We interrupts this Bowie Month for a brief Seussical interlude - The Dr Seuss skirt upcycle

Dear Readers, if you get major de ja vue reading this post, please forgive me. Tomorrow is Dr Seuss's birthday, and if you know me well, you'll know that's special to me....I don't do birthdays, ie. my own, but I does do (phew, avoided saying do do) Dr Seuss's birthday instead....but the dress I've made for this year's celebration meal is coming up in a post this afternoon. In the meantime, I realised my Seussical creation for last year hasn't actually appeared on Fanbloomingtastic yet....it was on Sew Weekly, but as I'm not quite sure what's happening with SW in the future, I thought I'd better transfer some of my early posts onto here gradually in case they get lost. Sorry for that long and over-wordy explanation....

The “Refashioning for Dr Seuss, he speaks for the trees” Skirt

I was taking a week off, I was going to get well,

To try to recuperate, but try not to smell.

I would NOT touch the stash or the patterns or pinnings,

I would NOT sew at all, no more finishing, no beginnings.

I was watching some movies they said would win Oscars,

When there under my nose, I noticed some hair fuzz.

It wasn’t the downy kind, sorted by waxing,

It was yellow and bushy. Stroking felt quite relaxing.

I puzzled and puzzled what this face fluff could mean.

I puzzled and puzzled till my ears they did steam.

When out of a window I heard Grickle Grass whisper,

“Remember, remember someone’s birthday, dear sister”!

“A birthday?” I thought, “no-one’s birthday is near”.

For a pig of the Moon helps me keep that all clear!

But I looked at my calendar and I saw what they meant,

On March of the Second = special day, special gent.

On 2nd of March in Nineteen O’ Four,

Dr Seuss, he was born; it’s the truth not some lore.

So all cross the nation, lots of children will party.

There’ll be funny costumes, some may even be arty.

And all cross the nation, children, they say

Will read books for Read Across America Day.

(And high on the top of a Mount they call Crumpit,

The no noise, noise, noise, noise will make a Green one quite content).

So my moustache and Grass talking was truly a sign,

Not that I need treatment or had drunk too much wine….

But I knew in my heart what now I must do,

But being from England, I first made a brew,

(For though not everyone in the world can believe it,

Tea sorts out all problems, puffy eyes and some small zits).

The Sew Weekly Challenge this week said “Refashion!”

So I’d cut and repurpose with a Seussical passion.

I went to the thrift store and I bought me some trousers,

And to find me a plan I used internet browsers!

(I did not like the ‘pants’ as they came, I did not like them in the rain,

Not in a box, not with a fox, not in a house, not with a mouse.

I did not like these ‘pants’ at all,

I did not like them James McCall).

So I typed into Google, ‘refashion ideas’,

And back came an answer that calmed all my fears.

For refashioning is hip, not some thing from the past,

Something fun to be doing to help our world last!

Google found me again, the Sistahs of Harlem,

Who I’d seen on Threadbanger, their ideas are just awesome.

And then I remembered that once in my Library,

I seen Denim Mania, their book, so I scurried…

And I booked out that book and checked out their ideas,

And I changed trousers to skirt with some frills and some tiers.

And with Dr Seuss scraps that I had in my stash,

I fashioned some godets, then stroked my moustache.

For the skirt it was finished, so t’was time to take pictures,

But then, please Miss Mena believe me, fate screwed up my mixture,

For the skirt it was sewn and all I needed was my tog,

So I picked her up from school with a jiggity jog.

But there in the park lot, a lady, not looking,

Reversed into my car, dented it, made me sad…which doesn’t even rhyme with ‘king :(

And though no-one was hurt, I made me quite wobbly,

So I missed midnight Monday’s deadline quite sobbily,

So here is my posting, about skirt, car crash and all,

Though luckily the dent on my car is quite small,

And I still have my moustache as in pics you can see…

Which I’ll wear on March second and perhaps even March three,

And the kids in my 3rd Grade reading group will all love the skirt

(Well they’d better by gum, or my feelings’ll be hurt).

So here endeth my story of Grass whisperings, cuttings and sewings,

No more rhymings and ramblings, I really must be goings

But one more thing before I go:

Don’t be a Once-ler, you don’t need that new Thneed,

Listen to the Lorax, upcycling, refashioning is good for the trees!

The Facts

Fabric: Turquoise denim trousers $8.99 (£5.98) from Goodwill thrift store (charity shop), Cat in the Hat fabric from stash (watch out for more later this year), Grinch t-shirt my own and blinged by me in December 2010, shoes $5.99 (£3.99) from Goodwill thrift store, Moustache my own…..obviously ;)
Patterns: Ideas and inspiration taken from the Sistahs of Harlem and especially their book, Denim Mania: 25 Stylish Ways to Transform Your Jeans
Notions: Nothing but thread
Time to complete: 4 hours
First worn: 27th February 2012
Wear again? Oh yes. yes, yes, yes! To watch the Lorax and probably quite often when I’m volunteering in school.

Total price: Trousers to Skirt: $8.99 (£5.98)

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Watch this space later today for more Seussical inspired frippery.....

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