A quick picture post.
First, what spring looked like in my neck of the woods as of yesterday (today it was cold, cloudy, SNOWING...damned mother nature!!), and second a reconstructed tee-shirt I did for Lorelei. It is now a favorite wardrobe accessory - she insisted on wearing it while she was home sick today. I win!
First, spring!
If you look closely at the tree in the front, the green one, you'll see one of my mourning doves...the ones that left tracks in the snow, and that have been visiting every day for weeks. I <3 mourning doves!!
Next, the new tank. Sorry, no before picture...this was my first attempt, I was nervous and didn't know how it would come out. :o/
Lorelei hates tee-shirts, positively won't wear them. Cat hates tee-shirts because she says they feel boxy and bulky. They both have ten billion tee-shirts. So I've been looking for cheap ways to spruce up/enlarge their summer wardrobes (why I was so snarky when SIL asked for her damned sewing machine back...no I haven't returned it yet. Snark.). I found a site that had tutorials for changing tee-shirts in just about every way possible, including turning them into cooler shirts, camis, tees, pants, shorts, dresses and skirts. So that's my current project. :o) This one used to be a plain white tee-shirt, a size too large. Lorelei DESPISES loose shirts, and she especially hates high tee-shirt necks...says they strangle her.
The first picture is the tank, immediately after I finished it. Basically, I cut the top half of the tee-shirt off, right under the sleeves. I hemmed the sides to make them fit a little better (didn't measure well and made it a little too tight - lesson learned for next time). I cut triangles out of the sleeve fabric, and hemmed them along the sides. I stitched the triangles to the top of the tube of fabric, then tried it on her to measure shoulder straps and fit it a little better. Sewed the ribbons on, did some tailoring, painted on some matching butterflies and voila! New favorite shirt.
The second picture is Lorelei modeling her new tank top this morning. (Doesn't look well fitted here because I couldn't get her to sit up. She really wasn't feeling well this morning! :o( ) I'm very encouraged by how easy this was...it took me less than an hour, and I learned a lot about measuring and working with the fabric. I also have some ideas for more overlap in future tanks, so they don't hang open. The shirt's not as flashy as it looks, tho - the line where the triangles begin is actually well above her private chest parts, so it doesn't gap open and show anything it shouldn't.
I'll be doing lots more of this for the girls for this summer...I just need to acquire a new sewing machine! Gah!
And Chris stopped at the main library tonight and picked me up a bunch of books on lasagna gardening, growing herbs, and planning vegetable gardens. Bless! He is a good husband. Or his cheap side won out and he wants fresh vegetables for free, one or the other. ;o)
That was all. I now return you to FILLING OUT MY INTERVIEW MEME, DANGIT!! Except for destinymanifest and eschroder. They already did it, so they are excused. :oP And beekerzwhirled, 'cause I already saw her answers since I stole the meme from her. BUT ALL THE REST OF YOU! Get to memeing!!!
First, spring!
If you look closely at the tree in the front, the green one, you'll see one of my mourning doves...the ones that left tracks in the snow, and that have been visiting every day for weeks. I <3 mourning doves!!
Next, the new tank. Sorry, no before picture...this was my first attempt, I was nervous and didn't know how it would come out. :o/
Lorelei hates tee-shirts, positively won't wear them. Cat hates tee-shirts because she says they feel boxy and bulky. They both have ten billion tee-shirts. So I've been looking for cheap ways to spruce up/enlarge their summer wardrobes (why I was so snarky when SIL asked for her damned sewing machine back...no I haven't returned it yet. Snark.). I found a site that had tutorials for changing tee-shirts in just about every way possible, including turning them into cooler shirts, camis, tees, pants, shorts, dresses and skirts. So that's my current project. :o) This one used to be a plain white tee-shirt, a size too large. Lorelei DESPISES loose shirts, and she especially hates high tee-shirt necks...says they strangle her.
The first picture is the tank, immediately after I finished it. Basically, I cut the top half of the tee-shirt off, right under the sleeves. I hemmed the sides to make them fit a little better (didn't measure well and made it a little too tight - lesson learned for next time). I cut triangles out of the sleeve fabric, and hemmed them along the sides. I stitched the triangles to the top of the tube of fabric, then tried it on her to measure shoulder straps and fit it a little better. Sewed the ribbons on, did some tailoring, painted on some matching butterflies and voila! New favorite shirt.
The second picture is Lorelei modeling her new tank top this morning. (Doesn't look well fitted here because I couldn't get her to sit up. She really wasn't feeling well this morning! :o( ) I'm very encouraged by how easy this was...it took me less than an hour, and I learned a lot about measuring and working with the fabric. I also have some ideas for more overlap in future tanks, so they don't hang open. The shirt's not as flashy as it looks, tho - the line where the triangles begin is actually well above her private chest parts, so it doesn't gap open and show anything it shouldn't.
I'll be doing lots more of this for the girls for this summer...I just need to acquire a new sewing machine! Gah!
And Chris stopped at the main library tonight and picked me up a bunch of books on lasagna gardening, growing herbs, and planning vegetable gardens. Bless! He is a good husband. Or his cheap side won out and he wants fresh vegetables for free, one or the other. ;o)
That was all. I now return you to FILLING OUT MY INTERVIEW MEME, DANGIT!! Except for destinymanifest and eschroder. They already did it, so they are excused. :oP And beekerzwhirled, 'cause I already saw her answers since I stole the meme from her. BUT ALL THE REST OF YOU! Get to memeing!!!