OOTD: My New Jumper

This is my easy and roomy jumper, I wore to church today. I wanted to be very comfortable because it was my day to work with the 2 - 5 year olds during service time.As anyone knows, children in this age group can be a handful to work with. I try to dress not only comfortably and creatively around my little charges. The jumper is a upcycle from a wool crepe wrap skirt in aubergine, bordered at the bottom with the recut of a charcoal grey bias cut skirt.  The neckline and armscye are trimmed with the same charcoal grey, adding a small patch on the jumper back, one of my favorite design features. The necklace is a 25 year old button assembleage my children made, probably one day when there was nothing else to do---it is a favorite accessory.

 "Never underestimate God's hand in all your plans."

Making mistakes

I love taking my thrift store purchases and creating new yardage for my signature dress. Sometimes the," best laid plans of mice and men" goes array, like with my three patterns of blue dress. The original idea was like in picture #1, but it just presented me with to much visual light blue---eekk!
So the stripe shirt I had planned not to use became the saving feature of my dress.  

Original Idea

Revised Styling

Back Detailing



Don't be the same. Be Better.

Creating Fabric from Ready-Made Clothing

This is what I really like to do, make fabric from ready to wear items. I am always buying clothing pieces more for the amount of fabric I can get out a item, then just to remake the item. This is one of my reclaimed fabric remakes from my Youtube channel.

"May your choices reflect your Hopes, not your Fears."

                                                     -Nelson Mandela

OOTD Silk Upcycled Dress

I made this dress from a combination of recycled fabrics and purchased goods. The top yoke portion started out as a pair of deep greenish blue silk pants, whereas the lower dress section is a black and white print silk from my fabric stash. I love wearing this style of loose-fitting easy comfort dres, but usually make them in monochromatic tones, with very little distinct color-blocking. I set my camera up and took a dozen or more pictures of myself in this dress, because I want to know what I am visually presenting with this design combination. I feel lovely and decently alluring in the dress, totally self confident, unique and happy with just the way it wears on my body. My apprehension came from looking in the mirror at myself and seeing the color blocking balance---its not to flattering! I wore the dress adding a soft wrap in a tie dye ethnic print, that somewhat hid the bodice area, and felt quite comfortable. This dres is a keeper, but I have to definately tweek the visual presentation each time I wear it.

"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday."

OOTD Mixed Fabric Dress

I wore my mixed fabric dress this pass Sunday. Paired with a vintage white skirt that has hand crochet inset and border, the dress took on a totally different look.

"Being creative is not a hobby, its a way of life."

"I Going to Make Something Today"

It's been a great busy week, and today I awoke with the desire to do something FUN. I have this great white linen shirt, that had been altered by removing the collar and cutting off the curved shirttails. The shirt is an Xlarge, with beautiful pintucking and machine embroidery down the front. I decided it needed a bit of shaping, which I removed from the side seams including the underarm area. I then added a bias strip at the hem edge, to give the shirt a neater finish. All in all this was really just a fine-tuning of an oversized shirt, made of very good linen. The first remake just didn't work, but the shirt was to good to toss aside. This will be my only white shirt to wear this fall and early spring of next year.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

                                                                                                 Hebrew 13:6

OOTD Ready to Praise

Mister is going to service without me today, because I had a little knock down by our pups. Woke up this morning with a very sore hip, and thought it best to relax at home for the day. Without me on his arm, he still looks pretty good.

End of Summer White Ensemble

The j juxtaposition of two time worn pieces, that I just don't want to get rid of.

More than one Way to Wear the Jacket

Got a chance to see a different take on the Western Jacket, as my client put some color in his style. The classic style of this jacket is definitely going to be an exciting staple in his wardrobe. A great new look is achieved by wearing a blue-green shirt, black pants, custom cowboy boots, and of course a mean black Stetson. Totally awesome!

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

2 Chronicles 15:7

Another Project Done

My client asked for a custom fit western style jacket, with the yellow rose of Texas embroidered on each sleeve. The finished project looked absolutely awesome on him.

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.  

Nahum 1:7

Another Remix: XL Man's Shirt

Thrifting this XL man's shirt just because of its graphic print, and I knew there was a necklace in my jewely stash that would just match it. To create the dress, I upcycled a 100% cream colored silk pleated skirt I found some time ago at Texas Thrift, San Antonio for $4.90. The dress wears well, and its easy care because I machine washed and line dryed both pieces before construction. Not bad for $10 total in fabric and a days worth of pleasure sewing.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

                                                                                               Luke 12:32

"The Look Of Love"

A few days off work and I went fabric shopping, at a fabric store!  My normal method of acquiring fabric for projects is to purchase clothing from thrifting environments, anything thats 100% cotton. silk, linen or wool and do reclaimed clothing styling. This day was to be a treat, I would be purchasing the total yardage needed to make a new dress!  It is amazing how fabric selection has changed over the years, it was the hardest task to find at retail a quality piece of  dress goods, most fabrics are mixed blends. I found a lovely black and white large grid plaid, 100% cotton, and very soft to the touch. The purchase was just three yard, the amount needed to create a wonderfully soft and easy style dress.

So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous:...         Psalm 58:11

When Being Creative goes Array!

It all started so innocently, a recent buy from the thrift store of a peasant style three tiered denim skirt. I just knew this soft denim skirt would be a awesome addition to my work wardrobe, but after trying it on at home, I decided the skirt just didin't compliment my figure at all. The question became what to do with such a great find, out came my sketchbook, and on came the light of creativity. This lovely bit of fabric could be a new purse, or part of some other project. I decided to create an infinity scarf with cut out t-shirt fabric embellishment and thread emproidery to start. To put it plainly, it didn't work---the finish project lacked something. I'm going to keep it around and see if it will grow, but for now the creative spark for this project is not shining to brightly.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.     Hebrews 11:1

My Yellow Skirt

This was a great remake of an extra large men’s IZOD(c) cotton sweater. When I saw this sweater my first thought was to use it for the back of a demin vest I was designing for my new son-in-law, but I decided to make a nice long knit skirt for myself.  Sorry no before cut picture.  I did have to unravel some of the yarn to use for filling in the deep v-neckline. Stitching the side seams with a stretch stitch and adding a sew on fabric casing for elastic at the waist, elimated added bulk.  I’ve worn it a few times, making sure to wear a long slip underneath, and it is very comfortable.

“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious.”

Eccl. 10:12