Featured Blog

I have mentioned the Blog Wardrobe Refashion several times, so today I thought it would be good to introduce it properly.

Wardrobe Refashion is run by Niki in Australia. It is a place where people are encouraged and inspired to refashion, remake, recycle or make clothing from scratch.

As the website says...Wardrobe Refashion is a community which has had an online presence since early 2006. Based in Melbourne, Australia, owner Nichola Prested started up the site after deciding to quit buying new manufactured clothing in a bid to do her part for the planet, save money and improve her sewing skills. ......Read more about it here.

Members of the blog take this pledge:I __________________ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed__________________.

The rules of Wardrobe Refashion are:

1.No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.

2.In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract; ie 1 for 2 months, 2 for 4 months etc. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!

3.You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you've been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encourage others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button.

4.You need to be honest and admit when you've fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.

As you know, this idea has become something I really enjoy. With teaching, I am not doing as much of it as I like, but I have always like to see what I can make from something else.

If this idea appeals to you, go on over to the blog. The next round starts the 1st July. Sign up starts this coming Monday, 15th JUNE . You can sign for 2 months to start with if you want to dip your toe in the water. Or you can hang out reading and getting ideas for a while and perhaps try out a few things and sign up at a later date.

Here is a photo of something I reworked for a colleague several years ago. She'd had the suede jacket dry cleaned, and it sort of ate a large hole under one of the buttons. I reclaimed suede from inside the pocket, cut little hawthorn leaves from it and sewed them under all the buttons. Covering the hole, and making it fit. Then, with the jacket buttoned, I also made more leaves, including some from dark brown suede I had purchased previously. I put some down the area where the button holes were and also a few near the neck edge opening.

The result? She loved it...especially as now she had a designer jacket!