Sunday, October 17, 2010

Needed: More time in the day!

This week slipped through the cracks...cracks that were stuffed with paperwork, activities for the kids and super weather. That and a serious lack of inspiration. I reeeeeaaaaalllllyyyyy wanted to do another shirt dress but how much fun is that for anyone? I've went digging today and found some amazing items that are being cleaned as we speak to make a mixed media collage. I'm pretty excited about it actually, I found a section of a stained glass window (it's just clear glass pieces) and some beautiful wood detailing that was on a cabinet door. There are ideas in my head, hopefully they pan out and if not, I've got a child sized metal garden chair to re-do. This week, I've got to do a makeup and the this week's re-do!

Here's to two re-do projects in one week. Boo!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Add A New Favorite to My List!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Jessica for sending me this link: http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-shirt-dress.html ! To Dana, the wonderful woman behind the blog, I think I love you (well, your amazing ideas for sure)! I have a feeling there are going to be several shirt dresses (and top/skirt sets) in Miss K's closet for this fall/winter season :)

I took inspiration from Dana's ideas and made my own shirt dress. I loved the idea of a cuffed sleeve--I wasn't so fond of the gathered neckline. True to 52 Re-Do, I bought a man's dress shirt at Goodwill for $2.50...and that was the total cost for the week. I completely forgot to take a before picture, the original shirt was a man's size 18 1/2. I used a summer dress for the pattern. When it was finished, we dressed it up with a "fancy" (according to K) pin.




Saturday, October 2, 2010

Check: Week Six

I wasn't sure where this chair was going and my original plan started falling apart...I did learn how to print on fabric (and it only took a dozen times jamming fabric in the printer to get it right)--something I am super excited to put to good use on other projects! I originally had printed the Dr. Suess quote to make a seat cover, then realized I didn't have all the supplies to do it and since this is a $5 a week project, didn't have the funds to get what I didn't have. So....the fabric print ended up on the back :)





I had some really pretty scrapbooking paper sitting in the craft cabinet so I put it to use. I just cut it to size for the back and glued it down, the seat is an entire sheet with polka-dots painted around it. The seat and the back got a clear coat and will probably get a few more for good measure. I don't think I am done and that seat may get covered with fabric yet ;) Since, technically this re-do is complete, I think I am free to spend more on it lol

Thursday, September 30, 2010

I'm Running a Little Behind

Up until today, I have had no inspiration for this project. Classes and the kids keep me pretty busy--the kids and I ran to Goodwill to see if I could find something to give me the spark I need to get this week's re-do started. I ran across a stack of old school chairs at Goodwill, I rummaged through all of them to find the one in the best condition:
$3
I've got some ideas for this chair--let's see which one wins :)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A Lovely Little.....

What was once a lovely silk skirt is now an equally lovely (in my opinion anyway) wristlet. 
Side One--the wristlet measures 8 1/2 inches long and 5 inches deep

Side Two, with button detail from waist band of skirt

Until tonight, I'd never made a purse or bag of any type before....and since I spent $2.50 of my $5 on the skirt, I didn't have the funds to buy a pattern. I broke out a permanent marker, some paper and went about drawing a pattern--it took a few tries but I got it eventually. I was able to use the zipper from the skirt for the wristlet and had the red polka-dot fabric in my stash. Total cost for this re-do $2.50 :)


Monday, September 20, 2010

Man Alive, It's Week Five!

I saw this at Goodwill and couldn't not take it home! It's a 100% silk skirt (size: way too tiny for me)--just begging for a new life.


That's what I'm working with for week five--the color in the photo doesn't really show how beautiful it is. I've never sewn silk before and am going to have to research what the best approach is. I have no idea what is in store for this item...but I really hope I can come up with something fab-u-lous!

Here's the two lonely dresses I made Miss K this past week:






And since last week I let myself go off on a little tangent about Project Runway...this week it's going to be the Dr. Phil Family and all the cray-cray that comes along with them. Alright, Dr. Phil, you're a smart guy and I can't for the life of me figure out why they are still coming on your show (well, other than it's probably a ratings feeding frenzy 'cause everyone likes crazy). Alex, Alex, Alex....you poor stupid, stupid, stupid woman--I know you're not going to read this but I wish you would! The sooner you stop believing your own brand of crazy, clean up your act and get off the "fame" train the better. For Pete's sake, you've got THREE kids now that the good people of whatever state you live in paid for you to deliver (just me speculating) and I am sure that while you were preggers, you were getting a check (again, speculating) and being an all around piece of poo (totally my opinion--because in my opinion, you're just wasting space). Your Mom, who also has her own special brand of cray-cray (or biotchiness), has totally stepped up to the plate to raise your three kids INCLUDING the one you just spit out that was addicted to drugs. Wow. And you think you have the right Alexandra to be Bitchy McBitchpants toward Mommy Dearest??? Flipping grow up. Life is hard for EVERYONE--it's not like you're the only one who doesn't fart rainbows and piss sunshine, ok?

Amazing how much better I feel now. Thanks :)

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Just a Few Things =]

Ok, so I am watching Project Runway (act surprised) and Tim Gunn just said camel-toe. Yeah, I shit myself. Totally. I mean this demure gentleman in a suit that costs more than three months of car payments for me says camel-toe. Let me put it in context--he said "Jackie-O would not have camel-toe". Seriously.  While I am on a Project Runway ditty, that uber-bitch Gretchen should get over herself and stop running her yap. I mean she is talented (duh, she's on the show) but dang, does she ever have anything nice to say? Why not take a cue from April--she's super talented and nice....


Anyway, back to what I popped in for: I've been working on the re-do. I completely deconstructed the shirt, me and my seam ripper were besties for about 20 minutes. Miss K freaked out (crying, screaming, jumping up and down) that I "RUINED ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT"! I promised her that I would make her an awesome princess dress--I don't know how awesome it really is but she loves it. I'm not completely finished and I still have some money left for this week :)



Before








After :)




By the way, sewing that fabric....nightmare. I think I am really flexing my sewing muscles (uh-huh, yeah, I said that). Plus, I am having a ridiculously good time doing this!

Until later ya'll <3

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

What is in store for Week Four?

I can't blame not updating my blog this week on anything other than wonderful weather and the fall semester starting...I have done a minimal amount of sewing--I can't wait to start this week's re-do (mostly because I bought a new gathering foot and narrow hem foot). I tried a new pattern from youcanmakethis.com and LOVE it!




Special thanks to PatchWorKids for creating such a wonderful pattern :) For those of you who may not know, youcanmakethis.com is a great website for all kinds of crafting ideas--not just sewing!

I found this item at our local Goodwill--Miss K told me "not to mess it up" because as of today, she is wearing it around calling it her Cinderella dress.

I hope I don't destroy the fabric sewing it, I've never sewn anything like that!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

A Sweet "Tweet" for Week Three

I loved my daughter's comforter, so when our doggy daughter chewed it up, I knew it would be perfect for a 52 Re-Do project....I just had no idea how cute the finished products would be! Here's the comforter:


It got a new life as a pillow:


More than anything it was a lot of cutting and separating the two fabrics from the cotton batting. To attach the birds and designs, I cut them out and used iron-on adhesive. Then, I stitched around each one--to ensure that they would stay through many nights of snuggling.

I had tons of fabric left after making the pillow, so....I made the cutest stinkin' dress ever! Modeled by the most adorable Miss K =]


Total cost for the pillow: $4.89 for the bag of fiberfill
Total cost for the dress: FREE!!!!!!
I had all the buttons and the iron-on laying around :)


Sunday, September 5, 2010

Week Two is a Winner!

For this re-do I used a sheet that I found when I was cleaning out closets:
I used my measurements and made a pattern for myself, I couldn't find a pattern that I really liked....I really think that companies think if you are plus-sized, you like dressing frumpy. Here's the outcome:
Total cost for this week: FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My next project was caused by our darling dog daughter, Josie. Josie sleeps with Miss K, Josie has apparently developed an affinity for cotton. Josie chewed numerous holes in the comforter on Miss K's bed, not only that, she would pull the filling out of it. I love Miss K's comforter and can't bear to just throw it out, so I am up-cycling it in the name of 52 Re-Do:



I'm not sure what it's going to become but I have a lot of fabric, $5 and a week to decide =]

Until then ya'll!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Ta-Da! and What's In Store for Week Two =]

Week One Revealed:


Week Two is brought to you courtesy of purging my closet--I found a full size white sheet with nice black faux embroidery. I already have the pattern ready for it and will be starting tonight! Since I already had this, I have $5 for embellishments if I want.


Here's what I made for Miss K this week:


I am totally in love with the fairy-tale pattern on that dress!


I love the butterfly patchwork, especially since I caught it on sale at fabric.com for $3.49/yard =]

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Week One........

What an interesting week I've had! Sometime Saturday Baby A, busy little 15 month old he is, got his mitts on some Vicks Vapor Rub....and put it in the oven unbeknownst to me. A few facts about Vicks:

1. Intially, it smells good when it is heating up in a 350 degree oven. Silly me, I thought it was the stuffing I was cooking on the stove-top to go with the chicken....

2. Expect a lot of smoke. Copious amounts even.

3. FLAMMABLE.

4. When burned in an oven, the smell does not go away even with the use of oven cleaner, bleach and vinegar.

Before you go thinking I am a horrible, unfit Mother there are a few things you should know. Baby A is unstoppable and sneaky, not sneaky like most kids, sneaky like covert ops--this kid can hide in plain view and not be found. Some days, I think B.A is part chameleon and part Russian spy. Needless to say, the house is now equipped with every baby-proofing security item you can imagine.

Thanks to the terrible odor in the house, we spent a ton of time outdoors. Upside, we visited a lot of playgrounds and Bernheim Forest and the kids slept well! I figured out how to get rid of the stink...buy a new oven. Home Depot offers free delivery with orders over $249 online and the delivery guys were super nice, they even anchored the range to the wall for me.

Sewing took a back burner (no pun intended). My dress is finished however, I have to find someone other than Miss K to take the pictures for me :)

Here's some photos of the changes I made to the dress:


I started by going sleeveless....









Then, I attacked the neckline!







And cut off some length, some being six inches.







I gathered and tied the straps.









I did manage to make a super cute patchwork top and absolutely stinking adorable yoke-neck dress for Miss K. Pics of everything tomorrow PLUS what week two's item is going to be!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Week One--Let the Game Begin

Two hours searching second hand stores with two little kids...there are many words that come to mind. Miss K found a pair of high heels that she proceeded to wear for the entire duration of the mission. Baby A pulled numerous garments from hangers (um, sorry about all those broken hangers) and piled them on himself until he resembled Mount Clothesmore. Just as I was beginning to feel I wasn't going to have any luck today, because not just anything would do for the first "transformation", I came across this beauty:
Not only does it have a matching belt (and by matching I mean the EXACT same material), it has elastic in the waist...you know, because there is nothing more attractive than a poochey top and lots of gathers around a plus-sized middle. It is a pretty basic dress design, lending itself well to this project. You bet your buttons I can do this!




Who's That Girl?

I'm Emily. Mother to the two coolest, craziest and funniest kids you will ever meet (of course that's my incredibly biased opinion). I stay at home with them and work hard to provide the kidlets a childhood full of wonderful memories.
I have always been a creative person, I mean with an art teacher for a Mom how could you not be? As a kid, she took us on lots of adventures--always teaching us that beauty is everywhere. Several years ago, my Mom found some dresses that had been made by my Granny for Mom and her sister. They were well-made, lovely dresses that had withstood many years of wear and even more of storage. It was those dresses that made me start to sew. It was pretty rocky at first, okay, really rocky...I had no idea what I was doing. None. Nada. Horrible is a word that comes to mind. Thankfully, I know when I need help, so a few lessons from my Mom combined with hours of Internet searching and I started sewing dresses my daughter could actually wear.

That's where it started....and this....well, this my friends, is just the beginning!