"Midnight Showing" Reconstruction

More Threadless love! This is an incredibly awesome shirt printed with glow-in-the-dark ink so it has a secret design on top of the run-down movie theater. I reconstructed it into a style much like the "My Crony" shirt that I did a while back, but I gave this one puffed sleeves. I made it this afternoon, and my friend Hannah photographed it this afternoon. (She's brilliant & I'm planning to bribe her with clothing to take photos for me this summer.)









The above is what the design looks like in the dark. Amazing, isn't it? I've never been to a drive in movie, but they seem so classic and terribly romantic. I'm so ridiculously excited about these pictures. They're exactly what I wanted. Hannah just totally got it! The shirt is listed HERE, if you're interested.

Okay, I'm off to sew again. I'll post about NYE (& what I was wearing) soon. How's 2010 going for you so far?

"Wolken" Reconstruction

My pile of Threadless shirts never exactly shrinks. It seems like every time I start working away at the ones I have, Threadless holds a sale, and the deals are too good to pass up. Like right now. This is a shirt I purchased back in March. Actually, I got two--one for me, one to sell. I haven't reconstructed mine yet (because that's just how those things go), but here's what I did with the other one:







It's the most adorable design, and I couldn't possibly resist that little fox. I paired it with natural colored bamboo, giving it a v-neck, side pocket, 3/4 length sleeves, and a contrast back.

(By the way, the lake looks very, very different now, a short month after these photos were taken!)

xo!

Poe!

I meant to post this way sooner, but I had the sale, and then I went out of town. So now that I'm home, here it is!

This was a reconstruction from a Threadless "Poetic Irony" tee. I'm obsessed with one-shoulder tops right now! I was super inspired by a top Taylor Swift wore in her Stripped version of "Untouchable". Basically, a super puffy-sleeve, and a slick fitted style.





I loooove the print--it's morbid and beautiful and you can see a better photo here. This shirt sold at the sale, but the other new items need to be re-photographed (when it's not 2AM, which was when I took them before) before I can post them. I promise to do it in the next few days!

Expect some shirts of this style to be listed in the shop... some from threadless shirts, some from just pretty fabric.

Also, I just got accepted to college for spring semester (!), and this probably means I'll be closing the shop during this time. I'll keep you updated on everything, though!

Outifts, darling!

Remember when I did this? Once? Back in May? Yes, well, I'm posting outfits again because [gasp] I don't have anything else to post. It's been too long since I've sewn anything! But I was looking at my calendar this morning and realized that the Christmas sale I'm going to participate in is just over two weeks away. Shocking, how fast time goes! I haven't gotten anyone covered for presents, even! Thanksgiving is a week from today. Advent starts... what day, December 6th? There's a chorus singing, "Not ready! Not yet! Slow down!" in my head. Bah.

On to the outfits! These are just a few from the last four months.


This was in September. All I remember is that it was freezing. I'm wearing:

- Handknit merino wool cap - from Mom
- T-shirt scarf - handmade
- Wool peacoat - Delia*s
- Shirt & stockings - Target
- Altered wool skirt - vintage
- Booties - Lulu's



I like this. But these shoes are killer to wear if I'm walking anywhere.

- Necklace - dazeoftheweek.etsy.com
- "Liberty" tee - threadless.com - resized
- Black jacket - I think it came from Ragstock? Anyway, my friend surprised me with it, & I've had it for about 4 years & it's one of my favorite pieces.
- Belt - reconstructed from pleather pants & a broken belt.
- Bubble skirt - handmade
- Stockings - Target
- Vintage French peeptoes - wonderwardrobe.etsy.com


Summer! So long, long ago...

- Owl necklace - adriannemae.etsy.com
- Most Amazing Shirt Ever (my absolute favorite thing) - handmade
- Belt - thrifted
- Lime pleated skirt - thrifted
- Porch Swing Peeptoes - Modcloth

And here's basically the same outfit, but transformed for the cold weather:


Things different in this outfit:
- Jacket - Ragstock
- Black belt - from a friend
- Chain necklace
- Red tights - We Love Colors
- Fishnets - Ragstock
- NEW BOOTS - Forever21

Aren't the bee-yoo-tee-ful? The outer is a really weird material, but it looks like suede and it's not like I have to feel it, so it's not a big deal. They've got a really low (1 1/2") wedge heel, so perfect for walking, and... you probably know how I feel about straps and buttons on boots. Super fantastic. These just became the Porch Swing Peeptoes of my fall/winter wardrobe, haha. (Did you notice how often I wore those?)

I'm a huge fan of daily outfit photos because you can look back on them, analyze what you wore, easily reuse outfits, know what not to do, and see how your style progressed. What I can tell you now is that I definitely need to switch it up and wear something besides high-waisted skirts!

So, guys, do you take outfit photos? Do you plan on starting? Let me know if you do, and we can keep track of each other! Also, how are you doing on Christmas organizing & planning? Overwhelmed as I am, or neatly ahead of the game?

From Oops to Awesome

I am finally working my way through my huge stack of Threadless shirts (in early anticipation of their $5 Holiday Sale in December. ^_^), and I was excited to have finally figured out what to do with their adorable "My Crony" design. I was getting to the end of it and everything was working perfectly when I tried it on to check the fit. I looked in the mirror, and realized that I had made an awful, hilarious, and glaring mistake. See:



Obviously, having a huge circle printed on the stomach is not a selling point. I found my problem hilarious because the design would've worked with most other shirts, but I just had to choose the one that would fail.

I asked my online buddies for help & suggestions, and then, while lying in bed unable to sleep, it came to me. I'd put in a side pocket, shift the print over, and although there'd be a seam in front, it would have an obvious purpose.

It worked out much better than the original design would have, I thought. It adds a lot more interest, and the print looks fabulous when it's all shifted.





Forgive the less-than-stellar photos! I'll be taking nice pictures and listing this within the next few days.

(Edit: New pictures!)





For sale here: www.mateycouture.etsy.com :)

Awesome! Don't you think?

New Recon!

Well, old recon, but I'm finally getting around to posting it. This is for the TBGuild's "White" themed treasury. I used a Threadless "Let's Go Parasoling!" tee which I had on my shelf since December, and mint green trim that I searched for long and hard because I wanted the perfect color to match the umbrellas on the shirt. It's got a deep scoop in back & cute little ties. There are tabs at each side with little white buttons. It's super cute and chic. <3




When I saw that the lake was steaming yesterday morning, I knew I had to go photograph some clothes. But, you know, it was steaming because it was about 25 degrees out. Brrr. It was worth it!

Psst, it's available here: www.mateycouture.etsy.com

Threadless "Foxy" Reconstruction

I had a lot of fun with this shirt. I really like the print, and although orange isn't the easiest color to work with, there was enough black in the print itself that I could add black fabric and not overwhelm it.

Before:

After:

Much better! I love the triangle insert... and there's a pocket there, too! It was cool to play around, seeing how I could incorporate the black fabric into it more subtly.

Right now it is raining, but they say tomorrow will be in the 70's here, so if it is nice I'll dress up in my new sundresses and take some photos for you. :)

Threadless "Liberty" Reconstruction

Oh, Threadless. How I love thee. I've been absolutely drooling over this shirt for ages, and a couple months ago (time flies!) they had a 5$ tee sale... and I had to get it! By the time I was ready to order, they had only 3XL. I ordered two--one for me!--and waited impatiently for their arrival.

These are so amazing. First, the name "Liberty" is fantastic--we all know I go for that stuff. :) The color is unusual for a Threadless shirt, and I really like it! And, of course, the print. I lovelovelove it. The bird glows in the dark, too! How awesome is that?

Anyway, I resized one for me, because I wanted just a regular tee, and then made the second one into this. It has a ruched bust, a super long cut, and capped sleeve-style straps.




So. It's spring here! I'm suddenly going to become overwhelmingly busy for the next few months (I have three jobs this summer!), so if I'm not around much... that will be why! I'm going to try my very hardest to at least not neglect my shop, and when I update that I'll try to post here as well. Bear with me, and know I'll be back to posting regularly this fall!

Spring Collection: A Preview!

Never before seen on Matey Couture: Addie actually smiling as she models! (Oy, third person rocks.)

No, really, I think this is the first time. I posted a picture of me smiling a few posts down, but it wasn't a modeling shot. Here I tried to smile winningly at the camera.

Before: Saturday Morning Reruns Threadless Tee.

After:

Details: Capped sleeves, keyhole in back, scoop neck, tabs at lower sides. I fell in love with the print the minute I saw it, but hoarded the tee until I could find the perfect fabric to match it. Turns out Hancock was having a sale on cotton jersey knit, and they had this color-- it was so perfect! I'll probably add buttons on the tabs & at the top of the keyhole, but I haven't found the right ones to put on it yet. I'll be taking real photos of this for my shop on my vacation.... you'll just have to wait to see the awesomeness, but know that it'll be epic, especially because of where I'll be taking the photos. :)

Oh, and I entered it into Project Threadbanger & got second place!! (By the way, I won last month, but by default because nobody else entered. :\ Still, it was exciting.)

Hope you're staying warm, wherever your location may be! Here in MN it's crisp & below zero--and I can't wait for t-shirt weather!