a few hours/ one day, while sewing a dress from scratch would take me a week at least, or month more likely.

I am working on my project for Mondays Project Sewn.
The theme for next week is "Think Pink".
I found some fabric on sale at Walmart and thought about making a cute skirt.

 

I love skirts with inset pleats. I thought it would be cute with contrasting fabric.

("I bit off more than I could chew" in attempting that. I can't alter patterns yet. I need to remind myself- babysteps! first learn how to sew with a pattern! lol)

 

To add insult to injury, the fabric scorched when I tried to iron it.
But to be honest- at this point I was questioning my skill in picking out fabric! I mean... flowers and polka-dots? Am I 5years old? When I watch project runway-- I am always amazed at how they can mix and match patterns. (I am not very confident at wearing any patterns- let alone mixing patterns!) What was I thinking???

Anyway- the casualty count goes up by one more.
This is like a twisted mystery novel... where one by one... guests die, or in my case articles of clothing are destroyed. I try not to get too discouraged...
Your supportive comments really help!

 

 

Project: Denim refashion

Again- a very adorable dress.. click here to see how a regular denim shirt was used to make this and a vest!
(She used the whole shirt! Waste not - Want not.)

If I were to do this, my project would not be white.
Am I the only one who fears of sitting on something in a white dress? (let alone- spill something?)
I mean- maybe that is a silly phobia. Because I could sit on something-- in ANY color dress and it still not look flattering after. (lol)

This was part of a challenge-- that I want to work myself up to-- by May/June 2014. At least, LAST year Portia held this challenge in June 2013 and I hope she does it again.

Project: Sarong Make Over

Again- Mind Blowing!

How many beautiful Sarongs did I get rid of when we moved to Utah from Hawaii??? Let's not count.
I love the idea.
Don't know what project I would make- it would be defined by the pattern of sarong I am sure... but I had to put this in my query!

Visit Portia's blog and watch the transformation!

Project: Fishtail skirt

Okay- refashion designers are amazing!
It's like going to Costco with my sister. She'll say "Do you need ketchup?" When I look- I burst out  laughing at the enormous size container of ketchup. It's a joke that never gets old. And it surprises me every time!

I get the same sense of wonder- every time I see a master (refashion) designer blog! I've seen a million amazing transformations-- yet I still gawk at what they create from what they started with!

Let me show you!

 

This designer literally started with a kilt!

(visit her post by clicking here)

 

 She calls the back of the skirt detail- a "fish tale".

 I love it! I want to make this style of pencil skirt- perhaps in just a boring grey (to replace my favorite grey skirt of 14 years) or maybe I would go as crazy as a muted grey/blue.

A TRUE Fashion challenge

Okay-


You know I am kinda a challenge- ... freak.


I love it when people challenge themselves... make up different rules of life.


It's like a game.... makes life fun playing...





Anyway-


This challenge was called THE UNIFORM challenge.


One gal


bought 7 of the SAME DRESS and challenged herself to wear it EVERYDAY for a YEAR!!!





As if that isn't a challenge enough...


She had to make it look different every day- without buying anything NEW!







Here are some of my favorites.


(Okay- not so much the pants one... but I liked she paired it up with pants too... and didn't wear it as a dress every day.)




Isn't she adorable?

The wheels in my head are spinning!

Another FAshionista

I found Kristina-

who is an amazing seamstress... designer/re-designer...

www.kristinaclemens.blogspot.com/




Her fashion style reminds me alot of Tessa.

The top pictures are kristina

and these pictures are Tessa

( here's tess 15-20 years from now....)

I think what draws me.... to blogs like theirs....

is they have FUN with their clothes.

I am very -- conservative and safe when I dress...

and that is FINE... there is nothing wrong with that....

but it's nice to

once in a while

to add a little whimsy...

I love the idea of re-vamping clothing! That is just being THRIFTY and FRUGAL...
and I LOVE being thrifty and frugal!

One Inspiration for Sew Simple

You might have seen this gal already

(on yahoo news... or the Nate Show)
She made a goal to restyle 365 dresses in 365 days and her budget is $365 dollars.

 

her website is

www.newdressaday.com

I've been following her blog for about a month-- she is almost done with her goal.

Amazing.

Amazing on so many levels-----

one- that she stuck with a goal for 365 days... daily

two- that she is able to make cute things out of some really sad dresses

three- her creativity... sometimes she wears the dress backwards!

Just the things she thinks of ..

So she is actually the gal who inspired me to sew simple.

That altering clothing doesn't have to be rocket science....

It can be done... with simple sewing skills.

 

I really like her clear goal- with budget!