Repurposing- A Store bought Women's Shirt into a custom Girl's Dress

When I purchase something...I almost always alter it.  


I buy a frame, I repaint it.  I buy jewelry, I add to it.  I buy a toss pillow, and I add trimming to it.  Not much in my home has passed through my hands without being altered.


With that in mind, I began looking for Vintage style dresses for my girls.


To make a long story short, I was having a photo session of them shot for my Husband for our 12 year Wedding Anniversary.  The photo was being done by Enchanted Images (which will receive it's own post as a featured artist on a later date)  and the idea was to have it be very Vintage looking.  I got their hair cut, I made Vintage looking headbands...but had no luck with finding the dresses.  On one particular shopping hunt at TJ Maxx, I happened on a Women's clothing round rack of all lace tunics and knew I had something to work with.  Some of the long ones even looked like they could be girls dresses....um, sort of.  Maybe if I squinted and turned my head at just the right angle...


I digress.

Knowing I possessed basic garment constructing skills, I decided to try my hand at repurposing these pieces.  Here they are before alteration...

I pat myself on the back here :)  This is a brilliant idea...because fabric and trimmings can be so very expensive...and for two shirts at $20.00 each, and some store bought trimmings and ribbon, I was able to create some "one of a kind" dresses that looked beautiful and suited the picture to a "T".  I had to make some basic liners because the dresses were very transparent.  Arm holes had to be re cut, side seams re-sewn, panels added for length...but all in all...not too difficult, and I got the result I desired.
So next time you are looking for a sewing project, if you have basic garment constructing skills....and a little model to fit on...try repurposing women's clothing!


Here they are in a beautiful Enchanted Images portrait after!!  My girls are pretty cute too I would say:)

Thank you Enchanted Images for the use of your beautiful photos!

Frolicking Feathers...something new

So I found these curled and dyed goose feather pads, and I am nuts about them.  Combined with my hoards of Vintage Brooches-  put them on headbands and voila..."Vintage Plumes"
I know it's not the most original thing I've ever made, but I'm trying to replicate things I've seen in old photographs from the 20's with a bit of a modern twist.  They are so cute on too...enjoy!

Featured Artist: Jennifer Morris

Meet Jennifer Morris, of Jennifer Morris Beads and Jewelry www.JenniferMorrisBeads.etsy.com

Not too often am I gob smacked by someone’s talent and creations like I have been by this artist.  I found Jennifer on etsy while perusing the shops, and have been a fan ever since.  As a person, Jennifer is friendly, giving, sweet, kind, encouraging, and very generous with her time.  We have struck up a bit of a friendship, exchanging stories and current life happenings, and I am always amazed at the sweet way she converses with me…as if we have been friends our whole lives.  I am lucky to say I own a few of her pieces…each I treasure and wear proudly.  When you purchase a Jennifer Morris piece, it arrives beautifully wrapped with a hand written card.  Just like you've sent yourself a special gift!  Someday I hope to meet her in person, but until then…please give a round of applause to Miss Jennifer Morris!

Here is her self written bio:

Jennifer Morris has been making things forever, exploring the world with an overactive imagination and very busy hands.  Jennifer is an experienced wood worker, welder, photographer, yogini and chef. She dreams of playing the ukulele and being able to carry a tune. Maybe someday..

When she's not working in her studio, you can find Jennifer  humming, steeping, sipping, staring, gazing, glimpsing, braising, sautéing, fonduing, sledding, pedaling, skating, skipping, jumping, reaching, climbing, dreaming, digging, plucking, strumming, snapping, cutting, folding, stitching, sketching, gluing, bending, stretching, pouring, swallowing, planting, watching, listening, looking,

and most always with one of her cameras.

All of the decorative beads are made by Jennifer with her own ever-changing blend of polymer clay infused with gold and silver leaf and often times paper clay mixed from recycled paper and fiber.  All of the beads are free form, made without molds... each dot, loop, swirl is placed on one at a time then carved and shaped.  

All rhinestones and components are vintage and recycled from old jewelry.

The gems from guaranteed humane sources.  All wire is 14k gold, sterling silver and vermeil.

Here is a sampling of her work…  enjoy!