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Repost - Thrift store RenFaire wear

12/31/2013

Another golden oldie from earlier this year.

I should finish all my Halloween projects today and go back to writing new ones.

But, the outfit above was thrown together completely with found pieces, mostly from my local thrift store.

For me there is a certain thrill of the hunt when walking into a thrift store. You just never know what you will find. My older son is visiting and he told me that likes to buy jigsaw puzzles at his thrift store. He also has found some really fine clothing there.

But, back to the thrill of the hunt. It is a really fun challenge to have a vision of a costume you want to make and then see how it can be done with old clothing and what not.

Click on this link to see what I used to make this ensemble.

OH ... and have fun tonight!

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Repost - My tie dye dress

12/30/2013

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Another reposted blog for the holidays.

Back in the summer I went on a tie dye jag after seeing some great dresses in a shop by the sea.

My first attempt was pretty awful. But the second try turned out pretty nice!

This link will take you to the post that shows step but step how I made this.

Also, a friend wrote in with a suggestion how to save the first dress.

This link will take you to the blog post that shows what I did to save the first bad dress.

Hope you enjoy reading these. I've got one more Halloween pattern to finish today or tomorrow.

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A Christmas tablecloth

12/27/2013

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To my loyal readers, you know that my great plans for new poinsettia themed Christmas decoration were mostly dashed because of tighter work deadlines than I was expecting ...

BUT, I really wanted to turn this pretty, pretty fabric into a tablecloth for when my various guests arrive and I did manage to sew it up in 1 3/4 hours on Christmas Eve.

I bought 5 yards of 44" wide fabric to make a tablecloth 90" long and 56" wide. After a little math that took into account 1/2" seam allowances and 1 1/2" hems all around, I ended up cutting the 5 yard piece in half. Well actually it was 5 yards plus 6" which gave me 2 pieces 93" long. The selvedges are really good and smooth on this fabric, so I can leave them be and not have raw cut edges that need finishing or my long joining seams.

One piece I left whole and the other I cut 9" strips along each edge, which I will sew to the edges of the whole piece to get the 56" width after it is hemmed. I want the seams off to the sides, that is why I will sew two narrow pieces on either side of the main full width piece. This will leave me with enough fabric from the center of the cut piece for 6 napkins ... not sure when they will happen.

I do a lot of sewing without pinning, but with pieces this long it is so easy for one side to stretch just a little and then you end up with a puckered seam and ends that don't match up. So, I smooth my fabrics together on my table and put in occasional pins to make sure this doesn't happen.

After the pieces are assembled I press up all the side 1 1/2" and then finger press a second 1/4" fold as I topstitch the hem.

It takes a little bit more time, but mitering the corners makes a homemade table cloth look professional.

I am so glad I got his made. Doesn't it look nice with the candle stick holders my sister gave me years ago ... the napkins will probably happen next year.

I still have more holiday guests to arrive!

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Repost - pattern #1552 - Fantasy for men - working with Fur

12/26/2013

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It's the day after Christmas ... I have house guest and thought I would post a re-run blog. If NPR can do it, why can't I?

I thought of this one, because I saw a certain movie yesterday ...

And you have to admit, Simplicity got some pretty handsome models for these costumes.

Click here to read how I sew with fake fur. These techniques can be used to make any project with fake fur easier.

Happy Boxing Day ....

p.s. Does anyone know why the day after Christmas is called Boxing day???

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Happy Holidays

12/25/2013

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This was the photograph I used for my Christmas card the year before I met my husband. I was wearing my entire collection of ornaments which were felt fruit shapes that my cousin, Suzanne, made for me. She is the cousin who I visited this summer in Singapore. The one who took me on the best fabric shopping day ever!

I still hang them on my tree every year.

Which did get decorated yesterday, in the nick of time ... or as my husband says "in the time of Nick", which seems appropriate today.

OH and this year, my angel did get an addition. She hasn't gotten anything new for about 5 years, but after writing about her yesterday it seemed I should do something.

So, she got her hair styled in the Swedish fashion, since I am into all things Swedish this year. Her hair has been a mess for decades!

Best wishes to everyone. I hope you have time to spend with those you love. Because, to me, that's what the holidays are all about.

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My tree angel

12/24/2013

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This is our tree angel.

She is 27 years old now, I think. I made her in a big rush with whatever scraps I had at home when my youngest was just a year old. With two small children at home, it was easier than going out to look for a tree topper, actually. But that first year she was very, very basic, just an empty body and head, long hair, button eyes and a smile ... not even any wings.

I was happy and surprised to find a photo of her the year she was made.

Here's a close up!

So, when we took our Christmas decorations out the next year I added wings and for the next 20 years our angels got something new every year.

After wings, she got a halo and then a second halo. THEN ...

hands ...

and feet ...

By this point I would ask my boys what the angel needed each year. So, over time, she got all sorts of facial features, a nose, eye lashes, ears one year and then earrings the next.

... more gold trim here and there, OH yes and lipstick!

When my older son was 14, he requested breasts! ha! ....

She is a very special angel.

Well, I made my deadline yesterday and got that Halloween pattern sent to Simplicity, so today I am FINALLY getting to decorate my tree.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone.

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Theresa LaQuey - beading update

12/23/2013

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Theresa doesn't have time to write right now, so I decided to post a little update for people wondering what's happening with her beaded dress.

See previous posts ... #1 and #2

I am so glad I attended one of her beading classes a few years ago, because I understand how it's done, but there is no way I could actually make anything with beading until I practiced a lot.

She sent me a message over the weekend saying I hadn't heard from her, because she really wasn't sure if she was going to finish this dress in time. Even though I know she has made many beaded dresses over the years, until now I never realize how many hours one of these suckers take! But, you can see she has finally gotten to the white pieces, so that means all the black ones are finished. I do believe there are several garment pieces on that one length of chiffon.

I found a very good set of illustrations on line that show how tambour beading is done.

It's all in French, but don't worry. Just watch this video ... Theresa explains each step, then go back and look at the pictures again.

I am going to ask her all sorts of questions, like what kind of thread she uses and what type of fabrics are best and why. I also hope she takes photos of actually cutting and sewing the dress, too. Don't expect answers until she gets back from her London trip, though.

She is working fast ... look!

But, it's 2 days before Christmas and I have to finish up and send out one more Halloween pattern to Simplicity today. Then I only have one more to get in by January 3rd.
Phewwww ...

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Medieval Fantasy - new pattern!

12/20/2013

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I am currently swamped with 2014 Halloween work this week ... so it's nice to see a favorite project now being published. This was pretty fun and not too hard to make.

This should be in the stores any day now and on line any day now, too! Actually maybe today.

My son and his group of friends was VERY excited about this pattern ...

I have one story to tell about it and will do so next week, AFTER the dust settles.

CHEERS

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