Ready for Fall

So today is Labor Day and w/ that I have been thinking about Fall. Since I have been trying to do good by not buying any new patterns (now that's been hard!!), I found this pattern in my stash. Over the Spring I found some faux fur and didn't know what I was going to do with it, but now I have an answer. This is my new WIP....

I plan on making the faux fur headband and pom pom scarf. If I have enough left over, I think a muff would be too cute!!! Will keep you posted.

New purses....

Made two more purses. The patterns were easy to follow so now what I need to do is gather up fabric from my stashes so that I can start on Christmas presents, but don't tell my sisters.... The shoulder bag is from http://tinyhappy.typepad.com/tiny_happy/2006/06/shoulder_bag_tu.html

and the other is from http://http://www.sewing.org/enthusiast/clutch_purse.pdf

I haven't decided what I am going to fill them with just yet but I think that they each will have one of these also http://www.thegivingflower.de/?p=920 so that when they want to swap out their purses, they don't have much to take from one to the other. Shopping right now has been put on hold but I haven't forgotten my list. I did finish my pink checkered shirt but of course it needs something to accessorize it- another purse. Other WIPs right now are a diaper bag for a friend that is having a baby boy w/ accessories to match like a roll up bag, a changing pad and bibs. Got quite a long list so I need to get started...

Mission Complete

So I finished the WIP and decided not to use pintucks because that seemed to be a bit busy for me. Instead, I came in about an inch on each side and tapered up to the sleeve. Viola!! A great fitting shirt that will definitely look cute w/ a pair of khaki pants ( from my list), a fitted tee-shirt in white (also from the list) and some cute ballet flats, maybe...now for a purse. Will need to think about this one b/c one can never have too many purses. I will post the completed outfit together soon.

WORK IN PROGRESS....

I found this pink-checked shirt at my local Goodwill http://www.goodwill.com/. Right now it is a size 20 but when I am done with it, I should have down to just my size. Haven't decided yet if I will be using pintucks or simply just taking it in on the sides. I have this book

and it is a great resource to have. Will keep you up to date........

My Wish List.....

I read this great book called "How to Become a Budget Fashionista" by Kathryn Finney. For those of you who have not discovered this book, you are really missing out!! It may be small in in stature but it packs a mighty punch. Not only does she give you a great foundation to start with, she also gives great resources, recipes and sources. Now, I have decided to make an effort to really watch my pennies and this has trickled down to my shopping habits. So without further ado, here's my list...

• black suit
• white cotton dress shirt
• plain black pumps
• pair of jeans
• black dress
• t-shirts, fitted
• leather tote bag
• pair of sneakers
• trench coat or all-weather coat
• khaki or chino pants

I am a thrift storeaholic and so far with the right timing, I have been able to find....

two cotton white shirts

a pair of plain black pumps

I already have...

a leather tote bag

trench coat

a pair of khaki pants

Would like to add eventually..

dark denim jeans

a twin set

long black boots

a pair of strappy heels

Wish me luck!!!!

Is There Such a Thing as Too Many???

Yes, I have a problem and cannot control myself. Made two more purses that I may not carry again. One was made using Simplicity sewing patterns for Dummies # 4670, view c



The other was made using another Simplicity pattern, NewLook 6574

It's been awhile.....

It's been awhile since my last post but I realized that I had to get back into it. I have made a few things so they will posted shortly and there are a few WIPs. Later.....

MADE A JACKET

Found a great book called 99 Ways to Cut, Sew & Deck Out Your Denim and this was a great find for me. This book shows you how to take a pair of jears or two and make some great digs. This jacket idea was in there so I had to try it. This bolero jacket was made from the legs of a pair of jeans. I then found some fabric at store that was going out business and used that as the trim for the cuffs and band. Will definitely go back to this book again.....

MADE A BAG FOR SOMEONE

I made this bag for one of my co-workers. She had a pair of pants that were a little small for her, but she didn't want to part with them. I suggested that she make a bag out of them. She was game for the idea. I had her to bring them and during lunch I was going to show her how to do it. But, that didn't work so I ended up bringing them home w/ me to make for her. The end result-one very happy teenager. I cut the pants below the crotch and added a band of fabric that was from an old sheet( man, that sheet has been showing up everywhere). I quilted it before I added. The handles were made frm the legs of the pants w/ yep, more of the same sheet in between in each piece. Added a d- ring and voila-plaid messenger bag. She was really pleased and surprised at how it came out. Next WIP is a bolero jacket from a pair of jeans. Pics coming soon.....

NEW MAKE-UP TOTE

I found a faux leather Old Navy skirt at the thrift store for a whopping $1.00. As if I didn't have enough bags, why not make one more!! The handles are stuffed w/ some stuffing from the stash. I didn't want to make it too big, so I decided to make it small enough to carry my makeup.

TOTALLY REFASHIONED OUTFIT

I have not had a chance to do a lot of refashioning the last few weeks due to some personal issues. But, I have rebounded. My first refashion is not a new one, but nonetheless a good one. I had a tee shirt that was screaming for a refashion, so I turned it into a peasant style top. The pants were given to me by a friend so I shortened them a wee bit. The purse was made from some fabric in the stash that was given to me by by mom, using a great tutorial found on www.supereggplant.com. The lining was made from a bed sheet from a previous refashion project. Total cost for the outfit-ZERO!! Man, that felt great saying that!!I will probably do another tee shirt like this to wear with a skirt that I refashioned in my first two month pledge. As well as another purse, as I am such the acessory gal. I hope to post more soon as there are several works in progress.

DRY SPELL

I have hit a dry spell and need some inspiration. I think that I need to so some SHOPPING this weekend. Of course, shopping for me is hitting some great thrift stores. I got a new catalog in the mail today so I will browse through that to see what lovely creations I can come up with. Until then.....

TWO SKIRTS

I found a sheet at a thrift store w/ the cute eyelet border. I then took the border and stitched it to the top of a pair of pants that were too short. The results, a cute peasant skirt.

I then took the bottom of the hemmed portion of the sheet and stitched it to a wrap skirt that was too short for me to wear out in public.

One sheet from the thirft store.....$1.50
Two skirts from the same thrift store...$3.50
Two skirts that no one else will have for the Summer....Priceless!!!

TWO IN ONE

I had some down time this weekend so I decided to finish up some projects. The first was a black wool Harve Bernard jumper that I found at the thrift store for $2.00. I added white fabric circles stitched w/ a black blanket stitch. I then sewed a button in the middle to add some interest.

My other project is not a new refashion idea but still a good one none the less. This corduroy skirt was made from a pair of corduroy pants that had seen better days. I had some some yarn left from another project that didn't work so I used it to do a stitch around the hem and the pockets. I have to admit that since doing this refashion pledge, I have become inspired from what I see in the stores to duplicate at home from thrift stores and my stash. Yeah for refashioning!!!!

ALL TOGETHER

Here's the camo outfit all together. I will probably tweak it just a bit, but for now it's a wrap!!!

MY QUICKIE :)

Here is quick refashion that I did from an old necktice in my stash. Have gotten lots of compliments on it. I got the idea from this book called "Sew Subversive" by Melissa Rannels, Melissa Alvarado and Hope Meng.It's a definite book for the refashionista....Will use the other end to make a matching neck collar....

COOKIES AND CREME

I was asked to make a cookies and creme cake. So here it is...
This is a white cake w/ chocolate creme sandwich cookies and cream cheese icing. Hubbie is a big cake eater so getting him not to TOUCH IT was a big feat in itself.

WORK IN PROGRESS

For those that remember the camo ruffled skirt...I found a shirt to match in hubbie's closet. I shortened it and covered the collar with some fabric from the stash. Will be adding cuffs from the same fabric, too. Haven't quite decided what I am going to do with the hem. Definitely will be removing the blue tape! Based upon all of this, I will this a work in progress. Will post the completed pixs soon w/ the skirt to boot.

THE LOVE CAKE

A friend of mine asked me to make her a cake for the day of love. I had free reign so she ended up with a strawberry flavored cake w/ strawberry buttercream and white chocolate-covered strawberries. It was a big hit and she was pleasantly surprised....

WOOL SKIRT TOTE

This wool skirt found me at thrift store not too far from my house. It was a size 10 and I am far from that :)!! I have a friend that was in need of a bag to carry her lunch and "stuff" in so I made her this bag. She absolutley loved and it didn't believe me when I told her that it was made from a skirt.

2 Purses 2 Many

I refashioned this purse from a suede skirt that I found at a thrift store. It was supposed to be part of a costume for Halloween ( was going to be Pocohantas) but we ended up changing our minds. I thought that I would wear it out on, but when I tried it on, I felt that it was a little short to wear out. The sides were mid-thigh but the front and back came to a point in the front. Sorry that I didn't take a picture before, but here is the after. I cut the front and back to be even with the sides. I then used this to be the fringe. I punched holes into the leather and threaded the leather "string" through the holes and double knotted it. The handles were attached with strips of the same leather and then attached to the bag w/ a leather glue.

My necktie bag came about from my stash. I butted the edges of the ties together w/ a zigzag stitch. I made the back from some denim that was also in my stash. The handle is made from one of the ties and stitched to bag on the sides. Big brown buttons were placed on the ends as decoration only.

TOTE-TAKE 2

I've had this striped skirt in my stash for quite some time and couldn't think of what to do with it. I am all for the preppy look, but this was too much for moi. So... I chopped off a portion just above the hem and made this be the strap. I attached this w/ D rings. I kept the integrity of the top of the skirt so that the pockets could be used. The bottom was simply stitched across and and sewn across in the usual triangle stitch to give a boxy feel. Kinda reminds me of a messenger bag in a way. I have some pink fabric in my stash, so this will probably be the lining. I had some white 1/4" ribbon so I did a blanket stitch on the pockets (don't think that you can see this in the pics). This was a fun project, will definitely keep my eyes open to make something like this again.

Spring to Summer Skirt

Saw this litle white skirt at my local thrift store for whoppin' $1.98. Didn't want to keep it that way so I jazzed it up w/ a sheet that I found in the housewares section of the same store. The result- a great skirt that can go from Spring to Summer. I am now on a misson to search for a great pair of green slides or sandals to go with.....

TWICE AS NICE

I found this tutorial while surfing one night for turning a pair of pants into a ruffled skirt on www.scorpiosattic.com. Liked it so much that I made two =)! The camouflage skirt was made from a pair of my husband's pants from his military days. The other skirt is made from a pair of pants that I found at a thrift store for $2.00. I have worn them alone, but I think that they would look better when worn with leggings.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

Today is not a good day. My husband has kindly informed me that my digital camera is having some technical difficulties. Apparently they have done a recall on my particular camera for the lens so I have to send it back. OH NO!!! What will I do, the horror of having no camera to document the creative process just leaves me in a funk. Okay so maybe I am being a bit dramatic. My husband has a back up camera that I can use, so I will be okay. Hope to be back at it soon. Have several projects on the table, so I hope to post again soon....

BIG BIRD'S YELLOW HAT

I found this size 4T girls sweater at 1/2 price day at my local thrift store. It was in my stash for a long time until it hit me-BAM!!( in the words of Emeril) why not make a hat. I used the hem from the sweater as the hem of the hat. The "pom-pom" was made from strips cut from the same sweater. It turned out too small for me, but my friend has a three-year old daughter who would love it. I still have the sleeves left, so I am definitely open to suggestions. I have also put this on my blog at www.doubletsewdiva.com.

From skirt to tote......

I found this suede skirt at my local thrift store for $1.98. It wasn't my size,but my plan was not to wear it but to carry it! I am such a purse and shoe gal so making a tote bag or purse was my only option. My husband was pleasantly suprised with my first refashion. I now have a great bag to carry my books, sketch pad and lunch. I will definitely be on the look out for more leather and suede skirts. Hope ya like!