Black Edged Ruffle Tank Tutorial...

I'm loving my new Black Edged Ruffle Tank (or BERT for short) :



BERT pairs well with a casual denim skirt and snazzy flip flops. Yes, I wear bedazzled flip flops. Don't judge me.

So, ya wanna make one for yourself??? OK, here's the tutorial:

RUN to the nearest Walmart and pick up some of their Faded Glory tank tops that are now on sale/clearance for only $3.50 each. Confessions of a revampaholic: I just bought seven of them. SEVEN.

OK, you have your simple tank. You also need an old t-shirt to create the ruffles. I chose a flimsy tank (one on the left) that I never wore. Pretty sure it was a garage sale find:



Chop it up into three long strips....about 2 - 4ish inches wide by 10 - 20ish inches long, varying in width as you go. This project is extremely non-specific....so if you are a fly by the seat of your pants crafter, this project is for YOU. Here are my three oblong strips:



Use a rolled hem stitch in a contrasting thread along both short sides and one long side of each strip. Me? I chose black:



Baste (or use a loose gathering stitch) along the remaining unstitched long side 1/2 inch from the edge on all three strips. Hold on to the top thread and pull the bobbin thread to ruffle those up nicely.

Drape the widest strip along the tank top neckline and adjust the ruffles to fit to your taste. Layer #1:



It's already lovely but let's up the sassy factor, shall we?

Add the next widest layer and again adjust the ruffles as necessary:



Getting there!

Add the last and thinnest strip to complete the look:


Va va VOOM!

Finish adjusting the ruffles and pin all three layers to the tank top neckline:



Sew along your basting stitch to attach all three ruffly strips to the tank neckline leaving the raw edges out.

You are done! Throw on that lovely BERT tank and accessorize:



And yes, use a duckie peeking out from behind your rear. If that's not accessorizing I don't know what is...

A

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We're Going Swimming, Retro Style...

Guess what? I can't think of anything sassy to say.

The meds are really starting to affect me. Or it could be lack of sleep. Yes we are on day #8 of illness in our house (as in everyone) and this bug is a DOOZY. Even though my sense of taste and smell are on vacation (A.K.A. the most effective diet on the planet) I am still able to shop online and share my picks.

I am DIGGING this retro 1940's style swimwear thing that's been going on. I myself found a cute, adequately covering, retro-inspired black with white polka dot bikini swimsuit. SUPER excited about my find. The only problem? I can't find it online to show you. (Hangs head in shame.) And don't even think about asking for a pic of me wearing it. SO not happening.

However, I've had fun finding some vintage/retro'ish swimsuits online. Here are some of my fave's found online for under $100:

The Jantzen "Vamp Maillot" for $98:



It also comes in black or fuchsia.

The Coco-Rave "Beach Blanket Stripe" Bandeau top and Ruffled Skirted Bottom, $44 for the top, $50 for the bottom:


(Don'tcha just love how I look in this picture? I always pose like this on the beach, don't you? You should. And HELLO! There's a huge flower pin in her...er...I mean MY hair!)

Oh, and for uber-cheapo polka dot fun, here is the Norma Kamali Bandeau Tankini Top and Dot Skirted Bottom from Wally world for $15 each piece:


(hello, awkward space in between pictures! I'm pretty certain they aren't in proportion, but it looks mightly familiar to what I see in the mirror.)


Also from Wally World, a Red Shirred Halter for only $30:



But, of course, if you really truly want vintage inspired swimwear, each one under $100, you need to go HERE:





SO cute.

And you betcha I'll be making a ginormous red flower to wear in my hair with my black and white polka dot bikini. Throw on some huge Jacki O. white rimmed sunglasses, paint my lips red and I'm good to go.

But the wedge patent leather red heels? I think I'll pass. I'd just trip in them anyways. The last thing I want is to do is introduce my face to the deck floor in front of hundreds of people. Especially while wearing a bikini. And a huge red flower in my hair. I'd probably break my huge Jacki O. white rimmed sunglasses and smudge my red lipstick. See? SO not worth the red shoes!

Happy swimsuit shopping!

A

WallyWorld Therapy...

Quite frankly, it's embarrassing how excited I was to go to WallyWorld yesterday afternoon. I may be getting a touch o' cabin syndrome.

Nothing like the promise of inexpensive bleach spray cleaner and a rock bottom butter price to get yer engine going.

That, and the spray paint aisle. I got tingles.

We're going on THREE weeks of sickness for those under three. While I would hate to complain and seem whiny and weak I do think it bears repeating. THREE WEEKS of being sick.

Despite the THREE WEEKS of being sick, there were some good times in good ole Wallyworld. Thankfully, my Mom was along to run Bubbalu interference while I had Lil Chick in the Bjorn.

First we drooled over adorable dresses, leggings and t shirts for Lil Chick. Next up I picked up some needed fabric for Lil Chick's harvest festival outfit. Yes, it was tulle. No, I won't tell you what color. Hopefully I'll get it done in time, because, THREE WEEKS of being sick has severely cut into my crafting/sewing time.

I'd hate to complain and seem whiny and weak.

Then my knight in khaki's and a button down shirt came and collected the kids so Mom and I could have kid-free shopping - woot! Thanks honey.

Before we hit up the chocolate and munchies aisle, I helped Mom pick out some rocking new duds for the guest bedroom.

This gorgeous new bedding:



The teal is stunning. STUNNING I tell ya.

And we totally ditched the blah beige sheets and switched em out for STUNNING teal.

Mom, I vote for a dark chocolate wall behind the bed with the frame (you know, the large ornate gorgeous one you are hiding from me) spray painted TEAL hanging above the bed.

Not any teal...STUNNING teal.

After all, it's just spray paint. Easily changeable, inexpensive and quick results.

That said, I'm ready to add something like this to my Christmas list:



However it may require an air compressor.

Maybe I can convince my khaki's and button down shirt clad knight to put that on HIS list? Especially since we've been dealing with THREE WEEKS of being sick, we really could use a special treat.

I'd hate to complain...

A

Spring Trends 2009...Episode One.

I was flipping through a magazine and came across a new spring trend section. Let's go ahead and make this a continuing subject, shall we?

First off, apparently jumpsuits are trendy this spring. However, I am not too thrilled about them. Being that I am not a lithe modelesque trackster and don't have the height or confidence to pull it off.

Besides, I actually laughed out loud seeing this picture in my magazine:



Hello Herm, will you be waxing the floors today or repairing the water heater that's on the fritz?

Yes, it's a little too handyman coverall-ish for me. And like I said, I'm not over 6 feet tall and lithe is not a descriptive term normally used when referring to me. Besides, it's $99 on sale. Not thrifty or recession friendly.

Next trend : Fuchsia. I LOVE a good bright color, and I actually do have a fair bit of fuchsia in my closet. I have dark hair and features and am fair skinned, so this color is happy on me.

Example #1 from my favorite inspiration store, Anthropologie, for $68:



I am normally not a fan of bubbly-ish tops, but hello, someone's 3 months postpartum over here.

And while we're on the subject, ADORABLE:



Yes Please:



And so cute it hurts:



However, to be recession friendly, here you go:



From you know where for only $10.

And another:



Once again from you know where for only $14.

You're welcome.

A

Wallyworld Picks Episode 3...

As many of my longer term readers know, I love to browse for clothing...actually anything...online. And I also don't mind posting what I've found because why not spread the shopping joy around? I am thrifty and practical at heart, but also love some frillyness and fun.

In light of the HORRIBLE!!! CRASHING!!! THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!! economy that we are all SO very aware of (thank you newspeoples, we are sufficiently freaked out already, let's just have some happy stories for today, k?) we are keeping things on a budget today.

Wallyworld is one of my online faves so here we go...

As you all either know from firsthand experience or have heard, your body changes a wee bit after having a baby...or two. And yes, I can testify to the truth in that statement. I would say these changes are ones I can live with...some good, some not so good.

Either way, I'll work with what I've got because I am not a member of the Free Annual Plastic Surgery Club. And if you have THAT little membership card tucked into your back pocket, please let me know how I can become a member. Well, maybe not, I'm not a huge fan of pain. And I recently watched an E! True Hollywood Story on plastic surgery gone wrong so I'm a little freaked out about it.

ANYWAYS, enough blabbing, back to the point. At this point in my postpartum reshaping plan, I am only looking for tops that would look good with my JOPS.

What are JOPS?

I have a certain pair of jeans that I am eager to fit into again. They are my Jeans of Perfection Svelteness. I may or may not be fitting into them in the next oh 4-6ish months, but we'll see.

So here we go, tops for my JOPS that I would buy:

First off this lovely Sequin Trapeze Tank for only $10.00 in a midnight Blue:



and I am actually digging it in green:

Of course it would require a jacket or light sweater of some sort unless you have some sort of amazing internal heating element. It's still 36* here after all.

Next up a lovely Shirred V-Neck Jersey Top for $14.00:

And a gray Short Sleeve Pocket Cardigan for $20.00:



However it would require a long sleeved undershirt of some sort, so how about this Button Long-Sleeve Tee for only $3.00:



And this last top, which I am surprised I like, is the Cap-Sleeve Trompe L'Oeil Necklace Tee for $9.00:

Could someone please buy this for me? Really. It's a Juniors, so maybe a large. I think it's quite cute. In a 'I'm a funky Mom who wants a teeny bit of style but still want uber comfort' kind of look.

Of course it would look great with some shiny black stilettos and my JOPS. With some black chandelier earrings and the always posh accessory of a sweet baby girl who is just starting to smile at her Mama.

Oh wait! I already have those things! Now I just need the shirt.

I've got the black stiletto's waiting...

A