doctor doctor

one thing i ADORE about los angeles is the vintage and thrift shopping scene.  even though i aim to sew most of what i wear, i can't resist.  for some reason, they're not smoking the crack like they do in new york.  hands down, in this category, the City Of Angels has the Big Apple beat.  and this, peeps, is an Important.  Category.  it makes for like 30 percent of the final grade.

and my god, the colors.  there's so much color to be had that many stores will arrange their goods by hue.  jewel tones!  primaries!  pastels!  perhaps the rainbow is here because no one's wearing it out there?  i don't care.  more for ME.

this schizophrenic baby fell smack dab in the middle of the color wheel.  here is the patient in its past life as a dress. it had a hefty price tag of 15 bucks, actually a bit high for LA vintage, especially considering much of the store was on sale for a dollar.  the owner had cut the price in half and was already lowering it to ten when i interrupted with a "yes" (must learn to stop interrupting), but that's cool.  i gave the extra five, she's seeking out a new storefront and i'm happy to enable.

what attracted me to the dress was the pleated skirt.  lady danburry had just churned out another gorgeous creation that i couldn't live without (yet could also not find the pennies for) and this seemed the perfect consolation prize.  but the dress itself was so pretty!  how could i perform this surgery in good conscience?  first, do no harm.  second, have a cocktail.  third, DO IT.

i simply hacked off the top of the dress and took in the center back seam, like you do:

but wait... what about the nice rectangular strip of newly dissected fabric... maybe i can interface it and make it into a belt... wear it with my coveted high waist six dollar forever 21 jeans (i know, don't hate, on so many levels):

BUT WAIT... that top is kinda cool... maybe i can baby hem it... give the cheapo gold button a transplant... and use my new belt...

BUT WAIT.  NOW I CAN FRANKENSTEIN IT AND WEAR IT AS A DRESS AGAIN:

healer, heal thyself.

i felt so very accomplished with this homage to the lady.  i look forward to the day i'll have a real danburry in my greedy little paws.  which could be soon.  mrs ham, an equally delightful blogger you should know, is hosting a giveaway of a danburry creation!  just hop on over to her hammy blog, aptly named the happy hour, and comment to win your pick of ANYTHING from the lady's shop. 

now look.  yes, i get another chance to win by posting it here, but really what i want to do is introduce a few peeps that don't know these awesome gals to each other.  seriously.  oh lovely peeps, meet more lovely peeps. oh lookee there!  it's wine thirty, a virtual toast to you all!

edit 7/17/13: it seems lady danburry and her blog/shop, thinking in shapes, are MIA...lady, i hope that you and yours are well...