MMJ days 7 and 8

More pics today!! I am finally getting the hang of snapping a pic before I run out the door for work or right after I get home. In case no one noticed, I tend to wear the same kind of hairstyle .......because I'm lazy....because I'm usually in a hurry to get out the door.
I learned how to do a french twist and it works very well with my hair. It's quick, simple, looks kinda cool, if I do say so myself. Pony tails can give me a headache and because my part time gig is in a small convenience store, it keeps my hair out of my face!!!!!!The funny thing is, is that I can french braid anybody else's except my own, which sucks because I love how it looks. C'est la vie!!!

Yesterday, I wore the linen skirt I had described a few days ago. The skirt is a broomstick skirt made from turquoise eyelet that I purchased from Wal Mart 2 years ago. It's a three tiered skirt and the really GREAT thing about this skirt is the wrinkles NEVER wash out. Makes drying it a whole lot easier, and who doesn't love easy!!! The skirt is a maxi skirt and it hits right at my ankles, (Sorry for the bad photo)

The earrings and bracelet were also made by yours truly. I am learning a few new techniques in jewelry making, but these pieces are very ones. (Love the black and iridescent teal in the beads.)

This is the dress I wore today.The top half are pieces from Mom's stash and the skirt part of the dress was a UFO of hers, that I  acquired, kleptoed, stole, was gifted (yeah, that's it)  from her almost done pile to use for this dress. There really isn't a pattern for the dress as I took some pieces from different patterns and altered them to get what I wanted. (I do that a great deal) I'm not great at drafting original patterns, but I can take a pattern piece and use it as a basic guide)

The zipper was in a box of treasures I purchased from a yard sale 2 years ago.It's metal and I did a handpicked zipper. I love the way it turned out!!! It was so easy!!
The wrinkles in the back are not usually there, pretty sure it's the way I'm standing. The fascinator was also made by moi!! So many ideas, so little time to accomplish them!!

Here is the closeup of the necklace I made to wear with the dress. black wooden beads, silver in between and the center piece looks like a clock face. Fun and funky.....like moi!!!

Tonight on the dinner menu is homemade fish tacos, with homemade chips and pico de gallo....I'm hungry already!!

Till we meet again.........happy homemaking!!!!

MMJ days 5 and 6

Yesterday, we decided to be extremely lazy. We have worked everyday since coming home from the long weekend. I didn't even get dressed!! I lounged in a robe I had made all day....slept most of the day away, fixed dinner, then  went off to bed to sleep some more. Apparently, I was in need of some shut eye!!

This is a photo of the robe. I was not in the mood to take a pic, because I was being lazy and sleeping WAY too much!!!

Today was another work day, like the majority of the planet and I wore a pair of khaki capris with a multi colored shirt I refashioned to make it fit better. The shirt was 25 cents and the khakis were also thrifted  at $4.29. I also wore my trusty brown flip flops that are so old I can't even begin to remember what they cost!! Boy, are they comfy!!
Now it's off to the sewing machine to create something new!!!

Happy Homemaking!!!

Me made June 11....pics!!!

Well, it sure took me some time to get these posted. As my mom used to say, better late than never. (Actually, she always told me I'd be late to my own funeral! hehe) These are for June 1, 2, 3, and 4. I'll try to get them up about twice or three times a week ( hoping work, errands, and household chores will allow).
It's been a little difficult adjusting to a work schedule after not working for 2 years, but I am managing rather well. I am still able to keep up my domestic goddess schedule for the most part, except I don't have as much down time as I had before re-entering the job market.  I have a VERY low stress job and although  I work part time, it's still five days a week,  so the down time is really the only thing that is shortened. I am trying to get as much sewing on my days off as possible.

Now for the pics!!

I wore this on June 1st. I had a pic from the UFO challenge on The Sew Weekly, so I didn't take a new one. The skirt had been cut out and partially done for 4 yrs. (It was supposed to be part of a dress.) Off to work I go....petticoat and all!!!

June 2......This is a linen shirt my mom gave me so I refashioned it to make it fit. Since my goal this month is both me made and me refashioned, it fit the criteria. I took the sides in a little and the capris also from her needed the hem let out a bit. I also made a little fascinator for my hair!!

June 3 This dress is a self drafted pattern. I wanted a wrap around dress with a very full skirt! I do have a crinoline underneath and topped it off with a cardigan. Mom says I look like I just stepped out of the 50's!! Goal accomplished!!

 The fabric cost nothing because it came from mom's stash........yes, this is a trend. When I want to make something new, I go 'shopping' in her stash. ( She would never have enough time to sew it all up any way!!)

Now for today.....June 4!!
It's hot and humid, so I went for a very summer time halter. (This fabric I actually purchased from Joann's.)

 I don't know what I was looking at, but it'll have to do for now. This is a halter top I made last summer although I can't remember which pattern I used. I tend to find a pattern and alter it as I go along. Usually the outcome is very different from what it starts out to be. ( the wanna be fashion designer in me)

Well, I'm off to switch the laundry over. STILL doing laundry from last weekend, but it was well worth it!!!
Here are some pics from our trip..........Enjoy!!!!!

Gearing up!!!!

Hanging out grabbing a drink between rapids.

We didn't know he was behind us! Photo bomb!!!!

This is my DH, his daughter and her friend. Action shot!!

The last pic here is of a friend of ours. THE idea is to STAY in the boat!! We hit a rock and out she came! She is stuck on another rock waiting for the guide to throw her a rope. As soon as she pulled on the rope, she knocked us loose and we ran over her....she has a nice bruise to show for it, but had a great time in spite of her injury. She wasn't the only one tossed that trip. I also went for a swim....as they say. I was tossed going into a rapid and after all was said and done had two pretty bruises on my arm to show for it!!! Fun times!!!

I know I have been absent.....

So much going on....life has gotten in the way of my little blog. Not to fear, I am participating in the Me Made June challenge and will post pics this weekend.  We spent last weekend camping and white water rafting so I needed some time to recover...(I got knocked out of our boat and went for a little swim....hehehe)

More info and pics to follow this weekend. Thanks everyone!!!


Happy homemaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew!!!!

Wow!! It has been a VERY busy month! I haven't had a chance to post anything. It has gotten whirlwind crazy around here. I have been working and trying to settle into a routine that allows me to sew, craft, cook, etc, although it has not been easy.
After being a domestic goddess for two years and not having to punch a time clock, I had a pretty good routine done for housework and hobbies. Now I am trying to do rearrange my schedule so I can get my work schedule to fit into my home schedule. It's a juggling act, but I am glad to be working again. ( More $$$$ to buy crafty things with....hehe)
I have been doing some sewing in preparation of the Me Made June challenge. It's my first challenge and I am absolutely thrilled!
Here's my pledge:


'I, MARY of Pearls and Petticoats, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-June '. I endeavor to wear
at least one article of handmade clothing, jewelry, or re-fashioned clothing each day for the duration of June 2011'
 
I think I have enough to get me through the first two weeks, but I will be sewing like a mad woman to get my ideas sewn up for the last two weeks. Wish me luck!!

I will be posting a pic each day and that will include my recently finished skirt and blouse that I finished on Easter weekend!!
.
Happy Sewing!!!

A productive Easter Sunday!!

Well, yesterday I turned the BIG 5-0!!! I absolutely LOVE it!! I had a great day and we had dinner with friends last night!!

When we moved back to Nashville two years ago, DH and I were browsing through a garage sale and he spied a rather large box of sewing notions. The guy selling the stuff went into the house and literally filled this box which was about two feet high by two feet wide. I purchased this box o'goodies for the amazing low price of two dollars. It was a couple of days before I could go through my treasures. My treasures include grommet setters in various sizes, gobs of trims, buttons, pins,zippers, and thread. The elastic wasn't any good, but I loved looking at the packaging with prices from $0.15 to $0.65!!! Oh, how I wish those prices were still in effect today!!

I began working on a pencil skirt from some fabric I procured from my mom's stash. (Well, she wasn't using it......) I drafted the pattern from a skirt I bought at Goodwill last spring. I used a metal zipper from my treasure trove and thread on a wooden spool. (yep, the thread is in amazing shape!)

I have fallen in love with handpicked zippers. I read about how to do them on the internet. Although I am not a fan of hand sewing, my stitches are starting to look much better. I find that I am taking more time to give my garments a finished look. I used to take the  'get the damn the done' approach to my sewing. Now that I am sewing for the pure enjoyment of the task, I am relearning techniques. I love having the 'library' at my fingertips!

I have not had much experience with drafting patterns, so I am surfing the web doing research on how to create my own patterns. My inner fashion designer comes alive when daydreaming of projects to create.

Since this post has taken me all day to write, I have also managed to finish my skirt AND the refashion of my blouse. Pics to follow!!


Happy Sunday!!!

working.......

Well, seems I have neglected my little blog here. I started working last week and am still trying to get used to the daily grind routine. I did finish my yellow/red lattice print dress! I think it looks adorable!! I will get pics posted soon. I have done the pin curls for the night, so I hope to have a nice soft wave in the a.m.!! Working is great and I couldn't have asked for better hours...6 am to noon...talk about banker's hours, well, old school banker's hours anyway!

The project for this weeks challenge is to pick a female TV character for your inspiration. I have a few in mind that I could pull off. Number 1 on the list is Abby Scuito from NCIS. I love her Goth look and have several pieces that I have sewn in the past for my own goth look years ago.


I am also thinking of channeling Joan Holloway/Harris from Mad Men. I have the curves, but need a pattern. I'll have to see how the week plays out to determine which project I will have time to tackle.

Hope everyone had a fantabulous weekend!

Happy sewing and creating!!

No Sew Hat Pincushion Tutorial from The Sew Weekly

This is an adorable pincushion!

 

 

No Sew Hat Pincushion Tutorial

Last week, at the Alameda Antique Fair, I spied a cute little felt handcrafted pincushion for sale as part of a larger sewing notions lot. Since I didn't need the larger lot, I took a note on how to construct the pincushion and was able to whip it up in under 20 minutes. As part of 30 Days of Pincushions, I present this No-Sew Hat Pincushion tutorial.

Materials you'll need

• Felt, 36" x 1 1/2" with pinked edges (you can buy felt off the bolt); Felt round with 5" diameter
• Ribbon
• Flower or some other finishing touch
• Glue; either tacky, felt or glue gun will work
• Pinking sheers

Instructions

1. Take your 36" x 1 1/2" felt strip of felt and roll it tightly in a roll. Make sure that the edges are all aligned. When finished, take your glue and apply it to the edge of the outside piece. Press down and secure with a pin while it dries (unless you're using a glue gun and it dries instantly)
2. Apply glue to the bottom of the hat roll and press firmly onto your felt round (5" diameter with pinked edges).
3. Trim the hat with ribbon where the roll meets the round. Glue ribbon end and secure.
4. Decorate hat with a flower, button, decoration, etc...

Reprinted with permission from The Sew Weekly!! Anne Robishaw owner of etsy store Blushful is giving away an adorable Lucky Cat pincushion.

Refashion time!!

This week I have decided to take some of my thrifted clothes and refashion them to fit my lifestyle (and me). I am also working on some things to sell at a garage sale this weekend....if Mother Nature cooperates. Luckily, the place where I do my little flea market set up has a cover, so the rain wouldn't be much of a problem, but the traffic might be a little slow.
  

This past week, UFO's(unfinished objects) was the challenge on The Sew Weekly. My UFO was a skirt I had cut out and partially sewn for about 4 years. It is a vintage Vogue pattern that was intended to be a dress. I love the skirt and decided I would wear a skirt more than a dress, so it became a skirt. I also refashioned a 1950's style petticoat from a HUGE bridal petticoat. It gave the the skirt just what it needed.  

I have so much netting left over I am going to make a few more. My eldest daughter has discovered rockabilly and wants some swing dresses/skirts and possibly a petticoat. I also took a rayon broomstick skirt, shortened it, ironed it out, and made a lovely 50's inspired skirt. (Works great with the petticoat!)

We went to Mom's this weekend to help get her dryer working again. While DH worked on the dryer, I had Mom help me with a few alteration markings for my sunflower dress. ( I don't have a dress form, yet...I want to make one out of Duct tape, because I very cheap, thrifty.) She thinks it's a bit loud, but I think the fabric is absolutely DIVINE!! It is a semi-self drafted pattern and I can't wait to wear it!!

Here's a pic prior to the grand finale pics. What do you think? 

A close up of the fabric!


Housework is done, time to get started on some of my refashion projects..hint..one includes refashioning a bolero for my sunflower dress out of an old sweater.


Happy sewing dear friends!!

Sewing challenge??

OK, so The Sewing Weekly challenge this week is UFO, aka, unfinished objects. As a now and again seamstress, I usually have one or two things that never seem to get my attention enough to finish them. This week's challenge might help me solve that little problem. I have had a 1950's style skirt partially finished for about 4 years. I know, I know, why not just finish the thing. Well, you see it has a full circle skirt and to do the hem justice, I really needed to hem it by hand....have I mention how much I HATE hand sewing!! As a teenager, I wouldn't even sew on a button without using the machine. 

But I finally decided to let go of my hatred and while sitting after dinner decided to hem my skirt. It turned out beautifully and I now have a great skirt to wear out and about. Here is a shot of the skirt. 


Here's to more UFO's getting finished this week!!

Pics of the car seat covers

Here are pics as promised!!

Busy Weekend

The weekend went by too fast! Although I don't work a Monday through Friday job, yet, the weekends are always a special time. I usually use it to wind down and relax before the start of my weekly routine. 

This weekend I decided to make car seat covers for my step dad's little red Mazda. It's a 1985 model and after so many years of loads of use, it needs them. Mom and step-dad are 'seeing if they can be a one car household.' So moi gets use of the vehicle. The seat covers turned out well, in my opinion, considering I have absolutely ZERO upholstering knowledge. No, I didn't attempt to re-upholster them, I just want to make something to COVER them. Each seat cover is two pieces. I didn't want the nightmare of fighting with a one piece job that you can buy in the store. I made them out of a lovely bright red heavy cotton. I am hoping the heavy cotton will work well as the weather gets warmer. This little gem of a car has no A/C. It won't be taken on long trips as yet so no A/C is not a problem for me. 

Anyway, that about sums up my weekend. Pics of the seat covers are to follow. Back to laundry day!!

Well......

Here I am trying my hand at blogging. I know, I know, everyone's already doing it. I'm a slow learner, what can I say! This blog is going to be about sewing, crafting, repurposing, and reusing.