christytomlinson

Thrifty Finds and giveaway!

 
 

So I thought it would be fun since on mondays I do the Monday Moodboard, to also do "thrifty finds" post each week (or most weeks).. that kept in theme with the color scheme of our  Monday Moodboard. This week was a Garden Popply theme (shown here) . I think normally I will do it earlier in the week, so that ON friday I can show you what I made with the finds.. but this week it's gonna be today!

I love shopping at thrift shopping! I love antique stores (though most are way to pricey for me), I love going to garage sells.. and I love love love second hand stores. Yesterday My husband and I had to take a trip to our local thrift store to drop off 8 boxes of clothes, toys and bedding that we cleaned out my three youngest boys' room last Saturday. (I can't even believe they still have stuff left in their room but they do.. 8 boxes! Crazy!!!). While we ben was dropping off the boxes, I of course had to make my contribution to the establishment and buy something (you can't go away empty handed.. if you are going to donate.. you always have to buy.. isn't that the rule? lol). 

This first find is a set of classes I got.. $.25 cent each.. not too shabby . They had 6 of them, I only bought four.. hum.. don't know what I was thinking.

 

This next find is a totally cool vintage basket.. in gold (yes gold.. its coming back in.. didn't you know?) that I got for $1.00. You might ask if I am going to "restyle" it.. and the answer is nope! I actually seriously love it the dirty gold color.Yum!

 

The last set of finds were some cool books (some vintage, some I just loved the colors of them). Books are great for alot of things: you can stack them on a shelf, you can use them for height and interest when taking pictures, but the reason I bought them was to use them on my art. LOVE using book sheets as background on my art. The books were $.25 to $1.00 each.  I also picked up this dang cute corderouy dress. It might need a project restyle.. not sure, haven't tried it on yet.  BUT if it doesn't fit, I thought it would make really cute pillows for my couch! If I do, I will let you know ;).  The dress cost me$ .75 cents! SERIOUSLY!! They were having a bargain basement sell, where anything you can fit into a bag, cost you $4.00. I got this dress, 2 suits jackets to make purses out of, a red candy strip dress (I think I will restyle into an apron) and a sweater.  $4.00 bucks for all of that! Great deal!

 
 
 

 

I love the thrifty finds I found this week! I also found some awesome stuff for next weeks Moodboard theme.. oh I can't wait to share!

Well last friday on Project Restyle, when I showed you how to make a bag out of a man's suit coat, (shown here), I also promised you that this week I would giveaway a bag I recently made. It's also perfect for this week because it's bright bold colors.

 

I made this bag originally for me (hence the gazillion pockets). I measured out my wallet, my phone, my sunglasses case, my lipstick.. you name it, I made a pocket for it.

 
 

I also used alot of fun prints on this! Florals, text, zebra, dots..

 

I love peekaboo prints.. prints that are differnt on one side from the other. The outside of the handles are the green zebra and the inside are a black floral print.

 

I really love how it turned out!  

I used the Amy Butler Birdie Sling pattern for this,  and after the bag was finished, it was just bigger than I expected it to be (I even scaled down the pattern by like a third!).  I tried using it once and it was just too big for everyday use ( but it would be perfect for traveling or someone taller than 5' 2" tall! lol)!  So it has sat, unused hanging up in my studio.. ready for a loving home.

If you would like to have a chance of this purse finding it's way to you.. simply post on today's blog post about what inspires YOU? Can't wait to hear! I will announce a winner Monday!

Happy friday!

 

 

 

Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner Blog Hop Week #2- she loved the everyday

As you know I have been asked to participate in this wonderful little project with Kathy and five other fabulous designers.. AND the Flip Pal Mobile Scanner!  Last week I posted my first project on this post here.  This week, I was inspired again by my Monday Moodboard: Garden Poppy (seen on this post here). The colors scream spring.. even though I am dreaming of big giant snowflakes to keep covering those snowboarding hills for at least a few more months (hehe).  But there is nothing wrong with be inspired by color in the midst of winter right?

So this week  I thought it would be fun to scan in some of my favorite colorful prints from shirts and scarves I have around my house. I am a scarf freak.. so that wasn't a problem :).

 

 

Then just like last week, I scanned them each in with my handy dandy Flip Pal Mobile Scanner! Take the lid off, lay it down on whatever I need to and walla!

 

Then I printed out the scans onto white paper

 

and I created two bright and fun projects!

The first one are simple paper pillow hearts.. each with a word of kindness on it.  These little cuties are perfect for on top of a gift or just fun to display in a bowl on a table. A  fun conversation piece. I started by creating a heart shape out of card-stock. Then I used it as a pattern and traced it onto my printed designs (I printed 2 of each  color). Then with two pieces together I used my sewing machine to stitch around the outside edge, leaving an opening so I could stuff batting inside. Once filled, I sewed it shut and then Mod Podged printed words onto the outside of each heart. I used pinking sheers around the edges of each heart, to give them a decorative look and ta-da! A sweet little basket full of yummy colorful hearts!

  

 
 

The second project I created was an art canvas. I wanted to create a canvas that felt like spring.. that reminded me of loving the everyday because let me tell you.. this week as been crazy and I needed that simple reminder. Love the Everyday.

 
 
 

For this project I used the scans to create the dresses that are hanging from the line, as well as the bird in the sky, the sun and even the grass and flowers on the ground. I seriously love using paper to "Paint" with.. and  using a scanner to scan in your favorite prints from clothing or pillows or home decor is such a fun way to make it unique to you! How fun to make this for your little girls room, using scans of her own dressed, dolls or favorite blankie? She would love it!

Make sure to check out the other wonderful projects these 6 other fabulous ladies have created for this week! Simply click on the links below to enjoy the Blog hop! Don't forget to read on.. to find out how YOU can win one of your own scanners too!

 Amy Anderson

Chef Stephanie Peterson

Linda Peterson

Pat Sloan

Melissa Langer

Kathy Peterson

Remember!  Flip Pal MObile Scanner is giving away a scanner EACH week during the Blog Hop!! Now through Feb. 3rd!!!!! All you have to do is post on the Flip Pal Mobile Scanner Blog here to get entered to win!!  To find out more about the Flip Pal Mobile Scanner and  how they work.. check out their website here! They have some awesome videos.. and instructions on what you can do with them!

 

 

Well I hope you have a happy thursday! Tomorrow make sure you check back.. beacuse I have a special giveaway going on!  If you missed THIS POST about how i turned a men's suit coat into a vintage Modern purse.. check it out.. because that is a HINT of what our giveaway is going to be related too tomorrow! So check back tomorrow for more details!

Also next week I will be giving you more info on my upcoming workshop!  The She Art Workshop! It's a 3 week e-course where you will learn all the fun details on how to created my She Art. Details next week!

 
 

Happy Thursday!

 

Project Restyle... menswear to daywear

 

A few weeks ago, Elsie from A Beautiful Mess posted on her blog, about starting a Project Restyle group for 2011. The idea behind it is to find something old and make it new again.. reuse, recycle, restyle. You get the picture right? Well of course I wanted to join in the fun, so I signed on board! So here is my Restyle Project!  Keeping with the theme of this weeks Monday Moodboard..    menswear textures.. here we go!   My before.. a worn out Men's Dress coat, that I purchased at the thrift store for $2.00 and a vintage scarf I picked up in New York last month at a second hand store for a a buck.  My after.. a totally modern yet vintage  handbag.. perfect for a day out on the town!

 

I love the little details when I create handbags.. and this coat made it SO easy to incorporate them! Since the coat already had pockets, buttons, and tags sewn into it.. it made it fun to create with! 

 

 I used the front panels of the coat for my outside of the bag. I made sure to keep the pockets intact which was great because both outside walls have pockets already built in!

 

I used the arms of the coat for the band around the top of the bag, which ended up being perfect because it each sleeve had buttons sewn on at the cuff of sleeve. I kept them intact which added adorable detail to the band!

 

I used the front lapel of the jacket, including the pocket that you put your handkerchief in, as one of the handles for the bag.. which made the perfect pocket for a cell phone! 

 

I also cut the tags out of the jacket and put one on the outside of the bag, as a "designer" detail .

 

The other two tag, I sewed on the inside of the bag, to mimick the inside of the coat (it says where it was made and the size of the suit coat).

 

I lined the inside of the bag with some vintage dollar fabric and used remaining pieces of the coat to create pockets on the INSIDE of the bag as well ( I am a pocket freak now :)).

 

 I sewed buckles into the handles and then used the vintage scarf for the rest of the handle! Its tied in a simple knot on each end, which allows me to swap it out for another scarf depending on the mood I am in! I honestly love how this turned out. Pleats and all.

 

 

I can't totally take credit for the idea of using a suit coat. Last year my friend rented this wonderful book at the library, about recycling old items into handbags. I actually tried to find it this week at the library to give you the name.. but no such luck. I will work on that though as It was a fabulous book!  I  also have to give huge credit to my wonderful friend, Gretchen.. who has been a patient mentor this past year for me, in sharpening my sewing skills. I have loved sewing from when I was a young, but like most things.. I taught myself and well.. I like to cut corners. I sewed mostly quilts, pj's pants, pillows and simple dresses.. but again.. always cutting corners and never following directions. Well this past year when Gretchen invited me to come over and make a handbag I was stoked! When I got to her house, she had a table set up for ironing, one for cutting (with a cutting mat and rotarty cutter) and one for sewing.. she proceeded to tell me about interfacing (what's that?) and pinning (really who pins?) and how it always good to iron down seams, pleats, etc. I was like.. ya ya.. I got this.. don't you worry... and I went to town. Both of us started our bags.. and while I finished mine a lot earlier than hers, I have to admit.. it looked NOTHING like hers. Hers was crisp and professional... it was lined and had pockets.. it had top stitching and pleats.. I was in love.. WITH HERS.  I looked at my sad little bag.. wrinkles, seams showing on the inside...slumping as it sat on the table.. it looked like a 5th grader had sewed it. So I was determined to actually listen and LEARN the tips she had to share. Thanks Gretchen for being patient with me that first day. You will be happy to know with my second bag, I interfaced, lined, pinned, ironed, topstitched and even followed a pattern. It turned out FABULOUS! Since then I have created over 20 different handbags for family and friends and each one has gotten better and better! Now I am back to the point where I am creating my own patterns and designs but this time.. doing it right!  It's has been fun to watch myself actually succeed at something and do it the RIGHT way.

 

Handbags really are easy and honestly if you follow some simple rules.. I promise it will turn out just as fabulous as ANYTHING you can buy in the store. Here are some tips to help you.

Tip 1: Always interface: Interfacing is inexpensive ($1.00 a yard and even cheaper if you use a coupon!)and it adds stability and stiffness to your project. I love the iron on stuff and I interface everything including pockets and my lining.

  Tip 2:  Line your bag.. it looks SO nice and its fun to use different  and unexpected patterns.. a fun little surprise on the inside! I always try to find the clearance cottons for lining.. never spending more than a $1.00 for a yard.

 Tip 3: Pin IT!I promise.. pining makes a HUGE difference! Plus then you can buy a cute little pin cushion to hold all your pins! I got this one on Etsy last year.. oh so cute.

Tip 4: Add pockets! I know pockets appear to be hard, but they are easy peasy and So dang cute! You can never have too many pockets inside of purse!

Tip 5: Iron your seams. I know this sounds silly, but it makes your bag look so crisp when it's done!

Tip 6: Topstitch. Topstiching adds the final detail that makes your bag look like you bought it at a fancy boutique! Its fast and so worth the little extra effort.

and  Tip 7: It's all about the details.  Adding buttons, handmade flowers or old antique broaches finishes off any bag! I love sewing tags on the outside and inside of my purses.. adds a personal touch.

It's all about having fun and ending up with a handbag you would be proud to show your friends and family . You can find patterns are your local fabric store, but I love finding patterns on Etsy or other handmade websites. 

I hope you enjoyed today's Project Restyle! It's been a few month's since I made a bag.. so It was fun to play! Make sure you come back next week, as I will be giving away a "scarlet lime" bag I made.. perfect for just about anything (oh and didn't i mentioned it's got like 7 pockets inside?? lol).. so stinking cute.. Have a happy friday!