Green Fleur de Lis shirt, refashion #4

Moving along with these refashions... I got this emerald green shirt for when I was participating in Refashion Runway as a back up. It was blah, I mean it wasn't bad but I didn't have a lot of motivation to fix it nor was I inspired. It is just a standard mom blouse, cotton, bad sleeves, but the fit was pretty decent. Luckily my green dress worked out (I still love it to pieces!).

I didn't want to wear it "as is" b/c I thought it was boring. Cleaning out my supplies, because that just seems what I do all the time when I am not doing science, I found these fabric ink stamp pads from Joann I purchased on sale and thought I would try. I thought hey let's create a print!! But then got stumped on what I wanted to stamp. .....

I found this fleur de lis stamp for $1 at Michael's and it hit me! This is what I want to use!! I got all excited while waiting in a checkout line, I know I got looks. It was slightly distressed looking so if I was not perfect with my stamping it would still work. First before I started to stamp away on my shirt, I had no idea how this ink was going to work. Was it going to run? Was the pad even good or had it dried out already? Can I make a top out of it? How much ink do I really have? So many questions. Luckily I quickly got the hang of it. 

Away I went with stamping. I placed a piece of cardboard in between my top so I didn't get transfer to the other side. Actually I didn't need it b/c the cardboard never turned any bit blue. So this doesn't bleed or run. I started at the neckline and worked my way down, I sort of alternated the stamp. I did this all by eye (which isn't bad!). 

Luckily this dried fast to the touch and I could quickly turn it over and work the other side.

Now I let the ink dry for 24-48 hours and then heat set with an iron and a press cloth. 

Didn't like the sleeves. Folded under 2x the hem and sewed down.

Done!! Yay! Love my new shirt. 

here is my obligatory goofy shot...

Yeah it needs an ironing. 

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Not bad even tucked in. This would look great in a pair of shorts (though they are all packed away b/c it is January!!!). 

All in all very happy with my new printed top! 

Take one down, sew it around..... 96 refashions left!

Cheers,

Lauren

Iron Craft '14: Three or black leather belt, refashion #3

First iron craft challenge is Three. Iron craft has now gone through 3 years!! Wow! I started in the first year, took the second year off to sew, and did the third year. Now we are starting our 4th. How great is that? Third anniversary is leather or crystal (the modern gift). So my craft sort of covers both.

Remember these hideous leather pants I refashioned for Refashion Runway. Complete with a tally of expenses for New Years a long time ago...?

And then I turned them into shorts?

Well I kept all the leather I had leftover for future projects, I just can't get rid of these animal products. One of them was the original top band for the pants.

I decided I wanted to turn it into a belt. Since it has a nice shape. First I needed to remove the button, hole, and also the leftover original belt holder pieces. Next, I found a belt buckle and 2 inch elastic. I found my perfect length- Didn't need too much. Sewed. I needed to cover up the original needle marks so I used some of my rhinestone trim I have had forever, covered the top and bottom. Done!!

Finally my end belt! Which after some sort of bout with a mild form of gastroenteritis, I wanted no where near my abdomen. I will just have to settle with a picture of it on my table. The thought of taking of end photo was not going to happen!

Cheers to my first iron craft!!
Lauren

Snowflake long sleeve top McCall's pattern 6796

This was a really easy pattern to sew. Since it is sooo cold out I am trying to focus more of things I could wear right now in these frigid temperatures. Time for more of that snowflake knit fabric.

I used this easy McCall's pattern 6796. 

The fit is pretty well, the arms are not tight but it doesn't look like they are supposed to-I am fine with that. Super easy to sew except for that cowl. I got confused on how to add it. Messed me up pretty bad. I actually did it my way as I was afraid that  the seam would show. I added my own buttons- 2 instead of 3. This top was so busy as it was with the pattern- these were just a small little hint of sparkle as they are rhinestones covered in a thin mesh fabric. The length is great for myself.

If you might remember I used this fabric for my leggings project. I now have a dress in the works with this fabric and I should be sending it to the scrap bin. I have a few charity project ideas for this fabric. I mean how cute would this fabric be for a pair of baby shoes? Christmas ornaments? Still thinking. Baby steps. Let's make some clothes first and then deal with the smaller stuff. :0)

Cheers,
Lauren

Refashion #2: sleevless too tight button down

Today is an exciting day! I am doing a Guest Post over at House of Estrela's series January Refashion Month.

Today's refashion is all about this lovely too tight and weird looking blue button down I found, that I thought could work as is... sadly not

Come on over to House of Estrela for the tutorial on how I converted this shirt into something more wearable.

Yes there is now a surprise in the back! :)

Cheers,
Lauren

Mummy shirt redo, refashion #1

I found this cool shirt, which I called a mummy shirt the way it looks like it is wrapped. Not a bad fit.

The problem was there was a small stain I could not get out. 

I decided it needed to be dyed. This was a nylon blend so the best way I could dye this was with my Acid Dye in Honey Mustard. I made a dye bath and away we went. OMG it turned out great!

Here it is on! A better fix and you can't see the stain anymore. It blends in. Now I normally can't wear yellow but this is a gold, paired with my navy blue skirt- it is a great color combo!

Love my first refashion. Good bye stains! 1 down 98 to go!!!! :) It is going to be long year.

Cheers,
Lauren

RTW Challenge 2014

If you have read my 2014 Resolutions, you know a little bit about this challenge from Goodbye Valentino.

So why? Why am I crazy enough to accept this challenge? Well, I have actually done this before back 2 years ago when I was trying to get out of debt and felt like I was in a creative lull. So no buying brand new clothes- thrift and refashion OR sew my own from this huge stash of fabric I got off craigslist.

Let's take a trip down memory lane...remember this fabric? Around 2011 or so. Here is my car filled to the brim with boxes and boxes and boxes of fabric

This was only SOME of it after I took it out and washed every single piece of fabric in those boxes.It was a couch of fabric. 

Then I packed it up in my luggage and shoved into a closet (while a pile remained outside)

Now I won't lie that I have myself purchased fabric on sale (I mean Hancock Fabrics this weekend has a crazy bolt sale where everything is like $2.97 or under- you can't turn down $25/yard wool blends for $2.97) for myself. Some of the fabric was crazy in the stash that I had got. But after sewing a lot for charity combined with giving some away to others when I moved, I have truly made some ground.

But in all honesty, I want to move more out of the closet. There is a lot. I really wanted a push (excuse?) to force myself to sew more this year and hence why I accepted this challenge. Plus we are almost done with paying things off, this will definitely help. I am actually down to 4 suitcases now 2 large and 2 small. My goal is to get at least one of the large suitcases gone.

So here is to sewing and refashioning this year. My blog will have a lot of this in the upcoming year. Some crafting b/c I still enjoy that. And some more gf reviews but hopefully more recipes. My goal is to have 2 refashions/week. 1 iron craft challenge every other week. Will still try and keep GF food on fridays. The weekends I hope to have sewing and bellydance DVDs reviews complete. Whew that is a lot of stuff! Busy girl here but busy in a good way.

Cheers,
Lauren

Gluten Free Review: Pancake Mix- FAIL

We tried this mix on Christmas. We decided to splurge and make some pancakes. So we tried this mix I think I got from my mom. I can't remember. It was just in our pantry.

Easy to make, cook, they LOOKED decent

However, they literally fall apart in our mouths. It was impossible to pick it up with a fork. The taste wasn't all that awesome. It was super light hence why it just fell apart. I didn't even finish mine, neither did my boyfriend. We threw away the rest of the box mix. Not worth it, Don't recommend.

Hopefully there will be better food reviews in 2014!

Cheers,
Lauren