Up-cycling among other things...

Last Blog had information about Chemo Caps,
I had finished some more
so I thought I'd share them...
I had been playing with different stripes.
the blue and orange are the colors
of our local College football team.
(BSU Bronco's -they're very popular here)


There has been a lot of stuff going around
on Facebook and Pinterest about Up-cycling...
It's something I've done all my life...
Taking an item no longer in style or use,
and turning it into something else you will use.
So I thought I'd share something...
This is a toddler dress I picked up at
a local thrift shop. I paid 3$ for it.
It was a size 4T.
It had a few problems,
and would probably not be purchased by someone
to actually use on a toddler.
I took some paper a bit bigger than the dress
and sketched a simple outline of the skirt
and waist area that I wanted to include in the bag;
Making a pattern for the lining.
my motto is the KISS plan...
Meaning,
Keep It Simple Stupid.
no reason to make anything harder
than it needs to be.
and besides,
I probably wouldn't finish it if it were.

I used my rotary cutter and a straight edge
to cut the top of the little dress
away from the bottom.
Leaving enough to fold over
and attaching the lining to.

Then I scrounged through my fabric
scraps and other pieces
looking for a piece the right size
that I liked with the denim skirt.

Found a lime green with white polka dots.

Used the long sleeves to cut
for the shoulder straps.
Again I used the rotary cutter
and the straight edge ruler.
I cut them 4" wide to form a tube...
I didn't think they were quite long enough,
so I added a piece from the back of the top.

I liked the little pockets on the front
of the top, so decided to use them for a
pocket on the inside of the bag.

I cut the top front into a rectangular shape,
not really measuring for a size...
but rather, to fit the pockets into it.
I used another piece of the lining fabric
to line the pocket.
Because the front had an opening,
I could sew around the entire piece
and still be able to turn it right side out.

Then I centered it on one side of the lining,
and stitched the pocket down.
I decided to top stitch down one side
of the center front, forming 2 pockets.
With the little pockets, there are now 4
to use for different items.
I believe my cell phone fits in one of the
smaller original pockets.

after sewing the lining together,
and sewing it inside the skirt.
I stitched the bottom of the skirt
along the existing hemline,
leaving the little ruffle free.
Added the shoulder strap.
And Wah Lah, I have a cute new bag.
Up-Cycling.
I have some more projects I've
picked up at the thrift store.
A striped Linen Shirt, another toddler skirt,
some vintage linens and table cloths... I will try to take photo's of before
and after to share here in the blog.
Also, I am starting the Farmer's Wife Quilt this week...
Yeah!!!
Finally!!!
So there are things to look forward to.