Altering Time

This shirt was once a dress.  Another treasure I procured from the Flea Swap at The Gangway.
The dress looked roomy enough until I tried to put it on.  I could barely zip it up and the bell shape was completely lost. I took out the side seams and went to the maximum safe seam allowance to no avail.  I ended up chopping it in half and using the bottom fabric to inset a box pleat to the back seam where the zipper was to make it into this cute shirt. It worked out really well since it also helped to balance the design since there were already the box pleats in the sleeves of the dress making another one with the larger bow in the back.  I was so in love with the sleeves I couldn't just part with this without trying to make it work.  It's funny because everyone who has seen is so far has asked me if it's vintage.  I'm not sure myself.  Someone else made it I can tell b/c the inside isn't professionally finished and I can see someone else has taken it in and out several times.  Whomever originally sewed this garment together was not an especially experienced sewer but they got the job done and it looked great from the outside.

With it I am wearing my silver little Tomcat locket, Express Re-rock ultra skinny jeans, pearl white globe earrings and my new Gold BCBGeneration shoes.

Flea Swap at the Gangway

Flea Swap - entirely different yet somewhat reminiscent of a flea market.  The idea with this is that everyone brings 10-20 pieces of clothing, shoes, accessories.  Not just thing's they are getting rid of but perhaps things they want to see go to a good home where you have maybe one them once so that someone else can enjoy them and give them new life.  After all the garments are assembled what can be hung is done so and the browsing begins.

 During the browsing it's about an hour or two of look but don't take, touch and try but put it back.  There is an order to what is about to start.  This little session is to get the juices flowing and eyeball those key pieces that you want to get your hands on first.

This is Jen Burton our lovely organizer for the Event. 

After the browsing dies down everyone writes their name on a slip of paper and it goes into the bag.

Each name is pulled out and written into a list which will decide who goes first to pull our their garment or accessory of choice.

We all gathered outside and wait patiently as each person's name is called and they get to select one piece each as they enter back into the room.  You hear a mix of Ohh's Ahh's and congratulations for finding such a great piece!  Everyone is very cordial here and no one boo's or fights over a dress taken before the desired time.  It's a great vibe and very laid back.  As things were sorted through more and more treasures were found and hung up.

In the end after about 5 passes on the list it is a free for all.  No pushing or shoving just a bunch of great gals ideally chatting and picking through the racks again and pointing out to others things they might of missed or that they want someone else to give a great home to.

At the end of the event it's a cool night, with casual chat, drinks and bags full of new bounty! This was so successful they plan on doing this event quarterly to help everyone with their garment change as the seasons change.  Keep your eyes peeled for other exciting things that The Gangway will be having!

My Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Andy and I had a late start.  We got each other very low cost presents such as Butter creams from Anthony Thomas, Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii and a Fedora of his own.  I finally finished both my little projects of making the felt garland (below) and the conversation heart Coasters (Above).

We both respectively rested in our own ways after work and then "suited up" to go see how our friend Stephanie's gallery opening at The Gangway for Sweet Nothings.  I was so happy to see her with a full gallery and store!  Everyone was a having a great time and finally got a good look at the space to germinate ideas to host events there and classes.  I'm very excited for the future of my friends space!

It may look tiny from the pictures but this is is only the front half.  You can see my submission of the event at the top, it's the knitting hearts mobile.  The back is this enormous studio space with a epically large table space for all sorts of projects to happen on.

On this special day I Wore:

Strapless dress from a random store in Chicago

Grey leopard print Cardigan - Express

Chevron Black cropped legggins - Express

Round toe Black Platform Pumps - Michael Kors

Vintage Sweater clip pin

OTD : Out into the Snow!

These are some photos I took when we had our big snow storm a couple days ago.  It was so lovely and white.  But I have the worst taste in choosing backgrounds apparantly.  Black on a dark green evergreen, not the smartest Idea but thank goodness for my Picnik!  I find there is no excuse to not look good or fashionable just because it's cold outside.  It just means you need to get more interesting accessories or versatile pieces to miz and match more.

This Black coat is probably one of my biggest staples in my winter wardrobe.  I got it for trade when I did a bunch of knitwear pieces for Kelli Martin's fashion show after her return from project Runway, years ago.

Black Corset back Coat: Black Market (no longer open)

Mohawk Hunter Hat : My own design (Etsy) or locally at The Gangway

Black Mittens : Macys

Boots: North Face

Here you can see the corset type lacing in the back of the coat

There is just something so invigorating about being the first one to break into a patch of snow!

Paris Sewing Cafe and dreaming

Today on Facebook my friend Sheila posted this link to a Sewing Cafe in Paris!

The Article is here "Sweat Shop"

Picture is taken from the Article

It is an amazing and wonderful Idea.  Classes, coffee, juice, for adults and childern, Sewing machine rentals by the hour.  This is very near to my heart with a dream I have for opening my own place up in Columbus.  I have an 8 year plan.  Of course I would like it to be sooner but money needs to be saved and time carefully judged between work, teaching and wedding, eventually family.

I'm a planner deep down even though it seems I do things on a whim sometimes.
I thought I would never want to do this in my life but the more and more I dwell on it and am inspired by my friend Stephanie Bair- Garant and her shop, The Gangway, I can't help but dream.

Interior Photo of back of the Gangway

My dream is to in 8-10 years open my own little store in Grandview/Columbus area. The missing link Yarn, craft gift store that is lacking. Someplace to have tea, knit, paper craft, what have you, that isn't Joanne's that specializes in the unique, handmade, and elegant.

Photo from Martha Stewart Crafts of Purl Soho

How wonderful would that be to have my own little shop with some kitties in tow where I can sit, blog, create and inspire other people. Have very simple DIY classes and just some general workshop hours, making little cubicles to use in house die-cutter tools and purchase things as needed. A small library collection to browse while in store.  Perhaps some embroidery machines.

I look at balls of yarn, knick knacks, the things I save from magazine after magazine that I think someday this will make a beautiful card. I am a collector and the only way to make room in my life for new things is to sell them and give them away. There are also so many things I want to continue to do and I feel like I just do not have the time to really get these things accomplished unless I have full days to dedicate to perfecting them.

My main joys in life are to make things whether it be from fabric, paper, beads, wood upcycled items. I feel like it is the next step in my life is to pursue this after I am more financially settled and the wedding is over. School sounds interesting but not as interesting as educating myself and reviving some long ignored crafts into this new world of Indie Crafts and DIY mentality.  Not to mention just having my own little awesome space to meet with friends, past students and meet new people.