New Year, new toys

Happy New Year, everyone. I'm hoping to get back into my usual swing of blogging very very soon! I'm excited to jump back into crafting and sewing with some of my new Christmas gifts.

I'm really excited to figure out what to do and what I can make with my new serger! I got this one from Joann's- they were (and still are) having a great $100 off sale. It's my first serger, and I hope it won't be tooo difficult to figure out.

I also got new tailor's scissors and embroidery scissors (the kind that's shaped like a stork) from my dad. If only I had space to keep all these things... :) I've also had  a ton of fun looking at The Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano, which my cousin bought for me. While I don't think I'll be making any paper maiche heads, or some of the creepier looking projects in the book, there's a lot of really neat ones that I hope you'll see sometime soon on the blog.

Lights and Love

I don't often post photos like this on my blog, but I took this last night and wanted to share.

I also don't often share too much personal information here, but my mother passed away this week after struggling with cancer. Our neighbors came and put these ice lanterns out  in front of our house the afternoon before she passed. We are so thankful for the kindness of our friends and family this holiday season.

Hello blog friends

Just a note to let you all know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. My family's going through a difficult time now, and I haven't been doing much crafting, let alone blogging. I'll be back up and running eventually, so don't go away.  I have some Christmas gift crafts to post after the 25th, too...can't give away any surprises before then anyway. :) Enjoy your holidays, and I'll "see" you all soon.

5 Minute Project: Skirt to Clutch

I felt like a superhero making this project. I was on my way out to a nice party, but didn't have any cute little feminine clutch to carry- only giant purses that make me look like I'm going to steal a bottle of wine or something. I wish I had more pictures or a great how-to, but I was juuust a little pressed for time.

I had cut the zipper and a few inches of surrounding fabric out of this skirt a while back, after I decided I didn't want to bother refitting it. Five minutes before I left the house for the party, I dug out the scrap, folded the edges under, and stitched all the way around. Presto- a little rectangular clutch.

 It still didn't look quite right, though. So I pinned on a big fabric flower that I had made out last week of a ruffled strip of a t-shirt. I plugged in my hot glue gun and glued on the ribbon wrist strap, lined that sucker with cardboard, and dropped in my lip gloss and ID, just in time for my ride to pick me up.

It's not the highest-quality project I've ever made- I cut just about every corner I could, after all, and the inside looks dubious at best, but I'd say it's a success nonetheless!

Sweater Refit

I don't think any project is more satisfying than a refitted top. It's so simple, and yet looks like an entirely different article of clothing.

I got this too-big sweater at St. Vinnie's for something like $2. I originally thought I would make another sweater dress, but it just wasn't long enough, and the excess fabric wouldn't have looked right added to the bottom. So it's a little bit of an odd length. I did, however, follow my sweater dress tutorial for the refitting process. Not bad, and just goes to show that just because something doesn't fit quite right doesn't mean that it needs to be passed up on the racks.

What I Wore Wednesday: Layer Up

It seems like a lot of my fellow readers of The Pleated Poppy are lucky enough to live in warm climates where they don't have to cover up a cute outfit with loads of winter wear. I'd love to wear skirts and dresses all year, but that's not exactly an option around here. Today I'm linking up with lots of layers, because it was 8 degrees, but felt like -1 when I left for class. Yikes.

Days like that, I usually have a thick pair of tights under my jeans, plus socks. This day, I layered up a sweater with a cardigan, too. Very conservative, and very warm.

The striped sweater is from H&M, via my aunt's closet, as is the brown cardigan (thanks Aunt Jackie). Jeans are from Plato's Closet, and the tights you can't see are from Shopko. The green tank top underneath is also from Shopko, and the arm warmers from H&M. The belt came with a pair of brown trouser pants, but it's way more fun to wear over a top.

You know what to do- go link up to The Pleated Poppy's What I Wore Wednesday link party today!

30 for 30 Challenge

Have you guys heard about Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 challenge? Basically, you select 30 items of clothing (including shoes, not including accessories), and for 30 days wear only those 30 items. The other kicker is, no new purchases for the duration of the challenge.

Kendi and a whole slew of her followers have done a number of these challenges, blogging their way through. I'm thinking about doing one, too (perhaps after Christmas...). It sounds like a lot of fun and is definitely keeping with what I'm trying to do with this blog. And how hard can it be....right? I usually wear my same favorite outfits fairly often...right?

What do you guys think of Kendi's challenge? Have you done it? Will you do it with me? :)

T-Shirt to Cowl Scarf

Ah, end of semester procrastination. I should have been doing a bunch of other things the other morning, but instead I thought, "I think I'll make a scarf with that old shirt." So I did.

It was really easy. I used an old long sleeved t-shirt of my mom's, and cut off the bottom and made a tube. That's all the scarf is. I used one of the sleeves to make the flower, and just pinned it on. I didn't take a before pic, but here's the shirt with the pieces cut off.

And a close up of the finished scarf, which took just minutes to make.

Super quick projects that keep me from finishing homework and Christmas gifts? Yes, please.

Cardigan Addiction

I wasn't planning on posting today. But then I tackled the pile of clothes that's been building up on various pieces of furniture in my room. Yes, it's pretty cluttered around here.

I remember telling my friends about two years ago that I wanted a cardigan in every color...and since then I've accumulated lots, mostly through thrifting and donations. I can't turn them down! They're so versatile and easily adjusted when they don't fit.

These are all cardigans. Please ignore how badly they're folded.

That's not even including the one I'm wearing. And the two in my project bin waiting to be repaired. And the white one I accidently turned pink in the wash. I still don't have one in every color, though! No oranges or yellows in there...yet. But I think I'll be doing some weeding in the coming weeks...

Thrifted Shoes (and 200 followers!)

First of all, my blog hit 200 Google Friend Connect followers yesterday. I can't believe it! Thanks for reading and following and commenting! :) You guys are great!

Okay, on to the real post.

Last year I got these old shoes at a thrift store for about $2. I thought they were trendy and cool in a vintage sorta way. Everyone made fun of them. I still like them, even though I have a heck of a time incorporating them into outfits. The white is just SO white that even wearing them with jeans, the safety net, is a little off putting.

But then I came across these a couple weeks ago at Urban Outfitters! They're $34 and you can find them at Urbanoutfitters.com

These are a bit more dainty looking than mine, but still- sweet thrift store find on my part? I think so.
Also, I've gotta say, it's both fun and dangerous having an Urban Outfitters in the city I live in...it's right next to campus! I can just stop there after class! I've only bought one thing there so far, though so maybe I'll be safe. :)

What I Wore Wednesday

Today I'm linking up to The Pleated Poppy's What I Wore Wednesday party with a jacket post instead of a cardigan post. It was tough...I think I wear a cardigan just about every day. But really, nothing turns clothes into an outfit more than a cute jacket.

See what I mean? The sweater's cute but kind of plain on its own. I think the jacket really steps it up.

Of course, like usual there's some thrifting going on here. The sweater is from H&M, but via Goodwill for 3.99. The jeans are from Plato's Closet, a consignment store. They cost more than the average thrift, but only have recent, trendyish clothes, so if you don't want to weed through 80s shoulder pads and polyester blouses, this kind of store is a really good place to start. My necklace (tough to see in the photo) was a gift with a lot of sentimental value, and the jacket was a clearance buy from J.C. Penney...less than $10!

Go check out The Pleated Poppy today and link up your outfits!