New Layout...

I really like this layout. It's got more of a sewing vibe to it. There's a link to Leelou Blogs on the page, which is where I got it. Super cute designs and most (if not all) have a crafting / sewing theme. w00t!

All I Want For Christmas...

I found what I want for Christmas this year!

Kenmore 110 Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine

I love how it's got 110 different stitches and well...doesn't SUCK like my Singer does. Seriously...That Singer has broken more times than I can count and I REFUSE to pay another 100 dollars to have it fixed AGAIN! It's just not worth the $$$. It still does a straight stitch but forget about doing any of the others... Le sigh. Anyway, with any luck this will be my new baby!

And if not, then I'll gladly accept David Tennant...

Rose Tyler - DONE!

Lots of finishing work tonight. I hemmed the pink dress, trimmed the tulle underneath, and made a petticoat of silver/grey tulle to make it more full like the original. So glad it's done! It's super cute! =)

Can't wait to wear it this weekend! :D

Rose Tyler - Doctor Who - THE JACKET IS HERE!

So yeah just a quick update, my grey bomber jacket arrived today and it looks awesome!!!!

A good little seamstress...

Alright, here are pics of what has been done as of today! Sorry, didn't really take many progress photos, but the bodice was put together the same way as the Kaylee bodice (w/a different neckline), in both the overlay, lining, fashion fabric.... so that wasn't important. The skirt was pleating using my ruffling foot (A MUST HAVE!!!!) and I serged it onto the bodice. I also boned the bodice because without shoulder support my hooters were crinkling the bodice and making it unhappy.

Anyway, progress!

Almost done...

Woohoo! POCKETS! :D

 Gotta add the bias tape along the top...

So it begins!

Just returned from the fabric store with lots o' goodies! So I decided to go with another pattern, one that fits the shape of the dress more:

Simplicity 2440

Pink taffeta with the pink sparkle organza I found to go over it for the bodice.

So along with the awesome shades I found on etsy, I'm well on my way. I'm going to cut out pieces tonight and throw them on Judy (the dress dummy) and see where I need to tweak the pattern. Oh a bonus for this pattern! It has multiple pieces depending on your bust size! w00t!

Rose Tyler - Doctor Who Episode, The Idiot's Lantern

So I've been digging this outfit for a while, and darn it! I need a sewing project!

I want that scooter. Now.

I was going to dye an old prom dress I had (and cut a foot or two off of it), but yeah...I'm not a size 4 anymore so that was a no-go. Good think I checked first! ;D

I also cannot find any vintage dress online that could do the trick...Soooooooo I'm going to just make it! It looks simple enough...especially if I wear a corset underneath...no boning then. Let's see...

Ooh! It looks like I was able to find the perfect pattern for the dress! Simplicity 3878:

I'm bidding on a grey bomber jacket on ebay, too. Sadly cannot get the Topshop one, but I did get some spiffy round glasses on etsy...

Soooooo hopefully I can get this pulled together this weekend (yay sewing!) and have it ready by the 21st. :D

Out with the old, in with the new...

I'm in the process of clearing out my garb closet... I have to make room for new things/adventures in costuming, right?

So I've decided to sell one of my beloved Silver Squirrel skirts. It's the dark purple overdye... Fantastic!

Well, I have to make room! I have the Sapphire overdye (of course!) and now an "Absinthe Makes the Heart Grown Fonder" green overdye... so one has to go. The purple is too big for me (Size L), so it seemed the most logical. Here's hoping I get a buyer soon! I have a few nibbles so far...

I may use the $$ from this to get my Stargate Atlantis uniform. ^_^;

CORRECTION! I have just SOLD my skirt! YES!!! Thanks Selena! I'll get it to the PO tomorrow!

While on the subject of fluffy gowns...

I think I know what costume I'd like to tackle someday soon...well, once I drop some more weight...

I'm going to make Utena's Rose Bride dress.. Yep, I've decided.

It's just as annoyingly full...but at least I get to wear a wig with this one! Now to find someone to cosplay as Akio/Dios. Rawr!

I also may make one of Utena's prince uniforms as well. @_@;

Just thinking ahead... Ooh, Juri's uniform. AAAAAAAAAH! Too many fun ones to choose from!

The Ultimate Shiny! - Kaylee's Fluffy Layer Cake

Here it is, the costume that definitely enhanced my skills... The dress that took two months (well, mostly a month and some breathing time) to finish. The shiny of shinies! Very sorry, because this one is SUPER IMAGE HEAVY! :)

 The original Fluffy Layer Cake! - Firefly Episode 4, "Shindig"

 

Fabrics and trims...

The sleeve fabric - A vintage sari I found online (like what was used for the original)

 Overlay of the fabric I used on the bodice - I dyed some of this pink to put over the sari fabric!

The skirt fabrics - sparkly organza! :D

 The front of the bodice...I hand pleated all of the organza overlay. x_X;

Stitched down so it's going NOWHERE!

 Some of the trim sewn on, also hiding the stitch down the middle that holds the pleats in place!

 Buttons! Shiny satin buttons!

 The front pieces sewn together with the ruffled trim sewn on!

 The bodice with the skirt pinned in place.

 Nearly completed bodice!

 Needing to add the zipper!

 The completed bodice!

 Spacing out the organza for the skirt ruffles!

 Four layers down, four to go!

 The last layer pinned on... Still need to sew it and hem the skirt at this point.

 One of the many late nights of pinning and sewing. 

I ended up having to sew on every ruffle by hand.

 All of the ruffles sewn on, now to trim the excess and sew them together!

 It's done! It's done! Well except for the sleeve fringe... but that's a minor detail!

 The accessories - I made the bow and put it on a clip for ease of wear, the gloves (Leg Avenue) I found online for 6 bucks, and the shoes I found at Goodwill!

 GMX 2010 - Kaylee in her ruffly shiny glory!

Photo by David Vail

 Photo by Joe Jordan

GMX 2010 - Masquerade
Photo by Steven Greenwood

Two Kaylee's! Melissa as Kaylee in her Coveralls!

Photo by Joe Jordan

So this is one of my favorite costumes and not because it's comfortable (ha! It's hotter than Hades!), but because it is FUN! Plus I always love wearing a hoop skirt...built in air conditioning!

I plan on reworking a couple of things for this:

1 - The bodice skirt - I'm going to trim about 3" off. It's a bit long.

2 - Add the sleeve fringe

3 - Remake the skirt - Now now, I LOVE the skirt I have, and it's not nearly as fluffy as the original so I can get through doors, but it was made for my current hoop skirt and with sparkly fabrics (which was awesome). I plan on buying a NEW skirt with 150" diameter and 6 hoops, which is closer to the original, and maybe make the skirt with silk organza instead of the sparkly stuff...although...I do love the sparkly stuff..Hmm. Either way, BIGGER SKIRT! That way I have options. ;)

I think I may would even be willing to make this costume again! I think because I wasn't able to use a pattern AT ALL and had to wing it, it taught me a lot and improved my sewing dramatically. :)

Oh and THANK GOD for the ruffling foot! Had I not bought that I think I would have died in the mountain of organza!

Star Trek TOS Skant Uniform - Science Officer (Blue)

This was a VERY frustrating costume... I had to make this stupid thing THREE TIMES before I got it how I liked it. I must say, I loved the results but I absolutely HATED the fabric! well, cutting the fabric. Sewing the fabric was a dream! *sigh* Can't win em all... Anyways, this is SUPER FUN and I got a lot of compliments on it! Plus I like how it flows. @_@

 Lt. Uhura - Showing how insanely short the dress was! I added 3" to the bottom for modesty

Lt. Uhura's uniform

 The sad 1st attempt - Right color, WRONG fabric - this did not stretch AT ALL and was sadly a disappointment

 The third attempt - FRONT - Correct fabric, wrong color. I had to dye 4 yards of this fabric on my front porch. The color turned out beautifully!

 Third attempt - back view before sewing the last seam together. I decided not to add the zipper because the fabric is stretchy enough! w00t!

The science patch! Yes!

 Das boots! I love these boots, but they do not love my feet. I need insoles in them for sure!

 Finished top

 Waiting to be hemmed and have the braids added... :D

 The finished front!

 The completed back!

 GMX 2010 - Next time I'll do 60's hair but I had to have it straight for the costume I wore later that night!
Photo by Cass Teague

 GMX 2010 - Saturday
Photo by James Clemons

Not a great shot, but you can see the costume w/ das boots!
Photo by David Vail

This was a lot of fun to wear and I can't wait to make a TNG skant uniform! :D