Best ever $1 refashion!

Hello again! Today I'm premiering my favorite (so far) refashion! This was a one dollar score from the Humane Society Thrift Store.

I wasn't 100% sure about the print, was it too mature for me? Eh, why not, it's $1, and it's an experiment.
I started with the usual removal of the sleevage.

This dress had fabric bunched in the side, which made an edge that draped over the shoulder. I saw that when I chopped and hemmed the sleeve, this edge would hang over the sleeve a bit, but I decided not to worry about it at the moment, who knows? I might like it.

Next I had to do something about that neckline. It's a button up top, though you can't tell from the pic, the buttons were covered by a strip of fabric. I cut a V neck because I didn't think a scoop would work with the buttons, and I wasn't sure I wanted a scoop neck anyway. I had to cut it a little lower than I would have preferred, because of the button placement, but it wasn't really a problem. 

I could've left the back alone just fine, but thought I might like to have a little breathing room, so I cut a little V for the back as well. (Also toyed with the idea of being able to wear the buttons in the front and the back.) The V wasn't very hard to cut, just had to measure properly, but I was still a bit nervous cutting it. But there, it turned out really well!

I hemmed everything up, and it looked well and beautiful. Now I just had to decide what to do with the skirt. I didn't like the length, but couldn't decide whether to make it a short skirt, or something else. It occurred to me to try making a peplum out of it, since store bought peplum so far is not my friend.
Peplum to me, is tricky. The only tops out there seem to be for short waisted people. I have never, and will never be accused of being short, in any capacity, so I've figured peplum will be one style I shall have to forego. Until now. I tried on my almost finished garment and anxiously tried to find out what would be a great length for me. With great trepidation I finally laid down the dress carefully and sliced. (Didn't get a pic of that.) I tried it on with bated breath, and voila!! It was perfect! I had cut it exactly where I wanted it! It was a great day, I was so happy! And this refash took maybe an hour to do from start to finish! I was done with time to spare for Bible study, booyah! Here's the finished product! 

You can see the edges I was talking about that went over the sleeves. I decided to keep it, it works just fine for me.

I really really like it! This is one of the more wearable pieces I've refashioned, and for what was an experiment that could've gone wrong, I'm very happy with it. (I wear a little modesty panel with it, the kind that clips onto your bra, very convenient!)

Before and After

  

DIY Puzzle Pictures

Good afternoon everyone! This post will be a slight break from refashions, and will be more crafty. Today's project I'm talking about is no stroke of genius, but a very fun project nonetheless.

I'm talking about puzzles! 

I found this wonderfully tempting Thomas Kincade puzzle of one of my favorite movies, 'Gone With The Wind.' It was only $8 at Walmart! (See, Walmart is good for some things..)

Isn't it just gorgeous? I'm dying over here, look at the color combinations! This thousand piece beauty took me less than a month to finish, and with the exception of the top left corner (the tree branches from those two trees), I enjoyed every minute of it! I was actually kind of sad when it was over. :( I didn't want to take it apart though, and decided to get it framed. So I carefully turned it over and applied some Mod Podge to the back. Two or three layers was sufficient and I set out to find a frame. (Note: If you do this, keep the puzzle flat at all times, even after the glue dries, otherwise it will find a way to bend somehow.) I was unable to find a frame that I could in good conscience pay for, so I bought a piece of white cardboard and glued the puzzle to that. A visit to my favorite Hob Lob store for some hanging clips (the kind you can push in, eeeek!) And it was ready to hang. Now it sits upon my wall (crooked, no less, haha), but lovely and refreshing to see. (The rest of my house is not so refreshing to see, but that's another matter for another day. :)

Isn't it all cute being crooked? Why yes, I do have stuffed animals and ancient, handmade quilts lounging on my couch. I'm not going to tell you that it took me about two weeks to realize the picture was crooked either.

Later I will post about a few other super fun, crafty things I've tried my hand at over the past few years, (Thank you Pinterest!) Bible study tonight, gotta go!

Little Black Dress

Hi pretties! It's been too long, I know! Life has been super busy lately, spent two weeks in CA for vacay with my hubs, we had a wonderful time! I have the funky tan lines to prove it! :) I'll do a post with some pics for that later. Today I'm premiering my copy-cat refash version of an LBD. I found this amazing beauty on Pinterest. Ralph Lauren. Couldn't find a price, but I'm guessing it's around $200. 2012's runway.

So I found this Amish wannabe frock for one dolla! Hello dowdy!

Aren't I pretty, all washed out, and pale? Bleh. This is a rather tired looking black cotton, so it won't be formal (esp because of the length), but it'll do for a semi-formal LBD.

First things first, chop that top!

I like it already! There's something so satisfying about chopping. Then I hemmed up the cut edge. Easy peasy.

Now what to do with those buttons?

I wasn't sure if I could get in and out of the dress without the buttons, so I decided to keep them. I thought about adding a button hole and finding another matching button to close up that last two or three inches, but then I found the clasps. Bingo! Now I just had to match them up and hand stitch them on. I chopped off the other sleeve and hemmed it up. Forgot to take a pic of it. :(
I tried it on multiple times, multiple ways, but the clasp wasn't co-operating, the top fabric kept poking out.  Not cool. I turned the buttons around in to the back, and the fabric bunched up. There's always something. Sigh.

It continued to look funky and bunch up and have issues, so I stopped working on it for awhile, hoping for inspiration. Inspiration was a long time coming. Finally I carefully took the buttons off and just sewed the two flaps together. I am still able to get into the dress!

I left the two top inches unsewn, and attempted to attach the clasps again, but it just wasn't having it. I stewed for waaaay too long (a week or so) on how to fix it, when it occurred to me to just sew it up. Genius. Not really. So all I had to do was fit it. And the corner that dipped down the farthest was showing my bra, so I snipped some fabric from the discarded sleeve, and put a little wedge in that corner. It fixed it wonderfully without looking whack. Now my dress was finally finished and ready!

Ta da!!!! You can see my funky tan line on my shoulder, grrrr, but here it is! I quite like it! Seeing as it's not very formal, I can pair it with a black or silver belt to make it fun sized. Here's the before and after with the copy-cat version.

Savings of at least $150-$199. Booyah! Learned some awesome stuff as usual, and am excited to start my next project! Cheers!