Oh, the possibilities!

 

This is a picture of my family room floor and as you can see it's covered with one of my favorite things, fabric! What is it about fabric that I love so much? The many textures, colors, prints and patterns. The possibilities are endless! You don't have to just sew things out of fabric either, nope. You can make rag wreaths, wrap it around things and glue it down. You can make curtains and blankets and clothes and accessories! I have discovered something, you see all the fabric you see in the picture above  is from the thrift store! My local store bags up what they receive through donation and sells the bags for 5 dollars a piece! I've gotten huge lengths of satin and knit fabrics (score!) in gorgeous colors and textures. I have gotten flannel and corduroy and chambray and canvas. I will be making beautiful things forever now! It's so fun to mix patterns and colors and make things that aren't just store-bought and generic, they are unique! I love it! ;0)

Here we sew again!

 

Just a quick update on what I've been working on the last couple of weeks! The pillow on top was made for a little boy my kids are friends with. He loves karate and this project was a snap to create! You are not going to believe me, but I only payed a buck for material for this and the rest was just time (a couple of hours all together). It's true! I actually picked up the insert (just an ugly couch pillow I took home and washed and bleached) for a buck at the thrift store and the rest of it, I had! I dug through my material stash for a while until I came up with something that wasn't girlie at all and I could coordinate with the lettering and "karate crossing sign". I love the orange tie dye and the gray border and the applique letters and sign are just left over pieces of felt. For the sign I googled karate crossing sign image and found a sign on Amazon and I just copied it. It was really simple! The pillow itself I stitched the top and attached the back to overlap like a sham for easy cleaning, using the pillow for a template. It turned out great!

At the bottom will be my daughter's Easter dress. I know it doesn't look like much now, but when I'm done I'll share it! We just picked this up at the thrift store for 4 bucks and I loved the material and the layering. It'll be dolled up with some great matching purple polka-dot material and I know she'll love it! Stay tuned! ;0)

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 230)

source: Good Housekeeping April 2011

                                                    Chic on the Cheap!

For the last couple of weeks, my TiP fOr TuEsDaY articles have been focused on making the most of your wardrobe. Imagine how excited I was when I opened my Good Housekeeping magazine for April 2011 and they had an entire article to dedicated to just that!

Wardrobe Basics: How to Wear 8 Pieces 30 Different Ways

The article shows how you can take 8 basic pieces and wear them 30 different ways and I love, love the concept! For years this has been my focus of shopping (for myself and my kids included) to buy good basics that you can pair with a few fun things and keep your look fresh! The article works with a navy dress, a nautical striped tee, a red shell (sleeveless blouse), a red cardigan, a white blouse, dark denim jeans, a khaki suit, and a white skirt. Let me see what I have of these in my wardrobe....

White shirt, red tank (pretty close) and dark denim jeans

Pink cardigan (again, pretty close), striped shirt, and nice khaki chinos

Navy dress

I know, I know...no white skirt or a khaki suit either. I guess I'll be on the look out for both! Imagine the possibilities though...navy dress with striped shirt, or white shirt over the top, or dark denim and cardigan and striped shirt, or...or...great stuff! Thank you Good Housekeeping for your inspiration this TiP fOr TuEsDaY!

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 225)

                                   Being Chic on the Cheap!

"BASIC" not boring.

Are you ready for another trip to my closet? What was that you said? You don't have a choice? Now what kind of attitude is that?! This is fun! ;0) Haha, today on Being Chic on the Cheap I'm going to show you how you can change your look with just a little change of (my favorite accessories!) your shoes. I started off with a white button down shirt (a must have basic, this one was 4.99 on clearance @Ross), a short sleeved black sweater ($7 dollars clearance @TJ Maxx), and some of my favorite jeans (These I found a couple of years ago on clearance @TJ. I can't remember how much, but they had to be 12.99 or under)! Okay, give me a sec to find my shoes....;0)

This pair is really fun! Fuchsia sequins and a whole lotta sparkle! I love to slap this pair on (Clearance @Ross $3!!!) for a little go to action. SHAZAAM!! A little bit funky with a classic look, I can't complain...;0)

Want a little bit of fun? Try these silver jeweled wedges ($12.99 @Ross). I dug out my silver metal belt for this look too. I like heels, but only when they are comfy (and cute) and this pair fit the bill! Feeling sexy Momma? ;0)

Stupid winter won't go away? No matter, try perusing the clearance sections now...and change up your look and get a start on next year's fun! I love, love these black flocked booties ($9.99 @Ross). They are flannel lined with sneaker soles and have the cutest tie feature in the back! Can you say Adorable?!

Ahh...if you run into me today, I will look just like this! Great multi-strand bead necklace and my fave hot pink chucks of course! Perfect look for sitting and freezing at soccer games later and obvious that I at least "tried" this morning! There is nothing wrong with dressing for comfort and looking good too! ;0)

My Grandma always says, "With the right pair of shoes you can do anything." Absolutely! Did you know that I used to wear a pair of comfy pair of jersey knit pants to my job where I had to dress "business appropriate" frequently and as long as I wore my super nice black loafers with them, no one was the wiser! Just goes to show you with great shoes you really can do anything! That's your TiP fOr TuEsDaY!

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 220)

Being Chic on the Cheap!

Howdy partners! Today's tip comes from the depths of my closet and emptiness of my pocketbook. It's no secret that money has been tight around here, but that doesn't mean I don't look good! (Well, you be the judge!) And even though I haven't had a lot of extra cash for clothes, I want to share with you some tips for making what you have stretch a little further. Join me...to the closet we goooooo. ;0)

One of the best things to do to stretch your wardrobe is to make sure you have some fabulous basics. The top I have above is from Banana Republic, purchased at TJ Maxx for 5.99. (Thank you Mommy for the gift card!). It's a classic black and fitted at the top with a V-neck and loose at the bottom. Super cute and super comfy!

The first look is great for warm nights (think date night!) or looking nice during the day. I paired it with a pair of super comfy stretch jeans (another TJ Maxx find, 7 dollars on clearance) rolled up into cuffs and had a little fun with my super cute and comfy hot pink wedges (Ross $9.99) and matching pink beads (seriously Wal-Mart clearance for $3!). Grab a blazer if it's nippy and look how cute this is!

This second look is one of my favorites! I paired the top with a snappy black and white striped cardigan (Ross clearance $8) and paired it with a pair of comfy faded stretch jeans (TJ Maxx clearance $8.99). Black and white is so graphic it's really fun to add a punch of red! I added the red shiny necklace (Target $1 section!!) and my favorite red and black leopard print ballet flats (Ross 9.99). Black and white stripes are very in right now and I love, love this look!

Look #3 is conservative, but super cute! I paired the top with a pretty lavender basic comfy tee (Target 3 bucks on clearance) and my charcoal colored light weight wool military inspired capris (Old Navy clearance 5 bucks!) and my favorite comfy black ballet flats (Ross $12.99). My purple purse (TJ Maxx 12.99 clearance) and purple and silver necklace ( I made it myself!) make great accessories!

 

The last look would be the most likely candidate for a day like today. My kids are out of school and they want me to take them to the playground. Doesn't mean you have to wear sweats, right? Right. I paired the top with my comfy cargos (Target $6 on clearance) and my pinstriped short sleeved blazer (TJ Maxx $5 clearance!). Along with my signature cons (in sky blue and $24.99 at TJ Maxx) and my great retro denim cap ($7 clearance Target) I am fabulous! Wow, I just realized that my entire outfit cost less than my shoes! Awesome!
So let's recap: 1. Have great basics....check!
                      2. Make sure to accessorize....check!
                      3. Don't be afraid of a little color....check!
                      4. Have great shoes....check, check!
                      5. Don't spend a lot and look great too? I think I've got it down! Happy good lookin' TiP fOr TuEsDaY! ;0)

It doesn't cost a thing

I'm all about being frugal, as I'm sure you've guessed, and one of my favorite things (that don't cost a thing) makes people feel good. A small thing really, that is free to give and warmly received. Maybe you should try it occasionally, just to see if something so simple really works. Give one to the cranky lady who's taking your money at the checkout, give one to your neighbor when you catch his eye, give one to your kids when they wake up groggy. This quick gesture can brighten one's day, can cure the "down in the dumps", can pave the way to a new friendship. There's no limit to the amount of warm fuzzies you can give or receive so, take as many as your heart can hold and give as many as your cheeks will allow. A smile, the best thing (that don't cost a thing) to warm someone's heart. ;0)