Monday, June 22, 2009

Daisy Chain Dress


I have been inspired recently, through some links discovered through my friend Elisa, over at her blog, Herb of Grace. (I hope she doesn't mind my exposing her like this on my blog.....) Visit her by clicking on her link in my blog list. Anyway, I am all into "re-fashion" now. Re-fashion is when you re-make an article of clothing, using a cast-off piece(s) of clothing, creating a totally new, hip, one-of-a-kind piece. I have always been an embroiderer, but I don't own a sewing machine. And, I have always collected vintage clothes, and have a huge collection. So, inspired by some blogs such as "Grosgrain Fabulous" and "Re-Fashion", I have been inspired to combine my feeble sewing skills, my embroidery skills, and my love of vintage clothing. ABOVE is a vintage (probably 1950's) toddler dress I bought at the Salvation Army Thrift store this weekend for a mere 89 cents. It is pale yellow dotted Swiss with a gauzy white cotton attached pinafore.


Above is the dress when I got done with it! It's yellow and white combination reminded me of a daisy - so I embroidered a daisy chain with a green vine all around the neckline, adding some yellow french knots to recall the white dots of the yellow dotted Swiss. I used mostly the "lazy daisy" stitch, which I figured was appropriate, in this case. I added a piece of tiny lace around the neckline as well, and a white satin sash. Keep in mind that I am still experimenting with my camera to see who to best photograph thing like this for online purposes. I have discovered that I will simply have to upgrade cameras before long.

My camera stinks at taking detailed shots of things like embroidery, but you can sort of see it around the neckline here. I also had to repair a tiny seam that had come apart in the side. Someone else had repaired a tiny seam in the waistband, but it is not noticeable. All together, I have spent maybe one afternoon working on it; without a sewing machine. I will be selling things like this in an Etsy shop by summer's end, I hope. Right now, I am working on my inventory for my shop. So this dress is, or will be, I guess, for sale. It looks like it would fit a 2-year old child. Maybe, I will do one of those cool blog giveaways to launch my Etsy store! Hummm. So, would you buy something like this for your child? I will also be selling adult ladies things in the Etsy store. Let me know what you think. I guess you could call this a "market survey" - but most of all, I just think re-fashion is a swell idea, and this dress was just perfect for re fashioning, and I had to share.
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2 comments:

Susannah Forshey said...

ABSOLUTELY, I would buy something like this for Violet. Not yellow, though, it's not her color. :)

lislynn said...

Aaaa! I love it!! And a photography tip for ya: be aware of which direction your light source is coming form. If you had the dress turned towards the sun, instead of with the sun shining behind it, we'd see more detail. But a great set-up for your shot! Love it :)