Momma Art

 Now that school's out, I've had a chance to go through some of my clothes, and I was able to fill a large garbage bag to donate! I did set aside a few things to hopefully transform into something fun! I have this diamond sweatshirt that I bought from Kohl's a million years ago. I love it, and I wore it a few times, but it just didn't have that wow factor that I was looking for. I was thinking it would have a better life as a jacket.  Uh oh....That means a zipper........................ My diamond sweatshirt ready to be transformed! I found a zipper....yikes! I started by cutting off the cuffs of the sweatshirt because I was going to make my own. I wanted them to be a bit longer, but also more comfy. I chopped the hemband as well. Then I found the middle of the shirt and cut right up the front!  SNIP! I could have stopped here and made it a groovy cardigan, but I really wanted a jacket. I made some cuffs and a hem band out of so...

I found these two lovely articles of clothing at the thrift store. They were both in great condition. No stains or rips. They seemed fairly unused buuuuuut, the top was not so flattering, and the pants were a bit too big, and just the wrong cut for my body shape.  Do I look like I belong in Saturday Night Fever? That collar! Those white pants! I started by chopping off those three quarter length cuffs and making it into a half sleeve. The collar needed some chopping too! I folded this fabric over twice and hemmed.  (It would be fray-city if I didn't) The front of the top was too big and I decided to dart the front. I put the top on inside out, and pinched the extra fabric. Then I measured, pinned and sewed. The white pants needed to become skinny pants. I measured and pinned, and chopped and sewed. I usually blog about all my success with a re-fashion. However, things happen. These white pants just didn't work...

     I haven't posted here in a while. I do apologize for that but, I've been very busy gettin' my masters degree and being the summer school coordinator/internship for a month. I hope you forgive me? This beautiful dress refashion will make up for it.  I found THE best batik print dress a few months back at Goodwill, and I had to have it!  Alas, the top of the dress was too tight, and the style of the dress was just eh. I was inspired by my friend  Leslie  and I decided to turn it into a lovely skirt. Here's how I did it: I figured out where the skirt fit me with a little wiggle room, and I made a little chalk mark on the inside. Look at that gorgeous print! Then I gave it a good chop following the same curve of the bottom hem. I measured a piece of wide black elastic that fit snuggly but comfortably around my waist. I overlapped and sewed with a zig zag to secure the elastic in a circle.  I ...

I had this old white tank top, and I wanted to spruce it up a bit. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do (like always) but then (like always) it hits me like a truck.... BOOM!...SHIBORI!!! I took a class on Shibori back in March, at the National Art Education Convention, and I thought I could put my new skills to the test.  You can check out that post from NAEA,  HERE . Just recently, with the encouragement of a few of my students, I decided to create a YouTube channel for some of my classroom demos. Shibori fabric dyeing is one of those videos. We did this as a fun end of the year project. In my class we created Shibori techniques with geometric shapes and patterns with the type of folding and binding used.  I am so excited to share one technique with VIDEOS with you, right here on my blog as part of this refashion.  Please subscribe to my channel  RIGHT HERE ! My tank top was ready for a makeover! All clipped up! Lookin' like a centipe...

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, ...