bootleg midas touch

Hi everybody! (Every time I ever say that to anybody I always hear it the voice of Dr. Nick from The Simpsons).

I’m actually rushing to get ready for work but I just finished my new favorite accessory, so I had to share! A friend of mine just got a pair of the innnnncredible metallic blue Lanvin shoes from H&M and I just couldn’t get them out of my mind.
Of course I knew I couldn’t have those, so I tried to think of how it would be done in my Bootleg Tailoring Corner. So I went to the hardware store and picked up some gold spray paint at $2.85 a can and went to town. As usual, I got really excited about the project and forgot to take a picture of the shoes before. They were just these plain little cream colored flats that I bought at Gabriel Brothers for $6. So for a grand total of $8.85 I got this……



Not too shabs if I do say so myself. I’m gonna wear them to work tonight so we’ll see how they hold up.

I also just want to thank all of my readers for the very sweet comments and emails I got encouraging me. They really meant the world to me. Much in the way that I couldn’t pinpoint the one thing making me so down, I can’t exactly say what’s bringing me back up but I can guarantee that your sweet well-wishing is part of it.

now featuring: the Bootleg Tailoring Corner!

I’ve been thinking for some time now that my blog is in need of a regular feature so here it is ladies and gents: Bootleg Tailoring! Although I have never used a sewing machine and patterns scare the crap out of me, I do a fair bit of tailoring on my own clothes. I started doing a lot of thrift store shopping with my brother when I was in junior high, and being that we were the only people in our very small town looking for things like vintage prom dresses and suspenders we found some amazing stuff. The only bummer is being a fairly small girl with somewhat different measurements (boobs and no hips or ass at all) it’s hard to find things to fit me the way I like. I took to sewing a little bit in high school but didn’t really get into it until I was about 20. For me hand sewing is one of the most relaxing, rewarding things I can do and if you add in some Project Runway I’m basically in heaven. However, like I’ve said I have no training in sewing really, I just sew logically. I’ll show you what I mean with my latest project- I picked up these amazing pants at the swap, but they were waaay too big on me.

Pretty heinous and unflattering right? I mean, I love the pattern and what they became, but I can see why everyone seemed kind of horrified when I was excitedly showing them around. I just think they’re so goofy- I mean, they actually say the words ‘primitve’ and ‘ethnic’ on them! I also love them for the extreme M.I.A. factor.

Annnyway, I started by turning them inside out and having my very handsome boyfriend pull them tight and pin all the way down. Make sure to leave enough room unpinned at the top to get out of them!

Doesn't he look so thrilled to be doing this?

So next I took them off veeeery carefully so none of the pins would fall out and laid them down to go over the hemlines with a pen. Basically just draw a line all along your pin line. Ball point pens work great for marking fabric and usually come out in the wash if you don’t want to invest in a fabric pen. (That’s what I use.)

Don't mind my little voodoo pin cushion...

Depending on how much you take them in you may need to snip some of the extra fabric from the edge so they don’t look bulky. Just make sure you leave at least a half an inch so your stitches don’t get pulled out. If you’re working with polyester you can use a lighter to singe in raw edges so it doesn’t fray- but be VERY CAREFUL not to set yourself and your garment on fire.

Sorry it's so blurry!

Tah-dah!!

I am probably the most proud of these than any other alteration I’ve done. I wore them out last night and got some great compliments on them, and they’re also super comfy since they’re a little stretchy.

I hope these tips may help some of the sewing-impaired, and there will be more Bootleg Tailoring posts very soon! Please ask if you have any questions, I’d love to help other people enjoy sewing as much as I do!