Plant your own Garden

Love yourself

COMES THE DAWN

After awhile you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, 

and you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't mean security

 and you begin to understand that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises 

and you begin to accept your defeats with your head held high and your eyes open 

with the grace of a woman and not the grief of a child. 

You learn to build your roads on today 

because tomorrows ground is too uncertain for plans

and futures have a way of falling down mid flight. 

After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns 

if you get too much 

so you plant your own garden and decorate your soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

 and you learn that you really can endure, 

that you are strong and really do have worth 

and you learn and learn and you learn 

with every goodbye you learn

        - Author Unknown

Denim Vest - upcycle

Denim wear- second time around

                       All that glitters is good!
                         
                       Spring is the season of the joys of new life. 
                     A season of clean outlooks and fresh starts. 
                     
Spring cleaning?
 Get started in your closet by hanging all the garments in your closet on a backwards hanger. I typically hang my hangers with the C facing away from me and over the rod  So instead I hung everything on the hangers with the C coming towards me from the back of the rod. 

Throughout the course of a year, as the clothes are worn and returned to the closet they are hung back on the rod in the opposite direction.
 The year end review of what garments to keep and what to toss will be clearly evident by the direction the hanger faces. 
Anything that remains hanging in the closet with the C facing forward has not been worn in at least a year and should be considered for removal.

This is the stuff in your closet that should be weeded out. You have proven to yourself that in fact you have was not worn it for at least a year.

You probably won't have to look far to find a deserving recipient of your donations.

 I was recently the grateful and appreciative recipient of exactly that. A garbage bag full of new to me, gently used garments.

One of those pieces happened to be this treasured little denim vest.
It is a girls size
Denim is always in style. Dress it up with some glittery leggings and a cotton top or go casual in a denim shirt and vest with cowboy boots and a pair of jeans. Denim is always in.

This vest was easily altered in the course of an afternoon.

Denim Vest

A little dab will do ya!
Aleene's fabric glue ensures that the finished piece
 will please.
The fabric to be added is cut to the finished size and simply glued into place.
Any trim that is desired  is then glued to the fabric edges.
 After allowing to dry for 5 minutes the edges of the design can then be finished with a sewing machine zig zag stitch or with a serger.

Denim vest- second time around.

Denim Blue Jean Vest

Denim Vest remake

The trim I chose has the finished appearance of being a zipper half.
I was quite pleased with the result.
The word JOY was easily accomplished by also using the fabric (good to wash) Aleene's glue.

Using the glue, simply spell out on the fabric what you want it to say. 
Wait a couple of minutes until the glue becomes tacky and then apply the trim.
Finally, zig zag a stitch directly over top the trim. I used a black thread that is not easy to see as I wanted to keep the zipper effect. Contrasting thread would certainly add another dimension to the project.


Remember there are no rights and wrongs, if you are pleased with your project then you have been successful!