Nesterize your Boo Boos: Don’t blow off the Patio in a Dress!
I was out blowing the backyard patio again … right before the guests arrived for this party. And I was wearing a dress. You think I would have learned my lesson? Last year I was a guest on Nesting Place blog, and shared this story …
I really don’t think of myself as the creative type when it comes to taking something that went wrong and turning it into something beautiful. You know, the way that The Nester would beautify something. So when I got into a battle with my backyard blower – it just made me think of The Nester all the way.
Here’s my story
Last week I was ready to go out with my husband to a casual party, and I was dressed in one of my favorite sundresses. In Sandy-style I thought I could get a “last minute” job done quickly before we left. Just one more thing to check off my “to-do” list, right?
As I was blowing the back patio, my wonderful polka-dot sun dress got sucked up into the blower.
My daughter, Abby, and her friend were in the pool and watched it happen. I turned the blower off and we all just stared in disbelief at what had just happened.
No, not my favorite dress!
As I was getting ready to toss the dress, I noticed that the material was the color of my daughter’s bedroom. So in Nester-style, my mind started twirling …
What could I do with this material?
Now I know that pink is rarely talked about in The Nester’s home, having 3 boys. And now that my daughter is almost 13, this last fall we changed her room colors from pink to green, blues and browns. We took down her pink bulletin board, which has been sitting behind her door for about 9 months now. My daughter was finished with pink. No more pink!
I cut the usable fabric from the dress and stapled it over the pink board.
I covered up the big PINK dot with a blue sticker.
Added her favorite picture of her Daddy back to the board. And hung it in her room.
Even Hobbes liked the new look.
And I surprised Abby when she got home from school. A new board, a new look, and now when I walk into her room, I get to see my favorite sun dress.
It all worked for me!
First of all, have you ever had a battle with a yard tool?
And secondly, are you creative with taking your boo-boos and Nesterizing them?
The Nester and I would love to hear your creative stories!
i did not have a mishap, but my sister was pretty young and turned around to check the time on the clock for beating a cake and her long blond hair got sucked into the mixing beaters. The cake batter was full of hair and what was really sad, is we were really poor and had to bake the cake anyway, sing happy birthday, take pictures and throw it away. The beaters were all bent up from the hair.
.-= Martha´s last blog ..Our last week =-.
I would have been tempted to cut it off and add a ruffle in a solid coordinating color if it was too short. But, your idea is genious and alot less work!! Thanks for sharing!
I am very sorry that your blower munched on your favorite dress :( but what a nifty way to reuse it. I haven’t had an issue with any power tools but my three guys are always breaking my things and I look for ways to re-purpose them.
.-= Tickled Red´s last blog ..We Dropped the Ball =-.
Nice save! My mother would’ve probably cut that dress up for some future quilt endeavor. She’s so talented with salvaging things for later uses. I didn’t get that gene, I’m afraid.
.-= Dayle´s last blog ..Seasons =-.
I love the way you reused that dress! I know the feeling that you get when a favorite piece of the wardrobe is ruined. That part of the story stinks…
But the reuse? Fabulous!
.-= Debbie´s last blog ..Flag Burning =-.
Ha, ha! I did the almost the same thing this week!!We better call ourselves LUCY!! I wanted to do a quick vacuum upstairs where my cat litter box is. I had on a long flowing skirt. After I vacuumed a bit, I picked it up so that I could vacuum a spot over on the other side of the landing—well of course it sucked my skirt right up and then you could smell the burning smell of the vacuum. I shut it off and managed to pull the skirt out! It was in one piece and I was so thankful because it was new. Now I realize I can not pick the vacuum up in the air when I am wearing skirts (which I do for most of the summer!). This is going to give my monkey blog on this comment but I am too lazy to change the setting!
.-= minkey and nannykim´s last blog ..Monkeys for world cup soccer 2010 =-.
Sorry, but that sounds rather funny! Good reusing though! Joni
I don’t have any stories except that darn pumpkin that fell out of a tree when we were cleaning a long neglected yard of our new home. Our small kids were amazed. They thought pumpkins grew on vines. (The vine had wound up the tree and when hubby pulled on it at the base, down came the pumpkin.) But I sure did like your story!! I could imagine me doing the same thing! Thanks for the laugh!
.-= Linda @ bushel and a pickle´s last blog ..Lingering with Roses and Friends =-.
Nice redemption…
I love the saying, and use it all of the time; “You get creative when you have too”. This story reminded me of that.
LOVE the print on that fabric. Glad you were able to ‘save’ it somehow. Reminds me of how often my ‘life’ has been caught in the blower and how it appears to be all over, maybe even ready to throw away, but God always uses that situation and has another purpose for me.
I’m not laughing at you, but with you. ; )
I’m sure after the shock wore off you guys had a good chuckled at this. I’m imagining it like a cartoon…good thing the whole dress didn’t suddenly get sucked off of you. Ha!
RIP favorite dress!
.-= the BLAH BLAH BLAHgr´s last blog ..IHF: ONE DELICIOUS BABY =-.
I totally see why you loved the dress: it is funky yet feminine. But, I must say it doesn’t look like the kind of thing you would wear to power tool wars. Then again you are Sandy from RE. You do all things with style! :)
The only tool I have ever had it out with is a vacuum cleaner. It ate my comforter once. I have yet to forgive it.
.-= Amy Bayliss´s last blog ..Welcome to my “Stuck in the 80s” Kitchen =-.
It doesn’t seem possible, but I have no recollection of an epic battle with a yard tool.
Paintbrushes and rollers? We’ve had battles to the death. But nothing from the yard. Hmmm….maybe I’m not working hard enough?
And I will stash away pretty/funky/original pieces of clothing that get damaged or stained for use as scrap fabric or costumes. My kids are always amazed that I can somehow come up with something for whatever costume event they tell me about on Wednesday night that they need on Thursday morning. (Advanced notice? Of course not!)
But the poor dress!!
.-= Lori @ In Pursuit of Martha Points´s last blog ..The Princess and the Pain =-.
wow, totally inspiring! I wish I could work like that…think of how to reuse material…hmmm…
That dress is gorgeous!
.-= Aggie´s last blog ..Mom’s Cooking Club is here….with Sausage, Peppers and Onions =-.
Sorry to hear about the dress….but what a creative save. Love the new bulletin board look.
Becky K.
.-= Becky K.´s last blog ..Refreshing! =-.