You might be a Redneck...

Don't get me wrong, I'm a country girl (a proud fact) and will always be a country girl at heart.  I was raised on a chicken farm with at least 3 old rusty tractors (in various stages of repair, I might add) parked in the front lawn, a makeshift rope swing on our biggest mango tree, and about 8 hunting dogs who never saw the inside of a vet's office.  Did I mention my brother's nickname is Bubba? 

Needless to say, it was one of the happiest places of my life.  As I've gotten older, and supposedly wiser (snort), I've decided that the deep rooted redneck philosophy of  being comfortable in your own skin with what you got, ain't so bad after all.  Now then...you won't find me deep frying catfish in a makeshift BBQ pit in the middle of a rainstorm (thank you Swamp People!) but I understand why.

I found this little ditty at the St. Anthony School Bazaar for a whopping 2 BUCKS!

 GAP denim everyone!!!  For $2 bucks.  I little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll.  Originally a men's size Large, a few alterations were needed to make it redneck chic.

  There are many tutorials out there that teach you how to hem your jeans with keeping the original hem and I used a few concepts from those tutorials.  First I trimmed about 3 inches of denim off of each arm, and then trimmed the cuff.  

 I then placed the cuff right side to the existing arm and stitched as close to the cuff seam as possible.  Repeat to other arm with remaining cuff.

Next, I trimmed about 8 inches from the bottom.  Again, I trimmed the original hem off, leaving about a 5/8" seam allowance.

Using the same method for the arms, placed the original hem right side together with the jacket and stitched as close to the original hem as possible.  You might want to change to a thicker gauge, or denim needle, to be polite to your machine.  After trying it on, I found the fit to be a bit squarish and decided to add 2 front bust darts to make it less "Bubba" and more "me."

 And there you go, a fun mini jean jacket that can be paired with just about anything, any color, for any occasion.  God I love being a redneck!

Works exceptionally well paired with my extensive collection of maxi dresses.

My two piggly wigglies, hamming it up for the camera.

Go ahead, jump in some mud puddles.  I won't tell.

lori

May Day Lei Day

WOW.  Looking back at my posts, it seems as if it has been a while since I blogged, and I hope I didn't lose any of my loyal followers along the way.  Please, allow me to explain.  The last couple months have been downright crazy for me with work, finishing up my bachelor's degree, and all the unexpected stuff that life throws at you, and so I had to sacrifice a few of my extracurricular activities.  I also gave up shopping (for "fun stuff") this Lenten season and was absolutely banned from any and all thrift shops and garage sales.   It was a TOUGH 40 days and 40 nights people.  Anywho...I'm back with a little something I picked up day 1 after my shopping ban:   

Really, nothing special, just a navy blue jersey dress by DKNY.  As this fit me pretty well, it was gonna be a quick and easy refashion.  It's all about the baby steps, baby steps.

 As any busty girl will tell ya, buttons at the bust line are tricky.  They pucker and pull and are just odd in general, so those had to go.

 I planned to turn this into a V-neck tank dress and so seam-ripped a bit at the center to ensure that my new neckline would lay flat.  I also seam ripped both sleeves.

Pinning right sides together, stitched about 4 inches from the waist up to form new V-neck.  Continued stitching around the existing neckline and stitched the raw edges of the armholes.

 I love a good maxi dress (hides the in-between shave phase..don't judge me) and so decided to leave the length.  The finished product complete just in time to wear out to Little Guy's May Day program.

A bunch of cuties and Little Guy giving me his best "natural" smile.

Performing the Hawaiian Alphabet song.  I am a sucker for dudes that know their alphabet.

 And here he is presenting me with my Mother's Day present that "I made with my own two hands Momma!"  Who could resist?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL

lori

Working 9 to 5...

...and what a way to make a living, as Dolly would say.  This refashion was inspired by the early 80's film "Nine to Five," 

Work IT Girls!!!!

one of the very first Girl Power! blockbusters complete with 3 strong & equally fantastic heroines, kidnapping, revenge, intrigue, and a wardrobe as only the 80's could produce.  We're talking EXTREME secretarial chic here.  Enter sad cast off:

This dated little ditty was on the verge of being cast off  from my Gram's thrift store due to its lackluster appearance and multiple rust and ??? stains. 

The stain remains!

There was only 1 fix for this little ditty and it wouldn't be quick nor easy.  That's right, dye job.  Having never dyed any garment much less, any material whatsoever, I was a bit intimidated.  As any newbie would, I researched a bit and found loads of helpful and free info, including color combinations and dyeing techniques at www.ritdye.com, the official site of Rit dyeing products.  I wanted to transform this cast off into a sweet coral colored ensemble and enlisted the help of these two shades:

1 Tablespoon Scarlet + 1 Teaspoon Tangerine= Coral

(or so I hope)

Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble...

After a 30 minute stir and soak session and a warm water wash, the resulting color is surprisingly coral-looking and much improved from the original washed out pale pink.  

 Using one of my one-shouldered refashions as a guide, snipped a new neckline.

 This one-shouldered neckline would need some pizazz so I took the sash and ruffled it using a loose and long basting stitch.

 Took the whole dress in a bit at each side and snipped the extras.

And although I hate to lose them, the pockets were causing some pulling and had to go.

*Sniff*  Bye-bye pockets.

 

 After folding in and finishing the new neckline and armhole (singular), attached the ruffled sash to the outside of the neckline and stitched.

And abracadabra, my new flirty dress was ready to wear for a fun night of dancing, dining, and shopping at First Friday Wailuku, Maui's own friday block party.

 This band really brought the house down.

 Little Guy totally stoked with his frozen chocolate banana.  Can you say sugar high?

Party hardy peeps!!

lori

It's a Beauty....on the Inside

 Unfortunately, not every thrifting adventure is a success.  There are days when I go shopping for a specific concept, color, or material, and find absolutely butkus.  And other times in which the refashioning gods smile down upon me and shower me with cheap and versatile goodness.  When the former occurs, I usually regress and transform into a slap happy, impulse shopper capable of purchasing anything (no really, ANYTHING!) just because it would be downright criminal to leave empty handed.  *Sigh*  This little ditty is Exhibit A of one such incident:

Yikers!!  Is that a lace bodice???

I know what you're thinking...beyond repair, right?  Well, as we've been told time and again, don't judge a book by its cover.  My first instinct with this dress was to harvest the black chiffon for a different project, but after closer inspection, noticed that it definitely possessed a beauty within:

 Another home sewn goody!

Under all that chiffon was a hand-dyed satin shift, refashion worthy.  I loved the cool ombre effect of the fabric and the empire waist was also workable.  Carefully (and by that I mean very s-l-o-w-l-y) I seam ripped the top and bottom to remove the (not 1 but...) 2 layers of black chiffon.  The bodice of the dress was lined in black/green lace (why?) which also needed to be removed.

With all the seam ripping out of the way, re-attached the zipper, the bodice, and the skirt, took everything in a bit, cut some length off, and hemmed.  Easy right?

Well...maybe not, but totally worth it.

Finished this little ditty, just in the nick of time to wear to a friend's GORGEOUS wedding.   

Me & KK, the official cupcaketeers.

Cheers,

lori

 

How to find a Pinterest Anonymous meeting near you

Yes, I admit it.  My little Pinterest "problem" has manifested itself into a full blown ADDICTION.  Like most suffering from a Pinterest (or Facebook or Twitter) dependency, denial was my first approach:

  "Oh no!  I'm totally fine.  I just do it occasionally.  I can stop at any time."

When that no longer held any dice with the hubby, I decided to try justification:

"Well honey, they do have great recipes posted.  Remember that bacon cheddar bread I made for you last week?"

That bought me some "time" and before you know it, I was THE Pinterest dealer amongst my closest friends and colleagues:

"Sure, I'll send you an invite.  Just remember though, you get caught or addicted to this stuff, you didn't get it from me....comprende?

Of course, acceptance is always the hardest step to take, and I think I'm just about there (read:  I'm "pinning" while writing this post).  So, in honor of my recovery process, I decided to share this no sew refash inspired by one of my favorite hair trends from one of my greatest weaknesses...Pinterest.

  

Step 1:  The bottom hem left over from one of my shortened dresses

 Step 2:  Snipped along 1 of the side seams to create 1 long piece

Step 3:  Ironed the raw edges in

Step 4:  Tie headband in place using your favorite technique

 To achieve this knotted look, I placed the loop end at the nape of the neck, twisted at the top, placed the right side to the left and vice versa and tied at the nape of the neck.

With my hair back and out of my way, I was all set to go EXTREME thrifting at my parish's rummage sale.

St. Rita's Church in Haiku, Maui.  My parish since I was a wee lass.

 I found the mecca of refashionable treasures here and the best thing was that they were all only $0.25 a piece.

OMG!  I DIE!

 No, really.  I'm super excited.  Can't you tell?

After spending my budgeted allowance of $10.00 at the rummage sale, took the Little Guy to Fukushima Store, a staple of Haiku and home to the BEST hot dogs on Maui.  

Hi, my name is Lori and I'm a Pinaholic.

Saturday Night Fever at the...Luau???

No, John Travolta is NOT vacationing in the islands this time of year.  'Tis the season....for celebrating, rejoicing, fruitcake, and of course the company Christmas party!!!  Having spent all of my shopping budget buying gifts for everyone else this year (better to give than receive, right?), I couldn't justify buying a new party dress.  Still wanting to look fabulous however, I enlisted the aid of these two cast-offs:

 

an ill-fitting purple top from Victoria's Secret,

and a smocked maxi that my hubby nicknamed the "Disco Nights" dress due largely in part to, and I'm quoting here,  "the pattern's kinda funky, but not in a good way."

Thanks honey....I think....

 Enlisting the help of one of my store bought maxi dresses, measured and cut a 14 inch by 8 inch rectangle, transforming the "old" hemline of the purple top into the top seam of the new strapless bodice.

Stitched up the sides with a 5/8 seam allowance using a zigzag stitch (the top is jersey, after all)

 Wanting to utilize the preexisting gathering that the original elastic smocking of the dress provided, I snipped about 1 inch above the waistline. 

 I then placed the strapless top on the dress, right sides together, and stitched together at the empire waist.  And that's the skinny...easy peazy, lemon squeezey.

 The result?  A super comfy (and glamorous) party dress that my husband is no longer embarrassed to stand next to.

Can you dig it?

 

The hubby and Little Guy relaxing before hitting the pool.

 One of the many entertaining numbers performed by the luau's hula troop. Love the colors.

 

The Little Guy was especially impressed by the fire dancing.

Wishing you a warm and merry holiday season!

lori