Right on Time!

I received the most lovely parcel from Sally of Wonky Patchwork on Monday!  Just look at all of this vintage, handmade goodness!  I was feeling blue before its arrival but as soon as I wrapped myself in this cheerful apron, I felt I was wearing a warm hug!  Today, I took a few of the vintage buttons without shanks and superglued them to a 98 cent pair of Zories. Love these for style around the water's edge!  I hope that you can see Sally that your gift was NOT late!  It was right on time from your handmade upcycling heart right into mine!  THANKS!!!  xxx! Jessica Pearl

Out of the Hoop!

This wonky cross quilt is complete!  Hand quilted and finally out of the hoop!  The bracelet I made from thrift, vintage buttons with shanks that are threaded on 1/8 inch elastic and tied. I scored the dress patterns from the share table at our quilt guild meeting.  I love the new and the old and the new from the old!  Having fun!  Jessica Pearl

The Destination Looks Like Heaven!

On vacation in the land of Alabama Chanin.  I am here to tell you that the place is move in ready!  The cafe, the factory, the inspiration, I did not want to leave!  Luckily, they are shipping a kit assembled while visiting for a poncho to my home in a couple of weeks.  I picked up some scraps of organic cotton just to hold me over until that happy mail arrives!  Posting a few pics of thrift and stitches just to verify that I am still breathing!  On the road!  Jessica Pearl

Care Packages

Yesterday I assembled care packages for all 3 of our children turned adults.  I saw a quilting friend at the post office and she asked if I was mailing quilts.  Unfortunately, not!  But if love can travel in random pieces of 'things that make me think of you' than at least our 3 will know they are missed and cherished beyond measure!  On the sewing front this week, a quilt block and a thrifted linen dress turned crop top trimmed in yo-yo's.   It occurs to me that life is a care package to open and celebrate everyday!  Cheers!  Jessica Pearl

The Bug

I don't believe that I have mentioned here yet but I won a 3 month subscription to Creativebug a few weeks back from Rebecca of Dropcloth.  So many video craft classes, so little time!  With all of the sensory stimulation, I have been bouncing from one creative endeavor to the next.  Although, I did manage a couple of Friday Finishes
1) a pair of thrifted jeans that I hemmed to shorts and added vintage hankies to the worn back pockets.
2) a starburst dropcloth sampler that I won with the classes.  I stitched in a color wheel and documented in my project journal with washi tape.
3) a cotton dress that I hemmed to a mini and added orphan blocks for pockets.

Mostly I have been fixated on a summer wardrobe.  I have lots of quilt plans but I am also stricken with that wonderful Creativebug!  Who knows where the critter will lead me next!  Buggy!  Jessica Pearl

A Creative Mess

One of my earliest memories of school is being clad in one of Daddy's work shirts, buttoned in the back for art time.  In Daddy's shirt, I was unleashed to paint and glitter with wild abandon!  Such creative freedom afforded by our fathers' cast offs!  Yearning to recapture some of that spirit, I married 2 thrifted linen shirts to make a new art smock with a pocket fashioned from a sleeve.  I thought that I had 2 men's shirts but in the final analysis, the brown shirt is a woman's.  When I recognized that the buttons were on opposite sides, I started to get bent out of shape about it and then I recalled my 5 year old spirit.  How many times do my adult sensibilities take the fun out of what should be creative play?!  So if you should see me with a paint brush and half open art smock, please excuse my creative mess! Jessica Pearl

Summer Wardrobe Rehab

I finished the Simplicity Built by Wendy pattern dress.  I have made it before and I will make it again, soon!  I love this dress pattern, so flexible and fun!
There was a breath in my work schedule yesterday so I enjoyed a little sit n sew with quilty friends who directed me to a new thrift shop.  The new shop did not disappoint!  I found a Vera Bradley bag and matching key chain, $4 ;shoes, $4 and a retro gold belt, .50!  Also 3 summer tops, $1 each!  So in love with my sewn and thrifted summer clothes!  Cheap Thrills!  Jessica Pearl

A Funner Frock

Linen dresses are abundant.  Not necessarily a dime a dozen, but I am constantly finding these on the bargain racks in my thrift store haunts.  This particular dress was 50 cents.  I chopped off the bottom, sewed a flirtier, shorter hem and used some of the remnants to make tabs around the neck.  I think it's a much funner dress now!  It should come as no surprise that I have a collection of thrifted scarves to loop at the neckline, giving this dress many lives!  Speaking of lives, you might note that my dressform, Minnie Pearl made it out the front door with our new funner dress!  As if a new dress was not enough, I have more linen remnant for pretty patchwork!  Just  'Bee' ing social, thrifting and sewing!  Jessica Pearl

Friday Finish after Thrifty Thursday

Thrifty Thursday yielded this linen dress and jacket from the dollar rack.  I added vintage buttons to the sleeves for a Friday finish!  Packing this new outfit in my bag for Houston.  Tomorrow we fly away!  Jessica Pearl

10 & Thrift

It's my favorite game, take $10 or whatever change left me by the laundry fairies and see what I can find in my favorite local thrift.  Hospice Attic in Lake City is my closest go to thrift.  Saturday, I had a 10 and a yen for thrift!  Here's what I found-
A silk + linen blouse $1
A vintage beetle scarf 50 cents
Walking shorts $1.49 ( for walking Houston, this girl is going to Tx!  Are you ready, Shannon B?!)
Linen pants + patchwork vest $2.50 ( I may repurpose this fabric, it looks very French General to me!)
Crewel pillow $1.49 (repurpose project)
Man's shirt soon to be an apron $1
Handmade bag $1
And change for next time!  Shopping, it maybe my only true talent.  Thanks, Mom!  Jessica Pearl

Thrifty 50

Thrifty haul on 1/4/14. Linen pantsuit, Liz Claiborne bag, Vera Bradley belt, and cheater quilt fabric.  All for less than 10 bucks.  Hey, I have always been thrifty but yesterday, I turned 50!  Thrifty, 50 me! Jessica Pearl

Selfish Sewing Week

I have been looking forward to this week of selfish sewing!  The concept is to take a little time each day to sew something.  Selfish?  Maybe, but just maybe our homes are happier places when we take time to indulge our sewing bliss!  Today's project is Pinterest inspired.  A thrifted shirt that I purchased last week because I was on a garnet mission.  But guess what?  Otherwise, I really do not like this shirt.  I decided to embellish with a bandana.  This sewing project was quick, done after the school/ work day and before time for dinner preparations.  Now, I LOVE this shirt!  Selfish Sewing, take me away!  Jessica Pearl

Thrifty Thursday

These vintage needlework beauties were less than a song, 1.99 each at the Hospice Attic!  I can never decide if I am more angry because handwork is so devalued or more happy because they are in my stretched budget price range!  These are on display with bright blue Pyrex bowls.  I choose happy!  Jessica Pearl

Sew, Slow and Green

I was inspired by a project in Green Craft magazine, a t-shirt turned apron.  The sample was finished with a serger.  Instead, I decided to take a page out of the Alabama Stitch Book.  I stitched my apron by hand and added a pocket with reverse applique, very Natalie Chanin!  I really love this old t-shirt makeover.  Sewing, slow and green!  Jessica Pearl

Monday Blues

I lingered at the breakfast table a little longer than I should have yesterday morn.  I was on track- Bible devotion, coffee with the Mister, egg white spinach omelet, checked e-mails, time to get dressed for work.  Only there was one e-mail that was tripping me from getting ready for work.  It was from our good friends @ Pinterest.  Do you get those?  Yeah!  They had sent me all of this yummy stuff in an e-mail 'cause those folks just know what I like/pin. And as you know, you can't just glance, you gotta pin!  And pin, I did.  One Japanese blogger/sewer had added lace to her jeans.  Thanks to a friend from church who gifted me some of her Mother's sewing notions and lace, I am now wearing this pin.  The jeans, Bill Blass 50 cents from thrift  store needed a hem anyway.  Monday was blue, denim blue!  Jessica Pearl

Dressed and Done

Finished sewing this dress last night.  Even though it was the tied 3/4 sleeves that drew me to this pattern (style F in The Stylish Dress Book),   I decided to lose the sleeves in the final editing.  I felt this fabric ( Denyse Schmidt' s 2011 quilt collection) was so classic, it did not require a fussy sleeve and neither did I!  I mean its July in sunny Florida!   Sleeveless it is!  I will pair it with this thrifted cardigan ($1) if the a/c is blasting in my office like it was today.  I am really pleased with the result.  The seams are my neatest ever!  The sides have French seams and I used vintage thrifted seam binding on all of the hems.  I had never before used seam binding but I am mad for the stuff now! Dressed!  Jessica Pearl

The Thrill of the Thrift

I do love the thrill of thrifting!  My favorite finds over the past week include a vintage Gator purse ($1.50).   I have been told its a bag only a Gator could love.  Luckily, I am a 1987 graduate of the UF College of  Nursing and I LOVE this bag.  I also found 3 summer blouses @ 50 cents each.  'Mini Pearl' is modeling a cotton number originally from Old Navy.   Now you know why I hoard change that I find in the laundry and why, in my opinion cleaning the family's clothes is still profitable labor!  Washing to thrift!  Jessica Pearl