An Experiment: A Journey: A Crazy Skirt.

I don't know when I got the idea in my head to make this skirt, but all I know is that I designed and made a sketch of it the other day- and the next day I was making it.

So first things first, I had to make a pattern.

I used the "slash-and-spread" technique I learned in patternmaking class. I didn't bother making an accurate "block" with all the right measurements because I knew this was just going to have an elastic waistband and not be formfitting. So I just decided the width I wanted the bottom opening to be, how much gathering/puffiness I wanted at the top, and how long I wanted the skirt to be. So I slashed up my block and added onto the green paper seam allowances, hem, and extra on the top for a seam and folding it over to make casing for the elastic.

Ok so this isn't much of a journey because there are no pictures of this mid-construction but oh well! After a total of about 6 hours labor- from measuring and slicing up paper to stitching up hems- here's the finished product:
Not flattering!
Round!
Booty amplifier!!

Haha, no really, I'm proud of myself. It didn't turn out like the drawing, but I'll get into that in a moment. I'm proud of myself because I took an idea from start to finish, and employed my patternmaking education finally! Also, I had fun making it. I can get so INTO sewing!

So after staying up til close to dawn finishing this thing, I HAD to wear it to church. And it made me laugh every time I saw it in the mirror. Haha :) At least it's good for that. Also good for the up-and-down look from the girls passing by and no accompanying compliments! hahaha.

Ok, so the "problems":

1) I don't have the body of the girl in the sketch!! I don't have a small waist- my body just goes straight down to my hips. That's the main reason why I didn't pull this off as well as I thought I might.

2) It ended up more round on the sides than I intended. If I had to do it again I would make my pattern more concave on the side seams and maybe that would have helped it.

3) It's bulbous all around. It's just. not. flattering. despite my semi-thin frame.

...Solutions?

1) Next time I'll wear a necklace that takes the eye up and away from the waist.

2) Or a cute wide belt! I tried one on and it looked pretty darn cute.

THE END!

A Reversible Purse For MEEE!!!

I finally made myself something. I needed a new purse!

I was more excited about this before I assembled it. I was certain these wild non-matching prints were going to look awesome together. In the end, I'm just "ok" with it. After sewing together one of the sides I realized I like the colors better in the order you see here in the first picture- so the sides are different. Also, on the reverse with the "seaweed" side, I didn't buy enough fabric to make a matching pocket so there's clash there too! But the other side is plain with no pocket.

This is what it looks like flat- basically. There's a slight curve on the bottom.

Another Little Thing I Do...

I don't even know what to call these things, but I make 'em! The parents of the birthday child tell me what they want, they usually provide the wood and the paints, we decide on what I'll draw etc, I do it, and make the dads cut out the holes for the heads :) Come on! I don't have power tools!

This picture above cracks me up. I made this one for my nephew Liam most recently. The little portrait of him didn't turn out too well but with time, patience and MONEY it could have turned out better ;)

This was for my nephew Noah last April. I think it came out pretty cool! My materials were a little different for this one, and I spent more time on it.

(This one also cracks me up.)