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April 16, 2007

Clearly I'm in a spiral

Hmmmm. March craft is two weeks late. But I did do it, and I like it. So I think it's all going to be ok.

I had a couple of different ideas for recycling. I did want to find some fabric to use for something else, but a couple of quick trips (read: kids were with me) to the local thrift shops did not yield anything hopeful. The thrift shops I visited all had nice things that you might still want to wear. That is not what I was looking for. I was hoping for some really thick polyester or some cute old curtains or an old beaded dress. I know some of you are laughing. It's ok. eBay has ruined me for most of the rest of the world. Anyway, the thrift shops were disappointing. I have no idea where to try next for real thrifting. I suppose I am going to do yard sales and estate sales and the flea market.

I was able to nab two things at the local Goodwill shop. Did the rest of you know that at least half of the clothes at Goodwill have tags on them? What is up with that? Where does the stuff that Goodwill rejects go? I think that is the stuff I want. Oooops, off on another digression. I found a dress, gently worn, American Outfitters, and a tank top, also clearly washed a few times, Old Navy, that weren't too dear and I bought them. I added some fabric I got in a swap from Shelba. I bought a pattern that said E-A-S-Y in big letters on the front.

I haven't sewn in years. I used to at least know how to read and follow a pattern so I was hopeful that it would all come back. With a few missteps it did. I machine basted the straps on the wrong side at first, but I knew they were wrong right away and that should count for something. I had to search the internet for a bit to find a site that actually explained understitch in a way that I could understand. And it is so easy. Why does it sound so complicated?

I like the way the flowers and vines on the two fabrics play off each other.

For some reason I decided that this pink dress needed some orange. When I went to the fabric store I had something specific in mind, and when you head to Joann Fabrics that isn't the best idea. I wanted something that looked Indian to go with the vines on the front, but with some orange and perhaps some pink. I think I would have done better in a shop catering to poor college students.

I love beads in most any form, even the most obnoxious. This dress feels beachy because the the fabrics have been prewashed and I thought a few beads would make it that much more summery. Since the top was lined (and the lining was slipstitched to the skirt) I felt like the beads and their threads would be safely encased. I like the little orange seed beads a lot.

One of the beauties of this project was the skirt. Since it was already a skirt, I lopped it off, removed a bit of zipper on the one side and sewed up the seam and it was ready to attach to the top. No fussing. No hemming. Lovely. It worked out great. I wanted to bead it up a bit more, but she is only 2 1/2 and the skirt isn't lined. So it will stay as is.

She actually hates dresses right now. She didn't want the dress on today, but then again it was very windy, rainy, and cold (45) so I can't blame her for not wanting the sundress. I am hoping for a change of heart when the weather breaks.

I already have a good idea for April's Get Your Craft On challenge APRON. That's the good news. The bad news is that I need to get to a flea market, a fabric store, and probably a thrift shop. And that's before I even start with anything. Sigh. I like the apron craft challenge. I am all about aprons these days.

The photos are on Flickr.

Posted by grrlTravels at April 16, 2007 7:50 PM

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Comments

Posted by: mortimersmom at April 16, 2007 9:07 PM

Posted by: Mrs Figby at April 17, 2007 11:38 AM

Posted by: Debi at April 18, 2007 2:57 PM