ALTERED SWEATER/JACKET

THIS WAS ORIGINALLY A TURTLE NECK, LARGE SIZE SWEATER. I CUT OFF THE NECK AREA, SLICED IT UP THE FRONT AND EMBELLISHED THE FRONT OF THE SWEATER WITH 2 DIFFERENT STRIPED KNIT TOPS. I WISH I HAD TAKEN MORE OF A CLOSE-UP OF THE FRONT BECAUSE IT REALLY IS QUITE CUTE. IT HAS A SORT OF FLOPPY COLLAR ON ONE SIDE AND IT TIES IN THE MIDDLE. THE BACK OF THE SWEATER WAS SHORTENED AND FLOUNCES MADE OF THE STRIPED TOPS WERE ADDED TO MAKE THIS PIECE FUN TO WEAR.

RESALE REDO

I LOVE TO BROWSE IN RESALE SHOPS. (MANY OF US DO!) I ESPECIALLY LOOK OUT FOR DESIGNER LABELS AND ITEMS MADE OF QUALITY FIBERS AND FABRICS. SOME I CANNOT RESIST, EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT I CAN OR WOULD WEAR. I'VE BEEN COLLECTING FOR A WHILE, WITH THE INTENTION OF DOING SOMETHING FUN. I TALKED MY SON'S S.O. KATHY, INTO MODELING FOR ME FROM TIME TO TIME, AND SHE GRACIOUSLY AGREED. THANKS, KATHY....THIS WAS ONCE A LONG SLEEVED, HIGH NECKED, KNIT TOP. I REMOVED THE SLEEVES AND COLLAR, PUT SOME EXTRA DETAIL AND HAND STITCHING AROUND THE ALTERED NECKLINE AND MADE ARM WARMERS FROM THE SLEEVES.

BEFORE AND AFTER

..............OR SHOULD I SAY AFTER AND BEFORE, AS I POSTED THE PICTURES BACKWARDS. THESE ARE RESCUED JEANS THAT BECAME ONE OF A KIND SKIRTS BY CUTTING THE LEGS OFF OF THE JEANS AND REPOSITIONING THEM SIDEWAYS TO BECOME A FLOUNCE. THE LENGTH OF THE SKIRTS ARE SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE KNEES AND THEN EMBELLISHED ANY WAY I CHOOSE. THEY ARE VERY COOL!

RAG BEAD NECKLACE

WHEN CONFINED TO A HOLIDAY COTTAGE RECENTLY, ON A STORMY DAY WITH A SWOLLEN KNEE FROM A FALL, I JUST FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO MAKE SOMETHING !FROM THE FEW RESOURCES I HAD ON HAND AT THAT MOMENT, IT BECAME A CHALLENGE. I HAD A SMALL LENGTH OF TWINE, A SPOOL OF THIN WIRE, A FEW BEADS AND BUTTONS AT THE BOTTOM OF AN OLD DRAWER, A FEW PIECES OF SATINY FABRIC, A PIECE OF FELT, SOME DRINKING STRAWS, AND SOME CLEAR NAIL POLISH. OH, AND NEEDLE AND THREAD, OF COURSE!......THE FIRST THING I DID WAS TO RIP THE FABRIC INTO RIBBON TYPE STRIPS. THEN I CUT THE STRAWS INTO 3" LENGTHS, WRAPPED THE FABRIC STRIPS AROUND THE STRAW PIECES AND HELD THEM IN PLACE BY THEN WRAPPING THE WIRE AROUND THE FABRIC. I ALSO PUT A DOT OF NAIL POLISH ON EACH END OF THE STRAW TO HOLD THE FABRIC IN PLACE UNTIL I COULD WRAP WITH WIRE. I THEN THREADED THE RAG BEADS ONTO THE LENGTH OF TWINE, ADDING A FEW OF THE BIGGER BEADS HERE AND THERE. FOR THE PENDENT, I CUT A SMALL SQUARE OF FELT AND WRAPPED SOME OF THE FABRIC RIBBON AROUND IT AND STITCHED IT IN PLACE. TO ADD INTEREST, I CUT A WOMAN'S FACE OUT OF A MAGAZINE AND PUT 2 COATS OF NAIL POLISH OVER THE FACE TO PROTECT THE PAPER AND ADD SHINE. I THEN EMBELLISHED THAT WITH MORE FABRIC RIBBON , SOME SMALL BEADS, AND A COUPLE OF SMALL BUTTONS. AFTER FINDING THE CENTER OF THE NECKLACE, I SEWED THE PENDANT ONTO THE CENTER BEAD. THEN CAME A LOOP AT ONE END OF THE TWINE AND TIED A BUTTON FOR CLOSURE AT THE OTHER END OF THE TWINE, TRIM THE TWINE, AND, TAA DAA! READY TO WEAR! I FELT THAT I HAD THEN EARNED A CUP OF TEA AND A NAP, SO I DID THAT TOO!