Skirt Makeover with Natural Dye & Fabric Paint

I found this long plain cream skirt at a thrift store a few months ago for a few bucks and snatched it up. Since I finally learned to use a sewing machine, I thought I would just hem it up and then have a nice basic khaki skirt that I could wear a million ways.


But then I realized that was boooooring! And also when the heck do I ever wear khaki? So I started thinking about how I could refashion my new boring thrift find. I came across this skirt and fell in love with the beautiful golden mustard color + I'm a sucker for polka dots and I just knew I had to have my own.


I figured I could get a nice golden color using a natural, homemade dye instead of buying any. I thought turmeric would make a nice dye so I poked around on the internet, found this article for reference, and then dove right in.


I ended up boiling my skirt in 12 cups water + 3/4 c. salt for one hour. After it cooled, I made a fresh pot with 14 cups water + 1/2 cup turmeric + a splash of vinegar. I brought it to a boil, simmered for 15 minutes, added my still wet skirt, and simmered for 45 minutes— stirring occasionally to get an even dye job. When it was done, I removed it from heat and let it cool before rinsing it out.


Next, I machine washed it to make sure all the turmeric was rinsed out. Then I ironed it, hemmed it up, and added some oversized polka dots with big round sponge + some fabric paint. I had to go back and fill in the dots with a paint brush to get the coverage I wanted, but I kind of figured that would happen.


I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out! The fabric paint dried a little stiffer than I thought it would but I also haven't washed the skirt since I added the polka dots so I'm not sure if that will make a difference . . . (And now y'all know that I'm one of those nasty people that wears things one million times before washing it. . . sorry not sorry— I ain't got time for that!)


Anyway, I ended up learning a lot from this project and now I have a cute new skirt! This is actually what I wore to a Nashville blogger meetup we had awhile back— Nick was kind enough to snap a few photos of me before I headed out for fun.


Have you ever used plant based dyes for anything? I'm really curious to try more in the future— I feel like beets would make a gorgeous color?! I recently went through my closet and now I have a little pile of projects to work on so hopefully I will get my butt in gear and have more refashions to show you soon!


I hope you all have a great weekend! -jenna

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To Bee or Not to Bee: The Story of How I Accidentally Attended A Wedding

Happy Friday, y'all! Did anyone else have the longest week in history? I feel like July is the first month this year that hasn't swiftly passed me by in a complete whirlwind. Things are moving slow as molasses here in the south. Although the heat fogs my brain and makes it hard to focus on work sometimes, I must say that it has been nice to frolic in the extra daylight hours the southern summers bring.

This week my boyfriend's parents were in town visiting from Pennsylvania. It's always hard playing tour guide in your own city— things you take for granted are oftentimes what people want to see most. It was a blast visiting museums, exhibits, and eating at my favorite restaurants all in the name of tourism!


Which brings me to my Most Ridiculous Story of the Month Award— are you ready?! 

[Insert History Lesson]: In case you don't know, Nashville is pretty much known as the center of the music industry which is why we are nicknamed "Music City". With our music roots and southern location, it's not much of a surprise that Nashville is kind of known for its nightlife— especially with all the night clubs and honky tonk bars that line our downtown streets. So obviously, being the good hosts that we are, Nick and I swallowed our pride and bravely ventured into the belly of the beast that we so fiercely avoid— the District. (Being in the most touristy part of your own town is weird because it is how visitors will remember your city but probably the exact opposite of how you think of it. Also, parking— blerg!)


So we take Nick's family into the heart of Music City to experience some live music at B.B. King's Blues Club. Naturally, there are drinks, a band covering all the Motown classics, and the silliest dance moves I have ever seen. A few songs in, the lead singer, Herchel, announces that he is going to "get married on stage tonight". So we start laughing and joking about how they probably do this gimmick every week for tourists— "married. . .  to the blues" blah, blah, blah something silly of that nature.


A couple of songs later, he calls witnesses, a preacher, and a glowing bride in the most beautiful silver sequined dress that I have ever seen up on stage. The entire crowd erupts as Herchel belts out the first line of Otis Redding's "I've been Loving You" and proceeds to serenade his soon to be wife. By this point, everyone is either slow dancing, crying, or trying to figure out if it's an elaborate prank. (Besides Nick, who proceeded to live tweet the entire event.)


So Herchel and Esther (most badass couple name ever, no?!) proceed to exchange marriage vows in front of a full house on the stage where his band performs live every Wednesday night. (And I'm just sitting there sipping my Shirley Temple and feeling like Pam Beesly Halpert during this moment.) So they proclaim their love for one another, the minister is preaching, the crowd is cheering, they kiss, saxophones erupt and Herchel & Esther are now having their first dance as a married couple to "My Girl," obviously.


Following that was lots of congratulating, picture taking, and supposed cake cutting (we left before that actually happened). It was a pretty wild night and if you ever come to Nashville then you are gonna wanna get us to show you a good time ;-)

Phew. So that's the story of how I accidentally attended a wedding this week! Anyone care to try to top that? I kid, I kid. But what a way to spend a Wednesday night, eh? I hope you all have a great weekend!

dress, shoes, bag, belt: secondhand / necklace: f21

Oh, I guess I should say something about this outfit? Pretty simple bug print dress with buttons up the back, belted, with cute flats— just my summer go-to! Although with the amount of dresses I wear, I am kind of surprised that this is only like the third time I've worn one on the blog. . . Guess I've been rocking the skirts lately! Also, my fabulous friend Hope took these photos in my backyard. She's the best. Also, here is a bonus photo of the face I make when I start to get bored of outfit pictures:

So now you know. xoxo, Jenna

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Swingin' On the Dock of the Lake

Y'all— I have a confession to make: I'm kind of powerless when it comes to ridiculous vintage floral swimsuits. I know it looks like I'm just wearing a tacky tank top here but I totally pulled a Liz Lemon and wore my one piece bathing suit as a top instead of getting properly dressed (okay, okay, I know she wore hers for underpants but c'mon, close enough?!). SO OOPS. But really I've done it before and honestly what's the point of wearing clothes in the summer when you're near a body of water anyway?




All these photos are from the cabin trip I've been talking about. I seriously want to live in a little country cabin so badly! I want slow days filled with good food, fun conversation, and an incredible view. I want piles of fresh grown veggies on my plate, zesty limes in my margarita, watermelon so juicy you can't eat it inside, and local eggs in my french toast casserole. I want to swing on a dock that overlooks a beautiful lake and come inside to a giant jacuzzi tub that's big enough for two. . . I mean, IS THIS SO MUCH TO ASK?!!



Seriously though— dream weekend. It combined pretty much all of my favorite things. Oh, AND I learned how to play Rummy sooooo who wants to take on the champ? Also, don't judge me for posting that tequila sign. 1) It's hilarious and 2) we whipped up homemade margaritas so it's totally appropriate. I guess if I'm never able to afford a lakeside cabin of my own I should be pretty content to just reap the benefits of a friend's parents owning a cabin, amirite?


So that's my idea of a mini-vacation. The only thing I'm kind of sad about is that I didn't get to photograph this entire swimsuit in all it's glory (the woes of living in the moment!). It's got this neat ice skater skirt that I also tucked into my shorts that generally looks pretty awesome. It's actually very similar to this one, for those curious. Maybe one day I'll get the chance to show it off!


(Until that day you can have this photo of what my hair actually looks like when I do nothing and some frumpy looking shorts!)


Have any of you had a completely relaxing + responsibility-free weekend recently? I sure hope so! Honestly, I can't remember the last time before this weekend that I felt so stress free. . . Just something about being near water and good friends that brings out the best in me! Have a great rest of the week!

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What I Wore: Dots & Stripes Forever

If there's only two things you know about me, let it be that I cannot resist polka dots and that I'm obsessed with mixing patterns. Okay, so maybe there's better things to know about me. . . Like if I set my mind on something then the word "no" might as well cease to exist. Or if you need someone to talk to then I'm probably the least judgmental person you'll find.


But still, when it comes to clothes, I'm a sucker for floral skirts, polka dot anything, a good striped top. . . I just like what I like. And I really like a good black and white outfit every now and then. I especially love the contrast of this outfit against my super colorful living room.

I decided to take these indoors since my last outdoor photo adventure was a bit of trouble— the AC and lack of humidity was kind of a treat this time around. Soooooo welcome to my home! This is where I sit and blog, snuggle my cat, admire my baking nook, and watch way to much television. (I'm actually really embarrassed to admit the television part. . . I used to be super cool and bike everywhere and make neat books, and uh, leave my house. . . WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?! Oh yeah, I GOT A FULL TIME JOB AND NOW I'M TIRED ALL THE TIME. Hello, adulthood! Okay, this is getting depressing [and somehow even more embarrassing]. Moving right along. . . )


LET'S TALK ABOUT CLOTHES since that's why you're probably reading this anyway. This is my all time favorite shirt. It's thrifted, it goes with everything, and I even tried to google the brand so I could get one hundred of them in every color. But no such luck as you can tell from its popularity in my outfit archives.

The skirt is from White House Black Market. I don't usually shop at fancy pants boutiques but these types of purchases are what happen when you go shopping with your boyfriend's mom while on winter vacation, OOPS. But actually no regrets because it's the only non-thrifted skirt I own (besides this one that I made!) so that means it actually has a zipper instead of elastic, it fits really well, AND it has a lining. What a beautiful sale find, y/y?

skirt: WHBM / top, shoes, necklace, hair clip: thrifted or vintage / glasses: coastal

Okay, that's enough of my face now. Today I'm going to eat something delicious, try to refashion a skirt, watch An Affair to Remember, and give Nick a haircut. I hope you have a great weekend!

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What I Wore: Let's Go Nuts

Hello, hello— and welcome, to the most difficult outfit shoot of my blogging career thus far! I think I'm "technically" just supposed to sugar coat this post and be all nonchalant like, "Heyyyy my-darling-plum-muffin-lovelies look at these pics— off to Starbucks! Ciao, Jenna" or whatever buuuuuuut that is not how it happened.
I ventured into my backyard on my day off work with a tripod and then all hell broke loose. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration. But there was a lot going through my mind as I traipsed back and forth from the camera. It was a little like this:
"Wow, it's really hot outside for 10 am in May."
"Why the heck did I decide to take pictures on a freaking hill?"
"Do I look as sweaty as I feel?"
"Oh god, I think I just ripped my tights on a stick."
"Geeeze, it's hot out here— this tiny sweater is not appropriate for today."
"My hair is going totally Hermione right now."
"Whoaaa, are my shoes breaking?!"
Yeah, that's more like it. Man, I love Tennessee but I can look at my hair in all of these pictures and tell exactly what order they were taken in haha. I mean, I really don't mind taking my own outfit photos— I can only talk Nick into taking so many a month for me. Andddd I promised myself I would branch out and get better with my camera so I was actually excited to spend some time alone snapping these. But this time just felt a little like a disaster.
So maybe you can forgive my sort evil eye in that last photo— I was sweaty, my shoe fell apart, and no one was there to tell me my shorts were riding up (gasp!). But it's still one of my favorite outfits ever. Simple top, high waisted shorts,  tights + flats— it's a classic "me" look. But I'm not going to lie: it was completely inappropriate for the day and I immediately changed into a not sweater top, a flowy skirt, and sans tights. Better luck next time!
glasses: coastal / top: UO / tights: tabbisocks / shorts, shoes, purse: thrifted Do you guys have any ridiculous "behind the scenes" stories from outfits or blogging adventures? The only advice I have is to always be wearing a squirrel top. I mean, look at how cute he is! No one can be angry while wearing something this silly! Oh, and I'm doing a Q & A type post soon so if there's anything you've been dying to know about me then ask away! Hope you have a great week!

Linking up with Thrifty Thursday— check it out!

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I MADE THIS: Skirt from a Vintage Sheet

Hello, hello— I just wanted to share a little sewing update with everyone! I mentioned here that I wanted to make a skirt from scratch now that I know how to use a sewing machine. So in case you don't read blog post titles, HERE IS THE SKIRT I MADE!
I got together with some of my favorite local bloggers a few weekends ago and we had a little sewing circle. I made this skirt using this video tutorial and some guidance from Miss Ladybird. I'm really glad I used a vintage sheet as the fabric— it's super unique and also a really cheap source of lots of fabric.
I also didn't want to ruin any "nice" fabric since I don't really know what I'm doing yet. I learned a lot from this project and I can't wait to make something a bit more fitted next time. I'm not too crazy about the cut of this skirt (it's A LOT of bulk in some places) AND I ended up making it a little shorter than I normally like. But I think it's a great beginner project— I definitely feel confident enough to take on some more complicated pieces now!
Also, I just want to say that hanging out with bloggers IRL is even cooler than you think it's going to be— I'm so thrilled to live near such talented and welcoming ladies! Lauren also recently learned to sew and she is making a badass dress right now. I was pretty impressed with the knitting project that Jen brought along— I have no skill in that arena so it was awesome to see in action. Janae worked on some sketches for a future sewing project and Aubrey came along to see what everyone else was up to + get inspired. And I believe Sarah was on her way out when I got there but judging from her blog she made something amazing, too!
Seriously though, I've wanted to sew since I was like 10 and I'm so glad I finally dove in! I'm excited to learn everything I can— AND to have such an awesome support group! I'm glad so many people came along to the meetup on such short notice— I can't wait for the next time! I think I'm going to try some aprons or a dress next— who knows?!
Also, here is a bonus picture of Lladybird's cat— she is a grump. And here is another picture of the shoes that I'm in love with. Lastly, does anyone have any tips on beginner sewing blogs or projects? I'm all ears!

dress worn as a top: thrifted (originally AA) / skirt: made by me / blazer, tights: target / shoes: thrifted
Oh, and in case you were wondering— yes, I did lighten my hair! ;-)

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