31 Days of Thrift: Day 15

I found a whole lotta scarves at Housing Works and it's been fun trying to think of new ways to make them work aside from just wrapping them around my neck! DAY 15/31:

#17 – Scarf

I also grabbed the jeans I picked up on my same visit to pair with.

I loved the print on this scarf so I thought it would rock as a top!  Wanna see how I did it??

My scarf was ready to be twisted and pinned!  Here are the steps...

1. I wrapped the scarf around my neck, making sure an even amount of fabric was on each side.

2.  I pinched a bit of fabric from each side at the bust area and safety pinned it together.

3.  I finished pinning down the front of the scarf to secure the piece on both sides.

4. Next came the back.  I grabbed each side of the scarf right at the area of my back where I wanted the piece to fall (I had to make sure that it was still high enough to work with a strapless bra) and pinned this area.  I continued to pin down the rest of the back to keep it fully closed.

After all the measuring and pinning, my new scarf/top was ready for its debut!

It's kind of the most perfect thing to wear when it's SO hot out.  Makeshift halter, check!!  I love the back too...

You can always pin and repin the area to get in and out of it easier as well.  I loved the color so much - it matched the heather-y grey/purple shade of my kimono to a tee, creating an easy transition from day to night.

Kimono: Vintage // Jeans: H&M // Shoes: 9 West // Bag: Vintage // Necklace: Forever 21 // Sunnies: Urban Outfitters

I need to start getting all the super hot weather outfits out-of-the-way before the temperatures really begin to go down here in Southern California.  Who's feeling true fall temperatures already?  Fill me in...I've been seeing tons of photos from friends of their apple and pumpkin picking which I'm totally jealous over.  I need to find some of these picking spots near LA - any locals out there have recommendations?  I'll gladly accept, make delicious apple cider, and take pics/send virtual sips your way!

Mandy's NDAD Creation

The best part of Mandy's outfit description was when she described her piece as something her dog couldn't even look at.  Who doesn't want to see how that turns out, right?  I'm obsessed with it...check it out!

Prepare yourself for an awesome plus-sized recreation!  I received a call from a good friend last month asking me to help her clean out her mother’s closet after her passing.  In the mix I found this homemade dress.

I loved the pattern and the toggle closures and the weird wrap/tie thing but man, this was a lot of print.  Even my dog couldn’t look at it for long periods of time.

Ruh roh!! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

I cut the sleeves and a good amount of the length. 

A few stitches later...

...I had a great breathable top that looked unlike anything anyone has ever seen!  It was perfect paired it with a pair of dark wash denim capris and nude wedges.

I received a ton of compliments on it and made sure to send a copy of the photo to my friend.  She was so happy to see someone enjoying something her mother had made many years ago.

Thanks for such an inspirational blog!

Mandy, the big question is...does your dog like it now??  You nailed this piece and look FAH-bulous!  More, please!!

My Mother's Attic: September

This month's post from Ash makes me long for an East Coast fall.  There's nothing like crisp weather, cool fresh air, leaves changing color, and dew on the grass to get me excited to sip warm apple cider and go pumpkin picking!  I'm living vicariously through her right now to fulfill my autumnal dreams...

Happy Fall, all! It's my favorite time of year!  It helps that Vermont is truly the most magical place on earth in late September/early October - the foliage, the crisp clean air, the leaves exploding in vibrant shades of oranges, reds, and yellows, apples, apple cider, and apple cider donuts, cozy sweaters, tall boots, golden sunlight - I love it all!  As I've mentioned, my family had a rough summer, so we are heralding this gorgeous autumn with hopes of equally happy days. While this remake is probably the least remarkable of all the ones I've shared this year, it's definitely the one I'll use the most in my daily life, and it really put my sewing skills to the test.  PLUS, I get to show off some of the critters that are making life on Cartwheel Farm this fall such a joyous, silly place. (Hint: We welcomed a miniature potbelly pig into our barn family).

This dress is from the early 90s and is something my mother wore for comfort during her years parenting me and my sibs as small kiddos.  It is breezy and comfortable - but every time I've worn it I've felt frumpy and "peasant-ish." 

I figured with a few adjustments, I could turn it into a simple jumper for layering (like this black dress that I rock all the time in the fall and winter). 

I started by removing the skirt from the top of the dress, as the waist line was at an awkward height and I wanted to have the skirt sit higher up on my waist.  I then brought in the sides of the top and shortened and re-hemmed the base of the top to move the waist line. 

I then took to The Internets to learn how to gather a skirt - and mastered the right tension/stitch length to sew along the top of the skirt and pull the top thread through to gather. I lined it up with the base of the top, pinned, and sewed the pieces back together.

Lastly, I hemmed the skirt to take the dress just above the knee.

I then layered galore with tights, a long sleeved tee, and my favorite Frye boots.

James snapped pictures of me in the look early one day this week as we went about our usual "farm" routine: letting the hens out of the coop, collecting fresh eggs, dumping our table scraps from the night before in our compost pile and letting Penelope, our potbelly pig, pick through and turn the pile, running Hanna our super mutt in our meadow, etc.

I just delight in these foggy, moody fall mornings as the sun begins to pierce through the mist. 

And I feel so lucky to live in a place that allows my family to have these sweet animal creatures.

We're welcoming a new puppy into our family next week (so expect her in October's post) and alpacas in the spring... so very much fun!

To keep up with Ash online, find her over at Blog a la Cart and here onTwitter, Instagram, & FB!  Can’t wait to see next month’s post with the new addition to the animal family!