My Version of the Latest Denim Skirt Trend

First, I must tell you why I ventured out to make this skirt. My youngest son is graduating from basic training soon. I wanted some new clothes to wear during the time we will be near the Army base. We have decided to go a few days earlier for some rest and relaxation since we are literally flying across the United States.

I saw this denim skirt on Facebook and decided to check out the website Love My Jean Skirt for more information. I had never spent that much money on a skirt. So I looked around to see if I can find something similar at a cheaper price. During my Google search, I found a denim skirt on Apostolic Clothing. Still out of my price range.

I talked to my husband about it. He wanted me to get it. But, in my heart, I couldn't bring myself to spend that much money. That amount of money on one item would put a dent in our clothing money this quarter. My youngest son decided he would pay for it because he knows how much his momma "loves blue jean skirts". I didn't buy it that day...

The next day I sent a message to my Facebook friend Jessica who's also a lover of denim skirts. I asked her opinion on the skirts. She thought they were cute. Then I talked to my cousin Tony over at Well Watered Woman because I wanted her opinion. She sent me some wonderful tutorials from Youtube on converting denim jeans into skirts. Which I will do later.

It dawned on me when I recalled a Scripture about God asking Moses what was in his hand. The light bulb came on. I have my hands. I can make a skirt. God has given each one of us gifts to use. God has given me the gift of sewing. I decided to try and make my own version on the skirt.

I used a basic skirt pattern.

Altered the pattern to give me a semi-fitted fit.

Basic 7 inch zipper that's made for denim. Noticed the used the yellow thread for a contrast look.

The split in the back.

Inside the split in the back. I didn't use my serger machine because I didn't have enough yellow thread or denim needles. So I just used the settings on my regular machine to overlap the edges.

This is how it looked before the waist band, the ruffles and the flower.

For the ruffles, I used 4 inch wide strips. The length is about 2x as long as the measurement around the skirts. You can use more if you like. Putting the ruffles on the skirt is easy, but it may be time consuming. The results are well worth it :)

I needed a guide for the flower so I used a small plate.

I used dots to help me guide the ruffles for the flower. About an inch from the border and then another inch until your ruffle is finished.

This part may take some time. Be patient and work at it. I promise you, you will love the results.

Here's the finished skirt. You can make a little circle to put in the middle. I had to do mine by hand. The material was thick and I didn't want it to get stuck on my sewing machine.

The flower close up. You can also see that I used a band around the ruffle on the skirt. 

I loved the way the thread shows up against the denim material.

The back of the skirt near the split.

I had enough denim left over to make a handbag.

I made a padded pocket on the inside to protect my phone.

Total price for the skirt was $18.90. With that being said, I can honestly say that if you purchase one of the skirts from the links above, it's well worth the price.

Clear Skies and Sunshine

Finally after months cold and wet weather, Spring is here. Where I live, it's not that unusual to have constant rain. The winter days and night are dreary and long. Someone mentioned to me last week that without the rain we wouldn't have the beautiful spring flowers and the pretty green trees.

As I was preparing my home for Spring and sorting through my stashes of fabric, I lifted my head. I'm smiled quickly as the glistening sun appeared through the evergreen greens.

From that point on I was motivated with excitement and my mind went there. My mind took me to a place where a perfect Spring for me would consist dresses, dresses and more dresses. Did I mention that I love dresses? Well, I do. Add to that, my "need" for just more Spring clothes in general. I can't leave out my obsession with aprons. Surely, I picture myself wearing the cutest floral printed aprons.

It doesn't take long for me to snap back to reality. Reality is where I live. Before I can do any of the things my mind took me, I need to do some Spring cleaning. I found a wonderful home management notebook that's free. All you have to do is download it.

I chuckled a bit as I turned to the first page.

Yep, before I start living out my fantasy of making multiple Spring dresses, I had to make sure my home was in order. You can find the link here at Proverbs 31 Mama. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for your free "Personal Home Diary".

I am happy to say that all of my Spring material is sorted and ready to glide through the steel plates of Pearl. Pearl is my sewing machine and she has quickly become my new "bff". So if you stopped by my house this Spring, you will find me at the table with Sarah doing homeschool work, Pearl and I at the other end trying to live out my fantasy of dresses and aprons galore.

Here's a peak into my Spring projects:

Solid Linen Fabrics

Floral Printed Linen and Rayon Fabrics

Cotton Fabrics: aprons for me, aprons as gifts and house-dresses. 

I'm going to make a few aprons for some Army moms that I've met on Facebook. Our children are in basic training together right now. I will meet these women as we gather together and watch our soldiers graduate from basic training. They don't read my blog so they will be surprised :)



I do have some other aprons I will be making for me. I found this material on sale at JoAnn's Fabric. I'm getting a little more bolder with my fabric selection as I age gracefully.

I also had to sort through my patterns as well. I would not dare show a photo of all my patterns. I'm afraid my friends and neighbors will report me for hoarding. Here are the patterns that I will use this Spring.

Aprons

Clothes

I know that's a lot of material and a lot of ideas. I can't help but to think of the fun that Pearl and I will have as we work together watching the beautiful Spring skies in my neck of the woods.

Domestic Tranquility

My home is all decorated for Christmas and I've been working on several projects. Each time I try and finish one, I start another one. Today, as I sat there at the kitchen table sewing an apron for a friend, something hit me. My home was so peaceful.

It was far from quiet. There were numerous sounds through out my home today. The washing machine which has the tendency to get louder and louder each day. Maybe I would too if I was being used for the fifth time before noon. Sarah sitting at the table with me cracking jokes as usual. One of my sons come through talking about the latest thing happening in his life. My sewing machine humming away with each step on the pedal. In the midst of it all, it's peaceful here.

Peaceful should be at least one of the words we use to describe our homes. With so many homes today in disarray, it can get discouraging at times. It's during those times that we have to remember who called us to do the job we are doing in our homes.

Being a keeper of the home is so valuable. In order for us to win the war against the declination of the family structure, the battles have to be won in our homes. Some days, the feeling of facing another battle can be overwhelming. It's on those days when we put our armor on and fight. When we fight, we don't play patty-cake with the adversary. We fight as if our lives and the lives of our families depend on it.

Peace is something that can be obtained in our homes. Look around your home. Look at your family. Look at yourself in the mirror. Tell yourself that peace in your home is worth having. Something that's worth having is worth fighting for.

Making Memories

My 19 year old son really got me to thinking this week about eternal things. One day, I will go into eternity and the things of Earth won't matter anymore. To me at least. What will matter are the memories that I leave behind for my family to cherish.

I've been on a quest since becoming a mother and a wife to make every second count. During this quest I'm hoping to make memories that will be cherished not only by my children, but my children's children as well.

Sarah (11), has been learning how to sew. I've been teaching her this summer to make simple things. She just completed her first apron that she made for her older sister who just got married.

One day while sewing, I touched her precious hands as I helped her guide the material through the sewing machine. I gently closed my eyes. I remember those same hands used to be so tiny that she could barely wrap them around my finger. The smell of the Johnson's Baby Lotion came to my mind. Oh, how I loved that smell. That smell how now been replaced by Bath & Body Works lotion. Where did time go?

I smiled as our hands touched and we finally got a straight 5/8 in. seam. She looked at me with excitement in her eyes. It was a proud moment for her and a memory she will never forget.

Sarah's precious hands

It's reversible

Beauty Beyond the Blemish

This morning I was putting my Christmas quilt together when I noticed a blemish in my quilt. I had to take a second and a third look because it was very hard to see. Being the creator of the quilt it didn't bother me that the 4 1/2 square that contained 4 smaller squares was upside down. All I saw was how beautiful the quilt was and how pleased I was with the work of my hands. I had visioned what I wanted the quilt to look like even before I cut the squares & triangles. Not once did I vision the blemish, but I'm pleased with it none the less.

During the past weeks of working on the quilt, I would constantly hold it up for Don and the kids to take a look. At that time I had not noticed the blemish, nor did they.

Today I was reminded of my Creator. He knew me before I was created in my mother's womb. He visioned what I would look like even before my mother laid eyes on me. God knew that my nose would be broad and that my lips would be full. He even knew that I would be born with a blemish. He saw the birth defect on my right ear, but in His eyes I was beautiful.

The birth defect isn't my only blemish. Before I allowed Jesus to come into my heart and change me, the blemishes from my sinful life had left it's mark on me. I don't do things I used to do before I met my Creator, but I still have some blemishes. To Him, when He looks at me, all He sees is beauty.

What amazed me the most is realizing that God is holding me up for all the world to see the work of His hands.

Fall Happenings Around My Home

Fall is in full swing inside and outside my home. Twice this past week I went outside without a sweater only to feel the chill air rush through me. The Fall leaves look beautiful nestled among the evergreen trees.

Inside my home, the smell of Spiced Apple & Cedar candle scent brings much delight as I sit by the window with my sewing machine.

My Fall lap quilt that I made with leftover scrap material from a Royal Ranger project I did a few years ago.

Fall lap quilt resting on the rocking chair that I nursed & held my babies in.
Fall table runner.