Photobucket

Friday, October 28, 2011

Wearable Art

A couple weeks ago I participated in the Textile Art Alliance Wearable Art Fashion Show and Boutique. Say that five times fast without passing out! It is a fundraiser to get more textile related pieces into the Cleveland Museum of Art, a worthy cause I believe. I was able to open a small boutique at the show in hopes of selling a few items.

I think my favorite part of the show was preparing for it.
 I turned my garage into a studio, which was really fun. I've been spending a lot of time in there recently. Anywho, the door came from my parent's house. My dad and I were brainstorming and he came up with the idea to turn it into a display fixture. It worked perfectly! After dad made the stand and got the pegs to stay in the front, my boyfriend and I used masking tape and silver spray paint to give it a little more dimension (not shown in this photo). It looked really cool and I got compliments on it at the show!

My boutique:
Mom came with me; she's an excellent talking and I was totally banking on her gift of gab:) The green dress on the left is hanging on the door with some vest and skirts and other dresses... the door just didn't completely make it into the shot. I took some dresses I had from various shows (I wasn't really expecting to sell those), a couple vests (I sold a lacey one!), a couple skirts, those awesome screen printed messenger bags (which will be going up on my etsy) and some elastic belts with decorative 'buckles' that I believe deserve their own post. I only sold the one vest but I did get leads on shows that would be more appropriate for my audience.

The fashion show itself was an emotional roller coaster. Most of the other artists in the show had pieces that were felted, dyed, knit, or other very soft fiber arts kinds of things, and I entered my pop can dress. At the start of the show I was so terrified of what the response would be to something SO DEVASTATINGLY OPPOSITE of what everyone else had entered. BUT! My dress came out on the runway, and it received the most excited reaction of any piece in the show. It felt amazing. If I can figure out how to get that video up here I will post it. After the show/lunch we went back to the boutique and I got so many wonderful compliments on my dress. It made the day totally worth it. Mom and I had fun, I have leads on more appropriate shows, I sold a vest, and a few people actually tried on the pop can dress! It was a good experience and I'm excited to try more shows in the future.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Am I here?

Yes! I am! Long time no post!

I think part of the lack of posts has to do with me never catching up on my MMJ photos. I kept repeating pieces in only slight variations and just had difficulties getting in front of the camera. But I was pretty successful for my first go around.


As of right now I have a lot of stuff going on. I am taking part of the Textile Art Alliance Wearable Art Fashion Show with the Cleveland Museum of Art in October. I get to set up a boutique at the show to sell some of my pieces! So I'm sewing a lot for that, be prepared for *hopefully* a lot of pictures! Also, I'm working on a last minute Renaissance Fair costume for my boyfriend. It's pretty interesting because I've never actually done any menswear. Or anything for a Ren Fair at that. And I get to sew some school dresses for my little cousin:)

So that's my life update in sewing terms. Hopefully you'll be hearing more from me soon!


Saturday, June 18, 2011

Me Made June Days 10, 11, 12 and 13!

You weren't expecting an update so soon were ya! I have all these photos that are just begging to be shown! Mostly because I like the outfits I wore the 14th and 15th a lot... so I have to get through all the fluff to get there! So here's the fluff!

Day 10
My first re-wear! But I wore it much cuter this day. My dad bought those beads for me on my parent's last vacation and I find myself wearing them with almost everything. And the dress is still comfortable and cute, I'm not sure if it actually goes with the blue sweater but it works.

Me Made Dress
Day 11 (a)

I worked this Saturday! So I had to feel put together. I wore my brown jersey dress, which came into being just before the month started. I'm glad it did because it's comfortable and feels nice to just slip on something easy and still look put together. I used the belt from a vintage dress.

Me Made Dress
Day 11 (b)
Now for a different look! I went out with some friends and wanted to wear this skirt I made last month. It's out of some upholstery suede and cotton, so washing it has proved challenging... Febreeze and spot cleaning anyone? Apart from the waist being about a smidge too small I like it! And it has pockets, so I don't need to carry a purse! I should probably get a better picture of the skirt because I really like the pleats and pockets and waistband in the front.

Me Made Skirt

Day 12

Sunday! I taught my Sunday School Class, and a long dress is usually a good thing to do that in. Unless it's a windy day and you're trying to push kids on a tire swing. I had to hold the skirt with one hand and push the kids with the other haha. This dress dates back to my second to last quarter of school. I finished my draping II copy with two and a half weeks left of the quarter so I decided to start another one. This one using a much less expensive polyester chiffon. I finally officially finished this last June, to wear to my grad party. I have been wearing it a lot lately, it's a really good dress for work. And I don't know why I look so grumpy.

Me Made Dress

Day 13
One of my absolutely favorite pieces. I started this last August with the intention of being able to wear in it Paris in September.  I just got totally swamped with packing and other stuff that I know I completely forget that I wasn't able to finish it. Believe me when I say this though, I DREAMED about this dress in Paris. I was sad that this was sitting at home as a UFO instead of being worn on my many trips around the city seeing stuff and eating more stuff. I finished it as soon as I could once I made it back home. This dress was also on of my first attempts at screen printing and using the screen print in the design and idea of the garment.

Me Made (and printed!) Dress

And that's that:)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Me-Made Update!

I am officially not very good at getting pictures of myself. I don't blame me, I blame the sun. It always seems to have set by the time I remember to get a picture and as bad as I am as getting the picture done OUTSIDE, it only gets worse INSIDE. That being said, I just managed to get pictures of the past eleven days worth of outfits. And now you may see four.

Day Six
I honestly have no idea what went on this day, but I do know I wore my bermudas! Something I made with a crotch seam! WOOHOO! I found the fabric in New York in March, and I decided that something needed to be done with it Alas, bermudas. They're a little worn... apparently the washing machine is not the best place for silk, haha. 

Me Made Bermudas


 Day Seven

Another day of babysitting, another comfortable outfit. You're going to see this skirt a few times (3 that I know of at the time being.) It's comfortable and I like it.

Me Made Skirt
 Day Eight- Outfit 1
I found this skirt while cleaning out my fabric bins! So double win, I purged some old fabric and found a skirt. I made this skirt a few years back with the intention of selling it on Etsy. We see how well that turned out.
Me Made Wrap Skirt
 Day Eight- Outfit 2

My dad, nephew and I went to a Mud Hens baseball game in the evening.  I wanted something super comfortable to wear so I whipped up this dress while I was babysitting. (My niece and nephew seemed pretty in to watching me create it so I was NOT neglecting my duties!) The game was fun and I was comfortable:)
Me Made Dress
 Day Nine

A new thing for me this year- wearing shorts. I have this pair of Old Navy shorts that I always put on, think they're way too short and tight, but end up wearing them all day because HEY! It was hot and they stay pretty cool. I made this blouse during my first quarter of college. We had to make a blouse from a pattern so the school could see that we knew how to sew. I used some random fabric from my house and it has bright orange buttons! I'm surprised how much wear I've actually gotten out of it.

And that's my update. Much more to come:)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Me-Made-June Days 2, 3, 4 and 5

Wow! I didn't realize how difficult it would be to get a picture of myself each day of the month. I ended up recreating my last four days worth of outfits today so I could take pictures, but I promise what you see in the picture is what I wore that day!

Day 2
This was my second day of babysitting and after the first one I knew I needed to stay comfortable. I decided to throw on this top with some jeans. I whipped up this top at the end of May because I knew I needed some easier to wear items for my babysitting days. I used a t-shirt of mine to create the pattern.


Day 2- Me-Made Jersey Top




Day 3
This was another day comfort was pretty key. I went ice skating! So I popped on this shirt I redesigned a little while back. It's a 1x shirt from JCP that I cut in half, added a 3" elastic waist, and screen printed one of my cute little sailboats near the hem.

In the late afternoon I got ready for the events for the night and changed into my gray zebra printed dress. Friday was somewhere lovely and nice around 75 degrees so I wore a sweater and my beads! I went to a gallery opening, Boogie on Main, and out to Logan's that night and my outfit worked well for everything!
Day 3(a)- Me-Redesigned Top

Day 3(b)- Me-Made Dress

Day 3(b)- Me-Made Dress (ps. pockets)
 Day 4

I had to work in the morning on Saturday. This is not a true representation of how I wore this dress to work that morning. It was a strapless dress at that point and I had to wear a shirt underneath to account for dress codes. Also, the top did NOT want to stay up so I used the scarf in my hair as a makeshift halter strap.
After work I came home and sewed the buttoned straps on and got rid of the t-shirt. I think this dress is so much more wearable now! The only problem is that I used a pattern (I'm going to guess a Simplicity) on this back in college and it doesn't fit my tush, my tush sits a lot lower than the pattern calls for. I wore this for a grad party, a benefit, and dinner and a movie date:)
Day 4- Me-Made Dress (ps. POCKETS!)
 Day 5
Today! (technically yesterday, it IS 1:08am) I made this dress during my senior year of high school. I bought the fabric during a class field trip to Virginia Marti College of Art and Design. I decided it seemed fitting to make a dress from the fabric for my interview at the college a year later! I used a pattern on this one as well, I believe it was a McCall's. I love how I styled it today, sometimes I kind of look like some kind of nurse or grandma. But I felt nice in it today:)
Day 5- Me-Made Dress

Day 5- Me-Made Dress

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

ME MADE JUNE DAY ONE!!!

WooHoo! It's finally here! Me Made June! Let's just get to this... Here's my outfit!
Skirt- Mine!




I made this skirt a long time ago. Like back in high school a long time ago. But I still like it because it's really comfortable and easy to wear and I've been babysitting full days so comfort is key!

Also, we got out the slip and slide so I wore my swimsuit I made last summer! I don't have pictures of that one though:/

Well, that was a successful first me made day!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Pictures as Promised!

I promised a while back that I would post some pictures of stuff I've been working on! I now have pictures of one of the prom dresses of the season:)



I had lots of fun working with my friend on her dress. It started with us needing to find a fun print, and me deciding that these peacock printed sheets from JCPenney would work pretty well. And they did! Her other requests were an open back and sparkles! It only took about 2 fittings to get the straps to stay up and to get the fit just right. The sequins and beading on the bodice and straps took somewhere around 25 hours to complete. (I love doing that kind of hand work!) And BONUS! There's a pocket.

And don't they look cute together??? :D

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

A Lazy Day Turned Great

I posted a few hours back saying how my feet were cold and I didn't feel like sewing just yet. since then, I have finished a skirt and started another project.



I made a pair of striped Bermuda shorts sometime last week, still don't have pictures, but I really like the pattern I created for them. I usually have a lot of difficulties drafting pants patterns. I like it enough that I knew I would need to use it quite a few times, SO I'm making some denim Bermudas! Denim!  had the perfect sized cut of dark, slighty stretch denim in my stash. And I'm topstitching and putting in a fly (it may be a mock fly) but still they're kind of a new thing for me. I can't wait to finished them, but I need more topstitching gold thread and it's 11:30 at night and the store is closed... :/ So they should be finished tomorrow!:D
It's already May 17th and I'm not entirely sure I have enough Me-Made things to make it through next month! And sitting here playing on the internet because my feet are cold and I don't fell like sewing just yet is not very productive. But alas, I shall sew! Pictures soon!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Progress Report

I don't have pictures of anything at the moment so this is just my little update.

I finished one prom dress a few weeks ago and my friend's prom is this weekend (tomorrow to be exact!) so I should have some pictures to share soon. Her theme was Jungle, and the dress is quite fitting to that. I'll keep you waiting for more:)

My other prom dress is shaping up, it needs a small alteration, a zipper and some beading and it'll be all ready for her prom next Saturday! And she tried it on the other day and loved it (which makes me feel awesome!)

I took a small break from dresses and drafted myself a pair of bermudas. I was really sad looking at all my beautiful fabrics I bought in NYC and knowing I haven't been able to use any of them, so I have shorts! But the kind of shorts I can wear to work, which is very useful. I normally don't like to wear shorts or capris, so I surprised myself when I started loving the bermuda length. They are very comfortable and I know I will be using my pattern over and over again, and hopefully soon because I need a few more things to wear for Me-Made-June!

So that's pretty much life right now, like I said, pictures will follow I just don't happen to have them yet!

Friday, April 29, 2011

More cute things:)

Recently I was commissioned to make 3 nightgowns and 3 party dresses for the dolls of 3 granddaughters of a very nice grandmother. The specifics were merely that the nightgowns were to be more like the historical doll nightgowns, the party dresses needed to sparkle, and she wanted the garments to match the girls' favorite colors.

The lace was a last minute decision, and I'm glad I added it!


This is by far my favorite nightgown. It's kind of hard to see but the bodice is covered in lace. I just wanted to hold my Bitty Baby like a real little baby, she's so cute!



And the party dresses:
This fabric was pretty cool, it was slightly tie-dye (not ombre because the effect was more sporadic) and the sparkles were little piece of metal, not just sparkles. My needle almost broke a few times trying to get over them, but it's really cute

Please excuse the poor little baby's toes... She fell victim of one of our dogs from years gone by... she normally tries to wear tights to keep her little almost piggies hidden.

And my favorite party dress, I love the sparkles on the fabric! And there are still sparkles floating around my sewing room, and ironing board, and house...
I really like making the little dolls clothes, I get to pattern and fit and sew a new design, and it takes minimal time and fabric!

Which outfit is your favorite?

Me-Made-June '11

I, Becky from imakebeautifulthings.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-June '11. I endeavor to wear at least one self made garment or accessory each day for the duration of June 2011.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

In case you were wondering...

I did indeed finish that doll clothes collection I mentioned a while ago. It helped raise some good money to help the Lupus Foundation, and the winner of the silent auction basket just happened to be my niece:) Of course she had at least four grown-ups bidding for her (since she wasn't allowed to be there). And here are the results:

Lydia is modeling the basics- a nice yellow t-shirt, a topstitched denim skirt and a pair of brown leggings. Accessorized with leopard print shoes and a beaded necklace

Lindsay is wearing my favorite outfit, a lined, printed cotton dress and shrug with metallic gold threads.

One of my niece's designs, worn by Addy,  features a square neckline and a printed waistband.She's accessorizing with a floral, elastic headband.

Kit is rockin' the jeans. I vowed that the collection needed some jeans; I remember always searching for jeans for my dolls to wear with all of their pretty shirts.

This is the same shirt as above, also inspired by my nieces designs, worn with a printed, lined and tiered skirt. 


I also included a garment bag made from a very bright floral and polka dotted quilted fabric and a small matching pouch for all of the accessories.

Awesome news from this: I got a call today about making some more :)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Tuesday Night

Well, yesterday I did something I don't usually do. I paid FULL PRICE for a pair of pants. But they're wonderful and they go with my sweater so :P haha.

Anyways, the doggie coats are done! And they look pretty adorable! They were just picked up and they were very loved! I don't have pictures of the scotties in their coats but I do have pictures of the coats!

One for each Scotty girl in each school theme

My signed graduation dog modeling one coat

And the back!

Schools being proudly displayed


I must say, these were a hoot from the beginning, I never really thought I'd be making dog coats but they are cute and pretty simple.. the embroidery and iron-on transfers gave me the most grief. And it was the first time I've worked with nylon rip-stop fabric, which was interesting, but I think the fleece lining gives them nice shape.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Lots of things on the chopping block right now! A wedding dress, a prom dress, four doggie coats and stuff just for me to sell:) Working hard!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

I smell a collection coming on!

An American Girl Doll collection. It's all going to be put in a basket and auctioned off at the Lupus foundations Dueling Pianos fundraiser on March 5th!

Fabric, notions and sketches!




I must give credit where credit is due: My niece gave me two pages of idea sketches that I took to heart and made the basis of the collection, and my nephew said there should be monkeys:)

Dueling Pianos facebook page! Read up! It's going to be awesome!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

VMCAD Shout Out!

My dress was on the news:) As well as other awesome VMCAD people and their works of awesome:)

Local Students Designing Red Carpet Fashion - WJW

(^that's a link to the video)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

More dresses!


The soda can dress has been submitted to the eco-show! I went to Cleveland on Wednesday and Thursday to drop it off and decided that I may as well add another piece to the line-up... Soooo... I stayed at the school for 9 or 10 hours, with the exception of a Mexican lunch at El Jalapeno with some friends:)

And here is the result:
(front)
(back)

This dress came about with some help from the VMCAD archives. I used some old, used couch upholstery trim for the weaving on the side and the strap, the lace on the swoop is vintage trim from the archives, and the rest of the fabric and notions came from the sewing lab bins! 8ish hours of work total and cost nothing! 

I decided that since model fittings are not scheduled until sometime this week I could put together another look. So I did! With the help of not working today haha:

(front...obviously)

(back)
 This was supposed to be much more elaborate and decorated than it is. I was planning on covering all of the green in one form of plastic bag "origami" if you will. But as it turns out I really liked the green fabric- which I rescued from the lab when I was still in school.. it was never going to be used if I didn't take it! I didn't feel like the whole dress needed covered so I just used some plastic bag braids to dress up the top and a plastic flower at the waist, because it's pretty.

So needless to say, I've been sewing (and driving) a lot this week and it has been wonderful!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

It's (basically) FINISHED!

Ready for the reveal? OK! here it goes:

Me hamming it up (and yes, I have been watching an ANTM marathon all afternoon)

The back!

So it's done for now, I'm going to add something wonderful to either the shoulder or a hair piece or hat or something because I have a lot of pop can parts left over! 


Wednesday, February 2, 2011

And all during a snowstorm:

I have a habit of sewing during snowstorms. I hand beaded about 2000 beads onto a bag my sophomore year of high school while the power was out one January. This time around (with power though!) I got the base, bodice, and about a quarter of my recycled dress finished!




1 bedsheet, 1 bridesmaids dress, 3 JCPenney shopping bags, and about 27 pop cans later I have this!

Now I have to cut up a bunch more pop cans... Wish me luck!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011



I'm working on my stuff for the eco-friendly fashion show in Cleveland!

(ps... still working on a name for this blog thing)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Going Green!

And it's going to be fun!

http://www.thegreendream.org/gd/gala/

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Sewing with Mom!

I spent this morning/afternoon (considering I woke up around 11:30) with my mom sewing "bereavement bags."

(this is a bereavement bag)

I think it's be more fitting to call it an envelope but regardless of name it gets filled with pamphlets and papers about mourning and loss and how to cope with all of it. They are given to people (by a group my mom volunteers with) after the loss of a loved one. 

And when I say mom and I did this, it's true! We both had a hand in cutting and sewing! I told Mom that I'm going to teach her how to sew and we're going to do all kinds of crazy things together.

A work in progress... 7 down and 41 to go!