Backwards OOTD

Check out my new LBD!
Also check out my thrifty, fashion savvy brilliance (smell myself).
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's a thrifted 4$ sweater worn backwards and a thrifted black, white and grey stars and stripes scarf for 2.50$ to cover up my bra strap. A little bit of awesome.

Sweater Socks

I have definitely been experiencing blog withdrawals in the week since I last posted. Fortunately I have found some time to sew at least! My latest project:

I didn't take many during pictures. My health stuff has been acting up and this bit of sewing was a stretch so pictures weren't at the forefront of my mind. I started with this sweater, mined from my favourite charity thrift store for 2.50$ When I saw it I was immediately reminded of this pin:

http://weheartit.com/entry/25829799

I love finding things that remind me of pins! The only thing I love more (as far as pinning goes) is making something I pinned! After cutting the sleeves from the sweater I cut along the highest full stripe so the pattern would be uniform. Then I cut the body of the sweater in half and serged the seams closed so I had two more tubes of fabric. The waist band of the sweater will become the top band of the socks. I sewed the top tube (from the body) to the bottom tube (the sleeves), round out the toes and brought the seams in until the socks fit snugly to my legs. Mine reach to just above my knees. In retrospect I would have used more of the body to make them higher. Guess I'll just have to make more...bummer ;) Shared on

Pinterest Challenge #6 Pog Mobile

Hello Crafty Foxes!

The (almost) complete mobile:

Pinterest Challenge #6

Today is the deadline for the Pinterest Challenge and I am mostly done...yes, just mostly. But not for lack of trying. This was my pinspiration for Wildeman's much belated mobile.

Originally Wildeman's mobile was going to be made up of 1001 white paper cranes, each containing a message from either mom or dad. As poetic as the theory was we got to about 30 before the guilt of all the dead trees these cranes represented got to me. We decided to include the cranes we had already made in his nursery decor but find some way to use recycled products for his mobile.

When I saw the image below I loved how clever, simple and eco-friendly it was but if you've been following me for a while you'll know that floral cutouts aren't really my thing. So, what is? Pogs!

I love the pop art feel of my in-progress mobile. I ran out of pogs before I ran out of lantern space but I'll contine scouring thrift stores for this 90s fad that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

  

I started with this:

 

 

Working on it:  

 

My Pinspiration:

 

Hey, is that Easter up there?

If by up there you mean up there in the future then yes, it is.

Hubby and I are in the rather exciting position of starting family traditions this year, as we now have a little family to tradish with. Granted, Wildeman has no idea what Easter is, or what bunnies are and no way in hell is he eating chocolate this Easter but he'll appreciate all this in a couple years and by then we'll have it down pat.

So, good weather allowing we will be Easter brunching in the park with our lovely family (with brownies baked inside eggshells)  and if I recall someone started some kind of holiday challenge...what was that again? Oh, that's right:

Wildeman Holiday Challenge 2013 #4: Easter

and here is the adorable little bunny now in

 

The Shabby Bunny

Wildeman Wednesdays #4

Hello and Welcome to what is in my humble opinion the best Wildeman Wednesday yet!

Well...hopefully every Wednesday will be the best Wednesday...otherwise I'm moving backwards...

But I digress and over-use ellipses. My adorable baby boy is about 4.5 months old and currently in 9-12 month clothes. He's a big cat. We were generously gifted with so much clothing when we were pregnant, mostly 0-9 months stuff, that we had it in our heads that we'd be set until he was 9 months old. Ha! Conventions. No baby of mine will be contained by clothing sizes, apparently. And so I sew like a mad woman.

Yesterday morning I made these awesome pants (from two thrifted t-shirts) and paired them with a shirt that was twice refashioned (see the original post about the shirt formerly known as romper here).

Please give a generous (but not too loud because he's a baby) round of applause to Wildeman in:

Wildeman is a Wild Man

 

Shared on:
 

 



Pinterest Challenge # 4 Baby Play Mat

4 down, 2 to go and feeling fine!

You know what the thing about babies is? They get bigger, and smarter and cuter and...harder to entertain. I mean it's all good since that means they're developing those big human brains and all which are, you know, kinda important, kinda.

Seriously though Wildeman has been so active and so interested in the world and I needed to find some way to let him explore his sensory organs and discover the world around him. Obviously there a ton of things that fit that description on the market but most of them feel to me like I'm plopping my kid down into Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Plus my apartment is tiny (which we love, and don't intend to change) so everything we owns needs to fold up and live in a drawer. And since I'm prone to migraines toys that make sounds are a strictly control commodity.

So, in the interest of meeting all these requirements I hit up Google for some inspiration. When Google failed me I fell back on Old Faithful: Pinterest.

My Pinspiration:

 

My version:

 

 

 

 

Total cost: About 7$

Wildeman Wednesday #3

This post is brought to you by 

the number 3!

 

Okay, I know it says Wednesday up there ^ and it is decidedly not Wednesday. I transfer my pictures from my tablet to my computer via Asus web storage and the site was down yesterday so I couldn't get anything posted.

 

On that same note, these pictures are awful. I really need to get one of the two cameras sitting on my desk fixed. Anyone know what causes a "lens error"? Both seem to have fallen victim to this strange camera illness within weeks of each other. Perhaps it's contagious?

 

Speaking of which Wildeman has been super sick (so have dad and mom but we're much better at breathing through our mouths than he is) which has been unpleasant. And the little munchkin's teeth decided that now would be a great time to work their way into the world. Awesome.

 

So, here is an uncomfortable but still trying to be cooperative little man in

 

Baby It's Cold Outside

BTW this isn't an attempt to be artsy (although my kid's pretty cute in black and white). The tablet was messing with the colour and Wildeman ended up looking purple in almost every shot. The warm uh...coveralls? Sleeper? Anyway, it's grey. You can see the colour in the tutorial. Just keep on scrolling.

Pinterest Challenge #3 Cross Back Tank

Yay! I'm still on track with the Pinterest Challenge!

Confusion can be cured by clicking that link up there ^

Boring tank tops can be cured by doing this:

My Pinspiration:

I bought this tank at my favourite thrift store with the original intention of doing nothing to it. I get so excited about details and prints that I own very few basics. It turns out I can`t really handle basic.

My Other Pants are a Kilt - Part 3

It's the beginning of the end!
(but in a good way)


 If you have no idea what I'm talking about and you have never seen this picture before you want to be over here, not here.

If you are in the right place then: It's the beginning of the end! Congratulations to making it this far in the project and/or clicking on some links and reading some stuff!

By now I'm sure you're very familiar with this cutie.

My Other Pants are a Kilt Part 3

The Jacket and Sporran

This is part 3 of the tutorial for the Wildeman Holiday Challenge 2013: St. Patrick's day as well as my Sew-vivor audition this season.This formal Irish suit is made up of 6 different pieces. A button-down onesie, vest, jacket, bow tie, kilt and sporran.

No idea what challenge I'm talking about?
No idea what Sew-vivor is?
Haven't seen Part 1?

Caught up now? Good, on we go...

Part 1 -
Kilt and Vest

Part 2 -
Button down onesie

Part 3-
Jacket and sporran (You are here!)

I made the bow tie using this tutorial.

Baby Boy Formal Irish Jacket Tutorial

Pinterest Challenge #1 - Baby Rompers from Adult T-shirts

Hello crafty foxes and foxy crafters!

Welcome to Week #1 of my Pinterest Challenge.
(ps - check back every week to see the rest)

My pinspiration for this week combined three of my favourite things: refashioning, awesome baby stuff and graphic Ts:

My Version:

Pinterest Challenge Accepted!

Hi!

You know what? I love Pinterest, and I'm willing to admit that it is possible that I spend a little too much time there, but only a little. And I'm standing by that statement, which isn't to say that I don't spend much time there, rather that I actually do many of the things I pin. And for still more I have bought materials that are just waiting to be stitched back to life. Which is cool, except that I have this somewhat-irrational-and-somewhat-totally-understandable fear: scheduled projects. So, the point? The point is that Merrick over at Merrick`s Art, who you should follow if you're not already, is challenging me (and, you know, some other peopl...maybe you) to complete 6 pins in 6 weeks. Alright Merrick, challenge accepted. I'm going stare scheduled sewing in the face and laugh at it's puny attempts to scare the crap out of me for me...or be super anxious until everything is done. Either is good.

 

My list:

 

 

Yes, it is ambitious, but Wildeman sleeps a lot so I'm taking a shot!

 

1. Rompers from adult T-shirts
          > My version.

2. Criss cross crochet back T-shirt
          > My version

3. Funky Baby Sweat Pants
          > My version.

4. Baby play gym - Not a tutorial. it's a 162$ play gym that I'm using as inspiration. My goal is to make my own for under 30$
         > My version

5. Wildeman's much belated mobile.

6. Ellis Shirt Dress from Burdastyle - No tutorial that I can find but I love a challenge!

 

Check back for the tutorials.

I need luck. Wish it!

 

The Exhibitionist - Baby Flannel Shirt with Cotton Panels Tutorial

Hello Everyone!

This is Part 2 of a tutorial for my Project Run and Play Sew-Along. This week was Week 6: Signature Style. Part 1 is over here (the hoodie and pants). The tutorial is after the jump.

My Signature Style:

 



Wildeman's version:

 

The Exhibitionist



He was getting grumpy fast, that flannel shirt was warm even with the cotton jersey panels for venting. My little man is a bit of a whiner when it comes to temperature.



The Exhibitionist - Alien Skull Hoodie Tutorial

Hey folks :)

Over at Project Run and Play this weeks theme is "Signature Style" and I had no problem at all identifying mine. My husband describes me as someone who "talks like a textbook and dresses like they are out of a music video". Couldn't have put it better myself. I like obnoxiously bright colours, bold prints, mixed textures and unexpected pairings. I have a mohawk and bold glasses, I don't think I'll ever switch to contacts. I like every aspect of my outfit to shout with personality.

But above all my number one factor will always be comfort. I have had fibromyalgia for over 4 years now and I avoid anything starchy, stiff or elastic, I wouldn't last a half hour. Luckily, the day I found out about this week's theme I was wearing an outfit that I though perfectly represented my signature style:

For mom:

 



I made every part of this outfit too! Skull T. Flannel. Pants.

 

For Wildeman:

 



The Ehibitionist

 



 

Baby Trench - PR+P Men's Shirt Refashion

Hello everyone!

I'm so sorry that took so long, I didn't end up getting a new charger until this afternoon but I am finally back and with a lovely tutorial (if I do say so myself). I was having the hardest time thinking of something unique to for this week's Project Run and Play sew along. Men's shirt refashion is a pretty well-loved theme for refashioners the world over and though it is a very versatile piece it seemed that I had seen everything.

To make matters slightly more challeneing my only little model is a baby boy, adorable though he is, I'm not sure of he could rock a girlier (therefore easier) men's shirt refashion. Thankfully hubby came to the rescue with a brilliant idea: a baby trench. A classic for a reason. So, a little internet hopping and I discovered this adorable Burberry trench for 4 years old and upward for 350$:

Yes, that's right: 350$ for a children's coat. Seems a little unnecesary to me. Especially when this little peice of adorableness cost

2.50$

 

 

Want to see that again?

 

 

Wildeman Holiday Challenge ***Valentine`s Day Jeans***

Hello Crafty Crafters!

Welcome to the first edition of the Wildeman Refashion Challenge 2013

This is part two of my baby Valentines tutorial, check out Part 1 if you haven`t already. Let`s get this party started!

The Jack of Hearts

Wildeman Holiday Challenge: ***Valentine's Day Polo***

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the first edition of the Wildeman Holiday Refashion Challenge 2013

First holiday refashion challenge and I'm 2 days late...Please forgive me. I will do my best not to have it happen again. Without further ado I give you...

The Jack of Hearts

 

 

Blue Plaid Flannel to Sexy Pleated Micro Mini Skirt

Hello everyone !

Ever notice the ridiculous lack of lingerie refashion tutorials? No? Well, I have and I think it's a travesty that requires a quick remedy. Hopefully this will be the first of many lingerie refashions, because lingerie makes you feel beautiful and sexy and the world needs more women who feel beautiful and sexy.

I started out with this:



It's kinda big...

 

Baby Refashion Challenge!

Hello Foxy Crafters,

I have decided to start a challenge for the year of 2013. Now this kind of thing always makes me nervous as my health is very unpredictable. Right now I feel great but at anytime feeling great could end and I could be stuck in bed for days, weeks, even years. The fear that that might happen was almost enough of a reason to not make this commitment but you know what? I'm so sick and tired of living with my head down in case my symptoms flare and I have to drop everything. What would be the point of periods of near remission I didn't take advantage of them? So, without further ado I bring you...

The Wildeman Holiday Challenge 2013

Rules:

1. Make a complete, themed, non-traditional outfit for my baby boy for every major, and some minor, holidays (see the list below).

2. Every item in the outfit must be refashioned.

3. Each outfit may cost no more than 25$

4. I will post the outfit and it's tutorial at least 10 days prior to the holiday, that way you guys can have a go at it if you want.

5. Include total cost and full tutorial in each post.

The holidays:

February 14th - Valentines Day
March 17th - St. Patty's Day
March 20th - Spring Equinox
March 31st - Easter Sunday
June 21st - Summer Solstice
July 1st - Canada Day
July 4th - Independence Day
September 22nd - Fall Equinox
October 31st - Halloween
November 11th - Rememberence Day
December 21st - Winter Solstice
December 25th - Christmas
December 31st - New Years

Any other holiday suggestions?

Wish me luck and check back for each themed tutorial. Hopefully these will inspire both your creativity and mine and give me the oppurtunity to learn new sewing skills. Each challenge post will be tagged "Wildeman Holiday Challenge".

And here we go...

Skull Stitch Markers and Crochet-Fixing

I just had to share my new crochet stitch markers with everyone. I bought them on Etsy from Hooray Crochet and am absolutely in love with them! I had been in need of stitch markers for a long time (I had been using paper clips) but I really didn't want to buy markers that I didn't love! I'm one of those people who likes everything little thing to be cool. If I don't love something, if it doesn't make me smile, there is not a heck of a lot of reason to own it. Speaking of which I'm on the look out for a cool teapot if anyone has any ideas...

Also!

Hubby and I have been together since we were teenagers and once, while at the mall, 16-year-old hubby with cash to burn bought this big fluffy red circle pillow for no apparent reason.

 

Now, I try not to be the wife who tells her husband what he can and cannot own, and he was oddly attatched to this pillow. But, I also spend a lot more time in our house than he does since I work at home and this thing was an eye sore in the eclectic brown and blue tones of our bedroom. So...I hooked the crap out of it and made it pretty.

 

 

I didn't use a pattern for this but if your even a little familiar with your crochet hook this is an easy project to pull off, and honestly if you don't even own one yet you could watch a couple youtube videos on how to cast on and do the puff stitch and you'd be golden. I just used leftover yarn from my stash and a matching hook. If you have the pillow you're covering on hand you can just keep checking to make sure that you're on thr right track. 

 

It's simply a round of single crochet, then half double, then single again to create that textured look on the top. Then I alternated puff stitch and single crochet around the sides for what I hope is a Morroccan feel. I used a hook that was a little small for the yarn so that my stitch was really tight as I didn't want the red to show through, but you could also line the case when you're done. I overlaped the top and bottom layers so that the pillow can be pulled out to wash the cover and there are no buttons are zippers to unepectedly poke at you when you're trying to nap.

 

This would be a very rewarding and only somewhat challening project for a beginner. I hope it inspires someone to de-ugly something their partner won't get rid of!

 

May the craft be with you!