Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Frumpy Thrift Shirt Makeover

Saw this photo on Grosgrain's site today and hopped over to find the tutorial. She's taken a silk thrift store shirt and flipped it around, popped off the sleeves and collar, and turned it into something pretty and chic. I'm in love. I've forever finding dumpy thrift shirts in beautiful fabric that need to be turned into something else, and this is perfect.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Using Fabric Neurosis

I've started collecting vintage textiles from thrift stores. Pillowcases, sheets, napkins, tea towels, scrap fabric. The problem is I think I'm slowly becoming a compulsive old-lady hoarder. Everything is too precious! What if I use it and find the perfect project for it later?

I used to just buy enough fabric for a certain project with all the matching notions and coordinating fabrics at once and then not have anything leftover. Now I find myself buying something thrifty because it's crazy, one of a kind, or real cheap yardage I know I can eventually get a use of. Is this just a different process? Or is it the sale mentality taking over the free space in my studio?

My other problem is the total inability to separate a set. If there's two pillowcases and I only need one, I can't bear to leave the other one behind. If there's a matched fitted and flat sheet, it paralyzes me to purchase half of the set and leave the mis-matched spare behind. Is that normal?

On top of that, I have a hard time harming something if it's in good condition. Bundle of 6 coordinating 1950's tea towels with the tags still on scented with cedar hope chest, slated to become pillows or aprons or totes have been relegated to the stack of things I don't dare harm but simply want to look at. Vintage slip that fits perfectly and is wonderfully detailed, previously planned to be dyed and embellished with bundles of lace gets pulled into regular rotation as an everyday underthing instead of a standout slip dress. I could go on and on.

How does one approach their hoarding mentality and get the original use out of something instead of letting it stack up around them? How do I begin to reconcile leaving behind doubles of pillowcases and sheets?




image from here

Thursday, April 14, 2011

31 Days to Better Photos


Read all the way through these 31 days to a better photo tips since there's always something out there to learn! Such a great, broken down into bite sized pieces way to pick up a little more about good photography.

Photo is my own, peonies from last year.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Alice Dress Tutorial


Keep seeing these everywhere, and haven't bought one yet because I can't find one that's "just right." Take the guesswork out by making your own, using this cute tutorial. Love the colors and patterns she used together, so fun!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011