Saved from the Trash #1

We are all about repurposing and reusing things to the maximum degree. If we acquire these things for free, it makes the crafting all the sweeter. Dumpster diving, anyone? Come 'on, you know have or at least considered it! This is the first in a new series of blog posts coming at you from us. We do a lot of crafting like this, so look out!

I scored this partition from work that was bound for the garbage. After a year of waiting for just the right inspiration, there was vast improvement. The collaboration between Miguel and I, made it better than I could have ever imagined.

Miguel removed all the slats with a hammer. We have those pieces stored away for a future project.



Then, he hung some of my vintage quited fabric tapestries in the windows. Each of these are suspended from a natural stick.


We placed the revamped awesomeness by our back door. It provides the perfect division in our living room. I think I may make more tapestries to rotate through the display.


huggles!

Last Chance Last Dance

Lucia and Pablo love smelling the sweet spring rain. 

As many of you out there, I am a truely last minute kind of woman.....meaning....I will work and work until the last minute. I will procrastinate anything of remote importance to the last minute.....SO of couse I am going to craft to the last minute before my week long visit to Newport Beach, California.

I initially planned on making some mens cargo patchy shorts for the ol' etsy shop, but you know me....ever distractable and always multitasking......I almost finished them, but I decieded to stop and pack for my trip.

In between working on these pants I became insprired to update a hoodie I no longer wore.

I went to this phine university for two years before moving to Alabama.....This is where I met the love of my life....actually we met at a music festival four hours from the university....the rest is history. ;)

One of my dogs kindly chewed a hole near the wrist cuff, which was remedied by shortening both sleeves....no hem necessary because jersey knits rock!! 

I added a nice chunky applique to the fron to cover the boring silk screen....I never played any sports at SIUC anways..... I used a jersey tank top for the floral print and scraps from previous applique projects (I don't throw anything aways, just ask Miguel....)

I like the way it turned out, very organic ya know? It was also a good way for my to further hone my applique skills.....I'm still pretty green in this area. 

As requested by a few stitchn' bitches here is a pic of the swim suit I made for my trip. I did some elastic stitchin on the bodice for support and shape. I can wear it with the rouching in the front or back.

.....I'm too shy for a full out modeling session of this.....I'll take a pic on the beach once I have a lil liquid courage. tee hee ;P

Hugs and Love,

Banana

Raging the Recon's

Greetings all! I hope you are all enjoying spring as much as I am....April is such a great month. This is especially true because ends with my birthday on the 30th....

This past week I have been rampling through all of my cool printed clothes for reconstruction.....I think its funny how I can hold onto something for YeArS before I get the nerve to cut into it.....I have this fear of no turning back with my super sweet fabrics. 

 Nevertheless, I tell myself that I can always rip the seams out and start over......Oh man I think back to my Sewing class back in highschool....We had this special dressing room that my class converted and renamed the "seam ripping room". We had a nice lounge chair and everything for super CaReFuLL thread ripping......I am quite good a this now.....there is never a wasted shirt pocket on my watch ;)

I have quite a few items that are ready for pictures and posting, alas my work week has finally begun. I will be slingin' drinks and heady organic food for the next three nights.....

Meanwhile.....I would like everyone's input on one of my latests creations......

Behold..........

This hot lil number is made from upcycled super heady Star Wards bed sheets and an upcycled navy cotton T shirt.

I was thinkin about adding some sort of applique to the back of the top just below the neckline, but I haven't decided......

What do you think?

hugs!

Banana

Bounce Back

I fell into a sewing trance the last two days. 

Oh how I missed the rabbit hole.

It's felt so great to listen to my machines hum. 

Miguel and I had a major photoshoot..........I hope to add a boat load of items to the shop Monday April 20.......until then enjoy a little "tweezer" 

I made reconstructed and repurposed two shirts and stitched up an entire dress......

Here is a sneak preview of the shirts.........

You'll have to wait on the dress......a hint is that it features a certain 'Sea Princess' I hold near and dear to my heart ......

love,

Banana

spread thin, but still productive

I am so happy that Valentine's Day has come and past. My job was insanely crazy busy providing four courses of deliciousness to couples celebrating the holiday. I think that love should be constant and not shown through a designated day. I would feel like such a communist if I went out to Dinner with my man on Valentines Day.....Oh well its, over! Huzzah! :D

On to the craftiness.....
Somehow while working 40 hours last week, I managed to get a few things finished......
Here we have a jumper made from some amazing vintage taupe and tourmaline dark green wool. I washed (cold) and dried both wools to prevent any shrinking in the future. Dry cleaning sucks! It is so bad for the environment, besides people have been wearing wool fabrics LONG before dry cleaning was available. I appliqued a diamond on either mitered corner pocket.
"Queen of Diamonds Jumper"
I also made my first pair of gauchos from some stellar black printed vintage polyester jersey. I made them to go with an apron top I made last summer. The apron top features sweet eyelet white cotton fabric, and the aforementioned vintage jersey fabric. I originally made it to go with this wrap skirt with a detachable pocket, but I sold it separately on etsy a couple of weeks ago (thanks again Suzanne!).
Any who, back to the gauchoes....I made them with a nice wide waistband that can be worn up or folded down. This style waistband is SO hot right now. I look forward to trying it out more. I added some three inch eyelet trim to the hem.
I also finished up this great reconstructed shirt from a man's ginormous button down shirt. It is a peasant style blouse with elastic at the neckline and sleeves, which are raglan style. I also added a drawstring to gather just under the bust for a slimming fit. I even reused the breast pocket.

In honor of my etsy team Gypsy Road's challenge of the month, I am not only blogging my processes, I am also stepping up my photography. I acquired some floresant lights that show the fabrics true to color. I have also been brushing up on photography basics. Most imporantly I am taking new pictures of some of the stock in my shop that don't give the garment justice at all {I have more of these right now then i like :( } . And as much as I loved taking pictures outside, the lighting is not always conduscive to a great photoshoot.
Here are two items I took entirely new pictures for their listings.
tank top dress with faux suede vintage pink jersey & calico

This week I plan on making more fabric tapestries for the art fair. I have a bunch of a ideas for appliques, BUT I can't start that until I load up on a bunch of different colored threads. I hate paying retail price for thread, but I don't have the patience to search online for the best deal.......

much love everyone,
Banana