Momma Art

Got a plain black T? Make it fancy by embroidering some letters or pictures on it! I picked my word: RESFEBER Definition:  The restless race of the traveler's heart before the journey begins. We are planning a summer trip, and I'm gearing up for just a carry on for the plane!  No time for baggage claim!  But I gotta be stylish ya know? I measured out how big I wanted the letters to be and  sectioned them off in equal parts with some chalk. Let the stitching begin! I did a basic chain stitch for all the letters.  This is when the thread is doubled and you stitch up through the middle  of the previous stitch creating a "chain" look. I'm ready to go! I really like the way the v-neck highlights the placement of the word. The white embroidery thread adds a nice contrast, but you could do all the colors!  Next up: Craft Party I try to get my friends to craft with me a couple times a year. I don't...

Ok, seriously, does this dress scream 1980's or 1880's. I'm confused. I took it upon myself to try to liberate the fashion buried beneath this horrific piece of clothing. I know I'm a school teacher, but I think this is going too far... Not having a successful "before" picture moment. You get the idea.  Sally the cat was listening attentively.  Maybe this school-marm dress was working? Nah. I said listen up students! I've lost my head with this dress. (Get it?) Out came the shoulder pads first! Those things are huge! I might make somethin' outta those! Next, I had to pick off that delicate neck-lace. Ick! I then, picked off those sleeves, and chopped just a wee bit from the bottom. Sally of course, had to supervise. MEOW! I cut off a considerable chunk at the top of the sleeves and reattached them. I did NOT want those poofy ruffles! I also chopped off the wrists, ...

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...

I found this tablecloth at the thrift store for $2.99. You cant buy that kind of lace yardage for that!  It had a slight stretch to it too! What a score! I had this off white very thin sweatshirt material  I purchased from an estate sale for $2.00. I traced a t-shirt pattern and extended it  to create an A line dress. I cut the tablecloth in the same shape,  but I made it slightly larger. Sally the cat could not get enough! She loved it just the way it was. I sandwiched the two pieces of lace  between the off white fabric,  pinned and stitched all four layers together. I sewed the sides of the knit separately from the lace. The only place the two layers were attached were the shoulders and the neck. I stitched the neck together with a  tightly spaced zig-zag stitch.  Aside from the shoulders and neck,  I sewed and treated them as separate  dresses when I hemmed it...