33 Days to Go: Brianna's NDAD Creation

September 15, 2012

admin

I think Los Angeles just hit the hottest temperatures of the summer, this 15th day of September! I'm wearing a bikini top around my house just to stay cool. The fact that Brianna mentioned winter in her piece description sold me. Check out what she did!

Hi Marisa!

I've been back at the sewing machine in this lovely weather we've been having in MN. I got this dress online for a couple dollars and it looked so cute on the mannequin in the picture. I opened it, and it was not quite what I had hoped...

I loved the print though - it was the whole reason I got the dress - and decided to try to recreate what I thought I saw when I bought it.

I have the same grief with online shopping - I always see things I LOVE and then when they get shipped to me, they either don't fit, have a different feel than what I was expecting, or just less cute than what was on the mannequin/model. Let's see how Brianna turns this around!

I started by cutting off the huge sailor collar and detached the skirt and the bodice. I cut off that lovely "V" at the bottom of the bodice, and took it in, before trimming the skirt to even it up. I stuck it all back together and voila!

The buttons on the front still work, and I reattached the ties to the sides. It turned out just the way I wanted it to, and I have already had several friends threaten to steal it. That's always a good sign :) Stay amazing! Brianna

When friends threaten to steal something it's the best sign you can ask for!! I'm loving your after backdrop too!! The florals blend in so well with the wooden chairs and trees in the background. I'd be wearing this all the time! Watch your gals sticky fingers, Bri! Love what you did and can't wait to see your next piece!

September 13, 2012

admin

34 Days to Go: TGIF!

September 13, 2012

admin

I don't have a fully completed remake for today as I was going back to school (ok not really school, but in total class mode) and was meeting/prepping/driving in my car for some fun things on the horizon next month!

I was however working on this piece...

...and got far enough when I realized that my kit full of thread just didn't include lime green. All other tasty green shades were covered - mint, olive, tea - but lime was out, so a quick jaunt to Mood was in order. You'll see this neon gem in its remade glory next week!

I'm back in a fun video class all day to brush up on my skills, or lack there of :) I can't wait to get the first vid up on the site after completion! I'll be shooting Woody Allen's movies in no time.

Happy Friday!

September 12, 2012

admin

35 Days to Go: $1 Remake

September 12, 2012

admin

I found a doozy, friends!!

This dress was ruffle-y, from the 80s/early 90s brand All That Jazz, and patterned like crazy!!

I did like all the ruffles going on, however it was a bit too much with the black/lavender/beige/white pattern that felt a bit jungle-ish.

I like the bones of the dress and think it can be brought out of the early 90s, because right now I'm still hearing Hootie and the Blowfish in the background :)

I began with my scissors and got cutting!!

I want to make this two pieces - I'm going to use the top part today, so I trimmed the piece in two, following the seam below the top ruffle. Post-trim, I had all this leftover...

...but will be reusing soon! The top was separated...

...and next came the removal of the big shoulder pads! I took my seam ripper and began to cut those stitches keeping them attached!

Later thick pads!!

Once the pads were out, I put the top on and cinched the area right underneath each arm. Basically I gathered a bit of the ruffle action and cinched it together to make the ruffle-ing more prominent at the shoulders instead of at the body. I just used some safety pins so I can remove and play around with it differently next time!

I paired the top with a thick elastic belt, just to break up the pattern a bit and headed off for some sausages and beer to celebrate JMT's birthday!