Lei’s NDAD Creation

(Before we begin, I know there’s been some of you having issues with photos coming in on the daily newsletter.  I’m sorry for the annoyance and it’s getting worked on  In the interim, for those of you reading this from the comforts of your email inbox, just scoot over to the blog until the issue is amended.  Thanks for all your patience!)  OK, on to the remake!!

Lei submitted not just one piece made from a muumuu, but three pieces which totally blew me away!!  I love when a piece can be transitioned into multiple things.  Here’s her story…

Dear Marissa,
Greetings from the Philippines!  Yes, your blog has reached the other side of the world.  Your blog and your story inspired me to take up sewing – I just love how you can transform some outlandish and outdated piece into something that is stylish. This muumuu is a giveaway from my mom’s friend.  It was way too big and it looks hideous and grandma-ish on me.

Lei – Before

It has been lying in our closet for years but the fabric is so soft, the print so pretty and so cool to the eyes, that I never got rid of it.  After stumbling upon your blog, I knew I had to do something to make it wearable.

Muumuu!!

And thanks to the inspiration from your muumuu recreations, I was ready to go. 

The muumuu has a pretty embroidery around the neckline, so I knew I wanted to keep it intact.  I removed the sleeves, cut and sewed the sides, and took away some of the length.  I love the feel of the dress on my skin and who would ever think that it came from a hand-me-down over-sized muumuu? 

Lei – After

There was so much material left from the length of the dress that I thought about making another piece from it.  The sleeves had some embroidery so I cut them up and stitched them together to make a top.  Isn’t it pretty?  I wore it with my cardigan and I thought one of these days, I’d wear it on top of my swimsuit as a sarong or just wear it as a skirt too! 

New top/skirt/sarong

But wait, there’s more…

I’m also into baby shoes these days and with the scrap fabric from the muumuu, I made a pair of kimono shoes for babies.  

Kimono Shoes!!

I have to practice a bunch more on making kimono shoes, but think they turned out great.  Thank you for the inspiration Marisa! Love, Lei 

I want a pair of these kimono shoes for me.  Lei, if you have the steps for making these shoes, send them my way and we’ll do a tutorial here on the blog.  Love how they came out and I love that you have made your wardrobe larger just by tackling one piece!!  Thank you for your creativity!