Suspenders?

Ever since I saw THIS I have had this idea in my head for a suspender skirt, and as I did a little searching around for how I could make a jumper into a skirt with straps, I discovered that suspender skirts have quite the history, and show up in EVERY era of Fashion.


1930's
It seems that these started as something just children would wear. Very School girl. And very Alpine. Kinda makes me want to Yodel.

1940's
I am loving the styling on these with little jackets, vests, and collared shirts.

1950's
So collegiate don't ya think? Here is where they start phasing in to women's wear. I lreally like the straight skirt in this one.

1960's
One word... Mod. (And how would it be to pay 50 cents for a pattern!?!)

1970's
The rainbow ribbon used on this one is classic. Printed ribbon makes for some awesome suspenders. Also I heart the pockets on this skirt. Marsha Marsha Marsha

1980's
Not my favorite Version, but hey, maybe in a lightweight denim, and without that Hair it could be pretty awesome.

1990's
My mom made me something similar to this one when I started 1st grade. If I remember correctly she made ALL my back to school clothes that year. And Barbie patterns? Love it.

2000
I would love to try the pleated version of this skirt. SO preppy. (and SO Cher from Clueless. I LOVED her computerized wardrobe planner.)

2010
And this one is from Burda Style. Wanna make your own? I do! Check out more pictures of it, along with pattern details HERE. How cute are her Saddle shoes? I needs me some of those!

And last but not least MY version. It reminds me most of the 1930's version.

What one is your favorite?

Look MA!

A picture of me wearing THAT shirt! See, I do actually WEAR the clothing I make for myself. Promise. I wear it a lot. I just don't take very many pictures of myself!

a little jailbird.

I know this looks like a saggy piece of fabric, but....

Its a shirt! I have seen black and white stripes all over the place lately, and even though they look a little"incarcerated", I like it! And I just happened to have some black and white striped knit! La-Hove this shirt. Although, I am thinking I might need to shorten the sleeves... What do you think?

Kelly Skirt

I made this lovely comfy skirt about 3 weeks ago, and it had a nice late 80's vibe to it, like something Kelly Kapowski would wear on a date with Zach.

I have seen knit skirts like these all over the place, and I have wanted one, but none of them are long enough! pooh. So I decided to take a stab at it.

No hem on this knit skirt!

And big Slouchy pockets.

Thick elastic SEWN directly onto the fabric. I love this kind of a waistband. It may be my new favorite. Next time I think I will use THICKER elastic. Perfect for tucking a T-shirt into.

Sometimes its good, sometimes its NOT

So I have had a quite a few sewing disasters in my days of sewing, and bow disasters in my days of bow-making.... I know SHOCKING! (Can you taste the sarcasm?)

Well here is a disaster, that I was able to fix.

It started with this XL T-Shirt I got at a clothing outlet called 7 Circles, it cost me a 1.50 and it was new!

I turned it into this....

And then this. This is the disaster I was talking about. It looked like a Fiesta Flamenco shirt. You should have seen the look on my hubby's face when I tried it on. It was supposed to be the mommy version of THIS. I shudder just looking at it. Pretty bad. So I unpicked those awful sleeves, and it became...

THIS! Loverly. Simply Loverly.

Don't you agree it is an improvement?

Denim Summer Skirt

So I am working on getting pictures of me actually wearing this skirt, but I don't know when that will happen, so these must do!


Using inspiration from Dana's Summer skirt with Deep Pockets, I made my version with a few twist. I started with a light-weight denim that I picked up at Joann's

I wanted the skirt too look like it buttoned up the front without it ACTUALLY buttoning. Who wants to deal with making button holes if you don't have to? To do this, I had one seam up the back, and one up the front, instead of on the sides. For the front seam I folded over the edge and stitched along the top. I also didn't gather my pockets, and used a different pattern of my own making.

And these buttons? Vintage. From my stash that I inherited from my great grandmother.

A few things about Shirring your skirt, when you first start, it wont look like it is gathering up, and even after 12 rows it isn't that tight. Spray it with water and iron it, and it scrunches right up! So cool. One thing I would do different next time, is sew the casing for the 1/4 inch elastic BEFORE I started Shirring, rather than after. (Dana talks about adding the elastic at the top)

I love this skirt so much, I have already worn it 3 times. It goes with everything, since it is denim. I love skirts in the summer. So easy, I will be making another soon!

A few of my favorite things....

I know, like you care about my favorite things, but hey it was my birthday so I get a post about me k?

Scallops, especially on a cake stand!

Cute soft lounge jackets, pink ones.

BLING! Me love some sequins.

ANYTHING floral... I will take it in earring form, or clothing, or home decor. Love it.

White jackets. Crispy.

BOOTS! Must have these boots.

Run in a skirt... it will change your life.

(images taken from, Williams Sanoma, Nordstroms, Shade Clothing, and Sports Authority.)

I really like Ruffles

Confession: I have had this shirt for 2 years.
Truth: I have worn it twice.
Time for something new right?

I made it 2 weeks ago, and I have worn it twice. And a lady at Costco asked me where I got it!
My response, "I made it!" (Woot!)

More of that secret fabric from the secret warehouse... Hee hee hee.

Embellish me?

In the grand spirit of refashioning and needing something to wear to the ECLIPSE premiere, I whipped up these little numbers!

Nothing like a little vintage lace to add to a sweater. Thank you Great Grandma Nana. I LOVE this lace. Isn't it pretty?
And here I go with those bows again! Isn't that color pretty? You will be seeing a lot more of it. I am not allowed to speak of the source of the fabric since I got it at a warehouse that can't be named for 1.00 a yard. Yes, and there is more where that came from...

This was what it looked like before... cute, but not AS cute. I trimmed up the neck before adding those fluttery bows.

A little closer up...

And here I am with my Sis at the Eclipse premiere. Yes I am a member of Team Jacob, and I won't admit how many times I have read those books... ahem.

1 yard skirt in action!

Wore it to church today... so comfy. Loved it!

The 1 Yard Skirt

This is the 1 yard skirt, It takes about 1 yard of thick elastic, and 1 yard of fabric. I am halfway through a tutorial (my first) so you can make your own! I love this skirt because you can wear it high on your waist or low on your hips!

T-Shirt dress for mommy...

This is basically the same concept as a onsie dress... only mommy sized! It took about 1 yard of fabric and a navy T-shirt. I cut a few inches off the T Shirt, gathered the fabric, and attached the two! It looks the cutest with a little belt. I want to make another, with a thick piece of elastic between the fabric and the T shirt.

my easter bonnet... sort of...

I was kind of a slacker when it came to my girls Easter dresses this year, I let Gymboree take care of those for me. I did feel like I should make something so I refashioned a sweater for myself. The whole thing cost me a dollar, thanks for Gapcard rewards :) I got the sweater for FREE and the fabric cost me a dollar. That's what I'm talking about! I am obsessed with ruffles, and I was quite pleased with the outcome. I used JCrew for the inspirtation... they are brilliant, but they are also brilliantly expensive!

Lacey Things...

i made my anthro inspired cardi on saturday. my mom roped me into singing in church last sunday and i decided i needed something new to wear, so i tackled the cardigan. i like it, almost love it. i say this because i had a few problems. 1) my lace started to fall apart. 2) i had to find a last minuet solution, so i used lace i already had... which i ran out of before i got to the sleeves. i think i will try another one soon, maybe different colors...

i also made my first pair of lace earings, which i love. i will be making more of these for sure! you can use fabric glue or fray check to keep the lace from falling apart.