Paper Bag Princess Skirt

You know that article of clothing that you loved and wore so much that you got sick of it? Then somehow it got shoved to the back of your closet and forgotten because you were bored of it? And then you find it one day in the future and remember how much you loved it?

That's what this skirt is to me.

Our love has been rekindled :)

No Go

So I didn't get in to the top 15 for the Shabby Apple dress design contest. But you should still go to their blog and see who did and vote!

Two Become One

This is a thrifted Old Navy dress that I loved but didn't fit. The bust was not quite....busty enough for me. I love the fabric though, beautiful pattern, and it's 100% silk! Old Navy is full of surprises. I used the fabric of another dress to make a new bodice and I don't have a picture of it because I started this project about a year ago and didn't think to take pictures then. I cut off the bodice of this dress and attached the new one, plus a black satin ribbon around the waist and made a whole new dress!

Fur Stole

I found this beauty at an antique store here in El Paso for only $12. I nearly passed out but instead handed over my credit card to the sales clerk.

It lives happily in my closet and I bring it out to play every once in a while when I play dress up. I can't wait for cooler weather so I can wear it in public!!

Chop Me Up

Quickest way to a face lift for a skirt? Chop off the bottom!

(Not too short of course.)

I cut off the bottom part of this peasant skirt and like it much better now.

I did this makeover in the spring time thinking I'd wear it in the summer. I never did, but hey, I guess it isn't too late here in El Paso. It still feels like summer!

Two-toned Flower

Can anyone guess where this flower came from???

Yup, an old pair of work out pants!

I simply cut out the stripes on the side, made them into a ruffle and then made the ruffle into a flower :)

If you want to know how to make a ruffle you can go here.

Lace It Up

In the previous post, I mention my M-I-L's "fat clothes" closet and this is another orphan that I adopted from that closet. I absolutely adore the material that it's made of and envisioned a pencil skirt.

I simply chopped off the arms and shoulders then sewed the sides together tapering them at the top so it sits on my hips. It's a knit material so I don't even need an elastic or a zipper or anything, I just hemmed it!

I sewed the front together and left a slit at the end then turned the skirt around so it's in the back.

(I can't believe I'm actually posting a picture of my derriere on here.

Proof that I need to work out!!)

Flowery Cardigan

My awesome mother-in-law recently lost a lot of weight (60 lbs if I'm not mistaken, yay MIL!) and she had a whole closet full of her "fat" clothes. I scoured through them and found a few articles with potential. This is one of them:

I cut out the blue part and took in a good three inches on either side and voila!

I love it paired with this skirt.

Dress Design For Shabby Apple Dresses!

My friend, Michelle, just told me about Shabby Apple on Monday and said I should check them out. I did, and on their website I found a contest for a dress design! So I hurriedly summoned my artistic skills and came up with this, my dress design for Shabby Apple dresses. If I win, my design will be featured in their spring collection! How cool would that be?!



Since it's a dress for spring I thought to myself, what is the first thing I want to put on after a cold and dreary winter full of dark, heavy clothes? Something light, flowery, and feminine! So that's exactly what I drew. I thought of a garden blooming in springtime and chose my favourite colours: pink and purple, and to make it ultra-feminine I added a sweetheart neckline, a bow, and some lace:)


Fabrics:
-body of the dress= floral silk. Cream background with lavender and dusty rose flora.
-upper bodice= cream lace
-waisband= dusty rose bridal satin
-covered buttons on the back= lavender silk


Details:
-bateau neckline
-cap sleeves
-mock sweetheart neckline
-scoop neckline in the back
-piping along sleeve, neck, and mock sweetheart neckline
-zipper back with mock covered buttons
-half-bow waistband
-skirt cut on bias so it hugs hips without constricting movement
-slit in back for comfort and movement

Well, I hope I win. Wish me luck!!