Monday Giveaway!

How was everybody's weekend?  I must say that the Super Bowl is one of my favorite times of the year.  The game part is fun, but the rest of the shenanigans (the food/the catching up with friends/the commersh discussion/the halftime action) is what makes this winter Sunday a real blast. Even though my Jets were FAR from making it anywhere near New Orleans this year, I did find a fab vintage T that would come in handy.

A 1988 49ers T is what was my uniform today!  I found this wonder at the flea market and honestly, it's the softest T I own.  (Probably since it's been washed time and time again over the past 25 years!!)  The Niners are easy to root for (they are a California team and CA is my home...), but it was really the shirt factor that sealed the deal.

Well we all know what happened...and this T really didn't bring any of the '88 luck for the Niners, however the rest of the SB festivities were on point from the ridiculous pizza from Lucifers...

...to the halftime show, where I was most definitely dancing to Destiny's Child.

The spread was stacked for everyone - lots of alcoholic bevvies, non-alcoholic bevvies, and limes...

...and there were even petite pals to hang out with.

What did you guys do for the Super Bowl?  Any fun recipes/traditions?  What commercials were your faves?  Anyone partake in a pool and win goodies?  Or, who didn't even care about it and do something awesome instead?  I'm giving away this lovely necklace modeled by the fab AK...

...to a random winner (chosen this Friday, 2/9).  Looking forward to hearing what you've got to say about your Super Bowl Sunday routine!

Liz's NDAD Creation

Liz kind of blew my mind with her dress that she sent my way because I was just looking through magazines and ripped out a page with Jennifer Aniston wearing a plaid peplum Gucci dress from her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Her piece totally reminded me of it!  Check it out...

I have sewn simple things for years, resizing large shirts for myself and my friends and such, but your website inspired me to go much further!  I bought this white lace shirt/dress years ago at a local second-hand store because I loved the lace however because it was just a straight tube, it made my curvy body look huge.  I was just going to resize it to make it fit me better, until…

 …last year when I found this houndstooth dress at a really cheap thrift store in Montana!  I probably spent less than $9 on the two.

A month or so ago I went dress shopping and found an amazing dress on sale for $45 (normally $70) with a white lace top and a great peplum skirt that zipped up past my hips and waist but got stuck at my ribs and bust.  I left brokenhearted, but then just the next day, was totally inspired.

Let us see how inspired Liz really got!

Burdastyle posted an instructional (Click here for instructional!) about how to make a peplum and out of coincidence I was going through my stash of "sewing goals" that night and found the white lace top/dress and got inspired.  I matched it up with the houndstooth and a bit of extra quilting fabric and after a mock up on the floor, I got started. 

I took the sleeves off the houndstooth dress and ripped out the seams up the center to flatten them out.  I cut the bottom part of the dress to the right length so I could keep the hem because I hate hemming!  I took in the sides of the skirt, and put darts in the top to make them both more fitted. I pinned the houndstooth bottom to the white top and sewed it in place. Following the Burdastyle instructional, I used the remaining fabric to construct the peplum, giving it a wider diameter than my waist so that I could gather it in sections.  I sewed the peplum in place, then the waistband...and then I cut down the center back.  It took some fiddling, but I got the zipper in the back just right so that it zipped up past my bust!  Finally, I took one of your hints and gathered the center of the bust line to create a deeper neckline. 

In the end, I love this dress.  I wore it to a Montana wedding (that's my beau in the pic) and it lasted the night.

This dress has become part go-to wardrobe and I am just so glad I took the plunge!  Thanks for the inspiration Marisa!  Soon I'll send you pictures of my own muumuu transformation!

 I LOVE THIS DRESS, Liz!!  The best part is that it's so on trend and looks identical to things I've seen in the store.  I'm obsessed that you made this work for you - there's nothing like a dress that fits you to a T, and you worked it out!  I'm looking forward to that muumuu...

Marcia's NDAD Creation

Today's piece comes from my girl Marcia in Brazil!  I love her before piece because it's something that many of us can procure for nada from our dad/husband/brother/boyfriend/BFF/anyone of the male species.

Hello dear Marisa, I live in Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil and recently I left a job where I worked for six years because I could not take it anymore.  After finishing the job, I sat in front of my sewing machine for hours on end, and I never stopped. I always seek inspiration for my customizations on your blog, so I decided to shoot a before this time!  Looking for projects for my crafting, I came across a huge basket of men's shirts.

I loved the pattern...

...and the store was selling them for $2 (R$ 4,00 quatro reais, in Brazilian money), so I couldn’t resist!  

Just what will Marcia do with the shirt?

So, I bought one and transformed in a dress!

It worked, and I loved it. I even went back to the store and bought ten more shirts :) I will enjoy transforming all my out-of-style men's shirts into beautiful new dresses!!

How cute are you?  Removing the collar, stitching up the bottom of the shirt, and then cinching with a belt is just lovely!  I love the orange colors with your skin too, Marcia!  Send over images of the other shirts you remake - we'd love to see!!