Monday Remake: Bright Florals

I snagged this at the Goodwill in Charlotte when I was visiting my parents because I was OBSESSED with the fabric colors.  I mean, this is like a box of Crayola crayons!!  A big floral box of crayons!

Color aside, the rest of the piece was just not going to cut it on me in its current state.  I liked the buttons, but they came up high on my neck, so I needed to make a few adjustments to make this summer wardrobe-worthy!

Time to get out my seam ripper!!

I played around with the top of the piece for a bit before I decided to turn it around!  There were three awesome seams on the back - one down the center and the other two making about a 15 degree angle on each side - and that's where my inspiration came from.

I wanted to open this area up a bit so I used the seams as my guide...  I put down three pins marking the area that I wanted to remove fabric from.

I took my seam ripper and began removing seams until I hit the pin marks, folding the material on each side of the center seam under.

I loaded up my sewing machine with some thread and restitched seams on the front of the piece!!

A few easy adjustments and using the matching rope belt that came with the dress, I was ready to go public!!

I love the way the new neck looks!!  It's super feminine and totally works with my stark white skin and the pretty melony/reddish/pink/yellow/green florals.

I tied the belt and did a little untucking to give a little shape at the waist.

The buttons down the back are awesome too now!  I like them WAY better on this side of the piece!

I got excited to spend the day in the sun and took my dancy feet...

...to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art).  I finally got to see the Stanley Kubrick exhibit...

...before it closes next week (could I get any more last minute???).

I had to document the costumes...

I'm going to have nightmares about these guys tomorrow...

It's really amazing to get so close and personal with things that you've seen over and over in film. Being there in person was incredible!

After Kubrick, there was time spent enjoying the spaghetti strings, aka "Penetrable” by Jesus Rafael Soto.

It was just me and the kids hanging in the yellow strings...you know, like you do when you're in your 30s :)

Time to kick off the new week!  Happy Monday, friends!

Casey's NDAD Creation

I've been working on some floral pieces and this LOFT dress that Casey tweaked totally reminded me of one of them!  I love the lavender/green combo and kind of wish I found it myself.  Here's her story....

Hi Marisa - OMG, I love your blog.  I check it several times a week and just love how inspired I am every time.  I have sewed for years, but my skills aren't top notch.  I usually stare at something for several years before actually making a move.  I finally decided to go for it on an older Loft dress...

...that I scored at a thrift store a few years back.

Time to see what Casey did!!

After cutting and hemming, my fit and flare dress is now a peplum top!

It was perfect for Easter.  Thank you for inspiring me!  Casey

I love how this looks paired with your jeans and white cardigan!  I feel like that dress was just calling out to be a peplum top!  You've created a piece that is going to be a wardrobe staple - you can totally rock a skirt with it for summer.  Keep up the gorgeous work.  Looking forward to the next remake!

Etsy Craft Party Day!!

Happy Etsy Craft Party Day!! I've been such a fan of this yearly event that Etsy began four years ago.  It's basically a day where people across the world get together and make things, embracing and promoting the handmade community.  No matter where you live, there are little communities of crafters getting together to create awesome things all over the place.  Um, I'd love to join the group in Perth, Australia!!  (Here's a MASTER LIST of locations if any of you want to get involved!)

I'll be hanging in Orange County (time for some OC action!) with the Academy of Handmade Artists and Supporters at the Creative Outlet Studios getting my Etsy Craft Party DIY on!  If any Southern California friends are around, come and stop by - event starts at 6pm!!  Details are HERE and there will be all sorts of crafts (fabric dyeing/screen printing/card making), snacks (a dessert bar and vino), and amazing raffles (ilovetocreate/Whimseybox/Fiskars) to enjoy throughout the evening.

I'm obsessed with Etsy (all my collage wall art came from Etsy artists) and am excited to help promote a day of handmade goodies!   I'll have a full rundown and post of all the cool things that get made and will have to put up some tutorials!  Also if any of you are partaking in an event where you are, post photos on Instagram/Twitter and hashtag #craftparty and #NDAD to share. I'll be Instagramming all night long!! #sorryinadvance :)

New remake tomorrow!!