Inspired Things Studio

If you enjoy thrift store shopping, you know the feeling you get when you find that perfect, one-of-a-kind item. For me, it was a tunic top – tucked away in between other tops, shirts, and sweaters – just waiting for me to pluck it from the rack! The fabric, the colors, the style…oh, so perfect! Due to COVID, the dressing rooms weren’t open but it didn’t matter. This one was going home with me! To add to the thrill of the shop, when I got to the register, it rang up at $1.00 plus tax! Even better! 

You can imagine my disappointment when I went to wear it the first time and it didn’t fit. But, as any good thrift shopper would do, I wore it anyway – not once, not twice, but three different times. I guess I was hoping it would (a) get bigger, or (b) I’d get smaller. Since neither of those happened, I decided I would “re-thrift” it to my sister, Linda, who is a couple sizes smaller than me. When I gave it to her, I told her how much I loved the cut and style and that I hoped to find a similar pattern to make one for myself.

“No need to do that!”, she said…and that’s where the inspiration began.”

First, she brought out a huge sheet of thin, brown packing paper, perfect for creating a pattern. Next, we traced the tunic, enlarging it here and there to adjust for my size.  Admittedly, I was a little skeptical as to whether it would work, since I’d had some mixed results in the past when it came to making my own patterns. But, I was excited to give this one a try and, to make it even more inspiring, Linda gave me some beautiful fabric pieces, several of which would be perfect for the creating a tunic top.

Back home in my sewing room (aka “my happy place”), I selected one of the fabrics and armed with hope and a huge dose of inspiration, I pinned, cut, and sewed for the next several hours. The process wasn’t without several fittings in the bathroom mirror and more than it’s fair share of “tweaks”. However, when I slipped on the finished product, I honestly could not believe it! My “thrift store inspiration” not only turned out like I imagined, it FIT!  

I love that we can live inspired each and every day – whether it’s from some small thrift store find or another creative soul who lets you know that no matter what the process holds, there’s joy in the journey!