Recycled Fashion: How to make a necktie headband

“Upcycling” clothing is  a fun way to re-purpose old fabrics into new clothes for children and adults.  Upcycling involves incorporating the materials from old clothes, changing the style and turning it into something different.  Upcycled clothing is usually less expensive than new.

You can find lots of old neckties in the thrift store or your closet. Neckties are a  long strip of fabric that would be perfect for a hairband.


Use your sewing tape measure to measure from the chin, around the ears, and back  to the chin again. Measure and mark the fabric  elastic and cut it. Place the fabric elastic from the top of the head, around  the bottom of the chin and up to the top of the head again. Stretch the fabric  elastic. Determine whether you want to cut off more elastic to make a tighter  fit.

  • Find a tie that is longer than the head measurement that you made with the  tape measure. Cut off at least an inch of the tie on either end. Keep the center  of the tie because that’s the part that’s approximately the same width all the  way down. Measure the tie according to the head measurement on the tape measure.  Leave approximately half an inch of extra fabric on the tie on either end for a  hem.

  • Pin the fabric elastic in the center of the necktie. There will likely be an  inch or half an inch of fabric on the end of the necktie that won’t have fabric  elastic. It will be used for the hem, and the fabric elastic needs  to be shorter than the fabric so that it will pull tight to the head. Choose a  thread that complements the tie fabric. Begin sewing the fabric elastic in the  middle of the tie. Sew all the way to the end of the fabric elastic. Begin in  the middle again and sew all the way to the other end. Do the same thing on both  sides of the fabric elastic until it’s well-anchored to the  necktie.

If you want a smaller hairband, fold in the edges of the necktie until they meet  in the middle and overlap them slightly. Sew the edges together in the middle of  the headband. If you want a wider necktie, you may want to sew a separate piece  of fabric underneath the necktie so that it will disguise the fabric elastic.

Finally, take the necktie fabric that extends beyond the elastic and pin it  together. Sew a seam through the half-inch of fabric so that the necktie makes a  full circle. Fold over the excess fabric and hem it neatly or cut it away. Put  the hairband onto your head and make sure that it fits. If it’s too loose, you  can always hem it again and make it a little tighter

My Sister’s Closet – NEW location in San Diego’s UTC area

My Sister’s Closet

8610 Genesee Ave #200

San Diego, CA 92122

This weekend I had the good fortune to find the newest location of “My Sister’s Closet” in my UTC neighborhood in San Diego.  I was out for a casual walk and some errands and came across this fabulous shop. When I walked in the door I was greeted by a beautiful Louis Vuitton handbag to my left and some stunning patterned wrap dresses in the center of the entrance.  This isn’t your typical thrift store– it’s well-organized and merchandised beautifully.  The handbags hugged the walls on strategically lit shelves and the shoes were nestled on neatly arranged racks & all arranged by size.

Did I mention this place is huge??  I think it was a former Circuit City store or something warehouse-y like that.  Huge!  There is tons of merchandise– everything from sweaters, jackets, formal attire, suits, dresses, work-out clothes, blouses, jeans (a great selection of jeans, by the way) and fur coats. Yes– I saw real fur coats– and plenty of super cute faux fur too.

The lovely ladies working behind the counter generously offered me a rolling cart to assist with my shopping.  Later, I did try on a few jackets in the well-lit and comfy dressing room area.  The best find for me this weekend— a cute jacket for $14.  Lucky for me this place is close to where I live– I can shop often!

Wordless Wednesday

It's officially November... and I'd rather be at the beach instead of thinking about Christmas shopping!

Battling Zombie Debt… Tips & Warnings

Another post on collections… but I really feel these zombie collection practices deserve one more short post.  Here are a couple of tips and final warnings to help deal with these agencies trying to collect on super-old debts.

  • Understand your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It is prohibited for collection agencies to harass you, to call you early in the morning or late at night, or to continue contacting you once you have expressed in writing that you do not wish them to contact you (except to indicate an intention to seek legal remedies or that they will cease contact with you).
  • NEVER give a collection agency your banking information. If they have that information, they can withdraw the amount you owe from your bank account and you will have no recourse.

Cherish your integrity and do not allow yourself to be “manipulated” into a strategic mistake. The junk-debt business (and the financial system at large) is built around profit and gives no thought to morality. In fact, paying off the debt renews the bad marks on your credit reports! This is an unintended flaw in the credit reporting system. The collectors know this, don’t care, and aim to wreck your FICO score for a few dollars. You are better off paying the money to a charity and hang up on the collector.

  • Do not ignore a court summons, even if you think the statute of limitations has expired. Get an attorney. If you don’t show up in court the judge is likely to accept all of the allegations against you as facts and give your creditors or the collection agency whatever they ask for. It’s called default judgment and may be enforceable.
  • Making a payment, even a small “good faith” payment can restart the statute of limitations on your debt, or restart the collections process if the statute has already expired.
  • Always consult an attorney if you have any questions or are uncertain about the laws regarding your debt.
  • Settling for less than the full amount is not much of a deal. The part forgiven is reported to the IRS, on a Form 1099. You will owe income tax on this amount, unless you can show (under IRS rules) you were insolvent.

The Art of Battling Zombie Debt

Collecting legacy debts – even debt you may not be legally responsible for – is becoming a highly profitable venture. Companies purchase these “junk debts” for pennies on the dollar and then go after the people they think are most likely to pony up.  A phone call can turn into badgering, harassment, threats to sue, and other inappropriate and sometimes illegal actions. If you find yourself talking to a collector about a debt that’s “come back to life”, here’s how to make sure your rights aren’t violated.

Do not acknowledge the debt. If you’re not sure whether you owe the debt, don’t say anything that could indicate that the debt is yours, and do NOT agree to make any kind of payment. Doing this can give the company the legal right to collect.

Don’t fall for any traps.

  • illegally “re-aging” debts (reporting the old debt to the credit bureaus as if it’s new)
  • promising to wipe off a red check mark on a credit report
  • bait-and-switch credit card offers (they tack on the balance of the zombie debt)

Get it in writing. Ask for proof that you owe the debt, like the credit card agreement you originally signed, along with an account history. If they don’t have that proof then they don’t have the right to take action against you. Keep repeating: “I want to see evidence of this debt in writing. I do not acknowledge this debt.”

Check the statute of limitations to make sure you’re not responsible for the debt anymore. The statute of limitations essentially defines how much time you can go without paying a debt before a collector’s right to collect through the court system expires. Every state in the US has different rules and exceptions regarding when the time period officially begins, how long it lasts, and what can “revive” the statutory period, so you really do need to check the laws or consult an attorney in your own state.

Write a letter explaining that you are not responsible for the debt, you do NOT acknowledge it, and you demand they stop harassing you or you will take legal action. If you’ve done your homework and you know that you are not responsible for the debt (such as if your statute of limitations expired and you don’t meet the criteria in your state for extending it, or you declared bankruptcy), send them a letter through certified mail and get a return receipt.

Watch your credit report carefully. Collectors might try to report the debt or taint your credit history. As mentioned earlier, collectors could post an old debt as if it’s new, or lie about the date of delinquency (in an attempt to start a new statutory period). Dispute any questionable entries with the credit bureau and the agency.

The Black Bead – Ocean Beach

The Black Bead

5003 Newport Avenue

San Diego, CA 92107

www.theblackbead.com

 

Recently I visited The Black Bead located in the Ocean Beach area of sunny San Diego.  What a fabulous surprise!  I was in the market for a funky necklace of some kind– and lucky for me The Black Bead did not disappoint.

When I first walked in, the kaleidoscope  of colors and shapes invited me to spend more time exploring the treasure within.

The cases were lined with partitioned trays of beads, the walls awash with pattern– and there were even some stunning beauties dangling above my head.

It didn’t take long for me to pick out a Rhodonite stone and a black leather cord.  The gal behind the counter helping me shop was kind enough to do some quick research on the healing properties of Rhodonite.  (FYI… The mineral name Rhodonite was named after the Greek word rhodon which means “rose”.  Physically, rhodonite is an excellent wound healer. Aside from supporting liver functions to stimulate detoxification, it works great in limiting the damage of wounds, from small cuts to deep cuts.  In addition, it is said to bring emotional balance and confidence to one’s life.)

A twenty-dollar bill later… and I was out the door in my funky & beautiful rhodonite necklace… feeling better than ever.  For sure– I’ll be back again!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Thrift Shopping Buzz! Keep it fun!

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Wordless Wednesday Part 2

Photo taken near my apartment complex in University City-- San Diego, CA

Wordless Wednesday Part 1

Beautiful view of San Diego

Cheapskate Guide: Tips for Frugal Living- Part 3

Just a few more tips I couldn’t help but pass along.  I promise… this is it!  Cheers everyone– have a good week ahead and remember all is takes is a few small steps to reach your goals.

  • Alcohol in moderation. It’s expensive. If you can cut your drinking to the occasional party, and once in awhile with friends, you’ll save tons.  (I know… a really boring way to save money!)

  • Drink water. We drink lots of calories through sodas, coffee, alcohol, juices, tea, etc. And that costs a lot too. Drink water, save money, save calories.
  • Batch your errands. Instead of running an errand or two every day, batch them into one errand day and plan your most efficient route to save gas and time. Also, do as much bill-paying online as possible.

  • Stay home. Becoming a homebody might not sound like a lot of fun, but it really can be. Staying home can save tons, in eating out expenses, shopping expenses, gas, and incidentals.