white swan

It's been... a while. :) I decided to (very sparsely) photograph my last project so I could share it with y'all. For a tutorial, here's the one I followed:

A Beautiful Mess - Swan Dress Tutorial

This was a pretty make-shift, make-do project. We lost our cutting board, so I used large 4x thick paper, which probably dulled the rotary cutter. But I was desperate because there was no way I was cutting 15 or so yards of tulle in 2 in. strips by hand if I could help it.

I also don't have a dress form of any sort. I could really use one. Christmas is Dec. 25th. Fourth of July is in about a month. Is there a gift-giving holiday in June? There should be. Hint hint hint. ;)

So I made do again with a large empty roll of paper wrapped with a table cloth that I tied in knots so it wouldn't fall down.

What can I say, desperate times.

After doubling all the tulle in half over the elastic, I figured out that it was going to be really hard to sew that tulle down without sewing the elastic or, wait, how was I even supposed to be able to stretch the elastic if all the tulle was sewed tightly together? what? huh?

Word to the stupid. Read the whole tutorial before you do the next "simple" step that you think you can figure out. Figuring things out is great, but instructions are for saving time.

(I will probably not remember this.)

So I yanked out all the tulle and then the next day I followed the instructions. :-P

Aaaand, ta-da, finished product. It's so fluffy I'm going to - feel like an idiot wearing it.

I skipped pictures of cutting out knit fabric and hand sewing the head together... It looks a little funny, but people should be able to get the picture.

As to why I need a swan costume anyway, I needed something water-related for Joni and Friends camp this year, and decided to go with this. Might add some white feathers to my hair or the skirt part of it. :)

Maaaaaybe it won't be so long until another project is written about.

official

   Well friends, I'd say my Etsy Shop is "officially" open. I finally took pictures that I'm at least content with, though there's lots of room for improvement. Maybe I can figure out better lighting next time.
   With time things should get easier. :) Give me any tips you think of for improvement!

   https://www.etsy.com/shop/TodaysAnAdventure

black & white & sunflowered

I started off with four matching napkins. ^

And sewed 3 together.

Cut a neckhole in the fourth.

Gathered the first three and sewed them to the two sides of the fourth.

Added this just-right button to the back middle hem.

Not to my surprise, the shirt is really airy and poofy (so nice and cool, but also not /super/ flattering) but I really like it. :D It also reminds me mostly of a dress a 5 year old would have. But... I don't care. :)

splatter and gingham

Two recent projects I've finished recently: 

The "Splatter Skirt" :-/weirdname/-: has been sitting around for probably a year. Yeah.

^ the tools used.

This skirt used to be a pair of pants. with paint stains. So I added more paint stains after cutting it up and changing it into a skirt. WITH POCKETS.

Now I'm just hoping the paint doesn't come out of ya in the wash, skirt. And then it's an Etsy Listing for you. 

It's so comfy I almost want to keep it...
p.s. I can't see the future.
p.p.s. the future does not involve dordt college.

And now, the "gingham twirl" skirt. EDIT: I just realized "plaid" might be a better description. Miles from perfect pictures, but you'll have to bear it or close the tab.

I took a boring brown skirt I had and added character.

Character synonyms in this circumstance:
Trim made from an old shirt.

You would probably believe that it's slightly dangerous to try spinning really fast on a chair.

denim jacket

I've become super lax in my taking of "before" pictures... so here's all the after shots. 

 ^ That used to be an ankle-length dress. heh heh, no wonder it was a buck at goodwill.

I'm okay with the length, but I wish I could have made it a little longer... I cut above the belt loops, and the hem shortened it more then I thought.
(If I look like I have a black eye... today was rough.) ;)

So... yeah... I used a blind hem, which was new, but it took me at least 3 tries to get it right.

Ta Da.

How To Be Awkward

HOW TO BE AS AWKWARD AS POSSIBLE

in 9 easy steps

1. Always button the top button.

2. Always give forced smiles.

3. Always wear jeans that are too short.

Tennis shoes or flats, either way you can achieve the awkwardness.

4. Always wear colors that really have good contrast.

5. Be creative! Mix prints! Mix plaids!

 6. Always wear hoodies with the misshapen zippers.

 7. If you have a shirt that is too short, just wear a really long shirt underneath.

 8. Wear denim on denim, preferably different shades.

 9. Last but never least, ALWAYS tuck in your shirt.