Black and Red Skull Coat

This is the jacket I made for Halloween this year. This jacket was repurposed from 2 dresses and a paints and top set. The shear skull fabric was purchased years ago and has been waiting for just the right project.  

I loosely used a pattern I bought from Katwise. If you are not familiar with her sweater coats they are a must see.

 I made this for a gift months ago and then forgot to post the images. My friend Deidre is a partner in a theater project in Bakersfield California and I made this jacket for her to wear on opening night.  I constructed this jacket out of 2 black velvet shirts, a pair of black velvet paints and 2 black velvet shirts. From this mix I created this jacket. Deidre is MUCH smaller than me so my dress form is too big, therefore the jacket is a bit stretched.

I started the base of the jacket with this long-sleeved top. I cut up the front seam  and serged the raw seams

I made a paper pattern , With the paints, one top and one skirt I was able to construct a full skirt

I added button details

I Never Claimed I was a Milliner

My hat making skills leave much to be desired. I am working on a costume for a masquerade ball that is happening at the end of this month. I decided to add a hat to my costume. I visited the local costumer and looked for a hat to decorate. Unfortunately for me, I have a VERY small head. Nothing fit. So I had this bright idea of making my own. When I worked for the Civic Theater in the costume department, many years ago, I was asked to create some very simple, clip in the hair, hats. It should be easy, right. Not really. I put pencil to paper and drew up some plans. After many stops and starts, this is what I created. My mother would call this a 20 pacer. Good thing the ball is being held in a darkened room.

The basic hat construction is out of poster board. The velvet came from a second hand skirt and the feathers were pilfered from a feather duster. I think the overall look turned out well, just don’t get to close.

Originally I was going to add two large bird wings to each side of the hat, but at the last minute I changed my mind. I thought they might be too heavy and would collapse the hat.

Aprons and 3" Heels

Several months ago we went to visit friends in Montana and I saw this fabric in a shop in Missoula. I am an extremely thrifty sort of person and I find it is very difficult for me spend money on myself. This fabric was a bit on the pricy side and I walked away without buying any of it. On the way home we had not even made it over the Montana/Idaho border and I was already kicking myself. So I called my friend and pleaded (I didn’t have to beg too hard) with her (she was nice enough not to say, “I told you so”) to make the 45 minute drive from her home to purchase 2 yards of this glittery Dia de los Muertos fabric for me. Julie understands me so well.

After much contemplation I decided I needed to make something that would highlight this sparkly fun fabric. I come across this Simplicity pattern for a retro apron in a local shop and I knew I had found just the right item for my new fabric.

A few weeks ago I found this vintage mint green rick rack in a large box of trim at an estate sale.

I added a pocket with just a hint of the mint green rick rack.

And I lined the inside with this black spiral fabric.

I can hardly wait to wear this apron. I think I might need to make cookies tomorrow.
Now where did I put that little black cocktail dress?

Wedding Cake Sleeves

I am not crazy about sweaters that you pull over your head, they are bulky and I often get too warm in them, but a cardigan, I adore. Every time I hit a thrift shop or a yard sale I look for them, I now have a large collection in just about every color. I am particularly fond of vintage cardigans and will wear them until they are riddled with holes and falling apart at the seams.

Several months ago I bought this turtleneck sweater at a thrift shop; the .25 price tag attracted me. Last week I came across it in a pile of clothes to be altered. We have had an unusually warm winter, so the knitted gloves I had been working on were put to the side while I worked on this sweater. I started this sweater by cutting the front open and sergered the raw seams.

I had planned on making simple sleeves but I got a little carried away… the sleeve now look like a wedding cake.

To carry the theme through I added a matching color flower to collar.

Super Roxy to the Rescue

Faster than unwanted split pea soup

Lungs more powerful than an air raid siren

Able to leap over baby sister in a single bound.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Super Roxy

We were invited to a 4 year olds birthday party. I was in a dilemma as what to get her. We have a 2 year old son and right now he is all about Elmo and his Nappers (his #1 monkey). What to get a 4 year old girl who is constantly zipping around, hurdling over the family dog and thinks thought it was fun when daddy wrecked his bike with her on it, her reaction to the fall “do it again Daddy”. What else, but her very own super hero’s cape (super powers not include). Now she can cause havoc wherever she goes and her identity will remain a secret.

This cape is made from a pattern I obtained abut 15 years ago. I have used it to make capes for all of our nieces and nephews.

This time around I went with a deep purple hue, perfect for the super hero who wants to be fashionable while saving the world or picking on villainous boys.

I made a pattern for the shield and cut it out of contrasting colors of felt.

I added a button closer and an hour later I had a super hero cape just waiting for the super hero to wear it.

I really hope she doesn’t try to fly off the roof of the house in it. I once jumped off the barn with an umbrella, but that is a story better left for another time.

Crabby Shirt

So, I am always looking for ways to make original clothing on a very tight budget. I got the striped shirt at a thrift shop (imagine that). From bits of other old clothing I made the crab appliqué. I now have a custom shirt that has my sun sign sewn on it.

Day of the Dead Party Skirt

I am not a big fan of wandering crowed shopping malls, looking in store windows at cheaply made, over priced clothing. Over the years I have grown tired of coming home, empty-handed, after hours of grumbling over the decline in western fashion. This is one of the reasons why for the last 30 years I have done the majority of my shopping out of second-hand stores.

I was given this skirt last year and it has sat in the back of a closet every since. It is covered in a delicate floral pattern.

This skirt came from a thrift shop

This short velvet skirt is also from a thrift shop

I loved this festive skull image, but the shirt it came off of was a 3X and did not fit me.

I cut the elastic band from the long black skirt, serged the raw edge, put in gathers and fitted it inside the skirt with the flowers.

The floral skirt has decorative cutouts with an underskirt that peeks through. The cotton lining had been washed so much that it had shrunk. I cut the underskirt out.

I cut the skull image out of the tee-shirt and appliquéd it onto a panel I had cut from the short black skirt. I attached the decorative panel onto the front of the other two skirts.

With the leftovers I made ties and attached them to the back of the skirt(s) .

Women’s aprons of the 1940’s are often covered in flowers, sweet little song birds and geometric designs. This skirt pays homage to the apron with a modern, slightly morbid flare.

Black Velvet Jacket

I have owned this dress for several years. It is dated, but I could not convince myself to throw it out.

Just last week I found another dress made out of the same fabric at a second hand shop for a quarter.

I removed the collar and cut the front open

Here is the collar. I used it later to make a loop and button closure.

I serged the raw edges. This gave the garment a finished look without hemming.

I used the other dress to make the sleeves.

Two part sleeve

Button closure with rosette

Fabric covered buttons

I finished this in time for the annual Mother Daughter Tea hosted by my mother-in-law. By-the-way, the total cost to make this jacket was $6.55