paradise

paradise

I'm Ann. I've been sewing since I was 9. My first project was a denim wrap skirt. Thrifting is a way of life for me - both eco-chic and financially savvy.

Chanel jacket

Sew Stylish blog has a tute on sewing a Chanel jacket: http://besewstylish.taunton.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?nav=main&webtag=besewstylish&entry=224 And of course I got that fabulous brown and aqua wool boucle in Paris, up in the Montmartre district by the Sacre Coeur.  A pattern from my sewing…

Cut the nursing coat!

Yay, I managed to cut the Elizabeth Lee nursing/babywearing coat (baby was napping). I am making it out of a red tweedy knit that is backed with faux sherpa in black. Very chic. I’m reversing the facings so the black…

more consignment shopping

I used my credit, a coupon, and still bought two bags full of goodies. A corduroy jacket in kelly green, very springy. Two pinstriped dress trousers, one in black, the other in gray. A cropped brown tweed pair of pants,…

Went on vacation, got inspired

I thought of a lot of things to sew, I’ll try to pen them here: ruffled clutch – pale aqua for the bag, deep teal for the ruffle. sundress – empire nursing style with halter top, possibly in pale pink…

My Boutique

I decided last night, as I did a load of sweaters on delicate, that I could open a clothing store just with the contents of my closet. And then I thought THAT is precisely why I love my favorite secondhand…

more thrifty finds

I stopped at my local fave consignment store and got a superb leather jacket – black, fitted. Very nice. On clearance. I also picked up my unsold maternity. I’ll style them all up and try them on Ebay. If not,…

Burda Jacket

So does it look like the photo? Sorta… I cut out a 38, which clearly was too small – the shoulder width was much tinier than I expected (I’m usually a 38 or 40) and so it doesn’t close where…

Widgets (doing a happy dance)

Deepika at PatternReview fixed my widget code YIPPEE (the tech support at PR is second to none). So now my pattern reviews show up. This really creates incentive for me to post things I’ve sewn…and by extension, to sew! I’ve…

why I thrift, sew & shop consignment

This morning’s news was all about the (crappy) economy. Michigan’s been the single-state recession now for years, so nothing really new. And my personal economy is pretty good. But I also know there’s no way we’d be able to save…

Consignment goodies

I stopped in at my fave consignment boutique the other day and picked up a superb burgundy long leather coat (my winter coat for work), and two really outstanding pairs of heels – a pieced suede number in fuscia, plum…