Lip Service

When I was little, I loved to color pictures with pink and red together. Pink and red flowers, pink and red houses, stick people with pink and red clothes. My mother always told me that pink and red 'clashed,' "Don't put those two together! They clash!" Thus, I was never able to wear anything that was pink and red together. Sadness.  I thought they went fabulously together. I considered pink and red to be cousins, if not sisters or even besties. But for the earlier part of my life, the two were forced apart.

Now that I am older and wiser, I love to throw pink and red together. Wearing anything with the two colors paired up puts a huge smile on my face and an extra strut in my step. I was paging through a magazine the other day that had images of lace appliqués on sweatshirts and t-shirts.  Once again, I was reminded and inspired by my two long lost, sister colors.

Off to the fabric store I went. JoAnn Fabrics had long sleeve t-shirts on super clearance. Apparently in decision making parts of the world, long sleeve tees are no longer in season. In North Dakota, they are still mandatory. I picked up a pink one that was 2 sizes too large for me. I then went over to the lace section and had 1/4 of a yard of red lace cut.

The first thing I did was slash the neckline of the tee, the bottom hem and the sleeve cuffs. I then cut off an extra bit of length on the bottom. The intention was to make an oversized cropped tee. Once it was cut, I placed some cardboard covered with wax paper inside the shirt, underneath the front side. I put that aside.

Next, I went to the computer and found an image of kissable lips. I printed it out, cut it out in two pieces and used those for my lace pattern pieces.  Once I had the lip pieces cut out, I placed them on the t-shirt. I then used a foam brush and Aleene's Fabric Fusion to glue them onto the front of the shirt. Make sure that the cardboard and wax paper are beneath the side of the tee that you are gluing on. I brushed the backside of the lace with the Fusion. Make sure brush the glue on and do not use globs of the glue on the back. If you use globs, they will show through the lace and on the shirt. I have learned my lesson doing this. Once the lip pieces were glued on, I placed the tee with the cardboard still inside somewhere to sit and dry for 24 hours.

Once the glue was dry, I washed the shirt in the washer, just to get the stiffness out. Fabric Fusion is totally washable and the glue sticks even after drying. It is a thing of wonder! I love this glue. I use it all of the time.

When the shirt was washed and dried, I hemmed the bottom and the cuffs and added seam binding to the neckline. It turned out just as I wanted it to and I love, love, love the colors!

SWAK!!!! Get out there and make something that clashes!!! Happy glueing from your red and pink friend in the north!

Glamping Cosmetic Brush Roll

I am a makeup junkie. I will not deny it. I whole heartedly accept this vain fault. Just try and tease me with a new lip gloss or worse yet, eye shadow. I will snatch that puppy out of your hands like a dog who hasn't had a meal in 3 days. Because of my 'habit', I try to take the best possible care of my cosmetics. I store them in a vintage train case. I clean my brushes regularly. If I travel, my makeup comes in with me before my clothing luggage. If there were a fire and I had 30 seconds to leave, you can bet that train case would be in my hands.

I like to put a cloth down on my dressing table when I put my makeup on. I carefully lay out the cosmetics I will be using. But recently I decided not just any old cloth will do any longer. So I decided to 'multi-task' and make a pretty makeup pad that doubles as a brush holder.

I went to my favorite fabric store in the entire state of North Dakota-Sew On Sew North, located on Main Street in Langdon. It was there that I found pink glamping fabric by Moda. Perfect for the makeup junkie that I am. I only purchased half a yard for this project. Also needed were double fold pink seam binding, felt and silk ribbon.

I cut two pieces of fabric in size 16"x12" and one piece 16"x7". I cut the felt in the 16"x12". First, I sewed a seam binding across the top of the  16"x7" piece. This will be the pocket.

Once that was stitched, I put one 16"x12" piece on top of the piece of felt and then the pocket piece on top of that, lined up with the bottom. Pinning them all together, I stitched the sections in the pocket for the makeup brushes.

Once the sections were stitched in the pocket, I put the the other 16"x12" piece on the bottom with the right side facing down. I pinned them together and pinned the seam binding all around the sides. On the  left side, I added two strips of silk ribbon for the tie and pinned it with the seam binding.

Once it was stitched and all thread was cut, I rolled it up and tied it into a pretty bow.

Not only do I have an organized way of finding my brushes, I have a cute pad to lay my favorite cosmetics on.

Happy glamping from your thrifty buddy in the north, still waiting for spring flowers!

Throwback Thursday-Vintage Maxi Dress

For my throwback Thursday, I dug out a gem of a vintage find I came upon a few months ago. It is a total Carol Brady late 60's/early 70's maxi dress.

The colors are absolutely gorgeous and the skirt is awesome. I am not so sure about the top part and I am not so sure I want to go full Carol Brady on this one. The brand is Butterfield 8, a popular brand of dresses in that era.

The front features buttons from the neckline through most of the skirt. There is a drawstring waist. I love the bottom portion and think it would make a great maxi skirt for spring/summer. I have a plan formulating in my head, but I am just not ready to take the plunge and cut away yet.

Give me a week and I will have a new piece for spring! If spring ever gets to North Dakota….

Enjoy the spring colors and thrift for your new seasonal wardrobe! Happy thrifting from your still shivering buddy in the north.

Kick It Out!

Sometimes, the cure for a really, bad, horrible, awful, no-good day can be a quick trip to the thrift store. It is safer than retail therapy at say, a mall or other expensive retail venue. And chances are you will take home much a killer find compared to something that at least 10 other people already have. Yawn.

For Christmas this year, I received a Crossly turntable/stereo. I absolutely love it!!! It looks retro, sounds great and plays both my iPod and vinyl. Can it get any sweeter? I have found that thrift stores are not only the place to find fashionable goods but also great vinyl!

My retro sound machine!

I added my retro sound machine to my 'vintage corner.' This is my little place of relaxation and solitude. It is where I like to read, browse through magazines for creative inspiration, light a little incense and chill to some scratchy vinyl sounds. I love it!

My sweet vintage corner!

Since January, I have been adding to my vinyl collection. Every month I try to have at least one major vinyl score. So far, they have all been pretty diverse, but pleasing to my ears!

January

February

February was a double score with Urban Cowboy and Dolly Parton! Love me some good old country!

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, JOLEEEENNNNN!

In March, I found an album that not only rocks but has one of the greatest album covers ever, in my humble opinion. Kick it Out for the Wilson sisters of Heart!

Barracuda!!!

Little Queen by Heart. Look at them-they look like beautiful gypsies! The dudes in the background look a little uncomfortable in those tights but who even notices them? It is all about the awesome vocals of Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson's seriously killer guitar. Love this album. Say all you want about iTunes, but you can't fully get the deep track experience like listening to a vinyl album. 

I have also been very lucky to find record sets which were very popular in the 60s and early 70s. 60's instrumental lounge music, big band, retro movie themes-compilations of 5 records in one set were a big deal back then. I love these sets, especially the big band. My vinyl collection is growing every week. Turntables have become very popular and are very hard to find. I also heard that 8-tracks are making a comeback. I don't think I will be heading down that road anytime soon. What is next? Unicorn murals on the sides of mini-vans?

Happy thrifting from your record spinning buddy in the north!

The I'm So Sick and Tired of This Parka Peach Faux Fur Coat

While some parts of the world are basking in the early throws of spring sunshine, we northerners are still trudging through the snow, grumbling and groaning and wondering if spring will ever show even the slightest hint of an arrival. We eagerly anticipate sunshine, warmer temperatures and thaw while at the same time we brace ourselves for Mother Nature's last cruel joke upon us. Yes, we North Dakotans are hearty folk.

It is about this time every year, after enduring the sub-zero temperatures of January and February, that I throw my winter coat down in protest. This year is not unlike any other and despite any forecast the weatherman may give, I have hung up my parka in utter protest. I simply will not wear that bulky monstrosity any further.

However since the weather still is not balmy enough for spring jackets and lightweight coats just yet, I decided to make a coat that was warm enough for the March climate but different in color and texture. I found the Burda pattern for a fur coat and purchased a lightweight, peach colored faux fur off of the red tag fabric section. Affordable faux fur is hard to come by but this was just the right weight for spring.

Using Burda's fur coat pattern from the January 2014 issue, I created a coat almost light as a jacket yet warm enough for North Dakota March. The peach color was just right for spring. This was one of the most easy coat patterns I had ever made. I used a gray flannel for the lining because it was available in my stash and I love the feel of flannel, no matter what time of year. It is the 90's girl in me. Normally, I hate to sew lining in coats but this was so simple. I am definitely marking this pattern and coming back to it in September to make a faux leopard fur coat for fall.

I added an extra length to the cuff and rolled it up.

Rather than using hook and eye closures as the pattern suggested, I used buttons with a vintage flair to them and elastic cord. I have a faux fur black coat that is vintage with similar style of closures and wanted the same effect as that one. I think mint green accessories would be the ultimate touch to this little number. Perhaps it will put 'spring' in my step as we wait for the one last snowstorm that we know Mother Nature will throw at us.

Until she does, happy thrifting from your bitterly sick of winter buddy in the north!

Black and Blue Pencil Skirt

I am not a mall shopper. I am not against shopping malls, I just like to find original items of clothing that at least 1 other people will not be wearing. I like to be different. However, I am very enamored of Swedish retailer H&M. Were the nearest H&M store not 5 hours away, I would be there rummaging through clothing every day.

Recently H&M opened up their US website where anyone can order online. Heaven. However some items are still pricey for even me and I admit, I use their site for clothing inspiration. When I came upon this funky black pencil skirt with a denim band at the bottom, I was in love.

Love, love, love! And how easily this could be made! I started with some black knit fabric and used a simple McCall's skirt pattern. I then sacrificed a Gap denim skirt of the same size. The bottom of the denim skirt must be the same width as the bottom of the black skirt. I used a seam ripper to open up the bottom hem of the denim skirt so that I could get the rough edged look. 

I was quite pleased with the finished result and paired the skirt with a black, silver-studded cardigan that I found on the clearance rack at Target. So very H&M looking.

The total cost of this project was less than $10 as the black knit fabric was a remnant in my stash. The H&M skirt retails for $39.99. I feel so Swedish! 

Happy thrifting from your friend in the north, desperate for spring!

Givin' It the Slip

Have you heard? The slip dress has returned! After it's disappearance from the '90s grunge scene, it ran out of town, desperate to rid itself of Courtney Love's shadow (wouldn't you also?). After a long rest, it is now back on the runway. And, in the pattern pages of Burda Style.

I am girl of the '90s. I loved the grunge look. Flannel, Doc Martens, baby doll dresses. I was never privileged to own a slip dress but now that the trend is back, along with a pattern to sew, I am mad with anticipation!

The slip dress pattern from Burda is a simple one. You can find it here. I had some awesome gray silk fabric that I picked up for $3 in a thrift store a year ago. It was sitting in my stash, just waiting for the right moment.

As I am a larger girl, I cut the pattern a bit larger than the Burda allowance. It was fairly simple to sew but when it was finished, I felt it needed a little 'something.' I dug through my trim stash and found this little lace piece to put at the neckline.

Now, I did mention that I am not the Kate Moss-90s-waif type, so I am a bit hesitant to wear this alone by itself. It needed a grungy companion. And what a better companion to any 90s piece than FLANNEL!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah, FLANNEL!!!!

Using a McCalls cardigan pattern, I took a gray plaid flannel fabric and made this cool asymmetrical front cardigan. Adding a belt, it was the perfect addition to the slip dress. I know the point of the slip dress is to wear the slip dress alone, but it is a bit cooler in North Dakota. Plus, sometimes a girl just has to cover up. Besides, I myself know that I am wearing the slip dress, so what does it matter?

I am Doll Parts. Bring on the flannel!!!!! Now, if someone can direct me to Eddie Vedder's house…..