Sew simple... adding trim...

This weekend I finally got to make an outfit from a Lisette pattern for myself... (I previously sewed one for my daughter during Kids Clothes Week)

Continental top and skirt...

My favorite things about this pattern, are that the skirt features a side panel on the front and back... and the back of the top is gathered ... Since I wanted to highlight the panel on the skirt, I decided to use some trim (remember the Rick rack I found on Friday)... Here's how I did it...

Placing the fabric at the 5/8ths line... I basted the Rick rack in place to one side ...



Holding onto the the Rick rack while I'm stitching... I make sure that the points of the Rick rack line up with the side of my foot...

Then with the Rick rack sandwiched between... sew your seam as usual...



Now you've got a seam trimmed with Rick rack... See it's "sew" simple...
(if any of your basting stiches show, you can pull them out)



With such a busy pattern I think the side panels would of been lost without the trim...
Oh, and being the rebel that I am... the pattern called for the skirt to be cut on the bias... but I didn't have enough fabric to do that (And I had my heart set on this vintage fabric).  So I cut it with the straight of grain... but in a size bigger since it would not have the stretch that bias give you...



I also made the top out of this vintage knit...

And I ran out of fabric for the back... so I used this check that was hand cross stitched by someone...  I like the combination of fabrics...



 Here is the complete look...

 Well... I hope this inspires you to add trim to a garment your making... it can seem a little daunting at first, but once you've done it you'll be happy with the result...
This outfit cost me $3.18
Brown print fabric- gifted $0.00
Brown/cream knit fabric- thrifted $0.99
Brown check- gifted $0.00
Tan trim- thrifted $0.10
Brown zipper- thrifted $0.10
Pattern- Joann's $1.99
Affordable fashion... I love it!

Happy sewing!
***Jennifer

This weeks finders keepers...

Another week of thirfting!  I hit the shoe jackpot...

Cute leather booties...$6... I wore them with cropped jeans and an over sized sweater...

Like new Sorels for my daughter... $12

Jar of buttons... .25cents... who can't use more buttons...



Trim... .10cents a piece... I've got an idea for the brown rick rac...



Vintage knitting patterns... $1.00 for a box full... I started knitting 2yrs ago, and it has quickly become an obsession... (Like I need another!)

  Well that's this weeks finds... I'll keep you posted on what I do with it!  Are you a treasure seeker like me?  I'd love to hear about your finds... Happy hunting! 
***Jennifer

P.S. Here's what my new dress looks like on... (sorry about the decapitated head just chalk it up to a bad hair day)
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My new dress...

A couple weeks ago I blogged about this dress...  I instantly new I needed to recreate it! 

The inspiration is a vintage Pendelton dress... too cute right!

So... this is what I came up with...

I think I came pretty close to the original...

Back view... for an easy zipper instructional click here...

I used the body and neckband from #8335 , and the sleeve from #7309

Since I was using a plaid... I took the extra time to match up the grain lines...

I love it when the pattern continues seamlessly...



I cut the neckband, pockets and sleeve band on the bias... even thought it was not necessary...



I thought it gave the dress some visual interest...



I love my new dress... I think it will keep me warm and toasty this winter!  Oh, and I forgot to mention this garment was (of course) cut out of vintage fabric...  So, my dress cost me under $3! ( It was awhile ago, but I believe the fabric cost me a $1.99 and a patterns were .25 a piece)  I love being thrifty!  Fashion does not have to break your budget...

Happy Sewing!

***Jennifer

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The big switch...

So... we came home from our vacation... and instead of unpacking, I was rearranging my living room and dinning furniture... I realize this sounds crazy, but it's been bugging me for awhile... (please excuse last years Christmas eve photos... apparently they are the only ones that I have of my dinning and living room.  I wasn't thinking ahead, and didn't take before shots.)

The reason... was my dinning space...



The chairs on one side were tight against the wall...



And on the other side... you hit the fridge(although it's not seen in the pic), and couldn't get by if someones chair was out...

I did like how my couch and chair were set up, but they had to get switched up with everything else...



I can truthfully say not one thing was left in place(the desk is now in my sons room, and the windows behind it are going on the stair wall)... many thanks to my husband who's a good sport and just goes along with it...

Here is there new arrangement... so exciting!!!!


The old dinning space now holds the buffet...



Different view....



New dinning area where the buffet and couch use to be...



The wall the side table and chair are against is where the mantle use to be... it kind of made the hallway a tight squeeze too...

 

New spot for the mantle and couch...



To save on some space... this bookcase used to live against the stairs... but who new it would fit perfectly nested in the mantle...



Since I have more wall exposed now, I had to get creative... I've had these door plates and key for years... but never on the wall... I like it!

I just could not resist displaying these... One pair is mine and the other pair is my Dad's... To cute to leave in the box, they are now on display atop the book case...

 Well it has been a whorl wind of a week... but very rewarding (I can now walk around my entire dinning room table!)  Hope this inspires you to think out of the box... a dinning room doesn't have to be used to eat in.  Mine is now an entertaining space right off the kitchen... very convenient and people usually gather there anyway...  I think it could have also made a cozy reading area...  Do you have rooms you've re-purposed?
Happy swapping
***Jennifer
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Yosemite... take my breath away...

We have been on a family vacation, and it's been fun... oh the treasures I've found (you can take a peek here) ...but the greatest treasure of all was the last 5 days while we camped at Yosemite...

It quite literally took my breath away...

The view from our campsite...

The first morning we woke up to fresh snow...

Of course that only meant one thing... snowball fight!

 

Our first outing was to the Ahwahnee lodge...

Gorgeous...

We hiked up to Vernal Falls... it was so steep we were walking in the clouds...

We also hiked to Mirror Lake...

On our travels we spied a hollow tree...

Part of what made the trip so fun, was our kids appreciation of there surroundings... like this piece of ice...

...and ice crystals...

Our most amazing find was this stacked rock garden...

The kids decided to add their own...

With a little help...

Taking in the beauty...

There were numerous bike paths...

...but the kids made there own around our campsite...

There was so much to see... it made me feel a little less guilty about the amount of school my kids were missing...

School can't compare to this...

  

One of the first guides...

 

My daughter was inspired by the weaving we saw at the museum... she came back to camp and braided all of us accessories out of pine needles... even the dog...

It was so nice to get away... taking a break from phone and Internet, and spending some quality time with my family and parents... I feel so lucky that my kids have the same awe and enthusiasm for nature... they will take these memories with them forever...  If I have learned anything from this trip it's this... we need very little to have happiness... just take a walk, and take in your surroundings... you just might find something that takes your breath away...

***Jennifer

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