My Introduction to Mineral MakeUp Foundation and I Didn't Break Out :)

Helllu Puusycats!

*waves*

Hope everyone is having a good & warm afternoon out there!

Today, I would like to share a face product that I have had great success

with. I have been very pleased with its results and thought I would pass

the info along incase it can help any of you.

I have written posts about my struggle with acne and the changes I have

made recently to try and help clear as well as better my skin. I have struggled with acne

since I was 12 years old and it has taken its toll on my self esteem, my

bank account and of course my skin. After years of struggling and feeling bad 

about how I looked I decided it was time to try something different.

What I had been doing all along and all the products I was using weren't

working, that was clear. So, in an effort to go at my acne issues from a totally

 different angle I had to step out of my comfort zone.

( if you have just found me and would like to know more about what

alternatives I have been using please click here to read more)

One of many things that I needed to changed was my time spent

 in the sun. As a teenager and into my 20s I often used the sun as a sort

of antiseptic. It would dry up my acne and it seemed to cleanse my skin. Despite the heat, 

dirt and sweat the summer was often the best time of the year for my acne.
I didn't question this for many years until one summer we went camping.
 Half way thru the weekend I had deep, large cysts that were very inflamed.
 The more I was in the sun the more blemishes I got and the angrier my face became.
I was confused. The sun should be helping. What was going on??
It took me a few weeks to put two and two together. After 

a couple other "tests" in the sun I realized the sun was no longer a friend to my face.

However, my issue now was what to put on my face to prevent further damage?

I couldn't use sunscreen!! That would be like throwing gas on a fire or so I thought.

I was terrified that any sunscreen would be too heavy and too greasy.
 It would definitely make me break out...wouldn't it???

It took me a long time to get brave enough to try one designed especially

the face. I was super scared but I eventually tried and I didn't break out....*big sigh*

Staying out of the sun was a huge relief to my face and began to buy all my

make up with SPF in it which was good but still not a miracle cure

by any means. I was still having the same issues with cystic acne, 

suspected rosacea combined with a dab of good old fashioned chin and forehead acne.

One day I was commiserating with my friend Tricia about adult acne.

It did everything to make us feel NOT very adult but more like 13 year old girls.

It was that day she told me about a new product she found and was having success with.

It was a foundation that had a 50 SPF and it was a mineral makeup. She thought it was

great b/c it wasn't too heavy and she'd worn it into the sun and had no problem.

She had been out playing in the backyard w her kids one afternoon and then thought
"Oh, jeeze I am gonna pay for this!" but when she went in her face was fine
and still had some coverage.  She said the best part was that the mineral make up

 sat ON your face, not IN your pores. I was intrigued and she did look great! 

I had heard about mineral make up and read a lot about the benefits of it on many 

rosacea sites. Everyone raved but I was unsure. Was it really that good? How could it

be that easy? Why wasn't everyone using it and screaming about it if it was so great?

Clearly, it had been of benefit to Tricia so I thought I should give it a go.

I was after all on a quest for better products.

So, the next day I walked down to the Shopper's and tentatively looked around

until I found it. I was looking for Avene High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50.
It retails at Shopper's for $39.00 plus tax

The lovely sales girl explained to me that there are only two shade choices b/c it

fades into your skin tone and you don't need to match like traditional foundations.

She told me to put it on after my moisturizer and if I want to, I could use

my pressed powder or other concealers after that.

I still wasn't 100% sure but I was on a mission.

When I got home and opened it up I was surprised by how light and creamy it was.

I thought it might be more greasy and heavy.

I put it on as instructed and was impressed right away that it did indeed morph

into my skin and "match" my colouring. I didn't need a lot b/c it
 clearly covered very well on its own.

It was light and didn't feel heavy or thick at all.

Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad????

Because I am a bit neurotic, I waited all day to break out.
Hahahah! Sad but true!

 However, I did not break out. In fact, nothing bad happened at all.

I got thru the first week ok, then the second. Who knew?

The best was, I really could go out in the sun and not suffer the usual ramifications.
It was protective and helped conceal my redness and acne.

I was converted! Hurrah for mineral makeup!! Hurrah for trying something new!! :)
I realize that mineral makeup has been around for a long time
and I am slow on this band wagon...but I was nervous!

I can't tell you how happy I was that it was a positive experience.

It really did help give me confidence to try new things that might help my face.

I realize that it won't work for everyone but it maybe this post can help
give you the information that might help you decide if it might work for you.
I really hope this post can be of help to you :)

Take care, Luv Weezi xo
****

For those of you that have just found me, I have been searching out and using products

that have little or no chemicals in them. Chemicals certainly have not brought me relief in 

over 20 years of acne troubles so I have decided to be brave and give them up.

Since the fall of 2012 I have been using natural and homemade products 

and have to say, I am seeing some great results.

There are no easy answers or magical cures when it comes to acne but it is always nice

to see some positive changes and results that seem to have lasting effects.

I have long tried to use as many cruelty free products as possible.
These days cruelty free choices are endless, thankfully!! I have made it my personal
mission to use only cruelty free cosmetics as well as those with limited ingredients.
 At the end of the day, I would rather have acne and 

breakouts then have the suffering and agony of helpless animals on my conscious.

I want to look nice, but not at the cost of innocence.

( please note: I paid for this product, it was not given to me. I am not in any 

way affiliated with Avene. I am offering up my own opinion based on my personal experience. )

In Canada, I bought this make up at Shopper's Drug Mart.

I like to buy products from them when I am first trying something out

 b/c they have such a great return policy. If you give it a go, I hope you find it helps you too.

Until next time, hope everyone has a fabulous day!

I know it can be hard but try & remember that the acne

doesn't define you and most of all you aren't in this alone xoxo

My Long Battle w Acne Is being Tipped in My Direction...Fingers Crossed

Helllu Pussycats!

I like to think of myself as open minded about a lot of things but when it
 comes to products I will use on my face these days I am the furthest 
thing from adventurous. I have been dealing w acne in various forms
and in various degrees of "horribleness" since I was 12. I have tried 
many bottles and tubes with claims that were blatantly false
and in some cases, borderline ridiculous.

Anyone who has suffered from acne knows that great feeling of potential when you
 purchase a new product. Then, there is that heart sinking feeling you get when you
 realize that the promises made were not to be realized. 
After loads of money, wasted time and an unfortunate lack of self esteem I came
to the realization a few years ago that I need to make changes in how I
approached my skin care. I needed to listen less to marketers and more to 
my own body. 

One great challenge for me was to give up on "conventional" ideas about acne
and skin treatment. Cortisone shots, horribly drying creams and 
terrible antibiotics had to be a thing of the past. They didn't work in the
long term. They may have had some short term success but at what cost?
It was time to be brave and try a few new things.
More natural and less chemicals was my new mantra. What did I have to lose?
Still, I was terrified as I threw out my Aveeno face scrub.

( Can I just mention that for those of us w bad skin trying something 
new on our faces can be like going a first date. It seems like a good idea, 
exciting, fun and new. But in reality, it is scary as hell! You have no
idea what you are going to get, if it will work out and what the result
will be. You don't really know if the two sides can get along and if there
 will be baggage. New is terrifying b/c it can takes weeks to undo any 
damage that might be done. That is a fact. Bravery is required)

This was my before picture.

I realize I that there are people out there that have worse acne
then this. I understand that it can always be worse and my heart goes out
 to the women who deal with severe acne because it is devastating.
That is why I am sharing. I hope that in some way sharing my story and experience
 can be of some help to someone. Acne really takes a toll on your self esteem.
If something that I do helps and brings a wee bit of relief to another
acne suffer...then it was well worth the share!

This was last February and it wasn't the worst day I had that month
but it was the worst that I was willing to share online. 
I was nervous enough sharing this photo, let alone anything worse!
 It was scary to show the world how bad my skin could look. I spent so much time
 piling on the make up trying to hide the blemishes not show how bad they were!
I had to constantly remind myself that my acne wasn't my fault and I 
hadn't done anything wrong. So hard NOT to blame yourself!!
Time to stop worrying so much and take action.

I wasn't 100% sure where to start but I knew that the health food
store would a good place to start asking questions and doing some research.
I explained to the gal there what I was doing and why.
She showed me a few things and we talked about options I could start with.
I took the plunge with Derma E products and it was indeed a good, safe place to start.
I found the cleanser to be gentle and the vitamin e cream was very soothing.
Ok....*phew* my face didn't get worse and nothing bad happened.
To be honest, from there I took it slow and didn't try a whole lot
of new products at once. I kept things fairly mild and tried to go
at my skin care from a "healing place" instead of a "scrubbing/harsh place".

It has been about a year since I started on my journey to help heal and
soothe my face and I have to say, that I am very happy with the results.
It has been a long year with ups and downs of course but overall I
really feel like I have made progress.
This is the post I wrote as I begun the process of trying to figure
out what on earth I was doing...cause I really had no idea
what I was doing ;) Hahaha!!

The good news is that my patience and bravery seems to be paying off because
something good is happening and my skin looks the best it has in years!
 Each day that I continue to see a mostly clear face in the mirror and it
makes me so happy that I took the chance and changed my approach.

This is all I use now on my face now with the addition of honey.

Here is a synopsis of things I have been doing differently in the last 12 months:

#1. Derma E cleanser using only baking soda occasionally as an exfoliate

#2. Handmade charcoal cold press soap from Spoiled Rotten
--->I switch it up my other cleanser every other month.
So, one month with the Derma E milk cleanser the next the charcoal
I think my skin gets complacent with one cleanser so this keeps
my skin from getting used to one cleanser. It is a working theory ;)

#3. Rose water that I bought at an Asian supermarket or
Thayers rose petal and witch hazel toner. Again, I switch these monthly.

#4. Freshly squeezed lemon juice (keep in the fridge) applied as a toner
after I wash with the cleanser.

#5. I used honey for spot treatments. Yep! Just honey...unfiltered organic honey.
I put some on the blemish and leave it there for a couple of hours during the day
or at night after my bath and I leave it on all night.


#6. I use a homemade moisturizer from Erzulie Natural Cosmetics that
I found on Etsy. I did some reading up on ingredients that I wanted to see
in my moisturizer. I thought, if I was going to make my own moisturizer
what would I put in it?? What did I NOT want in it??
Armed with what I thought would be the best ingredients, I did a search for
some reputable homemade skin care lines.  I chose the Ultra Hydration Lotion.
The reviews were good and I thought.....
"Well, I've used a lot worse things on my face. How bad can trying
a complete unknown be?"--> I was glad I did! I really like it.
Super moisturizing but not heavy. I used it all winter and spring but switched
 back to the Derma E moisturizer for the summer because it is a lighter cream.
The Ultra Hydration isn't greasy or thick or smelly. It is absorbed
very well and really feels good on my face. I have had no adverse
reactions to any of her products and I have gone back and purchased a few :)

#7. I take a 25mg zinc supplement everyday.
I am no expert but I have used zinc in the past and it has helped.
I stopped for a long time because it made my stomach upset but
I have since gone back to it and now know better and take it with dinner.

#8. Instead of rinsing my cleanser off by splashing it off with warm water in the sink,
 I have been wiping it off with a washcloth. I think this way, I really get all the soap off.
I had a feeling that I wasn't completely rinsing it all away with just the water.
I had a running theory that I wasn't rising my face thoroughly and leftover
cleanser was clogging up my pores. Again, it was just a hunch and I was trying to
problem solve the best I could and fix what mistakes I thought I might be making.
I use a fresh washcloth every time. I also like that the washcloth can act as a
a bit of an exfoliant. I pat dry with a clean hand towel that I only use for my face.

#9. Now that winter is almost here, my face will get a bit drier so I will go
back to oil cleansing 3 times a week as well.

I never did give up other cleansers and use the oil cleansing full time.
I did use it about 3 times a week at night before bed and found it
very soothing and helped with the weird spotty dryness.
I didn't re-wash my face the day after I used this before bed.
I just wiped my face with the toner and applied moisturizer.
I didn't want to over wash...which I used to always do and that is killer on the skin.

#10. I have started making a yogurt and fresh fruit smoothie 3-4 times a week.
I am not a fan of yogurt and most fruit makes my stomach hurt
so the idea of mixing them seemed most undesirable to me.
I was hoping for more of a "cheese-potatoes-lots of starch* solution Hahah! ;)
However....*throws up hands* what can I say??
You do what you have to do and to be honest, they are pretty tasty when done right.
My stomach is happier AND so it seems, is my face :)

Lastly, I have been power walking again. I haven't done much
exercise in the last couple of years. I try and then get bored and lazy.
My waistline and face paid the price.
I got myself a used treadmill and made a promise to get on it 5 times
a week. If I am on it 20 minutes or 60...it is something and something is
better than nothing. I watch TV while I walk and before I know it
45 minutes has zoomed by and I feel quite proud of myself  :)
I am not sure if I have lost any weight but I feel better.
Better face and better disposition is a win win for sure!
Not to mention the cute new running shoes I treated myself with ;)
Hahahahah! I needed to motivate myself somehow!!

Now for the "after" photos.

I used some mineral makeup to help reduce a wee bit of redness and I am looking

much better than I did a year ago. The best part is that my face FEELS so much better.

The redness has gone down. I still get small blemishes but I haven't had any

hard cystic blemishes since end of last winter. The blemishes that I do

get are manageable and most only last about 7-10 days.

I think about half of those are hormonal and I can live with that.

It is SO nice to have a face that doesn't hurt!

 I am happy to look better but I am even happier to feel better- Hurrah!!

So there you have it. So far so good!
I am thrilled with the progress I have made over these
last few months. I am really glad that I took the plunge, did my research
 and made the switch to much better and healthier products.
Fingers crossed that this clear skin will continue for me.

I hope there is some helpful stuff in there for you Pussycats that also
have acne issues. There is no magic cure and certainly no magic acne potion.
I have learned that the hard way for sure! I hate that I fell for all the hype from marketers
promising me clear beautiful skin that would never come.
I am very happy however that I finally got frustrated enough to put a stop to it.

My hope is that by sharing my new routine and the products I am using
will also help you on your path to better, healthier and soothed skin.
My wish is that we all can make positive changes in our lives that make us
feel good about ourselves and help us to live a fulfilled and happy life :)

Next Monday I will start a series of posts sharing some of the make up
products I have been using and had success with.

Take Care Pussycats!! Luv Weezi xoxo



BTW- I purchased these products on my own. I am not affiliated in any
way with any of these companies. I am just one gal problem solving her own
acne issues the best way she can. I have no acne or skin care expertise, just
my own experiences with product trial and error.

Please do not try and sell me stuff or solicit your product here.
This blog is for me to share my expediences only.

Any attempt in solicitation will be blocked and banned, just so you know. 

Hem a Skirt at the Waist- A Tutorial :)

Helllu Pussycats!

This post today is another clothing alteration that I thought
might be useful to some of you.
You see, I am always having to alter my clothes because
I am short. Not just kinda short....I am quite short.
For arguments sake let's say I am 5 foot tall.
That is my story and I am sticking to it :)

I have always been sort of tiny...not slight or slim but short
and small. I didn't get the super cute, pixie genes.
I got the "short-kinda stocky-big thighs-thanx to my Ukrainian heritage" genes ;)
I often forget that I am short until I see my reflection in a window.
I am like: "Oh yeh, I am not 5 9"..damn!"  Hahahaha!

I also forget that I am short until I go shopping for clothing and
then it becomes painfully obvious. Gaaaaa!
Everything needs to be hemmed and shortened.
I often lose so much detail on sleeves and hems b/c I have
to cut everything off. So annoying :(

Skirts can be especially troublesome if there is some lovely trim
around the hem. I have a little trick I use if I can, to salvage the hem.
I "hem" the skirt from the waist :)
It is easy to do and usually doesn't take too long.

I found this pretty cotton skirt at the GoodWill and knew it would be a good
candidate to hem from the waist.
I pulled it up to where I wanted the hem to sit, turned the
waist over and pinned it down.

#1. I measured down from the top of the skirt how much I need to cut off.
I don't need to add seam allowance to the top b/c I am going to use seam
binding to finish off the waist.

#2. I am not going to keep the belt loops b/c I won't wear anything tucked
into this skirt. Make sure you mark evenly around the front and the back.

#3. At this point I carefully removed the zipper.
 This skirt is lined so I pinned the outer skirt to the lining and then basted
around about 1/4" from the edge. Then cut on your marked line to
remove the excess at the top.

#4- #6. At this point you will need to open up the center back to make room for another zipper.
*** At this point try the skirt on again and make sure that it fits as
snug around your waist as you like. You may find it a bit loose b/c we cut
down close to the hipline. If you need to take the waist in a bit, you can
 do this at the center back. Fold under the excess at the back, press and
 trim leaving 1/2" seam allowance. See here if you need more help w this.

You will need an 8" skirt zipper so make sure you have an 8" opening from
the very top of the skirt down. Backstitch at the bottom of the opening to the keep
the seam from pulling open on you. Next, line up the lining and the outer skirt at the
center back and stitch the two layers together about an 1/8" in from the edge.
Give it a good press to try and iron out old stitch marks.

#7 & #8. Next you will add seam binding tape to the raw edge. It just folds over the
edge which is why you didn't need to add seam allowance at the top.

#9. Leave about 1/2" edge at the center back on each side to be folded
under when you put the zipper in.

 #10. Pin your zipper in making sure that your edges meet nicely in the middle
and that the top edges are even as well.
Again, you can check here if you need more info on this zipper application.

#11. Give it a good press.

#12. Ta da!!! You are done! :)

You can see in the first pic that the skirt sits nicely where I like it. You can also see
that I need to wear undies that sit higher and not create a line under my belly button :)

The second photo shows the skirts now falls just above my ankles...perfect!
I didn't lose any of the lovely frill or detail at them hem. Hurrah!! :)

This is easy and doable for beginners. Just remember to go slow
and always double check before you cut.
If you make a mistake, don't fret...I still make mistakes all the time!
If you have any questions about this technique please
feel free to ask.

Take Care!!
luv Weezi xo

What Was Going on in the Weezi Studio This Week :)

Hellluuuuuu Pussycats!!

Hope everyone has had a lovely week :)

It has been a busy week here in the Weezi studio.

I am really getting into high gear getting stock ready for Christmas.

Yes, I know ...I said it. 

The sad fact that is that in retail we have to start preparing in July for

the big holiday. As per usual I am behind. Hahahah! No surprise there  ;)

I have been sewing away, making soap ( it has to sit 4-6 weeks before

it is ready to be labelled) and listing things in my Etsy shoppe.

Here are just a few highlights from this week :)

1. Aprons sold online and being shipped out to the US and as far away as Norway :)

(I still get a thrill when I get to ship something out far away. It never gets old!)

2. Lots of new aprons in the studio and to be listed online in my Etsy shoppe next week.

Star Wars or Star Trek apron anyone??? 

3. Getting ready to assemble fall rings.

These will be available both in the studio and online.

4. Gloria and the Hula Skirt Chicken post a bunch of their UK bus trip pics.

These gals know how to have a good time ;)

5. Making up loads of cold process soap. This week was Blue Raspberry, 

Midnight Pomegranate, Jasmine,White Wisteria and Japanese Cherry Blossom. 

Smells soooooo good in here!

6. Putting together bobby pin sets in darker colours for the fall.

7. Sleep masks with flannel or fleece backs now in the studio to keep

your eyes cozy and shielded from the light this winter :)

ps- these are also available in town at The Bag Lady.

It was a most enjoyable week here in the Weezi studio this week.

As much as this time of the year really gets hectic, it is also a great time for

creativity and making ideas come to fruition!

I am super excited to be listing and sharing all the fun new items

that I will be rolling out for the holidays. It really is a great time

to be making handmade :)

Have a wonderful weekend Pussycats!!

Take care, Luv Weezi xo

Re-covering an Old Dress Form

Hellu Pussycats!

I was lucky enough to be given this lovely vintage dress form.

She was a little rough around the edges but still had great potential!

I knew right away that all she needed was an updated cover to breathe  some new life into her.

What girl doesn't feel perky and fresh in a new dress??? ;)

I started with the knit underlay by draping and pinning in the darts for shape and fit.

I cut away the excess fabric as I went and marked all the darts and seams w a marker.

( next time I would use a less bright marker...the colour showed thru

in spots where I had made an error. Oooops! ;)

I decided at this point I would put a zipper in at the center back
as a means to get the cover on and off for spot cleaning.

After I made sure that I had marked everything well, I placed the pink underlay

on top of the lace. I pinned the two layers together and basted around the edges.

I then sewed up the darts, side seams and shoulder seams. I also clipped into

the curves around the neckline, side seams and shoulders. Clipping and trimming 

allows the seams to lay flat and hug the curves without pulling or puckering.

You might notice that I was a bit short on the bottom  the one side. Oooops!

I pulled too much from the botton at the beginning when I was pinning the darts.

next time I will be more careful! 

To fix my mistake, I slip stitched a band of pink knit around the bottom to conceal

 that it falls well above the bottom of the dress form.

The last thing I did was add the zipper in the back and some lace to the hem.

Ta da!!! I was more than thrilled with how she turned out :)

The soft pink turned out to be a wonderful neutral tone for display purposes. 

You can see the nod of approval from Stella!

I got ambitious and covered a second old dress form in polka dots.

They both look great and have a wonderful new purpose!

I am a firm believer in not throwing it out if you

can re-cover it and bring it back to life :)

Have a great afternoon! Luv Weezi xo

Take In Skirt Waist and Replace the Back Skirt Zipper

Helllu Pussycats!

I found this fabulous skirt at a favourite second hand shoppe 

and I luved how full it was but the waist was too big.

 I got it anyway b/c I knew

it would be easy to take in the waist and replace the back zipper.

I am going to show you a simple procedure to take in an unlined skirt

and that even a beginner can manage this alteration.

Don't be intimidated!! Just go slow, use a bigger stitch length

incase you have to pick out a mistake

and double check that things match up.

You will do great :)

#1. I measured in at the center back how much I need

 to take in the skirt for a comfortable fit.

I removed the zipper and opened up the center back seam.

#2. I marked the backs evenly on both sides the total amount

to take in with pins.

#3. I folded the skirt center back where the pin marks at the waist.

#4. From that point at the top I folded over roughly 

the same amount all the way down the center back.

I folded back at the top  1 3/4" and then 

about an 1 1/2"- 1 1/4" all the way down keeping

the center back seam as straight as possible.

Do the same on both sides.

***

#5. Press your new center back seams down.

Mark in 1/2" seam allowance from the folded back edge

all the way down the back of the skirt on both sides

and then cut and trim along your pencil or chalkline.

#6. Finish the edge with either a serger or a zigzag stitch

to prevent fraying.

***

#7. You want to line up your waistline and the yoke seams

to make sure that they will match and are the same length.

#8 and #9. Turn your skirt and carefully pin with right sides together 

still matching yoke seams and waistline.

#10. Line up the hemline matching ends perfectly and pin there too.

***

#11. Line up your zipper with the back and pin where

your seam will start down the center back.

( Tip: This is a very high waisted skirt and i am using a 

23 cm zip instead of a regular skirt zipper. You need the extra

 room in the zipper to get in and out of it because of the high waist )

#12. Stitch from the that point down to the hem,

 back stitching at the opening so it doesn't pull open.

#13. Line up the top of your zipper with the very top

of the waistline. Have the zipper stop ( little metal piece)

right at the top and pin the zipper in place at the waist.

***

#14. Stitch that side first (the left side of the zipper) down from top to bottom.
Just do the one side for right now.

#15. Do the zipper up to just above the yoke seam. Mark 

where the yoke seam is on the right side of the zipper with a pin.

#16. Stitch the other other of the zipper matching the

 pin placement with the yoke on the right side of the skirt.
***

#17. With your needle down at the the yoke seam double

check that your zipper's metal edge is right the top of

your skirt waistline and pin at that point.

You will see that my zipper is bulging a bit and is a wee

bit longer then the length on the skirt between the

yoke and waist. Not to worry!

#18. From the top of the skirt, give it a tiny pull towards you

(keep the needle down or skirt will wiggle all over)

and the zipper should ease down. Finish stitching while continuing to

pull a tiny bit on the zipper and the skirt. Back stitch at the

 top of the zipper at the waistline.

#19. Turn the top of the zipper tape down, fold over to the right side

of the fabric and pin.

#20. Do up your zipper and check one last time that the yoke 

and waist lines match. The mark of a great alteration is that

everything matches :)

***

#21. Lastly, you can pin the skirt onto the zipper on the right side

of the fabric to keep everything in its place while you top stitch 

the zipper down. Back stitching again at the top on both sides.

(sorry about the blurry photo!!! )

#22. Admire your work :)

I hope this will help encourage you to alter 

a skirt that might be too big.

If you have any questions about this procedure 

please feel free to ask me :)

Happy Sewing Pussycats!!

Luv Weezi xo

Culottes! I Should Have Thought of This Sooner :)

Culottes Saved the Summer

Hellu Pussycats!

As I had mentioned in my previous post, I have

been blessed with big thighs. And, as much as I 

have come to accept my thighs as they are, the summer

heat can often bring about certain challenges.

I love wearing skirts in the summer. 

I live for this time of the year when I can throw on a 

flowy cotton skirt, tank top & flip flops. Heaven!

I think shorts look silly on me and I don't mind capris

but skirts are my favourite.

However, when it is super hot & sticky my thighs

can get really uncomfortable. Oh the chaffe! Booo!

Sooooo....while I was pondering what skirts to sew up with 

 my pretty summer cottons, I was lamenting about the idea

of wearing bike shorts under my skirts. I know lots of gals

do this and it is a perfectly respectable solution.

I was debating whether or not I would have to sew

in linings into the skirts to help hide the bike shorts when

 I had a light bulb moment...Culottes!

Hallelujah!! The BEST of both worlds :)

I immediately started to root thru my many stashes of

vintage patterns in search of a starting off point.

(BTW- Culottes is a word that originated in the French language.

 Historically, "culottes" referred to the knee-breeches commonly worn 

by gentlemen of the European upper-classes from the late 

Middle Ages or Renaissance through the early nineteenth century. )

Voila! I had may base to start from. I decided to go

with the McCall's pattern on the right. I wanted my culottes

to look like a nice full almost circle skirt :)

#1 - 4---> I traced off a copy from the vintage pattern.

I had to make a few adjustments to give me 

a better idea of the look that I wanted for my culottes.

I added fullness to the sides and throughout both the front

 and back skirt. I also added more of a hip curve for a slight

hug over the hips and waist.

#5 ---> I was going to be using lightweight cottons and a rayon blend

for my finished culottes. I chose a fabric for my fitting that would mimic

the cottons I had picked out. I always pick up cheap and "ugly" fabrics from the sale

table or from the GoodWill to use for fittings.

You don't want to use your good fabric for fittings as you will see why

in #8 ;)

#6 ---> A quick tip for beginners: When sewing any item with a crotch, 

the back is always longer than the front. Keep an eye on these so

 you don't sew the back into the front. I admit I have done this many times ;)

#7 & 8 ---> I sewed up my crotch seams and side seams. I tied an elastic around my waist

not only to hold my fitting up but to give my my true waist line. 

You can see trouble right away. There is pulling in the front crotch

and I need to add to the waistline at the center front as well.

#9 ---> I marked the true waist with a marker so I could transfer

that information to my flat pattern.

( This is why you don't use your good fabric for fittings.

You often need to make markings on your fitting and mistakes get made.

 This way you don't ruin your good fabric! ;)

#10 & 14 ---> Back to the drawing board! I added a little bit to the

curve of the front crotch to help ease the pulling in the front crotch.
I added to the waistline at both the front and back. I did take
some of the fullness out as I went a bit overboard with
 how "circley" I wanted it to be ;)

I cut out a new fitting and tied my elastic back on.

I wanted mine to fit right on my true waist above my belly button

so I marked on the second fitting exactly where I wanted the top

of the waistband to sit.

#15 ---> I cut off the waistline the height of my waistband (1 1/2")

so the band doesn't sit too high.

#16 --->I cut my waistband twice the width of my elastic plus 1" for

seam allowance and 1/4" for ease.

#17 ---> Once I had everything sitting at the waist where I liked it

it was time to mark the hem. Looks like a pretty sweet skirt....

#18 ---> Oh wait!!! It it's not a skirt, it is a pair of very comfy culottes!

Hurrah!

***

Here is one of the pair finished :)

I was super happy with the end result. So comfortable
and so flowy!! These are perfect for hot summer days and
no sticky thighs rubbing together :)

---> In the end I put the elastic only in the back waistband b/c

I got carried away with the fullness and added too much.
The elastic all the way around made me look like a balloon.
It would have been OK on a taller gal but I looked ridiculous.

* I took some of the fullness from the side seams but added a few
gathers to the sides while sewing on the waistband.

Hope this tutorial was helpful Pussycats!
if you have any questions , I am happy to help.

Have a great afternoon!!
Luv Weezi xo

Shortening a Long Denim Skirt

Hellllu Pussycats!

I have been wanting a short, full denim skirt for
awhile now. I am not a huge denim fan as a rule
but I find in the summer that a little denim skirt
can be super versatile and comfortable.
It is a nice option especially if the denim
isn't too heavy.
A nice denim skirt can super flirty with sandals
and flip flops or go punk with some army boots
or floral Dr. Martens---> I got these ;)

Dark denim can provide a fun retro look with wedge
shoes, kitten heels or even saddle shoes.
When it comes to full skirts, denim is a must have :)

As per usual, I hit up the thrift store to what gems I could

find in the denim section.

I came across this wonderful button front skirt :)

Lots of pleats, elastic back & side pockets.

Perfect!

Except for the obvious. That it is a super duper long

skirt and not at all the sassy little short number I was coveting.

Hence this post! Shortening a long denim skirt :)

#1. & 2. Awww yeah...not a great look for me. 

However, It does fit well in the waist and is very comfortable.

#3. You will notice that I marked with a pin 

just at my knee where I want to cut to shorten.
This spot includes a one inch hem allowance.

ALWAYS remember the hem allowance or you are going 

to be pretty annoyed if it ends up too short.

It never hurts to double check that you have the pin 

exactly at the length you want it.

#4. I folded the skirt in half and lined up the hem of the skirt
all the way around. This is not technically the proper way to
start a hem and it could get you kicked out of fashion school.
But, for the sake of  making it easier for
you and less complicated I say we go with it.
Besides, I will not be marking your work ;)
Just make sure you fold the skirt in half at the center back,
 line up the hem line and the waistline. Smooth it out.
Next, mark where your pin is with chalk remembering that you
have your 1" hem allowance accounted for.
Measure from your chalk line down. (mine was 12").

#5.You are going to measure up that amount up from
 the hem along the edge of your skirt with the chalk.

#6. Cut along that line starting at the back
keeping your skirt flat and smooth.

#7. You need to either zigzag or serge or use pinking shears along
your raw edge to keep the hem from fraying.
Anyone of those will help keep your raw edges from
going crazy and making a mess in the wash.
When you start to pin your hem up, place one
 pin at the side seam and another at the center back.
Next place a pin in the middle of those. This will help
keep your curve nice and even. You won't end up
pushing fabric out of place. This isn't such a big deal with
denim but can be with loosely woven and stretchy fabrics.
Pin your skirt 1" all the way around.

#8. Turn up the hem 1 1/4" at the center front.
When you have a kick pleat or a button front
like this skirt, you want the front
 to be a wee bit longer then the back.
About an 1/8" or a 1/4" is perfect.
If the back longs longer then the front
it looks messy.

#9. Lay the fronts over each other and double check that
the top lays a wee bit longer then the under
one before stitching. Easier to double check then
it is to pick out stitches because your fronts are uneven.

#10. Give it a good pressing.

#11 & #12. Stitch w matching thread or a colour close
 to the original contrast colour. Use a long stitch length with denim.
You don't need a small stitch to hold the fabric. A longer
stitch looks more professional on denim especially if using a
contrast thread colour.
Back stitch well at each end.

I decided to pair it with my pink roses rain boots
when I wore it out for the first time.
I was thrilled with its transformation :)

I am happy to help if you have any questions.
Feel free to email me at lisa@weezi.com
if you need any help with hemming a skirt.

Take care Pussycats!
Luv Weezi xo

At the Bag Lady

Weezi At the Bag Lady

Hellu Pussycats!

For the past couple of years I have been selling aprons at the 

Bag Lady Variety here in London Ontario.

Jane ( the owner) has been very generous to me not

to mention extremely supportive!

Slowly, I added in a few extra things like homemade blank 

greeting cards & food notebooks.

Everything has been doing extremely well.

( A big thanx to everyone who buys Weezi

at the Bag Lady!!! xo)

So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when she offered me

a spot in the cafe to showcase even more Weezi items!

Hurrah!

Today was the day I went and got my little corner set up.

I arrived with a load of fun stuff.

Everything from cosmetic cases to romance notebooks.

Here is the very cute pink shelf unit my Dad made me.

Thanx Dad!!!

And here it is loaded up with some fun handmade goodies.

I am thrilled to be represented at the Bag Lady!

Jane and I are such a perfect fit.
We both have a luv for vintage and retro nostalgia, anything pink,

all things fun & quirky & of course handmade.

Not to mention a big desire to help out friends & the people in our community.

The real meaning of support local!

I hope you will enjoy the new selection of Weezi goods at the

Bag Lady.

I will be updating the Weezi corner every week :)

Ther are some great little gifts ideas perfect

for the upcoming holiday season.

The cafe is located at 474 Pall Mall at Maitland.

Please stop by sometime soon.

The food is totally worth the trip!

Delicious home made soup & sammies everyday.

There is an early bird breakfast and every Friday

is Pizza Friday. Breakfast all day Sat. & Sunday.

Fair trade coffee & the BEST brownies in town!

You can find all the info you need about the

menu and hours here.

Have a great night Pussycats!

Keep in touch, Luv Weezi xo

What a Great Way to Recycle PotHolders

What a Great Way to Recycle PotHolders

Hellu Pussycats!

I have been all over the place this week.

I haven't really done anything I am supposed to.

I am having a "starting to freak out b/c Christmas is coming" week.

That feeling of I don't have enough, I haven't done enough...

You know the drill!

So, instead of taking photos of the new shoes clips

I made last weekend and posting them on here 

like I should be.....

I am posting this lovely tutorial I came across on FB.

This is so adorable!

How to Make a Pot Holder Rug: tutorial here.

By Jessica Wilson

She shows exactly step by step how to make
this easy little kitchen mat.

What a great way to use vintage and retro potholders.

Go check it out for sure!
The tutorial is here on CraftZine.com
Another fabulous idea for reuse, reduce & vintage!

Have a great afternoon Pussycats!

Keep in touch, luv Weezi xo