Thursday, November 12, 2009

i think i can

Ever since I have known my friend Erin, I have been hiding a little secret.  Shhhhhhhh—I am jealous of her amazing talents.  (Don’t tell her.)  She is a crazy good seamstress, but in addition to that, she also has an eye for looking at something that most people would throw out, and finding a way to give it a second life.  The thing she is most famous for is her entertainment center repurposing.  It’s nothing short of genius, and this idea has turned her little blog into a blog with TONS of followers!  (I may or may not have been the one who submitted her blog to the blog that got her off the ground—without her knowing!)  She also takes old clothes and makes them into things for herself or her daughter.

I don’t have any old entertainment centers lying around, but I DO have a bunch of shirts that have shrunk enough that they are too short for me to wear, yet still in great shape.  They were in the Goodwill pile, but after seeing Erin’s t-shirt transformations, I thought it would be cool to reincarnate them as shirts for my girls.  I wasn’t confident enough to try it on my own, so yesterday, I tricked Erin into coming over and helping me figure it out.  I forgot to take a before picture, but just imagine a plain old short sleeved women’s V-neck t-shirt.  And here is the after picture:

IMG_0505

It actually wasn’t too hard, and now that I know how to do it, hopefully I’ll be brave enough to try one on my own.  Kendall loves it and thinks it’s so cool that it used to be MINE!  Total cost?  FREE!  (Thanks for the help, encouragement, and letting me use your elastic thread, Erin!)

10 comments:

Karey said...

Oh my gosh! So cute! I love it! Maybe I'll make a blue one for Lincoln ;)

The Dahle Family said...

Are you serious? You did that with one of your old v-necks? What a cute ruffly neckline! I love it. That girl does have talent! And I think you may have gotten her a couple more followers on her blog!

Unknown said...

That is such a cute shirt! And I am also blown away by Erin's play kitchen. Thanks for sharing! I'll be one of her new followers as well. How handy to have a friend with so much talent!

Unknown said...

I love it! I have been wanting to make a bunch of tops and skirts for my girls with some old unfavorite maternity tops I don't mind not having after this pregnancy. I just need to figure out those ruffles. Just adorable. Thanks for sharing!!
I love Erins blog too. I am so happy she started bloggin about all the stuff she creates. Too cute to be hidden away and enjoyed just by her. :)

Corrine said...

that is awesome!!

Erin said...

you are too much mer!! well, since we are being honest I am jealous of your discipline to eating right and exercise (and the hot bod you have from all that discipline!)
i am so glad i could help you with kendall's shirt- she looks adorable!! you can totally make more on your own and remember, if you get stuck just give me a call!
i am not sure i have ever given you a proper thank you for making my blog big! THANK YOU and i owe you one, or like a hundred!!

jan said...

Okay, that is amazing. Martha Stewart has finally met her match in Erin. Great t-shirt, by the way.

Mindy said...

teach me!

merathon said...

Mindy-- here's a link to a tutorial for the shirt: http://suttongrace.blogspot.com/2009/09/refashioned-t-shirt-to-little-girls-top.html

Karey-- you don't have a little girl to make one for, so i guess you'll have to make one for yourself!

jessie said...

I love it! I have yet to find the courage to try ruffles... LOL!! But I DO have a huge pile of cast-offs that I could practice on. :) I guess I have no excuse. :)