Summer Wardrobe!

It had been quite a while since I made a trip to the local thrift store...but a few weeks ago, I popped in just to see what was there...and I came home with a couple of sacks of "good" items for re-purposing. So I've been a little busy - and just a tad sidetracked - with figuring  out what I could create from these goodies!
Here's what I've done so far...

This ladies skirt in a stretch cotton fabric...

....became these little girls' shorts.

Sorry for the blurry image, but this ladies stretch seersucker blouse...

...became this little girls' stretch tunic...looks darling with lime green leggings!

This stretch cotton ladies skirt...

...became these adorable little girl capris!

This ladies cotton knit skirt...

and this striped knit ladies tee...

...became this Summer Picnic Dress (pattern from TheCottageMomma.com)

...and accent pocket tees for the brothers!

This beaded ladies knit tee...

...became a darling knit t-dress for a four-year-old!

I don't always re-purpose everything I purchase at the thrift store...I sometimes keep things as they are.  These three pieces were too cute to pass up for $1 each...and my niece is adorable in each of them.  Kids require lots of "play clothes"...and for that price, you cannot go wrong!

The Summer Picnic Dress pattern was so cute and EASY that I had to try it again.  I had a leftover piece of "Stacked Slices" by Spring Creative© fabric that I had used to make my cousin a dress last year.  There was just enough material for a picnic dress for my niece - AND for her "My Life" doll!  She is thrilled that the two will match...maybe they will pose for a picture soon!

 

A girl and her doll...so much cuteness!

The last time my nephew spent the night, he squeezed into a favorite pair of knit "Ninja Turtle" pajamas and declared, "They fit just fine!"  Well, they DIDN'T...and I decided he needed new summer pajamas.  I had a piece of train print left over from pajama pants I made several years ago for the little boys...and it worked great as pajama boxers/shorts for the boys.  I put pockets on tees to coordinate.  The third pair is for a friend, and I know that he will have lots of shirts that will work as a mate!

Two pajama sets for brothers...and some summer shorts for a friend!

Much better than too-small "Ninja Turtle" pjs!

Not exactly sure what is next!  There are still stacks of yardage and items to be repurposed...and I am never lacking ideas for them.  All I need is time to sew.  Wish me luck!

Walking on the Wild Side!

A few weeks ago, a friend posted a link on Facebook to a website that sells darling girls' clothing.  She was particularly interested in a little ruffled outfit for her toddler daughter - in "giraffe" and other coordinating prints. Trouble is...this one outfit was $74...and she said that was out of her price range.  It's out of mine, too!  Who wants to pay that much for one outfit for a small child, knowing fully well that they will only wear it a handful of times before it is outgrown?!



Later the same day, I was passing the fabric department at Wal-Mart, when I spotted a table of fabrics on clearance.  I promise I am not making this up...there on top was "giraffe print", along with other coordinating fabrics in blue, brown dot, and yellow.  It sounds crazy, but they all worked together...and they were $3 a yard!  I was in heaven!

So...here's what I made for Kelsey, her baby sister Ellie Grace, and Zola.  Next up...an outfit for Stella, the toddler whose mother found this idea in the first place. Stella has brilliant red hair and will be precious in this outfit! For about $22, I purchased enough fabric for four outfits...and counting.  I've even made a couple of baby burp pads with "giraffe" appliques out of the animal print fabric. 

Additionally, I found a clearance bolt of this bright yellow fabric covered in multi-colored "peace signs".  So I have three happy "hippy" girls now with flounced pants...and I had enough ruffles to make some toddler pants for Stella (which I apparently failed to photograph).

I think I am about done with yellows for a while...next up is white thread and lots of red and white stripes (for the winter holidays)...and I have a few more ideas up my sleeve.  There is a stack of fabrics and items for repurposing on my sewing table that is calling my name...stay tuned!!

Skirts and Tees...and an Overactive Imagination!

A few weeks ago, I was shopping in our local thrift store and spotted a large, gathered skirt.  It was black striped with an accent border of solid black.  There appeared to be several yards of fabric in this skirt.  I think I paid $2 for it.  I could see flounced pants for the little girls, for sure...and maybe something else.  I washed the skirt and carefully took it all apart...and I really did have a LOT of material!

Original thrift-store skirt.

The end result was a pair of pants for Zola - and another for Kelsey...a little ruffled "tie-on" skirt for our new niece Ellie Grace...and lots of appliques.  I always have good thrift-store knit t-shirts on hand.  A yellow one became a pillow-case dress/top for Zola...a lime green one will go to Kelsey.  Leftovers from the yellow tee became a bumblebee applique on a onesie for Ellie Grace!  I did have to purchase a spool of grossgrain ribbon for the ties on Kelsey's dress and Ellie Grace's skirt.  So counting materials like the onesie, iron-on adhesive and tear-away paper for the appliques, thread, etc., I am probably into these sets for less than $10.  I consider that a pretty good deal...don't you?!

Pants and "pillow-case" dress for Zola.

Onesie and "skirt" for Ellie Grace.
Pants and "pillow-case" dress/top for Kelsey.

I still have a few scraps that could become a headband...or more appliques at some point.  I don't ever let a decent piece of fabric go to waste, so these will go in my "scrap bin" for a later date.  Meanwhile, I think the girls will be adorable - and ready for summer - in their "flower power" ensembles!

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On a slightly different note...last week, a girl posted an ad on Facebook for some Fisher Price "Little People" sets she wanted to sell.  I've bought things from her before, so I know she sells nice things - and she is very reasonable.  I went to her house, and she had a full-sized bed COVERED in "little people" - all for $35.  I bought every last piece - 3 garbage bags full!
I washed, bleached and sorted all of the "little people" and their houses yesterday, and I cannot believe what all I have.  I kept a "Zoo" set for the kids to play with here.  I have an airplane and school bus with people set aside as a birthday surprise for Nathan.  Then there is a playhouse for Zola that is fantastic...Amazon lists it new for $159!  And I have all sorts of accessories for it, like a picnic set, a "patio table with umbrella", baby carriage and playpen and more.  The house makes all sorts of noises - the washer "runs"...the phone rings...the typewriter "types", the toilet seat lifts (but there is no flushing noise that I can determine! *ha!*).

THEN...there is an "amusement park"...all of the accessories for that, 2 dump trucks, 2 "girlie" cars, some little cars, 3 tricycles, a full set of "Easter" little people in bunny suits, an outdoor "playhouse" with 3 attachable swing sets, and I don't know how many "little people" to go with this.  And I paid $35 for EVERYTHING!  I'm guessing I have at least $400 or more of "Little People" if I bought everything new!

So I have Christmas pretty much "set" for the kids.  By the time I wrap up these things and separate out the various pieces, they will have lots to open and a "Little People" festival!   I can already hear Timothy doing the voices for these little guys! 

The same day that I saw these sets for sale on Facebook, another mom I know posted a different playhouse for sale for $35...it retails for $300+ with all the pieces.  Someone beat me to this one.  Then the girl I bought from advertised a farm set - 50 pieces for $20.  Someone offered her $15, and she took it.  I was so disappointed.  I told her, "I would have gladly paid you $20."  That's when she offered me the things I ended up buying.  I really would have liked to have that farm set, because it was so cute...but I cannot complain, and there is PLENTY here!  

I cannot believe people pay this much for kids' toys!  But I am more than glad to purchase them after the fact and refresh them for my kiddos! They may not have brand new stuff, but they don't know and don't care.  You would never know most of these little pieces are not brand new.  It pays to shop around...hit the thrift stores...and stretch a dollar...and I am living proof!