Bloomin' Awesome!

First and foremost- please forgive the picture quality. I didn't pay attention to the lack of lighting on some pictures until it was too late and I was already full speed in my project.

Now- Allons-y!

My whole life I have been drawn to subcultures- watching old Star Trek and Doctor Who episodes when I was a kid, playing D&D in high school and-all the while sampling various "not top 40s" mainstream music and fashion; and, yes I collected a toy or two...or three. Before you start judging - you just wait! that NIB Queen Amidala Episode I doll is going to be worth $25.00 someday!!!

So here we are, living in the 2000s and there has been a resurgence of fantasy / cosplay / subculture groups, activities and such popping up all over. Steampunk is one of the groups making mainstream noise and getting noticed more and more (i.e) Justin Bieber and his Macy's window displays and the most recent 2012 Rose Bowl Parade featuring a huge mechanical device- all done up in roses of course.

Steampunk is more than its mechanical gears and goggles. The fashion and wardrobe play a huge part in the cosplay scene. The attire can be almost anything ranging from Victorian dresses and bonnets for women and waist coats and stove pipe hats for men, or; an apocalyptic sci-fi alien look complete with ray guns (made from Nerf toys and painted bronze). These items are not easily found and off the rack to purchase immediately. Most people make their own outfits or may commission someone else with sewing skills; in the case of the more intricate item. One item of clothing getting a lot of buzz lately is bloomers. Yeah, I said bloomers. So I set out to make a pair. My project took about 2 1/2 hours with items costing less than $4.00.

First of all I purchased a pair of pajama pants at Goodwill for $1.49. The pair I chose has an elastic waist band with pretty grosgrain ribbon and the sweetest calico print.

Second, I laid out the pants and measured the desired length. I cut off the bottom part of the leg and saved the piece for later use. I 
then hemmed the bottoms with a 3/4" seam.

Third, I rummaged through my notions of ribbon, bias tape and lace and although nothing matched the material I decided to use a soft yellow colored lace and sewed the 2" trim around the bottom of the hem.

Once both legs of the bloomers had been hemmed and trimmed with lace, I began the more challenging part of the project. I couldn't decide if I wanted to use a casing and simply slip the elastic through or use a "sew on" approach that gathers the elastic directly to the fabric. I chose the latter.

Fourth, I measured the elastic around the part of my leg I wanted it to go and tightened it just a bit- so it will keep its shape but not be too tight. Now, the hard part began. I secured the end of the elastic to the inner seam so it was anchored. I proceeded to sew the elastic to the fabric by pulling the elastic as far as it will expand. Eventually I made it around to where I began and secured the elastic with a backstitch.

Fifth and final step- I chose yet, another color of ribbon that did not match any other colors on the bloomers and made a tiny little bow, placed it on the bottom of the leg at the ruffled section and secured it with a tiny, tiny safety pin. Et, voila! a brand new pair of bloomers; upcycled from a pair of pajama pants! I love the mismatched patterns and colors. I consider them more whimsical and Alice in Wonderland style but as a rule, an easy way to "steampunk" an item is just soak it in big pot of tea for several hours!

Find That Fabric!

I have been accumulating patterns over the past year for many of my projects. One thing I like to do is take a part of one pattern and combine it with part of another to get the desired look I am after. I know this is not a new idea at all but I like to think that it is and after all is said and done I have an OOAK finished product. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/one-of-a-kind  (Even after all these years on the internet and learning how to chat and text with less and less symbols; I still had to look this abbreviation up!)

After I have my project drafted by its design and color; I pursue the fabric. I don't know if anyone else ishaving a similar problem finding fabric and notions but all of the  fabric stores in my area are closing up. Blame it on the economy, blame it on lack of interest in the old fashioned art of sewing but needless to say- I can hardly find any fabric OR decent fabric in my neighborhood. Hancock Fabrics and Jo Ann stores were the 2 that I shopped at, AT least bi-monthly and during holiday season- almost weekly. Sad to say they are both gone and the only other fabric store close by is a remnants store which, in my opinion, is getting worse and worse each time I go in.

You know the saying "necessity is the mother of invention"? I have had to use it and become creative in ways to find fabric. My solution: sheets! Yes, I said sheets. Why you ask? Well first of all the twin size sheet is almost 4 yards of material, second you can find all colors, deigns, weights of cotton and or sizes (for more material). Third, and my favorite reason, you can buy sheets at thrift stores for mere pennies! There are thrift stores in my neighborhood that have half off day sales so you can get a complete set of sheets including pillowcases, flat and fitted sheets for less than $3.00!

I have been using sheets and pillowcases for some of my projects lately. I prefer the vintage percale sheets because they are a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester and tend to wash and dry well without ironing or worry of shrinkage. I made this apron with a vintage Strawberry Shortcake pillowcase. It cost me $1.49 at Goodwill. The coordinating fabric was also found at another local thrift store as a fabric remnant for about $1.00. I already had the pink ric rac trim; so after about 2 hours of my time and a bobbin full of thread this apron cost me less than $4.00!

I have also found other ways to acquire material for my projects. I have been scouring websites day and night for Doctor Who themed fabric. I thought it had been commercially manufactured but evidently there never was any. I did find Doctor Who "inspired" fabric on this really cool website called Spoonflower.com      http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome It allows you to offer up a design for fabric and you can have it made and you can sell it to others in fat quarters, yards or bolts. However, because of the customization the by the yard price is rather steep, sometimes in the $30/per range.

Happy New Year! 2012

Hello! and welcome to my first blog for the new year "resolutions". As you can see from the archives, it has been over 2 years since I sat in front of this blog screen to type.
Resolutions and the idea of one doesn't actually sit well with me. I feel pressure for perfection and not having enough tools to modify a resolution yet still stay within the original parameters of the resolution. So, I get nervous, my perfectionism starts to take over the resolution/project and then it gets put on the back burner. Next thing you know it it holiday time again and I remember that project is still on the back burner collecting dust, and BAM it is the new year again and time to make those silly- ineffective resolutions- so I ask, why?
So, on this day; the first of January, 2012:
I won't resolve to write on my blog everyday; but will share new activity in my life in regard to my shop and sewing projects without looking for perfection or worrying if I am keeping within guidelines. I will not limit myself. I will have fun and be silly and not take myself or my work too seriously! Most important, I put my perfectionism and nervousness on the back burner to sit until I feel like I have eliminated those flaws from my life. A flaw that can hinder my creativity for merely being afraid of failure.
Bottom line is; I will not pressure myself or set hard to reach goals. I will continue to work on my Etsy shop and make more and more friends and network there. I will make find new and exciting projects that stimulate me and keep my mind busy so they do not get put on the back burner- I am going to have a great year.
Wow- that sounds like a LOT of resolutions, don't it!

Wintertime Blues and Greens and Yellows and Pinks...

With winter just days away, I ponder upon the notion of seasonal clothing. Why do fashion designers and media tell us to wear clothing to match the landscapes?

Fall clothing is usually burnt oranges, mustard yellows and browns. Winter clothing is usually black, navy and grey. I have lived in climates that reach the below zero temperatures and the skies are grey and cloudy for several months. As a result of the dreariness, I became susceptible to depression and lack of energy. I blamed it on lack of color.

I have researched this phenomenon and found several studies about wintertime blues and the lack of color. Albeit, these studies explain a serious mental disorder and obviously there are other symptoms involved, but I would like to take this opportunity to challenge fashion designers to offer brighter, happier colors in their winter collections. In the past, cold weather clothing made of wool or cashmere was only available in dark or dull colors. I have noticed a slight increase in brighter colors in these fabrics over the recent years but I think the fashion industry only wants to encourage the use of color by adding accessories- just a little bit to "make it pop" as the phrase goes.

I do not live in that cold climate anymore. I reside in a much more even tempered environment that will let me wear more choices of clothing and fabrics year round. For this I am grateful- but it doesn't stop the window dressers at the local mall from outfitting the mannequins in black and grey. So my advice to those with a craving for color in the winter is: wear weather appropriate clothing in any color, shade,pattern or fabric.

Yes Virginia, there is a cure to the wintertime blues.

Tag! You're it!

Labels and tags that are given to people are not always a good thing. Labels and tags for clothing, however; can tell you a story. When shopping for vintage clothing, one of the first things I look for on a piece of clothing is the label. Clothing tags give you the typical information: manufacturer, size, material, etc. If a size and material label are not found; then sometimes I can find an RN number.

RN stands for Registered Number. This means that the clothing manufacturer is registered with the US Federal Trade Commission. RN numbers are very helpful because it will link the piece of clothing to a designer or clothing line. From there, you can search the manufacturer’s years of production. There are several links online including a very informative link on one of my favorite websites: Vintage Fashion Guild
http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/component/option,com_alphacontent/Itemid,100

Not all clothing has tags or RN numbers; this is largely due to the fact that a lot of clothing that was made prior to 1970 was handmade. Handmade clothing is harder to date and identify but usually there are signs to help determine those characteristics. I was sewing on an old cast iron Singer before ever taking a home economics class. As a result, I think that I am more familiar with fabrics and textures than a lot of people nowadays. I am grateful for my interest in clothing at an age when you could choose from several textures and weights in fabric as opposed to the purely 100% cottons that you find at your local fabric stores today.

One thing I can almost always count on when dating fabric is that any heavy polyester or polyester knit fabric is ALWAYS geeky in appearance and ALWAYS 1970’s! But, “Hey”; I am almost always geeky in appearance so I don’t mind being labeled in that respect.

Fox In Socks

One of my favorite accessories is socks. Womens' and girls' socks have come a long way from the plain white cuffed style. However; I do keep at least a half dozen or so on hand and do wear them regularly with my black Mary Janes. By the by; socks aren’t usually trendy or emphasized by its parent fashion industry.

When I was growing up there wasn’t much selection when it came to socks. There were white cuffed, white ankle socks with little pom poms at the heel or boy’s striped tube socks (if you were a tomboy and played softball). Like I said, the sock industry has come a long way since the ‘70’s.

Nowadays, almost every retail store has at least 2 or 3 rows of socks in a wide variety of colors, shapes and designs. During the Christmas season you can get a pair of microfiber ankle socks that resemble candy canes or wool slipper socks with felt “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” faces looking up at you. I admit, these are impulse items but hey, I’m a sucker for impulse items.

I was visiting a local craft and fabric store the other day and came across several diy sock books. These books were not the run of the mill baby bootie designs. The patterns were cute, edgy and the designs looked as if they reached as far as your imagination could take you on a sock journey. One of the books that caught my eye is called Knitted Socks East And West. The pair of socks on the cover reminded me of ‘80’s leg warmers; but for your feet! They are super cute but I would never wear them because they expose your toes and mine are usually cold; even during the summer months.

In addition to my on hand supply of white cuffed socks I have several pairs of knee high socks: argyles, polka dotted, fishnet, opaque and dotted swiss as well as a plethora of solid colors. I work in a conservative environment where khaki pants and button down, cotton blouses usually make up the dress code. Since I have a lifetime of pushing the dress code boundaries, I have found that socks can give me a subtle edge to my outfit without being obvious.

T Shirt USA

So, I have been following this girl's "New Dress A Day" blog online for a few weeks now; http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/ and it has revived a favorite sewing project of mine- transforming t shirts. I know this idea is not new and a lot of people have paved the way in the fashion industry by distressing, disassembling, deconstructing and safety pinning t shirts. Practically every designer in the industry has their own signature t shirt and style. I just thought it would be fun to write a blog about it and let ya'll know how I look at t shirts. I really am a fan of wearing t shirts but with my vertically challenged height and short torso, t shirts make me looked boxed in and frumpy- not the look I am usually going for.

When I see I t shirt I see potential. I see it as a piece of raw material just begging to be shaped into a skirt, a blouse, a pillow or even a rug. I don't think anything I do to a t shirt is extraordinary or really cutting edge but it is fun and gives me another way to express myself through clothing. Why, just the other night I had several comments on a t shirt I was wearing. Granted, the t shirt was noticed because it had my high school alma mater mascot on it; but the only alteration I made to the shirt was cutting off the collar. T shirt transformations can be as simple as that.

I found a really great craft book called T Shirt Generation. It is a fun step-by-step instruction manual on transforming t shirts. I often use that book for inspiration.

One of the last t shirt projects I did was during the past Superbowl. I could have worn any one of the number of New Orleans and or Saints t shirts in my collection but I really wanted something special; I mean it isn't every year the Saints are in the Superbowl!

(1) I started out with a large t shirt with the Saints graphics and logo.
(2) I cut off the sleeves and the collar.
(3) I cut the shirt down the middle of the back and then made several equal cuts in the material on both side so that they were strips that could be tied in the middle this was an easy way to cinch the t shirt around the waist thus removing any chance of frumpiness.
(4) I cut the front of the shirt down the middle as well and again in the center giving me four (triangles). I re-stitched the seams to create an empire like bodice and ruching. The bottom of the center seam was left open.
Now for the final flourish!
(5) I cut about two (2) inches down the center at the neck then tucked the corners inside and pinned them. Next, I took two (2) pieces of gold elastic and gathered the sleeves at the collarbone and tied a bow on each shoulder.

Et voila'! My very own custom made New Orleans Saints t shirt.