The shirt for this week’s re-purposing project was a gift from the model, Georde.  She gifted, then gifted again by modeling… Thank you Georde!

Hmm… Maybe I’ll just have to Re-Re-gift this one… yes, just in time for Christmas!

Exhibit A. Pretty in Patterned Pink

Process. I cut off the collar, sleeves and pockets off of one patterned shirt and sewed them onto this pink shirt.

Model. Georde

Wonder how I salvaged the patterned shirt after dissecting it for this project? Glad you asked, stay tuned for next week…!

Twin Shirts… The Same Design: One in Black, One in White.

Twin Shirts… Both Re-Worked, Revised, and Re-Visited.

Twin Shirts…  Now Reminiscent but Each Unique and Distinct.

And so it is with us… the same yet distinct.  We may look different, we may act different but, ultimately, we too are from the same cloth and origin.

Exhibit A: Noir

Process: I picked up the same exact shirts from a thrift store– one in black, one in white.  I cut the collar off the white shirt and sewed it over the collar of the black shirt.  Then I replaced the buttons on the black shirt with the buttons from the white shirt.  (It’s like a family hand-me-down.)

Model: Moi … via the 10 Second Canon Timer.

Exhibit B: Blanche

Process:  Well, Blanche was feeling pretty naked since I stripped so much off of her to decorate Noir.  So to boost her esteem a bit, I gave her festive green buttons.  And assured her that she didn’t really need a collar anyway.

Model: Moi, encore.

p.s. This post is dedicated to my eldest sister, Mindy, who declared it a “Travesty” when I confessed my intention to use these shirts merely for the “fabric.”  Hope you approve of the finished product, Min!

O good.  Because this week is, well, kind-of a flop.  While I still like the idea — the execution was, well, less than satisfying.  And now I’m left to brainstorming how to fix this ‘fix.’

All paintings can’t be a Mona Lisa.  And so, this is my ‘Moaning Lisa.’

Exhibit A. Moaning Lisa

Process.  I too quickly cut out shapes and patterns out of the fabric on this ‘garage sale find’ dress.  Next, I pinned sheer fabric behind and embroidered around the mishap shapes.  This step took foreeeever…

Yes, it may be a flop, but you just keep creating anyway…

Been praying for marriage a lot lately.  Maybe because I’ve had the honor of witnessing some beautiful unions and happy anniversaries this summer or maybe because it’s the movement of the Holy Spirit to pray into that right now.   Either way, it is one of the most precious gifts (I hear) and for that reason, one of the most attacked institutions.  Anything worth preserving usually needs to be fought for.

And, as it turns out, I’m not the only one pondering this.  I was already planning this week’s blog and what was the theme of last Sunday’s sermon…? Yep, you guessed it, marriage. You can catch the podcast here, (it’ll posted soon) it’s definitely worth a listen!

And here are the designs that resulted from these recent ponderings and prayers…

Designs blend the Masculine and Feminine Characteristics of the Traditional Wedding Wardrobe… thereby Creating One New Piece.  Two Becoming One.

Exhibit A. Well Suited

Process.  Well, I added lace trim and black flowers to that red wool hat.  Then added feminine lace to the masculine suit jacket.

Model. Ricki

Exhibit B. Head over Heels

Process.  I added feminine tulle to the masculine top hat. (Pretend it’s a masculine top hat.)  Two becoming one… to  make something new.

Model. Ricki

Exhibit C.  Don’t be a Tulle

Process.  I took a pair of masculine shorts and added feminine tulle. And a lace tie.  Merging male and female characteristics to make a newly invited item. Skirt and Shorts = skort.  Hmm… not sure this one will take…

Model. Ricki

If you’re married, bless your marriage.  If you’re not married, bless Marriage.

Bon Voyage!  See you again next week…!

See you back here in a week…!

Exhibit A. Buckled Blue

Process. I cut the buckle off some old, broken sandals and salvaged the gold ornament by sewing it onto the plain blue threaded sweater.

And here are the poor stripped shoes– who so graciously sacrificed their gold ornament for this week’s re-furbishing project.

Thank you, Target Sandals!

Embroidery is meticulous.  Stitching is pain stakingly tedious work.  I learned that this week.  I had never completed an embroidery project before.  But this week’s button-down collared shirt cried out for some needlepoint detail.  So what’s a girl to do but google ‘embroidery stitches’ and take a quick lesson from our helpful search engine tutors.  And through the process I learned an additional unexpected tip: that anything worth creating emerges one humble stitch at a time.

Exhibit A.  Flowers & Vine

Model.  ‘Waiting in Expectation’ Chair

Process.  I googled “how to embroidery.”  Then followed their handy steps and embroidered a flower on the front and a vine on the collar.

So wherever you are in your journey… be encouraged and remember, sometimes it’s necessary to take a deep breath, step back and enjoy the picture emerging.

*** I would like to make a correction to this blog.  In the name of not exaggerating to better a story I should state that I took a one evening workshop on embroidery hosted by a dear friend.  Granted, I unwittingly had forgotten most of the knots, and had to re-google the stitches. However, she served as the inspiration for the embroidery on this project.  Thank you, Faire!  And I apologize to my readers!

While not much re-purposing was completed this week; there was a whole lotta scouting supplies in the milieu of Michigan garage sale treasures.  Here is a sampling of garments found this week to be used in upcoming projects… (Viewed below with my trusty partner-in-crime– watch out world, this one has an eye for fashion.)

And evidence of good times had while scouting out treasures…

And one actual completed project…

Exhibit A. Midnight Bleu

Process.  I took an original vintage garage sale find. Cut peek-a-boo holes in the sleeves and changed the hemline to show a lil’ leg in front.

Model. Melinda (my beautiful eldest sis)

About a month back I got an idea for a shirt re-design.  The shirt was plaid, with a bottom ruffle trim, and bold white buttons.  Not too out of the ordinary.  The surprising element was that it came to me in the middle of corporate worship at The Garden.  While listening for God might want to share with me, I was not expecting to get fashion advice.  But I walked outta there with inspiration for this week’s re-purposing project.

Just goes to show you: you can’t limit God.

God cares about the frivolous: God cares about design.

Exhibit A.  Down Home

Model. Ricki

Process. I shortened a long plaid shirt. Hemmed it with creme ruffle and switched out the buttons.  (Sound familiar…?)

Exhibit B. Sphere of Influence

Model. Me, again.

Process. I cut the cool leather ornament off some shoes I snatched from Goodwill (don’t worry, I paid for ‘em) and then super-glued the leather onto the buttons.

Ah, yes, ‘Readers‘  — YOU will understand! … and especially appreciate a revelation I had this past week while salvaging some loose material from this week’s re-purposing project.

So it seems, according to the trend found in classic literature, that there is an unspoken mandate for worthy literary protagonists to at some point in their harrowing journey fashion clothing from drapery.  I’m not even joking.  Take, for example, Maria from ‘The Sound of Music.’  Why those poor children would never have sung such a rousing rendition of ‘Do, a Deer’ if it weren’t for the frolicking provided by their ‘blue satin sash’ uniform.  Or, for instance, take the controversial Scarlett O’Hara who, despite her Irish pride, fashioned a new start by cutting up dear ole’ Ellen’s window coverings.  Need I go on…?  (No? Good.  Cause I ran out of examples.)

So, it seems in ‘good fashion’ to listen to my published co-horts and follow their example in the transforming of curtains to clothing.  Only, this week I’ve decided to reverse the trend and transform clothing to curtains!

An Ode to my Literary Liaisons….

Exhibit A. Liter-ally

Process. I cut off the bottom layer of this previous floor-length dress.  (Wonder what I did with the extra material…?)

Model. Ricki

Exhibit B. Dressings

Process. I made drapes from the dress.

Model. Ma Fenetre

And, just for more fun had this week.  Check out my favorite creation so far…

Exhibit C. AristoCat

Process. I cut out the back of the plain, boring Peach Shirt and added lace from an old black dress.  And added black ribbon on the front. Yes, lots of black ribbon.

Model. Becks

… And since I am after all talking to ‘Friends,’ it’s quite okay to admit that I am sometimes perceived as being more fickle than Zelda Fitzgerald with my hobbies, more fickle with my pursuits than a freshman art student declaring a major.

For this reason, with ‘Friends’ as my witness, I proudly announce a commitment to a semi-regular Friday post of the last ‘Creation Project’ of the week.  Yes, goals help keep us on track.  And so this is how I intend to put my Best Foot Forward.

And speaking of forward-facing feet, check out my, O so very, Fashion-Forward Feet modeled in this demi-week’s blog.

(Check back on Friday for more…!)

Exhibit A. Forward Footing

Process. I salvaged the table cloth from the table cloth used on the parasol and stitched it over the grey seude of these flats.

Model. Mes Pieds