Upcycling is Priceless : DIY Fabric Bracelet

Is there anything better than turning something old into something new - for free?!

I made myself this braided bracelet (try saying that 5 times in a row quickly) to match a dress I am in the process of making.

I bought the cute clip with a bow at my latest Value Village trip and it cost me a whopping $1 for an entire bag of these suckers! And there must be at least 50 of them in the bag!

I used the seams of the scrap pieces of material from my husband's shirt that was destroyed in the great dog attack of 2013. 

Once I get my sewing machine in running order, the dress will be done in no time! I'm keeping all the scrapes so I can make other accessories! 

Reduce, upcycle and make your children be the models for your latest creation because they don't have hairy arms!

{Daily Odd Compliment: You have one of the brightest minds I've ever known. It's as if the sun looked at da Vinci and was like, 'Sup, playa?' And then da Vinci was all, 'You wanna do this?' And then they created your mind.}

Thirft Store Shopping

Anyone and everyone who knows me will tell you that I love Value Village.

And that is an understatement! 

To be honest, I like all thrift stores, but Value Village is definitely my top pick! They recently had a 50% off sale and this past weekend was the pre-sale for members. So of course, I got the baby dressed, rounded up some friends and made my way to the store in search of decent baby clothes. What I found was better than decent! I found a Calvin Klein hoodie, for The Professor, for $2.50! Barely worn!

I paid $17 for all of this! I think I deserve a self high five for that!

There are a couple tricks to finding anything in a thrift store, so here are some based on my experience as a shopper and former Value Village employee...

First - you need to have the time. This may sound silly, but you really need to take the time to look through everything if there is something specific you are looking for. And when I say 'everything', I mean every related section. If you are looking for a shirt, look in ALL clothes sections! People pick up an item, change their minds, and just put it anywhere.

Next - you need to go often! They get their truck loads during the week only and the people who put the stuff on the floor also only work during the week. So, if you go on a weekend, be aware that you are looking through merchandise that was put out on Friday.

Then- Try everything on! Just because it says size 4 - doesn't mean it still fits like a size 4! Remember that almost everything you pick up will have been worn/washed so it could have changed shape. If you are lucky, you will find a brand new item of clothing with tags! 

Lastly - shop out of season when possible. People tend to donate seasonal items at the beginning of the season - however - items are cheaper out of season. Seasonal items are usually kept closest to the front of the store, so don't be afraid to dive in!

And of course - have fun! This is key for me! 
I don't tend to go to a mall because it's too commercialized/busy for my liking, and I hate having to go to many different places to find the things I want! And Abby loves Value Village for the endless possibilities and mystery of what treasures we might find! 

So there you have it! 

Reduce, reuse, upcycle and help me make a greener place for our children. :)


{Daily Odd Compliment: The say Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth. Which is weird because I didn't know being in your arms had a name.}

It's off to work I go

'Cause I love a rainy night

Every time it rains, I think of that song.

It's my last Friday off. I can't believe it's been almost a year since I have been off work! This week has been the most productive week out of the whole year. The first 6 months were spent sleeping/crying/getting through each day. The past couple of months were much better! I really feel privileged to have had so much time off! Thank you Canadian government! 

I really want to end my mat leave with a bang, but I feel like I have already done so much that there isn't a whole lot left to do! I decided to take out my sewing machine, and here's what I ended up doing today.. 

I went to Value Village and picked up all the parts for my Jean Grey costume.

(I bought a tank top to mod, but it's a little too tight - oops!)

I cut off the sleeves of the turtleneck to make forearm pieces. I then sewed them a little tighter, since they are going over a leotard, I knew I had to make them snug. I added an elastic at the top, as well as a couple folds to more accurately portray the cartoon version. 

Since my tank top idea didn't pan out, I modified the actual shirt. I cut the front and back in a v-neck, cut the armpits a little closer, and cut some side holes to be able to see the yellow leotard better. I also sewed up both sides of this to make it snug.

And lastly, I drew an 'x' onto the superhero belt. 

I thought about doing something for my legs, but there isn't enough material left from the shirt, so I may do something duct tape-esque closer to the day. 

I also attacked the front entrance. 

I finally put up my "A" hook (peg?) that I got as a present from one of my favourite people but that I have never gotten around to putting on the wall. I wanted a place to hang my purse, so this works really well! 

 Yesterday I went out and got this metal shelf to house our winter items. The bottom basket right now holds the Rollerblade related things, but will be replaced with the hubby's and I's winter gear. The Princess and Sesame Street pails are for the kids' winter gear (and baby crocs).

All in all, it's been a pretty productive day, and week! 

{Daily Odd Compliment: So you don't have a six pack. Or a four pack. But, damn, can you wear the shit out of a sweater.}