sewing

Destruction

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First off, I plan to be around a bit more.  Today was the official First Day of being self-employed full-time–no more part time gig to fall back on!  No more hours spent doing things that are, quite frankly, deadly dull.  No more wishing I was home, sewing.

Now for the panic.

Noooo.  I’ll be fine.  Pass me that paper bag, would ya?

I’ve been sewing, tearing, ripping, painting and dyeing my little heart out for the past week.  I’m working on costumes for an upcoming Halloween shoot with AHB Hair and Make up.  We shoot Thursday!

First up, Voodoo Queen from the swamp.  I first made a beautiful gown and underskirt–mismatched on purpose, as a voodoo queen living in the swamp probably doesn’t buy matching gowns.  In fact, she probably takes what she can get.  So, after sewing it all up, brand new and lovely, it looked like this:

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The material for the overdress is actually a home decor fabric that I’ve been hoarding for years.  I purchased it with the express intent of making this very type of dress.  The tatted apron/draped portion of the skirt was made by my grandmother.  It’s stained and torn, but I’ve kept it around, knowing I’d come up with something some day to do with it–and that day finally came!

Since this character lives in the swamp….well, she couldn’t be too clean, could she?  So, it was with an aching heart (and, lets be honest, a little bit of glee) that I set to the dress with dye, fabric paint, scissors and a cheese grater.  Hours later:

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I’m extremely proud of the outcome.  I’d have to put this in my top 5 favorites of all time that I’ve created.  I really cannot wait for the shoot!

I still have some accessories to create–some necklaces and hair bits.

This will be up for sale after the shoot, and I’ll be offering it as a custom order, as well (though I’ll never be able to re-create it exactly).

What do you think?

From Under a Stack of Fabric

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Well, there went a couple weeks of silence. 
Time got away from me, lots of orders in, lots of hours at the part time gig, lots of excuses and forgetting. 

I’ve been working on a LOT of really fun costumes and outfits, and I wish I’d thought to, oh, I don’t know, take pictures of it all.  Alas, while I have a few to share, they don’t represent even the scantest of hints of what I’ve been doing.

So, without further ado:

A couple of my cincher skirts made their way to the NOLA Red Dress Run:

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I finally finished the Doctor Who-inspired Victorian costume, inspired by this:

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My version (which, in total honesty?  I wanted to keep so bad–that jacket is really lovely, despite it looking rather lumpy on my broken-and-too-small-dress-form):

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I even made the decorative frogs–which was a learning experience in itself, trust me:

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A dress for a friend, who will be wearing it out this weekend to a concert:

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Bunches of other items were made (Alice dresses, Wendy dresses, cincher skirts, leggings, collars….):

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One customer requested pink and orange leggings–an excuse for me to order extra and (eventually) make some for the shop:

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Some knitting was done in the evenings (as I decompressed and watched terrible old movies):

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I found some AMAZING fabric that I’m WAY too excited about….and totally want to make halter dresses out of, for some reason:

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I have a lot of stock that needs to be photographed and listed, but finding the time to do so has been a bit difficult:

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Today I’m working on another Doctor Who-inspired piece (though this one from Tennant’s era):

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And I’m starting to get ready for the Halloween rush–getting prepared, getting organized, getting supplies. 

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Getting ideas together for a Halloween shoot that I’m pretty excited about….

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And…..tossing around the idea of doing a runway show in October–Halloween focused, of course.  Because I’m insane and apparently intend to remain so.

TnT Tuesday

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This slinky number was made specifically for a photo shoot.

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I have to admit, it’s a little sexier than I normally go for.

I’m kind of a costume nerdy girl…..more Helena Bonham Carter in regular life than Victoria Beckham.

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So, I went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth on the neckline.

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I did compromise a wee bit–the original idea was for it to be cut to the navel….

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I used the dress in my RAW runway show, too.

And, WOWZA, Mary brought that baby to LIFE.

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I recently listed it in the shop.  (yes, it’s been cleaned)

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The belt is part of the sale–it’s actually made from a re-purposed leather purse strap.

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I hope to make more of these in other colors and fabrics.

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One of these days….

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You can find the dress here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/156283125/dress-brown-dress-womens-dress-pinstripe?ref=shop_home_active

Modeled by:

— LouAnn Eads

–Mary Andrus

Images featuring LouAnn photographed by:  Gustavo Escanelle

This Week

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Happy 4th of July!

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I’m celebrating by working. 😉  Gotta grab the time when you can.

I’m cutting out a pretty cool costume, actually.  I have the awesome task of making this costume:

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Into a women’s version!  So cool!

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Blueberries were out this week at my grandfathers–yum!  I froze these babies, and have been nibbling on them periodically, savoring and saving them as long as possible.

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Some leggings went out early this week.

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Over the past weekend I got the urge to paint–I do this every once in awhile.

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I’m never as happy with the outcome as I want to be, but I love the process.

I have a whole haunted theme going, and a few paintings to complete.  Two are in various stages of completion right now, none are completely done.

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I reorganized my pens/pencils/markers.  I’m a little too pleased by it.

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Hope you’re enjoying a lovely day off.  If only a BBQ were in my future….sadly, the husband was called out to a job yesterday and will most likely be gone through the weekend.  And the kitties don’t grill.

This Week

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I received a surprising influx of hours at my part time gig this week (going from the normal10 hours to 21 hours), so I’ve been running around like a crazy person this week, trying to stay on top of it all.  The fact that my shift starts at 5am hasn’t been helping.  A 4am wake up call isn’t my idea of a good time.

Now that the week is coming to a close, I feel like I’m getting a little more sure-footed.  Next week looks to be just as challenging, so I’m thinking of ways to streamline my week days.

Still, I managed to finish up a few projects and start work on others.

Sneak peek behind the scense from a shoot that features my clothing:

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A new shipment of striped fabric (for leggings) arrived.  I ordered some narrower stripes along with the ol’ stand-bys this time around–excited to see how those work for the leggings.

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Found some irresistable notecards.

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Got word back on that Kahlan costume–the bustier looks SO AMAZING!!  Happy customer and happy designer!

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Finished up the burlesque bustier and ruffled shorts.  The bustier has a seperating zipper front for the closure.  I do believe I’ll be offering this option in the shop soon!  It turned out really well.  Hope I get final pictures from my client….

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A snake poked it’s head out to say hello at my husband’s office.  I wanted to pick it up, but figured it was best for both the snake and myself if I didn’t.

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The sky driving across the 24 mile Causeway bridge this past Saturday.

There was more, but I’m still getting used to remembering to snap pictures.  I’ll get it someday!

TnT Tuesday

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I know I featured a bustier in the last couple of weeks, but I have to tell you–

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this is my second favorite bustier of all time.

Repurposed from a t-shirt.  Fully lined in heavy cotton twill.  Grommeted back.

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I won’t lie–it’s been in the shop for awhile.  A few years, actually.

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I always wonder WHY.  I just think it’s so cool.

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If it fit me, trust me, I’d keep it.

I really love that image, the color, the texture of a well-worn t-shirt….

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You can find it here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/26095757/bustier-top-t-shirt-bustier-purple?ref=shop_home_active

Images featuring a model:

Photographer:  Underexposed Photography  http://www.facebook.com/brittsmithart
Model:  Hillary Nelson  http://www.modelmayhem.com/2560745

TnT Tuesday

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Today I’m sharing one of my favorite tunic dresses from my shop.

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I had *just* enough of this fabric to make this one dress.

I’d purchased the fabric eons ago as a remnant and could never quite figure out what to do with it.

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Then, I was preparing for my runway show a few months ago.  I had hit that place, that place where I’d completely lost my vision and couldn’t figure out WHAT I was doing.

I started scrambling about, making random boho-style things, because that was the style I was really feeling at the time.

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And, out popped this beauty.  I originally intended to include this in the show itself.  But that was in the haze of doubt and confusion.

As much as I love the tunic, it didn’t belong in THAT show.  And, so, it wasn’t included.

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I’m a layering kind of girl, so I love it layered with a tank top, and over jeans.

Don’t get me wrong–it’s cute alone, too.

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You can find the listing here, in my shop:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/127897194/tunic-tunic-dress-tunic-floral-dress?ref=shop_home_feat

Modeled by the gorgeous Hannah (www.modelmayhem.com/795520).

Images featuring her hair up:  Hair and Make Up by Amanda Bravender
For inquiries: www.ahbweddingandevents.com

This Week

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What I’ve been working on this week:

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A full Kahlan, Mother Confessor replica.  This includes the full overdress (done), a long skirt (done) and a custom bustier (in progress).

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First time through for the bustier–I’ve draped the pattern, altered it, and am now sewing it up.  I’m working with a faux leather (yes, I know, but it sure does keep the cost down, and until I have an actual LEATHER MACHINE, I’ll be working in pleather) and cotton twill.  I’m excited for the end product–just have to remember to keep good notes, as I do plan to offer this in the shop after this project is complete.

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Beginnings of a bustier and ruffle bloomer look for a burlesque number.

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Which meant a trial run for some boy shorts–these will be altered, but I kind of love this cut and am thinking of offering these in the shop soon, too.  Just need to do a fitting on a model first.

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Shipping completed items out every couple of days.

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And getting a package returned to me from the post office.  Apparently the large envelopes I’ve been using for over 2 years as a flat rate are NOT ACTUALLY FLAT RATE.  But, somehow, no one ever picked up on this.  *sigh*  So, until I get myself a postal scale, I’ll be taking the long way round and bringing all my packages to the post office, paying there, and coming home to note down how much certain things weigh so that the NEXT TIME I can just prepay.

Eep

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Business has picked way up in the last couple of weeks, and I’ve been sewing my fingers to the bone (when I’m not working the part time job, getting the Spring garden up and running, cooking yummy meals, sleeping, or explaining to the kitties I just can’t play right now).

Just popped in to share these two glorious images from my recent runway show.  Chip Kennedy is the photographer.

Here is Mary Andrus:

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And here is NancyJane:

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I’m in love!

Swing of Things

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Sorry for the silence this week.  I’ve been busy settling back into the regular routine.

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Custom orders are rolling in again.

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Ideas are bouncing around my head at all hours.  (but that’s nothing new)

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I listed a few new items in my shop, including the giraffe print tunic that I mentioned awhile back.  (you can find it here, in my shop:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/126929190/tunic-tunic-dress-tunic-pink-dress-pink?ref=shop_home_active)

I have a shoot this upcoming Monday, and am looking forward to playing dress up with two fabulous models (who also happen to be sisters) as well as spending some time with an amazing local MUA and hairstylist.

Reflecting a bit and re-grouping.  Trying to gain focus again.  I feel I lost my focus a wee bit in all the craziness of the show prep.  Needing to remind myself of my vision and my goals–and understanding that just because they are different than what people may think they should be, they’re still valid–and, best of all, they’re mine.

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Have a beautiful weekend!