Costume props

I started working on the props for my Halloween costume, the horns have been sculpted out of polymer clay over aluminum foil, then painted with nail polish.

These are the wire frame "bones" for my wings. Each wing is approximately the size of a piece of paper and made of wrapped wire.

Fairy bodice is complete

Front with Straps

Back with Straps

Front without Straps

Last pixie bodice before Pennsic

So this is the last bodice I am making before Pennsic. I still need to put the eyelets in the one fairy bodice I made, hopefully later today. For now though...

Choli

So I had these wonderful linen pants I hand sewed one Pennsic MANY years ago. After I got home I washed them and they shrunk WAY down. I was so sad, but I decided to reuse the fabric and turned it into this Choli top.

Micro Suede Skirt

So, I bought this absolutely gorgeous soft purple micro suede to make a skirt with. The pattern was going to be simple. 3 Rectangles (length x 1/3 hips + seam allowance), 2 triangles (made from other piece of fabric so slightly shorter than the rectangles) and a waist band.

I made the first cut, separating the length of the rectangles from the other piece which was about 2/3 and set both pieces aside after cutting off the waist band and then the phone rang. When I came back I sat down and thought I had set the part to be cut into triangles to my left, so I grabbed that piece and cut the triangles...  Nope, that was supposed to be the rectangles. So now the pieces that were supposed to make up my waistline are cut wrong and the other piece isn't going to work right...  So, I do what I always do and fixed it as artistically as I can. Once I had the entire thing together I measured from the band to the end of each 'corner' around the bottom to get an even length, cut and hemmed.

After hemming it and trying it on I realized it was a good 5 inches too short so I went back to JoAnn's and bought another half yard of the fabric (thank goodness for 50% off sales!) I used the entire cut for a ruffle along the bottom and honestly I think it makes the skirt pop. I really wish I could get better pictures, but here it is:

Pixie Bodice 2

This is the second pixie bodice I made. It is a blue and silver brocade with white trim. I forgot how much of a pain in the butt working with brocade is and I had to stop a few times because I pricked myself and didn't want to get blood on the white!

Pixie Bodice

I finally got the eyelets in the half bodice and put it on. Going to alter the pattern ever so slightly to tighten is a tad. Otherwise it came out awesome. I apologize for the low quality pics but it's a really overcast day and even with the overhead lights on it's dark in here.

Bodices

I made myself 2 new bodices for wearing to SCA events. One is a half "Pixie Bodice" and the full one is based off a Moresca Fairy Bodice. The half one is completely of my own design. I drafted the pattern up from my measurements so it would fit perfectly. It was such a quick and easy sew I plan to make a few more for Pennsic War!  So, here's the images. Once I get the grommets in and can lace them up I will get some pictures of them on.

Pixie Bodice

Fairy Bodice

Head Scarf

I wanted to make something to cover my head at events so I decided to try a pattern a friend pointed me to a while back. I made a few adjustments to it since I didn't have the yarn that was required and I do have quite a stash that needs to be used up. I also used glass beads instead of wood, again using my stash up. It's a little shorter than I hoped but it's also stiff so I am hoping with wear it will soften up and possibly stretch a little. Here's my Ravelry page with the details on it, including yarns and needle size.

Red Mobius Shawl

I have finally completed the red mobius shawl, for details see my Ravelry post. It is for sale, I am asking $35 (includes shipping) for it. It is made with Mohair yarn.

Kayla's Necklace

Kayla had picked up a wolf charm either last year or the year before and had it on this purple ribbon type thing. She asked me for something different for it, so I strung up some green and some light blue glass seed beads and made this...

I just hope she likes it.

Step by Step images of Test 'Comfy Knit Slippers' Kit

Ribbing

Dividing for heel

Heel

Shape Heel

Making Gusset Outside View

Making Gusset Inside View

Gusset Decrease Start

Gusset Decrease Finished

Foot Made

Toes added and finished

The Finished Pair on my Feet

Tardis Goody Bags

So my oldest is having her 14th birthday party this Saturday and she is doing a Doctor Who themed party. Today I made the Tardis goody bags out of regular Royal Blue bags.

• First step was to cut the tops of the bags in the shape of the top of the box to get measurements.
• Next I found a good image of the Tardis and pulled it into Photoshop where I sized it to the bag and cropped out the essential elements.
• I then copied the elements so I had enough on the "page" for 8 bags and printed them on cardstock and cut them out.
• Next I drew in the lines on the bags and finished by gluing the elements in place.
• Now to dry and then we can fill them with goodies.

Etsy Shop New Items

I've added a couple of items to my Etsy Shop. Please feel free to stop in and check them out.

Liebster Award

Thanks to Andrea, for giving me the Liebster Award!

Liebster is a German word, meaning "favorite, dearest or beloved," and the Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other, newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help the new(er)bies gain wider recognition. The award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting:

1. Choose five up-and-coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Liebster to.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.

4. Share five random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

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I'm not sure how new these bloggers are, but the fit the requirement for the under 200 followers.
Please check them out.

1. Vanessa ButterflyKnitter Fiber arts of all kinds

2. Nicole Just not enough Cross stitch Cross-stitck and quilting

3. Rebekah The Stitching Frog Cross-stitch

4. Michelle Diary of an Artist All things creative

5. Andrea Drea_Dear Assorted arts, crafts and family

Okay, now for the hard part for me: 5 random facts.

1. I have lived in 12 different cities in my lifetime, but only 2 states.

2. I love watching cartoons with my kids as well as playing video games.

3. I've never felt like I was an expert in anything I do, but enjoy doing it anyway.

4. I am allergic to almost everything outside but still love spending time out there.

5. My tolerance levels are getting smaller the older I get.

Test Kit - Coming Soon

For those that have been following my progress on the Knitting Kit I received from the Creative Home Arts Club to test, it's not over yet. Yes, I finished the first sock, completed the pattern and accomplished what was expected of me as a test subject but.... I am currently working on the second sock and I am taking pictures at the end of each step (before starting the next step) for a photo journal. I wanted to pictorially document each stage to share with my followers.

Stay tuned...

Test Kit - First sock done

So I finished the first Slipper (sock) as per the pattern that came in the kit. I went with a M and they are a bit snug on my 7.5US feet. I have a feeling after washing them I will be handing them down to my middle daughter. Here's the pic of it right after completion and on my foot.

 

Test Kit - working the Pattern part 3

Gussets complete with no confusion with the pattern and working my way down the foot now. Nearly there, here's a pic of my progress so far...

Stay tuned for working the toe and finishing it off.

Test Kit - working the Pattern part 2

I finished the heel flap and shaping the heel. At the end of shaping the heel the pattern wanted me to Fasten Off and pick up stitches on the right side of the heel, work those stitches, then across the heel. I didn't like the idea of fastening off and reattaching so what I did was wove the yarn between the stitches as I picked them up and spread them on the needle so that the thread wasn't pulling the side tight. This gave me the end of the yarn where I needed it, and no possibly weak points on the sock. Then I worked the gusset as per the pattern and will be beginning the gusset decrease now.

Stay tuned for more...

Test Kit - working the Pattern part 1

Finished the cuff on the test pattern (see previous post) and it went easily. The instructions were straight forward and working with the bamboo needles was so much easier on the hands.

Just started step 3 Divide for Heel and was a little perplexed on what to do. It reads K 14 (16,18) onto one needle. Place remaining 14 (16, 18 sts on a stitch holder. {got that fine} With right side facing {here's where I was perplexed because after the K 14 (16, 18) you have the wrong side facing you. So I decided to purl across so that I have the right side facing me.}

Stay tuned for another update when I reach stage 4.

Creative Home Arts Club - Craft Kit - Comfy Knit Slippers **TEST KIT**

I was chosen to receive a test product for the Creative Home Arts Club (being a life member has it's privilages.) It arrived in the mail today and it is a Craft Kit for Comfy Knit Slippers and comes with everything needed (including yarn) to make them. (See pic below of everything that came in the big ziplock style baggie.)

I will start with the positives of my initial looking over if the kit and then move to the negatives. First positive, the kit comes with a large skein of yarn in a color I will actually wear.
Second positive is it came with bamboo needles. I've not tried the bamboo needles yet but I use wood crochet hooks because they feel better than metal in my hands so it will be nice to try the bamboo needles.
Third positive is the kit came with absolutely everything (minus scissors) one would need for the project including a measuring tape and instructions for the stitches to be used.
First complaint about the kit is the yarn was unmarked and there was no note as to type of yarn or care. It appears to be similar to Red Heart Super Saver but I am not certain. {NOTE The label on the yarn was turned inside out and thus I do actually have yarn information but I didn't find this out until I took the paper off the skien to use it.}
Second complaint is the instructions did not explain the sizes, just stated S, M, L. Based on the gauge and number of stitches I am assuming I will be a medium but will not know for certain until I complete them.
Stay tuned for updates on the project as I document the progress of this test kit.

Pixie Belt and Arm Cuffs

I finished up the arm cuffs and belt I cut out last week after a trip to AC Moore to get the dangly pretties for them. 1 Yard was exactly enough of the beaded trim to do all three pieces! Bells added for jingly fun.

1.5 hour Quilt Purse

This is a purse I made completely off the cuff just because. It's my first attempt at a quilt pattern, wow I botched it but all well. Anyway, the purse is felt lined and has a little inner pocket.

Front of purse with my attempt at quilting.

Showing the inner pocket, it's fully felt lined.

Back of purse.

Showing it off. The perfect fit!

Playing with Fondant

So the family and I have been watching Cake Boss and it got me curious as to how easy working with fondant would be. I had a coupon so I went and got some, played with adding flavoring and color. Here's what I came up with.

My first attempt ever at fondant on a "cake"

Finally dry and shaped... Fondant leaves on a vine with spearamint flavoring. I hand cut and lined these myself. :)

The cakes were made in my mini pie and cake maker.

Frost Elf Princess

My latest painting

Acrylics on Streched Canvas
Size: 11"x14"
Shipping weight: 1.3 pounds
Price: $40.00
shipping fee includes insurance