Sunday, April 29, 2012

Shoe Refashion

I thrifted these shoes some time ago. They are very very comfortable with the perfect size heel for me. Plus its hard to find size 10's used in good condition. But I never wore them because I don't really like the look. I only have one for the before pic because I'd already started working on the other shoe before I remembered to take a before pic. Shoe before refashion Inspiration: Somewhere on the internet I saw some heels with realistic pansies fabric on them. I really like them and they were very expensive. Can't find them now of course. I looked at tutorials on how to glue fabric on shoes. Here is one. Tho next time I will do it more like this one from Burda. I love the idea of making a plain cloth pattern and then having a perfect fit including being able to sew a small hem for the bottom where the fabric meets the sole. Unfortunately I couldn't find my tacky removable spray adhesive, so I just winged it making patterns from tissue then newspaper. Shoe before and vamp pattern Once I had a pattern for the fronts, I more or less centered a pansy on the toe. I also chose to cut more or less on the bias, not sure what difference that made here. BTW, label your patterns. You can flip them over and you have the pattern for the other shoe. When I glued with Aleen's Fabric Fushion I used a brush mostly but occassionally my fingers. First I brushed it on the shoe on the front of the vamp, except near the sole where I planned to turn the fabric under. I glued the Pansy down first working out and up so at least the pansy was smooth and complete, turning clipped fabric to the inside. Glueing the pansy on toe first I did turn the fabric under about 1/4 inch where it meets the sole. If I do another pair, I think I will make the fabric pattern first. But I'm still happy with how they turned out. Refashioned shoes Refashioned pansy shoes I think I will probably spray them with Krylon crystal clear (stuffing the shoe with paper so the spray doesn't go inside.) But I haven't totally decided yet. Pansy fabric shoe refashion I can't wait to wear them! What do you think? TFL Kathy ps I also posted at the Refashion Coop (tho a shorter post). But if you like refashioning check it out! there are so many talented people there. I have linked up to Restyled Sunday, Sunday Showoff at Twigg Studios, Marchia's "Minutes for Me" Linky Party and Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove. Check out the fabulous projects there!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

April Flowers

Lots of blooms and already quite a few gone by, such as the witch hazel, many of the crocus, and the daphne mzerum. I've been uncovering gardens and weeding. Not a lot of time for inside crafting. I have made some false starts at refashioning some clothes. Hopefully will finish at least one this afternoon!

Now the flowers (I wrote the descriptions underneath the pics):



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Still a few crocus left shown here with frost:



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Lots of Bloodroot, a native wildflower, everywhere. I love it!


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Then there is the double Bloodroot. Only one little clump so far. I hope it spreads like the other.


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This is a bulb, Chionodoxa. Glory of the snow. It is everywhere too, a beautiful blue.



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These miniature daffodil bulbs that I planted a couple of years ago have been a bit of a disappointment. Not very many blooms. But I noticed my regular daffs don't have many flower buds either this year.


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And here is a cultivar of the wild Rue anenome. This one is double and pink.


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I have just 2 left of my clump of early tulips. When dh dug up around the foundation to insulate, most the bulbs were lost.

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And of course scilla with a hyacinth coming up in the middle.


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Here is a hyacinth all the way up.

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The Lenten roses are blooming.

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Close up of the flower.

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And my white one.

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Last but not least, the Star Magnolia has burst into bloom. Some of the flowers are a little brown because we had two hard frosts since they opened.

TFL
Kathy