Dress 1

Dress one from my 27 dresses project. I found my inspiration from everythingyourmamamade.com

And here is my version made from one of my fav tops that had a hole develop from over use lol.

for instructions on how to make one for your own girls go visit everythingyourmamamade.com

The Toy Society

Today i was looking for some inspiration and i came across this beautiful idea. The Toy Society spreads love throughout the streets of the world. Nothing to it really just a bunch of handmade toys looking for a nice home. What started as a small street art project in Australia is slowly spreading around the world.

The project was started in Australia in June 2008 by a local crafter, Bianca, as an attempt to create a ‘something for nothing’ experience for anyone who discovered a toy. I have decided i want to add one of my softies to this idea and see who finds it. To bring a little ray of sunshine to someones day. Who hasn't had one of those days where things just need a pick me up and weather your giving or receiving i feel this project would bring that much needed sunshine.
go have a look at the wonderful softies at The Toy Society

Chicken pox WTF?

I haven't posted for a while because my darling bubba has been sick for 2 weeks and now that she is better i have contracted the CHICKEN POX! hmmmm very strange and yes i asked my mother if i had them as a child and as it has it i apparently did quite badly ... the dr assures me that its chicken pox not shingles as they are All over my body and not just in one area etc.

but now im back ... that is if anyone is interested to know.


If anyone noticed i was gone leave me a message and email address and i will send you a prize.

Dainty Squid Giveaway

Another great giveaway from the Dainty Squid

What? $25 gift certificate from This and That from Japan. They sell tons and tons of super cute crafting supplies including fabrics, Japanese craft books, trims, clay molds and more!

When? October 25th- 28th

How? Leave a comment at The Dainty Squid telling Kaylah what your favorite thing in the This and That from Japan shop is!

Ever get stuck looking for inspiration on the world wide interwebs? This is me on a regular basis, being inspired just isn't enough. You have to gather the energy, the effort and the MOTIVATION! Once again tonite is no different and i am stuck in a self defeating loop of despair lol just kidding.
But i am stuck in a loop.

Here is a little bit of inspiration.

  

 

 

The Pledge

I Skye pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of my life. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!

Signed Skye .

Savers Love

I love Savers (huge op shop) we have here in Australia. I went in today after my daughters appointment and was only able to go in for 10 minutes so i only spent $13 but wow soooo happy.

I got Illy material i want to use for this dress

Ill post pic's of my my new stash which includes new buttons, new zippers and the funkiest retro print fabric.

Another giveaway ive come across

Tis must be the season for Giveaways. There i was minding my own business browsing the wonderful tutorials over at the Crafty pirate and what did i discover you ask.

This:

APPLAUSE!!!

So get in quickly - click on the giveaway picture or go to her blog link below to find out how to enter.

Giveaway time

Well its not me who is holding the giveaway its the retro goddess herself :- Kaylah from the dainty squid.

What can you win? One of these bad boys:

Click on the picture to go to her page to enter for the chance to get one of these cute pouches.

LadyBug Love

Lady bug projects that inspire me:

Click on the pictures to go to the tutorials - i love these all and can't wait to try them.

And now for something completely different - Gluten free play dough

My daughter Kc is Celiacs so off to the absolutely gluten free show we went and what did we find? Gluten free aromatherapy play dough. Wow that was a mouth full. My girls are either too old or too young for that but i thought i would share the recipe i found and the online shop where you can buy it if you dont want to make it.


The recipe came from www.falafelandthebee.com who got it from  the Celiac Sprue Association. 

Gluten-Free Play Dough
Ingredients:
½ cup rice flour
½ cup cornstarch
½ cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon cooking oil

Food coloring, if desired

Essential oils, if desired

Directions:
Mix ingredients. Cook and stir on low heat for 3 minutes or until it forms a ball. Cool completely before storing in a air tight plastic bag.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now for the Aromaplay all natural, NON TOXIC, bpa free and gluten free aromatherapy play dough which i had the great pleasure of having a play with the other week. It feels great, it plays well, it smell delicious and looks sooo yummy. 

It comes in 7 wonderful scents each with its own purpose.

Cool it - Our gorgeous blue chamomile scented clay.  Perfect for calming and getting those little ones down for a nap. \

Steady Eddy - A beautiful pink clay blended with Bergamot to balance those that are a little anxious or upset.

Your attention please - Rosemary is known for it's memory enhancing properties.  Those little ones not focusing?? trying to count to 100? Grab this forest green clay and get a counting!

Rise and Shine - Our bright yellow stunner clay scented in lemon and lime to awaken and stimulate the senses. Great after a nap!

 Dosey dough - A dreamy purple and scented with lavender this calming dough will relax those little monsters and have them quietly playing in the corner in no time!

Sniff Snuff - Help those runny noses clear up while playing!! This clay is a lime green and scented with a breathe easy blend of cornmint, eucalyptus and thyme.

Happy happy joy joy - An natural earthy orange clay scented in sweet orange oil for an uplifting, fresh experience.

 At $9.90 for a 180gram tub its cheaper to make your own if you have all the stuff already and have the time to but the convenience of this product is great and you can even get a travel stacker for $18 so you can try all of the scents without having to buy a whole tub - and it fits easily in you hand bag or baby bag. Purchase from Aromaplay or find out if they have a stockist near you.

Aromaplay

27 Baby dresses - the inspiration

My mission if i choose to accept is to match 27 baby dress designs with 27 pieces of fabric to make my daughter (13month old) a spring / summer wardrobe. The fabric can be brought, scrap or up-cycled/recycled/refashioned from second hand clothes. 

These are the designs i am using for inspiration - click on the pictures to go to find out how you can buy or make these dresses.

To do list - 20 projects i want to try and the Patterns/ tutorials i used

To do list:-

20 projects i want to try and the Patterns/ tutorials i used

1. Pillowcase Dress
2. Bloomers
3. Baby Shoes - Shoe pattern 1
4. Tutu's
   
5. Baby leg warmers
6. Corset (this one is just a dream atm)
7. Petticoat
   
8. Laptop bag
9. Baby Headbands
10. Paneled Apron
11. Pencil Skirt
12. Circle Skirt
13. Bow waist belt
14. Vintage Halter Dress
15. Rock and roll ruffle mini skirt 
16. Sew your own Mary Jane slippers - mary jane slippers
17. Fairy wings - Fairy wings
18. Fairy tree house - Fairy tree house
19. Book safe / Hollow book
20. Kimono
    

Will post pics when i make them.

Sexy knitting

Sexy and knitting aren't normally two words i would put together in a sentence. But i have had to eat me words tonight as i found some of the most creative and yes sexy knitting patterns and even better they are FREE. I love that when i can eat my cake and get it for free.

Makes me want to work on my knitting (i can only manage a scarf but that's because i don't have the time to practice).

You can find these and many other patterns for free from Knitty.com

Teddy Bear Burp Cloth Tutorial

 

    

Teddy Bear Burp Cloth

I have decided to share my Burp Cloth Tutorial, even know there are many tutorials for baby burp cloths - i wanted one that i could use scraps of material, ribbon and other stuff i have laying around the house.

Budget Materials include:

• Scrap Towelling material ( or a old but still useable towel )
• Brown and Tan  coloured Felt from the dollar store
• Scrap Coloured/ Patterned material
• Whatever colour thread you want
• Ribbon (optional for hanging)
• Pop studs (optional if you want the bear head to be removable)
• Buttons (optional)

Step 1.  Cut 2 bear Face shapes - This is the shape i used.

Teddy Head

Step 2. Stitch the face onto the front of the bear face - I used half ovals in the ears, ovals for eyes and for the mouth area and other shape for the nose - i just kept adjusting til i figured out what shape i wanted.

On the back you can stitch one side of the pop studs (optional only if you want the head to be removable - i do so i can machine wash the towel)

Placing the face on to get the right placement before stitching.

Step 3. After stitching the face on i stitched the 2 head shapes together and before closing the gap between the ears i put a light layer of stuffing in to puff it up.

Stuffing the head between the ears - I like the homely look of the stitching so i used black to make it stand out.

Step 4. I used ribbon folded over to make a loop (so i can hang it) - make sure to finish the ends of the ribbon so it doesnt unravel. I used a lighter to lightly singe the ribbon ends. Putting the loop in the gap i left open to stuff the head...  i finished the head by stiching it closed.

Step 5. Cut the towelling into lenths that suit your needs (mines 40cm long and 20cm wide) Make sure the bear head is in proportion to the towelling.

Cutting up the towelling

Step 6. Measure and cut a pieace of material to add to the bottom of the towelling to finish it off. I used a scrap of green patterned material which i simply  folded in half to make a 20cm wide and 10 cm long rectangle. With the wrong side facing out sew around the sides and bottom but leave the top open. Put the rectangle out the right way so the stiching is hidden and put the end of the towelling into the opening and sew it all together.  By now you should have a peice of towelling that looks like this:

If you dont want a peice like this at the bottom you could use ribbon or fringe or just leave it off... just be careful with beads, etc that may be unsuitable for use around young children

Step 7. I lined up and added pop studs to the toweling so i can remove the head for washing. I also cut the toweling at the top to make a "neck" for the bear. (you can sew the head straight onto the toweling if you want.)

Anyhoo add the head and your done.

If i haven't explained anything properly please let me know and i will go into more detail... Please let me know if you use it and I've added some links to other burp cloth tutorials if you want to try them.

Make and takes: http://www.makeandtakes.com/baby-burp-cloth-tutorial

Homemade by Jill: http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2008/01/burp-cloth-tutorial.html

A new Chelsea morning http://anewchelseamorning.blogspot.com/2007/03/such-mystery-not.html

The start of something new.

Time after time i have searched through blogs thinking to myself i can do that or i wish i could do that craft project or sew that outfit. After yet another of these and my very own pity party, my lovely fiancee gave me a very inspirational pep talk and told me to focus on one project at a time. I choose sewing and started finding ways to better my craft. I signed up for sewing classes, i loaned out books from the library and started working my way through as many sewing blogs as possible.

Finding cheap projects/ patterns was a must as we seem to always have more bills the more money we earn. Being Eco friendly is always at the top of my list and i genuinely enjoy finding natural remedies or recycling or upcycling as i have recently discovered. I also have always loved vintage, the clothes, the hair styles, the whole way of living. So how do i combine these things together?

By putting together a blog devoted to cheap Eco friendly upcycled rockabilly clothes and crafts for the modern woman.

I hope you enjoy.

Skye.