Linus Project - July contribution

July's contribution is a Shabby Chic Americana made with recycled colored denim and soft floral prints.  All the fabric I purchased at the Goodwill Blue Hanger store, most of which had stains or tears that would put most of these clothing items trashable.  I originally saw the idea on Pinterest.  I changed the inspiration directions by:  using colored denim and by leaving a slight edge when I sewed down the denim on the front so that the denim would ravel a lil' bit.

Total Cost:  $11.50
Total Hours:  20

Linus Project - April, May and June contributions

I can scarce believe I have let months go by without blogging about my Linus Project contributions.  Lots of personal issues have kept me fairly busy, but I have managed to keep up with completing each month's blanket on time....just not the blogging portion.

So, here are April, May and June's contributions.

April's is completely recycled.  The fabric is left-over from other projects.  The top is a lime green floral pattern with large flowers and squiggly vines in pink, orange and yellow.  The back is a soft yellow thin fleece.

Total Cost:  $0
Total Hours:  3

May's contribution is another completely recycled blanket.  the top piece is a thin plaid fleece that I salvaged from being thrown out..  I cut off the frayed and dirty edges and was able to save a piece large enough for a kid sized blanket.  The back piece is a black cotton left over from another project.

Total Cost:  $0
Total Hours:  3

June's contribution took a while to complete.  My mom is always on the lookout for crafting materials for me, and somewhere, she had found a small collection of blues / greys / greens that I have had for a while and not sure what to do with them.  The other colors were left-overs from a Shabby Chic project a couple years ago.  I started making granny squares that eventually morphed into June's crocheted contribution.  The only thing I had to purchase were two skeins of black yarn to tie this blanket together.  This ended up being the largest blanket in my donations because I just kept adding squares.  My daughters keep trying to steal it.  At Whitney's insistence, I kept the decorative yellow
lacey edging.


Total Cost:  $6
Total Hours:  30

Re-fashioning

I am addicted to re-fashioning................it is such a fun way to spend my spare time lately.  I think what draws me to this is the utilitarianist ideal:  take something not being used for its intended purpose and making it into something else.

My Linus Project year long contribution project uses only repurposed materials.  It was just an idea, but one that I am pretty excited about so far.

Linus Project - February and March contributions

Ok, so I must confess..........I had really wanted to do the Linus Project last year, and my lofty goals were replaced with finalizing my graduate thesis and looking for a new job.  So, I did have a bit of a headstart for 2013.  Whitney reminds me that I am a whole year behind.

I guess it would be a good thing to knock out all 12 blankets early this year and then turn my attention to other things.

February's is a green/white polka dot quilt.  Three items were recycled:  an old polka dot curtain that was very faded in the middle, an inoperable electric blanket (wires removed) and a pair of pajama bottoms.

Total cost:  $3
Total hours:  6

The hand quilting took the bulk of time for this.  I did not have enough fabric to make wider edging, so I hand stitched it down.


March's is a throw away fleece blanket from one of those kits you see.  It was in a jumbled mess when I found it, and after carefully separating the ties and laying it flat, I decided I'd make a smaller tied fleece blanket.  The lil' bows on the sides were an afterthought.  The kit had button holes on the sides to tie together with those contrasting fleece pieces, and when I approximated cutting the button holes off, it would've made the finalized blanket too narrow.  So, I did some fancy stitch work to keep as much of the original fleece.  The bows were hand stitched to hide the original button holes.

Total cost:  $0
Total hours:  2

Linus Project - January contribution

At the heart of my life's passion is charity. Donating time and/or items to causes has always appealed to me. I love quilting.....and I love blankets. When I first heard of The Linus Project, I was thrilled and have wanted to become involved. Last year I visualized a year long project. Each month, I would complete a blanket. Sounds scary maybe. But remembering that my other passion in life is environmental consciousness, I decided to make repurposeed blankets instead of brand new ones. January is done.

I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

Two items were recycled from waste:  a maroon fleece blanket with frayed edges and a pair of worn women's cotton pajama pants.

I challenge you to become involved with causes you support........find ways to combine your interests in life to make a difference.

Cost for this project:  $0

Time for this project:  2 hours

Promotion...........Shabby 'Round the Corner

It's Fall.............finally, glorious and amazing Fall here in Central Texas, and in complete happiness, I have been working on some repurposing projects.  I would love to truly get the online store operating and realize a dream I've had for over 20 years.  I keep posting:  pictures, ideas and concepts.  It will happen.

My shopping site is on FB...............I also have an etsy store.

https://www.facebook.com/ShabbyRoundTheCorner?ref=hl

http://www.etsy.com/shop/staccihhamilton


I heard Snow Patrol's song "Crack the Shutters" this morning, and it whispered to me.  I have been listening to it since I got home and began promoting my vintage sites.

Sweater Repurpose - Beanie and Scarf

While doing some "trolling", I stumbled across this adorable sweater re-purposing, so I found the perfect sweater vest to try out the project.

I did not have enough fabric to make the scarf portion, but here is a pix of what I did make.

Aprons - NYE Retro

I had to pause my "re-viewing" of Grey's Anatomy to begin my APRON posting.  I have loved aprons most of my life.........I know, I know........I can hear the feminists now screaming how aprons are a symbol of submissiveness or maybe even repression.  All political debates aside, the apron is truly an essential.  In the beginning of my early adult life, aprons had moved from decorative pieces to a basic white.  If you walk into some kitchen stores today, the basic white maybe the only apron you find.  Of course, there are those "manly man" aprons, you know "Kiss the Cook" and "BBQ King" kinds of aprons.

I decided a few months ago I wanted some retro I Love Lucy types of aprons to wear with my heels and pearls!!  LOL

My true inspiration came when I found a current pattern for vintage aprons at a Goodwill store for only $0.59.  I bought it and have wanted to begin work on a collection of decorative kitchen aprons.  Then, I stumbled on a slightly worn apron at a garage sale for a quarter that only needed a little mending and a good washing.  It soon became my pride and joy.

I have since made 2 aprons from re-purposing other items:  one was a child's size 6 sundress and the other a junior's halter top in a fashionable black/white print.  I actually wear an apron anytime I am in the kitchen cooking.

Today's project is the re-purposing of three items into aprons.  I have used the excess fabric from the original pieces for other projects.

Re-Fashioning - Ragtag Garlands

**Update:  the first ragtag garland I made was a gift to my sister-in-law.  She made several this year for friends and family.  I take that as a huge compliment to the popularity of the idea.  I have added these cute ragtag garlands to my etsy store.

So, whether you want to tackle the project or order one, enjoy! **


So, over my Christmas trip back home, I visited the Salvation Army clothing store where dime day happened on all clothing.  Needless to say, I spent a few dollars and walked away with some amazing finds.  I spent a couple hours today cutting apart the pieces I am using for scrap fabric or for refashioning into other items.  I have a couple of aprons cut out already.

I also made several sets of circles for fabric flowers.


And finally, I cut several pieces into strips for a very cute garland idea. 

My suggestions for this are provided:

Stay tuned for more on this re-fashioning experiment!!!

Christmas Noise pillow case

These are just 2 of my Christmas pillow cases I created. I found white and off white pillow cases at Goodwill or Salvation Army, cleaned and repaired if needed and then set out to create a festive Christmas scene using bits and pieces of fabric. The triangle trees are made out of different red swatches from projects. I used wonder-under to adhere and then did a different decorative embroidery stitch around each one. This was the first case I completed.

The Deck the Halls case has balls. Each one is a swatch of fabric matted onto a coordinating fabric. The hangers are embroidered on, and I used a decorative font to create the title. I embellished the edge of the case with a green and white polka-dot ribbon and a thin red lace edging.

These are fun and very easy to make. I think the starbursts add a bit more pizzaz and help accent the festivity of the season. Each case I completed has some portion of one of my favorite holiday songs:

Merry Christmas (case 1) - We Wish you a Merry Christmas
Deck the Halls (case 2) - Deck the Halls
Comfort / Joy (not shown) - Tiding of comfort and Joy
With 2 eyes made out of coal (not shown) - Frosty the Snowman

I have a few more layouts sketched into my idea journal for other songs I like, including Santa Baby. Maybe I'll get around to getting these done.

Redesign of men's dress shirt

How completely vintage .......... take a men's dress shirt and re-purpose it into a cute tunic for a woman. I love this project and cannot wait to make it.

I found the idea at:

http://www.prudentbaby.com/2011/10/shirred-maternity-tunic-top.html

and all the directions for completing this project are there.

Tshirt Redo

I found this idea at:

http://brassyapple.blogspot.com/2010/04/ruffle-me-uptshirt-refashion-spring-top.html

The directions follow, and you can check out the original post for more re-purposing ideas.
Ruffle me up!
Ruffles are everywhere from tops to shoes, handbags and accessories! And they are super easy to add to any top especially when made from tshirt knit because you don't have to worry about the edges!

Download and print the entire tutorial HERE

Materials:
2 tshirts - about 2 or 3 times bigger than you normally wear
color coordinating thread
scissors
elastic thread
sewing machine
straight pins
measuring tape


Step 1: Shir the bottom of the tee sewing about 6 lines 1/4" apart. We used our sewing foot as a guide between the stitching lines.

Step 2: Cut off the collar. OPTIONAL: Cut a small V dip in the neckline if desired for a different neck shape. Set aside.

Step 3: Lay the 2nd tshirt flat. Cut off the bottom hemline. Then cut 2 strips that are 3.5" wide.

Step 4: Create 1 long strip by cutting "open" at one of the seams or simply cut the loop in half.

Step 5: Cut 1 strip 2.5" wide. Cut open as instructed above.

Step 6: Gather/Ruffle all 3 strips using a basting stitch in y our machine and gently pulling the bottom thread to gather the fabric together. (Stitch 1/4 - 1/2" in from one edge of the fabric strip)

Step 7: Pin one end of the 3.5" ruffled striped at the shoulder seam and the other end about 5-6" from the top of the shirring lines at the bottom of the tshirt lining it up in the middle.

Step 8: Adjust the gathers so the strip fits between the two pinned areas. Pin in place leaving an opening near the middle of the neckline in the front. Repeat with the other 3.5" wide ruffled strip on the opposite side of the tshirt.

Step 9: Sew the ruffles to the tshirt by stitching over the basting line.

Step 10: Fill in the open area in the top middle of the tshirt using the 2.5" wide ruffled strip. Place one end of this strip about 1 inch over the empty area. Pin along the neckline and cut the ruffled strip to be about 1 inch over the other side. Pin in place.

Step 11: Place a second layer of ruffles under this layer making it smaller in width and centering it under the first. (see 2 photos below) Stitch both layers of ruffles onto the tshirt.

OPTIONAL: to create a ruffle at the neckline and shoulder area that isn't as "full", cut and or taper the ruffled fabric towards the shoulder seam until you have reached the desired look.

Step 12: Cut off the hem on each sleeve curving the edge as pictured below.

Step 13: Shir 3 lines from the cut edge to the shoulder seam. Sew 2 shirring lines on the underpart of the sleeve too.

Add rosettes, beads, etc if desired!
I love how this top can be casual but dressy if needed too! Be comfortable this Spring and Summer by wearing a "tshirt" but look a bit more pulled together and stylish!

linking up with.....Keeping it simple, Making the World Cuter, Skip to My Lou, The Girl Creative, 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven, A soft place to land, New Nostalgia, Tip Junkie, Silly Little Sparrow, Todays Creative Blog, Craft Edition