Thrifting: 3 dollar specials!

I went Goodwill Hunting awhile ago, and because we moved, there's a new Goodwill in this area that was waiting to be pillaged checked out...

Here's a bunch of $3 (or less, before taxes) items I scored over the two weeks since I moved in! I really don't think I will pay full price anymore. (Although that remains to be seen because I'm antsy to check out the new H&M in Singapore.)


From Goodwill,


Tiny skirt that flounces really prettily, and i can wear cute tights under. Love the prints too!


Dress that I squeezed into and found in the kids' section. The elastic waistband cinches so tight it is hard to get into, but once that's done, it sits nicely on my frame. I guess having not much of a chest works. Sometimes.




A hat I found randomly stashed in the women's slacks section. And a few different expressions I think I can manage. Sorry for the cam-whoring. I actually don't do this very often, but I was packing my luggage and drinking coffee at the same time.


A very big but retro looking top that I thought I could pull off as an off shoulder thing. I'll be pairing it off with my jeans and some boots, but that's kinda like my staple getup, nothing too crazy!


A plum colored maxi skirt that was maybe four sizes too big, but before i fix the problem, i'm making do with belts. And it was the prints that sold me! Reminds me of the shoot-the-aliens games in the early Microsoft computer days. OMG, i think that just inadvertently revealed my age.


Two very new belts @ $0.99 apiece! SSSSSCORE!!!! And the dark blue (it looks black in the picture) matches very well with most of my dark colored outfits. And the yellow is just fun!! I'm in love with skinny belts at the mo'.


Speaking of widths. My eye caught sight of this wide elastic belt with a big bow in the middle. There has to be a name for belts like this one, but I'm fashion-technical-term un-savvy like that. So sue me.


And because it's getting colder, i spotted this lilac knitted sweater in just the right size, and spun from the prettiest yarn.

From another trip to Target.


A cute little clutch purse on sale for $3!

And they say, all good things come in 3s!!

Anyone else has got good thrifts to share?

Crafting: Circle Skirt tutorial and more!

I've been busy crafting for a fair in Mooresville in early October. I know it seems like a long time away but i hardly get any time to myself these days. We are preparing for the arrival of J-man's grandma and her boyfriend. They'll be staying with us for a coupla' months. This house will be crazy busy very soon! I think they arrive Sunday. I figured i'd try and get as much done while I still have the house to myself. Which isn't much.

BUT...



I made myself a circle skirt, tutorial courtesy of Dana from MADE. It was reaaaallll easy to make, up until the last step - to attach the elastic to the skirt. I have had near ZERO experience sewing elastic onto non stretchy fabric, so this was definitely an eye-opener. *eeps*



I also added a lining underneath the skirt, which is essentially making TWO skirts, with the lining shorter than the outer skirt. J tried to take a picture of me twirling in it, you could sorta see the white muslin lining under. But, major picture-taking epic fail.

Now, to wear it and twirl the rest of the summer away!




I made two more tote bags for the fair but i think i need to up my production a little bit more.

I'm considering if i should sign up for a 2nd fair at the end of October. I really have no idea how I'd do in the first. I might end up not selling anything in the first and have enough products for the second fair. Conversely, i might sell some stuff and not have much for the next.

What do you guys think? Considering my slow production rate, should i sign up for TWO fairs in the same month, or take it easy and see how i fare as a first-timer? I know some of you have great experience at markets and fairs, i do need some advice!

Thank you in advance!

Culottes vs Skorts

Guess what came in the mail?



My little mustard yellow Anthropologie card! It came in a little brown envelope, tucked into a tiny floral drawstring pouch! ooh such extravagance! i likey!

Not that i'm ever going to be able to afford or buy anything from Anthropologie. But they provide such great Pinspirations!

My girlies had a discussion the other day: Culottes vs Skorts

Never in my life have I EVER heard the term "skorts" and i thought they meant "Culottes". So when I said it, they all went "Whaaaa?"

Apparently, I was the weirdo.

So i decided to do a little research of my own.

According to wiki...

the word "culottes" describes a split or divided skirt or any garment that "hangs like a skirt but is actually pants". During the Victorian Era (mid- to late-nineteenth century) long split skirts were developed for horseback riding so that women could sit astride a man's saddle rather than riding side-saddle. The term "culottes" was co-opted from the original French definition of the word to describe these split riding skirts. Later, split skirts were developed to provide women more freedom to do activities such as gardening, cleaning, bike riding, etc. and still look like one is wearing a skirt.

and a skort...

In place of the term "culottes," the term skort (a portmanteau for skirt and shorts) is more widely used in some areas. While some garments sold as culottes resemble short trousers, to truly be a skort it needs to look like a skirt. Thus, they differ from trousers or shorts by being much fuller at the bottom (hem) than at the waist. A skort is shorts that have a front covering to resemble a skirt or short pant legs with a same length or longer skirt sewn over the top.

So i went to anthropologie.com and found this!


Odonata Culottes

Too cute!

And this at freepeople.com


Skorts

I guess culottes still look like a pair of shorts, just a little more flirty, flared pair of shorts. But a skort needs to really look like a skirt. Or maybe they're just used interchangeably.


Bleagh. What do they know.


What do you call it?

Thrifting: Goodwill Hunting

I persuaded the J-man to take me to Goodwill one Monday. I had wanted to go to the one nearest our home, but J surprised me by taking me to a bigger store in Mooresville. Well actually, he had also wanted to go to this Indian restaurant, Mint for lunch, which was why he so graciously suggested the Goodwill around the corner. And I'm not complaining!

For $25,

HER:


2 comfy pairs of jeans


1 lovely floral skirt to twirl around in

HIM:





2 hilarious tees (love the forrest gump quote)

US:


3 hardback classics


SCORE!


Goodwill
214 Williamson Road
Mooresville, NC 28117
(704) 696-0033

And apparently the Goodwill in Cornelius is EVEN better! *hyperventilates*

Crafting on a Monday: Beach dress Reconstruction

My MIL got a stash of clothes from her friend but as usual, everything was a few sizes too big. So as we sifted through the pile, imagine my excitement when I found this! I knew immediately what I could do to it!



And so I begin my rogue adventure to making my very first SKIRT!



I cut off the top bit of the dress and used the rest of it.

I didn't really bother with measurements, as I said, I'm a rogue (or maybe lazy) crafter.


First I turned the dress inside out, then I folded the cut end in about 2", and pinned it down.



Then I proceeded to make the casing for the elastic band. I machine sewed two lines of stitching about half an inch from either end of the casing. Because the fabric was fraying at the edges from the initial cut away from the dress, I used a zigzag stitch to keep the frays in check.

I left a gap of about 2" at the lower running stitch so I can slip the elastic band into the casing. The length of the waistband to use would depend on how tight you want your skirt to be. Generally, it is about 1 to 4 inches smaller than your waistline. I took the measurement for my natural waist, because it would be further shortened when I joined the two ends together.

Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic band and slip that end into the casing. Run the elastic band all around the skirt, but hold on to the other end at all times. I searched high and low and couldn't find a safety pin in the house (!!) and had to resort to tying a knot at one end. As a result, it took me twice as long to thread the elastic band all the way through. It was definitely the most painful part of the whole skirt-making process.

When the elastic band is threaded through, stitch the two ends together, overlapping the ends generously.

The result:


ONE NEW SKIRT in the closet! I'm loving the final length of it!

P.S. what would you do with the top bit of the dress? I feel like it's such a waste to throw it away! I love the crocheted middle!

Skirt-ing the issue

I love skirts. Mostly short ones. For my petite frame (read: vertically challenged), I don't think I look good in anything below my ankles. I have a few skirts that reach my calves, but that's about pushing it.

But I am totally loving this getup.


Via A Cup of Jo

From the round sunnies to the slouchy comfy tank, to the bright green striped maxi skirt! Imagine completing the outfit with a pair of gladiator sandals! Love!

I've been wanting to make skirts for the longest time. It seems like the easiest piece of clothing to make. Well, maybe second easiest.

I made a tank top using stretch jersey knit material before and that wasn't too bad.



I've painstakingly made 3 pairs of fisherman pants and that was quite alright too.



And I've even taken it into my head to attempt a hoodie once!




So skirts shouldn't be too much of a problem right? Especially if it has only an elastic waistband!

I'll be keeping a lookout for the perfect material to make my first skirt!