"Harsher punishment for parole violaters, Stan...and...world peace."

This year, I was flooded with Halloween costume orders on my Etsy store, just like last year-- except THIS time I was prepared. I stocked up on all the sewing essentials I knew that I would need, and started taking orders in September. I knew I would probably be sewing my butt off until the week before Halloween, so when my friend asked me if I would be willing to make her a special order costume, I was hesitant to add anything more to my plate. She insisted that she wouldn't need it until the day OF Halloween, so I finally agreed to do it. 

She wanted to be Miss Congeniality, from the cover picture on the DVD. That pink dress where she is wearing a sash and holding handcuffs and roses all nonchalantly. It seems funny to me that my friend had never been able to find a similar dress in a store or online, but she said she had looked high and low "forever." Maybe it's just so specific of a gown that it doesn't show up in retail often? I don't know. Anyhow, I started looking for patterns casually whenever I had to go to the fabric store for supplies, and eventually I stumbled across one that looked similar enough to the pink satin goal that is Sandra Bullock's cover gown. 

After finishing all of my store orders by the 27th of October, I began to tackle the pink dress and it turned out to be far more complicated than I thought it would be. I didn't realize it had this entire corset contraption underneath the lining of the dress, complete with interfacing and boning galore. Once zipped up, this dress wouldn't be going anywhere. 

Here's a picture of the inside nonsense once it was finished:

The dress also required a slit to be manufactured into its side, which the pattern did not include. My friend would be wearing this costume to work on Halloween, so it couldn't be quite as revealing as the original dress. I lowered the slit and built it into the right side seam. I'd never done a slit in a dress before, so it was a little tricky, since I had to put the slit into the lining as well, and then sew them together as neatly as possible. Wouldn't want the girl to look like a hussy. 

Anyhow, I was pretty happy with how the dress came together, considering it was unlike anything I've ever made before, and extremely fitted. I've made more corsets in my 25 years of life than I can count, but those are adjustable to size through laces-- this dress had to fit like a glove as is. 

I'm sure if I had to make this dress again, it would turn out more finished-looking, but for a first try, it ain't bad, I suppose. My friend loved it and looked adorable in it, so that's all that really matters. I also got it to her in the nick of time, so that's good too. 

She really is a funny girl.

Belle from Beauty and the Beast has always been my absolute favorite Disney princess. I mean, I love them all, but none can compare with the admiration I've felt for this brunette, bookworm of a girl that I was introduced to when Beauty and the Beast first debuted in kindergarten. And ever since kindergarten, I've sported a gold ballgown for Halloween at least...four times, I think? Could be five. I think I reused the same ballgown once or twice, although it may have gotten a bit shorter as the years advanced. 

Anyhow, this year I decided to go back to my roots and dress-up as Belle for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. As a Disney Cast Member, I am able to receive discounted tickets for my family and myself, so we're all going! Even my brother is flying in from California to take part in the spooky outing. 

I did, however, decide to shake it up with my Belle costume and go as "village Belle" in her blue dress this time instead of her yellow ballgown. I was also inspired by the version of the village look presented on ABC's Once Upon A Time, so I modeled my costume after that one. That costume utilized a three piece outfit, including a corset vest, which I thought would be flattering and French at the same time. Instead of brown trimming around the vest like in the show, I chose to use a wine colored trim instead. No reason really, other than I thought it looked prettier. I also made the blouse out of lace and cotton and full circle skirt out of bridal satin in a jewel blue tone. 

I'm extremely happy with how my costume turned out and I can't wait to wear it this coming Friday while I trick-or-treat in the Magic Kingdom with my family and fiancé! 

It is a fact universally acknowledged that tiny regency dresses areadorable.

Last week, I saw this adorable teal rose print in the store and fell in love with it. I didn't have a pattern that would suit the fabric, but I had been itching to try a regency era dress and I thought the fabric would be perfect for that style. The roses in the diamond pattern just looked so elegant. So I went ahead and just bought the fabric. My fabric stock continually grows because I am constantly spotting prints "for later." I am glad I found a use for at least one right away.

I found a beautiful pattern shop on Etsy and bought this lovely regency doll dress pattern. Heritage Doll Clothing has very well fitted, beautifully illustrated and explained patterns for historical dolls. I picked this specific pattern (there are a lot of great ones to choose from) because there were plenty of variations included-- different necklines, sleeve lengths, and hems. Also, it included a pattern for a "camisette" to wear under the gown, which I absolutely love because I personally don't like when you can see the American Girl Doll's "skin." So the camisette solves that problem, and looks absolutely adorable and is suited to the time period at the same time. 

I'm extremely pleased with how the dress turned out and how cute the fabric looks in this style. I already sold two of these dresses on my Etsy shop and I'm excited to find some other fabrics to try. :) 

This is a back view of the dress. 

This is the camisette. There are draw strings on the sides to pull it snug to the doll's body. 

Ties From a Different Dimension

A few weeks ago, I attempted my first necktie made from Star Wars licensed material. It was a teacher's appreciation gift for my boyfriend (excuse me, I mean fiancé now) since he started his first full-time teaching position this year.

He'd seen this blue Star Wars spacecraft blueprint material months ago when I used it to make a skirt for my Etsy shop, and he said he really wished he could have a tie made out of that fabric since he thought it looked "so cool." His words, not mine. At the time, I had no idea how to make a tie and I thought it would be extremely complicated for some reason. 

Turns out, it isn't complicated at all. It's a little time consuming since there is hand-sewing involved, but I actually love hand sewing and find it to be relaxing. 

When I googled how to make a tie, there were plenty of sewing tutorials to follow. The only materials needed are about half a yard of the print you want to use for the tie, half a yard of iron-on interfacing, and half a yard of the lining for the back of the tie. 

After I successfully completed and gifted the Star Wars tie to Mr. Fiancé, and he loved it, I made a second tie (this time Marvel Avengers themed) for my brother's birthday. It was even easier the second time around. Plus, now I have learned how to make another another item that I can add to my Etsy shop. :)

God Help The Outcasts

Ever since the Disney animated feature The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released in 1996, Esmeralda has been one of my favorite Disney characters of all time. My cousins, sisters, and I used to run around the backyard with remnants and scarves tied around our waists and in our hair, pretending to be gypsies on the run from the menacing Judge Claude Frollo. It was one of my favorite games-- and all inspired by one fiery, sassy, gorgeously animated gypsy.

It only makes sense that for one Halloween, my sister wanted to "officially" dress up as Esmeralda. I volunteered to help sew it, and between my mom and I and about four different patterns, we found the elements I needed to piece together to make Esmeralda's whole outfit: peasant blouse, teal corset, coined handkerchief, and a swirly twirly purple skirt. There is no point in a skirt if it doesn't whirl out when you spin, especially if you are a dancing gypsy.

I was pretty thrilled with how the costume turned out, overall. Between my sister and I, we've worn it for several Halloweens since its original debut. It's also a best seller in my Etsy shop, especially around October and convention times.

I'm just happy to know that there are so many other girls out there who like to play "gypsies." Esmeralda rocks.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho...

Every blog has to start somewhere, I suppose, and mine starts today with the random idea of "Hey, why don't I have a blog yet?" I have only been writing my entire life and even have an English degree to back it up. I figured it might be time to write about something that I love, and it just so happens than I love to sew. So, I'll be posting pictures of my current and past projects on here (some things I've made for my Etsy store, and some things just for fun).

I especially love this Elizabeth Swann dress that I made this past year for Halloween. I think the thing I love most about it is that I actually FINISHED it. I've had a love affair with Pirates of the Caribbean since the first movie was released and I've been holding onto a pattern for years for Elizabeth's gorgeous golden brocade dress from the beginning of The Curse of the Black Pearl. I think it took me so long to actually attack the project because I was intimidated by the amount of work it might develop into-- and I was afraid that my replica might not even hold a candle to the brilliant gown in the movie. I remember "oooing and ahhing" the second I saw Keira Knightly wear it on screen. I've always felt as though I were born in the wrong time period as far as clothing is concerned.

Anyhow, after I read the pattern a few times over, I decided that colonial finery was nothing I couldn't handle (slowly) and I started searching for the perfect material. This is one of my favorite aspects of sewing. I swear, sometimes I buy fabric before I even know what I'm going to make with it-- I just know I want to make SOMETHING with it, eventually. I've developed quite a stock pile.

After unsuccessfully scouring the store for quite a while for this gold brocade that I had specifically pictured in my mind, I was beginning to think that this dress was a no-go. Then one afternoon, my mom called me from Joanne's and said she was looking right at a bolt of four and a half yards of golden brocade in the red tag section. I was like "Are you serious?" And she's like "I'm totally serious." Fabric miracle. I knew then that the dress must be made, and in time to wear it to the huge Halloween bash at work with my boyfriend.

I think it took me a week from start to finish to complete the costume. It's got an underskirt made of muslin, and the overskirt and bodice are a separate piece. Altogether, the whole outfit must be at least twenty pounds of fabric, lace, and boning, but the weight makes me feel more authentic when I'm wearing it. After all, what fashionable colonial girl wore comfortable clothing?

For the Halloween party, I excitedly paired it with the replica Aztec treasure necklace that I've had since I was fifteen. The dress was an absolute blast to wear and I'm so thrilled that I finally accomplished it when I thought I wouldn't be able to. Almost everyone knew who I was supposed to be, although one jerk asked if I was Marie Antoinette. Whatever. Can't win them all. :)