I Like You - Brightly Colored Heels

I'm starting a new weekly feature called 'I like you -' and anything I like is fair game. It could be Prince William, or mixed tapes, or pixie hair cuts, or limeade. I like a lot of very random things and I am looking forward to sharing them!

This week, I like brightly colored heels. What's not to like, really? They make blah neutral outfits go HIYA! LOOK I HAVE STYLE, SEE MY SHOES! In the land of nude pumps, the hot pink stiletto is queen.

1. Poetic License Dazzling 2. Stuart Weitzman Lovechains Pump 3. Nina Electra 4. Basic Platform Pump 5. Mossimo Isabella Satin Platform Pump

Dress Up - Ruche

Oh Ruche, where have you been my whole clothes-shopping life??

Fri-DIY - The T-Shirt Restyle Issue

I keep hearing 'the worst of the recession is over.' So what? Does that mean we all have to run out immediately for some indiscriminate spending? Not this girl. I was thrifty prior to the recession and I plan on staying that way, no matter what the pundits say.

In that spirit, I've compiled some truly great T-Shirt restyle tutorials. All are fashionable, even pretty, and definitely a step up from the same old T-shirt-into-halter-top tutorials that seem to be the only ones google can find. There are some great inventive tutes out there shared by wonderfully creative generous women. Like the ladies at crafty stylish who show us how to make the tunic pictured above. I think it is so feminine and that green color just screams SPRING.


No real pics for this one, but this tute at Canadian living looks promising.


Make a T-shirt into an old-fashioned bed jacket? Yes, please.



Not for the novice sewer, but I love this idea of turning an old T-shirt plus skirt into a killer dress.


Finally, a killer don't mess with me kind of restyle, the chaos T-shirt. Just sounds like fun!

Fri-DIY - The Scarf Issue

I'm at the point in winter when I feel like it will NEVER end! When will I be warm again?!? I gathered up these scarf tutorials so at least my neck can be warmed by something pretty until spring arrives.

I think the trim scarf above from Ruffles and Stuff is adorable. I also have inherited several bags of trim that I have never settled on a project to use them up. This scarf might be just the thing.


How awesome is the Modern Victorian Collar from Love Maegan? Her instructions are incredibly easy to follow and what an impressive final product.


Pretty Ditty's simple scarf is indeed very pretty. She shows an interesting technique to sew in the balls which makes pretty gathers in the scarf.


This knit scarf from Make it and Love it is so pretty and simple. It's a good demonstration of how adding texture to a simple project makes it incredibly more interesting. In this case, the texture is a few sewn rows of the same scarf fabric.


Finally, for any no-sewers, ah-yi has a good tutorial up for a braided yarn scarf. She's provided easy to follow illustrations for the pretty complex braid, but I suspect steady hands and a patient read would be necessary to figure it out. It would be a great use for any bulky yarn lying around, or I imagine could also be adapted to use thin strips of knit jersey instead of yarn.

Fri-DIY

Remember this post where I waxed poetic about embellished tops? Well, I finally found a few hours to make one for myself. It wasn't too difficult and just took about an hour and a half. This could even be a no-sew project, but I zig-zag stitched around the exterior of the appliques just for fun. So, if you find yourself with some time to spare this holiday long weekend, try out this project and whip up a lovely new top for just a few dollars.

Materials:

1 T-shirt with a collar, in your size (mine came from the local thrift shop for $3.00)

7 6"x6" scraps of cotton fabric, any color

white paper

pencil

sharp scissors

paper-backed fusible webbing (I like wonder under)

iron

1 sheet white tissue paper

Step 1: Lay T-shirt out on work surface. Carefully cut out collar and remove. Try to make the cut as even and symmetrical as possible.

Step 2: Cut out templates for the appliques from the white paper. I used a rounded shape, but triangles or pointed shapes would work well, too. You will want 2 of each shape going down the neckline and 1 of the shape at the bottom of the neckline. Each one should be longer than needed so a little extra extends beyond the neckline. That part will be trimmed off later, Arrange them on the shirt to make sure they are big enough to overlap slightly around the new neckline.

Step 3: Make sure the templates fit with a little room to spare on the fabric scraps. Trim the scraps into squares, leaving at least 1/2" border around the templates (this makes the next step a lot easier).

Step 4: Cut pieces of the fusible webbing slightly smaller than each of the fabric scraps. Bond to the fabric using the manufacturer's directions. Do not remove paper-backing yet! Trace each template onto the paper-backing of each fabric scrap, remember to do 2 of each coming down the neckline, and then cut out the shapes from the fabric. After each shape is cut out, the paper-backing can be removed.

Step 5: Lay T-shirt out on ironing board. Take the piece of tissue and place between the two layers of T-shirt at the neckline, making sure that the entire edge of the neckline is covered with tissue. This is to make sure nothing accidentally gets bonded to the back of the shirt.

Step 6: Lay the webbing-backed fabric pieces along the neckline. No part of the T-shirt along the neckline edge should be exposed. Fiddle with them so they are symmetrical on both sides of the neckline.

Step 7: Iron the pieces in place according to the fusible webbing directions.

Step 8: Flip shirt inside out to expose the backside of the fabric pieces which have been bonded to the tissue. Rip the tissue so only the pieces actually adhered to the fabric remain. Carefully cut along the neckline to remove the excess fabric.

Step 9: Flip shirt right side out and all done! I did choose to zig-zag stitch along the neckline and around the appliques, but that's totally optional. Wear your new shirt with pride, just don't throw it in the washer or dryer. This baby is handwash and air dry only!

Dress Up - Embellished Tops from Anthropologie

This seems to be the season for embellished tops. Everywhere I look there's another applique, a rosette, some funky ruffles. I love it all. These tops from Anthropologie make me want to start ripping seams and sewing on my own embellishments on some tired shirts way back in the closet. I especially love the appliqued top in the upper right corner. Looks simple enough to translate, I think I'll give it a shot!

Dress Up - Luella

Things are a little gloomy in my household recently. We have a malfunctioning toilet, a malfunctioning computer, a dog that has learned to climb fences, and no money to deal with any of them. However, looking at Luella's last two spring collections amused me. They are funny, madcap, ladylike collections that make me giggle. AND they wouldn't be too difficult to recreate with vintage finds and some creative embellishments if you're saving for external hard-drives, plumbing fixes, and electric fences.

Dress Up - Vintage Style Dresses

I am loving the vintage style dresses over at Vintage Dress Outlet. Great prices, too! Too bad I didn't find them a few weeks ago before I got myself knee-deep in a sewing project to make a vintage style full skirt! (PS - Tutorial I am following to make the skirt is here.)

Dress Up - Red Shoes for Fall

Scoping out some new red shoes for this fall season. Here are a few that caught my eye.

Stitch Detail Heels from Go Jane
CL from Chinese Laundry
Toulouse Lau-Wedges from ModCloth

Dress Up - Tulle

I am loving the clothes over at Tulle. Great silhouettes, interesting patterns, and super sales on past collections! Thanks for the tip, TL!

Dress Up - ModCloth

How have I missed ModCloth all this time??

Dress Up - I need Tevas

This spring has been very busy, so consequently, I've been pretty quiet here in blog land. Summer is officially here now, though, and things should be less hectic. Which means, hopefully more blogging!

This past weekend was an adventure weekend with some lovely old friends. White water rafting convinced me that I need a pair of Tevas BAD. Luckily, there are some that are pretty cute! Here's a few on my short list, all found over at shoebuy.com.