Marisa at New Dress A Day is nothing short of a genius…she’s also my new hero. The intro to her “about me” page says it all:

So here’s the deal friends, I’m going to be spending the entire year without doing an ounce of traditional clothing shopping. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “this girl is outta her gourd”, and I completely agree with you.

Each day for the entire year, I’m going to introduce a new piece into my existing wardrobe that I’ve found at flea markets, thrift stores, and neighborhood garage sales.  On top of this, I’m giving myself a budget of only $1 a day.

One person’s trash is becoming my treasure this year.

365 days. 365 items of clothing. 365 dollars. And the blogging begins…

Not only is she incredibly industrious (she’s created some really cute things) but she’s also pretty damn funny. Her site is such an inspiration…I am FOR REAL about to stop shopping retail. Here are some of her more impressive creations.

Members Only makeover - before

Members Only makeover - after

polka dot perfection - before

polka dot perfection - after

muumuu miracle - before

muumuu miracle - after

I hope you check out her blog, and follow along each day like I do. I’m always so excited to see what she’ll make next!

One of the hidden costs in planning a wedding is gifts for attendants. The editors at WeddingChannel.com estimate that the average bride spends approximately $70 on each gift. Considering the fact that the average wedding has 5 bridesmaids/groomsmen, it can be a significant expense…and one that few brides factor into their budget. 

Many decide to give accessories (jewelry for ‘maids and ties for groomsmen) that they’ll wear at the wedding, while others choose a more personalized gift. I’ve decided to indulge in creativity and make personalized gift baskets for each of my ‘maids. While I can’t go into complete detail (because they are loyal followers of this little blog of mine – and I love them for that) I can show a few of the goodies that I plan to include in the gift baskets. You can bet they’ll utilize my newly obtained sewing skills and will reflect my unique friendship with each girl. 

Realizing how simple it was to make bath salts for my Mother’s Day craft project I thought I’d give the gift baskets a ‘spa element’ and was excited to find a recipe online for a Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub. 

I grabbed some clean, glass jars from the recycling bin, decoupaged the lids, mixed a few simple ingredients and, voila! They will each enjoy a manicure in a jar!

pretty lids

simple ingredients; lemon, sugar and olive oil

mix ingredients until well blended

the finished products!

I plan on packing these gift baskets to the brim, so stayed tuned for more inspiration and sneak peeks into my DIY bridesmaid’s baskets!

Figuratively speaking, of course!

I’ve got to give major kudos to Eric and thank him for his help giving my blog a new look for the summer. He’s an amazingly talented designer and can read the “matrix” (a.k.a. work all the coding) and lucky for me, he’s patient enough to teach me HTML.

Thank you, my sweet E!!

So, do you like the new look? I’ve love to know what you think!

And, if you have a “button” that I can link to your blog, let me know!

We all have those days…work sucks, traffic sucks, a random blemish, a broken nail, realizing your skinny jeans are now skinnier than you. 

Funny how on days like that, kind words can make all the difference… 

I do so much blog research each day that I easily lose track of my initial path and just leap from one blog to the next. I’m not even sure how I stumbled upon Daily Pep Talk From A Best Friend. I can only guess that I was supposed to discover this place of abundant positivity and lovely words of affirmation. 

It had been one of those days. 

Rachel Simpson calls herself a “professional best friend and pep talk giver” and she’s pretty darn good at both. Check out her site. It is perfection and just what “those days” call for. 

www.dailypeptalkfromabestfriend.com

your new BFF, Rachel

You can also check out her “pepcasts”
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-effing-awesome-a-pepcast/id315796462 

Always remember to love yourself as much as
your best friend loves you.

Tonight was my last sewing class. I’m sad. I really enjoyed the entire experience. I liked getting to know the other girls. I loved spending the end of the workday in an industrious environment. I really benefited from being challenged to learn something new. And I learned a little about myself, as well.

While there are many technical aspects of sewing; measuring, cutting, seam allowance, etc…it’s really nothing to be apprehensive of. At times, my propensity for perfectionism started to get the best of me and Elle, our instructor, had to guide me…” it doesn’t need to be perfect, just cut the fabric…”  and “don’t over think it, just sew…” I had to come to terms with my OCD tendencies and then simply let them go. And you know what? Everything I made in this class turned out just fine. It all turned out really well, in fact! 

Are my stitches straight as an arrow? No. Did I perfect the art of cutting in a (true) straight line? No. Did I get to a place of appreciation for my bobbin? No. Does any of that take away from my sense of accomplishment? No! 

Did tonight’s project make me feel like a real ‘sew pro’? YES! 

We spent the entire class tonight working on our ‘final exam’. We made a piped and corded pillow complete with a zipper! You might not be able to get the full idea by a simple description… so let me just say…it was work. Focused work; therapeutic work; but work. There were many steps involved and more than a few moments when I was filled with trepidation leading up to the great reveal (which was basically turning the whole thing right-side-out) to admire my handiwork.

And you know what? It turned out amazingly well. I mean, seriously…I made this tonight!

pillow front

pillow back with zipper

I’m beyond thrilled at my creations. I’m also really glad that I decided to learn something new. I’m absolutely going to take more classes at Whipstitch – they offer a variety beyond the basic introductory course. Not to mention, I’d use any excuse to go back and load up on fabric…because I don’t think my current stash is nearly big enough.

my new obsession

This class is teaching me a lot more than how to sew. Initially, I had a good bit of ‘machine envy’ as it’s pretty clear my sewing machine is one of the oldest in the group. The others are super high-tech with top loading bobbins, spring loaded needle threaders, and pre-programmed decorative stitches that rival embroidery. My little machine can make straight and/or zigzag stitches. Sigh. 

At first, I was totally guilty of coveting thy neighbor’s machine and by the end of the first class, I had convinced myself that I needed a new machine; surely I’d be better with a new machine; I’d definitely be more efficient with a new machine.   

But, isn’t that mentality just the trappings of our disposable society? We always feel the need to upgrade; our digital cameras, our cell phones, our wardrobe, ourselves.   

There’s nothing that I need to do, that I really need to do, that my sewing machine can’t handle. She’s sturdy and reliable and come to think about it, has a nice vintage flare. Now that she & I understand each other, and as I continue to learn how she works best, I’m pretty content with my old gal. 

I think I’ll pass on an upgrade for now.

Which means one thing: I can buy more fabric! 

Speaking of…I must again mention that Whipstitch has the most beautiful fabrics. When I arrive each day, I really struggle to choose my fabric for the night’s class because there are simply too many wonderful options. 

Tonight we finished our picnic carry-all and placemat and I am SO in love with it. It may seem basic, but I think it’s lovely and I’m extremely proud of myself for making it. 

my picnic carry-all and placemat!

it even folds up to fit in a picnic basket!

We also started on our reversible tote bags. While I’ve mastered the pillowcase tote bags that we made at Crafty Chicks Night in April, I’ve never started one from scratch, so I was eager to learn how to start this project from the beginning. Surprisingly, it was easier than I was expecting (maybe I’m getting the hang of this) and somehow we ended up ahead of schedule which means I took home the finished product! Check it out!

my reversible tote bag!

that's right, people...it's two bags in one.

 Tomorrow is the final class and we have quite a lofty goal to accomplish. We’re making piped and corded pillows complete with a zipper. I’m already debating which fabric to choose…

Tonight’s class taught me all about fabric…types, weights, weave, print direction, selvedge edges, grainline, crossgrain and the absolute importance of pre-washing. I learned more about fabric than I thought there was to know.

I also learned that while there is value to being ‘self-taught’ in many areas of crafts and creativity, when it comes to sewing, there’s more value in learning from a professional. 

For me, anyway. 

For example, I couldn’t figure out why I was having such difficulty threading the bobbin and getting it to cooperate with me. Well, it turns out that I was making it way more complicated than it needed to be by actually taking the whole thing apart each time I tried to thread it or needed to change the thread color. I’m pretty sure I was messing with parts of that machine that only a repair man should. 

So, while being self-taught is worthy of many accolades in many areas, when it comes to learning the intricacies of a sewing machine, I think it’s better left to a professional.

Tonight’s projects were to make continuous bias tape and to start what will become a picnic carry-all and placemat. Sounds pretty easy, right?

continuous bias tape...don't be fooled by its apparent simplicity!

the purpose of continuous bias tape...to cover rough sewn edges.

my soon-to-be a picnic carry-all and placemat!

Let me just say that my respect and admiration for those who can actually make more than the above mentioned items grew exponentially after tonight’s class. It was a very technical night of measuring, cutting, ironing and sewing. However, the not-quite-finished-product was totally worth the effort!

This week, I’m taking an “Intro to Sewing” class at Whipstitch Fabrics. Whipstitch is the most adorable fabric shop in the West Midtown District of Atlanta. If you haven’t already discovered this little gem, you most definitely should. I can promise you’ll be inspired to sew, quilt, craft and create.

While I have managed to make a few pillows lately, I am hardly a professional with my sewing machine, and quite honestly, I’m still pretty intimidated by most of its bells & whistles. So, I enrolled in what I’m calling a ‘bootcamp-style’ sewing class. For 2 ½ hours a night, four nights this week, I’ll indulge in all things needlework.

And, while I know it won’t do any justice to the ‘pseudo-professional image’ I may be trying to establish, I’ve decided to document my progress in the class and “proudly” show off my creations each night.

The way I see it, we’re all novices in the beginning, and the one thing that stops most people from learning something new is the fear of not being good at it. So here I am; in all of my novice glory.

In tonight’s class, we learned all about our machines, and the many sewing notions (tools involved such as bobbins, thread, stitch removers, seam guides, etc). We learned how to thread the bobbin and thread the machine. And then we made “stitch samples” which are basically a way of seeing all the different stitches each machine can make.

my stitch samples

my zigzag stitch...impressive, no?

Here’s my handiwork. I keep having to remind myself that I’m still learning. Quite possibly, one of the most important things I’ll learn in this class is the phrase…”it’s just a prototype.”

my dinner napkin...not too shabby (from a distance)

admire that stitchwork - steady as she goes!

Here’s hoping the three posts that follow this one show some substantial progress. In fact, until it’s time to sew again, I’m keeping my fingers crossed…because tonight’s class was definitely a humbling experience.

A few years ago I bought a little dress while on a girl’s getaway in Nashville, TN. It was cotton and comfy and perfect for the summer. Over the years it’s gone from being something I’ve worn out to dinner, to a bikini cover-up at the beach and pool, to something that I mainly wear while lounging around the house. It’s showing wear and tear, and frankly, just isn’t that flattering on me anymore. So this weekend, I decided to see what else I could make out of it.

I cut it in sections on each seam and immediately decided to make a pillow out of the skirt. Since it was already sewn on two sides, it took only minutes! And, it just so happens to work really well with the colors in the living room. Nice! I love finding new uses for old things!

ready to be repurposed

each section is cut at the seam

dress parts

a pop of color for our couch!

I already have ideas for the smaller pieces of the dress and will definitely post those projects soon!

I have found that planning a wedding at the same time as a friend is really fun…and quite helpful. I am thrilled to share the wedding planning experience with my good friend, Michelle. 

She will get married just a month after I do and I can’t wait to watch her walk down the aisle!  She will be a stunningly beautiful bride.  I also can’t wait to attend her wedding because it is going to be absolutely fabulous. It will be a black tie affair at a beachside hotel in South Florida. Although we are planning completely different styles of weddings, I know they will both be breathtaking and I can’t wait to see how they turn out!

Throughout the planning process, we have enjoyed bouncing ideas off each other and sending over photos of inspiration (bridesmaid’s dresses, flowers, cakes, etc) that we think the other might like. It’s been really special to share this process with a sweet friend.

Michelle recently approached me about contributing to a story for the Wedding Channel. She had heard they were doing a feature on DIY weddings and she thought of me. The storyline was certainly right up my alley, so I eagerly accepted!

Initially, when I spoke with the producer, I told her about all the ways we’re saving money on the wedding; from choosing the venue, designing and printing our invitations, and making much of the décor.  When I mentioned that I had a friend planning a wedding also, and how fun it had been sharing the process, she had an idea for a new storyline; two friends planning two completely different weddings. Within a week, the camera crew was scheduled for the shoot.

quite the set-up!

focusing in...

getting mic'd

reviewing my notes

smile big for the camera!

it's a wrap!

The story will be broadcasted all across the country, so if you happen to see it, let me know!!