Tank Tops on the Cheap!

TANK TOPS! I know, how… boring. While tank tops might be boring they really are an essential.  This piece  is the first layer in many outfits. A tank top is often necessary under a see through top or one with a low neck.  I think the fashion stylists call it layering....but what do I know? Don't you always feel more put together when you have a tank or camisole pulling "everything" together?

So we agree.  We all need boring old tank tops and lots of them.
You are probably working on your summer wardrobe...maybe even going to a retail (gasp) store to find some pretty things.

DO NOT.....I repeat DO NOT get sucked in to buying a tank top in one of those spendy places.

Pillow Knock-Offs Summer Edition

One of my favorite ways to give a quick fresh look to a room is with new decorator pillows.

I must not be the only one....just take a look at HomeGoods or Target and you will see bunches and bunches of pillows that have fun seasonal motifs.

Now....I guess giving a fresh look to a room for around $30 seems like a deal.
But if you follow this blog....you know I think that is WAY too MUCH $$$ to spend.

Come along and I will show you my inspirations from the stores....
and then....
My KNOCK OFF versions of the same pillows.

source

 This nautical inspiration is really fun.  But it made me "Crabby" to think about hand painting something like this.

Source

I love this simple burlap pillow and it is definitely on my to do list....

Target.com

But this charmer from Target is the one that really caught my eye!


Who doesn't like lobster?

The red color is perfect for the blue and white decor in the lower level.














I used my Cri-Cut and Sure-Cuts-A-lot program to create a lobster stencil!

The stencil is done on canvas with red acrylic paint.




I went all fancy and did red cording around the edge.



The navy and white stripe fabric is left from my DIY Ironing Board Cover.
And....oh my....I actually put a zipper in the back....wasn't I ambitious?





Since everything I used was already in my "stash"...this cost me nothing.   If you started from scratch, you could probably do this for under $10.

Zazzle.com

I have always loved those vintage postcards that say "GREETINGS FROM...."

Zazzle has done a pillow with this theme.





HMMMMM

I decided to commemorate our fun trip to Savannah, Georgia this past winter.
Some simple Google Image Browsing and I found this great vintage poster.
My apologies....I didn't save the source....!!!

I used the "Print on Fabric Using Your Printer" technique to create this fun pillow.
Using an machine applique stitch around the print is a clean way to attach the printed fabric.

This next Knock-Off isn't exactly a Summer theme....
I am continuing to work on the Kate Spade Inspired Guest Bedroom.

source

I came across this pillow when I was looking for ideas.

I had the green and white striped fabric.

It was pretty darn simple to create this knock off.


It has a bed pillow for a form so that it is bigger and fluffier than the inspiration.

The better for cuddling a Grandboy!!!

So the next time you are in a store with a big display of accent pillows.....
Pause....say HMMMMM....and go home and create something!

Have a Wonderful Day!

Link Parties
Coastal Charm 

Kate Spade Guest Bedroom Refresh

My latest project is one of those domino effect deals!

You know.....like the "If You Give A Mouse a Cookie" scenario! 

The Sweetwater version goes like this....

I bought this great looking pink polka dot fabric to make some fun place mats to go with the Desert Rose dishes we inherited from Mr. S's mom.

But then....I found this fabric in the stash....and these place mats at the thrift store for $.99!
So now I have eight plain pink mats and there will be eight more reversible ones as soon as I finish making them.

No need to make the polka dot placemats....

What to do??

Pinterest exploration of course!

Eureka!

My pink polka dots are so VERY Kate Spade!

The fabric was the perfect inspiration for a mini-makeover in the guest bedroom.

Goodness! Gracious! Goodwill Goodies #2

Welcome to another edition of what I hope will be an on going series!

I would love to have you post some photos of your Good Will Goodies!
It is always fun to see what other people buy at the thrift store!

My Bargain Buy in NOLA!

A highlight of the our trip to New Orleans a couple of weeks ago was the afternoon that the Sweetwater Daughter, The Grand Boy and I spent browsing on Magazine Street.

We needed some retail therapy and some time away from "the men". When we heard about this six-mile-long stretch from the Garden District to Uptown that has some of the best antique stores, art galleries, craft shops and boutiques to be found anywhere in the city we made a PLAN!  Mr. S. dropped us off and we began our stroll!

Presto Chango Turtleneck to Jewel neckline Sweater!

Where do you stand on the "Great Turtleneck Debate"? 

Is this style a fashion classic or a fashion no no?

Yes, I know that this is probably not nearly as interesting as the current political debates going on.....

oh wait....

maybe it IS more interesting than the current political debates!

I kind of think that for me it is a matter of aging.  Over the years the turtlenecks that I used to love just don't fit as comfortably as they used to.

It couldn't possibly be that my neck isn't quite as smooth and thin as it used to be????

I found this fashion advisory for "a woman of a certain age".....

"You may think a ­turtleneck hides a sagging neck and chin, but it is more likely to draw attention to jowls."

Audrey Hepburn knew this....there are lots and lots of photos of her in her youth with the classic black turtleneck.  In later photos you see more v-necks and jewel necklines. 

Now....I would never aspire to looking like Audrey Hepburn....no one  could!
But in the great turtleneck debate....I need to vote NAY!

I am a sucker for cashmere!  I find the most wonderful cashmere sweaters at the thrift store. They usually sell for less than $10.  Sadly.....many of the prettiest cashmere sweaters are turtlenecks!  I buy them anyway! Then I use some "magic" and turn them into jewel neck treasures!

Want to see how?
You really won't believe how easy it is!

 This sweater is the prettiest blue (the photo really doesn't show it well).


Notice the classic turtle neck!



















All you do is pull the collar up and cut about half of it off. 

Leave enough of the ribbed knit to fold to the inside.

Use the wool setting on your iron and steam press the ribbing so that it exactly joins to the line where the ribbing joins the sweater. 

Time with the iron is well spent in making the next step easier.

It is simple to just hand stitch the raw edge to the neckline.

Use the tiniest stitches you have patience to do.....
Try to catch as many of the raw knit loops from your scissors cut as you can.
This will keep it from unraveling.

I don't get all hung up on using special knit thread.....this is a thrift store sweater after all!!

The finished jewel neck looks really nice....

It will feel so much better than the turtleneck....

It only took about 20 minutes to do this!

BTW....because my cashmere sweaters are almost all from thrift stores....I never dry clean them.  Use a gentle wash with Woolite and lay them flat to dry!  

 Where ever you stand on the turtleneck debate.....

Have A Wonderful Day!

Monday Musings

It is a dark and stormy morning here at Sweetwater!
A great morning for a cup of coffee and some MUSING!

One of my blog feeds is a lovely blog by Tish Jett called  A Femme d'Un Certain Age.

Her blog is a fascinating read all from the point of view of an American in Paris.   She is all about analyzing, dissecting and incorporating the "French Style" for us.

I highly recommend that you find your own beverage of choice and sit down to browse through some of Tish's Musings.

I read one her blog posts about Uniform Dressing a few weeks ago and it really stayed with me.  Her take on wardrobe simplicity is truly spot on.

In the post she made a list.  I LOVE her list!  I certainly wouldn't claim to be a fashionista, but I do like fashion and an ease in being somewhat fashionable.
So, I am sharing that list with some Sweetwater Style musings on her thoughts.  Enjoy!

"It takes no more time to be stylish than it does to be sloppy."

 This is a no brainer!  When you go to your closet to pick what you are going to wear, it is just as easy to pick out things that you know go together and look nice on you.  Even your yoga pants and t-shirts can be chosen with style in mind. 

 No woman really wants to be invisible does she?

"Taking care of one’s clothes makes them last longer."

It is rarely necessary to dry clean any clothes. Goodwill "finds" are often there because the label says "dry-clean only"!  Even cashmere and silk can be carefully laundered on the gentle cycle.  Quality clothing is made from fabrics that stand up over time.  Because of that I have good quality stuff purchased at thrift stores that still look great after 5-10 years of wear. 

"Frenchwomen make sure that everything in their closets is ready-to-wear."

If the clothes in your closet are clean, ironed with all buttons in place and hemmed to the right length, then anything you see can be put on.  Keep clothes that need tending to in another place and try to take care of those "fixes" soon.

"Taking care of one’s clothes means you’ll always have something to wear."

All budgets can be accommodated.  

Well....this is truly the Sweetwater Style point of view!  So many of my favorite wardrobe items are from thrift stores.  Why in the world would I want to spend lots of money buying basic things for retail prices when they can be had for a fraction of the price. Style does NOT have to be expensive.  I hear people talking about how much time it takes to shop at the thrift store.  But for me...it seems more time consuming to go to the mall and shop all day for "just the right" outfit.  I always have a much harder time deciding what to buy if I am going to have to spend "big bucks".  I also know that I am willing to take a risk and buy something a bit outrageous if I am paying thrift store prices.  These gems often become the things that I reach for over and over again because they are FUN!

It’s depressing to have an overflowing closet and nothing to wear.  

Tish is all about "Uniforms Dressing".  She makes the case that if you take the time to analyze your own style and choose items that work together to become your "uniform" it is liberating and not boring.  Maybe it is black leggings and loose tops.  Maybe it is long loose skirts and t-shirts or jeans and crisp white shirts.  Whatever...it is just a matter of taking those basics and adding a few accessories.  And hey...shopping for accessories is lots of fun.

Your "uniform" means that you will always have something to put on! I have on my "to do list" to cull my closet of those things that I don't wear because they no longer fit my life style.  Wish me luck with THAT!

 Making the effort to look stylish is psychologically healthy.

Right now I am sitting in my sleep pants and a plain sleeveless t-shirt.  Since they came from Good Will, they are nice enough.....but not terribly stylish!  Honestly, when I walk by the mirrors in the house, I am less than "happy" with the look.  It is time to take the 5 minutes it will take to go put on something else.  It will be an attitude changer that won't take much effort. We all know the feeling of going out and about not looking our best.  It never fails....you will run into a friend....or worse an aquaintance....and wonder what they are thinking!  Not worth the stress! 

Looking good makes you feel better.

"Dressing down sends a message of “I don’t care about me” 

(or you either for that matter)."

When you choose to wear things that go beyond casual to sloppy you are actually telling the people you are with that you don't value spending time with them enough to make an effort to be your best.  Of course, how you interact with people is always more important than how you look.  But if looking good makes you feel better, then you will be more comfortable with your interactions.  Nothing is more boring than a conversation that starts with an apology about how "terrible" you look.  Way better to say...."don't we look fabulous!" and get on with having fun.

 

I am off now to get out of my current outfit and put on something presentable.

I hope you take some time to go read more inspriration from  

Tish at A Femme d'Un Certain Age.

The rain has stopped and it is time to stop MUSING!

Have a Wonderful Day!

 

Fitz and Floyd for Spring!

May is here!  Time to spruce up the Baker's Rack in the kitchen!

I decided to highlight the Fitz and Floyd summer pieces in the Sweetwater Collection! 

I just love the Logo of the company!

It is so true!

One look and you do know!

When I go to the thrift store.....I am always on the lookout for items that shout "Fitz and Floyd"

As you can see....I have had some luck!

YES!  Every single piece you see came from the thrift store!

 Just for kicks....I went to see if I could find out if these pieces had any value.  I know that some of the designs are from retired collections.  I was amazed and pleased to find these pieces on Ebay!  Now....Mr. S is always reminding me that ebay prices aren't "real values"!  It is a matter of what someone will be willing to pay!  And as you can see by my thrift store mentality, I wouldn't be willing to pay this much!

STILL.....it is fun to see that my little collections has a bit of value!

AND.....my favorite "boutique" came through again!

  Have A Wonderful Day!

Link Parties

Simple Sweet Saturday  
It's Overflowing     Kammy's Korner   Funky Polka Dot Giraffe 

Goodwill Style!

A couple of months ago, I was happily shopping at Goodwill!

You are probably saying..."How is that news?"

Well...I ran into a friend who was doing a thrift store style consult with Lindsey who is

 the owner of Fashion Fix MN!

Lindsey does closet organization and Wardrobe Styling.

The most fascinating part of what she offers is..... thrift store styling!

I watched the consult for a little while and then asked if I could shadow her sometime and watch this interesting process.

I did just that this week.  I spent an interesting couple of hours with watching her "work her magic"!

Come along and see!

Goodwill Goodness!

YIKES! 

I just realized that I haven't devoted a post to Goodwill for a while! 

 Did you think (GASP) that I started shopping RETAIL!?

Not to worry!

This post will catch you up on all my deals and steals the last few months!

Here is a peek at my Spring and Summer Wardrobe!

"Wardrobe" sounds fancy....

actually this is "the stuff in my closet" that I got at GW!

I think I have a thing for Navy Blue this Spring!

This St. John Sport Jacket...

This great little Ann Taylor shell...

a grey and navy Izod T...

and a pair of navy leggings...and a slim legged pant I bought awhile ago...

almost a whole weekend worth of clothes for less than $25

I usually look through the shoes at GW.....but hardly ever buy....

somehow shoes need to be in the "new" or "almost new" before I buy them!

Even then...I wipe them down with a disinfectant wipe....a COUPLE of times!

These sandals fit the NEW category! Absolutely no sign of wear!

This is a case of "risk taking" at GW....they are cute but kind of trendy....but for $9.99 worth a go!

I have been wearing this fun necklace a lot...

The color goes with a lot of my clothes....

Another case of taking a $4 risk...even at Target this would have been over $10!  

The silver backing is nice and heavy and it is interesting!

The perfect Summer skirt is long and flowing....

this one is my favorite shade of brown...the picture doesn't really do it justice....

add a camisole and a jean jacket and it is a never fail look!

hmmm...I bet those sandals will look nice with this!

Now...you know I almost never pay more than $10 for anything at GW...

but this Eileen Fisher jacket was too good a bargain to pass up....even though it cost $14.99!

The picture makes it look sort of green.....

but it is really a great brown and black tweed color that will be a great neutral!

 

Most of these GW scores seem to be clothes....

now that I have my "wardrobe"....

Maybe I can score some new "decor" for the house on my next GW trips....

I guess that is a good reason to go again soon!

Have a Great Day!

Link Parties
A Vision to Remember   Life on Lakeshore Drive 

Goodwill-Ceramic Love!

 I am in love with vintage ceramics.....Haeger, McCoy, Red Wing, Floraline, California Pottery, Abbingdon, and more!

I have lots....and NEVER pay more than 5 dollars for any item.
Almost all of the pieces I have come from Goodwill!
 I use them all the time for decor all around the house.




Someday I will do a whole post about this.
Today is NOT that someday!

Blazers on a Budget!

Fall is in the air...and of course that makes me think about shopping!
I have been paging through the latest catalogs on my iPad catalog App.
There are lots of blazers and jackets featured in all of them.
I guess this classic look will never go out of style!
After shopping the catalogs....I shopped my closet!

Inspiration: Camel Hair Blazer from Brooks Brothers. A whopping $598!

Seriously, who would spend $600 for a jacket no matter how classic and soft?

 From my closet!

Brooks Brothers 100% Camel hair Blazer!

$8.99 from Goodwill!

$30 tailoring tab!

Sweetwater Stye at it's finest!

And....I've got more to show you!
I don't think I have a single jacket that I paid more than $40 for...and most were under $10!