New Year's Revolution

Well seeing as I haven't posted in almost forever, I decided to change this lack of posting in 2015. Lots of things happened in 2014: I visited Disneyland, dyed my hair red, sewed a lot more than usual, read 80 books, and found a new job. Unfortunately, the school year is always the busiest time for me, but I plan on scheduling more time to devote here! However, this semester caused me to fall in love with fashion illustration, so I will probably be showcasing my drawings here in the future.

My last project of the year is usually also my biggest. This time it literally was the largest item I made this year. I made this quilt as a gift for my grandma. It definitely has a country chic feel to it, which will be perfect for brightening her mood until Spring arrives.

 

I hope that your New Year is filled with joy and an abundance of opportunities to craft!

Gatsby, Old Sport!

Harkening back to my days in AP English, this Great Gatsby sweatshirt had been on my "Must Buy" list for over a year. I loved reading the book and writing a paper about it (mostly because I'm a huge nerd), and the movie was thoroughly enjoyable as well. The vibrant colors and choice of cover graphic for this pullover really caused much desire on my part. After much debate and waiting for my size to be stocked, I finally decided to buy this gem from ModCloth. It is by far one of my favorite apparel purchases from the store. The material is so soft, and it is long enough to wear with my sweet faux leather leggings. I paired the outfit with my black combat boots for a hopeful "leg-lengthening" effect, but I think it just added a bit more edge to the ensemble. Overall, it was warm enough for the cold spell we've been enduring, but light enough for the hot sewing rooms I attend class in during the day. If I was to liken my sweatshirt envy experience to Gatsby's; this top embodied the green light, except for the fact that I love it so much more in reality than when I was debating if I truly wanted it.

Gatsby Sweatshirt: ModCloth    Leggings: JCPenney       Shoes: Target

Either You've Dot it, Or You Don't

 

Unfortunately, I have been a bit preoccupied with the ever-daunting tasks the beginning of the school year provides, so I am sorry I have not posted lately. Here's a nice outfit post to reboot my blogging.

 

My love of all things mod was evident this summer, as I scoured stores online and at the mall for a nice pair of knee socks. Thankfully, I found this adorable pair of crocheted ivory ones from Wetseal. Being quintessentially mod, these knee socks have already been quite handy, especially with the unseasonably cold weather I've endured of late.

 

Otherwise, the rest of this outfit's pieces are treasured classics from my closet. I just adore how well the circle skirt matches with my Beatles shirt. The polka dots give it more youthful, whimsical feel. Circle skirts make any t-shirt ten million times cuter, and they are pretty simple to sew! The Beatles shirt was quite a find, as I stumbled upon their men's Beatles collection. Although it was disheartening they had no girl's shirts, I think the shirt meshes well with the highly feminine skirt. Finally, my kids sized ballet flats feature little Mickey Mouse heads which are rather adorable.

 

Hopefully, once school calms down I will have more time to sew and document my processes. I've started to create a new mod number, with faux red suede and faux black leather. I will be posting pictures soon I promise! Overall, it was a lovely last day of summer and I am already looking forward to my next round of freedom: Winter Break.

 

Shirt: Bloomingdales.  Skirt: Sewn by me. Socks: Wetseal. Shoes: Disney World.

Collaged Vase Project

I was feeling crafty today on my last day of freedom before heading to school, so I gathered some supplies I had laying around the house to create a Beatles vase to add some sunshine to my room.  Here's how I created my project:

Supplies:

• Collaging gloss
• Sponge brush
• Brushes to paint on design (I used a circular brush)
• Paints in coordinating colors
• Images
• Vase or glass

Step One:

Pick and cut out your image. I practiced with both a glossy sheet and one that was mounted on a firmer cardstock. The firmer image held up much better and retained its brightness. The glossier image stuck on to the glass no problem, but grew darker due to the saturation of the gloss and had some air bubbles. On the other hand, the glossier one looked much more "collaged" as it seemed to meld right into the glass. I choose the firmer sheet, but in the end, your decision is a personal preference. You might want to try both to see which one you like better.

Step Two:

Glue the image to the glass with the collaging gloss. I applied the gloss to the wrong side of the image with the sponge brush. I placed it onto the glass and held it in place for about a minute before going to the next image. Use a small brush to gloss over the corners if those start to peel. Additionally, I put the images on the outside, since I wasn't sure if I would be putting water on the inside for flowers. Both ways would work, you just need to think ahead to see which way is best for your overall vision.

Step Three:

Paint your design on the glass. This is your chance to pursue this venture even more creatively. Circular dots in some coordinating colors matched the summery, psychedelic theme I was striving for in the finished product. Squiggles, lines, musical notes, and flora are just a few ideas that could be included in your design.

Step Four:

Patience. Let your piece of art dry for the specified amount of time on your paint and gloss jars. If it needs retouching, feel free to do so once it has dried.

Step Five:

Decorate! Use beads, flowers, and more inside the vase to add some fun embellishments. Or, if you're looking for a subtle, minimalistic tone, leave it be. This is your project, so let the ideas stem from your own mind!

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and use it to bolster your own creative endeavors!

Mad as a Hatter

Lately, I've been quite obsessed with crocheting. Maybe it's just me preparing because of last year's insanely cold winter or exploring other ways of creating with fibers. Overall, crocheting has kept me pretty occupied this summer.

I had never really delved that deeply into crocheting, so when I picked it up again this summer, I knew I wanted a semi-easy project. So I decided to make a puff stitch hat, because why wouldn't it be easy to make something I've never attempted before? That's how my mind rationalizes things. Digging in my old yarn stash, some purple yarn caught my eye, and I went to work on the project. The puff stitch and ribbing were actually quite easy to accomplish once I had a little practice. I ended up getting a bit carried away, as the hat is a bit too long for my head. However, the hat would make the perfect Dopey topper if I were to dress as that sweet character from Snow White.

Next, using a maroon glitter yarn, I crocheted a ribbed skull cap. It turned out pretty adorable, although I am debating putting a pompom on the top. I just have no idea what color would be best, which is a problem as I am notorious for not making decisions.

For the third project, I went back to the puff stitch to make a more fitted hat. There wasn't much of this blue left, but the color was so vibrant and it matches my wardrobe so well that I knew a hat in this color was totally necessary. The band and overall process went much smoother than the first hat, which I was proud of.

Finally, a mixed blue yarn caught my eye while shopping, so bought a few skeins for some projects. I used the leftovers from my knitting machine legwarmers, which I will cover in another post, to make another beanie. This time, a mix of single crochets and ribbing was used for the hat to create a bit of interest.

Hats are my favorite cold weather necessity. I quite doubt that my obsession will ever dwindle. Being able to craft them myself is an added bonus. Needless to say, I won't be letting up on my crocheting rampage any time soon. Anyone else addicted to crocheting or hats in general?

Back In Time

Vintage clothing is simply beautiful. Wearing this type of clothing hearkens my soul back to a different era. My favorite time periods to draw inspiration from are the 1950s and 1960s. Experimentation and exaggeration were plainly seen in the way fashions were made and worn. From top designers to glamorous models to teens shopping on the street, fashions definitely helped to define these eras.

Knowing my affinity for the outlandish, it comes as no surprise that I enjoy wearing what I term "costume" pieces. Most people in their daily lives are not wearing A-line mini mod dresses or full skirts with petticoats. Although a few admirable souls do, which I think is quite fantastic. You might as well wear what you love, as your uniqueness sets you apart from the crowd.

Bearing this in mind, when I first saw the Simplicity Misses' Vintage 1950s Bra Tops pattern, I knew I would have to make these adorable homages to the yesteryears. So I bought the pattern and searched through my fabric for some whimsical material. Choosing a cotton fabric was crucial, as I wanted the finished product to read as a top, not as an undergarment.

First, I made this retro feeling bicycle bra top. Personally, I thoroughly love the vibe the print gives off, as it makes me think of summers biking around town. I could definitely see this particular top being worn with a pair of high-waisted shorts or a full midi skirt in a complimentary color. The back includes two tiny red heart-shaped buttons acting as a closure. There are two straps which act as a halter to tie up in the back. These straps are removable, which I thought was a nice feature.

This is the second top I made. The red flap on top of the Hello Kitty fabric really creates this striking contrast between the two pieces. The straps are made of the contrasting color and the back includes two black buttons to close the top. A red skirt and petticoat would complete this outfit in my mind.

Overall, the pieces turned out really well, as they were exactly what I had pictured them in my mind. It's always a successful project if that happens! I just hope there are still some warm days here so I am able to wear my new tops!

Bow Time!

Of all the accessories in the world, bows are definitely at the top of my list. Versatile and playful, these little hair pieces add a bit of whimsy to any outfit. From mini to overwhelmingly huge, one can be found to fit anyone's level of boldness when it comes to piecing together an outfit.

I love being matchy-matchy. If I can make an accessory to match my dress exactly, I will do it. From my eyeliner to my shoes, I have always been transfixed with wearing the same color scheme, making sure every color incorporated compliments each other. It may seem outlandish or odd, but that's me.

Pictured above is a collection of my bows that can be found on my Etsy Shop, She Said Sew Studios. Bows are so much fun to make and wear that I just had to share my love of them!