Fall Separates: Transforming Long Shorts into a Skirt

My sewing machine has been whirring away this season and I couldn't be more thrilled about it! Unfortunately for anyone interested in viewing this blog, most of the sewing I've been doing is more of the utilitarian sort. You know, those activities like hemming or repairing seams that don't really constitute blog posts but still make you feel really glad you did them because that dang pile of to-do garments was getting a wee bit monstrous? Yeah, those.

Anyway, part of the reason my to do pile is so large is because sometimes I will run across a garment at the thrift store that I just can't walk away from. Although I've reformed my ways (I swear! mostly!), my most common crime is to grab something with a print I really like and think about how to use it later. Enter these shorts.

Great print right? They are also in my favorite color (navy) and made of a great cotton/corduroy blend. But wow, these shorts are long enough to like, cover your knees (should one feel self-conscious about one's knees I guess). I originally wanted to make them into shorter shorts, but then I double backed and thought that I might take advantage of that length and turn it into a skirt instead. Less than an hour later I came back with this.

I might be biased here... but isn't that just SO MUCH better? Now it's an all seasons piece that is yes, a very versatile length! I'm very much looking forward to wearing it with tights and a cozy cardigan in the coming months. Have you ever bought something that had a flaw that turned out not to be?

-A

A Comission?

Hello again! I have very little idea of what kind of readership I might have for this blog, but just so you guys know, I'm rapidly approaching that age where everyone around me is getting married. I'm in no rush to get married myself mind you, but for me it means a lot of marking Saturdays off my calendar, wondering if it's okay to wear the same dress to a different wedding, and helping out poor brides when they come calling.

Today my dear friend Tammy got married to her longtime sweetie and a couple weeks ago she asked me for a "big" favor. Time was winding down on the wedding clock and she really wanted a"Here Comes the Bride" banner for her big day. I had never seen one before and apparently they are a thing now! Not that I mind things that are "things" of course. Weddings are just really different now than when I was growing up (probably because people I actually know get married now!). Anyway, I was totally game and asked her to send me some inspiration photos, then I was off!

I bought fabric, fabric paint, and stencils from the craft store and the rest were scraps I found in my stash. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out and I think she was too! Her wedding colors were purple and silver, so I riffed off of that a bit. The best part about this project is that it forced me to dust off my sewing machine and now I'm ready for a whole cold season of tea and crafting. Who knows, I might even update this blog at regular intervals...

-A

Pizazz: Sweater Makeunder

Hi there! Since my last post it's come to my attention that I might actually have some readers who aren't from my group of friends. Most of you are here from Pinterest I think, but wherever you're coming from welcome and I hope you find something interesting to you while you're here. Anyway, I'm a LITTLE over the moon about the fact that I have a new job (after months and months of searching). While my new place has a casual work environment, I decided that I still wanted to look tidy and nice so I dug into my closet and started fixing garments that I always planned to and never quite did. You know, *that* stash. For example, one cardigan whose color I really liked but whose buttons never quite did it for me  (also, er, a couple fell off).

I think I'm just not a blingy cardigan sort of girl, so I replaced the old buttons with these.

Or up close...

Ahhh, much more *me*. Did I mention that my new office has a casual dress code? I'm going to be tidy, but not boring! ^_^ I wonder what I will do with these though...

Suggestions are welcome. As are my new readers, yay!

-A

Rebuilding: Starbucks Cold Cup Carrier

So... some of you may know that my car was stolen last month. Luckily, it was returned safely and is in working condition, but naturally there were things that were taken in the process. I expected to lose the car stereo, but I was sad and disturbed to find that the culprits took my cold cup! While I'm not exactly a hypochondriac, I'm not a fan of germs exchanging with strangers either. Anyway, I took my mom's advice and picked up one of these.

I love it! So much in fact that I didn't want to scratch the very new, very clean looking exterior. To protect it, I made this.

The drawstring works great as a handle and I'm very fond of the colors. Also, I don't know about you, but I'm the sort to constantly finding myself trying to balance all my odds and ends entering and leaving a car, so it's nice to know that I won't be dropping it any time soon.

-A