[M.M.18] second.hand stories:

Welcome back to Monday Mamalogues:

'linking up to share to the beauty and breakdowns of motherhood'!

Annual 'Neigbourhood' Yard Sale.

'Steals on Wheels'...this is her "smile" now too.

Washing off the "baby goobers" she says.

Dinosaurs enjoy building towers.

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We aren't avid yard sale goers at this stage of life.

The prospect of hauling kids in - and out - of the car for every little curb side treasure hunt is not very appealing to us.

So, when our city does an annual yard sale that encompasses blocks of homes (so you can just keep pushing the stroller along) I'm eager to go!

We scored a fun, albeit modest, amount of goodies this year.

Azriel picked out this great bin of wood blocks.. and we happily handed over one shiny dollar for it!

Most toys around our nest get baptized before enjoyment.

I'm no germ-a-phobe, but I like to think the toy is getting a fresh start here.

I've said it before, but I really prefer our purchases to be second-hand (thrifted, op shop, etc).

Sure, it's cheaper.  But, it also comes with a story.

 I feel like the object has a history, or some life experience it brings with it.

A few wrinkles, a few scars, maybe a scratch or dent.

I like the messy 'real' things vs. the shiny plastic superficial ones.

I guess it feels more authentic, right?

It seems like a better reflection of ourselves... an imperfect masterpiece.

A curious treasure with some scrapes along the way.

And if we can look at an object and wonder at the story behind it,

how much more so should we look at our family, friends, strangers... everyone.. and see the story in them.

Some of us are shiny, and some of us have more dents than we'd like to show...

...but we all have a story, our story.

And our children, well, they're reading it right alongside us.

mama Mel ;o) 
P.S. This is the last day to enter my birthday giveaway - winner announced tomorrow!!

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion.#18.

Well hey there lovelies!

I'm back with another edition of taking something thrifty and sewing it into something nifty.

I'm still working on some new spring fashion to wear... and this piece caught my attention.

(Oh, and I'm also needing to work on that ghostly pallor of my skin... sorry to blind you!)

 Much like that polka dot dress I discovered in my fabric stash, this green button-up shirt was mashed in there too.  I always liked the style of this shirt, just not the length (it barely made it to my waist).  So, since belly-tops just aren't my thing... I opted to chop it and then lengthen it big time!

 (Sorry for no 'before' shot... I sewed this project at night!)

You get the idea though, I just cut the bottom half off the shirt - leaving the buttons/edge in place.

I then attached the lighter floral fabric to the shirt, while using that lovely green lace to hide my seams.  Sneaky sewing suits me best.

Annnnnd, in a final stroke of upcycling *genius*, I used the leftover green fabric to make large front pockets and accent edging around the bottom of the shirt.

I then sat back and wondered why/how I never thought to do this before! (Face-palm).

Oh, and the awkward cat picture.

Yah, I don't know what's going on there either.

Needless to say, I'm now hunting through my wardrobe to see what other shirts I can hack and customise like this one.

Hope it inspires you to upcycle too!

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

thrifty & nifty threads. upcycled fashion. #17.

 Annnnnnnnd we're back ~ with another fun edition of taking something thrifty and sewing it into something nifty!

Or, what could also be called 'further adventures in repulsing my husband'!

(More on that part, later..).

Anywho, here's how this project went:

1. Take one frumpy old sweater cardigan.

2. Use a seam ripper to remove the front panels.

3. Lay those sections as a tracing pattern over fabric of choice (a sheer aztec print seen here).

4. Cut two panels of new fabric and insert into the sweater...sew/surge in place.

Voila!

Bonus features:

+ I sewed the front cardigan pockets back on to the aztec fabric.

+ I added leather elbow patches (as seen in a previous project).

+ The front buttons were replaced with matching wooden ones.

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Now, back to the husband in crisis.

It's pretty hilarious around here... every weird sewing project/notion I start to design.. he starts to cringe.  It used to be just vests that had him hurling.  But now I have successfully created a whole new line of gag-worthy fashion it seems.

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While sewing this project, Ben said incredulously:

 "A sweater cardigan... really??"

"Don't worry, I'm about to make it awesome!" 

says I.. triumphantly holding up the sheer aztec material.

"You mean that Grandma curtain material?" he retorts.

"Pfffft..'GRANDMA'?!!..... c'mon, it's AZTEC"!

(as if this word in itself should convince him of how cool my project is). 

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Yah, he's still not convinced.

I told him not to worry.. from now on I'll make sure to get his *approval* for my future sewing adventures... maybe I could do a lingerie line... out of upcycled potato sacks.

 Yes, that could be a winner.

For now, I just have a growing wardrobe of 'what not to wear' if I want to catch his eye.

(Here's hoping you all aren't new here... and think my man to be some critical goon, we actually laugh/tease each other in complete affection... which you would have seen on Valentines day).

So, do you ever tease your partner about clothing choices?

sew silly,

Mel ;o)

(P.S... also, if you're new... you can catch up on previous upcycled fashion projects here!)

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion. #16.

 

 It's that time again, friends.

All together now: 'take something thrifty ~ and sew it into something nifty!'

(Granted, I technically made this poncho from a bolt of tweed fabric given to me...but, I still maintain that I *upcycled* the accent pieces of leather and wooden buttons).

 Here's the basic pattern I invented to make my poncho.petticoat.cape...thing from.

You know, because I would rather the frustration of blindly inventing what I think will work... than the frustration of having to submit to following a real pattern.

I know, me sew crazy.

If someone said I could have a comedy show, I would totally call it:

"Sewing with Mel".

I laugh at myself anyway.

(Sewing collars in backwards... using a pasta colander for my 'neck-line' shape... re-inventing what nip & tuck means...  etc).

But, as in most areas of life,

I learn best from my mistakes.

Charcoal tweed poncho.

Wooden button detail.

Leather inset strips (where I first envisioned arm holes).

Inside lining is a camel coloured linen.

Accent lining of wine fabric under the collar. 

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Sure, it's a lil' messy and haphazard in the details... but that just makes it a better reflection of it's owner.

I think we're going to get along just fine.

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Oh, and one last thing:

"Poooonnnnnnchhhhooo  Libre!!"

(Just had to get that in here).

Mel ;o)

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P.S:  Yes, this is the "handmade pea-coat poncho vest?" thing my hilarious husband was referring to in his recent valentines blog post to me.

(And here's the 'paisley tribal leggings and the 'beaded sailor's hat' he also dislikes!).

*C'mon dear, I don't rarely wear vests anymore... why can't you love it when I want to wear a shapeless wad of draped fabric over me.. or some garish patterned threads?*

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P.P.S: if you want to catch up on previous editions of upcycling sewing adventures.. they're here.

xx

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion #15 (D.I.Y)

 It's time for another (extra-fun) edition of taking something thrifty and re-fashioning it into something nifty, friends...  to the power of five!

 That's right, one large wool sweater - five creations!

Talk about a giving sweater...  sooo, here's the breakdown:

 1. Wool skirt: Cut the bottom off sweater - hem in the sides - make the bottom edge of sweater into the waist for the skirt - flip lace around the 'raw' bottom edge and sew (zig-zag for stretch).

Boom, baby.

 2. Toddler poncho... cosy cuteness with lace folded around the raw cut edge.

3. Mittens from the sweater wrist cuffs.

4. Toque (in progress) from one arm of the sweater.

5. Hot water bottle cosy from the other arm of the sweater.

Simple sweater-upcycling sweetness.

You may recall my previous pack o' projects from one ol' sweater here.

Cosy fun for everyone in your nest.

Happy upcycling, friends!

mel ;o)

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion #14.

 Well howdy all you fine feathered friends.

It feels like a gazillion years since I last did a post about the clothes I've thrifted and upcycled into something more funky....  so here's the latest:

 Ok, wait.. first I have to show this awesome owl sweater from Old Navy (I blame thank Astrid for showing off her fox version! hehe).  While shopping there, I saw these baseball shirts on clearance ($4!) and thought I better buy them for some fun.

(I know this doesn't quite count as thrifted... but hey, it's my blog, my rules).

 I was still determined to get a fox shirt... so I stencilled my own version (fox inspired by this design).  You may recall, I just slice a stencil out of a plastic projector page and paint it onto the shirt.

For the blue shirt I wanted to draw some more coloured feathers (oh, surprise)!

I opted to try out these Sharpie "Stained" fabric markers and draw freehand onto the shirt.

Voila!

Now I have a trusty fox by my side.. and a few more feathers under-wing.

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If you're a newer reader here, you can always catch up on past upcycling adventures!

frugal fashionista,

Mel ;o)

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion. 13.

 Well lovelies, I figure it's about time I show you another thrifty upcycle of my clothing here.

A simple little sewing project this time around.

 This cosy cardigan from a blogger-clothing-swap (was it Jen's, or Carly's?)... and a retro bus seat cover got a whole new look!

(*Bus seats c/o our neighbours turning a bus in to a camping 'trailer'!).

A folded square cut in to a heart shaped patch.

I loooooove this aged leather look from the underside of the seat cover, and it's so easy to stitch through.  (Wishing I had hoarded all their bus seats for more of this leather).

I heart elbow patches.

So tempted to slap a pair on every sweater I own!

(You may recall I used to use my beloved doilies for another spin on this look).

Ca-pow!

Elbowing my way through upcycled fashion,

Mel ;o)

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion. 12. {BLOOPERS}

 Well we are up and running again here... the laptop works(!), the sewing machine is whirring, the camera clicking, and this was the result:

A cable-knit catastrophe

A doily disaster

A vexing vest...

Yes, today's edition of taking something thrifted and sewing it into something nifty narsty is all about the blunders I encounter while creating.

 I was hoping to get two outfits for the slice of one sweater here: a sweater vest, and a cozy shrug.  Hence, the full circle cut-out of the back of this cable-knit sweater I had.

I soon decided to shrug the shrug, because I could only laugh at the thought of pretending to wear it seriously.  (Don't worry it goes to other uses...)

 Anywho, back to this vest thing... it was originally just going to be an exposed back.  But after hemming it for that purpose, it stretched way down past my posterior (you'll have to trust me, it looked silly).  My doily-brain then kicked in and said "hey, slap a doily in that hole for a real pretty back feature!".  So I did.

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This is probably the point in the story where you start to think "didn't she just post last time about how her Ben hates vests?"... and yes, he took one look at this and went: 

"Seriously?  A vest.. and a doily??  Are you trying to torture me?"

At which point I used my stunning logic and retorted:

"No, no, it's not a vest... it's a sweater-vest!"

(He wasn't convinced either).

....

 We laughed.  This whole project has been a blunder from the start, really.

The cable-knit went all puckered out around the doily... so that was silly.  My gal there thought it was worth pranking the photo-op too, more bloopers!

 Now, back to that 'shrug' section.. I took the sleeve of the sweater and cut it into thirds.

The top (larger) piece was quickly edged with fleece for a funny lil' knit hat for the Hud'.

The wrist cuff became a simple 'cup-cozy' (not that I'm giving coffee to a baby).

The middle could easily make an infant toque... 

(For more ideas of how to upcycle a sweater you can check my previous projects with them here!)

So there you have it, full discloser from this nest.

Not everything I touch turns to gold... sometimes it just plain sucks.

Right now I'm just glad that my other cable knit sweater survived the chopping block.

It's keeping me nice and cozy on these crisp Fall mornings.

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The moral of the story?

Experiment. Fail. Try Again.

Creativity will fly from these ashes.

Mel ;o)

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion. 11.

Yes, friends ~ I'm still upcycling my wardrobe over here.

This week's edition is a fun spin on wearing something from the bottom and putting it up top instead...

...turning old pants, into a vest, that is.

So, I had these super saggy, frumpy, tan pants loitering around my dresser for years.  They seemed too fancy to toss because they were 100% silk  (looks/feels like smooth cashmere).

I wanted to selvage the pockets, which inspired me to make a vest with them.

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Using a vest I already had (much to my guy ben's chagrin)... I made a pattern to use the legs of the pants for the vest front.  I also chopped off the waistline to use as a 'belt' section on the vest... which made me feel quite clever.

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While I dream of looking like this in it... I still wonder if it's not just a feminine spin on a vest more often seen on a fly-fisherman/ safari-guide/ or photo-journalist (?!).

 

I used some floral denim fabric for a fun pop of colour and pattern on the back (and inside liner).  I forgot to post pictures of actually wearing a belt (or two skinny belts) around the waist to mix with my bohemian beads style (d.i.y here).

My Ben couldn't decide which side he found more repulsive on this project: the floral pattern, or the frumpy front!  I'm still trying to convince him that wearing vests is like, totally cool, man... but he doesn't buy it.  When I remind him that I love lace - and floral - (and it just happens to be trendy too)... he simply states that it looks 'Grandma-ish' to him.  Much like the 'cat-eye' glasses I threatened to buy one time!

What to do?

Wear with flair the craziness I craft... and kill the libido of my husband?

(These are the times I really need a sarcasm font).

Maybe I should just keep it around in case we don't want to have more kids.

That, and a pair of Crocs should do the trick.

Baha!

What about you?  Do you keep things in your wardrobe even if your partner gives it a thumbs-down?

 I'm curious...

Mel ;o)

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*(Note: For those who don't know my Ben, he's not some jock-headed masochist that requires me to dress a certain way... he's a very kind.sweet.husband who embraces most of my wild wardrobe choices... he even thinks I look 'elegant' in jeans and a t-shirt...he just draws the line at vests!  ).

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P.S: You can find the past projects of upcycled fashion here!

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion #10

 This edition of taking something thrifty and making it something nifty... has tickled me right down to my toes.

Is anybody else starting to see a theme here lately?  It looks like I can't get enough of slapping lace (or doilies) onto every garment I own...

...even my shoes:

 Yep... I had thrifted these shoes last summer.  (Side-note: I think buying second-hand shoes is one step above the grossness of buying used underwear... but if the shoes look new, I'm sold!).

So, I liked the green tones and thought the giraffe motif was cute, except for when I tried to wear them with any outfit!  My propensity for buying patterned-everything sometimes backfires... especially when the shoes won't work with any other pattern.

 I grabbed those neglected flats... and painted them in a deep periwinkle blue (mainly to show off the lace going over the toe).  Then, I used a gold paint for the sides of the shoe... all fancy like.

 If you're interested to create your own version: just cut the lace out to fit over the toe of your shoe.  I used hot glue (seen in yellow) to seal it to the rubber edge of the shoe.. and trimmed the lace afterwards.  The (red) cut lines allow the lace to fold under the rim of your shoe where you can glue it to the inside as well.

Pretty basic.

Pretty pretty.

I heart lace.

And, as you can see from all these past upcycling projects, my wardrobe is slowly growing in to one large, lacy, handmade entity!  Sew sweet.

Mel ;o)

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion #9

 Hey there friends ~ today's fashion feature has triple the upcycling power.

You're excited now aren't you?  Ready?  Here we go:

thriftiness to the power of three!

 First: I'd been dreaming up this skirt for awhile now... a simple concept of 'quilting' various layers of lace, eyelet and cotton strips of turquoise,tan and cream.

Love it!

 Second: I had another old tank top I wanted to turn into a casual purse (remember that easy d.i.y?)... and a leftover wooden napkin ring from that other turquoise & wood project as a 'thumb holder' feature on the bag.

Third: the shirt came with shoulder ties and wooden beads = instant bracelet!

Fun times I tell ya.

 (Here's a sewing side-note: thanks to my sis-in-law,  I just discovered the trick of sewing the zipper face down on the inside of your skirt seam... then use a stitch-ripper and unveil the zipper from the outside... perfectly aligned!  Neato.)

A purse.

A bracelet.

A skirt.

All in turquoise and tan... I'm pretty delighted with this week's upcycling adventure!

If you've missed any previous projects ...they're all found here.

Happy week'ending friends.

Mel ;o)