O U T L Y I N G - Earth Friendly Creative Products - REUSE, RECYCLE, RECLAIM

Ugly Sweater Season

2011-12-08T21:26:00.000-08:00

So, I got this ugly sweater but i think it's a pretty darn beautiful men's sweater. Well, depends how you look at it...

Here's what I made of it:

Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88252201/sweater-dress-one-of-a-kind

And the original:

I have to admit, I played with this sucker for awhile and almost gave up on this ugly sweater. It's been with me for awhile, banished to the back of my rack because i couldn't stand looking at it as the sweater it was. Now it's ready to go to a new home in it's new fabulous design!

<3 jaime

New Bow Clips to the Shop

2011-10-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

So excited to have found these gently used men's ties, perfect for more bow clips!

<3 jaime

Happy 75th Birthday Jim Henson!

2011-09-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

Why do all the good ones have to go so soon? Animal was always my favorite. : )

Have fun with this interactive app from google:
http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en

<3 Jaime

Welding New with Old

2011-09-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

I just came across these beautiful designs that a fellow designer posted to me. It is Studio Koya, which just had it's London Fashion Week. Enough said, let the pictures do the talking:

Have an inspiring day, I know I will...
<3 jaime

When Life Kicks you in the Arse

2011-09-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Life is really getting a piece of me right now. I feel like I have no more to give and what I have given has been chewed up and thrown out, worthless and unmoving.

This is the low part of the rollercoaster ride of the fashion industry. I know it's going to go up again, but those lows aren't so fun.

I cannot share at this point, why there is this low right now because I am legally binded to a contract that doesn't allow me to share the project that I did until it is revealed to the public.

I am not perfect, I know that, and that is part of the reason that I am spiritual, because I need it. Although there are a lot of wars and anti religious people out there, I am not one of them and I want to share what helped me out this morning.

The below is a little snippet of a morning devotional I read this morning from Rick Warren. He is best known to the mainstream public for doing the prayer/speech at President Obama's inauguration.

The below is something I personally find useful to my OWN life. For those that are open, I hope you will find it inspiring. For those that are offended and turned off, my advice to them would be to go live alone in a cave with no people, because different religions exist everywhere.

You can click on the blue title for more info, if you like.

<3 Jaime

Why Should You Work With All Your Heart?
by Rick Warren

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. (Colossians 3:23 TEV)

No matter what you do — sweeping the streets, running a corporation, or the work of a stay-at-home mom — your job is more than a job. The Bible says that while you are here on earth, you should use your work as an act of worship.
This means that whatever you do, you are to do it with enthusiasm. If your heart is not in it, you are in the wrong job. If you are not working with all your heart, you are sinning. I didn't say that; the Bible says it.
Why work with all your heart?
Because you are working “as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”No matter what I do, if it is to prepare a meal, sign an invoice, do an analysis, close a deal, make a sale, make a delivery — whatever it is, I am to do it as if I'm doing it for God, and so it becomes an act of worship.
How will the way you work change now that you know it is an act of worship?

Guess Who?

2011-09-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

Guess who I met, actually I swooped in and took his parking spot.... oops, but I apologized, not knowing who it was, can you guess?

Here's a hint:

I told him to take his frustration on this bottle I just happened to have....

Now it's the most precious vase I've ever owned.

Lovely lovely man, thank you Matt Groening and thank you for forgiving me for my parking spot snatching. ; )

This past Thursday was the Heroes and Villains Book launch held by Launchla.org and Merry Kanowski Gallery. See more info here: http://launchla.org/

I had the pleasure of meeting one of my most favorite painters/illustrators: Luke Cheuh

I gave him my cell phone case to draw in, a bunny one, it couldn't have been a better fit!

If you don't understand, check his work out here: http://www.lukechueh.com/

I always seem to be just a little too late to grab one of his original paintings. : ( But this cell phone case drawing totally makes up for it!

Some pics from the Heroes and Villains Book:

Luke Cheuh

Retna

Tony Millionaire

I don't know who these two are, but I liked the pic.

Onward to creating...

<3 Jaime

I Am Woman, Hear Me ROAR

2011-08-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

So, no, I don't have any new clothing pieces sewn yet, but I'll share what I have been doing lately....with the help of a power drill, of course....

Sketching new designs....

Framing artwork and nailing in decorative hooks....(those are vintage owl hooks)

Got a new friend/model... calling her "Frida"

Framed some more artwork and put up shelves!

You would never guess that the plank of wood is on a cheapy foldup table with hand made pvc extenders for height, hah! I have a love/hate relationship with The Home Depot....

Installed some more decorative vintage hooks to hang patterns on and this adorable nautical boat shelf that I got for a $1 at a garage sale! Pin-y loves it, bark!

More decorative vintage hooks for the dog leashes and keys....

Installed some nifty baskets for our teeny tiny crappy kitchen....

And the biggest feat of all, a security screendoor, keeping the doggies in and the flies out! Plus, a good breeze in the hotbox of the apartment.
(Thanks for helping Kendall, your feast will be cooked on Tuesday)

I need a major massage now....
<3 jaime

Cyrcle My Heart

2011-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Just went to the Cyrcle Brand art show opening last night: WE NEVER DIE

Maybe you've seen them around lalaland?

They sell t-shirts of this too! Check out the store here: http://www.cyrclebrand.com/#!__main/shop

Check out their website here: http://www.cyrclebrand.com/
Their splash page "tar and feather" video is a must see, here's some still pics to wet your interest:

This must see show is going on until.... Don't wait, go! If you missed Art in the Streets by Bansky, go see this now!

Cyrcle my heart boys, love yous!

<3 Jaime

Quote of the Day

2011-08-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

" If you can’t predict the future, create it." Len Schlesinger

I'm worrying and stressed these days about deadlines, about projects, about my own health, etc. This quote has helped me today. From the blog: www.liveintentionally.org

<3 Jaime

Quote of the Day

2011-08-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

"Someone here today is going to change everything.
Someone here is going to do something that matters.
They are going to do it, not because someone told them to or asked them to, but because they chose to do it.....If it’s worth doing, what are you waiting for?"

-anonymous

New Collection, New Inspiration

2011-08-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to start experimenting with some fabric manipulation ideas with some new inspiration pics for the next collection. I've already started sketching but I'm going to start draping new designs today.

Up close and personal detail of a butterfly's wing.

If this wing were fabric, I would wear it everyday of the year...breathtaking.

Kind of loving the fuzzy curves of this. ; )

These next few pics are details of earth, rock and ground. Nature is so amazing!

I don't know if anything that I can come up with can even compare to this. I'd love to see this stuff in person.

<3 Jaime

Look What I Found!

2011-08-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Oooh La La, I love finding old magazines and reading them too!

Photoplay: 1952

Oh Ava, you are such a doll but oh my did you get around or what? ; )

Loving this white tied blouse and full circle skirt combo. The 50's era has some of my favorite silhouettes.

Stardom: 1944

I was expecting more from the "young fashions" article, but still such a good read!

Esquire: 1965

Okay, it's really hard to see, but that's George Hamilton at the top, Joey Heatherton, Sammy Davis, and Sybil Christopher.

I found this magazine to be a better read than most men's magazines today and even women's mags. Very cool.

Hmm....think I'm going to watch a bunch of old movies now...

<3 Jaime

Quote of the Day

2011-08-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."

- Albert Einstein (on describing the link between mystery and intelligence)

Japanese Vintage

2011-07-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

Japanese vintage clothing is similar to vintage clothing you would find in the States, but what's great about it, is that it's so much more unique than American vintage because it's not very common in the States. Here's some beauties I got my hands on:

These are part of the boutique vintage dresses section in the outlying.etsy.com shop. Better fabrics like this printed cotton voile, perfectly stitched facings and wonderfully constructed details like the deep folded bust pleats below make these dresses uniquely superb.

The buttons below are not to be confused with the notorious Chanel logo. They are not mirrored "c"'s but twisted hooks.

Upclose detail of the gorgeous texture on this fabric.

This simple polka dot number seems very basic at first until you see that the printed dots are on a gauzy sheer cotton with embossed dots allover. Breathtaking.

I wish all of my own clothing had the beautiful and intricate details like the covered snaps below.

This adorable cutie is one of my favorites.

I can't get enough of this print and the crystal pleating from tiny to large pleating at the hem.

The candy colored print reminds of pigeon footprints.

Another beauty that could seriously be cut up and framed as an abstract painting. Love.

Close up of this clearly beautifully textured gauzey cotton.

I would love to wallpaper my bathroom with this print below. Sunshine and happiness allover.

This dress is made of a matte cotton double knit fabric. Super comfy and soft.

This is the kind of knit I love for a fitted look. Smooth to the touch but still structured enough so it doesn't hug all the wrong places.

Silk chiffon shadow stripe fabric with black ink dots.

On to tape measuring all these different items so I can list them in the shop!

<3 Jaime

Bad Gift?

2011-07-27T15:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't heard back from my mom about a gift I just sent her. Um....bad gift?

You be the judge.

"Grandmother" written in Korean

Vintage brooch with double layered canvas fabric, abstractly sewn together into a heart and printed with fabric markers.

Let me explain the whole "grandmother" thing. So, my sister is preggers with twins and our mom's been waiting forever to have grandkids. I thought she would be thrilled to be a grandma finally! And well, she's really picky on clothes, so that wasn't an option, and I made her this pin to wear on whatever top she liked. Perfect to wear to my sister's baby shower. ; )

Well, Happy Birthday Mom, love you.

<3 Jaime

Lifetime Tv Audition

2011-07-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

10 hours later and first time using imovie and shooting a video from my imac.

I was asked by a casting agent to apply. So sweet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_pw6PeNdN4

Cork Print? Speckled Print?

2011-07-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

I don't really know how to categorize this print, but it's just intriguing. It's printed on silk crepe de chine and is light and airy. Love.

I played a lot with this fabric on the mannequin until I landed with this:
Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78506627/silk-cork-sweep-dress

Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78506627/silk-cork-sweep-dress

<3 jaime

I Heart Lucy Roberts

2011-07-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

I love finding other artists that do upcycled items. These are too die for! I want prints of these photos, but Lucy Roberts store offers these upcycled stuffed animals that are reconstructed to form whimsical surreal stuffed animals. Love. I heart Lucy Roberts.

Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucyroberts?ref=seller_info

I hope this doesn't inspire scientists to genetically merge real animals, oh wait, I think they're already doing that. But this is so much better!

Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucyroberts?ref=seller_info

<3 Jaime

Lace it Up

2011-07-24T19:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, so there isn't any string lacing up going on, that's definitely another project, but there is a lot of lace.

The version of the jersey drape top, laced up:
Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78442827/lace-hoodie-drape-cardigantop

Psuedo flower head making it's first appearance.

Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78442827/lace-hoodie-drape-cardigantop

Feel Good Splurge!

2011-07-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

The best place for a good splurge search is www.heartsy.com
This is a don't pass up deal! I paid $19 for a $50 credit at CollageOrama.
Also, CollageOrama is having a great deal in their shop too! Buy 3 Get 1 Free!!!

Can't wait to receive these:

Shop here: CollageOrama
http://www.etsy.com/shop/collageOrama?ref=seller_info

<3 Jaime

The Necklace Experiment

2011-07-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

So, I've been wanting to experiment making necklaces cuz I want to be able to use my excess scraps of fabric and trims. This is my first necklace baby. Be kind, you never tell a momma she has an ugly baby, right? ; )

Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78322665/charmed-fringe-necklace

This necklace gives me such joy, it's made of my childhood necklaces and hair ties. Some new beads were added to fill in space.

I've got to find a quicker way to make these....hand stitching each bead individually took forever. Maybe a macrame way of beading would work? Hmmmm....

<3 Jaime

Cape-tastic!

2011-07-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

I love covering my shoulders and a flowy dress with a cape, it just makes it automatically romantic and dramatic.

New Fringe Cape Shawl:
Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78260342/fringe-cape-shawl

I'm so sad, there's almost no more fringe left to use for another garment. There was only so many yards left of this deadstock fringe. : (

As always, back to that lace applique dress...
<3 Jaime

Fringe Cape

2011-07-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted a cape to wear, but I didn't have one. : (
So, I decided to make one! And with fringe trim. Here's the capelet:

Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78025283/fringe-capelet

Now, seriously, got to get back to that lace applique dress....
<3 Jaime

Just Let it Flow

2011-07-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

I had gotten this cute dot print dress, I just loved the drapey light material and the adorable print. Here's what happened:

In the shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77855431/convertible-black-dot-dress
Perfect for hiding a bra strap, and makes for a cute wrap neck detail in the front.

I still need to sew tiny black snaps for easy on and off for the bow....

The original dress was this:

On to the next fixer upper...

<3Jaime

Vintage Treasure Hunting

2011-07-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Here's some treasures I found this past weekend. I want to be the person that wears these!

In the shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77756956/vintage-kaftan-dress

In the shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77782505/vintage-yellow-stripe-dress

Still have to wash some stains out of this one. Will be in the shop soon...

To be in shop in a week

In the shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77612549/70s-maxi-black-n-white-dress

In the shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77667097/cotton-rainbow-trim-skirt

Back to some sewing now...
<3 Jaime

Kimono Lace CoverUp

2011-07-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

Yay, it's finished! Here are the pics:

Shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77752201/kimono-lace-coverup

And now back to the lace applique dress....

<3 Jaime

If I had an iphone I would...

2011-07-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

I had to share this cutie idea: cross stitch a low res character on your iphone case:

Hey Etsy sellers out there, instead of customers cross-stitching their own case, somebody should sell cases like this! I wouldn't take the time to stitch this but I'd def wanna buy one, that is, if I had an iphone....blackberry's are so boring. : (

Find more info here: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/07/diy_cross-stitched_iphone_cove.html

<3 Jaime

The Mesh Distracted Me....

2011-07-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

So, um, I haven't touched that lace applique dress, but I caught eye of some fine creme mesh I had. AND the fact that I just got some cool vintage lace panel.

Here's what I've been working on:

Hah! You can see the applique dress hanging in the back, put on the back burner for now.

Can't wait to finish this later, but gotta go teach a sewing class now...

<3 Jaime

My New Sewing Buddy

2011-07-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

My new sewing buddy's name is Pinny.
Here's a picture of her:

Nope, she's not actually, well, real, but she's real to me! : )

Pinny is my new pin cushion dog from The Winter Fairy. You can find adorable friends just like her at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahmlew?ref=pr_shop

I'm cross-eyed crazy for her. This makes my day while I sew.

<3 Jaime

How to Make Your Own Stamps!

2011-07-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

I had to share this blog post from www.blog.craftzine.com
You can see the tutorial here: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/07/how-to_make_no-carve_stamps.html

This is a great way to make your own screenprints on tshirts while not wasting a lot of paint. You use rubber caulking, that stuff they caulk your bath tub with. Amazing. Check out these great picks from site tutorial:

Ack! So many things to do and so little time to do them all! I'm going to try this and post how I did with it.

<3 Jaime

Rose Bowl Flea Market

2011-07-11T00:07:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait to share some of my findings at the Rose Bowl Flea Market today. If you're going to go, please remember, sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat, a big bottle of water, comfy shoes, and a rolling cart. Well, unless you don't like to buy cheap old stuff, then, well, just goes as you are.

(Sorry, pictures are badly lit)

These were must buy now and have in my hands items.

I just pinned this up temporarily on the side of my piled desk.

Hah, that round cap is the top of my hot sauce bottle. I always hated being forced to eat at my desk when I worked corporate, now it's just my lifestyle and I can't live without a dash of spice everyday.

Gorgeous, somebody's trash just became my guilty treasure.

I love the evidence of hand made in things, beautiful and inspiring but I'm not that crazy to make something like this.

This next one is beautiful in every inch.

Just looking at this made my day. Smiles all around.

Rose Bowl Flea Market finding to be continued....

<3 Jaime

Works in Progress

2011-07-10T23:51:00.000-07:00

I usually take pictures of the final finished product and honestly, it just looks better that way. I haven't posted anything for awhile and I thought I'd show my works in progress....Beware, pictures are really bad, yes, they were taking at night. And yes, my workspace is a catastrophe at the moment.

To refresh, before garment picture:

I already started shortening the stained and ripped hemline of the skirt portion.

(Remember, work in progress....)

The entire dress was raised by shortening the neck collar in the back. Also, the back has been totally cut out, except for the skirt. I'm thinking of reusing the sleeves for a cute tie back of some sort that will definitely cover a bra strap.

Darts were formed from the cut halter neckline on the sides that end inside each bust pocket, which also forms an angled neckline shape.

I had some small remnants of lace and started cutting out individual flowers and leaves...haven't finished this part yet. More cutting of flowers to do and applique onto the skirt.

I'm not going to show a before picture for this next one, it was an extra long and large men's button up dress shirt.

(Another work in progress or maybe it won't work at all but all the crazy will come together in the end, hopefully)

I cut the hem along the front and flipped it so that the shaped hem could be a kangaroo kind of pocket...

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the sleeves yet, they're in a state of half on half off. I think I'm going to leave the back hem extra long. I like to keep my behind well covered. : )

These puppies should be done in a day or so....

<3 jaime

Flock of Gazelles

2011-06-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

With my new screenprint done, I experimented with black screenprint ink.

This took a lot longer than I expected so the flock of deers turned into a fleeing of deers around the corner.

In the shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76952177/silk-flock-of-gazelles-dress

Original vintage dress before picture:

I really love this screenprinting thing. I'm gonna go experiment making unicorns, llamas, pegasus', and more, hooray!

<3 Jaime

Quote of the Day

2011-06-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

"To Age is a Privilege...."
-said by a 70 year old fashionista in NYC

How to Make a Cheap Screenprint

2011-06-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a fellow designer the other day and she just got back a sample of a print on a scarf. It was beautiful like something from Calypso. I've been thinking about doing a print so I thought I'd just make one myself without spending the money on getting a screen made.

Materials: sheer fabric, mod podge, paint brush, image

1. I traced a drawing of a deer on the sheer fabric. I used cheap organza and stretched it onto an embroidery scroll. An embroidery hoop works well too.

2. I brushed mod podge around the deer drawing. I had to put about three coats of mod podge until I could see no more holes in the mod podge.

3. Voila! Print is done! I set the dried screen on top of the shirt and painted with screenprint ink.
The bigger deer was the first try, I didn't put enough paint around the edges.

Be careful, this gets messy.

Tip: Washing the screen with water after using it will get the paint off, waiting too long and you'll have a dyed screen.

I think I'm going to try to cover this lilac dress in black deers.....

<3 jaime

What's the Worst Smell Ever?

2011-06-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

B. O.

I'm talking body odor people. And it stains clothes and it doesn't wash out. Horrible.

Yes, I have to deal with this with used clothing. A blouse or dress can be the most beautiful gem and then bam, the smell.

What to do with a BO stained item? Easy, just get some white vinegar and soak the BO smells out!

I wish I could say, it's fairly quick and easy, but seriously, um, no. The white vinegar seems to bring the smell out, so that means BO times 100!

I feel like the smell will stain my hands!!!!

Side story: I once bought a cute vintage dress and wore it to work with a cute blazer. I kept smelling this horrible whiff of BO. Who was that? Was it my coworker? Did somebody sit in my chair before me? Where is this smell coming from?!?

So, I get home later that day to find that the BO smell is still around me....ack! It's coming from me! It's coming from the pits of the dress I'm wearing on my body, touching my skin, seeping into my own pores! I've never ripped a dress off so quick.

Sadly, I had no idea about the vinegar solution then, so the dress went to be recycled as a rag. Not my rag, to a rag house.

Basically, moral of the story, I try to get my vintage clothes clean as can be! : )

<3 Jaime

The Perfect Assistant

2011-06-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

My dog Gilly has been the perfect assistant. She keeps me smiling and forces me to take breaks to walk. What else could I ask for?

You can see all the clothes hanging behind her. The clothing rack is my headboard for my bed.

For more info about Gilly: www.kissmykittyass.blogspot.com

Miss Muffit Sat on her Tuffit...

2011-06-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday's granny dress turned into:

Shop listing:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76351145/red-du-jour-dress

First, the collar and sleeves had to go and the neckline and armholes were reshaped.

There was a horribly sewn center back zipper that I cut out and replaced with a trim lined keyhole.

Whoever owned this dress did some of their own alterations on the side seam and tried to handstitch a weird shaped panel on each side of the waist. That had to go, side seam was cut and restitched.

Now the print can really shine!

Next transformation dress:

I already started hemming the skirt, it had a bunch of rips and stains on it.

<3 Jaime

Peek A Blue!

2011-06-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

Latest creation made from a vintage 80's suit dress:

Shop for it here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76297788/peek-a-blue-dress

Next up, this number. I remembered to take a before picture this time:

Love the print and drapey quality of this fabric. Looks like somebody got to this dress before me and started chopping at the overlayer of the white collar. I wonder what was originally there?

Going to start transforming this puppy.

<3 Jaime

Flower Power and Puffs

2011-06-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

I saw this vintage jacket and had to have it. It was so adorable but I knew I'd never wear it as is. So,
I started cutting....

I cut out a waistband and faced it with scrap satin lining fabric, replaced the buttons and added skirt hooks and made a wrap skirt.

In the shop now: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76126514/quilted-puff-skirt

This fabric has a light batting that's been quilted into an adorable design making the puff effect.

I took the original jacket top and cinched the sleeves by inserting wide elastic. Another waistband was made and the back hem of the jacket was gathered into the waistband.

In the shop here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76175092/floral-puff-jacket

<3 Jaime

Don't Squash that Bug!!!!

2011-06-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

I've got to go see this exhibit, plus it's right here in Los Angeles at the Folk and Craft Museum. Jennifer Angus uses and reuses these unextinct bugs to create beautiful wall decor. Wow, I think I won't swat that fly dead next time.....

Here's more info on the artist: Jennifer Angus
Showing at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles

<3 Jaime

Blooming Lace Dress

2011-06-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

I just finished an original upcycled dress today. It feels like you're blooming like a flower in this dress.

Just listed in the shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/75939862/blooming-lace-dress

A vintage crocheted lace was used for the outer layer.

A vintage dress from the 90's was used and reconstructed with tie shoulders that are adjustable and a shortened length.

I don't want to whine, but the inner dress had me yelling profanity at it while I was trying to deconstruct and reconstruct it. Lyocell fabric has a great feel to it and an airy quality to it, but it frayed like crazy and the thickness was really hard to work with. I'm going to take a breather on using lyocell again. So, glad this beauty is done.

<3 Jaime

To Paint or Not to Paint

2011-06-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

I just finished sewing another dress from a vintage dress but there's so many stains on it that I've got to figure out a way to paint or print on it.

Original dress:

I loved the color and texture of this silk chiffon fabric.

This is what I ended up doing:

Okay, it's hard to see the stains, but they're there and they're not little spots but globs of discolored fabric. Kind of gross but I did try to wash them out already. Hmmmm....what can I print on this?

So, I tried doing some painting on another finished dress I made. Big mistake, bummer, cuz this dress was cute just plain.

(Beware, this is hideous)

omg, a bloody massacre on a cute shirt dress I made from an oversized vintage men's shirt. Now, I'm really scared to touch a brush. Ugh, this thing is just hanging in my shower as a cruel reminder. Don't paint!

Well, tomorrow's a new day....

<3 Jaime

If a Dress Ate Sherbert Ice Cream

2011-06-10T16:26:00.000-07:00

I love frothy dresses. I got a moo moo vintage night gown and just had to have it. And a la Scarlet O'Hara, I took some vintage curtains and made a dress.

The back V detail is a great alluring but covered detail.

Three layers of massive volume and fabric. I had flashbacks of wedding dress hem stitching from hell.

Matching lace tie slid through keyholes on the sides.

My raggedy sewing self trying this puppy on.

<3 Jaime

Sneek Peek for June

2011-06-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

I'm battling the June gloom right now. Two cups of coffee and it's already noon. These dresses will brighten up the weather. To be in the shop soon. www.outlying.etsy.com

The 90's are BACK!

2011-06-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

I would've never thought I'd say, yay, 90's styles are back! But hey, you don't see something long enough and it looks new and cool.

Check these little treasures I just couldn't help smiling at:

The little handkerchief in the pocket, just too cute and you gotta love a great cherry red accent coat.

This will be in the shop this week. www.outlying.etsy.com

As a duster jacket thrown onto anything skin tight, hot, period.

A great necklace doesn't hurt either.

Yes, I'll predict it, you'll definitely see something like this walking down the runway soon.

Love this animal jacket. Yes, I love a 90's style jacket. I can't believe I just wrote that.

This will be in the shop this week. www.outlying.etsy.com

This entire jacket is a landscape of zoo animals. Love it.

The tiger is peaking at the zebra, "hello!"

I always wanted a cute baby cheetah on my back....

(I think the giraffe is trying to smell my mannequin's armpit.)

Delicious stitching. This is not printed, all stitched.

Sorry, but this next jacket won't be in the shop. I'm keeping this one. Come on, I deserve it.

I've been wearing this ever since I found this vintage jewel. Simple, 90's but so cool to wear in hot weather and looks great with short shorts and a tank.

I love this textured kind of fabric, plus, it's machine washable, easy.

I was definitely tempted to keep this one too...

This vintage beauty is made of a soft windbreaker type of fabric. So light, airy and flowy.

yum, the 90's were pretty great, huh?

<3 Jaime

New Vintage Dresses

2011-06-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to list these new vintage dresses in the shop. Here's a sneek peek:

I love floaty and flowy dresses with a bit of a modern touch, so feminine and summery.

Just a darling dress all around. Worn with flats and dressed down or with stockings and platform shoes to go out in.

One of my faves. I'm inlove with this fabric. It's a linen cotton blend, light and airy yet soft and comfy.

I don't think I could live without chiffon. Just too pretty for words.

The print on this dress is just adorable and unique.

These dresses will make their appearance in the store soon.

www.outlying.etsy.com

<3 Jaime

Reshoot

2011-06-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

I had to reshoot the photos of the Y Strap Dress. Much better now.
Listed in the shop today. http://www.etsy.com/listing/75382587/y-strap-dress

Amazing what plain natural sunlight can do.

<3 Jaime

Crystals and Flowers

2011-06-03T22:46:00.000-07:00

I got this dress at the Goodwill awhile ago. I'm glad I didn't wear it as is.

Original dress:

Super long and super boxy but really nice linen fabric.

With some crystal beads and some scissors, I started chopping away.

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/75329258/linen-crystal-dress

This is a typical dress that I could wear day in and day out forever, especially during the heat of summer.

The cut is very deep on the armholes. I love how it elongates and thins out a silhouette.

I knew I had to hang on to these beads for something.

Dress is on sale now: http://www.etsy.com/listing/75329258/linen-crystal-dress

Beware, the next pictures are horrible, but I finished this dress late tonight and don't have professional lighting to take pictures right now. So, here goes.

Ugh, I hate the flash when taking dark lighted items. This fabric is a gorgeous crepe de chine with a circle and square jacquard texture woven through it. Really, it's gorgeous in person.

The back has a gorgeous sweep of pleats at the back hem that flutter when you walk.

I had just enough room to squeeze in a pleat on each side of the bust and was able to insert the trim along the neckline into them for a clean finish.

Had to try this one on. : )

I'll be putting reshooting the pics tomorrow for this one and listing it in the shop.

<3 Jaime

MINE MINE MINE or not...

2011-06-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

I want to keep these beauties! But, of course, these were purchased for the shop. Boo hoo, the cobbler has no shoes! That is, the fashionista has no fashion! ; )

Pretty apricot sheer stripe with teal print and piping.

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/75293334/70s-apricot-dress

How great are these metal buttons, love.

I wish I could've shown a model twirling in this beauty.

Me splashing paint onto fabric just can't compare to this lovely print.

Funk 80's Dress

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/75295685/eclectic-80s-dress?ref=v1_other_1

Beautiful asymmetric placket

Close up, pretty crinkled crepe fabric.

Back

Of course I had to try this gem on. Omg, I felt like a fairy of the ocean. I don't know if I want to sell this one. But listing it tomorrow in the shop.

Beautiful tapered sheer sleeves

Gorgeous layered sheer pleating

Back

<3 Jaime

I Hit Gold and Some Other Things

2011-05-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

My volunteer day at the shelter was changed to Sunday so I decided to take a drive instead to hunt for some treasures. I definitely think I hit some gold.

My fave piece today:

A delicious 70's jacket/shirt.

Yummy. I love the patterned lurex gold stitch intertwined in this weave.

Yay, the buttons are still there too!

Beautiful shaped patch pockets and scalloped sides. Love.

I was wrestling with a guy over this. I can see why. Pretty cute on a scruffy lean rocker boy.

Okay, well, I found there's two small holes on the sleeve. I'm going to try to stitch them up by hand and see how it looks.

I love jackets and I found this jewel of a jacket. Perfect for the whole ikat/tribal trend going on during the summer.

It's missing a bottom center button, gotta go find the right size and color for this guy.

The decorative stitch on this jacket is amazing. It's beauty braille for the hands.

Just perfect all around. Somebody took very good care of this jacket.

Pretty coral silk charmeuse lining and a tiny inside pocket with a flap. I found two pennies in there. Double goodluck!

On to the other things:

I loved the fabric of this dress and the dropped waist pleated skirt.

This is definitely going to be a transformer fixer upper. Plus, there's some tears on the sleeves and the skirt.

This one looked good at first.

I'm thinking it would be cool sleeveless and a different length.

The print sold me. Think I wouldn't notice the plastic clear button replacement people? That's gotta go.

Oops, there's a major burn/stain on the back. That's gotta go too. Redesigning next stop.

This one looks pretty recent but it's not. Definitely 80's with big shoulder pad inserts and oversized silhouette.

I have yet to find any flaws with this one.

I still want to play with this one and see if I can redesign it a little more current or younger.

I think I secretly want to just wear tops like this all the time, but I think I'd look like I'm 60 years old.

Loving the pattern on this beauty too. It must be an asian thing or something.

This one only needed a little scrubbing to get some stains out and this 70's blouse is ready to wear!

The collar and buttons are just too cute.

One of my dress clips would go perfect here and cinch the back up.

All that hunting today wore me out. Time for a break and to get ready to take out my shears for some cutting time.

<3 Jaime

Tassle Me Up Matey!

2011-05-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

I got this old mama dress:

Yup, I wouldn't wear it either....BUT I still love this print, maybe not the border prints but the scatter dot is just wonderful and so wearable.

So, some snip snips, sewing power, and play with some trim later....

FRONT

CLOSE UP

BACK

CLOSE UP

Now I love this dress. I gotta make one for myself. Gotta go rummage through some more mama dresses.

<3 Jaime

Never Worn into Wear it Now

2011-04-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

I had this old dress of mine that I never wore. It was a long maxi dress that was too tight along the body.
This dress is wearable now!

I basically separated the ruffle off the maxi dress and redraped it along the dress and did a bit of a drape with the hemline that was leftover. Voila!

Revamping Polka Dots

2011-04-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

I got this beautiful vintage dress with a wonderful silk polka dot print. Well, more of a modern polka dot, even better! I revamped a mini dress and a tank out of the dress. Here are my polka dotted ladies:

I chopped the sleeves of the original dress and made a racerback style. The sleeves were kept for the next top.

I kept the original covered buttons for easy in and out of this mini dress.

The fabric is a creamy white jacquard silk with abstract black polka dots. Love this fabric.

Second polka dotty:

I took the extra sleeve fabric and made spaghetti straps that twist in the front and make beautiful angles on the top.

The color is reversed on this silk fabric. Polka dots look good in any color!

Hello Marilyn Monroe

2011-04-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

I got the fever. Who would've thunk it?

Vintage dress before being Marilynized:

After:

I was really worried when i was constructing this dress. I had so little fabric left to make spaghetti straps and I was determined to use all of the vintage dress fabric for this dress. I tugged and tugged for an hour to get one spaghetti strap right side out. Ouch, my fingers are aching! Imma go ice them now.

90's Dress Redesign Challenge

2011-04-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

Here's the original dress:

If I were a textile designer, this is a print that I would want to design, but definitely not the dress. Here's what I redesigned it into:

FRONT - off the shoulder on one side

SIDE - cascade sleeve

3/4" VIEW - off the shoulder

FRONT - converted onto both shoulders

BACK

Seeing More Red

2011-04-04T21:44:00.000-07:00

The post before I used the skirt portion of the red dress. Here's the top portion redesigned:
(I'm very tempted to keep this one for myself....)

So I reshaped the hem and did a 1/4" roll up hem to the top layer and lining. The sleeves I kept as the original dress. I made slashes in the back and did a welt pocket type of stitch around the slashes. Then, I took some discarded scrap fabric for the long piece of black used to knot and single bow the slashes. I'm so happy the bottom back draped so nicely!

New Design on Sale on Etsy

2011-04-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

I found this vintage dress at JetRag with a blousant top and circle skirt bottom. The proportions were a little too 90's and way too big but I loved the print and had to snatch it. I forgot to take a picture of the dress in its original form.

It was something like this:

Yah, it's definitely not a looker but if you can imagine the original dress was a bit worse than this dress.

Here's the finished top, made out of the circle skirt of the vintage dress:

I tried to do an action pick on this one. Darn lamp is in the pick. Tomorrow's another day....

I Love You Long Time!

2011-04-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

New design, my kimono coverup and layer it up top.
I always find it hard to find things that will cover up my flabby arms during the summer skimpy tops season. This will do the trick and still be light, airy, and chic.

Stitches Making me Hungry

2011-03-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

Why did I eat all these?

Stitched Illustrations by Nike Schroeder were making me hungry....

http://www.nikeschroeder.com/nike_schroeder.html

This could be a great idea for how to use excess fabric scraps. Making drawings with different fabric scraps and stitching on them. More of a modern quilt type thing.

Paint Me a Dress Please

2011-03-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

Let's get back into the game here with some fun painting on a dress form.

I wrapped the mannequin with shrink wrap and pinned the nude dress pieces to the mannequin and started painting away. The black overlay dress has no paint on it.

The results:

Finished Wedding Dress Pictures

2011-03-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

The pictures took a little while to get back, but here they are....

It was a great experience to make a wedding dress. The question is would I make it by hand by myself again? Hmmmm....

And this is why I haven't been blogging lately....

2011-02-13T23:01:00.000-08:00

"Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months."

-Oscar Wilde

Dazed Days...

2010-09-07T23:31:00.000-07:00

Oh my...how the days have gone by, what a blur...
I moved, got beaten up, making a custom wedding dress, and just got done with another piece. Finally, I feel whole. period.

Seafoam blue, gotta love it. No one makes this color anymore too often. This top is made from a silk vintage cape. Beautiful pleating with crinkled chiffon. The side buttons were originally from hair ties from my childhood. I knew there was a reason I kept them for the past 20 years...

Shhhh....I'm definitely wearing this one for a whirl on the town. I feel like dancing on clouds now....

-jaime

If I can't BE a butterfly, this comes pretty close

2010-07-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

I am not ready for fall. It's sticky hot outside. I think i got cat hair stuck to the back of my knees today. nice. I'm putting the sweat into sweatshop today.

There's nothing like beautiful design to cool me off and forget about the heat.

Designs by JewelEra

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jewelera

These beautiful designs are painted on organza. Amazing and surreal. If i had a top covered with these butterflies I think I would fly...

The Glamorous Fashion Life....

2010-07-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

Fooling around with the "Numbers" program from the iwork suite for Mac.
I can't say it enough how wonderful this suite is....
This is the layout for my Master Plan, or whatever you call it....

These are some of the pages within one document in "Numbers". I have cleared most of the data in the tables. Can't give all my secrets away! Plus, I don't think my clients would like me to show their personal data. ;)

Record for Stores to Contact for wholesale, and there's a table for Blogs to Contact for Press, but I couldn't fit that into the screenshot.

Record of Orders taken table and a client list for custom orders so I can contact them for later sales..

These charts show the breakdowns of cost involved with each garment and of course overhead. I hate overhead. I'm going to climb and hits it off it's head darn it!

This is just a Goals table, I like to keep my goals in perspective, this always changes and morphs...

Yup, pretty boring stuff, but that's what it's about sometimes, lots of paperwork, lots of emails, phone calls, making paper patterns, etc. etc.....

Gonna run to my sewing room and shut myself in now...yay!

-jaime

My Forever Mentors....

2010-07-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

This just in, the Toledos have done a collaboration with Target. Hooray!
I used to work for them back in the day, the early years of my career and I will never forget the experience, Isabel and Ruben's integrity, kindness, creativeness and heart. I model my own career after theirs, that since leaving the corporate, mass production world of fashion. There are no words to describe my experience there...

Some pics from the Target collaboration:
(Note: a percentage of proceeds will go to the Harlem Charity fund)

I have to have this! It's so affordable. I tried to buy one of Isabel Toledo's jackets at Barney's when I used to work in NYC...but I just couldn't allow myself to be in debt over it... Now I can own one of her designs. Delish!

Ruben is genius and of course Isabel is too! Love love love this! I want an entire wall of just this!

I want ALL my towels to look just like this!

Beautiful! (can you tell where my own style of drawing has been influenced by?)

The awesome duo:

Some of her work:

(I actually worked on this one in their studio...intense!)

View more products to be in Target at:

http://www.papermag.com/2010/07/toledos_for_target.php

QUOTE OF THE DAY

2010-07-07T08:50:00.001-07:00

"This world is full of beauty, as other worlds above, and if we did our duty, it might be as full of love". Gerald Massey

Next Photoshoot

2010-07-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

Let's go! Deadlines make me work faster. The next photoshoot for O U T L Y I N G will be in about two weeks. Some inspiration pics for the look. I think my dog, Gilly has some influence in this photoshoot inspiration.

Gilly:

Hmmm....should've kept Gilly's hair after her trip from the groomer last time... ; )

Or maybe something more natural... Oh wait, that's MY next hairstyle...

Now that I'm on the fuzzy thing...

Where did all my old stuffed animals go.... I've got to have one of these....

(I think I'm ellipses-ing myself to death here, that's jus' how my brain works...)

Love the smear effect here. Would love to photograph myself with just my face smeared...don't ask me why.

I just love this pose, the dress, everything, but I don't like the model's mouth expression, too overtly sexy, I like androgyny more.

Jeff Cylkowski, where are you? I want a mural like this for my back drop!

Actually, the goal is to have a permanent mural in my studio....

Hmmm, thinking of painting, I think I can do this in photoshop easily...

I just want to be queen for a day....

Gimme a "P" for Poms Poms! Hooray!

2010-07-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

I got some goodies this past Thursday....

Pom Pom Trim! I love this stuff and I got gobs it from my alma mater, Otis College of Art and Design, who needed to dispose of it after the end of this past school year. Of course I had to give a small donation, but I was going to do that anyway. It's so unfortunate that universities need to be struck by the "R" word too....

Okay, not the most inspiring picture....

Some ideas on what to do with this type of trim:

Instead of the ruffle trim on the hem, pom pom trim!
Picture from Susie Bubble blog

How about a Pom Pom Flapper dress?

Picture from: http://kittykeay.blogspot.com

I could pom pom the heck out of the flounce on this design....Picture from Outlying 3/2010

Or a Pom Pom ruffled duvet cover? pillow? lampshade?!
Picture from urbanoutfitters.com

Heck, why not do pom pom layered knee high tights?!

I have to figure out where I can get a program that I can freehand draw on the computer and post easily...Adobe Illustrator requires too much file changing and saving for my taste.... If I could just find a different program like that I could sketch these ideas really quick and post them instead of scanning my sketchbook...so time consuming...so many things to do....

Pom pom ya laters,

- jaime

Quotes of the Day

2010-06-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

"Sooooooo when you die, do you disappear?!"
-Christina, age 8, daughter of my friend Heather

CONTEXT: Christina had just come home from school and noticed her fishy was missing from the fish bowl. Her mother said the fish had died earlier that day.

My response quote*:

"Life is hard. After all it kills you."

-Katherine Hepburn

*no, i did NOT tell this to Christina. Just being sarcastic. ( :

"Life has you clenching your teeth sometimes, like a fat kid on a diet."
-jaime

Business Stuff

2010-06-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

I've been mia. No new products in the store yet. I got kinda stressed out and wanted to pull my hair out but then I like my hair and want it to stay put, so I've just accepted the fact that I'm only one person. I have to cheer myself for getting things done, even if it's not product.

Yay! - New domain name: OUTLYINGPROJECT.COM

Hip hip hooray! - DBA(Doing business as name) filed: O U T L Y I N G

Hoorah! - Selling Permit/Tax ID filed.

Woohoo! - Home business permit filed.

Cheers! - Published Ad in Local Paper (requirement for california businesses)

Woopah! - Started spreadsheets in iwork (love love love this program by the way)

Yipee yi yah! - Hooked up business phone line/personal line.

Yee haw! - I'm still alive.

Get this stinking paperwork off my desk now!!!!

Hey, give me some love kitties!

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

You said I could do anything

I set my mind to.

I don't know if you realize

how much those words

influenced me as a child

and continue to inspire me as an adult.

To this day,

whenever I try something new

or dream of doing something different,

I hear your strong, encouraging voice

cheering me on.

It's true-

I can do anything

I set my mind to,

because I have a dad

who believes in me

and taught me to believe in myself.

- jaime

QUOTE OF THE DAY

2010-06-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.

Arthur Schopenhauer

Rock N Wheel

2010-06-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

If I were a kid again, I would love this! I wonder if there's an adult version?

A rocking chair on my porch would be perfect for enjoying my morning coffee and paper.

How great would it be if they had rockers on poolsides? The perfect start to the first day of summer, June 21st!

http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/19/a-hybrid-vehicle-that-turns-from-kids-play-car-to-rocking-chair/

Animal Haters and Saving Trees....

2010-06-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

So, our neighbor is crazy! She has repeatedly complained to the HOA about excessive noise from our dogs. First of all, one of our dogs never barks. Secondly, the dog that does bark only barks to let us know that people are at the door, someone is on our property, someone suspicious is outside. All of the people in our household actually appreciate this, seeing that we are both single women living together.

Anyway, hearings for the HOA, dealing with our horrible neighbor who exhibits slandering speech about all the neighbors who are not white or looks white enough for her. She is also a racist. How wonderful, right?

I've taken action into researching the city code for solicitors, canvassers, and peddlers. Of course, as we are good neighbors, we take every initiative to come to the door when our Mr. Darcy barks, to see who has come on to our private property and left more junk mail. It's very unfortunate.

"Over 100 million trees are destroyed each year in order to produce junk mail. In addition, 28 billion gallons of water are wasted in the production. The distribution of junk mail is another environmental disaster. The shipping of junk mail emits the same amount of greenhouse gases as 9 million cars."

This is what I've done:

(this is the correct text above)

This only takes a second to do. Print this on your computer or write it in black marker. Put in a clear sheet protector and tape the open end closed. This is a cheap and easy way to make a weather proof sign.

You can also go to: http://ecotothepeople.com/?p=401

The article below has been copy and pasted below, the save a tree one is the best!!!!

Stop Junk Mail

Your junk mail. Your responsibility.

All that junk mail you get is a nuisance isn't it? Well that's not the only problem: junk mail is also an environmental nightmare! That's why SAVE THE FROGS! has teamed up with 41pounds.org, a nonprofit that guarantees they will stop 90% of your junk mail. Sign up and 41pounds.org will donate $15 to SAVE THE FROGS!. If you are like the average American, you receive 41 pounds of junk mail each year. Tired of it? So are we! Take action today.

or:

ecoHabits: Four Steps to Reducing Your Junk Mail

I like to thumb through catalogs as much as the next girl but while collecting the mail last week, one of our staffers wondered out loud how many trees were wasted every year in the making of junk mail. We went in search of the answer and, well, it is pretty scary.

Did you know that 5.6 million tons of catalogs and other direct mail advertisements end up in U.S. landfills every year and that the average American household receives junk mail equivalent to 1.5 trees every year? That adds up to more than 100 million trees felled for unsolicited mail every year.

We knew that junk mail was out of hand but those statistics really floored us so we set out to figure out a way to reduce the amount of junk in our mailboxes. Here are some of the best tips we were able to unearth:

1. Start with the big dogs.

If you want off as many national mailing lists as possible, your first step is to contact the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service. You must re-register after five years.

When you register, your name and address are placed in a “do not mail” file that is updated monthly and distributed to DMA members quarterly. This includes retailers whom you have not directly ordered from. DMA members are required to update their lists at least quarterly, and some do it monthly. The DMA estimates that listing with their mail preference service will stop 75 percent of all national mailings.

By spending 15 minutes on this website, we were able to almost completely stop the catalogs we were receiving, which at one time were in the dozens every month. You can choose specific retails that target you. Since some retailers are worse than others when it comes to sending catalogs — you know who you are Pottery Barn — having the ability to address those companies individually is helpful. You can register online here.

Not ready to give up the remote shopping habit completely? To learn about sales and other promotions from the comfort of your own home, simply change your preferences from snail mail to email so you can dream about purchases on screen, rather than on paper.

2. Stop residential mailers in their tracks.

Huge sources of junk mail are those flyers and coupon booklets addressed simply to “resident” or “occupant.” To get your name of some of these lists you can take the following steps:

ADVO: According to its own website, ADVO is the nation’s largest targeted home-delivered print advertising provider, with 25 mail processing facilities, 33 sales offices nationwide and in Canada. You can remove your name and address from ADVO two ways: either call ADVO’s Consumer Assistance line: (888) 241-6760 or fill out and submit a form on ADVO’s website.

PennySaver (in California) or The Flyer (in Florida): You can remove your name and address from these mailings two ways: By phone, you can call PennySaver at (800) 422-4116  or The Flyer at: (813) 626-SELL. Or you can contact the companies below at the following addresses:  Circulation  C/O Pennysaver  2830 Orbiter Street  Brea, CA 92821  and Circulation C/O Flyer 201 Kelsey Lane Tampa, FL 33619.

Val-Pak Savings Coupons. Val-Pak maintains regional lists, not a central one. Send your request to the address printed on the envelope you receive. If you receive the blue envelope you can also remove your address from their website by clicking here.

3. Save a tree. Protect your identity.

Many of the companies you do business with provide data to credit bureaus about how much you owe and how promptly you pay your bills. The four credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis.

While the credit bureaus do rent lists, they do not disclose specific financial information to marketers like how much you make, what you owe or to whom. Instead, they compile lists based on consumer characteristics and if you fall into a one of their categories, you will receive “pre-approved” credit card offers in the mail. The insurance industry also uses these lists to solicit business, which is why you are likely getting offers for reduced car insurance… even though you don’t own a car.

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and some states’ laws require credit-reporting companies to delete any consumer’s name and address from mailing lists if the consumer so chooses. This is the DO NOT CALL of junk mail and it does work.

Call (888) 5OPTOUT. With this single number you can call to prevent all four credit bureaus from sharing your characteristics with retailers and marketers. Not only will this save paper, but disposing of these mailings improperly can lead to serious problems like identity theft if your offer falls into the wrong hands.

4. Give catalogs, mail order lists and magazines – not trees – the axe.

When you buy something from a catalog, your transaction is likely to be reported to Abacus, owned by DoubleClick Digital Advertising. Members of the Abacus Alliance, mostly catalog companies and publishing companies, contribute and exchange information about their customers. Your name may also be sold to other catalog and publishing companies. One way or another, when you ask for one catalog, will likely get catalogs from other companies as well.

To opt out of the Abacus database, send an email to abacusoptout@epsilon.com. Include your name, including any middle initial, your current address, and if you’ve moved recently, your previous address.

You can also go to ProQuo to select specific catalogs you receive and have them stopped.

If it seems easier to just let the junk mail flow into your home and be recycled, this statistic might motivate you: In the course of a lifetime, Americans spend an average of 8 months opening junk mail.

Canceling it using these four steps takes a lot less time.

This inspires me to take apart my bike!

2010-06-18T00:54:00.000-07:00

These beautiful rings caught my eye the other day:

I believe this is from the Lanvin jewelry collection for SP'10. I've actually seen Alber Elbaz, the creative director for Lanvin, at Barney's in NYC. He's so adorable and just such the cheerful jolly man you'd think he'd be. He's an amazing designer and has really given Lanvin it's comeback.

Yah, so these rings probably aren't made of bicycle parts, but for some reason, they remind me of the chains on a bike. It really makes me want to take my bike apart to make jewelry like this. Fun! However, then I couldn't go biking anymore and well, that would be sad.

I'm going to hunt for some nuts and bolts kind of stuff...could be cool....

Vintage Cape Makeover Part Uno

2010-06-18T00:41:00.000-07:00

I had bought this crinkled chiffon cape about 4 years ago at Jet Rag's Sunday $1 sale in West Hollywood. It's pretty darn awesome. Sure, most stuff is damaged, but there's beauty there, you just gotta dig for it.

I started draping it and pinning it to the dress form today to figure this pretty baby out.

The cape is this beautiful sea foam color. I'm thinking of making it into a top, maybe buttons down the middle...

Here's a closer shot. Not too shabby, yes? Well, there's some problems in the back...

There's a huge tear in the back on the left side. I started hand stitching a basting stitch, a ladder stitch to be exact, to keep the sheer layers from moving before I send it through the sewing maching. I'm thinking i could put some kind of seam or dart to eliminate the tear....

Gees, I started doing a basting stitch, but realized I needed to do a french seam to clean up the raw edges of the fabric that I'm going to cut out. Gotta pull this basting stitch out and do it again on the face side of the cape. Ugh, I hate taking out stitches and redoing stuff.

(I've put links for reference for the stitches if you're interested)

Anway, here's a close-up of the pleating detail:

This cape has been through a lot. I wish it could tell me it's traveling stories. I gotta pin down these pleats and do some major pressing with the iron before this puppy is done. It looks like it's been in sea foam...

I went hunting for some type of bead or button to match this cape, then ended up reorganizing my junk drawer of odds and ends and still didn't find the perfect match for this cape.

Then I remembered I had this clear facet beaded bracelet from about 10 years ago that I never wear anymore. Perfect! The beads are beautiful and really compliment this cape.

I can't wait to finish this diamond in the ruff. So tempted to keep it....

-jaime

Lamb Leather and noodles....

2010-06-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to post two separate posts for this so here goes....

Lamb Leather- Purrrrfect, love this stuff, it's like buttah on your skin, but better cuz it won't make you fat or break out. I got remnant scraps after cuttings from the original hide. You can get scraps and pay by the pound I think at Sav-mor Leather in downtown Los Angeles. This is what I made:

(the dress was an old dress I made that I'm thinking of revamping too....)

This is the underside construction. I'm surprised there's no red drips on this. Leather hand needles are deadly. Try it, it's s&m fun....

What's great about these Leather Bow Tie Dress Clips is that I made them with a wide elastic construction inside so there's more ease and stretch in the dress clips while keeping the integrity of the bow tie look.

And then there were The Noodles:

Noodles in my sink?! They kind of look like angel hair pasta or I'm really hungry right now.

Okay, no noodles, but fringe. I had gotten this fringe from not mentioned store cuz I'm never going there again and they stunk like a homeless man after running a mile in an astronaut suit. Ick.

I kept looking around my sewing room checking for the homeless man luring around me. So, the sink the fringe went and I got noodles now, but clean smelling noodles sir. Now I can rest easy.

-jaime

Okay, I am sick, really.

2010-06-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

I think this about sums up why I haven't got work done lately...
Yah, you're in the same boat, eh?

www.comics.com

What to do with Vintage Linens

2010-06-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

I got these vintage linens that I'm currently in love with right now. The pattern is awesome. I have to remember to do some kind of duplicate print from these. Love it. I started draping on the mannequin, using another newer linen that I had that's similar in color for the lining. I got the linens from rewear warehouse. Awesome store that gives back to the colors of hope foundation and other nonprofits.

Here's a close-up of the fabric pattern. It reminds me of some kind of tribal motif....

The width of the fabric is very narrow, about 22" maybe, but lengthwise it's about 4 yards. I draped the fabric on the bias, the pattern looks even better draped this way.

I've got layers of fabric underneath since I haven't finalized cutting the linen yet, so the top is looking a little puffier than it should.

Left side view. Since the fabric is limiting in width I incorporated a handkerchief look to work with the small width of the fabric. It's hard to see, but the lining fabric was draped at angles too, giving another layer of transparent angles to the design.

Right side view. Hem needs to be stitched still....

Back view. I still need to figure out the ties for this top. The back is going to have an elastic casing for ease of fit. I've placed a pleat on the back on both layers for the elastic ease.

I think I'm going to go searching for some pretty bugle beads. I think it'll add to the motif and bring out the design, making it more dimensional.

Okay, I'm really sick, I mean I need some good 'ol o.j. and rest. I'll have to continue this project later.

p.s. Look who's been keeping me company in my sewing room lately. I like to call her the "demon" cat.

I've been fostering her until she gets a new home. It's not that she's black that she's evil, it's the fact that she growls like a demon and trys to attack me when I change her water, litter box and give her new food. Look how she's kicked all the litter everywhere! Ack! I think she got me sick! Bad vibes, bad news. Come on kitty, don't be scared...stop attacking me!

The Khaki Dress Transformation Part 1

2010-06-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

I found this great vintage Ideas Brand dress, probably from the 80's era. I think it just needs some alterations to make it super cute and wearable for today.

Here's the original picture, I already started chopping one of the sleeves.

I'm thinking it would be great to give this dress a deep cut armhole, more jumper like and bare shoulders for a 40's pin-up girl look. The flat felled seamed pockets and seam lines give a modern look and it allowed me to add some darts discreetly for more fit at the bust.

Here's a close up of the discreet dart I put in for fit.

I'm not quite sure what I'll do with the back neck yet but the elastic in the waistband isn't as tight as I would like it, so I took the sleeve that I chopped off and made a matching bow dress clip. Perfect!

To be continued.....

I want to decorate something!

2010-06-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

First off, I know the video link didn't work from the previous post. I'm going to try to fix that later. If I try now, I think i might throw my computer out the window....
I had to share this, if I don't do this, please someone make your own. This is a great room decoration! There could be so many different shapes and colors you could do.

This DIY idea is from Readymade.com

(A great site by the way)

I'm thinking of making one big shape and then cutting it into strips. Or how about using thin scraps of wood? Fun! So many fabulous things to do, so little time....

-jaime

2010-06-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

So, I tried playing around with making a video/slideshow today. Ugh, i think i did something wrong. It took me 3 hours to do. Oops, my sewing room is lonely, gotta show it so more love. The resolution is pretty low on the video, but the file size was just too big in a higher resolution. Just click on the video to play. Enjoy!

-jaime

O U T L Y I N G - Earth Friendly Creative Products - REUSE, RECYCLE, RECLAIM

Ugly Sweater Season

New Bow Clips to the Shop

Happy 75th Birthday Jim Henson!

Welding New with Old

When Life Kicks you in the Arse

Guess Who?

I Am Woman, Hear Me ROAR

Cyrcle My Heart

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

"Someone here today is going to change everything.Someone here is going to do something that matters.They are going to do it, not because someone told them to or asked them to, but because they chose to do it.....If it’s worth doing, what are you waiting for?"

-anonymous

New Collection, New Inspiration

Look What I Found!

Quote of the Day

Japanese Vintage

Bad Gift?

Lifetime Tv Audition

Cork Print? Speckled Print?

I Heart Lucy Roberts

Lace it Up

Feel Good Splurge!

The Necklace Experiment

Cape-tastic!

Fringe Cape

Just Let it Flow

Vintage Treasure Hunting

Kimono Lace CoverUp

If I had an iphone I would...

The Mesh Distracted Me....

My New Sewing Buddy

How to Make Your Own Stamps!

Rose Bowl Flea Market

Works in Progress

Flock of Gazelles

Quote of the Day

How to Make a Cheap Screenprint

What's the Worst Smell Ever?

The Perfect Assistant

Miss Muffit Sat on her Tuffit...

Peek A Blue!

Flower Power and Puffs

Don't Squash that Bug!!!!

Blooming Lace Dress

To Paint or Not to Paint

If a Dress Ate Sherbert Ice Cream

Sneek Peek for June

The 90's are BACK!

New Vintage Dresses

Reshoot

Crystals and Flowers

MINE MINE MINE or not...

I Hit Gold and Some Other Things

Tassle Me Up Matey!

Never Worn into Wear it Now

Revamping Polka Dots

Hello Marilyn Monroe

90's Dress Redesign Challenge

Seeing More Red

New Design on Sale on Etsy

I Love You Long Time!

Stitches Making me Hungry

Paint Me a Dress Please

Finished Wedding Dress Pictures

And this is why I haven't been blogging lately....

Dazed Days...

If I can't BE a butterfly, this comes pretty close

The Glamorous Fashion Life....

My Forever Mentors....

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Next Photoshoot

Gimme a "P" for Poms Poms! Hooray!

Quotes of the Day

Business Stuff

Happy Father's Day!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Rock N Wheel

Animal Haters and Saving Trees....

Stop Junk Mail

"Someone here today is going to change everything.
Someone here is going to do something that matters.
They are going to do it, not because someone told them to or asked them to, but because they chose to do it.....If it’s worth doing, what are you waiting for?"