Halloween's Past

My little sister was 8 years old when my daughter was born, so from the beginning my daughter did what my little sister did. Our family is low on girls, I was 13 when my little sister was born, before then it was just me and mom, then my little sister until my daughter came along.

My little sister loved Halloween so my daughter loves halloween. At the beginning of each October I start asking 'What do you want to be?' incase there is going to be sewing involved. Some years there was and some years there wasn't. Just because there are some tasks even I won't take on. For my sanity it is easier to buy it. Here's a few pictures:

I know I have one of each year, but I can't find them. Mental note: Must go track them down and scan them.

Boo! I’m celebrating Halloween with @SITSGirls & entering to win a Canon Rebel DSLR camera http://bit.ly/dtwrjJ  - I'm doing this because Tiffany is such a Pretty and Generous SITS Girl

October Sewing Group

For our sewing group in Oct I created a couple of trick or treat bag patterns, one a very easy bucket and the other a pumpkin, almost as easy. They came together quickly.

My little sister wanted to make my niece a Wonder Woman costume, so I drafted the patterns for the skirt, the cape and the boots, the belt and the headband I just winged. She bought a red long sleeve T. She had to create all the images, the longest part was the stars - she needed lots of starts.

Then it was a must for mom to have a supper Mom cape:

I'm truly loving the once a month sewing group!!!

Helpful now...Will she be at 13?

How do you load a Dishwasher when you are to short to reach the counter to get the dirty dishes?

You stand on the Dishwasher door, of course!

And what do you do when you don't have enough hand strength to push in the rack of dirty dishes?

You use your strongest muscle, Your thigh!

This no rules at Tia's (Aunt's) house, is making my sister's job harder. She said she went home and stood on the stove door (they don't have a dishwasher). I think I might have to implement a few rules, But I don't like rules! What do you think? I just hate walking around - you shouldn't do that, don't touch that, your going to brake that, Duh - they are going to find it all out eventually, Right? or Wrong?

Make a Wedding Dress Modest

Inexpensive Modest wedding dresses are hard to find in Southern California. So what usually happens is that the bride finds a dress she likes at a good price and then starts looking for a Bolero Shrug. Something like this at White House/Black Market: (Except for an LDS Temple Wedding it would be made of Silk, Satin or Taffeta, to try and cover.)

I have seen it at many weddings, The problems become first that you have to size it just so, so that it doesn't hide the gown. At that point you're hoping that the bride isn't going to move because then she'll be flashing her undergarments. Then there is the fact that a Strapless dress usually sinks down low in the back, so you will have to make the cut of the back of the bolero sink down low as well. Not a charming look, It looks like the bolero is mimicking the shape of the train on the dress, or was attempting to have a tuxedo tail.

A while back I started experimenting with adding bodice tops to Strapless dresses, I've done a few now. This is what I've learned. You need to draft the pattern pieces with the dress on the bride. The bride feel weird at first but then get used to you cutting fabric along her skin and pining everything in place while she's still wearing it. I forgot to take pictures or the process so here it is on the dress form. You also need to incorporate a key element of the dress into the top portion that you are adding, so that it doesn't look awkward. In this one I added rouching to the sleeves. Also make sure to attach the top to the dress, or you'll have the same problems as the bolero. Just topstitch the dress to the top you created. The Stitching line is only noticeable when you are looking for it, it doesn't show up in pictures and most people don't even realize it's there. It's worth the piece of mind to the bride.

Easy Felt Trick or Treat Bucket Tutorial

I've written my first guest post for a very wonderful Blogger Jenn over at Rook No 17, I love the way she describes herself "CREATIVE DABBLER, LOWBROW JUNKIE AND HIGHBROW HITCHHIKER. Both punk and preppie, sweet and spicy, and irresistibly drawn to shiny, glittery objects. MAKER OF THE CUTE AND THE YUMMY, & PATRON OF THE ODD & OFFBEAT; ERSTWHILE CAKE SCULPTOR AND CHOCOLATIER. ....." There's more head on over there and take a look.

She made the process of learning how to guest post easy, So if you would like my Tutorial and pattern for an Easy to sew Felt Trick or Treat Bucket you'll need to go visit her and download it from her blog. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself while your over there she has lots of wonderful posts and chocolate!

Not so wordless Wednesday

My wednesday is full of words "Notice of Failure to Appear For Jury Duty" in my defense I was at the Cochenille Design Retreat, and wasn't able to call in on Thursday - when they finally wanted me to show up.

And!!!!! I was featured in an Etsy Treasury, Go check it out it's all about Recycled Items: