Quick update

Not much of an update, but it will have to do. Here is a quick look at the lightweight blazer I picked up from salvation army that is now in pieces on my chair.












I have a few ideas floating around in my head as to what I want to do with the fabric, and there is quite a bit of it. I was thinking perhaps a skirt (but I don't really wear skirts), or using some for a Johnny Cash t-shirt recon. I figure tonight I'll sketch up the ideas, it would be nice to have something planned out more than 15 minutes prior to sewing.

Goodnight for now :)

At least I paid my taxes on time

Well its been a few weeks since I last posted, but I assure you I have been doing some work. To start things off I have finally finished my sewing desk. I had either had my sewing machine on the kitchen table or on an old wooden filing cabinet that was going to be thrown out until I thought up this project. At home depot I was able to pick up some knotty pine and have it cut to size, I then took it home a varnished the heck out it.


Here's a picture of my original filing cabinet set up; good lighting, horrible ergonomics.






Over here is my semi-completed project, you can kind of of see the interior of the filing cabinet. The bottom draw still slides in and out, I just removed the from of the drawer so I could easily see whats in it just by looking down. I removed the top drawer and I am currently thinking of making a shelf. The front of the bottom drawer was used as an expandable work space/cabinet door-unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of that in action. I'll take more pictures once the whole interior of the cabinet is finished. The important thing is that I now have my very own crafting corner.

In celebration of my new desk I was able to start and complete a quick clothing recon that I've been thinking of for a while now.


I bought these pants at Marshall's few years ago for about 10 dollars (my mom said I overpaid-notice how the pattern doesn't match up on the sides). I think I maybe wore them once, it was just too much plaid. I tried the pants on and marked them about two inches below the knee, and cut. I tucked and folded the edges and hemmed them (while at my new desk)




The result is a little something I would like to call plaid perfection.

trip to the salvy-a very delayed part 2

I never did get around to posting the next day, but I was able to accomplish some things and start some new projects as well.
Here's a quick look at the wrap pants I made using some very soft fabric my boyfriend's mom gave me. Not to many pictures for this one due to crappy lighting, I was also going to post the tutorial link, however it seems to have disappeared.

Next up is a recon from one of the goodies I got from the salvation army. It was a scrub top with a zany ambulance print and it cost me 2 dollars.
Originally it was just going to have the blue band of fabric going across, but when I tried the shirt on it was kind of snug around the hips and the way the fabric puffed out I looked like I belonged at a maternity ward. So I lovely hacked off the ambulance print and attached the bottom part of a dress from forever 21 that I bought to wear to a wedding but never actually wore.















I'm thinking I may add two front pockets with the ambulance fabric, but thats for another day. For now I'm quite happy with it. Thats all for now, its time to clean up.

trip to the salvy part I

On my last day off I took a trip to the three story salvation army near my apartment, I came home with 4 new pieces of inspiration.
I'm currently working with the blue scrub shirt, but I don't have any pictures of it as of yet. Maybe tomorrow.

t-shirt recon rescue

So I decided to take my new dress form out for a trial run and see if I could resurrect an old t-shirt. I've had this Circle Jerks t-shirt since high school (8 years), it was a men's large and at the time it was pretty fitted on me.


It went to college with me, where one Halloween morning I hastily cut the neck in order to make an 80's costume, if I had planned it better, maybe it wouldn't have been so revealing. So for 3 years it was used as a night shirt.
I started the whole project by pinning the neck line to make a boat neck collar, then I removed the sleeves and set them aside. I took it off the form and sewed it, the put it back on for the next part.






I determined how far up on the shoulder I wanted my sleeves to start, pinned the arm holes and sewed. After putting it back on the mannequin I worked taking in the sides. Working with the dress form made me feel freer. I played around with the side seams and made it so the begin curving towards the front which I found to be very flattering. I picked up the sleeves and cut them in half, attached some ties, and again, pinned and sewed.





Here are some detail shots:
Left:Reinforced side seam ----- Right: Top of shoulder (still needs to be cleaned up)

Left:On the dress form ----- Right:Curved side seam


I am really happy about how this turned out, I wasn't frustrated at all while making this, and I took my time while planning the whole thing out. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can wear it outside again.