In a Creating Mood...Vintage Pillowcase Tote Bags

vintage pillowcase tote bag in yummy yellow

another vintage pillowcase tote bag in orange orange

close-up detail of vintage doilies used as front pocket and cottage detailing 

little fabric tabs using modern fabrics

on my mannequin

close-up of vintage doilies and modern trim

modern fabric trim tags and vintage velvet ribbon tag

vintage button details

 I told you I was in a sewing mood...it just takes me awhile to get started.  I LoVe LoVe LoVe fabric...the color, the designs, the textures, the trims.  But, sewing in general kinda makes me get the whillies sometimes because I gotta really "think" about how to do it.  My young summer sewing classes come to mind.  Sewing is a much more time consuming thing for me than jewelry making.  There's a ton more steps...but maybe it's just bc I don't do it as often as I would like.  Maybe if I keep on doing it, I'll get way way faster where I can do "breathe" sewing where it just comes so naturally I don't even think about it. That's the way I do jewelry..."breathe" jewelry making.

Anyhoo, I got an itching to start using my lovely fabrics..both vintage and modern. And the gorgeous trims ribbons buttons and other thingamajiggys that I've collected over the years...they all seem to be giving me that mermaid call.

So, this week, I dragged out my containers of materials and shoe boxes of trims and got "close" to them again.  Inspired, I made these 2 vintage pillowcase tote bags.  I learned the technique from Tif at her Dottie Angel weekend retreat sewing class last September in Seattle WA.  I wear my tote bag I made at Tif's class all the time. And, gals always always stop me and tell me that it's super cute...thanks, I know...oooo, not too modest aren't I?

But, this time, I changed up the design and gave it my own twist...adjusting the Length and added the flip over collar at the top.  I found that the original design from Tif was a bit toooooo long for me.  I'm only 5' 1" and my arms have a hard time digging to the bottom of the long tote.  So, I came up with my own way to shorten it and give me a top cuff to embellish.  Now, I can easily reach into the bottom of the bag and there's still plenty of room.

Love them!  I'm going to make more...and make more things with my fabric.  I'll show you more photos when I'm done.

DIY Project...Office Organization Hanging Metal File System...2nd Life, A Glorious Life

LoVe it!

♥
Woohooo!
♥
I just Completed my ReDo of this Metal Filing System

Here's a Pictorial of How I Did It...It's So EZ, You can Too!

Look Familiar?
Those Heavy Ugly Looking Metal File Systems
Got this one at a Thrift Store

Hmmmm....this looks like it needs a definite Redo

Shaga, shaga, shaga...
You have to lightly Sand down the existing Paint
so that your New paint will
"Stick".

I used this Hand held Sandpaper Handy Dandy Thingamajiggy

Jimmy let me borrow his.

This is what it looks like...sanded, all over.

Then, I painted the Entire thing with a Primer Spray Paint.

Here's the Spray Paint I used.
Primer on the left, New Blue color on the Right.
And, Laurie...
that's the handy dandy little handheld Trigger dodad
that I attach to the Spray Can and use to spray ...
like a gun trigger or water hose trigger...
no carpal tunnel.
Get it from Home Depot or your local hardware store next to the Spray Paint cans.

Handy Tip: Lay Newspaper down on the Ground when you spray paint.
Then, you don't get grass and other "stuff" stuck to your new paint.

It's called: Live and Learn.

After the Primer Paint dried, I sprayed on the glorious Blue color.
♥
LoVeLy!

Then I used Painter's Blue Tape and taped up the areas I wanted to KEEP Blue.
Used Old Paper to cover the really big areas in the Front.

Then, Spray Paint away with this Bright Cheery Green.

TIP#2: Spray in Well Ventilated areas, away from Precious things you do NOT want to get painted by the mists that flys...like your dog, your car, your house, your child. Got the picture?

Also Tip #3: Wear a Face Mask so you don't breathe in that paint.

Next Step, Using Modge Podge, I "glued on" this Fabric sheets that I got from my Pal.

♥

Side story: I wanted to use "vintage" fabric but had none on hand that would go with this color and "look". I searched online but couldn't find anything either.
Then, couple days later, knock knock on my door...
my next door neighbor held out this stack of Fabric Sheets used for Scrapbooking
and asked if I could use these.
OMG!
Like "Fields of Dreams", build it and they shall come...
well, "think it and it will come".
P.S. I'm really thinking super hard everyday about getting our own home.
I'll tell you how that turns out.

So, I just brushed on the Modge Podge using a big brush. Just use whatever you have to brush on the paste...no biggie. I just have a lot of brushes.

Tip #4: Wash your Brush with Water AFTER modge podging.
or else you'll have a hard dried up brush



Tah Dah!
♥
Another 2nd Life RE-Do for Vintage Lovelies.

From Damned to Glammed...Spray Painting New Life Into Old Stuff...Another DIY Project

Refresh, Revive, Resuscitate Your "Old" Stuff
and Give them a Second Chance at Life
by Spray Painting

Step 1: Remove Dust from Object with brush or towel
Step 2: Using Painter's Tape (bc EZ to Remove), tape up the areas you don't want to get painted.
Be kinda anal with taping...avoid taping places where you want to get painted
because when you later remove the tape,
you'll remove the paint....I know this from experience.

Step 3: Spray Paint the Object according to manufacturer's instructions on the can
I Love to use this handy dandy spray gun attachment which allows
me to spray for a longer time very easily

Here I used All White White White spray paint
and turned an
out-of-date Gold colored Mirror
into a
Shabby Chic Bright White Adorable Mirror

Step 4: Let Dry
Spray paint in WELL Ventilated area...like the out doors...away from anything you don't want to
get "second hand" spray...like your car

Also, if spraying in yard, put down old newspapers or garbage bag
because you don't want to get bits of grass and other organic matter
sticking to your paint...and again, I know this from experience.
It sucks to have to pull off grass from wet paint!

Close-up of the paint job

I'm pretty happy with the results
And, it takes just minutes to do.
EZ PZ

Have fun!

A Dress Renovation...aka Make Over Time

Here's My Newly Transformed Dress

Before: Jimmy said to "throw it away"
So,
I cut off the Long sleeves
and made Short ones

Then, I ripped off All the blue buttons that were
"pulling" this dress down with it
And handsewed on
some Playful White White White Buttons from my Button Stash

So, the Vibrant Blue would "Pop" like it should've from the Get-Go,
I sewed on some White White White Eyelet Lace
I had on a Roll
Good use for a Roll that I got for less than $5
And didn't have a clue as to what to do with
Until Now...

But, the fun was only beginning
I turned to the Back of the dress
And
added on a Blingey Bling Bling Rhinestone Button
Bling!

Okay, say it with me... Bling!

Voila!
A New and Improved Summer Dress

P.S. If my Makeover didn't work out,
I was just going to cut up the dress
and
use the pieces of fabric for something else.
Luckily, I liked my Re-Do.
And, yeah, Already Worn it out with new black short cropped tights.
I think I'll try wearing it with white cropped tights next.

Tutorial...How to Save a Pair of Jeans by Putting on Your Own Metal Bachelor Button

My Repaired Kut Jeans

Yayyyy!

Read my Pictorial Tutorial for step-by-step instructions

Metal Jean Buttons...aka Bachelor Buttons

Made by Dritz
Probably can find it on Ebay, at your local craft or fabric store.
I got mine at our local Bernina Store.

The Orange Chalk Mark...need to place the button Right above the Zipper area
for the Perfect placement

I repaired the Hole where the old jean button fell out of
by handstitching with thick white thread

Made a hole using a sharp tool to get thru the thick jean material
then put the pin thru from the backside
This is what it'll look like

From the Front side of the jeans, place the Metal button as it should look on jeans
Place the pin inside the button
Get ready to hit with Hammer

Place the jeans with button and pin on HARD surface
I put it on my metal Anvil
You can just put it on a piece of wood on a hard surface like your driveway or something

Then,l just hammer one good time...that's it!

Here's the finished look. Yayyyy!
That was soooooo EZ and FAST
I like that.

I have a funky body shape...aka out of shape body shape. So, only certain types of jeans actually "fit" me well. One brand is "Kut" which I get from Nordstroms. In fact, last week, I bought a pair for about $60+ and started wearing it immediately...like that day. My husband knows me. Whenever I buy something or make something for myself, I'll be wearing it that day or the next. Rip off the tag, put it on, who cares about washing it before I wear it (except for underwear), I just don't care.

Then, a couple days later, wearing my new Kut jeans, I happened to be touring the local Goodwill with my GF Liz and came across...you guessed it, a pair of "Kut" jeans in my size!!!! EEEEkkkkk!

I tried it on and OMG...it fit! Better than the one I bought the day before...bc I actually bought one size too big and it was "stretching" so much so that I felt like one of those repairmen when they bend down you can see the "crack". Yeah, my waistband was hanging.

Anyway, the price on this oldey but goody was $9.99. But, the only bummer was that the metal jeans button fell off in my hand. Apparently, that was the reason that the former owner must have decided to "donate" this bad boy. So, here I am, trying on this pair of jeans without a button...it was in my hand. But it fit. So, I'm buying it! I pointed out this tragedy to the clerk and...you guessed it...mark down 50%! New Old Kut jeans for only $4.99!!!!

What to do about that button? My husband, the MacGeyvor that he is, was stumped. I wanted to know if there was some way to "save" the old button and reuse it. No can do.

Yesterday, had to stop by the local Bernina store to p/up a replacement bulb for my vintage sewing machine (still to be named). They were out...bummer. But, I happened to spy on the wall of sewing notions from heaven a box of Jeans Metal Buttons!!!! What??? Never even thought that these existed. Clerk told me that these were called "Bachelor's Buttons" bc these were the type that a man could use...no sewing required...just a Hammer. Right up their alley. You Pound this baby into your jeans. How cool is that?

So, needless to say, I HAD to share this tutorial with you bc I was just so excited that now I am wearing my brand new Old "Kut" Revived from the dead Jeans...P.S. I did Wash this pair Before I Wore it. And, I wore it to my SIL's B-Day party at Paesano's...yummmy food btw. :) And, my SIL Colleen is now the Lucky New Owner of my Light Coral Vintage Kimono Rosette Blouse (see Post on it Click Here).

Anthropology, Please Move Over...Stacy's Here

My Target T-Shirt

Re-Do

From Target, bought a couple Plain but Cute Tees
in Sage Green and Light Coral

Using my own Handcrafted Handsewn Vintage Kimona Rosettes,
Pinned them onto the Tee

My handy little pincushion, thread, and snippers

I handsewed on each Vintage Kimono Rosettes,
several scattered Swarovski Light Cream Crystal Pearls,
and a Vintage Silk Taffeta Golden Plume Ribbon for girly girl accent

Ta Dah!

Love the look of the Vintage Kimono Rosette on this Tee...Perfect!

The Silk Taffeta Ribbon really complements
the 2nd Vintage Kimono Rosette
to a "T"

I'm Very Very Pleased with the Finished Tee turned into Blouse.
Now, to work on the Sage Green one...



The Completed Sage Green Tee...
Vintage Kimono Rosettes take Center Stage



Another Cute Tee Turned Blouse
Perfect to wear this Summer

Sometimes you look at a piece of clothing and envision it just a heck of a lot better looking. At least, I did when I came across these cute little Tees at Target. Loved the colors, loved the style, but it just didn't have that "oompf"....know what I mean?

So, I took them home and dreamed of a better look for them. Like a Make Over for Tees. Looking at this Light Coral color, I immediately thought of my handsewn Vintage Kimono Rosettes. I Love to collect vintage fabrics especially Lovely Kimono fabric. They sure make pretty Fabric Rosettes. Normally, I turn these Rosettes in Lovely Cuff Bracelets which I then list for sale in my Lilikoi Cottage Shop. (Sorry, they're all Sold Out right now but hopefully in the future I'll create more.) But, this time, I knew they would be perfect for this tee. And, I was right.

Wearing my trusty Reading Glasses (yes, my eyes are not what they used to be), I threaded my tiny needle and started individually handsewing each component on. Everything just sort of fell into place. You know how that goes when everything goes just right.

I added in the small Silk Taffeta bow because everything can use a bit of "Girly Girly" glam, right? It just looked so perfect along with the rosettes and the tiny Swarovski Crystal Pearls.

Who needs Anthropology when you have a bit of imagination and a desire to make things Pretty Pretty, right?

P.S. Whoever the lucky Gal is that gets this tee needs to "handwash" it with loving care. Hmmmm....who should that lucky person be?

1st Birthday Gift for Ethan

A Scrapbook Page Turned into Wall Art
A gift for Ethan
on his 1st Birthday

Purchased this Square Frame from Target

Used the same paper used in his Baby Shower invitation,
my favorite baby photo of him enlarged and printed at Costco, cute
chipboard Noah's Art from JoAnn's craft store

Used more of that cute chipboard in animals which is Ethan's room's theme.
The little feet is a leftover from his Baby Invitation which I kept to use for just this sort of project.

I doublestick taped on this cute wooden giraffe cutout that I got from Walmart.

Testing it out on my wall...looks cute.
My brother Brad and Michelle...the proud parents...
really loved this framed artwork and plan to put it in Ethan's room.