repurpose.remake.reuse.reclaim

Every child begins the world again. - Henry David Thoreau If I could sew and make baby/kids stuff all day long, I would. But can't =.\  In the meantime, I was able to make a set of burpie clothes, a California onesie, and a changing pad  (see tutorial here)  just in time for a dear friend's baby shower. So easy and so fun to make. I think my ultra-creative friend likes them =.) When you get a chance, check out her fabulous blog at Yellow Pajamas where she shares her experiences as a new mom to another baby boy, her handiwork, her family, her equally creative friends, and more. And make sure you let her know you're visiting. (Update: check her out HERE  and HERE --you're gonna love & be inspired by her work!) And 3 days later (after this photo), Baby Bwuddah arrived. Can't wait to meet him soon. Babies are always more trouble than you thought -- and more wonderful.   ~ Charles Osgood CONGRATULATIONS, PQ family, on your new addition!

Facebook, a social utility that connects people with friends and families, some you haven't seen in years. But as we all know, it has its pros and its cons. Inspired by its simple logo, I made a pillowcase out of old jeans and tshirts.  The only thing I would do differently is not to use felt fabric for the logo.  It collects too much lint. Overlapping the back pieces (envelope closing) so no need for zipper, buttons, velcro.  Easy, yeah?  I made another one for an Apple logo using old sweatshirts (see the USA logo on the top right).    Try making one with your favorite logo.

You have chosen the Evening, but my love is given to the Morning. And my heart forebodes that soon it will pass away for ever. ~Lord of the Rings Tailored capes suited for young Elvish(es) I've used and abused an old pattern (McCall's #3307) over the years. It's the same pattern I've used for a Super Hero, an Eagle, Ponchos, Queen Amidala (of Star Wars), and of course, Arwen, and more. It's a one-size-fits-all with little or no adjustment needed! The only thing that would be different are the fabric and the clasps--which give any cape such character. See how tattered this pattern is. It's been re-used many gazillion times. Go get it. It's super easy to make even if you're not a savvy seamstress. Yet.

“Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.” ~Dag Hammarskjold These are scraps from one of my son's old camouflage pants.   Sewed them altogether to make a long piece... Then gather them up. I cut off the hem of the pair of jeans, pinned the extension piece, and used the zigzag stitch. You have to do it nice and slow, otherwise, gathered piece will crunch up in one area. Here's the final product, or so I thought! I have yet to patch up the holes on the knees.  That wasn't too hard. I used the left-over camouflage scraps and sewed them in. But FOR THE LIFE OF ME! the jeans were still short!  How could this be?  Did she grow in a week? I was desperate and I was tired.  I did not want to waste this old pair so I just quickly added another piece to each leg.  Not as flouncy or ruffly but it will do.  For now OR never!  Oh well.  She's just happy her pants are long enough. Lesson le...

Aurë Entuluva! -Hùrin Thalion (Day shall come again!)  Turning this Square into something Shapely... I simply added elastic to the high (empire) waistline to add shape TC loves the Quenyan language (Elvish) by JRR Tolkien and often writes on anything. I found this scrap of material she wrote on with her Elvish writing. Took it and incorporated it with another t-shirt scrap to sew on the hemline.  Red, black & white are her school colors. And here's a newly refashioned baby doll school uniform =.)

The horse is God's gift to mankind.   ~Arabian Proverb Kiwi loves horses. She would own one if she's allowed to keep them. So you can say that her horse t-shirts are one of her valuable possessions.  She has several of them and most of them are getting shorter but not tighter. To salvage one, I cut off the lower part of the shirt saving the main image.  I took one of her dad's old gray t-shirt (shhhh, don't tell him...), gathered it before adding it on.  The shirt is a little loose after sewing it together so I added elastic in the back (not pictured). Here's a baby doll shirt that should last, hopefully, for a couple more years. Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. — Charles R. Swindoll

A baby is God's opinion that life should go on. - Carl Sandburg Here's a cute little tutu for a baby girl who was born a month early. I think it'll fit her just right by now.  This pink & white rose fabric were scraps from a receiving blanket I made for someone who turned 13 years old this year. Yes, I kept them.  I cut a long piece of the fabric and sewed the lace trim (which I already have in my batch) to its hem.  Then I gathered one side and attached it to the onesie. Made a little rosette with a cute little button. Tada!  I could've added an applique and some trimmings on the arm and neckline.  Next time.  It's pretty easy, once you have everything.  Check out the  link  where I got my simplified version.

“You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.” ~Abraham Lincoln  "You're so tall!" A comment my kids are used to hearing but not necessarily endearing (esp. to my eldest). "Yes, I am." Standing even taller. "You should play basketball, be a model, be this, be that." Big sigh... Well, I've accepted the fact that my kids will always be very tall and long (for Asians anyway, and for their age =.) We have no qualms with that.  The only problem is that they grow out of their shirts/pants faster (lengthwise) and it's difficult to find outfits that fit them just right.  It's either too short or too loose.  Plus it gets expensive. For a quick solution (time-permitting, of course) is, you guessed it, refashioning! For instance, TC loves her Blue Marlin shirts but the sleeves and the waist were getting too short.  To revive it, I took one of her old shirts... Cut off the sleeves and the waistline area...  And ...