Momma Art

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...

     I ordered this awesome cat fabric,(Above)  but I got this fabric by accident (below).  So, as any good online-shopper does, I sent it back to receive the correct one. But.....the cat fabric must have been labeled wrong in the warehouse, because I got this one... AGAIN! I took it as a sign, and just kept it. (Or maybe it was just laziness.) I still might try to order that cat fabric again, 'cuz I lub it! This one is pretty cool too! And perfect for Halloween! Super cool close-up! I had this tank top that I never wear. It has mini ruffles around the edges, and it sat dormant in my drawer for over a year. I snipped the tank just below my waist. This will be the top part of my new ghoulish dress. CHOP! I used the skirt portion of a dress pattern I had, cut out the skirt and  sewed the fabric to the tank top, hemmed it up, and voila! I used the rest of the fabric to make an awesome dress for my girl. I found this  ...

     I have been teaching beginning digital photography for a couple of years now. We are learning about macro (close-up) photography. I have also found a great website that can turn any digital photo or drawing into fabric! (I have talked about www.spoonflower.com before) I combined those two loves, and bought one yard of fabric with a photo taken by yours truly!!!  Check it out HERE !      I was ecstatic to get the fabric, and I couldn't wait to get started! I created this dress the same way I made the Mona Lisa  dress. My photo is of some oil pastels in a bowl in my classroom. I traced a free t-shirt pattern I found online, and I just extended the length  as far as the one yard would let me. I used light blue thread on the sleeves. I like the way contrasting thread colors look. I used my seam gauge for the sleeves and neckline to make sure I was  getting everything even-Steven. And there you have it! ...

I had some fabric left over from my refashion of THIS  dress. I just love it so much, and my beautiful daughter saw it again recently, and wanted a dress to match Mommy.  How could I say no?  I love me some Starry Night...I am an art teacher ya know.... I grabbed a black tank top that she already had, and I cut two rectangles about 6 inches wider than the tank top. I sewed the rectangles together (RSF) and then sewed it to the tank top.  I pinned the sides and the front and back centers of the fabric to the tank, and stretched the tank top as I stitched. I used a zig- zag stitch to make sure there would be some "give" when she pulls it over her head.  Hem the bottom, flip it right side out, and it's done! Cute and comfy! Quick and easy! She was so happy to wear it to a family BBQ! See you next time!!

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!

House dress???? This was cute, but it needed something... Pick, pick, pick.....off come the sleeves! It was raglan style, so it would be halter style with that funky collar. I love this print!! I sewed the raw edges down...and.... Now I'm ready to celebrate the 4th of July on a boat  with my family in Westlake in California!! Vacation dress!! See you next time!