Nick and Nora PJs sacrificed for dog scarf

It is national dog day today!  

My husband is a cat lover but I prefer dogs.  
Hmm... unconditional love v.s. "You may exist in my presence.....for now" is an easy choice.

In honor of national dog day I have a project to share.  
I was thrifting (surprise!) the other day and found an adorable 
Nick and Nora pajama top. 

I can always spot Nick and Nora PJs because the graphics are so great.  I bought the top thinking I could embellish a scarf.

I've been finding really nice viscose and pashmina scarves at my local Goodwill lately.


So while we were driving to LA a few weeks ago I harvested the dogs using pinking shears.

It looks like a dog chewed it, LOL.

Then I hand sewed the dogs onto a white viscose scarf
 using a running stitch.

Totally adorable.
The small circle is to cover a stain on the scarf.





Love it with  black outfit.

I'm going to have to step away from the computer and go out in public to show it off!  Happy National Dog Day!

Fruits of Advanced Illustration last semester

Last Semester I had the pleasure of taking my second illustration class with Professor Kathleen McCarney at Canada College in Redwood City, CA, USA.  I've been using what I learned to revise my pattern covers and make sure there is some uniformity between them. 

Here I am revising the Patti Cover. It initially had flat renderings 

and I want a bit more lifelike representations.

I generally start with a photo.  

Which I then reduce to a line drawing.  It can look quite different than the photo but I find it helpful to start from a photo.  Here I added in some shadowing for a more 3D look.

I then started to audition color combinations

Not liking the blue and brown much.

This combo wasn't bad.

The pink and brown is a bit more appealing to me. The numbers written on the pages are the pen color numbers.

The final (I thought) version.
Then I realized it was too long,
not representative of how
 the pattern would turn out.

So I shortened it. Subtle
but more accurate.

It is wonderful to have control over the process. Some of you are laughing because you know I am a control freak, albeit a messy control freak.

The downside is it often takes a tremendous amount of time before I am satisfied with a drawing.  Thank goodness for the training I received!  The more I exercise my skills the faster I become and hopefully better. 

No I'm not actually at the beach now, but in honor of the (almost over) summer I've posted one of my favorite ever vacation photos from a couple of years ago.

We were in Mexico, warm sand, lovely breezes and the hotel cooked up a fish feast.  

I found this lovely dress at Goodwill right before I left.

It was on this trip that I started seriously thinking about an upcycling business.  A friend strongly encouraged me and I felt like I was not ready yet but it got me thinking about what it would take for me to be ready.

Thank you Pamela for your vision for me.  Thank you to all my other encouraging friends and family!  

In progress, the Rebecca shirt dress

I've always been partial to shirt dresses. 

I think they look great. When I feel cranky about what to wear a shirtdress is my go-to item. I feel polished and they are comfortable and easy to wear.

I've been experimenting for a future pattern (The Rebecca Dress).  So far I like knee length which looks good with flats.  I don't know about you but I can't do heels anymore. 

I'm using sleeves for the skirt and most of the sleeves are not quite long enough to go from waist to knee so I'm supplementing the length at the bottom.

Check out the price on the shirt!  ($5.39)

Most dress shirts in my area sell for between $5 and $9.  So for a three shirt dress - $27 max, such a deal!  

Upcycle sewing is green and economical. Plus, you get a garment that is unique, almost guaranteed. 

Happy Upcycling!  

New Pattern,The Sandy Blouse

JUST RELEASED:

  The Sandy Blouse is created (upcycled) from three dress shirts. 

Set yourself up for success with this Paganoonoo upcycling pattern! 

Save yourself time and aggravation; 

we've worked out all the kinks for you.  

Each step of deconstruction and reconstruction

is clearly defined and illustrated. 

What Paganoonoo customers say about using the patterns:

"Great directions - easy to use. 

I've made two of these shirts so far and 

have received lots of compliments!"

"Absolutely brilliantly clear & concise instructions"

"Amazing inspiration along with 

wonderfully helpful technical details."

Purchase your copy today!

New Pattern! Double collar instructions.

Adding a double collar to an existing shirt gives it instant flair!

Take the guesswork out of the equation and save yourself time and aggravation. Leverage upcycler fashion designer Michelle Paganini's proven methods. 

This Paganoonoo pattern will guide you through every step of harvesting a collar from and existing shirt and transferring it successfully to a new shirt. Includes instructions for mismatched collar sizes.  

Upcycle sewing made simple. 

Purchase your copy today!*

*Already included in the Peggy pattern so no need to buy this if you have a Peggy pattern.

The complete Paganoonoo collection.

Cashmere in July? Ashlee Blouse

Cashmere!




Off season is a great time to pick up out-of-season goodies like cashmere at the local thrift store.  What to do with it?




In this example the ribbing from the bottom of a sweater was used to form the band specified in the Paganoonoo Ashlee Blouse Pattern.  It was also used for the sleeve cuffs.



The color play is very subtle between the shirts so the addition of texture spiced things up a bit.



Happy upcycling!

I did it again, red and cream oxfords! Happy Forth of July!

While I was in New York for the FIT Sustainable Fashion Summer Institute a couple weeks ago I went to Grand Central Station.  Breathtaking!

I was wearing a pair of Born oxfords that I'd painted red, leaving the original cream color for part.  Lo and behold I found a shoe shine stand that sold colored waxed laces.  I purchased a number of colors.  Here I am with one of my red laces on, one to go. 

 I was wearing grey, black and white so my red oxfords really popped.  All I need with them today is blue jeans. 

 Happy Fourth of July!

I painted the oxfords "Sassy Feet" style using Lumiere paints. 

In the studio - testing new patterns

We are having a great time in the studio, 
preparing to release some new patterns. 
Here are a couple of test run samples for the Rebecca Dress.  

 It's a shirtdress that buttons all the way down the front. The top is unaltered except for the addition on a double collar.  The skirt is made with sleeves and plackets from other shirts. 

 It will be a terrific pattern for hourglass and pear shaped ladies. 

Coming your way soon!

Upcycled Paganoonoo Ashlee blouse, mango colored version for summer

 

Summer is here!  




I love the tropical colors and use of Hawaiian print in this in this version of the Ashlee blouse.  

Have you made your first upcycle blouse yet?

Paganoonoo patterns are a set of instructions (no actual pattern pieces) for how to deconstruct and reconstruct ready-to-wear into a new fashions.  This pattern starts with 3 collared shirts.  In this case one was a rayon Hawaiian shirt used for cuffs, the double collar and one side panel.

Give yourself an upcycling advantage with Paganoonoo pattern instructions!  Upcycle sewing made simple. Etsy Shop.

I transformed a pair of plainish oxfords into silver wonders!

I transformed a pair of plainish oxfords into silver wonders!   These oxfords from Born are very comfortable but I thought a bit plain.  

A member of my wearable art guild, PenWAG, wrote a book called Sassy Feet about painting leather shoes and purses.  Margot Silk Forrest has brought examples into our meetings and Ive always been impressed.

I thought I'd try my hand at painting these oxfords.  I used two tones of silver paint.  Lighter on the sides and darker on the tips and uppers.  It takes 5+ thin layers to provide good cover.  They really look great.

I wore them on my trip to New York and I was stopped a number of times by people who loved the color.  They are a bit flashy but in a subtle way.  

Next, a pair of red and cream.   And I'm thinking a pair of teal and cream would be cool too.  

I may buy a gross, paint them in every color, and make them a trademark fashion staple.

5 simple (and 1 crazy) ways to be greener with your wardrobe

1. Pass on your old clothes to someone else before donating them to thrift stores. Only a small percentage of donated garments are actually repurchased in the U.S.

2. Don't throw out any textile, even a stray sock. If the item is donated it is much more likely to get to a textile recycler.

3. Have a clothing exchange. Donate whatever people don't want.

4.  Repair it and wear it

5. Rent special occasion garments. Www.Renttherunway.com

6. Form a group to share clothes. With just one other person both of you could potentially double your wardrobe. (crazy but clever)

Another version of the Paganoonoo Peggy Blouse

The latest version of the Paganoonoo Peggy Pattern

The lines of the garment show through clearly, 

even in a different color combination.

 

 

Have you made yours yet?  Paganoonoo.com  Upcycle sewing made clear.