Momma Art

I found this Jim Tillett Print at my local thrift store for 5.99. It was 'green' ticket half price, so I only paid $3.00. SCORE! I found out that  the late Jim Tillett and his wife moved to St. Thomas in 1959 as newlyweds. They purchased an abandoned Danish farm to serve as  home for Jim Tillett's silkscreen studio. They also had  a boutique that sold goods and fashions  made  from his silkscreened designs. All the way from St. Thomas to Illinois! Howdya' like that! Some of his prints are selling anywhere from $35.00 to  $199.00! Pretty cool!!!  This is an amazing find, but I wanted to transform this print  into something,  and since his prints were not selling at a life-altering price, I  decided to go for it! Half Price! I removed the canvas from the mat. It was a lovely print, and I think it will make a great tote!  I took out a few different fabrics I had in...

Here is a fun polka dot dress I found thrifting.  It was super frumpy but I knew I could change that! It came with some heavily sewn in shoulder pads. These shoulder pads are sewn in there tight!  Time to get the seam ripper! Buh Bye! The sleeves were too long and needed a trim. So was the bottom length. That got a chop too! I used my pinking roller to avoid fraying. Snip!....I mean...roll... I thought I'd try a little bias tape to fancy it up a bit. I sewed the sleeves and bottom hem  with the bias tape, like a sandwich.  I'm pretty sure that's not how you do it buuutttt,  I did it anyway.  It was not a super difficult refashion,  but it made a big difference. I was trying to get good lighting outside,  but it was FREEZING!!! I wanted to show you the sleeves but,  OH MY IT WAS COLD!! OK!!!! Quick take the picture!!! SOOOOO COLD!!!! Now, That looks a litt...

HELP!!!  What is this thing!!! It's hand painted (says so on the tag) It was $3.00. But....what is this thing? Top? Dress? NOT FLATTERING!  I posted this picture on my FaceBook Art Teacher page for some help.  They had some wonderful suggestions, and I took them up on it. First I chopped the sleeves off. It was a drop shoulder top, so I cut just below the seam to create my own "facing" and tucked the extra "facing" inside. Then I sewed up hem. Now the top of it was manageable, but that ruffle...YIKES!! I chopped it off!!! It became a t-shirt....That wasn't exactly what I was going for, so I put it on, and measured where my waist was, and chopped it off just below my waist. I put the excess fabric on top of the ruffle to measure the waist, and I cut diagonally from the waist to the bottom of the ruffle to create my new "handkerchief-hem-peplum". SNIP! I sewed it together, and now.....

I'm not sure what to say about this one. I'll start with the $3.00 it set me back. ( Totally worth the price) The fabric was silk, and the print was just gorgeous, but the style.....ohhh that style has got to go! First things first.  SHOULDER PADS OUT!!! BUH BYE! Then CHOP CHOP CHOP, off come the sleeves, and a few inches at the bottom. I also removed the plastic button that was visible when I had the top button undone. It looked silly with the other button, and I would never button the dress up all the way. That button had to go too! I also took in each side about an inch. See! I hemmed everything up, and I was ready to go to dinner with my family! Happy to be wearing my new dress It even came with a matching spiffy belt!!! See you next time!

Estate sales are awesome!!!! I purchased this fabric from an estate sale for $2,  and I knew just what to do. It was perfect for a maxi skirt. So I got to sewin'  Maxi skirts are like wearing yoga pants, but better!  So comfy and stylish!! I also fell in love with the print of this silk fabric  which I scored for the same price! Not bad for such little bit of MOO-lah.  (See what I did there...moo... get it...it's a cow...) MOO! I turned that puppy...errr..cow, right into an infinity scarf. Ohhh I love that scarf! I sewed that perfect piece of fabric into that maxi, threw on a black tank, and I was ready for the day. I thought about wearing the scarf too, but it was just too warm for that. Maybe in the evening when the temp drops a bit. See you next time!

I found this small remnant of fabric at my favorite local vintage store, ya know the one that I'm obsessed over. The one that's closing this month, and I might cry about it.  Yeah, that's the one. Terry cloth. 70's maybe 60's.  Enough said. I cut a simple t-shirt shape and sewed up the seams. I tried my hand at bias tape, and if anyone has any pointers on this matter, I'd greatly appreciate it.  I sewed on a little hook, and I was done. I left the sleeves alone, because I think I might like the fraying that will occur when washed again. I chopped it off initially, but now I wish I hadn't. Trying out the hook. Ready for the Pool!  Now summer weather just has to get here! See you next time!

     I have talked about this local store before called Moxie.  It is the most fantastic and wonderful store with new and vintage items, housewares, and kid stuff, vintage clothing and fabric. It's just the most amazing store. Unfortunately for us, the owner, Megan, is moving on to other things. I'm happy for her, but sad for me. I swear she didn't pay me to say this. I just love this store that much!  Megan has vintage fabric for sale. I found one...OK, four... but, the one I'm using right now is soft and luxurious. It's so 60's and Fantastic! Vintage and Gorgeous! It was love at first sight and it was 25% off!!!  Wahoo!!!  I follow this lovely blog called It's Always Autumn , and she had this free pattern for a T-Shirt. I knew it would be perfect to extend the length and make the cutest 60's dress. Measure and snip! Add a collar! Collars are awesome! I used the collar to create a make-shift facing for the back ...