Never Make A Vow You Know You Won't Keep

Here's the finished product from my work last week.  Amy had provided the top but it was so tight it wouldn't fit over my smallest sized dress form so I took out the zipper and put in velcro--yes, I costumized it.  It worked and looks cute.  As I drove by the shop on Sat. I noticed it wasn't in the window.  Someone was trying it on and it had been there only a few hours.  On the way back I noticed it back in the window and the tie different.  I had made the cute little tulle flower clip to be worn as shown or in the hair, on the top or on a purse. 

Yes, I know I said I'd never do another one but...

she's given me another little top, quite different but vintage so I'm beginning that today.  I still have some shopping to do to match colors on it but photos are forthcoming.  I'm inspired because people are interested in these little cuties and I love for the things I make to sell.

Remodeled Dress

 It all started with a cute little sheath dress with straps and

 oodles of these black roses with olive ribbon leaves.  As you see, I've removed, with great difficulty, all the roses (each pock mark was a rose) and I underpinned these three to show how it might have looked.  Unfortunately each rose was attached with a brad or two so I wound up with a mess.

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 Here's the finished product.  I've removed one strap, closed the back pleat opening, added tulle to the remaining strap, ruched tulle to the bodice and tulle tufts to the bottom of the dress. 

I added a removeable feather and rhinestone/pearl brooch that can also be worn in the hair or on a purse.  I like it and if I were much younger, would wear it in a minute.  I love black anyway.  My dresses have been selling at S'more Couture so I keep making them.  I love remodeling a vintage dress and making it for today.  This one was a late 70's-early 80's Tina Hagen, who was actively making dresses until about 1985 until she went into home decorating.  I like the finished product but sometimes the work is difficult.  Seeing ones like this make it worth it, though.

New Remade Outfit

 From this vintage 20's style grey-green silk dress with the inside falling apart, I came up with these looks.

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 I removed the ruffled skirt, shortening it about 7 rows down from the waist and removed the ruffles from each sleeve.  Made a flower from a row of ruffle adding pearls to the center and made a silk tie for the waist (a remnant purchased a couple of years ago.)

 The flower is glued to a clip/pin back so it can be versatile--worn either way shown or in the hair.

 Here the tie is tied in the front.

I also made a sequin stretch belt giving this a more fancy, dancy look.  Hoping it's purchased for Homecoming this year.  I'd love to have the money since it took about 8 hours for me to wrestle this.  My problem was a stretch waist and a cranky sewing machine.  I'm happy with the results so I guess it's worth it ... if it sells

Three Remakes



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  This first one started as a zip-up-the-back bustier, probably 60's or 70's vintage with stretchy fabric and stays.  I added a black half slip and four tiers of tulle, 3 black and one silver, and made a matching tulle flower with an added grey and iridescent rhinestones brooch. 

 This little number began as the top only of a voile dotted swiss dress that had been cut off.  I added a short skirt with lycra (originally a skort), nylon chiffon overskirt in a bouffant style, surrounded the bottom with a black boa, added a grosgrain ribbon belt and a chiffon and feather flower with three pearls in the center. A while back I showed a photo of the back of the dress after I had paid to have a zipper sewn in.  The skirt and top were offset by about 3/4 inch.  I sewed the ribbon into the seam of the zipper on the back and made a loop (by chain stitching button/carpet thread) on the other side of the zipper.  Four other loops hold the ribbon firmly in place and the offset back does not show.  I thought long and hard about that one.   Finally, it is done. 

 This dowdy little half-calf length 50's dress with a cut-out and rhinestone studded neckline would get laughed off the floor at this generation's homecoming dance but...


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 this one won't!  I cute-ed it up a bit by removing the "flower" from the neckline and shortening the skirts.  The pink underskirt was under the original dress but I gave it a prominent place by allowing it to be about 1 1/2 inches lower than the top skirt.  I added a cummerbund from the left over pink fabric (taffeta) and a matching pink and black flower with a big rhinestone button in the middle.
As you see, I've been pretty busy the last day and a half since our return from vacation.  I think all of these turned out very cute and I hope they all sell.  Time will tell.  Now I need to rest.

New Remake

This dress started as a mid-calf paisley slip with beige lace on the bottom.  I took off the lace, removed the elastic at the waist, added a tank top, zig-zagged the elastic back on, cut off the extra tank bottom, shortened the skirt and added a ruffle to the shoulder from the strip removed from the bottom of the slip. I chain-stitched three belt loops and added themand the lace became the belt.  I've used a vintage mother-of-pearl buckle that I really like.   I think it turned out cute and Amy liked it so it should sell.

Rolled Roses Headbands at Relics

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These beauties are at Relics, at little shop close to the river.  It's very eclectic and unusual and I always find antique goodies there.  They combine the old with the new, as I have done with these refashioned fabrics and buttons.  All my fabrics are rescued from uncertain doom and put back into use in a beautiful way.  I love making lovely things from throw-aways!