Girls Sundress

Up next for Kids Fashion Week is a super cute little sundress that I made for my niece!

It's so hard for me to hold back and not just make a closet of these for her.

I picked up this great pattern at the second hand store.  I liked it because it has so many great basic shapes and enough sizes that I can probably still use it next few summer seasons.

New Look 6195

I had a bit of cotton batik leftover from my summer tunic project.  It was looking a little on the plain side when I was finished so I cut up a little doily and sewed it on the front for some embellishment.

My niece is just a little on the precocious side.  Her mom had to give her a slightly wacky haircut recently because she got gum stuck in it.  No matter what she did to get it out it was stuck.  My niece doesn't really seem to care, so all's well that ends well I guess~

What's your favourite thing to make for kids in the summer?  Leave a comment.  If you have a link to a project make sure to add it~

Boys Shorts

It's Kids Fashion Week here at Etcetorize!  Everyday this week I'll share something I've made for one of the kids in my life.

Starting with my soccer playing nephew.

When he can't take goofball photos
he's a little at a loss as to what to
do in front of the camera~

This is absolutely the last I have of this camoflage fabric I picked up from the bargain bin.  I think I got 2 or 3 metres at about $2/metre.  It was 60" wide so I was able to get loads of projects from it.  I think I got a pair of pants, a vest, a jacket, and a pair of shorts out of it.

Here's the pattern I used, an oldie but goodie from the thrift shop:

You can't see it but I used a drawstring elastic in the waistband.  He grows so fast, I wanted to make sure these shorts would fit him for awhile.

I never really know what to make for boys clothing other than shorts and pants and jackets.  Do you have any good sources or favourite patterns that you use for your little boy?  Leave a comment below~

Easy Peasy Bangle Holder

It's our last project of Recycle Week here at Etcetorize!

If you love big bulky bangles as much as I do then you'll also know how hard it is to store them when you're not wearing them.  You can throw them in a (big) bowl or stack them up somewhere but inevitably they'll get scratched or come tumbling down just as your in a hurry to get ready to go out.

So, here's the easiest way to get them organized so you can see them all and pick your favourite quickly.

1) Start with a trip to your local thrift shop and pick up an old ugly mug holder.

If you can find one with some truly tacky stenciling then you're really lucky!

2) Give it a few coats of white paint (oops!  forgot to take pictures of that step), and then drill a hole in the very top.

3) Add a cute but bulky knob to crown it.

And there you go!

Not only are you a little more organized, but you've saved something from the going to the landfill, or worse yet, from sitting on someone else's kitchen counter with ugly coffee mugs on display~

Easy peasy!

Hope you got some fun ideas from Recycle Week.  Keep on reusing and reinventing the things you find around you~

Have a crafty weekend everyone!

Refashion Files

We're talking about recycling this week...and do you know what my favourite kind of recycling is????  Refashioning!  I love taking something out of my closet that I haven't worn in ages and making it into something new again.

Here are just a few refashion projects I've shared with you in the past.

You can find them all just by clicking on the tutorial tab up top.

Another great place to find awesome refashion ideas is Refashion Files!

It's a great place to submit your own refashion projects too!  You can find all sorts of ideas for accessories, clothing, undergarments, even footwear!  Check out these cutey patooty leggings for babies...they're a refashion!

Do you have more great refashion leads?!?  Lead the way, leave a comment below so we can all visit~

Underbed Storage

It's a good thing it's recycle week here at Etcetorize this week!  I recently pulled out all of my summer clothes from storage and suddenly realized that I have WAY too much stuff!

What's a girl to do?  Give away all her pretty summer clothes?  Not yet....I made new storage!

I just cleaned up a couple of drawers from a discarded dresser that's out in the garage.

Gave them a few coats of nice white paint and some new knobs.

Pulled out my drill and electric screwdriver to add a few wheels on castors to the bottoms.

And voila!  More space to hide store my clothes!

Warning!  This is not a good place to store
your black turtleneck sweaters because
it also makes a cozy hiding place~

Which season do you have more clothes for?  Summer or winter?  My winter clothes take up just as much space but I think that's only because they're bulkier.  Leave a comment, and let us know, how do you store your off season gear?

Old Man in the Garden

I didn't make today's project but I have to share it with you anyway because it's an awesome example of recycling something that was just laying around.

This old guy was a gift from my neighbour who does wood carving from wood he finds.  He guards my garden from unwanted trespassers (the statue, not my neighbour).

Who guards your garden?  Do you have any special friends in your outdoor space?  Leave a comment below~