Thrift Store Haul equals Two Dresses

Sometimes you just make a great buy when visiting the local thrift store. My last visit yielded over 12 yards of stripe plisse’  cotton. I made two different looking dresses in my signature lagenlook style, simply by changing the direction of the stripe. FUN!

OOTD: Wool Crepe in Small Check

Got a few errands to run today, and the weather is lovely, bright and sunny. I put on one of my newest Signature  Dress, socks and lace-up flats.

Wool Crepe Signature Dress handmade by me, Handbag a gift purchased in China, Charm Pendant Necklace purchased from Nordstrom, Medium Hoop Earrings, Nordstrom,Pinstriped Brogues purchased at Nordstrom Rack, Anklets from Nordstrom Rack.

Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.                                                            Deuteronomy 29:9

"5 Things My Natural Hair Does, Naturally"

My hair has been in its natural kinky state for over 30 years, but its only recently that it has truly been natural.  For just over a year, I’ve maintained my natural hair environment by using the “water only method for cleaning and maintenance. This hair care regimen, has also lead to not using any commercial hair products, such as shampoos, conditioners or gels.  My hair is now what I consider really natural, and here are five things my natural hair does naturally.

The first thing my hair now does naturally is it sheds water very quickly, and dries faster after “water washing” now that it is no longer striped of its natural coating of sebum, because I don’t use shampoo or conditioner.

The second thing that naturally happens with my hair is based on its  full sebum coverage, which keeps my hair strands moisturized and protected from dirt and grime, so now my hair is naturally stronger and has a nice natural sheen.

The third thing my natural hair does naturally, is it consistently maintains hair strands definition in concentric coils, that are following a known natural pattern that is indicative of my ethnic heritage, and its really easy to manage.

The fourth natural thing my natural hair now does is grow, now that I’m not smothering it with all kinds of supposedly beneficial products, or using blow dryers or perming products, my hair seems to be growing quite nicely.

The fifth thing my natural hair does naturally is complement  me, and makes me feel good. My hair is no longer an issue, its now an impressive asset, that I love flaunting daily.

Its truly a great time in history, where the natural expression and identity of ethnic variances can be boldly projected. I don’t have to hide, or alter my hair to suit the idea of “good hair” set by anyone else. My natural hair is naturally GOOD.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.                  1Timothy 6:6

"It Is What It Is!"

Just finished this dress on this pass week, and it offers great possibilities for personality presentation. I don't care what fashion experts say, but wearing a more relaxed style of dressing requires very deft styling and image coordination. This is a casual styling, that I have worn to church on my teaching day. The pattern is my own adaption of the basic T shape body covering. Check out my youtube video of basic components of the one-piece pattern, "New Twist on Old Style Dress". My measurements put me in a ready to wear size 10, and I classify this dress as a small.

ELEMENTS: Faux Ivory Carved necklace (a gift from sister-in-law), black wingtip brogues by ABOUND (Nordstrom Rack), flower print anklets (Nordstrom Rack), Anna Beck silver ring.

"Be the type of person you want to meet"

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

"The Things I Find When I Look for Something Else"

Trying to get the house in a holiday mood, so I've been looking for the over the door hook for hanging our wreath. Have not found the door hanger, but I did locate some of my creative work from the past. The first photo is my creation quilt, probably the second or third quilt I made.  Quilt number two is my "African Queens" wall hanging. The two following pictures are close up photos. It is hand applique and machine quilted. Sure was nice finding these treasures, and they are now on display instead of hide away.

...behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.  Proverbs 1:23

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."

"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.

A Place for Everything

I’ve been meeting needs again, and this time its for my new phone. Just a little case to keep it clean and easy to grasp when in my handbag. Love it!