All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go

Hello beautifuls!! Here I am debuting my favorite refashion yet!!! (Alas and I still have adjustments to make on it, as I didn't realize until I put it on for pictures, but I'm ready to show you anyway!) Be advised that the pictures do not do it justice, for some reason getting a good angle was not going to happen today.

Here is the before!

I've been wanting to do something like this since Jillian from Refashionista debuted an awesome pants to dress refash! Process pics were very difficult to get for some reason, you couldn't tell what I was doing aside from hemming stuff, so I'll just cut to the chase and show the afters!

Ta da!! I'm super excited about how it turned out! I think I will tighten the straps a bit, and pull the top up a little higher, it wasn't sitting quite right.. or maybe I just need better.. support.. for this garment. Kudos to my brother for giving me advice on the jewel and ribbon placement, and overall finesse of the garment!

I cut my head off in this pic because the pose and angle were good, and I WASN'T smiling. Grrr.  I'm very happy about it though! Now I just need an occasion to wear it!

Summer blues

Ah, summer, with the glorious, melt in a puddle heat, how I miss thee! So I have a summery refashion that I won't be able to wear for another four or five months. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with this piece when I saw it, but I loved the color and potential.

Part of me was tempted to just take it in and save it for possible costume stuff (sans shoulder pads), a 50's housewife type of thing, but I decided I wanted to be able to wear this piece outside of a film set, so choppage commenced. 


First I removed those glorious shoulder pads (obvs), and took it in, and there are no pics of that 'cause I forgot. The elastic around the waste was a little problematic, but I already knew I was going to belt this baby, so I wasn't really worried about it.

Next came the sleeves. Cap sleeves probably would have been really cute, but that never seems to work for me on refashions because the sleeves on garments like these are very restrictive in movement per their design. Whatever. Sleeveless is a perfectly acceptable option in Florida, thank you very much!

I decided I wanted to do a high low, instead of the original idea of peplum (although if I want to go peplum, I still could, yay versatility!). So finally, Heather having learned wisdom, I chopped much longer than I thought I wanted it, and tried it on. Yes, more needed to come off.

I chopped again. There's something so scary and refreshing about chopping big chunks of fabric off of a garment, isn't there? I rounded it off a bit at the end of my chop. I tried it on with baited breath. And loved it!!!

The one sleeve/shoulder thing is still a little funky, but it's no big deal, it's a casual top anyway. I removed that one button on the bottom of the front, and it made all the difference! I LOVE it! (btw, belts cover a multitude of sins in the refashion process, can I get an amen?)

Can't wait to wear this top! Spring, here we come!!

Refashion or refitting?

Hello beautifuls! 

Today's post isn't really a refashion, I didn't do anything fancy shmancy, I just fitted the garment, but I really like it! I wore it to church today, and got the most comments on it that I think I've ever had on a refash, so yay!! Here's the original.

Sorry no process pics, I got a little lazy. I took out the shoulder pads, took everything in, and removed the sleeves. I LOVE it!! Yay for finding peplum that (mostly) suits me!

I have a really fun refashion-that-is-definitely-a-real-refashion coming up, it's almost finished!!! Super excited, it will probably be my favorite!

Wallpaper Blouse

"Nice dress, looks like wallpaper... Uh, pretty wallpaper!" Line off a Mel Gibson movie with Elijah Wood. So this was my version of pretty wallpaper clothes. I've been gone for most of October filming a movie called, 'The Return' in Wisconsin. I actually made one of the costumes for it, I can't wait to show you guys! This is my first refashion since coming home.

Not so very dreadful really, just too big. And still smelled like it's former owner, very strongly, though fortunately it is not an unpleasant smell. Rare for thrift store clothes, eh? But as soon as I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it! I don't think I got any process pictures of this one, so it'll just be befores and afters.

Ta da!! I really love it! I cut off the black sleeves and shoulders, took it in on the sides, and left the collar as is. I fastened it with a belt because I didn't take it in quite enough, and just didn't feel like working on it, when a belt does the job fantastically.

There wasn't enough material in the back to hide the bra strap, it just wasn't going to happen, so I tried to sew some of the black from the sleeves to the back of the shirt to make up the difference, and that wasn't going to happen, so I just went with this awesome black modesty panel/tube thing. This top is a bit more casual, so I don't mind the black showing in the back. Very comfortable, very wearable, very cute!

No Sew refashion!

I saw a skirt to dress refashion the other day somewhere on Facebook land, and immediately coveted, was inspired by it! A day or two later I was out shopping with a friend at Goodwill, and meandered over to the skirt section, just kinda browsing. Apparently that's the best way to find anything, by not really looking. This fun print caught my eye..

I quickly turned it into this, easy peasy, oh-so-simple. But I wasn't finished, I wanted a bit shorter, but didn't particularly want to hem it, I anticipated having a slightly difficult time getting an even hem. Then I had another inspiration!

High to low!! Perf! I was a little nervous cutting, I took a scrap piece of fabric, sewed it together quickly and did a practice cut, which made me feel much better. I chopped a tad longer than I thought I needed, just in case, and it looks like I may have finally broken out of my 'always chopping too short' habit. I actually did trim it a little shorter after trying it on, and I might end up trimming it another half inch or so again. This is a nice casual look, I feel like I need cowboy boots. I had this super awesome scrap from the part I cut off, it ties around my head perfectly! And I forgot to put it on for the pic! That blue belt I've had for 4 years and never wore it, but I think it gives this a nice, kinda patriotic look, especially with my blue sandals (not pictured.)

Whatcha think?

Oldies

I recently rediscovered some old craft projects and such that I thought I'd share here..

Toilet paper tubes. Scissors. Glue. Let's see what happens!

I like where this is going!

Think of all the fun color schemes you could do for a nursery or something!

My second project I'll post is a fun canvas/lace project.

Lay the lace over the canvas, tape it down on the back if needed. Spray paint color of your choosing. Let it dry, take the lace off, and voila!! Think of what lovely art pieces you could make with this? I believe I feel a new inspiration brewing!

That's all for today folks, catcha later!

Simplicity

Today's refashion is short, sweet, simple, and wasn't for me! It's for my little sis! (The following pictures are indeed her and not me, everyone says we look sooooo much alike... said resemblance I have simply never seen, but whatever.. it's her.)

She didn't like the lacy collar. She always tucked it in and wore a scarf over it, but I said I could fix it for her! (Btw, doesn't she look disgustingly fab in her makeupless, youthful self? I hate her.)

Chop chop. And ruh roh.

Lookie, I can fix it!!!!!! It's not cheating if it works right? I tried a seam ripper, but ended up ripping, well, seams, and I didn't feel like sewing them back together.

Ta da!!!!! Look, good as new, you can't even tell! You also can't tell where I dropped the sharpie on my light colored couch and left an eensy weensy mark... Moving on...

Here she is, glamming it up. So gorgeous. I shoulda taken a pic of the back, it's got white buttons down the back, so cute!!!

I love it when it's simple and easy to fix!

Pinspirations!

Hello beautifuls!

I would like to announce that I started and completed a craft project within an hour (if you don't count taking a break to cook and eat lunch), AND I'm thrilled with the results! This may be a first for me! I've seen so many takes of the jewelry board on Pinterest, you know the kind, DIY corkboard, most of the time with some sort of horrific Chevron fabric? (I will probably never like Chevron.) Well they never really appealed to me, quite possibly because of the Chevron, and I just never saw the potential. Or maybe I'm a bit on the traditional side when it comes to jewelry storage. Either way, that all changed when I saw a friend's jewelry board when I was visiting the other day. I'm pretty sure she made hers too, and voila, Pinspiration struck! So I marched over to Hob Lob at the first chance, now that I can totally get their coupons via mobile phone rather than printing and cutting at home.. so convenient. While I'm there, hubs, who happened to be with me, told me he already had a small corkboard at the house, so I decided it might be VERY smart to test my DIY skills on some free stuff first. Genius!
This is today's craft project. Shall we begin?

Hello, my name is Heather I-like-to-do-everything-the-hard-way. There, now that that's out of the way...


Do you remember my hot pink skirt that I 'salvaged' from a really pretty semi-formal?

I ended up turning it into this ^, and never wearing it because it wasn't made properly and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. Well I found a scrap of it in my scrap basket, and decided I might as well put the pink gorgeousness to usable use. 

I could have measured and then cut the fabric properly, but that'd be WAY too easy. Remember my name? So I cut around the board. At least I didn't make the mistake of cutting it too small. 

Now that I think about it, it probably would have looked nice if I'd glued it on like that, but whatever. As you can see, I needed to trim. Trim I did.

This wonderful round cloth cutter (there's an actual name for it) didn't cut for sour apples. Probably just the type of fabric. (I hope). It did make a nice line where it needed to be cut, so I pulled out the scissors and cut it the old fashioned way.

This is what happened ^. All around the inside edge here and there. But I did not despair. You see that hint of blue poking out from underneath it? I had an idea!

Thank the Lord for hot glue guns!!! Much as I love Mod Podge, I wasn't sure it was the glue for this job.

True to form, I did NOT measure properly when trimming that ribbon, and didn't realize til it was kinda too late that I didn't have quite enough. Fortunately I was able to hide the short ends underneath the longer ends (makes perfect sense huh?), and salvaged everything beautifully! (Just ignore the drop of hot glue that landed on the pink fabric, making me howl in frustration until I realized I could easily cover it up with the jewelry.. pretend that didn't happen, k?)

Here it is!!!!! I love it!!!!! The board is 11x17, not nearly large enough for my jewelry collection, but perfect for watches and bracelets! (I don't think I own any real jewelry besides my wedding ring, haha..) So now that I've had a relatively good first run through, I will be planning out a much larger board for the rest of my Charming Charlie collection!

Update: I discovered today (two days later) that I pinned all my jewelry on this board upside down. The two hooks are on the bottom of the board, which means I need to repin and relocate all the jewelry so I can turn it right side up to hang it. The only reason this is really an issue is because the pins and fabric combination of this project leaves unsightly holes. Grrr. I may just skip it and put a new clip on the back of the board so I don't have to re-arrange anything.)

What is your latest Pinspiration?

Paint and Yarn

I've had this project sitting around for several months, completed. I didn't post it because it was a gift. I was finally able to give it yesterday, it's a blankie for my niecey-poo Lorelei, who will grace us with her presence sometime next month! I love this one, and am tempted to make something similar for myself!

It took about two months to make (mostly because I greatly underestimated how much yarn I needed.. several times.) I wanted a spring flowers theme. Perfect for a little girl!!

My next project was something I started and actually completed on the same night! Thank you Pinterest for the inspiration!

This was tons and tons of fun to do! I started running out of ideas after awhile, but managed to squeeze a good bit of variety in for each section. My favorites are the yellow and pink circles, and the pink and white swirlies next to it. I hung it in the bathroom for now, I don't think it'll stay there though.

You've seen this fish before.

It's such a wonderful feeling to finish an art project and love it, as opposed to saying, 'well, I tried anyway.' 

Another $1 Refashion!!

Hi lovelies!

I haven't posted in forever, I've been lazy! Well actually I've been very busy with our church's annual Passion Play. I love acting, but it does drain you! So I started the week after Passion Play with a new refash! Straight from the mountains of North Carolina, I found this in a boutique called 'Dollar General'. ;D Originally $15, but it was end of season clearance, down to $1! (I'm wearing a black tank top underneath).

Size 3X. I was certain I could do something nice with it. Very simple, just take it in. And surprisingly enough, it WAS simple, once I finally got around to doing it. (I bought it on Halloween of last year ya'll..) The only minor difficulty I had was taking it in under my arms where it fit properly, but even after I took it in once, all I had to do was take it in a little more on each side, and it was a done deal! Elastic waist, stretchy fabric.. they make for my fav refashions!

The V-neck part wasn't going to work on it's own for me, so I stitched it up about halfway. I still can't wear it without a modesty panel, but that's fine, it works for this style dress. I didn't get pictures of the process, but really it's very simple.

Here's the final result.

Ever so much better! I love it what just a buck can sometimes get me! I paired it with a nice little belt because the waist was just 'eh', and now it's more chic! I wore it out that very night for dinner with my Sunday School girls! (Yes, I know I have bruises on my lily white legs, I'm a klutz who avoids the sun like the plague, ok?) More refashions in the works, and I won't take so long next time!

Purple! A big, $4 refashion.

I've wanted a purple blouse for quite awhile, and have never found one that I loved, that I was willing to pay for..... Even at my discount thrift store shopping. Until the other day, I ran into Goodwill quickly. I was on the verge of being disappointed in their knick knack section, and then occurred to me to search their sweaters for a good find. I have about three winter shirts that I have been rotating in this FL cold weather, and needed two or three more. I did find one nice sweater piece, with three-quarter length sleeves, and was quite happy with it. Then I found this:

I love my loud, obnoxious socks! But that blouse.. 26/28 X. However I was certain I could turn this into the beautiful royal top of my dreams. I took this pic at my parents house, you shoulda seen the look on my brother's face when he saw this. It was a, 'please tell me you're not wearing that in public?' look. I set his fears to rest immediately.

Took it home and got to work. I turned it inside out on my dressform, and pinned a rather loose fit. I'm tired of always cutting the fabric too short or too tight, and was determined to do it right this time. 
Then I chopped.

It was rather simple once I got past the fact that I would NOT be unbuttoning all those buttons everytime I wore this piece. I pinned both sides down and then tried to get it off my dress form, to no avail. I had to take the pins out of one side, and sew the other side first. I figured once the stitches were in place, it'd still come off the dress form when I pinned the other side. But when all's said and done, it was a very simple piece to make. Once the sides were sewn up, I carefully hemmed the sleevelines. The back of this top apparently scooped down lower than the front, and I didn't catch that at first, so the back was hanging down an inch or so lower than the front. Easy peasy, just make a hem and match the length of the fabric. I tried it on and made a tweak here and there, and then it was done. Pretty straightforward and simple, I probably finished in under an hour. Here is the finished piece.

A bit loose fitting, but I actually like it that way. It's comfy casual, and I LOVE the color!

Before and after:

Ta da!!  My $4 top! I did find another purple top at that same Goodwill hunt, and another very interesting piece that will be all kinds of fun and torture to play with! I will keep you posted!