Week 45: Jemina’s NDAD Creation

Mar 27, 2011 | 36 Comments
Today’s piece comes all the way from Finland and my chic gal Jemina!!  Here’s her transformation story…
“I got the original dress from a second hand store in Helsinki, during a campaign day when everything costs only a Euro. I fell in love with the color and decided to take it home, despite the not-so-slightly matronly look…
Jemina - Before

Jemina - Before

Let’s hear her process!!
I first decided to take the dress up to above knee-length, because it really made my legs look shorter the way it was. After that, I removed the sleeves with a seam ripper and hemmed the arm holes again. I added an elastic band to take in the waist. Now I was basically ready, but thought the look was a bit plain and boring. I tried on pieces of sash around the waist and lace along the neckline, but nothing seemed quite right until I put together a big bow from the fabric left over from the bottom of the dress.
Jemina - After

Jemina - After

I just had the dress on some days ago, as we are slowly but steadily moving towards spring up here, styled according to the current weather!”
Sassy Gal!

Sassy Gal!

Way to take something plain and shapeless and turn it into something totally fun and wearable!!  Sometimes inspiration comes from just sitting with your piece a bit -  love your creativity Jemina!

  • Asboiko32

    you are very creative! i would even buy this :)

  • http://www.slightly-noodles.blogspot.com Claire

    That. Is. Awesome.

  • anon

    very well made!

  • http://chasingfabrics.blogspot.com/ Jenny Wiola

    Please Jemina, create a blog you too! I would love to see more.
    This is just so extremely adorable, cute and chic.

  • Pishposh

    Too cute! Looks like something from Modcloth!

  • Sarah

    I agree…. please blog, Jemina! The bow that you made is so imaginative and polished and does make the dress very mod!

  • Btejkl

    Okay, it took me a minute to understand that the “before” picture had some alterations penciled in on top of the picture. – DUH – But, in spite of my DUH moment, I think it looks fabulous and very modern. So far from the matronly “before” look :)

  • Kissem37

    Adorable! Way to show off those great legs ;)

  • Julia

    I love this dress! so cute!

  • mowink

    …….and it shows off your very nice legs! Congrats, Jemina.

  • Laura

    This is so adorable! <3

  • BookCrazy

    So pretty, creative, and adorable.

  • Star

    Love it!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MJPB445UOWNOS5UILEAOY6LWDY Odile

    Woah! What a transformation!

  • http://aweekfromthursday.wordpress.com heidi

    Oh gosh, that is so cute. She looks absolutely adorable in it! Great job.

  • Renny

    Love it!

  • Deborah

    That is so amazing. I’m totally going to remember this one!

  • mary

    Dang girl! That is super cute – well done! fabulous!

  • Leila_vibrola

    Wow, fabulous!

  • Wantchevy1961

    II love the idea she created. The only thing I would’ve done is kept it just a bit longer. To me it seems alittle too short for the style, but it is a very cute design!

  • Hlh6

    adorable! I would have made it longer because MY legs can’t handle that amount of height, but I think I’m in LOVE with putting the bow in and pulling in the waist.

  • Julie

    Jemina, this dress looks so similar to one I saw in a shop window in Helsinki last October (in deep purple with cap sleeves though) that I absolutely loved! Pairing it with the tights is a nice cooler-climate look that works well where I live too. Great color and looks adorable on you! Can’t wait to see if I can find a similar starting point in the thrift stores close to home!

  • Julie

    Jemina, this dress looks so similar to one I saw in a shop window in Helsinki last October (in deep purple with cap sleeves though) that I absolutely loved! Pairing it with the tights is a nice cooler-climate look that works well where I live too. Great color and looks adorable on you! Can’t wait to see if I can find a similar starting point in the thrift stores close to home!

  • http://thosetricks.com/ Those Tricks

    Love it, Jemina!!

  • http://www.mygiddyauntblog.blogspot.com Vanessa ZA

    jeepers! what a hit! I heart it!

  • http://profiles.google.com/luisa.sparrow Luisa Sparrow

    Wow! what a transformation! looks great!

  • MariaSheep

    Adorable!! So very cute. Love the color and the legnth looks great on you.

  • http://www.sewcial.blogspot.com sewcial ♥ Jenima

    I ❤ this! and not just because your name is soooo similar to mine ;) It’s so cute, thanks for sharing… I will borrow this idea for sure!

    - Jenima

  • Jazz

    now that ame out ute! Good Job:)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=538094982 Jemina Lehmuskoski

    Thank you all SO much for your feedback, I can’t tell how much it means to me! :)

    I do have a blog too, though currently only a one in Finnish. You can check out previous writings in English from www . goodthingsinprettypackages . wordpress . com (the comment field won’t let me share a direct link, so just take out the spaces :) ). And we might have to do something about the language barrier in the new blog.. ;)

  • Christie

    wonderful! love. love. love.

  • Katharina

    beautiful work! how awesome it must feel to see the results of you work as inspiration… you’re amazing!

    • Anonymous

      Thanks Katharina, you’re amazing!! xx

  • BNW

    That is soooo cute! I want one!

  • http://ctad.blogspot.com mayathecurlygirl

    that’s ADORABLE!

  • Gwen

    I really, REALLY like your work. How do you do it?!  AHHH! I have no sewing talent it makes me so frustrated!  ANGER!