Jumble sale loot!

I went to my favourite jumble sale the weekend before last and have only now got round to surveying my loot from my adverntures (see picture below). I love jumble sales as they have some much to offer and at prices from 20p for an item of clothing they are really accessable to all budgets.

I tend to have a strategy when I go to jumble sales, i.e. something that I am particularly looking for so that I don't get too overwhelmed and either come away with nothing or come away with so much that I don't have room to store it or have an idea of what I want to do with it. I think there should also be an understanding between people that you should not buy more than your fair share, therefore ensuring that there is enough to go round. I do sell on some of the stuff I buy on eBay or carboot if I don't end up wearing or upcycling them but I don't go out with that as my primary goal, it is sometimes just a welcome additional bonus.

My mum tends to come to jumble sales with me and will help me in my search for whatever it is that week that I am looking for. So last time I was looking for green fabric to make leaves for a tree I am making (my projects extend beyond those which I can wear!) as you can see from the picture I wasn't successful in terms of that goal but an on-going favourite of mine is buttons so I was really pleased at the tin and bag I got for a grand total of £2.50. Buttons are great and can be used to decorate tops, shirts, jumpers etc. I also have used them to make a collar for my friend who is obsessed with buttons and also personalise a bag with her name.

I also got a waistcoat which I will just wear as it is, a scarf which again I will just wash and wear, two jumpers (one very retro looking) and a coat for which I have big plans and will divulge in another post! The jumpers I will keep if they fit, if not I am sure the red and grey one will sell on eBay as a great vintage top and go on to fund further jumble, carboot and charity shop bargains. Oh and I also got a little blue fabric belt which is brilliant as it is one of those ones that you can make as small or big as you like.

My loot includes buttons a scarf, a waistcoat and jumpers.

Upcycling and recycling past fashions

Today I am wearing my favourite customised polka dot skirt. I bought this skirt from a Charity shop for £2.99 and just love the print on the fabric. Originally the skirt was calf length, a look which I really can't rock, but I liked the print so much that I thought I would see if I could make it into a dress. My initial idea was to widen the waist band and have it as a boob tube type dress that I would just pull in by wearing a belt. As with my of my ideas that didn't really work out, I quickly realised that I wouldn't ever get round to wearing like that and that it was too nice to waist on my whims so I set about making it into a skirt that I would be able to add to my every day work wardrobe.

I simply got another one of my skirts and used it as a template with regards to length and cut my new skirt about two centimetres longer so that I would have an adequate hem. I then simply hemmed the skirt by running the sewing machine round the bottom and there I had my skirt! Fortunately it fit me round the waist so the job was done! (warning - with vintage clothes it is worth trying them on because the sizing is very different to the sizing used in many high street shops, this skirt is a size 14 and I normally wear a size 10 skirt!).

The next best thing about this skirt, after the print, was there was so much fabric left over. Around the time I was working on the alterations to the skirt one of my friends at the time was due to give birth to a baby girl. I decided that instead of buying her a gift that I would like to make her something special. My friend Kate is a very funky girl and I knew she would love my skirt so I decided to make a little girls dress from the remaining fabric. I used a free template which I found online and my miniature creation was born! I have to say I was very proud of my little dress and thought it was a great way to recycle.




Shortening the skirt

Finished project!

Celeb Fashion Pick Jessica Alba in Glamour Magazine

I came across a feature on Glamour magazines website featuring "Jessica Alba's Best Looks". I really like Jessica's style and love that there is a "real" quality to the things that she wears as well as still giving us that injection of glamour and designer style when needed. I have picked out three of my favourite "out and about"looks from the Glamour line up, to see the full article follow this link glamour.co.uk

This whole look is so sophisticated, I love it!

I will always have a place in my heart for the
whole biker chick look. This jacket is great with
the different tones and pieces of fabric used to
create a worn vintage feel. Also loving the boots! 

Simple, stylish and effortless