Convertible Dress

Here it is - the dress!

Ever since finding this American Apparel dress that can be worn in multiple ways, I've been wanting to make my own convertible dress. Then I discovered a forum on Craftster (one of the best craft/sewing sites on the internet, by the way) discussing the Infinity Dress, a similar take on the convertible dress that uses just ONE SEAM.

I finally got around to it last week. I had some time and a few yards of cotton jersey fabric, and here's the outcome:

The dress has a few simple parts - a circle skirt, a waist band, and two long straps - that are all sewn together. Here's what it looks like:

I've been experimenting with it, and there are literally dozens of ways to wear it.

If you're dying to make your own convertible dress, here are the instructions I used. The whole project took about 2 hours, and cost a grand total of $15.

Pillowcase Apron

What do you get when you combine an old Ikea pillowcase, a sewing machine, some ribbon, and a few hours of free time?

An apron for the fashion-savvy housewife! I call this number "Hipster Mod for the Kitchen Broad." Cook with flair! Cook with attitude!

The project took about two hours from start to finish, and I was quite pleased with the result. So pleased, in fact, that I wore it around the house for a few hours. And I wasn't even cooking. The apron joins my ever-growing collection of reconstructed sewing projects - like this skirt-turned-top, this long-sleeved-shirt-turned-halter-top and this dish-towel-turned-hand-bag.

I would have posted some instructions, but I actually made it up as I went. Because, quite frankly, working with patterns annoys me. Seriously, one can handle only so much cutting and pinning and measuring before one's head explodes.

Also, I still have the other half of the pillowcase, so I might make another apron at some point in the near future. Could a contest giveaway on the blog be coming in the near future??? Quite possibly!

Farewell until next time, dear readers. I'm going to go prance around in my apron some more.

Homemade Bath Salts

There's nothing like a nice bath to soothe the body and soul after a long, hard day. Store-bought bath products, however, can get quite pricey. For instance, Bath & Body Works sells one 80 oz. container of bath salts for a whopping $34. For that price, the product had better come with a personal servant who'll give you a complete seaweed wrap and full body massage. But we do-it-ourselves folks can have the same relaxing bath salt experience for dirt cheap. Follow the recipe, and personalize it with your own colors or scents. You can add a few drops of food coloring, perfume, dried herbs, dried flowers, essential oils, etc. I made one batch with some dried lavender from my garden.

Homemade Bath Salts
1 cup Epsom salt
1/4 cup coarse sea salt or rock salt
2-3 tablespoons baking soda

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Store in an airtight jar. Use 1/4 cup per bath.