Grateful-Thankful-Blessed DIY Frankenstein Dress & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #680
I have another Frankenstein dress to share! Like yesterday’s Thankful & Blessed Frankenstein dress, this one is also constructed from a graphic tee that I received three years ago as part of a brand collaboration and a really old skirt that I have never worn. Certainly, I should have purged the skirt years ago but it’s another print that really appeals to me and kept me holding onto it.
I am ready now, however, to start a major midlife purge of my closet but I want to do it in a sustainable way. In an effort to save my unworn and unwanted wardrobe pieces from Destination Landfill, I have been finding ways to upcycle them into new garments that I will wear or into home decor projects.
When I started making these adorable DIY maxi dresses, I was really excited for this particular combination of graphic tee and skirt. The skirt has a Native American tribal print with some feathers in it which was perfect for combining with this Thanksgiving inspired tee shirt that also has a feather graphic.
I styled this dress a few weeks back before the weather turned cold so I layered a lightweight thrifted paisley kimono on top to hide my novice sewing errors. I accessorized with my orange Panama hat, orange leather feather earrings, my Michal Golan beaded leather choker, and plum ankle boots.
At first I was unsure of the color combination of burgundy, plum, orange, tan, and black. However, once it was all put together on my body, I really loved it.
If you have even the most basic sewing skills, these dresses are so stinking easy to make. And they are so unique and fun and elicit compliments every time I wear one out in public. But more importantly, they make me feel fabulously true to myself…a combination of original style and creative sustainability.
Do you have creative ways of repurposing or upcycling your unwanted things? Please share them with me! I am always on the lookout for new ideas.
Featured Favorites
Reader Favorite: Marsha of Marsha in the Middle
Fashion Favorite: Di of Di-alog
Other Favorite: Nicole of Mom’s Home Run
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Dress-Upcycled by me from a Tee Shirt (Bellelily) and Maxi Skirt (Target) / Boots-Old Navy / Kimono-Thrifted / Hat-Wona Trading / Earrings-Good Life Healing Arts & Gift Shop / Necklace-Michal Golan
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
22 Comments
Stephanie
Thank you for hosting. And what a great way to upcycle a t-shirt! I hope that you had a way Thanksgiving.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Stephanie! I really appreciate that! Happy Thanksgiving to you and have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Stephanie
It was supposed to say ” I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving”, not way! My darn phone changed it on me and I hit submit. Haha. Have a great weekend! 😊
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahahahaha. I knew what you meant and I replied without even really noticing!
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
Shelbee, your sewing skills continue to impress me! I love how you’re bringing new life into your closet by upcycling! It is such a sustainable and wonderful thing to do. I am also attempting to sew and knit old/new things in my wardrobe, however I am also still splashing out on new items too lol!
This whole outfit is just brilliant, my friend, and I LOVE the colour combination!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Suzy, thanks so much, my friend! My creative inspiration has been abundant lately and I am enjoying riding the wave. I have been buying new things here and there as well, but certainly not as much as I used to. Bringing new life to old things seems so much better in so many ways. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Pamela
I think these dresses are such fun and a great way to utilise what’s hiding in the closet! I love it when I tweak the fit of something and it just comes together – a case of wear or no wear!
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Pamela! Oh, I love it, too, when you can take something from the no wear pile and move it to the wear a lot pile! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a blessed holiday season, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Di
Love how you have created a one of a kind dress that is so fun and perfect for your style and the holiday! Scouring your closet for two items you don’t wear is such a great idea for this project. I try to repurpose items whenever I can. I have made throw pillows and drawer sachets from pieces I no longer wear, and I consign and participate in our community free cycle give away program. Every little bit helps! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have a great long weedend! And thanks for the favorite Shelbee, I really appreciate it!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Di, thank you so much, my friend! I am really enjoying finding new ways to repurpose and upcycle all of my unwanted things. I have a bin full of old sheets and curtains that I have been brainstorming what to do with them. They will definitely be put to some kind of raggery use! I appreciate all you do to save your unwanted things from the landfill as well! I hope you and your family had a lovely Thanksgiving. Wishing you many blessings this holiday season!
xoxo
Shelbee
Claire
Love this idea, Shelbee. It turned out great. Thanks so much for hosting.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Claire! I am in love with these DIY dresses!
xoxo
Shelbee
Midlife and Beyond
How creative of you to design and make your own clothes, and you have done a beautiful job. I used to have a sewing machine when my boys were little and enjoying making curtains as they were easy ( straight lines), ha ha. Thank you for hosting and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Alison x
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Alison! I really appreciate that. I am having a lot of fun upcycling my unwanted clothes into things I will actually wear. I laughed out loud at your straight lines comment because I find long straight lines the most difficult things to sew! Hahaha. I hope you are having a lovely weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lydia C. Lee
That’s such a cute (and positive ) outfit. i Love the hat! #FinalFridays
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Lydia, thank you so much! I do like to spread some positivity in the world and what better way than just wearing it on your clothes! I hope you have a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Shelbee, I love the color combination of this new Frankenstein dress! It’s like both pieces were made for each other. Your creativity truly knows no bounds, and I cannot wait to see where it leads you. Once all the rooms in our house are painted, I’m getting my sewing machine out and making/recycling/fixing some things. I miss having a dedicated sewing area. But, you learn and let it go!
Thanks so much for the feature as well as this week’s link party!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Marsham, thanks so much, my friend! I am really tapped into my creative energy right now. I can feel it in every cell of my body. I just started making a kimono robe out of a thrifted bedsheet yesterday. But I am struggling big time with it. The sheet fabric is not what I was hoping it would be for this project and I cannot get the sewing in the armpits to not look all wonky. Oh well. It’s still some sewing practice, at least! When you get your sewing machine out, we should set up some zoom calls to discuss our projects and maybe invite some of our other crafty blogger friends to join us. That might be a lot of fun!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
That dress is so very cool. Love it. You did a fablous job. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Have a great week.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful as well. Have a fabulous week ahead, my friend!
Michelle
I am so glad you held on to these pieces. I love this dress too. Amazing!
Xoxo
Michelle
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Eeek, thanks so much, my friend! These dresses make me so stinking happy!
xoxo
Shelbee