I'm a Mermaid ^_~

Thursday, February 9, 2012

When I was a child, my favorite thing in the world was to visit the Disney Store! Does anybody remember the animatronics that used to decorate the ceiling? I LOVED those! And, of course, I would always gaze wistfully at the merchandise - especially princess dresses.

I had a Cinderella dress when I was about 8 and I was OBSESSED with it, and haven't had the heart to get rid of it. The other day when going through my old clothes, I found it again and while holding it up to myself, I decided to (try) and make a new dress that would fit me again.

That night I cut off the top and skirt puff (I'm unsure of what to call it haha!), and sewed the skirt puffs together to make half of a top. Not having much material to work with, I cut up an old white shirt in half and sewed the two halves together. The next day I glued sea shells on the front and let the glue dry overnight. Finally, I sewed the new top to the skirt and was done!

This was the first time I have ever tried to reconstruct a garment out of an old one (or even really sewed a piece of clothing), so I made just about every single rookie mistake (sewing up the armholes for one X_X) and not perfect, but I am so pleased with how it turned out!

Have you ever done a D.I.Y. project like this before? ^^

♥, Kailey

73 comments:

  1. That is so gorgeous, what a great idea! Well done, you look lovely.

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  2. oh my gosh this IS perfection ^_^ xx

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  3. What a great idea. I had a pink dress as a kid that I was convinced looked like the first dress Cinderella wore, even though it really didn't. Now I wish I could

    Also, I really love your makeup in this post. So pretty.

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  4. Wow can`t believe you didn`t know what you were doing - it looks perfect! So gorgeous - I wish I had something I could reconstruct like that. I`m thinking of turning a pillow case I had since I was little in to a skirt maybe - like that tutorial for Rookie that Marlena did. Or a top or tote bag if i won`t be able to approach it with scissors at all)

    >'.'<

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  5. Ack! This is so perfect, you are so perfect omg.

    My mom never let me have the princess dresses I wanted because she is very tomboy-ish and she wished the same for me (maybe that is why I am so girly now?) but I remember, a friend of my mother is a fashion designer and she only had boys but really wanted a girl so, because I was TOTALLY OBSESSED with mermaids (as one should be) she once made me a silver mermaid tail ;________________; it was so perfect I wish I still had it but my mother has the habit of throwing everything away that doesn't have a clear use any more. Gah. So many memories come flooding with this post :D. I am totally going to make a see-through shirt or dress with sea shells (are they heavy?).

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  6. OMGWHYAREYOUSOPERFECT?!
    But seriously, your make up rules in that last photo.
    The dress looks so good too! I think you did a perfect job for a first time recon attempt. I am dying over those seashell details. <3

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  7. so creative - this is like a designer piece! ugh I have a sewing machine in my room at home for more than a year now and havent used it yet, so ashmed :(

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  8. You are AWESOME!! It came out perfect for a first try. Certainly a whole lot better than I could have done.
    The picture of you outside is my favorite. You look so adorable!

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  9. yes and forgot to say I love your make-up too and that hairdo, oh my <3

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  10. You look so pretty! The little mermaid was one of my fave Disney films. I also love mermaids that much that i'm going to get a mermaid pin up tattoo.

    Jade

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  11. SO Cute!! I wish I could still fit into Disney Princess dresses, I love dressing up:)

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  12. I'm so overcome with nostalgia right now. Such a lovely project!

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  13. This is such a wonderful idea! The dress is ever so magical. Also, you actually have the loveliest hair I have ever seen, I wish mine curled like yours. xx

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  14. This dress is so beautiful!It's definitely my favourite D.I.Y. project!
    Love the opalescent colour, it really suits your princess complexion!

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  15. wow thankfully you kept that dress! It still looks magical, you look lovely in them :)

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  16. Aww it's almost as cute as Cher's in Mermaids, I love that film, and I love this- you have ace hair too xxx

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  17. FRANKLY AMAZING.
    I love this post. The outfit, your hair and make up and perfection. I also love that you've reminded me of my visits to the Disney Store as a child, great memories.

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  18. I love your dress! it's so cute :3 and great DIY i love sewing and crafts, I've just posted about a handmade playsuit, I hopoe you can check it out :p I was never a big fan of disney films :( I'm more of a studio Ghibli girl :p

    I love your hair too!

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  19. What a nice post, love it, thank you for sharring!



    http://silhouetteparisienne.blogspot.com

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  20. hey I've always said I am a mermaid too.. my friends have always called me little mermaid, I'm obsessed with her and the movie and the story and mithology about mermaids since childhood.. I've dressed as her several times, my favorite costume is the one I made 2 years ago.. with lots of sea shells embellished on the purple bra.. the ones I've collected all my life..
    this is a great costume, you look lovely, like a fairy tale... disney's the best.. I can't stop dreaming.. I blame disney for encouraging me into that ha.. but I don't blame them, I thank them.. keeps me in touch with my childhood

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  21. This is so much fun! I love trying to make old things from my closet work. Unfortunately, my mom was one of those moms who refused to buy a prepackaged costume, no matter how much I begged, so I've always felt like I missed out on some of the proper glitter of the dress-up princess experience (hmmm. i may overcompensate for that now, actually)...

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  22. Thank-you for the comment my lovely, yes you definitely are a mermaid. This is incredible!

    Lots of Love,
    Lily from Red Brick Lipstick

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  23. I think the dress came out just lovely. I remember dragging my mom and brother into the Disney store every time we went to the mall and gazing at the snowglobes. They were my favorite part.

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  24. aw! thats cute! im in love with disney and when i went to florida i tried to squeeze into a kiddy princess dress so i could get the full princess make over.. didnt work tho :(
    xo
    cupsofteaandbeautybits.blogspot.com

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  25. Cinderella meets the little mermaid.....genius!

    Paolina
    calurvillade.blogspot.com

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  26. So cute!!!! I've wanted to make a seashell bra dress for so long, yours looks perfect, great job :D your hair is lovely too by the way, the way it curls looks like a disney illustration actually, hehe!
    xxxx

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  27. so nice! i love these photos.
    i wanted so badly to buy some of the princess dresses i saw when i went to disney world, so i could do something similar as you did here. now i regret not going ahead and buying one! it turned out great

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  28. omg! love your look! especially your hair!
    xxx,
    Betül

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  29. Hello beautiful mermaid girl! This is possibly the best thing that I have ever seen. I hope you wore that out. SOOO CUUUUTE. I love how you've done your hair and makeup as well! You are the coolest!

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  30. Oh my God-- Kailey, you're my hero. I'm going to write storybooks about you and I'm going to teach my children to want to be like you and mermaids, at the same time.

    Jessica | Vixenelle

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  31. Your hair looks absolutely perfect!
    And the dress turned out fantastic- love it.

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  32. I loved the Disney Store! Still do now in all honesty, but it's not quite so magical. Your dress has worked out so well

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  33. you're so good with your hands. you look amazing!

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  34. I am going to have to copy you on this, I have hoarded so many of my old dresses.... I couldn't bear to part with them but to remake them into something new like you've done is so clever! I'm jelly of your make-up too :D XX

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  35. It's amazing, Who doesn't love disney movies?
    It's like a combination of cinderella and the little mermaid.

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  36. I love it. I just finished a dress,no pattern or anything, and had to fix a handful of mistakes myself! but hey that's part of the fun and nothing feels better than finishing a DIY project!

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  37. Amazing! You're beautiful! Very very beautiful! Love that dress and make-up:))
    Kisses
    Angelica

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  38. It's just perfect. I am green with envy right now.

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  39. WOW amazing! Also I love you make up xxx

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  40. not so bad dear...like ur blog, and I'm following you! Join to my blog:)



    http://luckysweeeetchild.blogspot.com/

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  41. Awww, so cute, Kailey! I went to a mermaid party the other day and whipped out two large seashells that I wish I had time to turn into something...haha. Great work..I wanna see more!


    Melanie
    thosethingstheysaid.com

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  42. I LOVE THIS POST. I am wild about your hair and you look so beautiful. *sighs*

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  43. I love this oh so much.

    Drea xo

    dreasjunkyard.blogspot.com

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  44. beautiful!!
    love your blog, really cute

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  45. I never done anything like that! You really did a great job, the dress looks really beautiful. A real mermaid :)

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  46. the sexiest mermaid yet. this dress is sooo 1950s but then it's also sorta tsumori chisato as well :D lovely job LOVELY

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  47. Hey! I saw your comment on Isabel of Hipster Musing's Vote for Pedro blog post. If you're still interested in purchasing one of my teen angst shirts, I'd be honored to make you one. Just go to http://theemmaedition.bigcartel.com

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  48. Aww, this is lovely! It's like a ballerina mermaid dress. I can't believe you made it!

    I remember the costumes I had too. I was Belle twice, Cinderella and Ariel! Oh, and I still love the Disney stores!

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  49. I love that dress especialy the seashells,you look so pretty xx

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  50. seashell top! that's like my fantasy garment. This dress is so magical, and I was in love with with the Disney Store as a child too! I had a Mulan dress and a Pocahontas dress if I remember correctly.

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  51. This is amazing, I always wanted to be a mermaid when I was little and this is such a fun idea! xx

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  52. Oh, it's lovely!
    I love doing DIY projects, I just never seem to have the time! :(

    www.atrickleofmeaning.blogspot.com
    Ciara x

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  53. This is lovely! I really adore the shells, such a unique touch.

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  54. Are you serious!? This is beyond incredible. :)
    When I was little, I was obsessed (still am) with Snow White. I had a costume that I wore every single day.

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  55. Too cute. I love it, you should take it on location and bound around the local seaside like a boss! Total beaut. x

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  56. Ah wow, your blog is so unique! Love your vintage style! x

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  57. oh wow darling you are so clever to transform your old dress in such a white mermaid dream, i absolutely adore it and how amazing those little seashells!!! a dream in white!!!
    love and kiss,mary

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  58. I love this outfit! It is so pretty ANd quirky AND magical! perfect! you look so lovely and magical!

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  59. what happend with all your pictures? I cant see many of them..

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  60. Your dress is stunning! You are so divine <3

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  61. I am in love with you indefinitely! How do you exist..seriously! PERFECT!

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  62. i love this!!! You are so fantastic!!!

    love, polly :D

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  63. So pretty! Just discovered your blog and I love everything about it. The colours are mesmerising!

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  64. Looking through your presh blog. Me thinks u look like an ubercool French new wave star in this post and i'm jelly/in love with this dress. :* :* :* :* :*
    Love Mozelle ;)

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  65. This is such an amazing idea! I love Disney and your style is so quirky and awesome XD great post! xx

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