Clothes CPR....skirt shortening

Happy Saturday......we are waking up to a nice blanket of snow here this morning. After having so few snowfalls last year, I almost don't remember what it looks like with snow on the ground!

Lately, I've been taking pieces of clothing that are a bit out of style and trying to revive them. I could always donate them to the thrift store, but I'm trying my hand a bit at making them into something else.

This project was not necessarily a repurposing, but more of a reshaping of a skirt I have had for a long time. I love the tweed fabric of the skirt and it is from several years ago. The trend was longer, calf-length skirts. It resulted--in this skirt--in a really long and very wide A-line shape to it. My aim was to shorten and take it in some. This particular skirt also had an unfinished edge that added some visual interest, so I was going to try to replicate that, too.

I am posting pics of what I did....but I am in no way an expert sewer, so this is not a tutorial. : ) What I did do was read about 4-5 different tutorials to see what people did and then just kind of try it myself. I have to be honest, this was an intimidating project....I just about took the skirt to a tailor. Then, my son said, "Why don't you just do it yourself?" Well, here goes.

Here is where I began....

Great skirt, just did not do a whole lot for my shape with the length/A-line shape. I turned it inside out to see how short to make it and how much to take it in.

I wanted to have the skirt hit right around the knees and then make it a little more straight on the sides. I ended up sewing the sides first and then doing the hem.

To make the edging on the hem, I just sewed a seam where I wanted it, then pulled out one or two rows of the tweed pieces to make it kind of fringe-y.

I wanted to be able to wear boots with the skirt and see the top of the boots.

Here is a pic with boots. Although I do not have a styled pic....

I love that my over-the-knee socks can show or else I can wear tights. I declare victory.

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life

Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime

Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

Pinspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Tuesday Talent Show at Chef n Training
Flaunt Your Flowers  at Tootsie Time
What I Wore/What's Up Wednesday at Rae Gun Ramblings
Sunday Roundup at A Rosie Sweet Home
Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing

Fashion lately

I hope all of you lovely people had a nice holiday....we sure did. My kids are happily awaiting the arrival of several inches of snow. We'll be able to put to good use our year-old boots, snow pants and sled.

My sewing room has been a disaster area for the last week and a half. Seriously. A pit.

I did snap some pics of what I made for some gifts. And some not. I'll be sharing some of those in the next week or so.

I'll be keeping busy cleaning up that pit in the next few days. In the meantime, here are a few pics I snapped of a few recent outfits.

First up, a red jumper that I bought a really long time ago at one of those clearance sales where the clothes are in boxes sorted by size. 

Leggings: Old Navy; Black t-shirt: Target; Booties: Kohl's; jumper: clearance sale (Limited)

The jumper had these weird pockets on the front along the seam that ran down over the hips. They gapped out, so I had a tailor sew them shut. So glad I did!

Here is a skirt that I made out of a shrunken sweater.

Sweater skirt: recycled from cashmere sweater, leggings: Old Navy,

boots: Target, top: Kohl's

The skirt is a bit short, so I have to wear it with something that is longer and comes down farther.

I hope you are warm and cozy wherever you are....or if you're out and about in the Midwest, you're taking care on the slick roads!

Sweater do-over

Well, how's it going? Anyone else in disbelief that it we are four days out from Christmas?? I had a bit of a freak-out on the 19th, thinking that I had only six days left and quite a bit left on my to-do list!

Although I am still tying up some loose ends, I'm in pretty good shape. A few days of dedicated wrapping and working after the kids' bedtime and I have made some progress. Today was my last day of school this week and although it was high-octane, it was nice. I have some really sweet kids in my classes. : )

Today, I have some pics to share of a sweater that I chopped up for some projects. This was a tunic-style sweater that I did not really wear anymore. I had considered taking it to the consignment store or Goodwill, but I decided not to. The color of it is nice and bright and I thought I would see if I could repurpose some parts of it.

Here is a shot of it before I cut it up.

I cut first straight across under the arms.

I hemmed the raw edge to make a skirt. This worked well since the length of the sweater was a bit long.

It turned out okay, but a little bumpy and thick. I've since read up a bit on sewing knits. I might redo it.

I haven't taken any pics of this skirt styled up.

I then took the rest of the pieces and sewed a hat and mittens.

I cut the top of the hat out of the sleeve with the ribbed part serving as the band of the hat. I also cut out a mitten shape after pinning it and then sewed them together.

After sewing it, I then trimmed around it.

I used the other ribbed section to fashion a little flower.

Not too shabby.....they turned out a bit on the small side, but definitely wearable for a dash of color in the winter. 

Perhaps I'll find another old sweater that needs an update. Gives new inspiration to old sweaters you can find at the thrift store.....; )

Enjoy the pre-Christmas weekend! I'll be hitting the mall tomorrow AM when it opens and taking care of some last minute errands before we head out of town.

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life

Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime

Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

Pinspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Tuesday Talent Show at Chef n Training
Flaunt Your Flowers  at Tootsie Time
What I Wore/What's Up Wednesday at Rae Gun Ramblings
Sunday Roundup at A Rosie Sweet Home
Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing

Perspective

How are you all doing out there? It's been a rough one lately.

You know, when I go through my days, I sometimes think about different thoughts, situations or observations that go through my head that might make good blog posts. While they don't always manifest as an actual post, it's the random and inane sometimes that makes me think it might be good to share.

So, keeping it real here.....last week, I was not feeling the Christmas spirit at all. Pretty Scrooge-y. I was really feeling defeated by the stress of Christmas and how it squelches the enjoyment sometimes. 

I had been thinking about how I try to avoid getting sick from the many germs that inhabit my school and my classroom. I have some good tips!! I was all psyched up to share them.

Then, we all realized what had happened last week. And then not getting sick or dogging on Christmas didn't seem like such big deals.

I had to take a little break from social media for a few days. There are a whole lot of opinions out there. A lot of viewpoints. And I just wanted some time to process it and grieve a little bit. 

People all process grief and fear in different ways. All I know is that I've been thinking and re-thinking what I would do if I were in my classroom and that happened at my school. Over and over. It makes me feel better to think that I would have done the same as all of those brave teachers.

My classroom has been way overheated in the last month or two. Seriously, people, they need to fix it. It puts the kids in a sleepy state! But now I'm afraid to open the window.

So, I'm thankful for the perspective.

Fashion lately

Hey, there....it's hard to believe that it is just two weeks until Christmas. Just when I think things might be slowing down a bit, we go another bend down the road. There's a whole lotta stuff that's gotta get done in the next two weeks!

One and half weeks of school left....I think I can, I think I can.

While I do have some interesting things going on with my craftin' and sewin', in the meantime, I share with you some latest fashion....

I took some things to the consignment store a few weeks ago. Where I made a little bit of cassszzzzhhh. And there I found some red velvet pants.

Red velvet...not just cupcakes and not just for Christmas anymore.

Good find, eh??

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life

Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime

Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

Pinspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Sunday Salvation at Sassafras Salvation

Tuesday Talent Show at Chef n Training
Flaunt Your Flowers  at Tootsie Time
What I Wore/What's Up Wednesday at Rae Gun Ramblings
Sunday Roundup at A Rosie Sweet Home
Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing
Manic Monday at Silo Hill Farm
Mannequin Monday at Artsy Girl Connection

Match point

Happy weekend, you lovely people. And happy December 1st! Doesn't seem like it should be December already, but there is holiday cheer out and about....for sure.

I worked out my photo issues and have a little deco to share with you today!

This is an idea I had that was inspired by matches. I purchased a box of matches at the grocery store when our flamelighter-thing bit the dust. I did not realize that I had bought three boxes of 300 matches each.

What was inspirational to me is that the tips are green! And I had a little wreath form I had bought last year.

So, I sat down, got a little comfy and started putting the matches in.

I did find it easier to add them going toward the left of the pic above, not to tuck them under the ones sticking out (to the right of the picture)

Went through one box.

And another box.

Which leaves me one box for my candles. : )

And voila. I am digging the green and also the woody look of the matchsticks. Not bad for a little wreath form and a few boxes of matches.

Here it is in my little holiday vignette.

The glass window was purchased at a garage sale many years ago and I LOVE it. Pinecone mini-tree was bought on clearance at Target a few years ago. The bell came from my mom and the rocking reindeer was bought at an antique/craft store several years ago.

Best part of this project? My husband said, "Where'd you get that idea?" My reply? "Um, me......I thought of it." ; )

Turkey? Done. Next?

I declare victory for Thanksgiving break.....I hope you do, too! I noticed today that it has been a week or so since I last posted. I was fighting a bad cold/sinus infection last weekend....and it reminded me that during Thanksgiving last year, I was sick! Yuck. So....that, combined with trying to get ready to go out of town, made the days leading up to the break super fun. ; )

Did you do Black Friday? I did not....but I did do Black Saturday morning at Jo-Ann Fabrics this morning. At 7am. Yee haw. I did listen to my gardening show on the radio on my way there. I am the ultimate in coolness. And I was there for 2 hours. It is amazing how much time I can spend walking around a store when I am by MYSELF!

I have been working on some fun accessories/repurposing lately, I just have dropped the ball on taking pics of the finished products. So, I may have to do a little photo shoot tomorrow so I can show off all of my fun new-old things. And a little project I did over the weekend.

Unfortunately, Blogger is having a bit of a glitch...AND it's a holiday weekend, so I will hope that they get everything working right tomorrow! I know you will be on pins and needles waiting to see some lovely things....; )

Fall's last gasp

Well, here we are, the weekend preceding Thanksgiving. It doesn't seem much like it's time for Thanksgiving....I suppose it's because this is one of the earliest dates possible for Thanksgiving. I *think* that T-giving is always the 3rd Thursday of November. And November 1 was a Thursday.

But I digress. We have been putting up some Christmas stuff this weekend, mostly because I don't like putting it up after we've gotten back from being out of town. : ) So, I took a few moments to enjoy the last of my fall decor.

I tend to do a lot more of "fall" decor, rather than Halloween. Too much changing up in too little time! The only nod to Thanksgiving I do is on the mantel.

I add in a little framed quote about giving thanks and a turkey tea light holder.

An appropriate quote for me.

Then......on the front step. I posted some pics of my flowerpots a few weeks ago. Well, the frosty weather got to my sweet potato vine and killed them. What they looked like....before.

So, I cut back the vines and stuck some seed pods I found at the park, walking around with my daughter.

Does anyone know what seed pods they are? Also, you can see Christmas stuff looming in the background....

I was digging the texture it added. Don't forget to use things from the garden or nature in your planter pots. 

Enjoy fall while it lasts.....the stores have already moved on. ; )

Have a good Sunday, you lovely people.

Party Time......

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life

Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime

Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

Pinspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Sunday Salvation at Sassafras Salvation

Tuesday Talent Show at Chef n Training
Flaunt Your Flowers  at Tootsie Time
What I Wore/What's Up Wednesday at Rae Gun Ramblings
Sunday Roundup at A Rosie Sweet Home
Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing
Manic Monday at Silo Hill Farm
Mannequin Monday at Artsy Girl Connection

Designer shades

Anyone else out there in disbelief that we are about a week away from Thanksgiving? I suppose it falls super early this year. I can't say I'm terribly disappointed about having a more prolonged time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.....more time to get Christmas stuff done is never a bad thing in my book.

I took advantage of the beautiful weather we had last weekend to snap some pics of fall color around the yard. I've been burning it up a bit in my craft room, so I'll be posting some of that soon.

I seem to forget each year how great the Japanese barberrys look in fall color.

The new Virginia sweetspires have shown some great fall color....I can't wait until they are a little bigger to show off more of those reds. The leaves stay on for a long time, too.

I've really enjoyed this plant....my perennial geranium 'Tiny Monster.' There are a few purple blooms coming on with the reds and maroons.

Last, but certainly not least.....red maple.

Are you still seeing fall color where you are?

One tweed life

I was inspired lately to DIY my own bracelet recently after perusing my latest InStyle magazine. Tweed is on the radar for fall. I had been admiring some tweed-y little jackets at TJMaxx a few weeks ago.

One of the best ways to work trends into your wardrobe is through accessories. They are low-commitment and give you just a hint of the trend without breaking the bank.

This page caught my eye...

Extra orange coloring added by my daughter. Those shoes are pretty sweet, huh?

So, I took a bangle bracelet that was a little plain-Jane that I inherited from my sis.

I had a scrap of tweed-y fabric that I bought in the remnant bin and used to make a little scarf. I cut a long but not-so-wide piece from it.

Enter hot glue gun. I attached the end to the inside of the bracelet. If you try this, be careful not to burn your little fingers!!

I wrapped tightly...and ended up needing a second piece.

I used a pair of scissors to trim off the bigger strings.

I wanted to add a little metallic chain to it like the one in the pic, but did not have any that was small enough on hand. I probably would have sewn the end on, wrapped, then sewn on the other end.

Not too shabby for stuff I had around the house! I love the piecey-ness of the fabric. I guess this means I can break out my tweed hat that I bought MANY years ago from Old Navy with aplomb....

What trends are you rockin' these days now that neon has been put to bed??

Party Time......

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life

Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime

Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

Pinspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Sunday Salvation at Sassafras Salvation

Tuesday Talent Show at Chef n Training
Flaunt Your Flowers  at Tootsie Time
What I Wore/What's Up Wednesday at Rae Gun Ramblings
Sunday Roundup at A Rosie Sweet Home
Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing
Manic Monday at Silo Hill Farm
Mannequin Monday at Artsy Girl Connection

A new look?

Okay, I am getting old.......I guess.

My husband calls me "the vulture." Why, you ask?

For this reason.

This is how I would look at the computer. My colleague at school also noticed that I would lean in to the computer.

Well. I took myself off to visit the eye doctor. I probably hadn't been in about eight years. He said that I am nearsighted in my right eye and farsighted in my left. Oooookay.

So, I ended up with some new glasses to help with my computer and mid-level reading. Hm. This will be a bit of a change for me. : )

I picked up my new glasses today. My new look?

Just so you know, I did not lean in to the computer at all to write this blog post. Well, except to take the "no glasses" pic.

I think I need a new nickname......

Fall porch pots

Well, I can't believe that November is upon us. It has been quite a ride since school started. I've been teaching more band this fall than I ever have and it's definitely made the time fly by. I've been neglecting my blog a bit, so here are some pics of my front porch pots.

We started with this at the end of the summer.

I was a bit sad to see this one go....though I had to refresh it halfway through the summer, it turned out great. I pulled out just about all of it, except the sweet potato vine.

In went ornamental cabbage, mums and pansies.

It doesn't look like much here. In fact, I think this is before it got watered after planting and it all looks a bit wilty. One plant I did taking a liking to this fall is my mustard plant.

The texture on the leaves is amazinga nd it has gotten more and more purple as the fall has gone by. 

Here are some pics of my porch pots from about 3-4 weeks ago. Blooms just coming on the mums and starting to show a hint of color on the cabbage.

And.....here they are now.

The remains of the hurricane and the cold temps have decimated the sweet potato vine, but everything else looks great. I'm not crazy that the purples of the cabbage and the mums don't match...so I'll keep that in mind for next year!

In a few weeks, we'll be working in some Christmas. : )