refashioning a dress into a tunic

                                               These aren't great pics, but you do what you can!

2 things inspired this sewing project--one--I've been wanting a tunic top to wear with my skinny jeans, and two--I kind of went on a new clothes shopping spree lately and so I didn't want to purchase anything else 'new'--I wanted to either find one used or make one out of something I already had.  I found a black jersey knit dress in my closet that I've had for 2.5 years and worn maybe once.  Why did I buy it?  I have no idea, I don't wear dresses.

After I started cutting into it, I thought I should have taken a 'before' pic.  Oh well.

Basically I cut the bodice off, recontructed parts of the dress into a kind of flowy top, and used an old black sweater belt I found in my closet to cinch it up at the waist.  I sewed panels in the sides of the previously fitted bodice top, sewed rectangles (cut out of the skirt) at the bottom of the bodice part front and back as sort of 'panels', and cut off the three quarters sleeves and made a little cut in the tops of them.

I think it turned out pretty cute.

i sew capri suns, and, in the garden, verbena bonariensis

I ventured out into the world of sewing capri suns this week--easy and fun!  We've been hanging on to these and cut the tops off just enough to open and rinse them.  Then I got 9 in. zippers and we made pencil pouches. 

First I sewed 2 capri suns together with the tops facing each other, repeated, and then sewed the zipper in the middle.  Perfect!

Then I folded in half and sewed the 3 sides closed.  This all took maybe 5 minutes.

Voila!

I made 2--one for Grace and one for Eric.  They LOVE them.  I'm sure I'll make more.  They're nice and crinkly too. I plan to sew some larger bags at some point, and am working on a lunch bag for Grace.  Grace wove a pop can tab belt and it's a hit.  Her friends and classmates think it's pretty cool.  Love recycling, especially making something funky and fun.

So this is not a great pic, but I have this awesome verbena bonariensis growing in my front flower beds.  I love it so much.  I must have planted one at some point (I can hardly remember year to year) and now it's reseeding.  It's so light and airy.  My flower beds are going crazy, and it's been so hot I don't like working out there.  But I need to suck it up, because the weeds are taking over.

a little of the mundane (which is exciting in its own way) & more about hoopn

Tonight I cut up some of these containers into little food containers with flaps to fold down.  I always hate to throw them away, can they be recycled??  There is nothing on them to indicate that they can, so I thought it'd be better to at least let them get a little more mileage this way.  The little pint ones are GREAT for packing in lunches, and not a big deal if they get lost/damaged. 

You could put little velcro self adhesive tabs on, like above, but those aren't too cheap.  It works as well to just fold the flaps in, as shown in the top picture.

In other news, I had a really, really great time last night hoopin' at a Lite-Hearted meeting.  I did a demo and let everyone try and wow, they did great.  They were so enthusiastic.  I loved seeing all the hoops spinning around...and I wished I had my camera!  It was so awesome.  I loved spreading the hooping love!  I also sold nine hoops, bringing my total hoops sold count to 18!  That plus my other hoops in stock and the ones I own means I have made something like 40 hoops.  I hope to make many more.  I am just thrilled to get others introduced to the wonderful world of hooping!

I had an article published today about safe seed companies/avoiding GM seeds.  You can see it here.

want. to. make.

this belt.  from here.  we don't drink soda though, so acquiring the needed tabs (about 150) is a problem.  can you help?  if so, i would love to recycle your tabs!