This here is a skirt my grandma gave me (garage sale find - 50 cents). It’s a very long, black, flowery print skirt which was not very flattering on me. So, refashioned it was:

I cut across measured lengths, gathered the tops of each tier so that it could be sewn together to make a much more flattering skirt. It fits me just below my knees and it took me less than an hour to make.

5 things

Rules are:
1. someone tags you,
2. you post five things about yourself that you haven’t already mentioned on your blog,
3. you tag people you’d like to know more about.

About a month ago, flossy-p tagged me with the 5 things meme. I haven’t been pretending that I didn’t see my name on the tag list, I’ve just been having a hard time coming up with 5 things. So let me see…….

1. I was the first college graduate in my family, followed closely by my younger sister. It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do, in and out of school for many years. When I finally graduated I was 27.

2. I don’t want to be a nurse for the rest of my life. Don’t get me wrong, I love helping people. It’s just exhausting and wearing on my soul and the politics of hospitals and health care is life sapping. I get very frustrated with American health care being mostly focused on “fixing” problems instead of taking more educational and preventative measures.

3. I have a rare bone disease called Maffucci’s syndrome. I feel totally normal and you wouldn’t know that I have a problem by looking at me, so I like to pretend that it doesn’t exist and I don’t go to my doctor as much as I should.

4. I only watch about 3 hours of TV a week. I’d much rather sit in front of my computer or do something creative.

5. I am terrified of heights. On occasion, I have gone on a few “daring” themepark rides, but my eyes were most definitely closed.  And, you won’t find me parachuting or bungee jumping off a bridge in this lifetime.

Well, that wasn’t so bad. Now I’m going to tag:  Rebecca, Michelle, Anastasia, Sarah and Leticia  (if you have already done this, then just ignore it )

Have you seen the new Wardrobe Refashion 2007 website. It looks great. I just love the new buttons and banner.

I’ve signed up for another 6 months (my same old reasons apply). And so, to keep from looking like a bum (from not buying new clothing) I’m going to try my hardest to keep up with this. Here’s how:

1. Stop at the thrift stores more often to replenish my supply of clothing.
2. Go through my bag of old clothes and get working on unfinished refashion projects.
3. Get my t-shirts on etsy (I’m a big fan of the fitted T).
4. Make things from my two new books, Sew U and Generation-T
5. Really use my stash of Simplicity patterns.

It won’t be so bad.  Why just a couple of months ago I bought  a pair of brown boot leg cut pants, like new, for only $.50.  They fit perfectly and I wear them all the time!  Plus, warm weather is right around the corner.  Perfect for skirts and summery tops which are very easy to make.  I’m looking forward to the continuation of this challenge.
Here is my pledge:

I Regina, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings!

Signed,

I know, they’re late (by a few weeks), but that’s how my sister and I do gifts for eachother and our kids- a little on the late side. I thinks it’s great. Just when your birthday becomes a distant memory- BAM, another gift comes in the mail! Wo-hoo, a little surprise!

This is for my niece. She turned one. (inspired by these)

And these are for my nephew. He turned 4. (freezer paper stencils)

I got them a couple of other little things too, so they won’t be totally bummed about getting handmade gifts from Aunt Regina (again).

Here are some wardrobe refashions that I’ve been working on over the last couple of weeks (slowly taking pictures as I go). I made three pairs of long shorts out of a pair of blue plaid capris, khaki pants and black dress pants. While looking through my closet I realized that I had 5 pairs of khaki pants and three black (plain & safe I know) and decided I could part with one pair of each for new shorts. I also made a halter style top (right) out of an old skirt that didn’t fit right. The diagram shows how I did it. Pretty straight foward I think. I think it worked out really well. And, lucky for me, I got a new strapless bra in the mail today that fits perfectly and works very well with my new top (thanks mom).

I had to do it. There was no way of getting around it. You see, I’m in my sister’s wedding and well, you know how it is- bridesmaid dresses, certain color, shoes etc, etc. I tried putting it off for as long as possible until it was almost too late to order the dress I needed. Originally I had planned on buying a used dress on ebay, but the right dress in the right color and the right size never came up (of course the perfect dress is probably on ebay right this very second- I dare not even look). I briefly thought of making my own dress, but after a good shaking by my husband, I quickly realized that there was no way I could make a dress (for the first time) while also getting ready for a big move. So, many many dollars later, here is the dress I finally agreed to order. Anything for my dear little sis, cuz I love her to pieces!

I promise (to myself and all of the wardrobe refashionistas out there) that I will more than make up for this purchase. I think I may even try to sell this dress on EBay after the wedding. I already have more stuff to share, but no pictures yet. Except for these two cutie pies- My little E & I guy.

The shirts were made using freezer paper stencils (I love that stuff) and I made the shorts from a very easy pattern that I originally saw in a Kids Martha Stewart magazine (Summer ‘03) using bandanas. I didn’t have any bandannas, but I had material that looks like bandannas. I really like how they turned out and they were very easy to make. They’d be really cute made with a Hawaiian print or some thing tropical. Don’t you think? Anyway, You can see how I made them HERE.

I am a joiner, what can I say. When I see something that I’d love to participate in, well- I just can’t help myself! It is all because of these online blog groups that I have created more in the last 6 months than I have in the past 5 years. I love all of the groups I participate in. They motivate me, inspire me and challenge me. And through them, I have become a part of some very amazing communities of people with similar interests! How can you not LOVE that!

Anyway, when I saw Wardrobe Refashion ‘06, I just had to take part and here is why:

1. I deperately need different clothes. Lately, I’ve been wearing the same old stuff: plain jane t-shirts and jeans (shorts, capri’s or pants) BORING!!! It’ll be a good time to mix things up for myself.

2. I am totally broke! With moving cost coming up and me not working, I can’t afford to spend regular or even sale prices for clothes that I want.

3. I love thrift shopping. I have gotten away from it in the last few years, but am ready to dive in full force.

4. I already own a lot of clothes that have great potential for being fabulous new-to-me items!

5. I have a wonderful new sewing machine (only 3 months old) that is begging for attention.

6. By recycling, refashioning and making my own stuff, I will have unique & “all my own” style clothing (whatever that is). I love the idea of that!

7. I won’t be giving in to American mass producing consumerism. It’s better for the world, for my family and for me! (not to mention all of the independent artist, crafters and creators in the world!)

I Regina,

Pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing,
for the period of 4 months.

I Pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle pre-loved items
for myself for the term of my contract.

I Pledge that I shall create and craft items of clothing for myself
with my own hands in
fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract.

I Pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my
refashioned, renovoated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing
on the Wardrobe Refashion blog,
so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings!

I am in my sister’s wedding in August which means I need to get a bridemaid dress. I may be using my “out of refashionista jail” button for it, or maybe not. Haven’t exaclty decide how to approach it yet. hmm.

I’m becoming a little obsessed with that freezer paper stencil technique. I see a stain on a shirt and think, “Gee, what could I stencil over that stain?” I know I have tons of perfectly good t-shirts with breastmilk and spit up stains on them. Maybe I could strategically place a design so that it’s not directly on my boob? Anyway, I bought these cute little overall shorts for my I-guy at a JC Penny outlet store and thought that they definitely needed sprucing up. I thought a tricycle would be the perfect thing.

I have been using Tulip’s Soft Fabric Paint to do these. I just bought the paint pots in a package of 12 for about $6. They have worked great for me. They dry permanent and wash well. For the tricycle, I went a little overboard with the paint. I was originally going to do just the lime green color. Then I added blue spokes and a blue seat, and then well, it just became mutlicolored! Sometimes I get a little carried away with well, a lot of things.

Anyway, I have been slacking in my Every Day in May art. Been busy working on Mommy Day gifts. As soon as my mom and my mom-in-law get their packages I’ll post what I made. (mommies are you excited?) he he he!

Also, I have been recieving notecards from some of the participants of my Notecard Swap. They are fabulous of course! I will start up a Flickr set once I get them scanned &/or photographed. So so so exciting to get these packages of beautiful notecards in the mail.

Now I must get working on the rest of my notecards, my artist trading cards and recipe cards….oh my!!

Here are the shirts I made for Super E. He loves them. Now he wants me to make a robot one and I want to do a couple for my little I-guy. It’s a really fun and gratifying project.

I made did this T for myself a couple of months ago. At first I thought it was too hokey, but it’s starting to grow on me. I really like the trees. It would make a great gocco print don’t you think? If only I had a gocco printer (Hint, hint- Ry-daddy).

I’m putting these photos in the Flickr Group: Freezer Paper Stencils.  Check it out.  There are tons of other great stencil ideas!

I bought these pants a couple of years ago. I don’t know what came over me (probably the sale tag) but I hate them, never wear them. They sort of remind me of parachute pants (80’s flashbacks- yikes!) and they swish when I walk which is very irritating. I’ve been planning on throwing them in a Goodwill box, but decided to first see if I could make them into those long shorts that everyone’s been wearing lately. I cut them off, hemmed them and I think I like the way they turned out. They’re good for wearing around the house & around with the kids anyway. Sorry- no full picture, I had a towel on my head. Thought I’d spare you.

I made two little bags with the pieces I cut off from the legs. Just made them shorter and stitched the edges. They make great bags because they have the handy little cinch string. One I’m using for sewing scraps, the other for dominos. I added the little image using the freezer paper & fabric paint technique. This techniques works like a charm. I’ve spiced up some little t’s with this technique also, but haven’t taken pictures yet. Maybe tomorow.