Hong Kong is Part of China: An Asian-Inspired Refashion

That title has to do with how geographically illiterate my husband and I are most of the time; it's sad (and it makes my Social Studies teacher father cringe).  Anywho, I found this dress for a dollah at the shop (after picking up a full price $4 one that was almost identical--always check the sale rack!).

Yikes!

Not bad, but it doesn't fit me very well in the hips (and you know, hips don't lie).  I've been jonesing to turn something into a jacket-esque piece so here we go! I looked at the front, and it had pockets (score!).

Pocket power!

But the pockets were fake (boo!). 

Opens to nowhere!

So I removed the pockets (thank you so much clothing makers for stitching the pocket directly and firmly into the side seam, definitely need those fake pockets reinforced), and pinned the hole in the seam from their removal.

Looks like a hungry shirt!

Sans pockets, I had no real reason to keep the front the front, so I turned the piece around!  I removed these cool buttons (to be used soon, I guarantee).  I think they look like coiled rope, which is very cool and nautical.

 I turned the piece around and removed the zipper to make my jacket edges.  

Free zipper!

The collar was a bit too high and floppy so I turned it under for a bit of a v-necked edge.  

Pinned and ready to party

Finished all the edges, gave it a hem, and voila!

This was perfect for a day at home cooking fajitas with homemade corn tortillas (my husband's new skill).  I might add a hook and eye closure at the top sometime (if I can steal one from something else).  Happy Jacket!

Not Exactly a Re-fashion, More of an Ad-fashion: Lace-trimmed Shorts

I got a pretty cute pair of Express silky shorts for $4 at the shop, but man are they short.

Holy legs, Batman!  

 I added a bit of lace to the inside of each leg, and I feel like my modesty is preserved a bit.  Of course, the lace ends up kind of looking like the edge of some sexy lingerie, so... that may have backfired on me.  But it isn't!  It is an inch more length and that's all!

Collar? I don't even know her!

I found this Land's End extra-large long-sleeved top at the shop.

Hello huge sleeves!

First thing I did was break out ye olde seam ripper and remove those sleeves!

Buh-bye sleeves!  Use ya later!

That embroidery is pretty cool looking, so those will go to some other purpose later in life.  Next, I cut very carefully around the cool embroidered neck, keeping it very close to the finished edge.  I took it in a bit to make it more fitted and here we are!

Le front!

Le back!

That collar is what I loved most about the piece, so that is what got highlighted.  Here is it in action on the farm in Greenfield, Indiana.  If I remember correctly, I was watching some pigs at the time.  

Hard to look too majestic watching farm animals. 

A little snipping and finishing, and I've got a new, useful piece for my wardrobe!

Free to Sweet!

There is nothing better than getting in the car on a Monday morning to go to work and seeing furniture that people in my neighborhood have dumped unceremoniously on the street.  My mother says that they have "functional fixedness" and can't see the potential of something beyond its original purpose or state.  Apparently, I do not have such a condition.

My first (re)creation was a metal stool with dingy fabric, a couple of holes in the metal, and a missing leg screw.

A little screw-finding, spray painting, jute-covering, and reupholstering, and I have this!

Then I found a little magazine table.  It was missing two spindles and had a hole in the top from where a lamp had been.  I filled the hole with wood putty, replaced the spindles, did a cute dandelion stencil, and spray painted the whole thing with Rustoleum Glossy Enamel White paint.  Et voila!

Here's a closer up of the top.

I've got more to share, but they will have to wait until next time.  Got some photos to take!  Silly neighbors...

And the winner is..the Muu-MuuTastic Dress!

Here is the before...

Muu-Muu!

Plus sides to this piece...1) cool color and pattern, 2) neato neckline, and 3) pockets!!  I removed the sleeves, turned the dress around, shortened it by about 2 inches, took in the sides (reattaching the pockets), cut a slit (cause I accidentally cut a hole at the bottom), finished all the edges and got this...

Industrial chic background!

I belted it with the ribbon from another dress (to be shared later) and added some green earrings and bangle. 

With the hubby

with the beautiful couple

It was a lovely reception, and I was glad to take the challenge of making something for it!  My dress isn't nearly as pretty as the bride's though, wow!  I hope that everyone that reads this will send a happy thought their way!  

Cute Pattern...Potato Sack Style

I just finished a two-day thrifting bonanza and have lots of projects coming up!  Exciting!    This was one of the first dresses I found at Goodwill when I got this idea and it was expensive at $6.  How funny is it to think that?  It was pretty short and shapeless, but the pattern was cute.

Hack off some length, give it a new hem, and I have a cute top!  

On a side note, I have a wedding to attend this weekend, and I sort of got challenged by the groom to wear one of my creations.  Here are the nominees...

Have a favorite?  Leave a comment!  Stay tuned to see who wins!