It's fun to wear Ikea fabric

Clara does not look too happy but I assure you she loves the new apron dress I sewed for her.  I know she loves it because it's been three days now that she's been wearing it.  She just does not love taking pictures.

I'm using great discipline this year in only sewing out of my existing fabric stash.  Luckily there was something there that interested Clara - she is normally very picky but was excited to have a dress that matched her stroller.  The fabric is from Ikea's line a few years ago.  It was not my first choice for this dress because of the heavy hand but it works.

I wish I had more information the adorable sewing pattern that was used.  It is from Iroha, a Japanese designer who is no longer producing patterns. 

 I have to admit sifting through the Japanese instructions weighed heavy on my heart as I thought about those affected in the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  My heart and prayers were with them as I sewed.

Japanese patterns never disappoint me. The jumper is paired with the Swiss dot blouse I made for Maryanna three years ago.  I love that this blouse has seen so much wear!  Reminds me that sewing really is worth it, especially when you have a great pattern and use quality fabric.  Still not sure the Ikea fabric will stand the test of time but it is fun for now.

The back of the dress is really girly.

Clara is a girly dress up kind of gal.  You're more likely to find her in costume so I'm trying to add more "costume" to the everyday clothes I sew for her - that way I don't have to beg her to wear them.  You can see below I added a ruffle lining similar to the ruffle I added to my thrifted wool dress.    

Here's the "costume" in twirl action:

Here's the "costume" ready to go:

And for all her patience in taking pictures I put on her favorite Japanese video - a gift from Marie' so many years ago.   

No one in our family understands Japanese - we are just huge fans of all things Japanese despite the language barrier.

High's and Low's of the Pinewood Derby

William was our lone participant in this year's Pinewood Derby. You can see his car below, #11, the silver one with the shark teeth and thick blue stripe.  Designing the car is half the fun, the other half is racing it.

This was a fast car!  Daddy worked hard on the engineering and it raced well.  

The series of photos below tell the story of the highs and lows.  Most of them are blurry, maybe because I forgot to turn on my flash but probably more because I was wearing George on my hip and he kept grabbing the camera from my face.  But sometimes blurry photos capture both the action and emotion more clearly than a still shot could. 

First race 

It's a winner

This guy is winning every race!

He makes it to the final race - tackles his brother in joy

Final race

He loses by less than an inch

William takes 2nd place - big brother offers a hug

Nanny knows just how to comfort

Peter shows off the Lego car he built

William and Peter race their cars

William's car won by several feet but Peter was just happy for a chance to race - he warns William, next year they'll be racing for real.

Not pictured:  A trip to Baskin Robbins with Nanny and Poppy and William's second place prize - a squirt bomb basketball.

Not previously noted:  Mommy's mini freak out when she was called upon to "help finish the car" with little ones crying and we were due out the door in 30 minutes.

This was a fun and memorable event.  The boys are hoping to save all their Pinewood Derby cars and already planning the ultimate family reunion 25 years from now where they will race for all the glory.    

Six B's of Thrifting

Here is another treasure I brought home from the thrift store last Saturday. 

Kind of funny to find Gordon B. Hinckley's six B's at a thrift store in Michigan.  Maybe it is someone I know who donated it - now it is up on our wall as a great reminder to my family.  William used it for his family home evening lesson on Monday.

There is a funny story about this purchase.  Every hour Salvation Army takes 50% off certain items.  At the time of purchase the special item off was furniture.  The kind fellow working at check out could be described as a "rougher dude" covered in earrings and tattoos.  The sign was marked at $8.50 and I inquired if it could be "considered furniture".  He read over the sign, gave me a funny look and put me in my place saying, "sorry, I cannot honestly say that is furniture".  I responded, "yeah, you're right, Be Honest".  Then awkwardly added, "it doesn't say 'Be Cheap' doesn't"?  Calling for the next in line he sent me on my way with another funny look, half cracked smile, a lot to think about and a funny story to share with my sisters.

Now I share my six B's of thrifting (these go hand in hand with Cathy's recent list):

-Be quick

-Be prepared

-Be selective

-Be daring

-Be generous

-Be grateful

1.  Be Quick -  thrift stores can feel like a time warp at times, they can even be draining. Maybe it is the collective energy of all the previous wearers and owners.  Maybe there is just so much to look at - or maybe it is just the smell.  Give yourself a time limit because you literally could "hunt" for hours.  Be quick and decisive because though you do save money at a thrift store, it doesn't profit you much if you waste your precious time doing so.

2.  Be Prepared - know what you are looking for.  A few spring skirts, closed toed shoes and boy T-shirts were on my list last Saturday.  This preparation kept me focused and quick.  I was not tempted to sift through kid shoes, coats or women's pants because I already knew there was no need for them.  Do not even go to a thrift store without an idea of what you are looking for because most likely you'll bring home junk you don't need.  That said, if you come across something entirely off "your list" and it calls to you (just like the sign) go ahead and grab it.  Knowing your specific size (as if varies) for different designers and bringing along a measuring tape also helps in preparation.  Don't forget a few treats for the little ones who may accompany you.

3.  Be Selective - we live in an age of abundance.  Being grabby does not serve the soul, nor does hoarding.  Just because you "like" something doesn't mean you have to buy it.  I bought a pair of $1 cowboy boots size 1 for Maryanna 2 1/2 years ago.  It bothers me every time I see them because I've been storing them and moving them without the guarantee she'll even want to wear them.  What am I going to do - force her to wear them just because I've lugged them around all these years?  I'm sure they could have seen happy use from more than one child in the time I've kept them in dusty storage.  What I'm saying - don't buy something just because it is a $1.  Ask yourself - do I really need this?, does this lift me or deplete me?  

Inspect clothing carefully for stains, tears and functioning zippers.  When you find something that you like, feel it in your hands, smell it, try it on.  Last Saturday I tried on two spring skirts.  One was a vintage Liz Claiborne size 8 - it was too tight, the other, size 6 Lily - it was too big (thrift store sizing is funny like that).  Both were very cute on the hanger but not on me.  Skirts were 2 for $5 on Saturday and I suppose I could have bought both with the intention of "fixing" them.  Instead I stayed honest with myself and knowing they would sit for weeks and possibly never get fixed, left them for someone else to find and enjoy.

4.   Be Daring - thrift stores are a low risk way to experiment with clothing and fashion.  Go ahead, try the vintage dress, leather pants, or bright orange sweater.  Buy something, take it apart and refashion it - it is actually less expensive than buying new fabric.  

It's also daring to bring your kids along - they can get impatient. Don't forget to keep a good eye on them because thrift stores sometimes attract creepy people.

Don't be afraid to check out thrift stores on vacation.  Some of my favorites are in small Idaho towns and I've also heard of people having great experiences at thrift stores in other countries.

5.  Be Generous -  give back when you can.  Don't give garbage like stained or ripped clothing, but instead pass on items that still have good wear left in them.  

Go ahead and talk down to an honest price if you want - but don't make a game of it.  In most cases thrift stores and individual family yard sales are raising money for a good cause - keep that in mind and take joy in contributing to the cause.  

6.  Be Grateful - be grateful for the things that come our way just when you need (or want) them, at just the right price.  Say thank you to the seller and perhaps a prayer of gratitude.  

But most importantly be grateful for the things that aren't really things because that is where our greatest joy and blessings lie and often times it is all the "stuff" that makes us forget that.   

Totally Thrifted

A few kind friends at church complimented me on my outfit last Sunday.  One even asked where I purchased my clothes.  I admitted without a trace of self consciousness that I am a second hand stylist, it may even be obvious from the photo below.

This wool Ralph Lauren dress was picked up at a thrift store for $4 on my birthday date with Paul.  I don't care so much for designer labels except for the fact it guarantees lasting quality.  Originally the dress was a little bit big and since I wasn't up for extensive altering I threw it through a warm wash cycle.  It now fits perfect with the exception of the hem length, but I added a little ruffle to the bottom of the lining to compensate for that.

  

The blouse was picked up at a garage sale in Salt Lake City a few years ago.  It was $0.25 and constructed entirely by hand!  You can see where the lace is fraying along the collar, this piece will be worth mending over and over because I love both the fit and the style. Who knows the days' it has seen before my many wears.

This bracelet was also from a Salt Lake City garage sale.  The woman selling it said she bought it in Greece many years ago, she sold it to me for $5.

And now the shoes, these were picked up just last Saturday.  I earned a trip to Salvation Army after cleaning out all the closets and dropping off six bags of clothing.  

Without even reading the designer label I couldn't resist these - they were $10 and fit me perfectly so in the cart they went.  When I got home I noticed the Made in Spain label and a closer look led me to Rosina Ferragamo, I thought, oh Ferragamo knock offs.  But further research led me to learn Salvatore Ferragamo had a sister named Rosina who also designed shoes from the 60's to 80's.  I love vintage shoes because they have already stood the test of time, unlike other modern shoes (no offense Target) that seem to fall apart with in just a few wears.

Again, what I love about second hand style is the stories both gathered or imagined.  It is kind of like dressing in a costume that takes you to different countries and time periods.  It is so much more romantic that shuffling through a loud and sterile mall.  

Here's what else was picked up last Saturday - just for fun, international soccer T's.  William and Henry helped me pick them out.

My children actually love accompanying me on my thrift store adventures, maybe because I'm sure to at least pick them up a $0.30 book that they can read while I sift.  On one of our trips Henry picked out these pants, he calls them his "starfish pants".  He loves to wear them and I love that they were handmade.

Here is another pair of vintage boots I recently picked up for just $1.75.  They may not be designer but they do say "Made in Canada" and the shearling lining is still soft and warm.  They spoke to me so that is why I bought them.  I'll admit though, I've only worn them twice.

And if I don't wear these boots (or any of the above items) again in the next couple of months and they still have wear left in them, I'll be sure to pass them on.  Quite possibly to the same thrift store they were purchased from.    

Sunshine and Sewing

The sun decided to show its beautiful face here in Michigan after a long gray winter.  We are enjoying it so much that there's been little time left for blogging, and barely enough for sewing.

In celebration of the coming spring I sewed up these dance leotards for the girls.  These are from Kwik Sew pattern 3507 they proved to be quick.  I spent more time switching the serger thread than on actual construction.

Though made from a cotton/spandex velour I believe the design is seasonless.  At least I anticipate the girls wearing these frequently without question of the weather outside.  Here they are in action, the girls like to pair them with their clogs because I'm told clogs make great toe shoes. 

It did get chilly as the sun set but Clara found a simple solution.

Maryanna chose not to mix up the leotard with tights and mittens.  She found a sunny spot inside instead.

Here are a few close ups of the flower details I added.

In the end it got too cold and both girls ended up dancing by my side as I prepared dinner.  Do you know this tiny kitchen space also doubles as a dance floor?  Even for the mom.

Meanwhile the boys found time for their own sewing and food prep.  This is a gourmet meal Peter and William sewed up for Herky the Hawkeye - it is a hot dog and three pot stickers.  They found the pattern in my Japanese felt food book and although they did most of it by hand, I was impressed they figured out how to thread my sewing machine.  I am told this is the first of large menu that will be offered at "Herky's Hamburgers", a gourmet restaurant for stuffed animals.

Dyeing for Spring

We still have bits of snow decorating our yard - it is not the pretty kind of snow, but all grey and muddy only surviving in little patches.  Kind of like the the old surviving white t-shirts and tops from last summer, then into the fall and winter - now dull and stained with wear. 

 I cleaned out a nice pile of them from the closets last week knowing a quick dye job would not only give them new life and wear for spring but also energize me through the process.  I even let Henry help.  Here he is dumping 3 cups of salt into 6 cups hot water.

I did the messy mixing with the older boys during nap time.   Here is my batch of yellow in the mix. 

These bold colors are energizing!  I am happy with the result.

I always use the procion dyes form dharma trading co.  Here's what I mixed for the lavender:  1/2 Tbs wedgwood blue, 1/4 Tbs bubble gum pink and 1/4 Tbs fuchsia red.  I regret not straining the mix because the reds tend to clump and I do have a few tiny red spots on the pieces.  But over all they look good (or at least better than stained white).

Now the yellows.  I had to be careful with this batch because it included one of James' favorite Michigan football T-shirts.  Lemon Yellow would not be as authentic as Michigan's maize so I added a bit of deep orange and a dash of golden brown.  Again - very pleased.

Here's the hot pink which was simply fuchsia red with a bit of deep orange.  I'm sorry my little models were too cold to try these on for photos but I don't blame them.  One of my sisters passed down the dress below, it was originally a tan corduroy but has not been worn by my girls because it was not "pretty".  Now it is.

The green below was an even mix of avocado and chartreuse.  Can you believe I've had that H&M wrap blouse for 8 years now!  A quick touch up with the iron and it's gonna look brand new. 

Now the orange batch.  It is a mix of mostly deep orange, a bit of fuchsia red and a dash of lemon yellow.  I got lazy with this and forgot to stir resulting in uneven dye. But the color is so vibrant it is hard to tell (it's actually not a color that is fun to look closely at).  In fact, these pieces will need some careful pairing to pull off, but my girls do take joy in awful mixing so these are sure to be worn and loved.

So here's to a colorful spring (and summer)!  May these pieces, so vibrant and new, be as fun to wear, wash, fold, pick up and put away as they were to make.  And who knows.....maybe by end of summer there will still be enough wear in them to dye a bit darker and muted for fall.