I love the magazine section at our library. Today I’m devouring Country Living, House Beautiful and Dwell. They are due in a few days. Must soak in a little more inspiration before I return them.
You can find more creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.
our first tomato!
wardrobe refashion: shirt to apron
Here’s the third shirt from last week’s garage sale purchases. These big, flouncy shirts came in style right after I had my daughter and I refused to buy any. I had just gotten out of maternity clothes. I didn’t want to buy shirts that made me look pregnant!
I really liked the band around the middle and thought it would make a nice apron. I love how this already had the ribbon and trim details. All I had to do was cut it up and add the sashes!
I’m not really an apron girl, but this just might make me change my mind. I just need to get over worrying about getting it dirty. I know, it’s an apron, but it’s so darn cute!
refashion: Shirt from garage sale cost $1. Sash made from the sleeves. Cute ribbon trim conveniently part of the original shirt. Love when that happens!
remnants!
Last Saturday I discovered a little store called Stitches that creates custom drapes, valances, slip covers, etc. I found them through a garage sale listing on craigslist and I couldn’t resist the words “fabric sale.” I had originally planned to just look. I had no idea that things would be so inexpensive. I picked up a bunch of canvas remnants for 25 cents each (not pictured) and a few larger pieces for 50 cents a yard. I already have plans for the floral print flannel: pajama pants!
stash: Whenever I bring something new home I have to destash to make room. On the list this time: jeans I had planned to refashion into tote bags. I just don’t have time for all of the projects in my head!
fun at the ager center
I can’t believe that it is sunny and cool right now. We planned to go to the zoo with Kelly and Leith today, but it was raining. The weather report called for more rain right around the time we were going to meet. Plan B was going to the Ager Center.
Now that Bella is almost three, I let her get a pass for play structure. She wasn’t really interested in it until the very end — right before we were ready to leave, of course. I didn’t think to get a picture because I was too busy checking in on her. I did get some pics of the two of them playing with
Kelly and I also had a nice visit. We didn’t play with Little People, though.
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new on julie-k: wardrobe refashions: pajamas, a skirt and a shirt
wardrobe refashion: de-ruffling a shirt
Here’s the shirt from yesterday’s garage sale finds. I really liked the fabric, but the shirt was a little bit too frilly for me.
The first thing I did was cut off the gathered cuff and replace it with a simple rolled hem. Next I removed the ruffle and reattached the fabric with no gathers. Finally, I snipped off the ties, stitched the center closed and added a vintage button.
I like the shape of peasant style blouses, but I’m not a big fan of all of the frilly stuff. This turned out just perfect for me. Plus, I totally love that button!
refashion: Shirt 75 cents from a garage sale. Vintage button from my stash.
wardrobe refashion: shirt to skirt
I found some cute shirts at a garage sale this morning. I’ve already refashioned two, but it was too dark to take the second “after” photo. Here’s the first one.
The top portion was a little tight and the bottom was big enough to be a skirt. Ha! A skirt! I cut off the top and sewed a casing for the elastic. It even already had pockets!
It hits just above the knee, which is about as high as I go these days. The fabric is lightweight and it’s going to be a nice, cool skirt for the hot days of August.
refashion: Shirt 50 cents from a garage sale. Elastic from my stash.
ten years ago…
…I married the most amazing man. Happy Anniversary, Tarun. I love you!
my first granny squares
I needed a small, portable project for our trip to Kearney last weekend. In the past, my travel projects have mostly been socks. Now that my daughter is older, I prefer something that doesn’t require so many needles and won’t completely unravel if I throw it in my bag to chase her down.
I decided it was time to try my hand at granny squares and I think they’re looking pretty good. I finished one in the car on the way out and one during the day. (That’s the president of the local BMW Car Club holding my square over a Porsche. Isn’t it great how the fiber arts bring us all together!)
I’m planning to seam these together and make a scarf for myself. I’m really happy with the colors and the yarn is really soft.
stash: Yarn is Lion Brand Wool-Ease from a giant freecycle haul. Most of what I got that day has been given to knitting guild members to make squares for charity blankets. There were about five skeins of this colorway that I kept for myself. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the rest of it yet. Maybe matching wrist warmers?
my little perch
Last week Bella tried swimming in the bathtub. I asked her if she wanted to take swimming lessons and she said, “YES!” There just happened to be a class open that started this week so I signed her up. Every day so far has had its own milestone.
Monday: This day was a little overwhelming. Skills covered were putting her face in the water and blowing bubbles, which she did not want to do, floating on her back, she kept bending her knees, and jumping off the side of the pool, which was more like me lifting her off.
Tuesday: A much more comfortable day in the water. She floated on both her front and back with help, jumped off the edge of the pool holding my hands and put her face in the water to blow bubbles.
Wednesday: I’m amazed at her progress. She’s putting her whole head under water, floating on her back, kicking while floating on her front and today she jumped off the side of the pool into the teacher’s arms and didn’t hold hands!
I wish I could take pictures, but I’m in the water with her. I’ll post more of her progress, though. Can’t wait to see what she does next!