Ruffled Tee

I finally completed this ruffled tee, after falling in love with the "Inception Scarf". The Inception Scarf was actually made with the remnants of this gray heather knit.

Total cost of t-shirt...about $5.00...BAM!

I can't believe I actually model it, or the picture taken by my 10 year old turned out. He accidental had the camera setting to "extra wrinkled face".

I struggled to finish the ruffle, not quite sure how I wanted it to look. I knew that I wanted to wear it specifically with a charcoal cardigan sweater I have. The first ruffle went all around the neckline. Very circus-clowny. So I took off the ruffle, cut it in half, and laid a narrower ruffle on the top. Now the t-shirt is perfect for the sweater.

Here is a close up.

I did make the t-shirt, but you can buy one and add a ruffle of coordinating knit. The t-shirt was actually super simple. I took one of my favorite fitting tees, a Mossimo from Target. Turn the t-shirt inside out, laid the Target shirt flat on the table, then folded in half, straight down the middle. I traced around the neckline, shoulders, armholes, sides and bottom. Then added 3/4". Do the same for the back and sleeve. Three easy pieces. Much easier that it sounds. Now I have a pattern to make a pajillion tshirts. You can alter the length of the sleeves, necklines, etc.

No buttons, zippers or ties. Yippee!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Enjoy!

Welcome Eleanor

I'd like to introduce you to the newest furniture member in my house.....Eleanor.

She was acquired last week in a brilliant Craigslist exchange...money for furniture.

I found her after only a few days of serious search, which completely contradicted my theory of "Nothing good is ever found in my neighborhood". Actually, I had to travel to the tony city of Carlsbad, CA to find her. Well worth the trip.

She is a Bernhardt antique, supposedly purchased from an estate sale in North Carolina about 45 years ago. Whatever, I bought it, story and all.

Now the dilemna. She has a cruddy top and some dings and worn spots. Nothing serious, though. How to refinish her? Lovely, glazey paint finish, refinish as original or something new?

Her new home is across the room from Baxter:

Baxter is a handpainted sideboard. Tobacco, green and a teeny bit of gold finish.

So HELP! What do I do? I am not into matchy-matchy. I love pieces that are collected over time and have character.

Sidenote: Yes, I do name most things. My car is called Butterscotch and my dog Oliver.

Your help needed!

I am in the middle of a transition. For the first 10 years of my married life, I had pink walls and blue floral sofa. I loved them.

Flash forward 20 years.

Now, I am a little older, no babies to worry about and my style has become a little more refined. I have been stalking, reading and blotting my new style/strategy. My husband, while tolerant of my shenanigans, does not read my blog and has very little idea what happens while he is a work. Poor dear!

Here is my current living room status and some ideas:

Millwork, including crown molding and maybe even wainscotings.

Good-bye to Eleanor's green predecessor, the sofa table.

Window treatments on the horizon. 3 long panels. Fabric-to be determined.

Wingback chair is going to be slipcovered...very soonly, in drop cloth. Imagine this:

image from Pink and Polka Dot

Floral and denim wingback...relocated to another room.

End table...refinished...maybe painted?

Window treatment: valances to coordinate with panels.

I'm thinking something like this:

Victorola...loved this piece given to me by my grandmother. Doesn't work, but splendid at holding sheet music and books. Said piece will soon be moving to my sister's home.

Bookcase...BA-BYE! I have great plans for a "booknook" in an underutilized computer nook upstairs. This is the only project husband is aware of, and not to crazy about.

A lot of talk about resale values, blah, blah, blah.

And we are back at the entry way with Eleanor.

Here are a couple of other ideas.

Good bye to yellow #13.

I have loved this yellow in 2 houses for over 9 years. Time to move on.

I'm thinking something more neutral, BM-OC14 Natural Cream.

Hate, Hate, HATE carpet. Tile, not so much love either. Would love to replace with wood all downstairs, but that includes a kitchen island remodel that is a couple of years away.

Who designs kitchens anyways? Men, men who don't cook!

ok. So sorry to drag this on. I have been thinking of this post for a couple of weeks. I am soliciting any and all suggestions. You ladies are so wonderful and generous.

Thanks and see you Lowe's!

The Inception Scarf

Have you seen the movie "Inception"?

Me either....but I live with people (Sweet Pea) who LOVE it.

So, when I made a scarf within a scarf.....it had to be the

"Inception Scarf"

Here is how it goes down:

You'll need 3/4 yard stretch knit. Will also work with fleece.

See Suzanne's version in fleece. Very cute. I am sure I CASE'd this scarf from her.

Cut 2 pieces of stretch knit 8 x 60 inches; sew ends together to make one long 8 x 120 inches.

Cut 3 pieces of stretch knit 6 x 75 inches; sew ends together to make one long 6 x 150 inches.

Gather 8 inch wide piece of fabric by stitching down the middle. Use a long stitch when gathering. I bunched it up and I pushed it through the needle as I go along.

Your finished length should be about 60 inches.

Do the same thing for the same thing for the 6 inch wide piece.

The finished length should also be about 60 inches. I will be a little fuller than the 8 inch wide piece.

Turn under the ends of each layer.....stitch to finish.

Pin the 6 inch piece on top of the 8 inch;

adjust the gathers so that both layers are the same length.

Stitch down the middle of both pieces.

Sew down the middle again using a zigzag stitch to secure the gathers.

Next time I will stitch a piece of ribbon to the backside of the stitching, just to make sure the stitching doesn't pull out.

There you go....Inception Scarf...a scarf within a scarf. Sweet.

My girlfriend ALMOST didn't get this for her birthday. Sweet Pea loved it so much.

I love the way it makes a little collar.

Oliver.....inspector number 16...quality control.