Refashioned T's

Close-up view of print tank top edged with an overlock stitch using a decorative thread and stains on plain t-shirt covered by bleached butterfly designs.

Refashioning unusable clothing and other items into usable has been a big part of our week. Several weeks ago we went thrift store shopping and while finding many items we could use as-is, some needed a little help.
First, several pieces of clothing had stains or just looked tired. Also we got a couple of extra-large plush bath towels but they had bleach spots on them. These items were all candidates for a dye job.
We had a bottle of brown dye so after mixing it with water we soaked all these items until they were a nice dark brown. Most items were good as new after this.
The towels were all one color with no bleach spots showing. Also a nightgown that had a few stains on the front and a pair of shorts that were a dingy off-white color were now a nice shade of brown.
However one t-shirt that was stained took more dye in on the stains than the rest of the shirt. So instead of covering up the stains they showed even more. That called for plan B.
We went on the internet and found some patterns of butterflies which were free. Next we cut out the butterfly shapes and placed them on the shirt over the stains. Using a bleach pen we traced around the butterflies. Then we removed the patterns and filled in the details using the bleach pen again. We had the washing machine full and ready to wash so when the bleached areas were looking good we washed the shirt. That did the trick. No more stains to be seen.
Next item to fix was a t-shirt someone had started but never finished. The body was sewed together but it had no sleeves or neck facing or hem. There was a pattern and extra fabric so we could have finished the shirt but opted instead to finish the edges of the neck, arms and hem with an overlock stitch using decorative thread on a serger-sewing machine. This made it into a tank top perfect for the summer weather ahead.
Then our daughter had a t-shirt top she liked but the sleeves were too tight to be comfortable. We opened up the side seam under the arm and on the sleeve. Next we sewed in a wedge of contrasting fabric making the sleeves a little roomier.
The towels were only $2 each and the clothing was all about 50 cents to $1 each. The dye was a bottle we had on the shelf for a few years but never used. Now they are all like new and can be used again.
Before tossing out something because it has a stain or minor flaw think about a way to make it new again. It not only saves money but makes you feel good about successfully completing a project.
More refashioning in blogs on March 27, "Refashioning thrifted clothes" and March 13 "Wardrobe refashion."

Mosaic flower pot

Clay flower pot covered with broken pieces of ceramic coffee cups and then grouted.

Decorating does not have to be expensive. Broken bits from ceramic coffee cups can dress up an old clay flower pot. Making something old look new is fun and saves money. Refashioning is something everyone can do with a little time.
We decided to try this project after seeing a similar one at this website: http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2008/07/newspaper-column-re-crafting-with.html. It is by Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza. They glued buttons to a clay pot and then grouted around them.
Other items that could be used to decorate a pot could be coins, keys or store bought mosaic tiles. Even sea shells or small pebbles would be good choices. Old picture frames could also be decorated with similar items to give them a new look. The possible variations to this project are endless.
Ceramic cups get chipped or broken from time to time at our house. We just hate to throw anything out. So when we came across the idea to use them to decorate flower pots we decided to give it a try.
First we used a hammer to break the cups into small pieces. The pieces need to be smaller than one might think to fit flat onto the surface of the pot.
To attach the pieces to the clay pot we used E6000 glue. This glue is applied to the pot as well as the broken pieces. Then the pieces are fit onto the pot, it is kind of like putting a puzzle together. We tried to mix the colors as much as possible and not make any particular pattern.
If a particular design is desired one would need to draw an outline first, then fill it in with one color and so on. Another choice could be to use items of all one color and a contrasting grout color.
The glue takes about 24 hours to dry completely. After waiting a day we grouted between the broken pieces. We just followed the directions on the package of grout.
All the materials for this project we had on hand except for the glue. So our project was low in cost.
This was our first time using the E6000 glue. It works a little like rubber cement except when it dries it is stuck on for good. That made it the perfect choice for this project.
This project does take three or four hours to complete, not including drying time. But doing it with your spouse, friend or children will make it fun.
Before buying something new always look for ways to reuse things you already have. It will not only save money but make a fun project as well.
Projects like this are always nice to use for gifts as well. Handmade gifts are always special.

Books by Cramer

“Levi’s Will” and “Sutter’s Cross” both by W. Dale Cramer.

A novel we found in one of our recent thrift store shopping trips is “Levi’s Will”, by W. Dale Cramer. This is the first book by Cramer we have read and found it to be very rewarding. He has written four books, “Levi’s Will” being the third.
The main character is Will Mullet who was raised Amish but left the church as a young man in 1943 to find both the freedom he desired and to escape the harsh rules of the Amish. In leaving, Mullet condemned himself to a lifetime of being shunned by the Amish community, his father Levi Mullet and his family.
Once outside of the Amish community, he works various jobs but finally ends up in the United States Army because he is afraid that he will get arrested as a draft dodger.
In the Army he finds plenty of hard work but also starts to live a lie: he changes his name to Will McGruder to prevent his father from finding him, he also changes his birth date to avoid trouble with the Army and he changes his place of origin to Canada to explain his Amish Dutch accent.
He marries Helen, a southern girl, and they live in the Georgia. They have two children and he soon realizes that he is raising them just like his father raised him. The difficult and demanding relationship he had with his father was one of the main things that drove him away and he finds himself doing the same thing to his youngest son.
The book is setup in a series of alternating time periods, beginning with the characters in 1985 attending Levi’s funeral. The next chapter is in 1943, then back to 1985 and so on. By the end of the book, the past has caught up to the present, and we can see all of Will’s struggle to be accepted by his father, his brothers and sisters, his wife and his son. But to reconcile any of these relationships he must give up the lie.
We really liked “Levi’s Will” so we got another of Creamer’s books, “Sutter’s Cross.” This book is about a burned out biker, Harley, who found a relationship with God and the upset he causes in the small town of Sutter’s Cross. People in the town were comfortable in their church and businesses but Harley, in demonstrating authentic love and speaking the truth, makes everyone feel a little threatened.
“Sutter’s Cross” was Creamer’s first published effort. It was a good read and the plot is very creative, but we thought “Levi’s Will” had better characters. Still we highly recommend either of these books.
Now that summer is approaching, they would be great for reading at the beach or on the deck with a tall glass of ice tea. Additionally, for those on the go, complete and unabridged audio versions of both books are available on the internet at various music websites.

Flower pot stack

Flower pot stack with succulent plants.

Gardeners are busy sprucing up their yards. For those with limited space gardening in pots is one way to still have a garden. If space is really tight stacking the pots could be an answer to finding more room for plants.
We came across a cute idea on the internet that we decided to try for ourselves. We do have more room than most for gardening but this idea is also great for a decorative look.
The internet address for the idea we found is at: http://www.instructables.com/id/Tip-Top-Flower-Pots-Maximize-limited-space-to-gro/. We followed the basic design shown but instead of flowering plants we used a variety of succulent plants. They also come in a variety of colors and shapes.
For the larger pot in our version we used a glazed 12-inch ceramic pot. Our 8-inch pots were the plain terra cotta variety. For the stake going up through the center we used a 40-inch piece of rebar.
To hold the rebar centered in the large flower pot we used two pieces of 1-inch plastic pipe the width of the inside of the pot. We drilled a hole the diameter of the rebar through the center of each plastic pipe.
After the rebar is placed into the plastic pipe and resting on the bottom of the large pot we filled that pot with potting soil. Next we placed one of the 8-inch pots onto the rebar and let it sit at an angle with the top edge resting against the rebar.
Once that pot is filled with potting soil the other 8-inch pots are placed on the rebar. They are tilted as seen in the photo and filled with potting soil.
Once all the pots are in place and filled with potting soil it is time for the plants. We choose a variety of succulent plants for our stack. Succulents are slower growing and look nice for longer than annuals or perennials. When the flowers are through blooming on annuals or perennials they loose there appeal and have to be replaced.
Our pot stack is off to one side on our front porch where it is sheltered from the wind. With strong wind gust like we have here in Red Bluff we do not want to take any chances with it falling over.
But that is enough for decorative plants for now. It is time to focus on getting our vegetable plants started. We are disking up our vegetable plots this week. Then it is off to the nursery we go for plants and seeds.
We always choose a variety of tomatoes, peppers, melons and squash. It has been several years since we have grown corn but we hope to try some again this year. We will probably come home with something else new to try also. Trying something different is always fun for us.
Whether it is gardening, crafting, shopping or something else, we hope all our readers are having a good week. Maybe even try something new to you and have fun.

Half Moon Bay trip

Goat cheese from Harley Farm Goat Dairy. At left cranberry and walnuts top a chevre and brightly-colored edible flowers top one called “Van Goat” which has basil and sunflower seeds inside.

Recently we visited Half Moon Bay. We made our usual stops at all the thrift stores and craft-type stores. There were also a number of yard sales to stop at. One highlight of our visit was to hear a performance by New York-based classical guitarist Peter Fletcher.
The San Mateo County Library System had arranged to circulate several special programs to libraries around the county. Most are related to literary or cultural topics, with only a couple music programs: a mariachi program, a concert by a Latin jazz vocalist and Fletcher.
According to his press release he has been a featured performer at Carnegie Hall several times. His most recent performance there was in March.
At the performance we saw he played selections from “Music of the Baroque,” his 2008 CD release on Tower Hill records. It also included music by J.S. Bach, Erik Satie, Edvard Grieg, Russian composer Nikita Koshkin, Carlo Domeniconi, Andrew York and others.
Our favorite piece he played was “Sunburst” by Andrew York. For this piece he had to re-tune his guitar so that he could play a base line as well as a melody at the same time. Several other selections he performed were also done with alternative tuning on the guitar.
Fletcher began to study guitar at age 7 and made his formal debut at 15 with the Brasstown Concert Association in North Carolina. He continues studying with luminaries of the field: he was the youngest student to perform in a 1980 master class taught by José Torres and was a student of Andres Segovia. He has also studied with Christopher Parkening, Pepe Romero, David Russell and others.
We purchased several of his CD’s. They made nice background music to listen to in between our yard sale stops. More information about his recordings and schedule are at: http://www.peterfletcher.com/index.htm.
Of course we also were successful in our yard sale and thrift store finds. We have a few new to us used books, flower pots, an extra large decorative glass jar, an extra large vase, shelving for a closet, towels and more.
Eating out was fun too. We enjoyed several very good fish dinners during our trip. There is nothing like fresh caught ocean fish. Something we can only enjoy when visiting the coast.
One final place we visited was a little south of Half Moon Bay. It was the Harley Farm Goat Dairy in Pescadero. Their store is full of many kinds of goat cheese that they make there. Samples are offered for tasting also.
They are all very good and it was hard to decide which ones to purchase. We ended up getting a chevre with cranberries and walnuts on top and one called “Van Goat” topped with brightly-colored edible flowers which had basil and sunflower seeds inside.
They also offer tours and dinners. Information about the dairy is at: http://harleyfarms.com/Home.html.
All in all it was an enjoyable trip from the scenic drives to the shopping and the great concert.