Story time

Still going through my stash of fabric. I rescued this awesome 80's pastel puke-fest fabric (keep in mind that I love it despite it's hideous qualities) from some pillow cases I found in Utah. Good old Utah. So great for finding ugly things old ladies gave away.

Observe, my shirt story through crappy laptop photos):

Application

Side detail - fave part is the curved hem. I'm getting better at hemming and caring about hemming.

close up of the nausea that is my shirt. <3 There are dots. within the dots.

Is that a pocket!?!!?! Yes it is, lady. It's a pocket.

Super love this shirt because I finally got the neckline and sleeves the way I want.

Also, I have a yard of this Anna Maria Horner fabric. Not enough for a full shirt but enough for pillowcases. Or a crop top. Please weigh in your opinions. I really want to wear this bright print but i realize not everything can be a wacky shirt. or can it?

Have a great weekend!!

Southwestern Sass

I had this southwestern fabric sitting in my stash for a while, just begging to be used for something cool. So it became a sassy little top for yours truly. Since it's so wacky I just went with a real simple square top, fitted at the hips.

I got the fabric in Utah at a thrift store. I had more than a yard so I think I salvaged it from a bed sheet or something. Not sure.

Either way, it's amazingly awesome.

And yes, there's my bed.

Stripes Stripes!

I have such an obsession (along with everyone else) with stripes these days. MUST HAVE THEM. So I bought this size large shirt from the thrift store because it was in good condition and the knit fabric feels soooo nice. Obviously, though, it's a bit of a mess for a petite girl. So I took it in on the sides and made it less batwing and more tunic.

After: (this is when Jake told me to look at the camera as if I am a tiger)

See? Ferocious. And not at all looking like a boy...sorry...that slipped out. If anything, I think I look like a mom. But definitely not a boy. Although, I'd definitely choose boy over mom. No offense, moms.

Just thought I'd show you the arms in the first pic and the drapeyness which I find flattering in the second pic.

Anyway, jokes aside, what do I do with this H&M piece of dump? (see below) It's a cowl neck dress. I'm thinking of just cutting off the skirt and creating a waistband similar to the top above.

Ideas?

Otherwise, have a great weekend!!!

90's Skirt Refashion

I found an awesomely 90's maxi skirt at the thrift store a while back and decided that it MUST be converted into something playful. So feast your eyes...or try to...

It's ugly (maybe even fugly) and bright green and sorta floppy but I love it. Eat your heart out, Forever 21 - you can't top this!

I may have also stolen some poses from Vivat Veritas.

Oh and I forgot to tell you that we adopted another lil Chihuahua - this one is Max and he's a Chihuahua/Terrier mix. He's super tiny, only 9 months old, and my little sidekick. He hasn't quite warmed up to Jake yet, and I hope he never does!!

Totally Totes Tote

Looking for my giveaway?? Here it is.

My latest project was a tote bag. I used a fat quarter of the geometric fabric I designed and made a pattern for a bag with two pockets inside. This is probably the most well-made item I've made to date. I took a lot of extra care with it and was thrilled that it came out so clean and nice.

I'm excited to get my fabric designs out into the internet world and see what people think.

Also, I wanted to share with you the outfit I made up yesterday. I loved Kristen Wiig's pairing of a blazer with a dress in Bridesmaids and I've read a few blogs that noted it as well. I'm pretty new to accessorizing and dressing up and making an effort so I'm still really amped when I come up with something I think goes really well together but wouldn't be my first choice. AND since I work at home and don't see anyone, I must share.

Necklace: Forever 21
Jacket: Thrifted (Ann Taylor)
Dress: Ross
Shoes: Payless

AND I thought I'd show the true functionality of this outfit by posting a picture of how good it looks even when I'm fixing my hair.

Pleats Plz

I'm sorry to say that the above photo is, in fact, a shirt I'm working on. Those pleats have been murder for me. They are tiny and need to be pressed and I'm actually in the process of seam-ripping all of them to start again. SIGH. Big, internal, frustrated sigh. I'm just not a perfectionist when it comes to making clothes. But this time, I really want to do these pleats nicely and neatly. I have no idea when this shirt will be finished.

On another note, I did do some thrifting last week and had two great finds. About 4-5 yards each of nice woven fabrics - super silky with a nice drape but not stretchy. I'm going to plan some high-waisted shorts for the red fabric that has a semi-chevron pattern on it.

Oh, yeah. I couldn't get a picture of them because as soon as I laid them out, Fernando jumped on top. Yes, that's a sweater. And no, I couldn't bear to make him move.

I also snapped a picture of the special project I've been working on for the May Giveaway Day. I'm excited to finish it!

Christmas in April

I wanted to share with you all of the goodies I got over the weekend/Monday/Tuesday.

Tons of new books to read. Some my parents saved for me and brought and some I got at the local thrift stores when we went.

The Dune trilogy in awesome hardcover versions with equally awesome artwork. Also found and saved for me by my parents.

Another gift from my parents: fabric from a yard sale. There's tons more AND a bag of leather pieces to mix in with my new creations.

Yet another awesome find from my parents. I need to set apart some time to really get into this one.

This map of antartica is dated 1958, I think, and we got it at an antique mall in Salt Lake City. That antique mall really was great. I'm hoping to go back when we really start to decorate, but for now our project is to figure out how to mount this map and display it.

AND some bud vases that I've been keeping an eye out for. I got the first two (tall and short) at once and the third one the next day. I thought about keeping it all matching but I like how the shapes on the odd one out seem like a variation of the first two.

So as you can see, it was indeed a holiday around here this past weekend.

New/Upcoming Projects

Last week I made a bunch of party favors for my Mom's next party. Thought I'd share those since I had a lot of fun making the color combinations for the bookmarks and then tying them up with pretty ribbon.

I also thought I'd share my next project. I can't say when I'll do it but it's definitely in the queue. I found 3 yards of this plaid stuff at Savers and this pattern at the thrift store in Sandy. I'm going to make the top, since I'm starting to have way too many dresses and this plaid seems a bit much for a whole dress.

Bear Skinning

A lot of good things come from thrifting, as you've seen me demonstrate. But another good thing is that you can rescue cute, cuddly, unloved, unwanted stuffed animals from the grasping, dirty, clutches of children in the thrift store. Then you can cut up the animals and put them to better use as hair for new stuffed animals and they no longer have to worry about being lame and too cute.

Our victim: Dr. Smiley Purple Pants.

We start with an incision in the butt crack because it's funny.

And then we go to town, starting with legs for long pieces. Later, the stuffing can also be harvested for the new doll.