Thrifting Favorites: Segment 2

All of my thrifted items are special to me. I believe that anything you search for, unexpectedly come across, alter, salvage, or bring back to life will bring you more satisfaction than any run of the mill item ever can. That being said, here are a few of my all time faves..

This. This thing right here. I came across this at my local salvation army and was immediately smitten. I don't even use it to hold anything substantial (hence its use as a rubber-band holder), but the floral pattern is to die for. This is actually the pattern I intend to get tattooed on myself in the near near future.




















This shirt right here was reincarnated from the life of one poor ugly dress that I came across at the sazz vintage warehouse (which you must must must visit). I am obviously a sucker for floral print, and this one was too good to pass up. I cut the dress in half, made the top into a crop top and I am currently converting the bottom half of the dress into a skirt.

Lastly, whenever thrifting I always keep my peepers open to awesome fabrics. Even if that fabric happens to be constructed into the most horrendous, boxy, ten times too large pair of overalls, it can be recycled into something awesome and more flattering. Fabric is killer expensive, but buying an article of clothing containing awesome fabric from a thrift store is not. Here's a few of my faves that consist of a boxy button up, a too long velvet dress, and old curtains.

-Kay

Thrifting Favorites

I wanted to share some thrifting favorites of mine on this Wednesday. Wednesday is a large thrifting day mainly because most places are 1/2 off! So who wouldn't take advantage? The girls will also be sharing their special picks throughout the next couple days!

This skirt I found for a dollar and think about often cutting off the top so I could make it shorter. The pattern on the bottom is too good to cut off. Also: the seafoam green and pink is such a great color combination. 

This shirt I found for 3 dollars. It has teapots on it? I know! How weird? But neat. The label on it says "Weathervane". I wondered if it was from that store the Weathervane that used to be in most malls. I feel like its a little too off the wall to be found in a weathervane.  The scarf next to it I found for 50 cents, and I love! The shapes on it are perfect along with melon color. 

These aprons! I found these with Mia at a Flea market, but I have to talk about them. We plan on doing a DIY project with our aprons in the near future. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that! It will be super cute!

This skirt I found for 1 dollar! The pleats and polka dots are so great! I wear it out alot when I go out for drinks or dinner at night! 

These three items line my vanity, and a shelf that my grandfather made my grandmother hanging on my wall! The Beligan Creme's box holds notes, and letters (even some cute love letters) I have received over the years! The Diane Pins were a find that Mia and I came across in a flea market. We shared the pack, and she was sweet enough to let me keep the box!  Even though using them in my hair is quite hard, I do try! If I had more of a bouffant all the time it would be great to use! I have been into collecting old perfume bottles lately. If you click on this picture you can see that there is a rose that sits on top of the bottle. Its so cute! It's actually broken but I couldn't pass it up!

Ah! This bag! I found at Goodwill, and I loveeee love the bridge on it! I really do not use it quite often mainly because I don't wear too much brown, or neutral shades. The only time I ever used it was when my sister had her baby! ( I stocked myself full of games for the long wait!) But I will most definitely use it more. 

Thats all! Check back for Mia and Kay's favorites!

Miss JillyBean

DIY Lace Sash Belt

Ello!
I have created a quick DIY lace belt that I wanted to share with you!                               


 Supplies you need:
- Lace Fabric (I purchased mine from Jo-Ann fabrics for 9 dollars!)

- Thread (Preferably a kind that matches your lace)

-Sewing needle

-Scissors

1. I bought my fabric in a yard length. Now, I really like the way the scallops were on the top and bottom of the lace. So, with that said, I measured the lace around my waist to see how much I needed. Since, I wanted the top and bottom of the scallops to line my waist. I cut off how much I needed for my waist, and cut the fabric in half. I sewed the two pieces of fabric together!


2. After sewing the two pieces of fabric together, create an accordion effect on the end and sew closed ends.

3. Next, cut out your sashes for the back. You can cut as long as you choose. I wanted to be able to tie a bow with the sashes or just tie a knot! Also, I cut two v's into the ends of the sashes.

This project was a DIY while I was stuck in house trying to rest! I took some pictures out of on the bridge today wearing it!  It was warmer out then I expected! I think the lace popped with my red dress!

 Have a good weekend!
-Jillybean

PUNK RACK

Us Oh Dontcha Sew-er's are proud to announce our upcoming presence at this years Punk Rock Flea Market! For those of you unfamiliar, or not from the Fillet-o-delphia region, this is a bi-annual flea market/craft show/record sale extravaganza! We will have our very own table selling vintage goodies, tasty foods, and crafted goods. All items from my Etsy store will also be up for grabs (feel free to grab a sneak peek here). We look forward to meeting as many fellow crafters as possible and having a grand 'ol time! 

Venue Information:

THE PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET-DOME
461 N. 9th St.
Philadelphia, PA, 19123

-Kay

A-hem!

Most skirts that I buy tend to be of the granny length, cost one dollar, fray and then get thrown out. One day this all changed via the discovery of the most striking floral skirt I had ever laid my eyes on. Since I was home for a few days celebrating my birthday, I asked my mom to help me hem this special skirt (since it was unnaturally long). I feel as though hemming is a lost art and even though this may be a skill that some of you are familiar with, I know that it took me 23 years to learn it, and maybe I can expedite this process for someone else! Also, feel free to share any tips that you may know on hemming with us, we would love to hear them!

  Step 1.) The skirt was very long and already had an existing hem that was done by hand so we cut off some of the excess to make it easier to work with. We turned the skirt inside out (to allow pen markings) and measured up 6 inches from the bottom of the skirt making  marks along the way to assist in creating a straight cut. This cut is very important since future measurements will be taken using the bottom of the skirt as a guide.

Step 2.) After cutting off the excess, I then tried on the skirt to pick a proper non-granny length. I folded the skirt bottom up to match the length I wanted and placed a few pins to hold the fold so I could remember where it was when I took the skirt off!

Step 3.) Turn the skirt inside out once again and pin all the way around the skirt to match the fold length you made while wearing the skirt. Be sure to measure from the bottom as you are pinning to keep a uniform length.

Step 4.) Sew along the hem using a similarly colored thread. This was the part I was unsure about prior to my momma showing me, and I am glad that she was there! The trick is to go through all of the fabric from the fold and then sew through only a few threads from the inside of the fabric to connect it. You never want your needle to go through to the front of the skirt and you literally only need to attach it to a few threads.

You can see in the picture above that the needle literally only goes through a few pink threads from the inside of the skirt.

Step 5.) Continue sewing around the skirt to finish the hem! And rock what your momma hemmed ya!

-Kay

It's birthday month!

Bring out your party streamers, kazoo's, etc! ! It's a month of birthdays! Kay and Mia's birthday are both in the month of March! Happiest Birthday to two of my best friends! (And crafty partners!) I am so excited everyday to keep track of our projects on Oh Don't Cha Sew since day one with them!  These two talented ladies have taught me so much already! Love them! 

At home beauty tips!

I am always on the hunt for at home skin tips! I recently stopped in at Heaven and Earth Salon and Spa, in Pottsville, PA. I got a chance to sit down with my favorite skin specialist Helene, the Spa Director at Heaven and Earth. I have been going to Helene since high school, and she has always been so sweet to help me out!  She answered some of my questions, and offered some fun tips!

Facials
Whole Milk + Honey
Vegan version (Since I'm not a huge fan of milk!) = Silken Tofu+ Agave Nectar
    -1 C Milk  + 2 tsp Honey/ Agave Nectar
    -I left on for 10 minutes! Then, rinse off with warm water!

Scrub
Steel cut oats + Water
    -1 C steel cut oats + 1 C water
    -Scrub gently into skin.  Rinse off! (This is perfect to use on legs as well to get rid of winter dryness!)

Under Eyes 
Chamomile Tea Bags
    -Put two teabags with hot water in fridge overnight, until it reaches a chilly temperature. Wring out teabags and put on eyes for 10-15 minutes.

Pimples
1 tsp Baking Soda + 1 tsp water
    -Dab on pimple before sleep!
    -Also, Helene mentioned putting toothpaste on your pimples as well! This may seem a little crazy but it will dry out the pimple!
Redness on pimples! 
Visine + Q-tip
    -Dab on troubled area!



Extra Face Tips!

•  Remove any/ and every ounce of makeup off of face at night.
• Always wash your face at night! (The make up will seep into your pillow and stay there, creating bacteria!)
•  "Make-up will only look good if your skin looks good!" Taking care of your skin is key!

There you go! Some quick tips with at- home items!
A little bit about our friend Helene! (Featured with hair stylist, Bonnie!)

Helene started her beauty journey about 15 years ago! She was going to see Scott (Now, Heaven and Earth Salon and Spa Owner) to get her hair done. Unhappy in her sales and marketing job at Nexxus Hair Products, Scott explained he was starting a salon and spa, he encouraged to her to take classes and become the spa director! She attended classes to be an esthetician and has been at Heaven and Earth ever since! Also! Stop over here at The Painted Ladies for Helene's friend's blog. They offer fun and different eyeshadow, and special makeup tips.


Thanks, Helene!



If you ever get a chance, to go to Pottsville, PA make sure you stop in to Heaven and Earth Salon and Spa! It's right down the street from the wonderful Yuengling Brewing Company! Heaven and Earth is filled with lots of lovely art work, and neat projects. I am truly at amazement every time I go in with all the different art projects that line the walls, and hang from the ceilings!

Love, 

Jillybean