Booty Bag

 

I made Olive a 'booty bag'. I'm calling it that because it reminds me of a pirates boot, and functions to keep all her booty; ie blocks. 

"Ra ra ra!" means anything and is meant to be yelled forcefully, or so Olive says. Like a battle cry, a pirate's slur. Her favourite to say besides "Ning ning" and "da da da Daaaaaah!".

The old bag keeping her blocks was blue and polyester, with a zipper she couldn't unzip. It was ugly. I want her life to be beautiful, and filled with pretty things. Pretty handmade things.

Bulk Bags

a shiney kind of punk rock

I have begun the slow slow slow process of putting studs on my leather jacket. I've wanted to for a long time, have had the studs around a while. I've been apprehensive, because I LOVE my jacket. It took a lot of hours to make. It was the first. But its not perfect, so finally I am telling myself that if all doesn't work out with metal and metal and metal, I can always make myself another one. I can always make myself another one anyway.

I expect it will take me forever. I've probably put about a half hours work so far:

Its complicated work for one because its hard to know what anything will look like until I've already punched holes and pressed the stud in. I'm excited about the process however. This is something that will even look awesome undone and half finished, so the 'journey' is the fun.

My inspiration? Karen O and Lady Gaga, because I adore these ladies.

 

Let's be honest, I probably need one of these too:

2 Girls

I think everyone remembers being a kid, and having fun doing something they weren't good at. Or something they thought they weren't good at. For example I am a terrible swimmer. I wont drown, I can swim, but.it.is.not.graceful. I have taken lessons as an adult, a part of my desire to be a triathlete, part joke, part truth, the only real kind of jokes there are. I was just as bad as when I was young, but still enthusiastic. I happen to love swimming. A lot.
I also cannot ice skate. Every winter I think with a twinkle about going out to a rink and learning, I don't have any skates.
I've been pushing myself to draw. As a child drawing was a natural expression of my thoughts. I dont remember when I stopped drawing, but I'm sure its because I thought I wasn't any good at it. Such hog wash! Why would that matter! Damn our foolish adolescence. Of course I don't have to be an artist to draw, why does it take maturity to know that?

A picture I've held onto since my teennessism. It had to have been cut from The Mirror, or some other free wrapping paper:

Olive's face, my hair:

Knitted Socks

I finished these just about a week ago. So many start and stops, beginning in early December, then interrupted by holidaying and bedbugs, I finished them one step at a time. Learning that I am quite fast at knitting, all breaks aside, and I enjoy the committed bodily work that allows for a wandering mind. I understand why so many find refuge in Knitting. This is my second project ever, the first being a small pop-corned cowl, and I've been inspired to open a Ravelry account:

illuseevil

Let's see where these needles knot me.

Also, LOTS of credit has to go to Janine who's pattern I used, and who encouraged these socks into existence.

Feathers and God

some necklaces.

 

Just some thick braided thread, a bobbin, some snap hardware, and feathers tied up. The other one I didn't really make. I haven't been wearing jewelry as its generally not too baby friendly, I was worried I'd just be anxious all day about Olive tearing the chains off my neck, so I took that sweet Jesus/Mary (because it spins!) pendant and tied it to some string. And now I have no worries. Plus my neckline is much more entertaining for Olive while she nurses or sit on my lap.

 

In the Dark, really Fast.

6611

My Sewing Space

After a year of living in this apartment and 9 months in that room, I can say that I have FINALLY organized my sewing space into a functional studio (/closet/spare room). I spent the last month going through everything meticulously, deciding what to keep, and what to give away, putting up shelves, hooks, nails, ropes, rods, curtains, and frames. I want everything out where I can use it. A place for everything, and in its place! It looks so nice, and feels like home, finally. And I feel creative. I can read, and make messes, or sit and be quiet.
 The only window in the room leads out into the storage room, which makes for dark, or let's say warm photographs. I put up lots of lighting to make it less of a strain on me because I really depend on natural light to function well, especially create. The positive thing about it is that the mood in the room remains the same no matter the time of day, and its a good mood at that, so I am happy.
Its nice to have a place to put all of my things.

 

 

 

 

The Apron Skirt

We bought Olive a crib, which of course called for some mommy made sheets. I had this real cute sailboat linen, but only just enough to make the top, not enough for the sides. Luckily I had something to match, but it was the bottom of this wonderful vintage dress I took from my friend Bubzee's yard sale just because it smelled so nice. I didn't fit the dress. At least not in the boob area.So I took off the hem and added it to Olive's sheets, but was still left with a lot of dress. Which is now a skirt.
Here's me looking awkward in it:

Its kind of like an apron, but not. Very nice to be barefoot in. :)

Jersey

I have been on a little jersey knit frenzy, using up a bunch of fabric I've had around forever.

Its been booty shorts for me and extra-bum leggings for Olive. I don't use patterns. One reason being that I never have so I find them overwhelming. I pretty much draw up my own and wing it. Its great for learning. Although I am sure I have some nasty bad habits I don't even know about. I am starting to have an intuitive feel for the hidden shapes of the body. I used my cutout to make a bunch more shorts for my sister and friend Pamela.

I call them extra-bum leggings, because I put in a whole panel on the but just to accommodate Olive's diapers. She looks A-dorable in them.
:) And yes we can now match.

Old Shoes

 I think many a seamstress wishes they could make shoes, its a limitation in our field. Not that we cannot, but certainly shoe-making requires a lot more gear, patience and know-how than assembling shirts, skirts and dresses. I am very attached to my shoes. For two reasons; the first being that in my minimalist-environmental adventure shoes are one thing you cannot stop buying. They get the brunt of my wardrobes wear and tear, and inevitably need to be replaced. The second reason is that my shoes come around with me everywhere, they share my adventures, and hold my love. It makes me sad to see them retire.

That said, I made a promise to myself that I would not buy another pair of shoes until I wear through all the pairs I currently own, something like 10 pairs! I actually haven't bought shoes in almost a year, certainly not new shoes. This is my attempt to make one of my favourite pairs last a little bit longer. The holes in the front are so large that the bottoms flap while I walk. I had to sew in a lining just so I have something to attach the leather patch to. Its taken me so long that I think I wont do the other side, as its still a little wearable. 

:/

Katherine's Prom Dress

I am currently setting up my Flickr account and I wanted to try out the external slideshow. So, I figured why not make a post with and actual project of mine?

I made this dress last may for my cousin Katherine. Completely from scratch, I even made a duct-tape bust form, for I suppose what would be called draping. Although I didn't know that at the time. It seemed natural to me that if I wanted to create my own pattern I would lay the pieces on a "real-size" form, and go form there.
I do not actually remember what the fabric was on this. My favourite part though is the uncut extra long blue crinoline.
I remember I did not really know how to hem a dress, or fit a zipper at the time, I just learned from here. Winging it. It turned out really well in the end.

Tumblr: I'll Use Evil

I stared myself a Tumblr account for this documenting of the things I've been sewing. I like that I can just throw up photos with a small description. I am not sure if I am going to keep both of these accounts going. I like blogspot because it allows for more complete posts. I can add many photos, and tell long tales of how it all came to be. Before I thought of starting the Tumblr I was going to start making monthly updates here, including all the things I completed that month, so maybe I will keep doing that. Anyways, check the Tumblr for more frequent streams of sewing, come here once and a while for the stories.
:)

Bar-pads, Applique, Sweaters and Capes.

These are some things I have been sewing lately:

Bar-pads for bikurious. They are mostly recycled leather in brown, black and more black. The last ones I made were a bit more colourful, but unfortunatley a little harder for bikurious to sell. So, this time we are going with ones that are little more on the neutral side, with little accents. They'll be selling them for 30$ I think, so you should go and pick one up!
To make them I had to screen a bunch of patches too. Which I have been using for more than just bike accessories...

Last Saturday, on our weekend walk, I found this lovely hat in the street. Its a little too big for Olive right now. But still looks really cute, and the good thing about kids is they grow. A lot. So I sewed some combed-cotton appliques on in circle and leaf shapes, with a little pink fly that just happened to match. Plus one of the awesome straightedge buttons I have. I think it turned out lovely.

A couple of weeks ago I started making this hoodie, but now its sitting on the mannequin. I dont know what I want to do next. I'm hoping it'll come to me. Maybe before sweater season is up!
 Finally, there is this cloak I reconstructed a way long time ago, while I was still in prego-land. It was much longer with some strange (crazy) red fur lining the hood and opening. I wasn't having that. Now the hood is much larger (more ominous) Shiny black on the out, blue velvet on the in. This picture makes me cringe though. Such a cluttered background, but I honestly can't care to find time to take another. I probably shouldn't care about the photo then.

Leather Jacket

I made this for my sister Charlotte for Christmas. Looks awesome on her. All the things I have been making out of leather are from recycled coats my mum finds at at a thrift store for super cheap. There's a layer of waffle stretchy knit, and then a combed cotton. It'll be as warm as I could have made it I think, while still being fitted. Plus the awesome paisley pocket I added at my sister's request, after watching her fumble for a wallet space several times.
 My mannequin is slightly larger than my sister who is very tiny, so you can see it doesn't quite close, but on her it does, which was a lucky guess on fitting, 'cause she lives in Halifax  and I am so incredibly pregnant, I can't even imagine a waistline.