This week was...

This week was crazy, which is part of the reason you haven't seen any updates on the blog. The other reason is that I'm finally moving all my stuff to a new self-hosted Wordpress site, and all the posts have already been migrated. So, adding new ones would mean manually reposting them on the new site, so I thought I'd keep the number of those posts to a minimum. Plus, this helps me to really focus on getting the new site finished up and ready to go live. Fingers crossed!

This week was about starting something new. The whole experience of launching an online course has been such a learning opportunity for me. From developing a course layout, to creating promotional materials, to building members-only site, to launching and marketing. To, now, actually teaching the classes and producing material for that. Talk about a learning curve.

This week was about seeking new opportunities. The state of my business is becoming more clear, and I'm also being more realistic about the growth potential, so I'm finding new ways to provide stability into our lives. At this point, every week is a new adventure, and changes happen very quickly for us. It's hard to even imagine what our life will look like in a month, much less 6 moths, or a year. Crazy times. Hard times. But, happy times.

This week was refreshing. The warm and sunny weather has re-energized me in the best way. Summer has always been my time. I'm a summer child through and through. I'm soaking up all the sun I can before flying to Estonia for a week on Tuesday. My mom said it's the coldest spring she remembers in years. Perfect.

I will be back next week with a couple new projects and the routine here will shortly fall back into its usual track. It's a sort of change of seasons - there's always the odd transitioning phase before we settle into the new one. Hopefully, I can greet you soon on the new site!

See you soon!
xo. Hanna

Doors are closing!

I just wanted to let you know that it's the last day of registration to the Start Sewing Club. At midnight, the doors to the club will close for months. I'm not going to open up another club before fall.

So, if you're still going back and forth between "Do I join? Yes...No, maybe wait....But...I really would love to....But, I don't know....I'd love to join...but" then it's your last chance to hop on board. I'd hate for you to miss out because you hesitated for too long.

The ladies are already chatting in the Facebook group, and I love seeing the club that I only envisioned in my mind just a few short weeks ago, turn into a real thing. It's the best feeling in the world!

There are loads of places online to learn all about sewing, but what makes the Sewing Club unique is the connection to others you can make in it. It's not JUST a place to learn, it's a place to connect and engage with others. 

Plus, I'll be there to guide you and help you. Most online classes don't offer that kind of support. 

One of the best things about our craft lessons at school was the chatting around the craft table. The stories and laughs shared and the deeper connection we formed through it. I think that's what we all crave in these online communities as well - whether it's commenting on blogs, or participating in forums, or even writing our own blog.

We want to connect with other like-minded people. Share our stories and hear theirs. Feel the deeper connection to each other. That's what I've tried to create with the sewing club. And it seems I've succeeded.

I'm uploading the first week's sessions as I write this. It includes loads of videos and useful guides (like the 5-page Ultimate Sewing Machine Troubleshooting Guide and the Fabric+thread+needle Guide). Plus a growing library of resources.

Join here!

Whether you join in or not, I'm still happy and grateful to have you in my little community, and to be able to connect with you through my projects and life stories.

xo. Hanna

20 quick and easy refashions for beginners

Refashioning is a great way to get the most out of your wardrobe. In fact, every season I go through my wardrobe and take out things that I haven't worn and think of ways I could update them to get more wear out of them. Even after just 6 months of moving to Germany with my capsule wardrobe, I'm finding things that aren't working for me.

Maybe they're just a tad shapeless, or I don't feel comfortable because I fear my boobs might fall out (we all know how tricky those strapless dresses can be). Whatever is stopping me from wearing those garments, there's almost always a way to fix it and make it more interesting, comfortable, or wearable. So, I thought it would be fun to round up some quick fixes from the archives to inspire you to spring clean and update your wardrobe.

You really don't have to be DIY queen to do these. Anyone can get into refashioning - you just need to be able to see the potential in every garment.

1. Dye is the quick fix with a lot of impact. Sometimes, all it takes are a few rubber bands an a little dye to turn a boring white tee into a colorful summer staple. Find the tutorial here.

 2. If you're not that into tie dyeing, you should dry dip dyeing for an ombre look. I don't think were quite over the ombre trend yet.

 3. If you're not that into messing with dye, or you have dark items to refashion that won't take in any dye, try bleach for a change. You'll get the same drastic color change, but with less of a mess. I love this shibori-style t-shirt dress I bleached (it was black before).

4. Just throwing something into bleach is really one of the easiest refashioning tricks I know. You never know how exactly it's going to turn out, but that half the excitement anyway. You can read moe about this pullover refashion here.

5. You don't need to dye the whole garment to add some color. Fabric paint is a great way to change up a garment by adding a colorful pattern - like this spotted T-shirt. 

6. You can go a little crazy and try this splatter technique. I love it!

 7. Here's a fun way to add a tribal or geometric pattern to a jacket.

8. Pearls are a super easy way to add some fancy to otherwise simple garments. All you need are some basic hand-sewing skills. Add some pearls and sequins on a shoulder....

9. ...or around a neckline....

10. ...or bedazzle a pair of jeans!

11. Why not use buttons to add some personality to jeans or trouser pockets? I'm definitely a fan of buttons (I have a whole box full of them).

12. If pearls nor buttons rock your boat, what about zippers? This zipper embellished T-shirt is one of my all-time favorites.

13. Or, try adding some zippers to an open-back dress with slippery shoulders.

14. Sometimes it's the fit of a shirt that makes you pass each time you look at it in the morning. Try shirring the waist to add some more definition and shape.

 15. Have a nasty stain on a comfy t-shirt? Maybe putting a lace heart on it will do the trick.

 16. Lace hearts are super cute on the back of a tee as well.

 17. Sometimes, all a blouse needs is a lace collar. You'll be amazed at the difference a little lace can make.

18. Adding lace straps to a strapless dress can turn it from something you fear wearing into something you love. It certainly turned this dress into one of my favorites. 

 19. When in doubt, add fabric flowers. It helps. Every time.

20. Last but not least, you can take something away. Whether it's taking some length off of a skirt, or a the sleeves of a jacket. Snipping off what's not working, can sometimes be the simplest solution of them all.

I hope you're inspired to give your closet a good clean-out and refashion some of those unloved garments to give them another go. Sometimes an easy fix can turn a "meh"-garment into a wardrobe staple.

xo. Hanna