Dress!

I've recently gotten very into repurposing clothing. 

I've let myself let my imagination go wild, and this was the first real result.

The changes I made on this white cotton dress are simple, but the overall result changes the dress are drastic. I really liked this dress when I bought it, secondhand, but I didn't quite love it. I mostly just saw potential. The dress was too long, and the neckline came up a little too high to look right with my height. 

The first changes were to the torso-

So the first step- was cutting off the bottom of the dress. (I also cut off a ribbon that you were supposed to tie in the back) I took about three inches off of the main layer, and the thin inside layer. Those are what I used for the pocket and the collar.
The collar and the pocket we're both made by me, from scratch. I basically just traced my neckline on a piece of paper and drew out what I wanted the collar to look like. I cut that out, then cut it out of the scrap fabric! I sewed it all on the inside, then flipped them inside out and sewed them to the neck! I did the same for the small pocket, and then added a small piece of lace.

The Second Step- was just sewing on the beads! I decided to use plain black beads on this dress for the look I was going for, I love how they turned out.

Then I worked on the bottom-

The first step- to the bottom that I made, was adding lace. I added white lace to the bottom of the outside layer of the dress. On the inside lining layer, I added black lace. Higher up, so it doesn't show as prominantly as the white.

The second step- was adding what is quickly becoming my signature on these dresses, a satin heart. On this dress I chose to make the heart bright red. I feel like it really compliments the black and white.

All in- all I feel like this dress was a success.

It is exactly what I wanted, and it inspired me to start getting serious about clothing.

I absolutely loved making it.

And I think I will love wearing it more!

But mostly,

I am so in love with the idea of repurposing clothing!

I buy most of my clothing second hand ( NO SHAME! ) and I love so much more being able to take something, and re-birth it into something more than it ever was!

The main reason for this post was to show how easy it is to take something simple and make it your own and beautiful!

My tips for projects like this :

• Measure before you lay even one stitch! When you're done, you will notice even the smallest needle holes out of place. You want your final project to be exactly as you had in mind :)- buying chalk or pencils for fabric are especially good for this, and pinning everything in place to ensure straight lines! 
• If you are comfortable using a sewing machine- use it! But if you're not, projects like this are still entirely doable. I actually made this entire dress without once using a sewing machine. I sewed everything by hand.
• Iron out everything! Wrinkles can take a perfect project to one that is not quite even on one side.
• Plan! Sometimes the best things are random inspiration, but you still need to have a plan as to where you want the project to ultimately go. At least when you're sewing things in place, it helps.
• Measure, but don't limit yourself :) If you want to stick silly hearts on your dresses- do it! Your creativity makes you different, it makes you stand out. It makes you beautiful, and it shows tremendously in things you make.

Thanks for reading :)

Don't be afraid to ask any questions! 

Supply Storage!

In my opinion- it is so much easier to create and feel inspired when you surround yourself with beautiful things. I think having a work area that you find beautiful that you made that way yourself is even more inspiring. I've been working a lot lately to beautify my life. And I think it's coming along very well. :)

And my very favourite projects usually end up being one in the same with the ones that are the easiest. This project is no exception. This project all together cost less than 10 dollars, and this is with eight cans! (I loved them so much I bought two of each. But with them costing less than .60 cents each who could resist!)

The supplies you will need are simple:

• Cans! You can use any you like. Mine are the Andy Warhol special edition Campbell's Tomato Soup Can. They actually inspired this project :)
• 1 tub Mod Podge ( Or your choice sealant)
• Spongey brush (or other if you choose)
• Some place safe, that can get messy for them to dry

The steps, are also very simple:

1. Carefully peel the label off your can. (After you have eaten what's inside, of course! No wasting.)
2. With your spongey paint brush ( And yes, that is the scientific term for it), and paint a good layer of Mod Podge onto the outside of the can.)
3. Press the label on, be sure it's straight, and push out any air bubbles until it is flat and appears as it should.
4. Apply a layer of Mod podge all over the outside of the label, and the entire outside of the can. 
5. Let dry.
6. Repeat this step four or five times, until you feel comfortable with the level of sealant on your can.
7. You can also paint the inside/bottom of your can. I chose to paint a few of the inside edge in a correlating color, and to leave some plain. If you do paint some- I would recommend also sealing the paint in Mod Podge.

I hope you all try out this project, it's so cute, easy and rewarding. :)

- Emy

Hello, new readers and old ones alike! 

I've taken a very long break from having a personal blog, and I decided to start again fresh and be much more dedicated to it. My plan is to post on this blog every week. Hopefully more than once! 

I'm going to post my going ons. A few days in the life of a starting out do-it-yourselfer. A thrifting/vintaging/baking/blogging/cooking/drawing/painting/making/reading/photo-taking young lady. 

For those of you who don't know, I'll tell you a little bit about myself.

I'm Emy.

I'm 21 years old and aspiring to be a web designer/blogger/artist.

I live in Florida right now, but am slowly venturing back to Seattle, Washington.

Venturing with my partner in crime, of course

my sunshine boy Matthew.

I moved to Florida about two years ago and really started to get into being creative.

I started doing a lot of do it yourself projects I'd find online, and coming up with a lot myself.

I got a lot more into drawing and painting, even developing my own style of the two.

I've been learning a lot more vegetarian recipes and trying out new baking techniques.

I've started sewing, a lot. It started as hair things, but lately I've been repurposing/ making clothing.

I've also recently become the proud owner of a Nikon D5100 and have been getting more and more into taking photos.

This blog is going to be tutorials, photos, and experiences with all of those things.

It's going to be an adventure log journal.

I've basically been able to find the things in my life that I absolutely love doing, 

and I've been able to actually do them.

And it's made me realize that to be happy in life you have to do what you love doing.

So this blog is me starting to push myself to do all of the things I want to be doing.

I want to force myself to make,

or create,

or photograph,

or even just talk about the things that make up my days.

That drive and inspire me.

Maybe they'll drive or inspire some of you, too :)

-Emy