Monday, November 28, 2011

The Long and Short of It.

I took this skirt I paid 50 cents for at a thrift store and chopped off the bottom tier and transformed it from frumpy to cute and sassy. I like it so much better. I left it unhemmed so that it can fray naturally. I put in a line of stitching 5/8ths of an inch in so it doesn't fray too far. With the material I cut off, I made a skirt for Emily, Age 11. Basically gathered and attached it to elastic and used the existing hem. Then made a couple more to sell at the Christmas market we have at church every year. This was a quick and easy self-gratification project; but it just felt so good to sit in front of that machine again after having the baby and just sew something, anything, and I really needed a new skirt anyway because I'm still not back in my regular clothes. I'm already dreaming of what I can make next. I would like to get back into the habit of doing a little something most every day so I can have regular creativity going on in my life. In time, in time.

Skirt before: (The following three photos were taken by Martin, Age 8)

And after:


(Closeup of hem taken by Emily, Age 11)

Whoa! Look at all of this fabric from the bottom tier! It would be a shame to throw it away. (Photo taken by Martin.)


Three skirts I was able to make from this fabric, one for Emily and two to sell, and a skirt for Emily's sock doll that she has started. (Photos taken by me.)



And now, for the grand finale, the sweet and adorable Emily Callan, modeling her new little skirt. (Photos taken by the one and only Marty Callan, my husband.)

   



Parting Shots:

Recent photos of our youngest children taken on and around Thanksgiving by my husband, Marty.









27 comments:

  1. Awesome Trudy. Good to hear from you. You are so creative.

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  2. What a cute skirt(s)!! I love a good denim skirt, especially when you get such a great deal on it.

    Emily is getting so grown up. She looks so much like you....lucky girl!

    I always enjoy the Santa pictures. None of them look afraid either!! ;~)

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  3. How smart are you! I never would have thought to do that with a skirt. I LOVE this. I love the Christmas pictures with Santa. Your children are beautiful. Your baby girl...I just want to squeeze her!! Beautiful! xo

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  4. Oh the kids look so adorable and your whole family is talented in photography and sewing!!

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  5. From frumpy to fab - I love the redo! The pictures of your family are precious! Baby Samantha sure is getting big. :-)

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  6. Wow! Way to REpurpose!!! And Samantha looks so sweet.

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  7. You did a great job on refashioning the skirt and you look great too.

    You daughter clearly loves her skirt.

    Beautiful family photos and thanks for sharing.

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  8. wow..very cute skirts..and for the record you look fantastic...living those photos too..and how cool is that Santa..the kids look wonderful and i am so incredibly jealous over samantha..you are so lucky...xxx

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  9. Precious. That is what Samantha is. Just Precious. The skirts are so cute. Martin is 8 already??? Where does the time go. Miss Emily is growing up, too. Hugs to all.

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  10. Way to be industrious, Trudy!! You did so much with just one tier! You are an inspiration in so many ways!

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  11. I love what you did with the skirt. I really like it when people reprpose things like that.
    Your little girl is adorable. Hope she is doing well.

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  12. Great job transforming the skirt and utilizing all that extra fabric. Loved seeing all the family photos!

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  13. Great transformation. I just found your blog. You are blessed with a beautiful family and you are so pretty too! I post on refashion coop too.

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  14. Oh yes I almost forgot...
     Would you like to post  a photo link to your blog on my Sew & Tell Saturday linky party at my blog this Saturday? Its geared specifically for sewing projects !
    Justine @ Sew Country Chick

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  15. Great pics. Love the skirt...especially with the boots! Good idea!

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  16. Nice! The skirt definitely looks better short!

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  17. It is wonderful that you are back at your sewing machine! I am sure it felt like a friend you haven't spoke with for a while:) The children look happy and blessed. Samantha looks so cute and sweet!

    Blessing to the whole family

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  18. My Mom Tried to teach me to sew...Hahaaa...ohmy...but You seem to have the knack for it!
    Cute skirt Trudy!
    Great photographers too!
    Happy weekend!
    hughugs

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  19. Sweet, sweeter, and sweetness.

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  20. Oh Trudy, What adorable photos of the children! And I love love love the skirts! I need to do that too! I have several frumpy skirts that need to be shortened. Thanks for the great tip!

    xo
    Donna

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  21. Oh, Trudy! I'm delighted to meet you again from ... I love this post and the happiness that you wasted with this beautiful family and the small pleasures of life. Congratulations!

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  22. Oh Trudy, it is utterly gorgeous!! So cute and sassy, you are right! And fab that you managed to get a few more skirts for Emily too. Oh, I miss being able to make things for Cassie from my own leftovers! She is so grown up now those days are over!
    I'm so glad you are enjoying getting back to sewing again :)

    (also I thought of you recently, I had a scare when my blog was removed from the internet. It was awful! My clever husband managed to restore it... thank goodness, but I went through the same thoughts that you probably did about your photos, about whether or not I would bother starting over if I had lost it for good. I'm glad it didn't come to that though!)

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  23. So thrilled to find your blog via the RH link-up! I just picked up sewing and need all the advice I can get so I'll be happily following. :-) Your skirt's "after" looks much better!

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  24. Hi Trudy - firstly, thank you for linking up with me for my Winsome Wednesday blog hop. I really appreciate it, secondly, I LOVE what you did with that skirt. I love recycling in practical ways. Feel like I've saved money! And thirdly, your photos are great. Lovely blog
    God bless
    Tracy

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  25. I love your refashioned skirt and the mini version for your daughter! Your family is so precious and they look ready for Christmas:)

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  26. Great to see a sewing post from you Trudy! Your skirt looks fabulous, and so do the others you were able to make from the extra material. I hope you've been finding plenty of time to relax and enjoy sewing in the midst of your busy life. I love those pictures of you and Samantha. Beautiful! You are truly blessed to have such a sweet and healthy baby.

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