Cara's NDAD Creation

Today's piece comes from the fantabulous Cara who is 16 and a master dyer.  Seriously, her project is super fierce and I think you guys are going to enjoy!

Hi Marisa!  I adore your site and decided to give a nasty dress from our local Goodwill a fixer-upper that it was begging for.  I went with my mom (the one who showed me your website - I'm forever in debt to her!) and we found a typical “third-grade teacher from the 80’s” long, denim dress for $4 that had an existing seam perfect for a first-timer like myself.

So, I decided to try my hand at vintage-vest making!

Let's see how Cara's vest turns out!

I took the dress and cut right under the existing seam around the waist and found I was already halfway through!  Then, after deciding instantly I hated the cheap-denim color it already was, I bought a darker denim-colored dye (Hallelujah Rit!) and well, dyed it!

It came out a beautiful and vibrant blue, but I wasn’t done there.

I had been wanting a bleached ombre vest or jeans for some time and decided this was a perfect time to make one myself for way cheaper than I ever could have bought one!  So, I mixed 1 part water to 1 part bleach and dipped my vest in the concoction twice to really set in the bleach (excuse the nastiness on the outside of the bucket I used).

Then, after waiting for it to whiten to my preferred extent, I washed it quickly and let it air dry.  I can honestly say I squealed like a maniac at the result – I love it!

I have worn it out already and get compliments everywhere I go, and I never would have done it without your inspiration. 

Thank you so much, and keep on inspiring!

P.S. It really shows my laziness in that in the time it took me to post this, i got my hair hacked off!  Also, totally forgot to take a pic of the vest from the back outside, so, everyone gets a lovely view of my blurry TV playing "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Yay for an amazing ombre vest, Cara!!  I love this project and it's SO on trend.  You look simply adorable and I know that this is going to work just as well for a fall piece as it did for the summer.  And I love that you were watching Oh Brother in the background - one of my favorites!!  Keep the remakes coming!!

Olivia's NDAD Creation

Olivia from See Her Handmade sent in this fab remake and it's something that I can't wait to make!  Let's just say that she brings a bow into this situation and I'm totally on board!

My mum was cleaning out her closet and there were a few things that I had to take for myself.  Here's one of them...

At the time I started this project, I had just received word that I got a job and I was to start the upcoming Monday.  So that meant two things - I needed more work clothes and I wouldn't be able to craft as much.  Time to get crafting.

See what she did...

She took off the sleeves first...

...cut the collar off...

...stitched the arms together...

...and tied the arm pieces into a bow.

The arms and neck got pinned and tweaked...

...and the piece was ready to go!!  I love the maroon/orange pairing - such a chic color combination!

You look gorgeous Olivia!  Way to take your mom's piece and make it your own.  Can't wait to see what you do with the rest of the goodies!

For more from Olivia, head over HERE!

Remake: Floral Romper from Maggie's Thrift

Today's piece was sent my way by the lovely Sarah who manages Maggie's Thrift in Phoenix, AZ.  I loved the print, but loved what Maggie's Thrift supports even more. Here's what Sarah sent...

I have been following your blog for over a year and have been so excited for your success.  Your down to earth, overly budget friendly, and fun projects are just the thing women need in their lives.  I currently manage Maggie's Thrift in Phoenix. I enjoy finding fun outfits that I can recreate or that I can help a customer imagine recreating.  Maggie's Thrift also serves as a job training program for its main agency Maggie's Place which offers homes of hospitality for pregnant women in need of support or housing.  We look forward to seeing the revamp!

I couldn't wait to get started on this lovely romper!  It was rather large...

...but as soon as I saw buttons underneath the arm area, the wheels started turning.

I was actually quite excited about the size because it's going to help bring my vision to life!

Oh romper...thanks for being you.

Here's a close up of those buttons under the arm area.  This to me felt like it would be something you'd see as the front of a piece, so that's what I'm going to make it!  Old arm area turned new front of the dress!

I chose one arm side to be my new front and then trimmed down the other side, from top to bottom, to completely open the back of the dress up.  I'm making this a halter and using the intact arm hole as where my head will be and the intact strap as the piece that will go around my neck.  This piece also rules because there are buttons on each strap, making it so super easy to open and close at my neck.

I put the piece around my neck and measured/pinned the area in back of where it needed to be restitched.  I wanted to make sure that it didn't fall too low and would be fitted enough when worn.  I also pinned the strap that was going around my neck in preparation for a new seam to thin it out a bit and get rid of some of the fabric to make it less bulky.

I sewed the back and the new strap...

...worked on a little pinch and cinch action at the bottom of each side of the neck strap...

...and had a brand new dress!!

I am so thrilled with how this turned out!!

It's like the buttons were meant to be front and center!  The cinching on each side of the strap not only gives the dress more shape, it also helps with not chafing under my arms too.

It's a fab transition piece because it can go from day to night with just the addition of a cardigan!

Cardigan: Banana Republic //Purse: vintage Dooney & Bourke // Booties: Cotton On // Necklace: vintage

I realized that I didn't shoot a picture of the back of the piece, so I took one after my little street shoot!

Many thanks to Sarah for sending me this piece (!!) and those of you in the Phoenix area, head on over to Maggie's Thrift to score some goodies.

Happy weekend, friends!!