More Design Fever: Pillows

It has taken me awhile to wake-up this morning. I suppose that my grogginess could be due to the usual Monday malaise. Or perhaps residual fatigue from a weekend afternoon of yardwork. Or maybe...just maybe...

...it's because I completely redecorated my office in 48 hours.

Do you remember this? I posted this "before" photo this past winter as part of my "winter renovation" project. However, as I confessed last Friday, my winter renovation turned into a spring affair. A spring affair that started and ended (well, mainly ended) during the past three days. (translation: I've been busy!)

I won't go into the whole makeover this morning, but I definitely will start with the pillows. Though they were not the first project in the renovation, they are the most colorful.

Now, like with most of the designing I do, I tried to stick as much as possible to repurposing things I already had. And these pillows were no exception. A good friend of mine handed these pillow forms off to me at least a year ago, where they've been quietly collecting dust in the basement since.

Though neglected, I knew that the pillows would come in handy eventually--and Friday was the day.

Now, my top choice for a renovation would be to completely reupholster the sofa, which, unfortunately, is a task that far exceeds my skill level. Therefore, Plan B was to ditch the back-rest cushions that came with the sofa (furniture we inherited from my hub's parents) and replace them with these hand-me-down pillows.

But first I had to cover them.

Since it is spring, I wanted something that was fresh and light. And something that I could create from my box of fabric scraps. So after some cutting and stitching, I came up with these covers.

At least half of the fabric you see is actually from my old clothing--a pair of khaki trousers that never fit, for instance, and some old shirts in coral and blue. The other half come mainly from fabric remnants I've collected from the craft store over the years for pennies on the dollar.

The final result, I think, turned out better than I planned. The cushions are extremely comfy, and the colors and design are perfect for the warm months that stretch ahead. Best of all, I got a totally new look for a bargain!

What do you think of my renovation so far?

How Resourceful! Alterations to a Red Blouse

This weekend I spent a couple hours browsing the local Habitat for Humanity just to see if I could find some thrifty goodies (read here to see what Craig's normal reaction is when I go to the thrift store...).

And after finding several charming mid-century dressers that I have absolutely no room for, I meandered over to the clothing and picked up three shirts for a grand total of $2.70.

This red blouse was one of them.

I was drawn to the shirt for three reasons:
1. the color. I think I must be going through a red phase because it's been popping up in my wardrobe a lot lately.
2. the front pleats. I love the way they drape down the front and remind me of a vintage-era.
3. the fabric. It's 100% silk. When you find 100% silk for less than a dollar, you buy it, people! You buy it!

BUT, as you can see by the image above, the blouse is rather frumpy. As in I'm pretty sure the last person to own it was in her sunset years. So I've brainstormed some alterations and I want you to tell me what you think...

First, I want to cut off those billowy sleeves! But rather than just take the sleeves off at the seam, I want to cut into the blouse yoke, exposing the shoulders. This line reminds me of a halter style except that the back will be closed rather than open.

What do you think so far?

Then I need to do some tailoring. I'm thinking that I will need some darts at the bustline for shape, and will probably also have to take-in the side seams a little too.

I'm hoping that these two quickie alterations will forever banish the potato-sack shape.

And this, my friends, is the final vision I have for this blouse. Silky, drapey, and not at all like your grandmother's Sunday top. Of course, this will be my first attempt at this combination of alterations, so we'll see how it goes. I suppose that if I make a total disaster out of it, I can create a lovely silk accessory out of the fabric instead.

Either way, this thrift store find for under a dollar has a lot of potential. I'll post the finished project when it's complete!

Any thoughts on my design or sewing tips you'd like to share? Post your comments below!

Crafty Girl: Whitney's Nautical Dress

Good morning everyone! I have a special Monday treat for you all! Remember last week when I wrote about showcasing more of your projects and ideas on Deviantly Domesticated? Well...I'm kicking off this week by doing just that, with a little help from my friend, Whitney.

I spotted this ADORABLE dress that Whitney made on her blog a couple weeks ago, and knew you all would love it too! Here are her thoughts on the project:

How long have you been sewing?
I actually only started sewing about 2 years ago. When I lived in Colorado I had a job that required me to be creative a minimum of 8 hrs a day so I didn't seek out any additional projects. It wasn't until we moved to Oregon and I took a job outside the design field that I required a creative outlet. I grew up with a mother that sewed 99% of all my dresses until I was in the 6th grade, I'm talking years of matching mother/daughter Easter dresses, so sewing seemed like the natural choice. I decided to take a beginner sewing class to learn the basics, bought myself a machine for $100, and the rest is history. I feel like sewing is really making a comeback and it couldn't have made a grander re-entrance.....seriously have you seen such amazing fabric choices & patterns???

Tell us a little bit about this project:
This project was inspired by a dress that kept popping up all over my Google Reader. Every time I saw it I thought "I could make that" so I decided that is exactly what I would do. I used a $6 tank top from Old Navy and a red stretch cotton from JoAnn Fabric for the skirt and sash. The entire dress cost a grand total of $12 and only took a couple hours to finish. I think this type of project is perfect for beginner sewers because you really only need a simple skirt pattern and a store bought top.

What are you working on now?
I'm currently working on a dress that I mangled on my first try. I decided to stray from the pattern the first go-around and things didn't end up so pretty. This time I'm following the pattern which is making my life a lot easier. When that's done I'm planning on making myself a half-dozen rompers for the summer.......they are going to be my summer staple.

What advice would you give to beginners?
I have 3 suggestions for beginners:
1. Save perfection for the professionals. If you're sewing a bag and you put something in the bag and it doesn't fall out......consider it a victory.
2. Take a beginner's class. These classes will teach you how your machine works along with basic stitches and sewing techniques.
3. Make stuff for other people. Nothing makes me happier then to finish a project and send it to someone else to enjoy. {Since I'm on the topic of giving, if you absolutely hate how a project turns out send it to your parents or grandparents......they are required to love everything you create.}

Thank you, Whitney, for sharing! What do you all think of her dress? Submit your lavish praise below:)

DO YOU have a project that you'd like to share as part of the Crafty Girl series? Send me an email today at shillberry@stephaniehillberry.com!
JOIN the CRAFTY GIRL flickr pool by sharing your latest project photos today! Click here!

Sewing is Making a Comeback! (notes from a Grand Opening)

Have I ever mentioned how my town has a serious lack of fabric options? Well, it's true. Apart from the ubiquitous craft mega-stores found in every strip mall across the land, with their aisles upon aisles of printed polyester, we had little else to choose from. Sure, there are a couple of lovely shops that carry rows of quilting cotton, but where is the silk? The knits? The taffeta and wool?

Needless to say, when my friend stumbled upon this new fabric store and learned that they were having a Grand Opening, I knew I had to be there.

Upon arriving, we were greeted at the door with the sign-in and given fabric wristbands. After admiring my newest bracelet, I looked up to discover that we should have gotten there earlier. Why? Because the place was packed!

Apparently I wasn't the only one eagerly anticipating a local fabric store! We all squished in like sardines and strained our necks to hear the opening announcements and then watch a fashion show. A show that included the nifty handmade garments of some very talented local designers.

After the fashion show, I did what any sewing enthusiast would do: I slowly and politely squeezed myself through the crowds to get at peek at the fabrics. It wasn't easy, but I managed to snap a few photos and file away some patterns and prints for future reference.

To see all of those people enthusiastically squeezed into the store confirmed a suspicion that I've had for awhile, which is that sewing is making a comeback. I'm not sure if it is the recession or a rising desire for unique fashion or the popularity of shows like Project Runway, but I like this new (old) trend! And I was happy to see my community embrace it!

I'm sure that last Friday was just the first of many times that I visit Mama Said Sew. And I hope that the store, and others like it around the country, grow in their popularity and success. And I hope sewing continues to make a comeback!

Are you a sew-er, or would like to be? What are you working on, or what would you like to learn how to make? Leave your comments below!

Actually, I Made it Myself (a fashion challenge for the month of May)

As promised, I wore my new wrap dress to the benefit dinner last night in spite of cooler weather. A benefit where, for the record, I ate and drank WAY more than I should have and now am nursing a petulant stomach and a headache. But before the overindulgence, I did have the pleasure of being approached by someone who wanted to know where I got my dress and how she could get one. And then I had the satisfaction of replying with "Actually...I made it myself."

This brief little repartee immediately brought to mind a fashion challenge posited by Zoe from So Zo for the month of May. I had almost forgotten all about it, but was pleased when my memory was jogged.

The challenge, simply put, is to wear handmade items during the month. Now the diehards are being encouraged to wear handmade Everyday, but Zoe acknowledges that not everyone has such a large stash of crafted creations in their closet. And so she just encourages participants to find a strategy that challenges them and stick to it.

For instance, she suggests maybe committing to wearing handmade accessories every weekend during the month if that habit falls outside of the norm for your day-to-day wear. Or, if appropriate, to amp up the challenge to wearing repurposed clothing during most weekdays if you can manage it.

In other words, the spirit of the challenge is to get us to think differently about the clothes we wear, and hopefully to inspire an appreciation for the handmade.

I haven't figured out exactly how I am going to challenge myself in May, but I'd like to do something. I doubt that I have enough in my closet to fill a whole month without looking like I never do laundry, but I do think that the exercise will encourage me to work on some of those summer projects I've been meaning to start.

And hopefully with a little bit of planning, I will have the opportunity to say "Actually, I made it myself" a few more times next month.

To learn more about Zoe's Me-Made-May challenge, and to [hopefully] join yourself, click here!
To see some of my patterns for repurposing your clothing, click here!

Send my Regards to Diane

When Diane von Furstenberg created and debuted the wrap dress in 1973, I wasn't even born yet. But when I secured my ticket for a benefit event happening tomorrow night, I knew that I needed something to wear. And I knew that almost 40 years later, Diane's creation would be my inspiration.

The wrap dress is iconic for many reasons. For one thing, it's pure genius. No buttons. No zippers. No belts. It is the kind of dress you can just throw on in the morning and look fabulous in all day.

Two, it is flattering to all types of shapes and sizes. I hardly know of a woman who could go wrong in this silhouette. Even in a zany print it showcases a woman's curves.

Third, the wrap dress is comfy. Made from knit jersey, it stretches. And drapes elegantly. And moves. And feels soft.

In other words, it isn't stiff or starched or tight or scratchy.

Lastly, Diane's dress is easy to make. It is a great project for newbie seamstresses (again, no zippers, no buttons, no belts...) and could be completed over a weekend. So give it a try!

As for me, I'll be showing off a little Diane tomorrow evening.

For information about this Vogue pattern, click here.
For information about the benefit I'm attending, click here.

Je Ne Sais Quoi: Giving Back (a fundraiser for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer)

That generosity is a quality of exceptional women goes without saying. Of course a charitable habit would be part of the alluring attraction of je ne sais quoi.

The trouble is figuring out how to give...

I was just reading an article about how volunteerism and charity have evolved over the past twenty years. No longer do we as a culture have an army of stay-at-home moms ready and able to donate hours of their time to noble causes. We're busier. We work more. And because of the recession, we have less money to give.

Which is why I have been feeling a little guilty lately. There are so many needs--Haitian earthquake relief, AIDS orphans in Africa, my local food bank--but my time and money aren't always easy to give.

Which is why earlier this year I started searching for opportunities to give back that fit within my particular set of skills (craftiness, for instance). Because I want to be charitable, but I don't exactly have the deep pockets of a philanthropist.

I do, however, have a stash of baby blankets that I made last year just sitting in my house. A house, I might add, that does not have any babies in it. So when my friend asked if I would be interested in donating something to her team's Avon Walk for Breast Cancer fundraising event, I knew immediately that I could help.

Tucked within this little anecdote is a principle that I LOVE to talk about: resourcefulness. I've mentioned it plenty of times in the past, usually referring to updating used clothing or making clever recipes from pantry misfits. But resourcefulness works just as well for charity, too.

The key, I think, is to start by asking what you have that you can give. I, for instance, don't have much discretionary cash, but I do have baby blankets. And my friend--the one raising money--can walk for a good cause. And that's just the tip of the iceberg:

Knitters can donate socks to the homeless.
Quilters can make quilts for sick kids.
Bankers can offer financial reviews for single moms.
Social butterflies can use their facebook and twitter accounts to spread the news about needs.

In other words, there are a million and one ways to give back, even for a busy, cash-strapped person. All you need is a little creativity, a resourceful eye...

...and a little je ne sais quoi.

To learn more about the "Wine*Music*Massage fundraiser" happening on Tuesday, May 4th, click here! I'd love to see you there!

What is your favorite way to give back? Share by posting your comments below!

Je Ne Sais Quoi: She Has the Golden Touch

You know, Cinderella had something that would seriously help us in our pursuit of je ne sais quoi. No, it’s not her glass slippers. Nor her ball gown. Nor her handsome prince.

It is her fairy godmother. You know--the one who could turn pumpkins into carriages and rags into silk with one wave of her sparkly wand. Oh how I wish I had a fairy godmother this morning who could magically turn my bagel into a delicious omelet, my ponytail into a french twist, and my silver ring into a diamond.
Well, what if I told you that I knew of a way to work some of that same fairy-godmother magic into your life? No--this isn’t a late-night infomercial promising that you’ll lose twenty pounds. by next week just by drinking a tasty berry-flavored beverage. Nor am I promising diamonds, omelets, carriages or prince charmings. But I do know a thing or two about having a golden touch.

Incidentally, this is a special month for this subject. It is, in fact, the one-year anniversary of when I first started dabbling in this little golden trick. I introduced it to you all as the New Midas Touch, and I’ve been tinkering with the idea ever since.
The concept--one that will definitely attract the attention of others in your life--is simple: take something that you have and multiply it. Got...say...a pumpkin in your garden that could be used for something else transportation related? (Well, maybe that isn’t the best example...) How about some old corks that could be transformed into a special housewarming gift for a friend? Or some boring shirts that could be spruced up for the new season? Or a handful of overlooked pantry items that could make a clever and inventive new entree?

But--you might be thinking--all you’re talking about is just recycling stuff. Where does the multiplication come in? Well, I’ll tell you! First, a penny saved is easier than a penny earned, so you’ve already increased your income by reusing something you have. But that’s only the first step. Because the next step is to apply a little ingenuity and take your new creations to the marketplace. This second part requires some practice, but the potential is magical!
Let me give you a real-life example from my own “golden touch” experiments:
First, the something that I had: a stretch camisole I bought several years ago for about seven dollars.

Step One: I recycled it by adding layers of pleated ruffles in a pink-champagne satin fabric (the satin for this project cost me less than a dollar!)

Now for some accounting: I spent less than ten dollars on this project and got a fashionable new garment--a garment that would have cost me anywhere from $30-$50 at a store. So, computing the math, I “made” at least $20, if not more.

But now here comes the multiplication part:
Step Two: I drafted a pattern out of my garment creation and started listing that for a few dollar online. And since then I’ve sold seven of them.

Back to the math: for under ten dollars, I a) saved money by avoiding a new purchase, and b) made money by selling my pattern. I multiplied the value of that boring camisole by a factor of five! If that isn’t fairy-godmother worthy, I don’t know what is!
Of course this specific example of the golden touch wouldn’t work for everyone. You have to like to sew for one thing. But the possibilities of this principle are endless! Every woman has a special skill or talent that she could invest for a profit. You don’t even have to “make” something (services are highly valuable!). It just takes some practice and thinking outside of the box.

So, yes, Cinderella may have had her fairy, but you have your own special set of stored-up magic. And finding it is soooo je ne sais quoi.

How Resourceful! my Spring Cardigan in Cotton

After a brief interlude, I finally hunkered down yesterday and reopened my pattern shop! And kicking off the spring pattern line is this lightweight cotton cardigan, in rose pink of course.

(note: if you're asking yourself, "didn't she just make a different rose-colored cardigan last week?"...
...well, the answer is Yes, I did. Don't judge me for loving the pink, people.)
I developed quite a fondness for cutting my sweaters in half this past winter, and decided that just because I no longer have need for wool doesn't mean I can't keep slicing with my scissors!

Besides, I'm always in need of cardigans. I find them infinitely more practical than long-sleeved tees. How, for instance, am I going to show off my cute tank tops and frilly blouses if they're covered up under a pullover?
Certainly some kind of protection is required, because I do live in Colorado where the spring season means snow in the morning and sun by afternoon. It's hardly the kind of weather I'd feel safe in wearing just a sleeveless top.
Light cotton cardigans are also very practical even during the heat of summer, because the hotter it gets outside, the more unbearably cold it gets inside, thanks to the overzealous use of air conditioning.

I know you know what I'm talking about.
Of course, as with all of my patterns for fashion and home, this one recycles used clothing by upgrading its style and function. Some scissors, a little satin fabric, and my sewing machine and I had a fun new sweater to replace a boring tee.
And in fact, you don't even need a sewing machine for this one! Just an iron and some fabric adhesive (like stitch witchery) would do the trick!

To learn more about my pattern for this SPRING CARDIGAN, click here.

What is your go-to garment for spring weather? Share by posting your comment below!

Stretching my Dollars: notes on my new pencil skirt

Good Monday morning! Hopefully you're all having a more successful time at rousing yourself for the week ahead than I am! Frankly I can't stop yawning, and I had to peel myself out of bed this morning. Of course, my new denim pencil skirt helped motivate me a little.
I recently finished the skirt using the same Vogue pattern I tried this past winter, with a few modifications, of course. And just like last time, it worked like a charm.

Except for that part where I made one size too small and had to do some creative alterations. But we won't dwell on that...
During this recession, people are always looking for ways to stretch their dollar, and I think that sewing is one of the best. I love that I can buy a pattern (which usually always includes several variations on the style) and use it to make an infinite number of garments in many different sizes, colors, and textures. And if I choose a classic design (like a pencil skirt, for instance), I can reasonably expect to be able to use it throughout my life without it going out of style.
It occurred to me the other day--as I was making a shopping list for Target--that I haven't purchased new clothing at a store in quite some time. In fact, after taking a brief inventory of my closet, I realized that with the exception of two long-sleeve cotton tees, I haven't bought one single new item of clothing since last summer! And yet my wardrobe has evolved with the seasons just like in years passed.

The difference? I started sewing. And in the process I have saved quite a bit of money. And it hasn't felt like a "recession-induced-sacrifice" at all.
Of course, the bottom line--really--is that I now have an adorable denim skirt that I can wear all spring and summer. I can dress it up and down, and wear it with sandals or heels. And if I grow out of it or get sick of it, I can just make another one. And then maybe use the denim to make a cute handbag or something...

The possibilities are endless in a recession--no sacrifice required.

Can you think of a positive impact that this recession has had on you? Perhaps you've learned a new skill (like sewing!) or rediscovered the pleasure of simple things... Share with us by posting your comment below!