Another quick "fix"

Sometimes, as a refashioner, I need a quick "fix" on a busy day until I can get into something a bit more involved. Taking in an overlarge t-shirt is just the kind of project I'm talking about! I picked up this striped H&M top at a thrift store in Queens this past year when we were in the old neighborhood visiting the pediatrician. It was a size 3X and initially I wore it as you see on the left, tied at each side a la 80's. A few weeks back I finally got around to taking it down to my size and now I've got a tunic perfect for wearing with leggings and boots!

Love to wear tunics and leggings when sewing...easy on and off as I try on my refashions at different stages :)

All I did was turn it inside out, pin the sleeves and sides where they needed to come in and sewed right along the pins! (This process would be made much easier with the use of a dress form, so if you have one, use it!) In my case, I have to either pin it while wearing it and try to take off the item of clothing without stabbing myself, or pin it and mark it so that I can remove the pins and NOT stab myself. And the larger the original top the better because any excess material is perfect for making things like fingerless mitts and head bands (which I use when running in colder weather...WHEN I run in colder weather ;) ).

Love me some stripes, love me some tunics! Sometimes, the easiest projects are some of the most satisfying :-) So, head out  or raid someone's closet and find a t-shirt that's too big for you (and in good condition), and make yourself a figure flattering, comfy top! Perfect for a beginner project or if, like me, you just need a quick "fix"...

Peace,
Andrea

Baring some skin...

Now, I've never been super confident about how I look in a bathing suit...even before having a child, I had my "issues". Stupid? Yes. Fact of life? Unfortunately, yes. Can this change? YES! 

Every year as the new year would roll around I'd make the resolution to be bathing suit ready by summer.... This never happened, because I wanted to look a certain way that honestly, I will never achieve unless I, 1. have lots of extra money to blow on ridiculous things, and 2. choose to blow said money on surgeries and procedures that would make me look "a certain way". Not gonna happen. So, how about a change in mindset instead? This is something that I struggle with, but I'd like to share my journey to being "bathing suit ready" as I not only explore changing my mindset, but also creating a mini wardrobe that helps me feel confident in my skin when at the beach or pool. As.I.Am. Now, I have set small goals for myself in the way of physical fitness, but they are not reached only by what I see but also in how I feel. Nothing wrong with wanting to be physically fit and healthy, but I've gotten rid of the ridiculous standard that is more harm than help. Diet will play a role as well. When I use the word diet, I don't mean trying out some fad diet to lose weight, because I don't need to lose weight (lucky me). What I'm referring to is cutting down on/out certain things that bring down my energy level and keep me from feeling my best. Okay? Okay. 

So, as a first step in my journey, I am baring some skin...right here. right now. Here we go!

I started with this lovely yard sale shirt/jacket thing:

Shoulder pads big enough for a linebacker? Check!

First things first, get rid of the shoulder pads!!! (They'll be added to my collection for later usage) Also, get rid of the discolored tag...then start seam ripping those sleeves off!

Next, cut the sleeves at about a 3/4 length, cut the cuffs from the ends of the sleeves, and slice open the cutoff portion. Now, seam rip up the main portion of the sleeve and pin the extra fabric in place to create a sleeve that is the same diameter from shoulder to hem.

Here, the sleeve is now about the same diameter from shoulder (the angled end) to the hem. I simply zigzagged the edges of the fabric so it wouldn't fray and left them. I like the "unfinished" look, though, if you prefer a more professional look, choose a different overlocking stitch, or simply fold under twice, pin, and sew the sleeve hem in place. Last, attach the sleeve cuffs at the waist on either side of the blouse so that a button and buttonhole end meet in the middle (this becomes your "sash" or robe closure!)

There were only two tiny scraps cut off of this entire project that I didn't use, and they'll just be added to the scrap bag. 

Because of the high side and back slits, when I wear it as a top I'll wear some sort of cami underneath...or I could close them up a bit.

or as a beach coverup with my previously refashioned one-piece to vintage style high-waisted two-piece!

Open or closed, I simply folded the collar and button plackets under and they stay...I may add a few stitches to ensure they stay that way when at the beach in the wind.

And one last look at the before and afters!

I like that this is now a versatile piece that can transition from my everyday wardrobe to a beach/pool friendly piece. I like how I feel in it...I feel more confident and sexy while maintaining a bit of comfort by being partially covered up. I hope to get to the point where taking it off doesn't cause me to start darting glances around wondering who is noticing the "imperfections", but for now, that is yet to come :).

What do you all think? I'd love to hear from you!

Peace,
Andrea

A Christmas Review

Maybe this should have been my first post, following the holiday season, but our season didn't end until January 6 when we celebrated el Dia de Los Reyes Magos/Three Kings Day, also known as the 12th day of Christmas! My husband grew up celebrating this day in Puerto Rico by placing a box (normally a shoe box or something similar) underneath his bed the night before filled with yerba (grass, leaves...camel food) for the camels that brought the kings on their way to find the baby Jesus. In return for this favor, the kings would leave a small gift as a thank you for the child's hospitality along their long trip. Living in a cold climate does not afford a lot of "camel food" this time of year, so we opted for some carrots and my son insisted the kings should have a treat as well and sat out 3 pieces of fudge. The next morning he awoke to find a gift left by the three kings. Here's what "they" made for him:

I've told him that the Three Kings and Santa prefer to leave handmade toys/gifts, 1. because we are on a very tight budget and don't have the money to spend on toys, and 2. because I want him to value handmade items just as much, if not more, than store-bought/mass-produced items. It satisfies my desire to see his imagination sparked as we prepare for and wait so impatiently to discover the magic in the holidays, and it satisfies his desire for a new toy to love. He hugged this lizard so tight when he found him under his bed (despite still being half asleep and showing absolutely no emotion on his face). I sighed a sigh of relief, because not being able to buy for your children after a lifetime of being taught that buying for your children is how you show them you love them was disproved in an instant. He loved his lizard immediately and named him Googly-Eyes.

Now, because of our current lack of funds, I was forced into meeting a goal that I hadn't necessarily been planning on keeping this year: to do a homemade/thrifted Christmas all around. That means all of the gifts and decorating would be homemade or thrifted (and even my thrifting budget was microscopic). Nothing like having no money to spark your creativity, right?! I used supplies that I already had in my stash, gifted items that I'd bought new and had never worn/used, and thrifted a few inexpensive things (half-off week is my favorite week to shop!) Here's a rundown of some of the gifts I came up with:

My son had seen the "ninja"bread man cookie cutters, and I found this angel at the thrift store and figured I'd just "refashion" it to fit my needs ;) Nothing a pair of pliers and some patience can't fix!

I'd seen snowman kits all over Pinterest and figured I'd make one for each of my siblings' families. I used buttons, felt, hot glue, corks, clothespins and some fleece and fabric from my stash to put these together!

Again, another idea from Pinterest, felt tic-tac-toe games for travel or whenever. You don't have to waste any paper and this just folds up when you want to take it to go! My nephew got this one...

and my niece got this one!

I made a stocking for my niece to go with the ones I'd made for the rest of them...though, now that I think of it, I haven't made one for my newest nephew!

 Another niece requested a jellyfish from this thrifted sweater and this is what I came up with:

I'd made this felt Christmas tree for my youngest niece last year, so I added a few more ornaments for her to play with this year :)

I made a dinosaur from one of this coat's sleeves for my youngest nephew:

And a little softie bear for my youngest niece from a thrifted sweater and embroidery floss:

I made this bunny for another niece (it has moveable arms and legs!):

And thrifted these toys for my son (love that they are learning tools as well!):

 These were a stocking stuffer 2 years ago, that my son pulled out and played with this Christmas:

And here's the Santa Sack I made for the toys that Santa would leave...my son had to write his own name ;) (made from a thrifted pillow case):

And here's the main event! I found the monkey at the thrift store for $4 (in a camo outfit) and made the Sonic the Hedgehog costume for him from my stash and a picture of Sonic from my son's t-shirt. This was his favorite gift from "Santa":

Most of our lights, tree decorations, and other decor for the house are thrifted from previous years, things I've kept since childhood, and a few recent additions from my grandparents' decorations. These things hold so much meaning and memories for me. They make me feel like I am "home", not just here with my husband and son, but surrounded by family and friends that may not be with me in person as the miles separate us. I am absolutely a sentimental person and love to reminisce about the good memories, but as opposed to "living in the past" it spurs me on to making those same kinds of memories for my son by coming up with our own family traditions. I love blending the practices from my childhood with those of my husband's; it results in a beautiful celebration of love, family, hope and sacrifice as we try to give of ourselves. Música Navideña and Christmas carols, pavochón and Christmas Eve tacos (old family tradition ;) ),  coquíto and eggnog...who said the blend couldn't be delicious, too? I find each year that I love the holidays more and more because of the experiences rather than the gifts...as it should be.

Well, in any case, using a lot of previously thrifted materials, "junk" that I keep in a drawer just in case, and a little imagination (with the help of Pinterest, of course) I think I did pretty well. Hopefully all of my nieces and nephews appreciate the gifts and get some good use out of them. Hopefully, they love them! Hahaha, here's hoping...

Peace,
Andrea