Shrug.

Inspired by a post on wardrobe refashion (sorry, don't feel like finding the actual post!), and following the ridiculously simple directions here, I made a shrug from an old-shirt.

Ew. I need to clean the mirror.


I hate it.

I believe this is because:
1. The shirt isn't big enough. I think if the t-shirt were larger, it would look better.
2. The pattern on the t-shirt is off-putting.
3. I used pink (ew!) binding as the drawstring.
4. It accentuates my boobs too much.

In conclusion:
I will definitely try this again because it's too damn easy not to! Very little effort is involved. I will try a bulkier, solid-colored shirt. I will find/make a drawstring in a color that I actually like.
~
I started to knit myself a simple sweater. I casted on and knitted a few rows. George the cat had other plans. I have yet to start over.

The Pledge.

I, Jaime Avon, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed JMA.

Refashioned.

The other day I cleaned out and organized my daughter's closet. I donated most of her clothes, but decided to attempt a wearable refashion on a few pieces.

Two long sleeve shirts to make into short sleeve shirts and 1 dress that she wore (and loved) at her birthday party last year. It's long sleeve, and kind of tight now at the top.

The shirt were easy. Simply cut the sleeves. I didn't even hem them, just used an overlock stitch. I really like how it turned out. I put on some sparkly iron-on hearts on one shirt, and an applique (that cut off of another of her shirts that was stained beyond salvation) on the other.

If the child would stay still for more than 1.5 seconds, the photos would be better.

I simply detached the top of the dress from the bottom and added an elastic waistband. Voila! A skirt that she loves.

PS. I'm pretty sure my blog is one-year old today.

Wallets.

I really like the idea of reusing something old to make it something new. Besides all the environment hoopla, it's just a good use in imagination. I am instantly drawn to anything that shows ingenuity; probably because that is something that I lack!
I mean sure, anyone can think of painting a mayonnaise jar and plopping some flowers in it. Cute idea, but not exactly deft.
This idea, however, is really clever. And practical. Gotta love that combination.

I don't even remember how I stumbled upon this tutorial, but I was really glad I did. And at a perfect time too! Two of my good friends both have birthdays in February.

One Saturday after work, I stopped by Impact!, a huge thrift store a few shops down from my employer. The paperbacks are only .35 (insert "cent" symbol here.) I looked through the table of paperback (the hardbacks are in the shelves) and quickly spotted the words, "Charlie Brown." I picked it immediately and was thrilled to see an excellent condition Charlie Brown comic book. The original price was .40 (again, insert "cent" symbol here.) That one was for Amber.

Finding something for Heather would prove to be more difficult. I decided to just go for a tacky romance novel since that's what the majority of the books were.

(I also picked up some original kitchen appliance manuals for myself that I will eventually mat and frame for my kitchen.)

ANYHOW, I this project is super simple and I really like the results. I'm not going to mention the issues I had with installing the snaps because I'll come off sounding like a total idiot because, well, apparently, I am.

Doe! A Deer.

I've been on a pajama bottom making spree! Well, if you count two pairs of pants in two days a spree. And I do, so it is.

Me & Abby went to Joann's the other day to pick out fabric for the princess dress she wanted. (That's another blog post, I'm sure.) We passed Sponge Bob fabric and she wanted it, so I just thought I'd make her some pants. I bought a yard, but probably should've purchased 1 1/4 yard.

Her pants were super quick to throw together. I just followed a vintage kids' pattern I thrifted during the summer.

My pj pants were made from an old/barely used sheet. My husband thinks this is hysterical and called me Maria Van Trapp; hence the title (although, technically, she made clothes from draperies.) Anyhow, the pattern I have for pj pants is ridiculous. The pants are huge. Not like, oh, "they're big,"big but like, "oh, have you lost about 200lbs?" big.

So, I deconstructed a favorite pair of bleach stained/holey yoga pants and used them as a basis for a pattern. I made a bigger seam allowance since the yoga pants are knit fabric, and the sheet, is well, sheet. They fit pretty well. The only qualm is that the waist isn't really form fitting. I think that's because the yoga pants had a drawstring and I just gave the sheet ones an elastic waist. Either way, they're comfy.

The First.

So, I've become intrigued with this whole "refashioning" thing. You know, reusing, restyling, reconstructing clothing that you already own or have thrifted.
I have more than a sufficient amount of stain t-shirts. I also have a lot of t-shirts with mysterious little holes by the waistband. I theorize that these are victims of my zipper, but I have yet to see it happen, so I cannot be 100% sure.
Anyhow, I am attempting to refashion one of my peculiarly holed t-shirts. I had some scraps from a t-shirt I made my sister, I started yesterday, but am unhappy with the result. I need to reconstruct the reconstruction.
~
Last night we had veggie burritos for dinner: red peppers, green peppers, onion, garlic, tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, corn, misc. spices/herbs. We (me and Abby) have been making our own tortillas. Very easy. Very delicious. Try it.