Spreading the word about ReCycling, RePurposing!

Oooo, I have a group of Home Ec teachers and students planning a Studio Visit to see what I do! I feel so semi-professional.....of course you realize, this means I must straighten up and get prepared!

I've offered to take them thru my "process".....I'll show them my pile of thrift shop finds, how I prepare them for re-purposing, layout and cutting out my patterns, and show them some finished samples. Then take them all to the big Goodwill store so they can plan their own!! Yay! spreading the word about re-cycling!

I feel like a real, downtown designer!

Spoke too soon!

I should have known I'd jinx myself on Monday! Not only has it rained for 2 days, now it's supposed to snow like the dickens tonight!

Well, here is the new tunic top I finished Monday; I made myself a longer version to wear as a dress.

In like a March Lion...

for Weeks now I've felt as though I didn't even have the will to live; bleak, grey days, dark so early, cold, snowy, wet....I was uninspired and disgusted at myself for not having an ounce of initiative!

But it's a new month, and while it's cold, the rains have finally stopped and the sun came out today. I have the day off, and have spent a bit of time in the art barn...yay!

This is what I've worked on today:

Cut out a black & white toile knit dress for myself, to coordinate with a cute linen jacket I got at the thrift-dress is 1/2 sewn together!

Cut out a black & white toile knit top to sell-finished it, too!

Used the scraps to cut circles for yo-yo's...I want to make a cute coordinating pin to wear, and it's just as easy to cut alot as it is to cut 1

Sewed up some new Ghost Bunnies and Ghost Kitties in white, since Easter is on its way

I did buy some good fiberfill yesterday; I had a nice bag of it, but unfortunately, it wouldn't stay in the little ears and arms! It was Soooo soft, Soooo un-clumpy. However, when you're stuffing creatures, you need a certain degree of "clump"!

Anyway, I intend to cuddle up on the couch this evening with my decidedly UN-ghost-like Snapple and stuff up some new stuffies!

OWOH Winner!

The Winner of the One World One Heart blog giveaway is Michaele, from Twigs and Tulle blog! She'll receive my new little Ghost Owl. Thanks again to everyone who participated, and especially to Whimsical Bohemian for organizing such a lovely event. I constantly refer to the blogroll of participants, finding new and exciting places to visit....you should, too!

Happy Valentine's Day!

No hearts and flowers, but a picture of my favorite Valentine from Saturday. College of Wooster Equestrian Team at the first show of 2011. Ana rode for the first time in a new class, and in her second show got a 3rd!! Yay! She's wearing the new jacket I just finished; it looks so pretty close up, but I noticed when she was in the ring, it was very muted....which isn't necessarily a bad thing, her coach isn't a big fan of the bling!

OwOH One World One Heart Blog Giveaway!!!

It's that time again.....the OWOH Blog extravaganza!!! A Whimsical Bohemian has organized this for the past 5 years; there are already 500...yes, FIVE HUNDRED blogs participating, and it's only day One! To see the full list of participants, click on the link above and then she's got a special page, click thru to see all the deliciousness! I'm just sending my info in, and so....


I will be giving away several prizes, including one of my new plushies, the Ghost Owl!
There will be some other prizes, and I'll add pictures to this post as I finish them. To enter my giveaway, just leave me a comment right here on this post. Comments close at midnight EST on February 17th, at which time I'll draw the lucky winners! I'll send internationally, as well, so don't be afraid to enter!

There are SOooooo many spectacular blogs out there, and each year I discover and bookmark more and more thru this event!

The only real requirement is that you leave me a comment here on my blog! Make sure I have a way to contact you if you win! That means, sign in thru your own blogsite, so I'll be able to visit you, and get in touch with you later.

1. This event is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. You do NOT have to be a participant in this event to be eligible.

2. To be eligible for any of the above gifts/"door prizes," you must leave a comment on this post only. Although I love comments, they only count when left on this post

3. I will notify you by leaving a message on your most current post on your blog. Alternately, if you have a blogger profile, I will notify you in an e-mail, providing it is listed on your profile page. If your profile page doesn't contain your e-mail address, or if you are not an active blogger, please include your e-mail address in your comment.

5. If I send you an e-mail, I will include the words "OWOH Winner" in the subject line.

6. Since we must mail these gifts within three days after the event, once I have notified you, you will have 48 hours to respond with your mailing address. That means I must hear from you no later than February 20.


Let the Blogging Begin!

UPDATE!!
the Winner is Michaele at Twigs and Tulle blog....congratulations and send me your address!

I do love to sew!

I love my studio barn, I love turning up my awesome stereo REALLY LOUD and singing along while I sew!

I have been saving a green velvet skirt and a J Jill matching top & skirt in a floral print, and finally put together a new pattern for them! It's a raglan sleeve top, longer in the back.

I tested the pattern first with a burgundy J Jill dress and some nice black pontelle rib knit....it turned out really cute, but it was about a size too large on me, I looked like I was swimming in it. Soooooo.....




I recut the pattern in a smaller size, as well as 1 size larger (for ALL my Red Panty ladies!) and used my special fabrics, and....voila! I love this top! I cut the sleeves alot shorter, because I prefer the 3/4 length, rather than the long sleeves, used the non-stretch velvet for the front & back, and the knit J Jill skirt for the sleeves. The size XS was just enough; I used the back of the top for the knit side panels, since the teeny velvet skirt wasn't quite big enough.



Anyway, I plan on whipping a few of these mid-winter tops up, and getting them to Go Figure Consignment in the Short North very soon!