My skirt got down to Motown

OLD

NEW

I finished remaking the skirt i mentioned in my previous post. I started it on Saturday and a few hours later I had an outfit for the night.

(Bare with me I'm not a model)

I bought the long ugly skirt at Community Thrift for $6. They give all of their proceeds to different charities in the Bay Area. I really loved the fabric and I thought the $6 was worth it. The fabric is a light twill.

First I cut the skirt open, so I had one piece of fabric. Then I took a basic a-line skirt pattern that I have and cut out the three pieces. I cut out the fabric so that I could keep the original hem at the bottom (less work for me). I took out the pleats, shortened it, added a longer zipper, and made a waist band. I added a button closure in the back. And whala, it went from frumpy to lovely in just a few hours. I love when I can make something to wear the day I need to wear it :)

I did wear it out that night (not just in my room) to Faisal's 30th B-day celebration. The skirt got down to a motown/soul dance party and held up.

Juice: My inspiration for the week among other random things

What's going on with me you ask?

Thanks for asking, let's see...do you have a minute?

I find myself heartbroken and single again. It was a tough couple of weeks there. Among all the advice a good friend told me that I am loyal. That has stuck with me. I have never been described in that way and it got me thinking. She's absolutely right and that is why I always get hurt. So I have been reassessing my life and looking at my strengths and faults. I have also been doing a lot of thinking how weird and un-understandable (is this a word?) humankind, relationships and society is. With every relationship I am learning more and more in what I want in a partner. I am very fortunate to have such wonderful and supportive friends and family in my life. I am back to myself again and have started dating. For now I am looking to lay low and to just have fun.

Onto more fun things:

Last weekend I went to Cafe Gratitude with a friend for a juice. I usually don't go for juice, but we both needed something healthy. Cafe Gratitude is a raw and totally hippie place, too hippie. Anyway I got the "I am worthy, Blood Tonic" juice. It had kale, beets, celery, apple, and ginger. It was gross, but good at the same time. 15 minutes later I was as happy as I have ever been and felt great. I took a cab home, which I seldom do. The cabbie said I was so happy and that he never met anyone with such a great personality and outlook. I can usually tell when guys are lying to me. He gave me a large discount on the fair and wanted to be friends with me. Kind've weird. It could have been the sunshine, hanging with Megan, just feeling better about life, but it could also have been the juice. So I went out and bought a juicer and a crap load of fruits/veggies and have been juicing since. For $13 I have been making zen choy, carrot, lemon, beet, apple, celery, and lemon juice. I have also have been running in Golden Gate Park almost everyday. It has been good for my mind, body and spirit. Even though that sounds cheesy, it's true.

Last week yahoo profiled the blog: http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/. It is amazing. She has decided to take 365 days and make 365 new items of clothing with $365 by using items she finds at flea markets, vintage stores and garage sales. They all turn out really cute.

The two sewing projects that I will work on this week have been inspired by: love, lack of love, being single, warm weather, juice, running, vintage, remaking clothes and feeling healthy. Wow that's a lot of inspiration.

I bought this skirt from Community Thrift last week. I love the fabric, but the skirt is ugly. I am going to make it a A-line skirt and take out the pleats. I will shorten it as well to show off my legs :)

The next project is pj's/lounge wear. I will make a bralette and some knickers with this Collete pattern. Oh la la...

Till next time...

Your not gonna find any bling here!

I promised my friend Molly that I would make her a pair of earrings before she left for Europe. Well she got back 2.5 months later and I still hadn't made them. So yesterday I made them and mailed them off along with two rings to make up for my procrastination.

The wood shape beads I got at an awesome bead store in Chico. http://www.stringbead.com/ I

recommend stopping in if you are ever in Chico.

Again I used buttons to make the rings.

As long as I was making jewelry, I ran with it and went crazy! I made a silly ring for Svetlana for her 35th B-day and I made myself:

a hair thing

Oh how I love hair things!

a necklace

I got this copper/painted charm from the Chico bead store. Someone made it in one of the classes that they offer and didn't want it so I added a chain and clasp. If planting trees wasn't enough now I can have one around my neck.

two pairs of earrings

I also got the metal beads on the left in Chico. I told you it was a unique bead store. The green leaves on the left are made out of plastic and are super light.

Now back to sewing...

Sewing Fair A No Go

If I didn't have my Tree Planting that Saturday, this is where I would be!

Vogue Sale!

Last week Vogue Patterns had a $4.99 sale. I took advantage of it and ordered 6 patterns. They came in the mail today. Yay! I love getting fun things in the mail, even when you know it's coming.

One of the patterns I really, really, really love. I love it so much that it will be my wedding dress if and when that day comes. Can you guess which one? I have a lot of design ideas for it. More to come on that dress...

Waiting for summer

After living in San Francisco for 6+ years now I know by now that we do not get a summer. "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco," Mark Twain. In San Francisco we get an "Indian Summer." We have nice weather in September/October. As I sit here it is practically raining outside. It has been very cold and gloomy around here lately. A Planting Leader told me over the weekend that the month of July was the coldest July we have had in 40 years. Yay! I am not complaining because I also wouldn't want to live in 85-100 weather, but it would be nice if we had some sunny days.

Last week I drove up to Chico where is it very warm. It was truly nice to feel some heat on my bones. I made a video of me driving up enjoying the sun. It felt like I was driving to summer. In three hours there's a 30 degree difference. If you notice in the video I am wearing the 60's top I made. I can't wear it in San Francisco yet. :)

I haven't sewed anything lately. But I do have big plans for upcoming projects.

Last year at this time I was training for the Breast Cancer 3 day. I was also, helping other women in San Francisco to train as well as raising $3,000. This year I wanted to volunteer at the event, but I have a planting that weekend and can't. I've decided I want to do a 10k race instead. At the gym I have been getting more and more energy and running for longer. I am taking advantage of this wave of energy. That's why I hope it warms up so that I can run in Golden Gate Park and around my neighborhood.

My running shoes looked like this last week, now they look like this. :)

I am ready and waiting for summer!