I was rummaging through my clothes, looking for what I can wear on Saturday for Church. When I got one of my long skirts, I was planning to cut off about 10 inches so it’s not too long.

Unfortunately (Fortunately for my daughter), when I held up the skirt upside down, a lightbulb flashed. Ting! There goes my skirt after she briefly explained what she wanted to make me do with it…for her.

This is the original skirt:

This is how long the skirt is:

Turned upside down:

After I got my pair of scissors, needle and thread and did what I had to do…

Worn Sabrina style:

Worn Cow’s Neck style:

Full body, back view, Sabrina style:

Full body, front view, Sabrina style:

Shoulder lock with a fashionable button and a threaded button hole (I just rummaged through my old collection of buttons):

Relative view of button:

Original garter need not be removed as it created a bit of a hug around the legs. She can also wear it as the original skirt but just under her armpits and put a belt and a blazer or bolero over. Of course the buttons at the hem are open.

It has been humidly hot for the past several weeks and living in a place where ventilation is quite scarce, it really gets super humidly hot.

For that I found a solution to my house shirts. I got my pair of cloth scissors and cut away my summer shirt!

- I cut away the sleeves and and the neckline to remove the collar.

- I folded the shirt lengthwise in such a way that the left portion of the back pairs with its right portion and so with the front. The reason is to give a symmetrical cut for the left and right sides.

- I cut long triangles at the back portion.

That’s it!

The back portion of the shirt with the "diamond" holes showing.

Today I have been doing a backdrop for an event tomorrow.

As I was resting, I decided to cut out little polygons out the grey scrap piece of felt paper. I even made the “KAJ” appear though the J was forgottenly cut backwards. I put glue at the back when done and stuck it on a scrap yellow felt paper and trimmed the sides.

The idea sparked after viewing Please, No More Receipts! and I thought that is a good plea although for us here in the Philippines many of us NEED them as part of the proof of purchase unless something can be done as alternative electronically.

It’s a valid plea. Trees are felled and these receipt paper is one of the causes. In line of that, I thought that I’d share what I normally do to save on some paper.

Many of us do have ATMs, right? After withdrawing or even just for plain balance inquiry, you have the option to either print the receipt or not. I always don’t and just look at the screen. If all of us would do the same around the world, how much do you think can we save on trees? Additionally, if you have your account available online, check the balance online istead. (I have 2 that I just check online and 1 that I can only check offline.)

It’s actually sad when I get to an ATM machine and all the paper pieces are scattered around because they actually don’t need it.

Yesterday, April 22, around 3pm (it’s 4:10am now), I brought 2 of my girls to SM Sucat mainly to deliver a phone I sold at Ebay, at the same time roam around since it was our first time to go to that place. There were 2 buildings. When we reached the next one, we heard hosting from afar. When we saw it from the 2nd floor, a kids event was happening and the host was inviting all kids to join. My youngest was excited so I brought her there. It was an oil pastel workshop. It was part of the celebration of Earth Day, which will run for a month throughout the mall.

Looking from a distance, I learned myself. My teenager was also with me. We both learned and she’s actually the one who is into drawings and stuff. My youngest got rather bored but learned something as well.

While I was looking into the artwork of the artist (the host mentioned his name is David Gastimbaste) who taught the kids, the host noticed my Nescafe Lady’s Wallet and I got a free promotion of this site. I learned his name is Richard Agtarap and hosting is his living.

After the event, we went to National Bookstore. My teen bought herself some oil pastel and sand paper. When we got home, my youngest wanted to do some art to. I told her to get the felt paper I had in my stuff. I tried it myself too. It was a learning experience.

I tried to take some pictures…

March 8 marks the International Women’s Day. I got something for you and you can read about it at my other blog:

In Celebration Of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2010

It will run until the 14th so grab your chance now.

I’m having some technical difficulties with my blog. Good thing I can post now.

Remember my post about turning a shirt into a half slip? Well, last year, I turned one of the old sweatshirts into a half slip because I wanted something opaque. Besides, the sweatshirt does not fit the way I like it, nor does it fit anyone else. No one likes it so I recycled it.

A few days ago, though, I changed my  mind.

It started with making a shirt design that’s quite Linux. I bought 2 colors of textile paint that’s squeeze-ready, got one of my old house shirts and came up with a design that formed in my head which I drew/wrote at the back of the shirt (I don’t intend that people would stare at my front):

And since I still had some textile paint left, my hands got itchy so I got my sweatshirt-turned-half-slip, got an old cord for the waist and turned it into a house skirt after lettering one of my other blogs. Again, it’s the back part as I don’t intend people to try to read my front.

As worn.

As I mentioned in my previous post, something was in the making that makes use of used notebook pages, which I just started a few hours ago. I just went on and on until I decided to make a turn, not fully decided on what I’d like to accomplish. When the “fan” formed, I thought it would be a great boquet handler. When I do get some flowers, I’ll take shots of the arrangement but now it’s still on its raw stage as I haven’t varnished it yet to give its earthy feel/look.

Started with rolling the pages into sticks.

Made the base.

The body getting form.

Finally done.

Top view.

Bottom view.

What else can you make out of the used notebook pages? You can turn it into charcoal too.

I know it has been a loooooong time. So many things have happened. Typhoons hit. We had to move to another place due to the flood. Sewing machine has not been set up until now since we moved last October. Now I’m trying to do something out of used notebook pages but it’s still in the making.

Let me share, though, the creativity of Filipino people who were hit by the storm and left the place flooded. Since the flood, those whose livelihood depended on tricycle-driving had to do something or else they’ll not eat.

Below are the pictures I took while using the rafts they invented out of water jugs, old plywood, and even banana tree trunk. Some used the inflatable bed as floater and put wood on top. With a couple of chairs on top, the rafts got ready for ferrying passengers to dry land.

Yesterday I wanted to go to the Cultural Center of the Philippines to celebrate Earth Day with everyone else concerned. There were several interesting programs I’d like to see especially the recycling stuff…but I couldn’t leave home so instead, I made a new design that popped right out my mind as I saw 2 CDs that are good for throwing. Since I had no internet at home since it was temporarily cut off due to unpaid bills, I kept my sewing machine busy. Now I’m at a nearby internet cafe (can’t keep me off the internet, really, that long :D).

Below are the stuff I needed:

It might be a bit confusing since the cover of my sewing machine is also green (used tarpaulin). You see the 2 CDs, 2 boxes of Nescafe stick sachets and a piece of the same tarpaulin I used to cover my machine. Not shown here are the bias I used for the edges, zipper, and strap. The CDs are removable.

Below: started sewing each sachet on the the tarp.

Below: every sachet I needed all sewn.

Below: tote bag done. Series of pictures showing different angles and different forms. Yes, there are several forms/ways to use the tote bag. It could be tubely, flat, or a mix of both. It could be worn on the side, back or front or even plain handled without the strap.

If the pictures did not load well, you can also see them at one of my picasaweb accounts.

I’m also thinking of exporting it. By order. If you’re interested, let me know.