:: the long and short of it ::

Three days before I left for vacation, the idea struck me that I absolutely needed shorts. I only own one pair; I’m not much of a slacks or shorts gal–I much prefer skirts and dresses any day. But, considering part of our vacation itinerary included traipsing around the Naval base on a ship tour, I figured it’d be better to have something that I could clamber around in without getting caught on things! I pulled out that pair of red, stripy shorts I started a little while ago, and finished those up lickety-split! Of course, I also got the silly idea that I needed another pair of shorts and cut out a light green pair. Those didn’t quite get finished in time (they’ve just got the handwork portions left)… But they sure turned out awfully cute! (I know, no pictures of the green ones… yet!)

I also came up with a clever way to fix my ever-present swimsuit problem. I have a very long torso, and finding a swimsuit I like that fits it is extremely hard. Even a lot of tankini’s just don’t fit right. I was somewhat desperate by this week because I needed a suit, didn’t have the time to run to the mall to hunt one down, and didn’t have a lot budgeted to spend on one. I remembered I had a pretty, antique-gold one-piece I bought last summer that proved to be too short; and there was also the old bottoms to a tankini that I had lying around. They didn’t “matchy-match”, but that doesn’t bother me!

I took my scissors to the one piece, and in a matter of 15 minutes, I had a “new” swimsuit that was a two piece tankini style. I basically just cut the bottom of the one piece off, and zig-zagged the raw edge. Bonus: the top fits and is pretty tight so if I wear a wet suit over top of it while scuba diving, it doesn’t bunch up uncomfortably. Total cost: $0. Hurrah!

Currently, I’m busily working on a tshirt refashion. Remember how I lamented my lack of good, basic tshirts? After a foray into one of my favorite thrift stores last week (one I rarely go to–darn high gas prices!), I found a couple of men’s large tshirts in white and pea green for about 50¢. I’m currently tackling the white one, since it’s probably the most practical for my wardrobe right now (I know, I know… practicality always wins out!). But, could I contain myself to keeping it a basic refashion? Of course not! Partially inspired by some of the amazing tshirts here, and by these pictures of Gene Tierney and Veronica Lake. The design will hopefully turn out; I’m a bit worried about bulk with a tshirt knit. So we’ll see. Perhaps by Monday I’ll have something exciting!

In the meantime, here’s a passel of diverting links for you to pursue!

• ♥ I am dying to try this ulta-glamorous, perfectly retro-ish swimsuit pattern from Burda Style!
• ♥ this picture frame tray is so clever
• ♥ Betsy is now offering downloadable instructions for making her adorable recycled poppies!
• ♥ a fantastic how-to on storing and caring for your retro stockings!
• ♥ Tricia started an interesting discussion this week about self documented fashion and narcissism
• ♥ in an effort to use more natural products, I’m curious to try making my own homemade deodorant
• ♥ Heidi Merrick’s fall collection is just drop-dead-gorgeous! [ via ]

Hope you all have a splendid weekend, and as Tigger would say: “TTFN!”!

July 11, 2008 · 14 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings · tags: refashion, sewing, weekly inspiration