MelissaEsplin.com

Proudest DIY Moment By Guest Madeline

September 9, 2010

Hi, I'm Madeline. I love all things pretty, and blog about budget style & fashion over at Über Chic for Cheap. I got to know Melissa when we bunked (yep, I said bunked) together at EVO. It was ridiculously fun and Melissa is ridiculously awesome, but you all know that.

Sometimes I see something lovely and expensive and I fall in love with it. The next days and weeks are spent feverishly plotting ways to get that something for myself - without breaking the bank. My proudest DIY moment came about from one of these times. I started coveting this Anthropologie Hidden Hummingbird Tank the second I saw it.

Isn't it gorgeous?

As soon as I saw the $78 price tag I started plotting ways to make one of my own. Then I remembered this ridiculously awesome fabric that has been in my mother's fabric stash since about 1991.

It's a single side floral printed fleece. My mom said she bought it to make my little first grade self a sweat suit. So awesome. I cut the flowers and leaves out to use in my design. I also cut leaf shapes out of the solid blue portion of the fabric.

I laid out the pieces on my scoop neck tee, pinned them in place and hand sewed them on. I added the contrast stitching around the edges while sewing. Then, I added beading to the flowers.

Here's the finished product:

Looking back, I would have ironed fusible interfacing on the inside of the applique, because the fabric rolls a bit. I also would never put this in the washing machine, and obviously not the dryer.

Other than that, I am really happy with how it turned out. 5 months later I am still completely in love with it.