Men's Cotton Shirt to Peplum, refashion #33

Oooooh! #33! Yeah. A men's simple cotton t-shirt. Big.

After seeing numerous cute tutorials online, I decided to turn into a peplum top. First I cut the shirt right around where my waist is....

I removed the sleeves and took in the sides. Next I gathered the bottom part of shirt. Attached it to the top part.

I decided to not add the sleeves back. Because the arm hole was so far-when I took it in, it gave a nice dropped shoulder.I just did a simple hem and I was done. I wound up having to take it in just a smidge in the waist on the final try on. Doesn't matter. I got this new fabulous (and soft) peplum shirt.

Here's the recap! Easy top!

Cheers,
Lauren
And I am a third done now officially. Yay!!

Lace shirt refashion, refashion #32

Alright next refashion was this what I called the old lady lace blouse. It just reminds me of something my grandmother might like. But for some reason I was drawn to it. And then I realized it was polyester.

I really like the lace insert though. I pulled out the shoulder pads (really!!) and took off the sleeves.

Now what I don't have any pictures of the next part. I dyed it using iDYE- black. It did not come out as I had planned. I haven't been having the best of luck with iDYE like I have in the past. I got a grey with a mixed color background. Which I actually didn't mind. And the lace was lighter than the rest of the blouse so it was a nice contrast. I took it in just a hair near the arm holes and finished with bias tape. New version of the blouse

Just so you can see the entire piece. 

This top will be good for work under a blazer so I am happy for something different. Here's the recap.

Cheers,
Lauren

White Jean Sad Sack Dress #2, Refashion 31

So I found another sad sack! Not that I am super proud of that but it is pretty sad...

And the back of buttons was not going to work. I mean how am I going to put this dress on when I am by myself. What if something shows? This was not going to work for anything. Plus the bodice was just MEH..

Now big white jeans, I wanted to combine the 2!

Yeah these are huge!

To undo the seams, this was solely a job for scissors. Just cut everything away.

I decided to use this pattern. My initial thought was the peplum top but instead I made my version of the dress. 

 I used the top with no collar with the white denim. Also I had fun with my overcast foot on my sewing machine. I didn't have my serger at the time (long story).

Instead of making the skirt to the pattern. I just cut off the bottom part of the dress. Removed the buttons and holes. and attach. I added an invisible zipper and I am done! I didn't even have to hem! Yeah :)

Best part I got to keep the pockets. Man I love pockets.

Trying out a belt...

Love my new dress! 

Recap! 

Cheers,
Lauren

Bellydance DVD review: Tribal Fusion Fundamentals

Wahoo I have another DVD I completed. It is from the Bellydance Superstars, featuring 4 dancers: Kami Liddle, Moria, Samantha, and Sherri. Each dancer has their own section followed by their individual performance. All sections are voice-overed by the dancer, which I am sure all of you know I loathe.

Kami: Locks of all sorts.
The combos can be a bit of a brain tease. My only comment on this (besides I really enjoyed it) was I wish there was a voice over for the combo part b/c I totally forgot the moves, I could drill the combos- meaning she did them more than 1x. I really wish at least we could have gone through it more than once.

Moria: Conditioning/layering
Holy Moly Batman this section is crazy intense. Its almost like cardio yoga. Fast. Not for faint of heart nor beginners. There are no modifications for those who are beginners, so you need to know your stuff and when to hold back. Lots of squats and lunges. I felt my dinner which I ate over an hour before I started. Then the torture wasn't done and we were on the floor in an open leg position, doing hip glute shimmies with stomach and chest layering. Then not done. Repeat standing up, which actually I could get through. She did say this was her routine for a quick way to get strong fast. Man if I did this every day, yeah I'd be solid!

Samantha: Zils. She had a basic intro, different zil combos. And then moves to accent the combos. I actually liked the change in pace b/c I was still hurting from Moria's section. But I did get a little bored. I will say her performance ziling to Beats Antique was impressive, changing rhythms constantly.

Sherri: Floorwork and transition
Ack! More squats! Curse you! LOL. She did get some drills for building up your thighs and then items for your lay backs. There was a small combo but there was no drilling of it, that was weird. Not as intense as I thought it was going to be. I did LOVE her striped pants.

So my favorite was Moria and Sherri. I want to keep the DVD just for those sections b/c if I could master them- I will be really strong fast. I did enjoy the makeup and wardrobe sections which they had as extras. And a bonus if I can get some of Kami's locks.

It is a KEEP verdict. I would recommend for Intermediate or Advance dancers.

Cheers,
Lauren

Quick striped shirt refashion, refashion #30

This top was brand new when I thrifted it at the store. But it was a 2X

I thought it was cute and longer shirts are needed for the upcoming startup with lifting and moving things. I really liked the colors.

Simply all I did was take it in along the sleeves and down the sides. I finished it with my serger (which I now have- that's another story!). Then I needed to finish the bottom hem. I serged off the old hem and then created a new one. Done!

And because pictures are not complete with out a cat bomb, here you go!

Here is the comparison shot. Pretty fast and easy. :) 30 refashions done! Yeah!! Almost a 1/3!

Cheers,
Lauren

Iron Craft: DIY Plant Pot

This Iron Craft Challenge was Spring. Make something for spring. For me the weather around here is warming up and I am eager to start my patio garden and that is what I have done these past weekends. Haven't done much sewing, but I am starting to get back in the swing. I decided I was going to reuse one of my boyfriend's whey protein bottles and turn them into planters. Here is my first one.

Basically the one I used was black plastic over white plastic base. I cut off the top and did a quick roughing with some sand paper. Then I sprayed it with the rock spray paint that I got on clearance- hey..... Here is my new planter!

I actually don't have a plant in it as most of mine are just tiny seedlings. So I put in my aloe plant. I am excited.  I have a new plant pot. And it was free. We got another one so I'll probably be making another one. I will have more pictures. The camera was MIA and I had a lot of things to do.

Cheers,
Lauren

I am a winner!!

Yay I am one of the winners of the Sew News fabric giveaway! I am so excited. I will be receiving one of these fabrics from Westminster Fabrics. Giddy.

Yay its for the Clara Dress Sew A long! 

So looks like I shall join the sew a long! I am excited! This dress is cute! When I receive my fabric I will let everyone know! Its a bit of a surprise to me. But a good surprise!

Cheers,

Lauren

Industrial Strength Workout DVD Review

Well no food review for this Friday. I am still catching up from being out of town. I had a bit of a wake up call while getting ready for the meeting and trying on my suits. It wasn't pretty.  I had to improvise. Time for this mathlete to start putting a little more effort into exercising.

Thought I would try this DVD that has just been sitting on my shelf. It looked fierce and promising.

So there was a long, wordy introduction. I began to get bored and was ready to start a sweat. Still more talking. No there was no technique or real dancing or drilling. Then when we started to do a workout, they were short clips and then back to longer talking. I wish I could forward through the talking parts but that didn't happen. At times I felt that it was a tossup between the talking and the workout. I felt like I never got a sweat.

It just was not enough sustained cardio to get you going and then poof you stop, more talking. I just became bored and was agitated I lost so much of my spare time.

Verdict: The video HAD potential but they sold themselves short. Either pick being a workout DVD or a dance DVD with technique. It is one of those DVDs where the content could not make up its mind on what it wanted to be. As a result it just fell flat for me, I did do laundry and printed sewing patterns to not loose anymore time.  I will TOSS. Not only would it waste my shelf space, it wastes part of my evening.

Hopefully the next few DVDs I have planned will be a little bit more calorie burning.

Cheers,
Lauren

Silk DKNY skirt, refashion #29

I found this lovely cream silk skirt from DKNY. But a bit too big.

And it also had a lot of inserts. This was going to be a challenge to alter. 

Basically what I did was

1. I sewed the gussets together- these were sewn in via french seams so this was the easiest way

2. Cut off excess

3. Repeat for layer #2

4. Made an oops- skirt was made shorter. 

5. Finish with my serger to attempt to clean finish

6. Fix waistband.

Done! Paired with a white shirt and a belt. We are good to go!

I feel sort of naked tho, not used to wearing short things anymore. LOL

Recap! Fun skirt to go out with!

Cheers,
Lauren
(70 refashions to go!)