Polka Dot Love & My Big Update

WOW.

Our lives have been so crazy since about... November, with both happy and very sad events. Here is a little run down (even though I know I may have mentioned some of this already): in November, my grandfather fell ill (cancer, it turned out. He had it for a long time, but was able to stay active for a lot longer than many others). During that time, I was preparing to graduate with my MBA and interviewing for a job. My company flew me to Washington, DC for an interview! So... I got the job. During that time, my grandfather began receiving Hospice care. I graduated a week later, and walked in the graduation ceremony. I did it because my family wanted me to, but especially my grandad. My grandad was not able to attend the ceremony, but my parents were able to record the part where I received my diploma for him. He was so proud when he saw it. M and I had a Christmas trip planned to New Mexico, to visit his family, so we went. A few days before Christmas, my grandad passed away. The funeral was immediately after we returned from our trip, and the next day I left to drive to the DC area to look for a place to live. We found the perfect one, and two whirlwind weeks later, we were all moved in. Just two days after moving up here, I started my new job. We aren't quite unpacked yet. I cannot believe how much has happened in the last few months. I miss my grandad every single day, but I feel so lucky to have gotten stationed in a city that was 30 minutes away from my grandparents. I lived there for five years, and got to see them often. I got closure, and so did grandad. We were incredibly close, and even though I am heartbroken without him, I am just incredibly happy and thankful that I got such a precious gift in the time that I got to spend with him.

Needless to say, my goal of 14 projects before 2014 did not work out so well. I guess life just happens, right? I am not too upset about it. I will totally finish those projects though. :)

Now... drum roll please... a refashion! Yes, I am back in the saddle after a chaotic break. I started with this frumpy but salvageable polka-dotted dress that I got at a thrift store in South Carolina for about $1.00. Please forgive the before picture, M was not around to take a picture of me actually wearing the dress.

Here is the frumpy dress before I refashioned it:

I hated the puffiness of the long sleeves, and the length. The buttons are pearl-colored and arranged in pairs. I thought the two-button thing was cute, but not for the entire dress.

So... I cut the sleeves and sewed a hem at about 3/4 sleeve length. I also took off all of the buttons below the waistband and sewed the flap down so it cannot be opened. The buttons above the waist were really cute the way they are so I left them. Then I shortened the skirt and hemmed it.

It is too bad the sleeves were so puffy above the cuff. I like the cuff and the buttons, but the puffiness really dated the dress. 

Here is the finished product! I wore it to Annapolis to hang out with a good friend today (she was kind enough to take this picture for me, actually!), and this dress is comfortable and just sophisticated enough. I wore it with black tights and black ankle boots. :)

I hope you like it! Look for more from me now that I am settled in!