Momma Art

I saw this..... I loved the print. Dots and a bit of an optical illusion. It makes you a bit dizzy if you stare at it too long.  I didn't try it on at Goodwill, but for $1.23, I took the chance. I thought I could wear it as-is because it was super cute! The reason it is on my mannequin, well.... that is the story of my life: fits on top, but too tight on the bottom...don't even get me started on jeans... Then..... I saw  THIS  .... OH SNAP! I bought mine at Goodwill for $1.23. A much better deal than the $21 price tag on the inspiration top. I knew what I had to do! I took a big chop off the bottom. Then, I seam ripped the sides of the dress all the way up to the elastic waistband. I used the bottom scrap and made two triangles that will be my new side panels. I did a little pinning and sewing of the triangles to the sides.... Hem up the bottom... ...done! Perfect top paired with jeans to go to...

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.....