CUTE!! Pink Gingham Tiered Apron Upcycle

So did you see my silly mistake on yesterday's post? I can tell you I did NOT make the same mistake with this one. Well, mostly because this one didn't come with pockets, lol! I followed the same method as my earlier apron upcycle tutorial.

This one was a girls skirt. I love using girls skirts for these aprons because 1) they are shorter and 2) they're CUTER! If you choose a girls size 14-ish, just before junior's sizes then you still get the desirable apron front coverage that fits a wider variety of sizes.

Am I right?? Isn't this the cutest thing you have ever seen?? I lucked out with this one, I was just passing through the kid's aisle, making my way through the Salvation Army store and this print was sticking out. Score!! I know I need to spend more time in that section.....

Pink gingham apron

Some kid loved this skirt. There was a rip on the lower tier that I found just when I thought I was finished. No problemo, I LOVE the patch I used!

Pink gingham apron

See the patch? It is from a ridiculously loud dress that had the most amazing floral pattern and gold glitter. This fabric is best in much smaller doses, lol! 

Pink gingham apron

There were also a couple of very small holes at the top that I pulled closed with thread.

Pink gingham apron

I can't wait to do these girl's skirt aprons again. Ooooh, they're so cute!

Cute Prairie Style Apron Upcycle

Here is a fun one. I found an adorable dress (several sizes too small of course) at the Salvation Army recently. It was a sweet floral with blue binding details and was fully lined in cotton, giving it a wonderfully full skirt. So, what did I do? I cut it up, of course! Unfortunately I cut at the wrong side. Ooh, I was so mad at myself! The skirt had the cutest slit pockets EVER! It would have made the most adorable apron detail and I ruined it. Ugh! So I picked myself up after my screaming, floor pounding tantrum and sewed the pockets closed and moved on.

 Here is an earlier tutorial I posted on how to make these skirts. I made this skirt exactly the same way. This is what I love about upcycling (besides that 3/4 of the work is already done!), that you can do the same thing over and over and end up with a very different result every time.

Although the dress was very current and more "urban", I love the primitive, prairie, sort of "Little House" pioneer woman glamour this apron has.

Primitive, prairie style apron upcycle

Primitive, prairie style apron upcycle

Isn't this The. Best. floral fabric ever? I made two sets of fabric earrings and am also making hoop art with it.
I still have a bit of fabric left over. Maybe a coordinating necklace?

Primitive, prairie style apron upcycle

Aaaand, here are those pockets. Isn't that just awful? Grrr.

Primitive, prairie style apron upcycle

I love the romantic flowiness of this apron and I even kind of like the silly story those blue slits tell. Kind of.

Easy Update For Warm Weather Scarves

I love wearing light, floaty, colorful scarves with my spring and summer outfits. Such a cute accessory.....
Here is an easy update if you are getting a little bored with your collection.

Lace tipped scarf

Here it is: find some vintage lace, cut a piece and sew it to the end. That's it! Well, mostly it. The blue scarf is very delicate. I hand stitched the lace onto the scarf, I just couldn't see putting it through my sewing machine.

Lace tipped scarf

I made the pink scarf. Isn't the fabric adorable? I found it, with a bunch of other fabric, at the local St Vincent de Paul thrift store. I just cut a piece of fabric the same size as a favorite scarf of mine, rolled the edges and hemmed it all the way around with a small straight stitch. I was able to machine stitch the lace on to this one, I used a small zig zag stitch. I believe this fabric is cotton so it will be nice and light (and not icky, sticky in hot weather). Won't it look so adorable with cut off shorts and a white tee???

Crocheted Edge Denim Cut Off Lace Shorts

Does that title make sense to you? I am trying to improve my search ranking, lol!

Okay, let's see a virtual show of hands. Who knows how to crochet a lace edge? Aaaand who knows how to do basic embroidery? Aaaand, who likes these cut off shorts?

Crocheted edge denim cut off lace shorts

I gained inspiration for these from a few places. First, I love all of the lacy dolphin tail cut offs that have been floating out there in Pinterest-land since last year. Second, I love the vintage style crocheted edge on pillowcases, also seen out there in Pinterest-land lately. Why not combine the two? 

Crocheted edge denim cut off lace shorts

Cute, right? I included a bit of a dolphin tail in the cut of the leg.

Crocheted edge denim cut off lace shorts

Since I rarely photograph myself making stuff I will just tell you how to do this.

1. Cut the legs from your shorts. Save the legs 'cuz there are oodles of things you can do with denim. Or just send them to me. I can't get enough of them!
2. Head to your sewing machine. Do not fold a hem if you like the tattered look. Use a fairly small zig zag stitch above the cut, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Not too far. Sew all the way around each leg. 
3. Thread an embroidery needle with size 10 cotton crochet thread, in the color of your choice (haha, obviously!). Here is where embroidery skills come in. Do a back stitch all around each leg, immediately above your zig zag stitches, about 1/4 inch or a little shorter per stitch.You want to be able to crochet into these stitches using a size E or F crochet hook. (If you turned your hem, use a blanket stitch here instead)
4. Using a size E or F crochet hook, single stitch into your back stitches, inside of the leg, all the way around. Remember to start from the inside so that your frayed edge still shows. 
5. Crochet the edge pattern of your choice. Here is what I did: in first sc, HDC, DC, HDC, sl into next two sc, repeat all the way around. Fasten off, cut a long-ish tail and use your embroidery needle to weave end in.
6. Wash your shorts. This will tatter the edge of the denim and it will relax the crocheted edge, softening it. 

Crocheted edge denim cut off lace shorts

So what do you think?

Crochet Over Silver Stacking Bangle Bracelets

Remember Madonna, back in the 80s, when she wore the armful of bracelets? Even if you're not old enough, you know what I'm talking about.

Madonna

All of us tweens / teens wore big bows in our hair and arm loads of bracelets, lol! So I was tickled to find a big stack of silver bangles at the thrift store recently. Ummm, 39 of them! They look similar to these:

Sterling stacking bangles by Scape on Etsy

These are gorgeous. Mine are tarnished and dull. So I crocheted over mine with cotton thread.

Crocheted stacking bangles

Crocheted stacking bangles

Crocheted stacking bangles

Crocheted stacking bangles

Crocheted stacking bangles

Some of them had cute sparklies on them. I just added hooks to them, I think they make adorable over sized earrings.

Over sized hoop earrings

Over sized hoop earrings

Over sized hoop earrings

So that makes 10 bracelet upcycles. 29 more to go! Yay!!

More Upcycles and More Hunger Games!

Maybe you will soon be able to tell that I'm excited for the second Hunger Games movie? Here are some of my upcycled denim cuffs, HG style.

Real or Not Real embroidery

Yep, I love Peeta.

Real or Not Real embroidery

Real or Not Real embroidery

Real or Not Real embroidery

These are in the works. I can tell you that there will be an extra surprise on the Real <3 ones.

Real

Girl on Fire 

Stay Alive

I also have one style that isn't embroidered. This is called Girl on Fire. Isn't it cool? I have more fabric so if it's popular I can make many more. Although, there is a limit to how many I can make. So, they are limited. Ha!

Girl on Fire Cuff

Ya want one, right?

Skirt to Apron Upcycle Tutorial

A few days ago I promised a tutorial. I think I was talking about fabric cuffs but what I actually have today are

Aprons!

Here is how I upcycle a skirt into an apron. It's so easy, you'll see! I begin with a cute skirt. Size doesn't matter as much as cuteness. I have used everything from a girls size 16 to a women's size 10. I also have a women's size 16 in the works.....

Begin by opening up the back. I used a seam ripper for this one. If you'd rather (or if there is no back seam), you can cut instead of rip the seam.

Cute skirt

Ripping the back seam

Seam ripped

Once you have opened up the back of the skirt, then sew the hem.

Sewing a hem

I like to use a zig zag stitch (of course, if you have an overlock machine, that would be appropriate here).

Zig zag stitch

Zig zag stitch

Next, choose some cute cloth for the ties. For this one I tore some strips of yellow sheet. As for length, just use strips that are long enough to tie apron in back and/or wrap and tie at the front. I don't have a specific measurement.

Apron ties upcycle 

I left the tattered edge because I think it's soooo cute. I folded the strip in half the long way and sewed the edges together, again using a zig zag stitch. I sewed it to the top edge of each side of the apron.

Sewing ties to upcycled apron

And, voila, here is what you end up with! See? Easy!

Upcycled apron

Upcycled apron

Upcycled apron

Super Cool Mid Century Coffee Pot

Christopher and I drove up near Sacramento on Sunday to spend time with his son for his birthday and I joined so that I could spend time with the granddaughter. I simply cannot believe that girl is turning three on valentines day!! Anyway, Mama, granddaughter and I escaped for a bit so the boys could spend some alone time together. We ended up at Eco Thrift, someplace I have never been. That place is HUGE! I spotted something that I have been looking for lately, an electric kettle. My sister and my friend both served me herbal tea after warming the water in their electric kettles. I have been smitten since and have wanted one in a big way!!! What I found actually isn't a kettle, it's an electric coffee pot. But really, I just took out the percolator insert and, voila, kettle! Major score......

Vintage electric coffee pot

Isn't she gorgeous?

I also found these adorable spaghetti holders.

Spaghetti containers

Too cute right? My house is mexi-tuscan hoarder style so these fit perfectly.

Spaghetti containers

I was thinking of using the tower on the right to hold crochet hooks. Or spaghetti. I haven't decided yet. What do you think?