Upcycled Sweater

My sister gave me this 100% wool cardigan from the Gap, size large.  Originally, I thought I would felt it and then cut it up and use it for other projects but when it came out of the washing machine it was my size, so of course I had to try it on! It fit, but it definitely needed an upcycle.  I liked its short square shape so I accentuated that by adding shoulder pads.  Then I went through my stash of buttons, trims and embellishments and went to work.

Each button is different and the gold trim goes all the way around the middle of the sweater and the cuffs.  The red flower applique is from an antiques market and is made out of some kind of soft velvety fabric.  I sewed everything on by hand using a heavy duty black button thread.

Its a perfect weight for these not so cold yet not quite spring days.  I put it together with this gray plaid skirt, striped black and white button down shirt, black tights and booties.  I love the way all the grays and blues work together and how the gold and red pop right out of the subdued color palette.  So next time you get a hand-me-down that's not quite right, play around with it and see what you can do.  The results may just surprise and delight you!

Live the Life You've Imagined

I made this piece of jewelry at the Museum of Art and Design in NYC yesterday.  I was assisting my friend, Debra Rapoport, with the workshop.  The base is a palm leaf plate  (Debra salvaged a bunch of them from a friend's wedding!) which I wrapped with some cord cut from a thrift store polar fleece blanket to create a warp for weaving.  Then I proceeded to choose from a table full of the most interesting and unusual materials:  rolls of paper tickets, wool roving, dried tea bags, the scraps and selvedges from sari silk, orange juice lids, and all kinds of other ribbons and fiber.  It was a veritable smorgasbord for the imagination.  Eight of us spent the afternoon creating and chatting and laughing together while museum visitors stopped by the open studio to check out what was going on.

I think the skirt that I wore to the workshop sums up the whole experience just perfectly!

Will the real Emilio Pucci please stand up?

 

OK.  So it may seem to my Goodwill audience that I have become obsessed with designer clothes, but if you look at the other posts on my blog, you will see how really eclectic my style is.  However, when I found this faux Pucci at the Goodwill in Hammonton, NJ I couldn't resist doing another runway inspired entry.  The dress on the left is the authentic Emilio Pucci, last seen HERE for $1944. The dress on the right is labeled "Intermission" and I bought it for $8.99.

The Goodwill wins again and I strike a Pucci pose!

One of the best things about shopping at the Goodwill is coming home with all my newly found treasures and then accessorizing them with items that I already have in my wardrobe. These vintage gloves were another thrift store purchase that I hand embroidered.  The graphic design seems to compliment the Pucci style perfectly.

So, go shop at the Goodwill near you and tell me about your great finds by clicking on "comments" below this post on my blog:

penelopecakefashion.blogspot.com

No winter coat!

Big time cabin fever around here for the last two days because of snow and icy streets, but Cape May got a nice surprise this morning with sunshine and 40 degree temperatures.  I can't believe how liberating it felt to go outside without a winter coat and be able to wear some clothes from my "between season" wardrobe.   I got these pants at a vintage store in Bushwick, Brooklyn a few months ago when I was already yearning for the spring.  They are actually  Frederick's of Hollywood - the sides are cutout (a current trend according to all the recent fashion shows) and I am wearing colorful leggings underneath.  My vest is cozy fake fur which is just right for the weather and I happened to have some furry boots to match since there is still snow on the ground.  The necklace was a local purchase and the fantastic fingerless gloves are handmade from wool socks and decorated with needle felted images of dancers.  They were a gift from my friend Eva in CA.  When I was all dressed-up and ready to go we made our big exciting trip of the day - to the supermarket!!  And now I can look forward to fresh salmon for dinner.  You have to love the little pleasures of a winter day in Cape May.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

I ransacked my closet

And shuffled through drawers

Looking for clothes

Behind closet doors

To celebrate Seuss

His birthday was near

I had to be dressed

Before Monday, oh dear!

And finally I found them

My shoes and my shirt

That screamed Dr. Seuss

For all that he's wort'

 

To the library I went

The best in Cape May

For all of the books

That I needed today.

The librarian Nena

Was there at the ready

With Seusian costume

And reference skills steady.

Together we found them

The cat and the wocket 

Hiding in shelves

In a hat and a pocket.

 So I spent the day reading

And lounging about

Laughing and smiling

I never did doubt

That traveling back

to that time long ago

To library shelves

With books all in rows

Would make me feel happy

Excited inside

To read every book 

That I found and I spied.

So Happy Birthday to you

Dr. Seuss you are great

For helping kids read

Number one you do rate!