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!

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.

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

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 :)

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 :)

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 :)

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