DIY #4: Cupcake Dress

Sorry there's no "before" picture, but imagine a sad, boring blue cotton shirtdress.

Our suggestions: We chose to change the plain shell buttons to red vintage buttons, to scallop the hem and trim it with red piping, and to sew on some pickstitching with red yarn along the sleeve hem and in a bird silhouette on the chest. These are just a few ideas you can choose from.
Inspiration: The 1940s...and actual cupcakes. Ps. After I made this dress, there were a lot of scalloped edges on the Spring 2009 runways (Christopher Kane and Chloe especially).
Tools: Plain shirtdress, interesting buttons, piping, thick thread or super-skinny yarn, a needle with a big enough "eye" to thread the yarn through, scissors, measuring tape, cardstock paper, pins, pen/marker.
Difficulty Level: 5 (Advanced)
Wear with...Red patent heels and a cute vintage hat


1. To create the scalloped hem...measure out according to the hem of the dress how many scallops you can fit and how big you want them. I would go for bigger scallops because it's easier - probably 12-18 total (6-8 in front and 6-8 in back) and probably about 2 1/2" deep and 5 1/2" wide at the top. Create a scallop "template" out of cardstock (it will look like a half-circle), pin along hem and mark or trace along the hem. Finally, you can cut! (For a quick & dirty version, just skip the above steps and eyeball it. Just simply cut!)

2. Clean finish (meaning turn under the raw edge and sew) the scalloped hem with red piping (or whatever color is appropriate). A pickstitch along the edge is optional.

3. Remove the sad original buttons and add fun red buttons (or whatever color/style is eye-catching).

4. Pickstitch along the cuff, neck, waistline, button placket, etc. in a contrast color (I chose red of course). Just go nuts.

5. Create a stencil out of cardstock for your pickstitch embroidery. I chose a bird, but the options are limitless...hearts, flowers, umbrellas, skeleton keys, balloons, etc. Pin the stencil to the garment in the chosen location (chest, hem, etc.), and pickstitch using thick thread (the kind used for cross stitching) or super-thin yarn.

And there you have it! Quite a big of work, but well worth it.

October Pics

Here's some new Fall stuff that we've put in the store in the last few weeks.

DIY #3: Pepping Up a Plain Skirt, Vol. I

Our suggestions: Shorten to knee-length, sew on hand-made appliques, pickstitch along the hem in a contrast color, add contrast functional buttons at the waistband.
Inspiration: Old-fashioned crafting, our blue bird tags, etsy.com, the 1960s
Tools: Long plain skirt, thread or thin yarn in a fun color, scraps of fabric in bright colors or patterns, 2 interesting/colorful buttons (make sure they are the right size to fit through the buttonhole), hand-sewing needle, scissors, stick pins, pencil/pen & thick paper (for the stencil for the appliques).
Difficulty Rating: 4 (Challenging)
Wear with...solid sweater/tee and boots or flats

I wasn't able to take a "before" picture
because I did this project awhile ago,
but here's the "after" picture.

1. Try the skirt on and determine where you want it to hit (somewhere around the knee), and cut accordingly - allowing extra room for hemming.
2. Hem by hand. Turn it under twice and "pickstitch" with thread in contrast color. See the picture below. Just tie a knot in the hem on the "wrong side" and poke the needle through on each side about every 1/8." The "right side" and the "wrong side" should look identical. This is a very easy way to clean finish a hem, and it's an easy way to add interest to a garment. 3. Choose the shape for your appliques: birds, anchors, balloons, etc. Make a quick stencil, using some thick paper. Choose your fabric (or use scraps or old garments), and cut in desired shape using the stencil. Arrange the appliques in desired placement on the skirt and secure with pins. Attach to fabric with pickstitch in contrast thread.

4. If there are boring buttons on the skirt (on the waistband or down the front), replace them with interesting buttons (in a similar size of course). See DIY#1 for button tutorial, if needed.This project can work on almost any skirt or dress.

Feel free to tweak. For example, you could pin the stencil in place
on the skirt and embroider the outline of your designs
using the pickstitch, rather than using appliques.

END OF SUMMER SALE

End of Summer Sale
at Magpie & Birdie
until August 31

25% OFF EVERYTHING!
except items that say "firm"

Help us make room for Fall merchandise

We've also marked down a lot of the shoes.
We have one bookshelf devoted to shoes that are $5,
and the other bookshelf devoted to shoes that are $20 or less!!

New Additions, Clothing-wise.

Here are more of this week's additions to our shop...


An adorable 1960s swiss dot ruffle dress. Great with slouchy boots or tights & flats.
















An almost western-style 1940s navy shirtdress. Perfect with red shoes and a little hat.

A black & cream swirl/painterly print cocktail dress in perfect condition with a very chic sash at the waist. 1950s/1960s.

An unusual 1960s ivory silk robe/evening coat
with "hand-painted" flowers and butterflies.

1980s red leather chevron belt with gold chains

For the guys (or girls), we've got a couple of olive green WWII issue undershirts!

















love,
Lauren & Emily

Home Decor at Magpie & Birdie!

Here are this week's additions to the shop... not just clothing anymore.

Figurine Land!

We are trying to sell more home decor stuff. We have pillows, vintage books for decorating, some chairs, and figurines which we are really in love with. This includes candelabras, candle holders, candy dishes, cups, vases, and good old-fashioned figures of animals, etc. Most of our home decor items are under $20.


















A new addition. Our first piece of furniture for sale!
A mustard velvet swivel chair with turquoise legs!!





















Our backwall has some new additions, including a hot pink tree branch that resembles coral. We hope to bring in more of these; we like it's mix of organic + wit + femininity. They make good wall hangings or jewelry displays. It would also be fun to put several of them in a long vase for a dry arrangement...that looks a bit like candy. We also have a pink and red floral wall display/vanity tray hung on our backwall.

Thanks!
from Lauren & Emily

DIY #2: Modernizing a party dress

Our suggestions: Shorten to mid-thigh and cut off most of the sleeves to create a cute flutter sleeve
Inspiration: any movie with Molly Ringwald, Sweden
Tools: 1980s party dress, scissors, needle/sewing machine and thread, sewing chalk (a pen or pencil will work), measuring tape
Difficulty Level: 2 (Fairly Easy)
Wear with...boots, tights & flats, or gladiator sandals

Here's the dress in the "Before" stage...
Embarassingly '80s, but it has a cute polka dot print!


1. Try the dress on and decide where you want it to hit - we suggest between mid-thigh and right above the knee.
2. Measure and mark (with sewing chalk, pen, or pencil) all around the hem of the dress where you will make the cut, allowing about an 1" if you plan on clean-finishing the hem. (Want an unfinished look? Just cut...and skip the next step).
3. Cut it, then clean-finish the hem by hand or machine.
4. Mark where on the sleeve you will be cutting, allowing about 1/2" for clean-finishing (or, again, if you want an unfinished look, just cut and skip the next step).
5. Cut it, then clean-finish the hem on the flutter cap-sleeve.

And there you have it! A completely wearable,
non-embarrassing party dress!