// #thriftstylethursday // Thrifted Halloween

I have been having trouble getting into a rhythm with creating and blogging since moving out to Oregon...did I mention we moved from Jersey to Oregon? Yeah, major adjustments taking place and I do not take change well! However, since I chose this week's Thrift Style Thursday theme, I figured I should partake. So, here are a couple of easy costumes I put together right out of my closet, with only a little DIY involved!

This first look is based on the Free People dress I thrifted a couple of weeks ago. I shared about it on Instagram, but never got around to taking a pic until I started putting this costume together and figured it was the perfect start. 

It's black and lacy and the hemline lends itself to the look, I think. A pair of fleece lined purple tights, black boots from Thredup, and a witch's hat are the basics that bring it all together!

Here's where the DIY comes into play:

I do not actually own a witch's hat, so I took some poster board-like junk mail (it was a huge sales ad from a local car dealer), created a cone which I then covered with black fabric harvested from an Urban Outfitters reusable bag. Slides right onto this wide-brimmed felt hat I picked up last year. These bags have come in handy for library books, wrapping shoes in when packing for a trip, and more recently on my bat wall!

Nothing like a thrifted silk scarf in a bright color to finish it off! I'd totally add make-up and other bits to get a more witchy look, but even this totally works for a last minute party invite.

This next one is another super easy costume you can (most likely) put together from your own thrifted wardrobe. I started with the basics: black bottoms (thrifted leggings), and a striped T (thrifted and refashioned). Then, I added the black skull cap (thrifted), a bag of $$ (thanks to my local grocery store and a permanent marker), and I'm on the run as a robber! So, so easy, guys. Seriously.

You're ready to take off with all the kids' Halloween loot, and you'll look cute doing it! I totally think a red lip would set this off nicely ;)

And if you fancy a small amount of DIY (beyond your money bag), you can also craft a quick mask as well! I had a bit of elastic and scraps of that black reusable bag from the hat to make this up quick! Totally just stapled the elastic on, but you could use glue, or a couple of quick stitches. Easy peasy (and you can totally make yours look better than mine ;) ).

Now, I've been informed that I'll be a playing the part of ninja along side my son for trick-or-treating, so apparently I need to tackle one more easy costume straight from my thrifted closet! I'll let you know how that goes...

Go see if any of the other ladies were able to meet the challenge of thrifted costumes...I'll give you a hint that Kristi of Delightfully Kristi has put together one seriously epic look!

LB(T-shirt)D

Finally! Here's that post on this really simple dress refashion I did this past week for Me Made May 2015. I started out with this long black thrifted dress. It's 100% cotton and a thicker knit fabric with a crocheted lace detail at the neck. I started by putting it on inside out and marking where I wanted to take it in. Initially I figured I'd want to have it nice and fitted, seeing as it was an otherwise very basic kind of piece. If I had it to do over again, I'd have simply skipped to shortening the length. I sewed along each side where I'd marked, trimmed off the excess, and put it back on right side out.

Obviously, there are some issues at the hips, but a quick run through the machine smoothed all of that out ;). Next I chopped some length. The choice at this point was to take in the bottom to fit more like a pencil skirt making the entire dress very fitted, or to go shorter leaving the skirt's shape as it was.

I ended up deciding to simply go shorter...again, at this point I kind of wish I'd have gone with the totally fitted nature and fit the skirt more like a pencil. It's like one of those books where you pick the ending by choosing one of two options at different points throughout the story...I kept choosing wrong!

So, though I'm not totally satisfied and feel this dress is too clingy at my tummy, and not very flattering (which limits how often I'll feel confident enough to wear it) I thought I'd show how I'd style this kind of simple dress. First up, let's hit up my thrifted belt collection! I love the embroidered rose belt for its colors and design. It definitely brings some life to this basic piece. The silver mesh belt dresses it up a bit more and with the addition of heels and accessories, could be a cute date night outfit. The third is most basic with a unique leather belt.

Now, the other way I'd most likely style this is with a button up shirt tied over top. Super easy, but changes up the look completely! I grabbed a thrifted Zara silk blouse with palm tree print, but didn't love how it looks in the pic. The thrifted J. Crew chambray in the center is definitely more my style and I can totally see me wearing this soon. My final option would be to simply let the dress be and style with simple jewelry and sandals.

Either way, I'll have to decide how I feel about this one. Maybe I'll simply reinsert panels down each side of the leftover fabric to make it more of a swing dress shape...time will tell! Anyhow, this is one of the easiest refashions and translates to simple knit skirts, t-shirts, etc. Put it on inside out, mark how far to take it in (I use chalk, soap, or pins), then sew up the lines and trim the excess!

That's that! Here's the before and after:

Peace,
Andrea

DIY Lace Kimono Update!

So I posted this easy lace kimono 'tutorial' last week. I left the raw edges unfinished and asked for feedback on how you'd finish them off. Well, my lovely inter webs friend, JJ, of Natural Medley gave me a wonderful idea! I was leaning heavily towards a baby or rolled hem, but her suggestion appealed so much so that I immediately knew that's what I'd do. She said, "I went looking for ideas for hemming and found this lovely idea. Tissue paper or fusible paper underneath and hem with a fancy scallop stitch, with no turning, which you then cut away afterwards to mimic the scalloped hemline at the base. http://mellysews.com/2014/02/sew-lace.html". Let me just say, yes! 

Here's the final result folks, and the tissue paper was recycled from previously used gift wrap that I save in a drawer ;).

Isn't it pretty? Not bad for my first time trying this, and I may need to try it again very soon.

What I'm having trouble with is styling it...does it look too 'bedroom' or does this work? I don't normally second-guess things, but this one has me scratching my head a bit. Maybe a beach cover-up? Though, admittedly, it wouldn't cover much. We'll see.

Here's another close-up of those scalloped edges in action :). Thanks again, JJ, for such a perfect idea and be sure to head over to Melly Sews for this and many many more helpful sewing hints!

Now, what shall I refashion/diy next...time to dig through my stash!

Peace,
Andrea

DIY Lace Kimono

I picked up a piece of pink lace last month at the thrift store. It was about 63 inches long by 38 inches wide. I think it cost $2.

I started by trimming off the ends to leave the pretty scalloped edge for the hem. Then I folded it in half and wrong sides together, sewed up each side about 2/3 from the bottom. I trimmed the seam allowance and turned it inside out, then sewed up each seam enclosing the raw edges. French seams are much cleaner and nice when you don't have a serger to finish raw edges.

Next, I folded the 'top' in half and cut out a shallow hole along the fold/top to create a neck hole.

Once I'd finished that, I then pulled the 'back' fabric out, and cut along the fold through just the 'front' layer.

And that's where I've left off. I haven't finished off my raw edges because I'd love to pose the question to you all. How would you finish off the edges of this lace kimono? Would you simply fold once and topstitch? Fold twice? Or use some sort of trim? I want to keep the relaxed edges, but am afraid that if I finish them off it will change the drape and annoy me ;). I was considering a baby hem, but same issue...so, what would you do? What would have the least impact on drape while leaving the garment looking finished? Can't wait to hear your ideas!!! Meanwhile, I love this light and airy kimono that will be great over a casual work outfit or over a dress for a date night! I'll do some more styling once I finish it off :)

Peace,

Andrea

A Quick Refashion

So I posted a pic of this sneak peek at a refashion I had an idea for a few weeks back on Instagram.

Then, I didn't do the refashion. Life is busy. I'm working more (which is great) but haven't found the balance yet between that, my family, my hobbies, and cleaning...yes, that totally deserves its own category! ;) So the blog is slightly neglected as is my refashioning pile. But this weekend, I got to it!

I started out with this tunic that had darts at the hemline...don't ask why that's a good idea in a woven fabric. I unpicked the darts and the hemline first. Then I took this 'made in Nepal' thrifted silk scarf and zigzagged it to the bottom of the tunic, about two inches up from the hemline. There was a small hole just below that point, so I wanted to cover that, while keeping the final hemline above the knee.

The excess fabric underneath is still there for now. I was essentially too lazy to trim it and finish it, though that will only take a matter of minutes once I get to it. I had also opened up one side seam of the tunic's hem so that I could then sew down the side seam after attaching the scarf. I trimmed off the excess scarf material, zigzagged the raw edges and also stitched down the seam at the new hem and where the scarf connects to the tunic, then pressed the seam open.

And that's it. I think I'll actually do one more quick fix after seeing the finished product in pictures, which is to stitch down the scarf much closer to the top edge so that it doesn't stand out from the tunic so much...does that make sense? I zigzagged it onto the tunic about a quarter inch from the top edge of the scarf and it looks a little funny. Anywho, I didn't iron it before snapping some pics, but here's the after!

I styled it first a little dressier with thrifted heels, necklace and clearance earrings.

And a little more casual with a thrifted belt and clearance sandals. I don't love the styling on either, but I was pressed for time. I can work out how I'll actually wear it once warmer weather hits.

For now I've got another easy dress to add to my wardrobe. I'm not in love with it yet, and may never be, so it could find its way into my Instagram shop at a later date. Time will tell! Here's the before and after.

Tell me what you think! I'd love to hear your thoughts on if you would have done the same, chosen a different fabric to lengthen the tunic into a dress, and used the scarf for something else entirely.

Happy Monday, and Happy Refashioning!
Peace,
Andrea

Quick 'Fix' Friday: No-Sew Floral

As I'm forcing myself to do a major purge of my stash (being very strict about what I keep and what I pass on) I decided to spend my morning playing dress-up with some of the pieces to help me decide. I pulled out this oversized floral dress I picked up while in Michigan last summer. My sister and I always take the time to plan a thrifting trip early on a Saturday so that we can have breakfast and go shopping kid-free. Rare chance for both of us! I absolutely loved the floral print on this dress and knew that I'd be able to do something with it.

Little did I know that I wouldn't have to sew a stitch to completely love the after! I started by unbuttoning the top two buttons and folding the collar inward. Then I put on a thrifted gold belt and called it quits!

I'm loving the bohemian feel to it. It's light and airy and lovely to twirl in :). So romantic! Hoping I can wear it on a date with my husband come warm weather.

Well, it's definitely a keeper, that's for sure! I have quite a pile ready for donation, and more to go through, so I'll update as I go. But if you're looking for a 'fix' for an oversized dress, sometimes a belt is as far as you need to look.

Make sure you pop over to visit Agy of Green Issues by Agy to see her Fix It Friday post! She's sharing tips on sewing zippers...one of my sewing nemeses ;). Happy Friday, all, and happy refashioning!

Peace,

Andrea

Sweet Floral Nightie Refashion

Okay, so this before shot may not be very exciting or even inspiring for every refashionista...but for me, this sweet blue floral sweatshirt material was what inspired, not the shapeless nightie ;). 

I picked it up for $2 on half off day at my local thrift store along with this elastic for a whopping $.15.

I pretty quickly had an idea of what I'd be doing so I cut straight across from armpit to armpit, then cut the top portion into a new bodice. Now, a smart person would use some form of measurement or at least copy the bodice of a well-fitting garment as a guide...I am not smart, but I am lucky! 

I cut away the collar making the neckline match front and back, then cut the elastic and sewed the ends together after measuring it on my waist.

My next step was to close up the sides of the bodice and sew the elastic waistband on...but I did it wrong the first time, and had to unpick and redo it.

I then took the skirt in to an a-line shape, which helped because I initially just gathered the skirt and sewed it to the bottom of the elastic band, but it didn't look good at all! So, I had to unpick the waist a second time, take in the skirt (which also corrected some twisting in the material) and resew it to the elastic.

It still needs to be pressed so that the fabric lays a little flatter, but here's the completed and corrected waistband.

Now I've just got to decide how I want to finish the raw edges...make my own bias binding out of the sleeves, or simply fold under and topstitch? I'd like to do the bias binding for practice's sake, but my impatience may win out ;).

I have to say, I love that pretty blue floral print even more now! And to think that I paid $2.15 for the nightie and the elastic, bought on the same day, and the darker shade of blueish gray is a perfect accent! Kismet. 

I've decided I like it with the buttons in the back. It's fairly sweet, as it is, but part of me wants to add some lace trim. I think I'll stick to styling it with a denim jacket and flats, though. I don't want it to be too 'pretty' if you know what I mean.

The hemline is perfect as is, and yes, this could totally still be a nightie, or house dress, but I think I can make it work for everyday wear with the right accessories. For now, I'm wearing it as I do laundry, dream of spring, and enjoy the fact that it's over 30 degrees outside and snow is melting...even if only for today.

Thought I'd let you see how it looks with the buttons in the front! Hope you all liked this one, and though it totally distracted me from my Marsala refashion, I'm trying to finish that one for tomorrow! We'll see ;). Hope your weekend is and has been amazing!

Peace,
Andrea