Competing: Crafting Con I80's MoviesI

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Lembram-se do vestido inspirado na Princesa Sofia que fiz o ano passado para um post no Crafting Con? Bem, este ano estou de volta como concorrente no tema filmes dos anos 80. Escolhi o primeiro filme que me lembro bem de ver - afinal também sou uma criança dos 80 - como inspiração, e fiz um conjunto para o meu menino. Tem sido um bocadinho negligenciado comparando com a mana. Podem ler o post por completo e descobrir que filme é, AQUI. Mostrem-me algum carinho, por favor.

Can you remember my Princess Sophia inspired look I did for a guest post at Crafting Con last year? Well, this year I get to compete in the 80's Movies theme. I used the movie I remember best - since I am a child of the 80's too - as my inspiration, and made an outfit for my boy. He's been neglected next to his big sister. You can read the whole post and find out which movie it is, in HERE. Please show us some love <3

Refashion Month with Rebel and Malice

I don't know where or when I started to follow today's guest. She's Melissa from Rebel and Malice, and I immediately felt into her retro vibe. She's so productive, I am sure she's a familiar blogger to most of you, I don't know how she does it, but I love what she's doing... with five kids around! It already gets pretty crazy sometimes but two only. I'd like to apologise Melissa for posting one day later, especially because she's mentioning this (yesterday actually) as a special day for her. My bad! I'm sorry. It's been pretty crazy with two birthdays here. Anyway, enjoy her twist on a men's shirt refashion, because those are one of the greatest pieces to refashion, your options are endless. 

Hi my name is Melissa from Rebel and Malice. I am a mom to 5 crazy kids who I sew for, while trying to be frugal. And wouldn't you know that my first love of sewing is upcycling because it is unique and one of a kind. Today is a special day, it is the birthday of my father who passed in 2012, so it only seemed fitting to make a men's shirt refashion. I know we have seen plenty, but I decided to put my twist on it.

I have a great stash of clothing waiting for their new life. I found this white rayon men's shirt just begging to be chopped and painted. Since it is also a holiday this weekend, I decided it need a festive spin.

You can do so much with men's shirts, and I wanted to create a bohemian style for summer with it.

I cut off all the buttons because I am going to seam that closed. I cut around the armholes to create an armscye and up to where the yoke in the back hits. This was the perfect length for a carefree peasant style dress. I wanted that off the shoulder ruffle all around, but not enough fabric. I used the sleeves to  create the volume for the off the shoulder fluttery look I wanted. After i cut all the pieces out, I mixed acyrlic paint with amedium to make it for fabric and painted random shapes and squiggles all over. i used red and put stripes on the sleeve section. Then I sewed it all together, put elastic in the top and made a braided belt.

I love how the colors softened after being washed, like it was a wartercolor. It gave an ode to 4th of July without being in your face. And now she has a soft carefree dress for summer.

Have you painted on fabric before? It is fun, gives you some stress relief while you create designs and you get to make one of a kind fabric. You should give it a try to personalize something you make.

Thanks for having me Magda!

Stay Rebellious!

From a Box * Rebel and Malice * In a Manner of Sewing * Miss Catelinhos * Threading My Way *Fairies, Bubbles and Co. * Mabey She Made it * Conversas de Hermanas * Lulu and Celeste * Made by Sara * La Folie * Climbing the Willow * HattieLu Handmade * Swoodson Says * Knot so Normal* Friends Stitched Together * Just Another Project * Sew Thrifty

Refashioned baby Shoes

Here's a no-sew refashion for a change. I got my baby boy a new pair of shoes, do you like them?

One evening, pretty late, and while still pregnant, I looked at these shoes. They have been in the family for quite a while - as many of my kids clothes and shoes - these particular ones, belonged first to my nephew, then were passed on to his sister, then my daughter and it was time to pass them on to my son now. However, when I looked at them, I doubt keeping them. Time and storage have damaged them a little, they were stained (and wouldn't come out) and a little yellowish in the soles... check yourself:

I decided to keep them though, S. doesn't have that many shoes yet so, it'd be nice to keep this extra pair -for free. I used fabric ink to paint the black parts, and a fabric marker for the red ones. And I loved how much stylish they look now! They are still a bit too big for my baby, but I can't wait until they fit to have him wearing them.

KCW |day 2| It's a boy week |PR&P9#3|

I made it! I was able to get a new outfit done for my baby boy... by 11.30 am... yey! Which means I still have time to start something else, but, later I guess. KCW so far, so good. 

But today's look, does not only fit my KCW plans, it also fits the 3rd week challenge of Project Run & Play, which is "Design your fabric". I took care of that part yesterday... I used a potato and fabric ink to print a piece of a white t-shirt. I've cut a potato an dused one of the halfs to crave my design. Then I used a ruler to make straight lines so I could print between them. I first painted the potato and just pressed into the fabric. Allowed it to dry and ironed to set the ink to the fabric. 

Today my fabric was ready to be used. Actually, by yesterday's evening it was dry already, so I was able to cut and prepare the patterns I wanted to use, and cut the fabric pieces too. I picked Sewing Mama RaeAnna's Cupcake Top pattern for the top and the Fancy Pants Leggings pattern, by Titchy Threads for the bottom. I was a pattern tester for both, I did two Cupcake tops so far, and it's only the second time I use the Fancy pants. 

Starting with the top, I did the 6-9 M size. I've got enough clothes for the boy for the first months; clothes that came from big sister and are neutral, so most likely, I will only make smaller sizes if I really want him to have something special. I used the back of my own t-shirt for the front of this one, I couldn't save the front because it had a print on it. I thought I had some more white t-shirts to refashion in my stash but I didn't, so I stole one of my hubby's. I'm betting on how long he'll take to realise it... maybe never. I used scraps of black knit I had used to make myself a dress a long, long time ago. Everything went perfectly well with this one, apart from the fact that the collar stretched out a lot as I added the binding. Buahhhh... It kinda ruined my top, but maybe I'll get to fix it later. 

When it comes to the pants, I used the 6-9 M size, and since I had a little bit of the self-printed fabric left, I had to use it in the back panel. Doesn't it look cute? Can't wait to see a diaper bum in it. This is such a quick and easy sew, and so satisfying. The rib knit is still from the same leftovers I have used in the Panda hoodie. 

And that's it! Two more items crossed from my list. Let some more come. 

January Refashion Month with Justine from Sew Country Chick

Today's guest doesn't need a huge introduction to most of you - I am sure. Justine, blogging from Sew Country Chick is the guest of our series today. It was such a pleasure for me to find out she was in when I first invited her. When I first started following her blog, I would often go there for simply visual inspirations, until one specific post when she told us all her life story. I was so impressed with this women's stories to tell, that I became a reader more than a viewer. Besides this interesting life, she's a very talented seamstress.  

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Hello House Of Etrela Readers!

I'm Justine from the sewing and craft blog Sew Country Chick and I'm excited to be here today to show you my little girls Valentine's Day dress I made from a men's T shirt.

This dress is super simple to make. There are only 4 seams to sew!I love refashioning with T shirts and sweaters. I can buy brand new T shirts at my craft supple store for $3.99 and with the weekly online coupon I use they end up being only about $ 2.50. They are brand new, and don't have any yucky smells or stains. But since this is a series about refashioning, which is supposed to help the environment, I would suggest you check your husband's closet or your giveaway bin first. I didn't have a red Tshirt so I bought this one with a gift card. You could also just dye a white t shirt. I love dying stuff. It makes me feel like a kid again.Gigi loves this type of comfy knit dress. She slept in it last night and is still wearing it!I used a Martha Stewart stencil I got from the Plaid company when I was working at their booth last week at he Craft & hobby Association's annual trade show. This one is a little silk screen, actually. To read my full tutorial on the making of my dress you can stop by my blog today where I will have the full tutorial posted.Thank you for having me over Magda! Ii have been enjoying all the great refashioning ideas in this series.

Happy sewing folks!

January Refashion Month with Trish from Feeling Kinda Thrifty

All the way from Hawaii, I have the pleasure to introduce Trish, from Feeling Kinda Thrifty. I met her when we both competed together at Refashion Runway, and I confess: I was terrified when I saw the first challenge refashion from her. I knew she was one to fear! And she did not dissapoint me, her refashions were always astonishing... This is an honour to have her sharing another blown away refashion. 

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Aloha and Happy New Year!  I met Magda as a participant in Refashion Runway Season Two, and I was blown away by her talent.  When she asked me to participate in January Refashion Month, I was thrilled. I have become quite obsessed passionate about refashioning.

Today, I have for you a funky refashion that I've grown to really love.  It's a bit out there for even me.  I've had these pair of jeans for several years.  If I remember correctly, I purchased them at Goodwill for around $7.

As you can see, there's really nothing wrong with them, except for the fact that they're a bit outdated.  I've noticed that dark skinny jeans are really in, so I wanted to give this pair a new life.  I began by dying them with Rit navy and black.

Once the dying process was complete, turned the jeans inside out.  Using a pair of skinny jeans as a pattern, I traced the area that I would need to sew with tailor's chalk.

 

Using the lines as a guide, I sewed a straight stitch.

I cut away the excess with a pair of pinking sheers - to keep the fabric from fraying.

Voila! Dark skinny jeans!  I already have a pair of dark skinny jeans, so I decided to make these a bit more trendy.  I love all of the tribal prints that are out this year, so I drew some of my own using a bleach pen that I found on sale for $3.99.

Basically, I free handed my design.  I found it a bit challenging to make straight lines, as the pen kept bubbling up. 

 

In the end, I think it turned out great, especially paired with my $2 Goodwill top.  I absolutely love my funky new tribal jeans.

The Sad Cat Dress - PR&P week 1

Today is the day The All Star Season over at Project Run & Play starts. I've been waiting for this day to post my own Art Inspired creation. 

When I first read the themes, I immediately thought of Pablo Picasso and Van Gogh. But, as my euphoryia calmed down, I thought of something less obvious, and I went the only way I could. I chose the art of a Spanish artist, she's so talented, and I've been a fan since I saw her first illustration. 

I chose to be inspired by Victoria Francés. I knew I wanted to fabric print one of her illustrations, but let's face it, it was going to be part of a little girl's dress, and her sad, gothic, sexy vampire world wasn't really appropriate. 

Lucky for me, she doesn't draw only realistic pictures, she's got things such as Misty Circus, and that's what I held on to for my project. 

source

I selected one illustration that I found appropriate, printed it on a normal paper before anything else and I kept staring at it, until any light would turn on my head. When I realised it, I was sketching on the same paper that lovely sad cat. Uhmmm... it'd be nice to use my own sketch - I thought. 

I thought about all the ways I could print the image to the fabric but although not really what I liked best, I decided to use transfer paper, so all I had to do, was create a reverse image of the original, enlarge it and print it. I then cutted the sillhouette and pressed it with the iron to the final fabric. 

I made a dress with linen fabric on the exterior and cotton (from a white sheet) on the lining. Again, I didn't buy anything for the project, used all thing I already had at home. so, sadly for me, the black lace wasn't enough for the bottom seams. My first plan was to use it there too, but wasn't enough so I had to come up with a different solution. 

details

This turned out just too sweet - I think!

To create the pattern I used an existing dress, and really didn't any changes while tracing it, only that the original dress had 5 buttons on the back and I have used 6 on my own. Plus the original dress didn't have any seam allowances and I had to add some to mine. as for fabric or anything else, those two dresses have nothing in commom (sorry forgot to take a picture!). 

For the photoshoot I used some other garments too because it has been too cold, windy and rainy to have her wearing only the dress, and since I didn't want to make anything else, like coats or whatever (she's got too many!!!) I had to use other pieces not mommy made! Plus I wanted to make this shoot at this particular place, since there is a gothic church (but daddy, the photographer didn't get a single shoot of the building) :(

But the look is great! I love it! So, do you?!
Go check all the people sewing along HERE!