Blog Makeover

This blog is getting a makeover. It's going to be all crafty from now on. If you are interested in my art and illustrations go to artnerdy.blogspot.com. I'm just doing a switcharoo. The new name of this blog is artsycraftydiy.blogspot.com. Enjoy

Chop Off That Length! Two Refashions

Scored this skirt for the low price of $3 at the thrift store. And while it is awesome in its long fullness I've been wanting a pleated black mini for a while.

So off with the length and a quick re-hem. But I discovered that the skirt had been made with an underskirt that didn't flare out quite nearly as much as the outer skirt. And this underskirt was sewn to the outer skirt. This resulted in weird pulling issues with the skirt. I just cut them apart hoping this would solve the problem. Oh and this skirt has Pockets! Yay!

And the new refashioned look was paired with a studded black $6 thrifted belt and a $3 thrifted tank top. 

And this dress was a lightweight possibly homemade $2 find.

All I did was chop off a bunch of the length, re-hem and pair it with a big red thrifted $6 belt. Not bad for $8 eh?

Zazzle Store Now Open!

I just opened a Zazzle shop! http://www.zazzle.com/mfirebaughart

I'm selling iphone 5 & 4 cases with this new design!

get the iPhone case here!

And prints of Marie Antoinette riding a manatee in various sizes!

get the print here!

More designs coming soon! All proceeds go to paying for my art school :)

DIY Circle Skirts

I've been seeing so many short full waist skirts and I wanted my own. So I made one! It was so easy, I made two.  If you want to make your own you need a square of fabric 45"- 60". (Since I'm little and I like short skirts I used about a 45" square.) And you'll also need some elastic too. Essentially what you do is fold the square into quarters and then draft quarter circles based on your own hip and length of skirt measurements. Then you make a waistband casing for the elastic. Follow these links for more in depth instructions. 

http://myimaginaryblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/how-to-make-a-circle-skirt-with-an-elastic-casing-waistband/

http://www.theribbonretreat.com/blog/circle-skirt-pattern-tutorial.html

This one even has pockets! I used this link: See Kate Sew Pockets

Circle skirts are made for twirling!

Both of these skirts are 2 layers. The top layer was transparent so an opaque skirt was made to go underneath. I used the same pattern for the under and over skirts. I'd recommend finding a fabric that isn't transparent and only making one skirt. Because otherwise hemming two skirts takes quite a chunk of time. 

Refashioning frocks

I'm not really sure why I'm refashioning little strapless numbers when it's cold outside.... but I am!

This $7 frock with a quick nip and tuck went from a large size to my size. I was amused to discover that the straps had been sewn on with fishing line by the previous owner. Fishing line! I removed all the line from the dress and resewed with thread.

This number was snagged for $1.50. I just wasn't digging the blue pastel ribbon. So I seam ripped it off.  I thought it was just decorative. But instead it connected the top and bottom of the dress together.

The dress is a thick cotton and spandex blend that came with a lining of the same thickness. I didn't see the point for that thick of a lining for something that looks like a sundress. So off with the lining! I seam ripped the skirt part. But for the bodice I cut the lining, out leaving about an inch still connected to the printed > insta-facing!

Then I replaced the blue halter strap with a black one made from the lining. Nipped in the back. And lastly took about 4.5'' from the bottom. Threw on a belt and my refashion was done. 

Refashion: Almost Too Short Coral Shift

Thrift Town is evil because they send me an email every time they are having a sale. Thrift Town is awesome because they so often have sale days to discount their already low prices! I try to only shop on sale days. So I picked up this dress in my last haul. I don't know why I seem to be drawn to this color. I've never really been a big fan of pink or orange, but I really like coral! Anyways it was $5.50 for this silk (yay, silk) floor length sack dress with a strange asymmetrical  chiffon train. Not only was the train strange, it was too long for me!

Snip snip! Oh no I realized after I finished the hem that the dress was too short! What to do? What to do? O why o why did I not measure correctly and double check my measurements?

Too Short!

 Not to worry, my mum and I put our heads together and came up with a solution. Of the piece that I cut off there was a sizable length of silk. But if I attached it to the bottom of the dress it would ruin the shape and look awkward! But the lining....

I sewed the silk remnant on to the bottom of the lining and created a second tier of the skirt. Awesome, now it's not too short! It's got some hi-low action, and it dips down in the back. Thankfully I was able to fix my refashioning mistake with a refashion!

Paired with a thrifted belt, this coral shift is now totally wearable!

Refashion: Brown Drabness to Blue & Brown Floral Cuteness

Felt the itch to make something. So pulled this dress out because I knew it would be a quickie. Sadly my old sewing machine was acting up. It was making a terrible squeaking sound by the engine part. And the cost to even open this part up would be $100. But I was able to trade my old machine in for a new Husqvarna. It just hummmmmmmmms when you sew with it. It sounds so nice and sewings verrrrrry nice too.

Anyways on to the refashion!

Found this dress for $3 at the thrift store with the original tags from the line My Michelle still attached! Never even been worn! It was of satiny shiny floral material with light brown and blue flowers. But the neckline was too high, and the dress seemed boring. 

So I lowered the neckline into a deep scoop. And made it more of a mini dress. Also popped over to the  fabric store and picked up some matching blue material. $2 later and some stitching I had a new sash. Liking my new $5 ensemble.