Thrift Store Finds!

So as I've mentioned before, a new thrift store opened up in our little town here, Russellton. (I've probably spelled that wrong, just for the record.)

It's run by a local church and their pastor to fund first time medical visits for the homeless. I love the idea! Since it's the first in this small town, everyone has brought their stacks of old retro purses, dresses, trays, pictures frames and everything else to the store and donated it. Which means that other people (like me) can buy it!

Yippee!

The first time Justin and I stopped down, we spent about $5 and got a cute retro 7-piece spaghetti bowl set:

and a beautiful printed vintage knitting needle holder-bag:

(Yup, made that name up all by myself.)
I LOVE this little thing! It fits ALL my knitting needles perfectly!
And it has this lovely silky soft pink interior. No snags!

and the rosy flower printed tunic that I re-did and posted about here. 

The next time I went, I took Skyla with me and found this lovely bright orange little ruffled shirt:

Believe me, it's a lot more nasty orange that it looks here. I have plans to dye it a beautiful navy blue and replace the fabric bow with a cute little yellow, red and blue ribbon. Maybe. Might just leave it as is. Haven't fully decided yet, but I will post pics when its done!

Here's to hoping I don't get dye all over the clothes I'm wearing as well as the one that I am dyeing.... (!)

Fabulous Frock Re-Do!

YAY! That is my first response when I see all the pictures above. This is my first time taking an already-made ugly item and re-doing it to be something cute and wonderful for me!

Inspiration came from the website Grosgrain. When I saw the old frock in the thrift store, this post in particular popped into my head. I kid you not, I immediately thought, "I could do that!" AND for $1.99 I just couldn't resist buying it and trying it out!

It took about 2-3 hours since I'm not really an experienced sewer. I did sew the very first hem inside out and thus spent approx 20 minutes ripping it out (very carefully) praying that I would not ruin the beautiful paper-thin old fabric. It was a long 20 minutes, lets just put it that way.

The Main Points:

• I decided that I liked the material from the wrong side better than the right side, so I decided to wear the finished project inside out.
• I created new side seams to make it fit me. Probably took it in about 1.5" on either side.
• I hemmed the tunic to fall to my hips, where I like all my shirts to hit.
• Covered up the hole in the fabric that the button right below the neckline had created with a piece of fabric that I ironed pleats in and sewed on.
• Covered the exposed seams in the shoulders with a rectangle that I ironed the ends under then sewed over the seams.
• Hand stitched a rose ribbon that I had in my stash over the gathering seams on front and back.
• Took the excess from hemming the tunic, wrapped it around my head and called it a headband!

All in all, it was a pretty satisfying little project. I can do this!!!
Love it.

And just for reference, the before picture: