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.

"Thanks for the Memories"

About 4 years ago my best friend Christine Dougherty, watercolor artist, sent me a large box of old clothing. This box is a treasure trove of great usuable items, silk shirts; silk suits; a tapersty jacket; a few over-sized linen shirts and much more. The thing about this box is it travelled with me for 4 years before I could get an opportunity to be creative with the contents. In the last three months, the box of goodies has been, my main source for new wardrobe items----I've been cutting and building virgin yardage from suits, tops and skirts. Below is two dresses I've made using brushed silk suits in lovely jewel tones. The first is a deep purple silk pieced from jacket and pant, with some salvage yardage as the center panel. Dress number two is a lovely teal color, also made from a pantsuit, with the additional yardage created by reconstructing a short sleeve top to be the dress yoke.

Everything has been cut apart and ready for reassembly into usable yardage.

Its not finish for me, until I add my label.

"Happiness consists not in having much, but in being content with little."

                        -Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington 

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 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."

"The Mister Needs a New Hat"

My hubby' old white linen hat has definately seen better days, so I promised to make hime a new one, if he got the fabric. To solve the problem, he offered an old worn pair of khaki's that had also seen better days. So the project is begun by opening up the pants, laying out my custom-made pattern and enjoying the work. Enjoy!

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

                                                                                           2Chronicles 15:7

My New Tablet Cover

This is the quick project I worked on today. I have a Trio 10.1 tablet, that has a really good camera, and my original case is only a sleeve style cover. The sleeve cover meant I always had to remove the tablet completely to use it. So after watching the TV show Sewing with Nancy,  on public tevevision this pass Saturday, where Nancy demostrated how to stitch circles to embelish your sewing projects, I decided I wanted to try circles. The circles would be useful to create an opening in a custom tablet cover for the fan, and camera lense located on the backside of the tablet. I repurposed an old cotton skirt, with a mock African print, and a random dark blue t-shirt from my stash. The following are the photos of the final project. Enjoy!

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

End of Summer White Ensemble

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

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

I LOVE What I Do!

I’m back to sewing and designing again, and I am estatic about each new day. My view of the present is almost overshadowed by the wonderful future I see ahead. Since I’ve been putting the word out that my services are available to the San Antonio community for alterarions, wardrobe editing, fashion re-use and image counseling, I’ve received a Texas size welcome. To that end I say, “Thank you.”

Today I’ve just a little time to adjust my small studio for better output.

Things are messy, and I haven’t been following my carnal rule of, “Everything in its place, and a place for everything.” So with a little time between work orders, things will be put right and business can then flow smoothly. Some things I found that I’ll keep on display.

One of my early cloth dolls, made so many as gifts for girlfriend's over the years.

Stumbled across this book in the library, and behold one of my quilts was featured in it, so of course I had to purchase me a copy.  

"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.   Pro. 2:6