Tree Skirt - cos a tree should keep some bits to itself!

Another Christmas post! Well it is only another 9 days (eeek!) so I thought I'd better squeeze it in before I run out of time.

So in previous years our tree has been sitting on three strategically placed place-mats to avoid the legs scratching our wooden floors - not so pretty. So this year I was determined to put those legs into hiding!

I started by cutting out two large circles - one in this super cute owl print and one in a plain calico for the bottom piece. The top will hide the legs while the bottom piece will sit underneath the legs to protect the floor.

Super cute owls!

Then I went about cutting a small hole in the top piece (using a cup as a guide for size), and from this small hole cut a straight line to one edge - in the top circle only. 

Pinning the two pieces together I overlocked the edges including the raw edge created by cutting the line - this opening is going to be where the legs fit in and be hidden away.

Once the overlocking was complete I added some buttons and loops to close up the slit once it was on the tree. These are the least festive buttons you could think of but they were all I had in my stash and I didn't fancy making a special dash to the shops!

Not so festive buttons with ric rac loops

Now the last step - putting it on the tree! This was a bit of a task as our tree was already up and decorated before I made this, so poor hubby had to hold it off the ground while I maneuvered the skirt around the legs. 

Its a little bit bunched up in the pictures because of the whole 'putting it on after the tree was up' debacle but it'll be on first next year and will sit nice and smooth! 

Ta-da! So now these lil fellas will visit each Christmas and I think you'll agree, they are much cuter to look at than these tired old legs....

Merry Christmas everyone!

Maternity Refashion

Its refashion time friends! I love these projects - partly because the hard work is already done for you in the form of an existing garment and partly because its so satisfying turning something reasonably hideous into a perfectly wearable piece!

So today I started with a thrifted dress I picked up for around $5 at the Salvos with the intention of giving it a little loving.

Now that the belly is starting to grow (its amazing how much earlier you 'pop out' second time around!) I am in need of some roomy clothes to accommodate it. Clothes preferably without the ridiculous pricetag that comes with store-bought maternity clothes.

Ok here's what I started with...

A bit potato-sackey! (ok, a lot)

So, I got to pinching in the dress by attaching a strip of elastic under the bust to give it a little shape and to separate the bust & belly areas. But it was still a bit lack lustre...

Elastic pinching! (with toddler running underfoot 

so mind the weird look here!)

So I raided my scrap pile and cut into an old white shirt to add some neckline detail. I simply cut strips from the shirt and played around with placement before sewing it in place.

And the finished product? I love it! And will actually wear it so we have a winner! 

Yay for refashions! And double yay for inexpensive maternity clothes!