Fancy Ruffle Dress

I had a new request from a client, she likes to force me outside my box ;). She requested a fancy ruffled purple dress. This dress is 8 yards of fabric, nearly as much as Princess Beauty. All the rows I gathered up were over 200 feet long, it was quite the project but I learned a few tricks and I think it turned out great!

I had to stop and take a picture of all the ruffles taking over my machine!

Painting the roses yellow

This Princess Beauty order came with a couple of tweaks. The client asked for the roses and gems to be a darker yellow, like the dress. At first I said the roses couldn't be a darker color, the store has a limited selection. Then it occurred to me, the store has spray paint. I can make them any color I want. They look great and came out really close to the dress color.With the gems in yellow the bling on the shoulder sway is more subtle, and comes off softer. 

Mermaid & Wendy

 Another sweet mermaid, headed off to New York. 

I hope it's recipient as well as everyone else in New York and New Jersey are doing well after the storm.

 The client asked for "sleeves", she is a more mature Princess and likes some upper arm coverage.

 

A year ago this client asked if I could make shoes to match the fin. I said no. Then I found Pinterest, and a tutorial on how to ModPodge fabric to shoes. Outdoor ModPodge makes the shoes suitable for use in various conditions but I wouldn't recommend wearing them in lots of rain or snow. So now the answer is yes! I can make shoes to match the mermaid fin, or any other dress for that matter.

This little Darling gets more inquiries than any other dress. 

The dress will be seen on a high school stage in West Virginia in a production of Peter Pan.

 

Getting into the groove

The first few times I make a costume, it's definitely an experiment. I'm trying out fabrics, making a pattern, and figuring out just what people are interested in having.

This dress is the same fabric and color as the above dress, my camera and flash just made it look different.

This client liked the "stripe" around the bottom, but wanted it in a darker color instead of lighter color. It stands out much better in person.

The Medieval Princess will be $325 in the teal fabric. With the "stripe" around the bottom added in either the lighter or darker color it will be $360. With both the "stripe around the bottom and the bulls eye on the sleeve it will be $375. It can accommodate a slightly full a-line slip which is not included but can be added for $30.

Halloween for Jack-Jack

I decided Jack-Jack is going to Halloween as a My Little Pony. They were a favorite of mine when I was little and my girls love them now. I chose one of the newer characters, Twilight Sparkle.

Now that all my girls are taken care of it's back to work big time!

Halloween Costumes

I don't get too many requests for Halloween costumes, my prices aren't wear it once friendly and that's ok. I do get requests from my kids and one niece every year, it's usually fun what they throw at me to make. My niece found a picture online she loved and I made my own version of Wonder Woman.

My 11yr old graciously tried it on, she's not quite the same size as her cousin but she's close enough.

My 8 yr old discovered Sailor Moon, and chose Sailor Uranus as her costume.

We're going to go boot and glove shopping this weekend to complete her look!

I ended up with a cancellation this week which gave me time to make these. I'm also planning on finishing my other projects in the works early too!

Sewing for guys

Usually when I sew for men it's costumes for theater. this week it was for my cousin's wedding. I have to admit I completely underestimated this project. I was thinking, oh, it's just vests, no big deal. They weren't a big deal but they took more time than I expected all the same!

A work in progress

My girls have a lot of faith in my sewing skills, a LOT. My 11 yr old picked out this outfit from a cartoon and requested it. It's Bloom from Winx in her Sirenex/Harmonix outfit.

 

Here's what we have so far.

We're getting fishnet tights from the Halloween store once it opens and I will be sewing ribbons to them for the leg portion of the costume. She has a pair of wings picked out we need to order and we're going to spray paint the crown to match the outfit too. I'll be sure to post more pictures once it's done!

Fin Mermaid

This little mermaid has been delayed at my house, Las Vegas got some rain today and the subsequent flooding sent my day different directions then I planned.

She will be off first thing tomorrow and I will hopefully be able to get to the stores I need for my next project!

Getting Brave

I finished up my second shot at the newest Princess in the line up yesterday. I wasn't sure about the fabric at first, the client sent it, it wasn't something I'd worked with much and presented a few new challenges but it turned out. This dress is styled closer to the dress worn at the theme parks.

The client also requested a slip to go underneath, it gives the dress a nice fullness.

This version of the Medieval Princess is $375, without the slip. The slip is an additional $30.

The other version can be seen here 

In other news I am accepting new orders. 

I will be shipping every two weeks instead of every week starting Sept. 11th.

Fancy Rapunzel

In the never ending search to improve my costumes I found a different fabric for the insert on Rapunzel's skirt and flowers for the center split.

 

This went to Australia along with the other dresses. I'm anxiously waiting pictures of the princesses together.

Princess Beauty

Another dress for Australia, it's always nice when a dress turns out just the way you planned it.

The Fairest of them All

Growing up Snow White wasn't really a favorite of mine. I'm not sure why not, maybe I didn't see it as much as the other movies? Now I love the bright, cheerful colors and the wonderful contrast presented in this costume.

I discovered when making this dress that the trim I used to use on the neckline has been discontinued, I found something else that will work for now and I'll keep looking for something sparkly blue and gold. I'm halfway finished with this shipment and trying to stay on track, sometimes summertime just has too many distractions!

Post Baby Sucess!!

I finally finished something!! Getting into a new routine has taken quite a lot of time and so did this dress but I finished it. I have 3 other dresses in various phases of completion that will be shipped along with this one. Hopefully I can get them finished in a timely manner, they're due to ship July 31st.

The Brave Archer

This is my first try at the newest Princess. It turned out ok, there are a few things I'll change for next time. This dress is styled more like the dress worn in the movie.

This version of the Medieval Princess is $325

Repurposing Special Memories

This is the final phase of my wedding dress. It's a little bitter sweet but the baby girl I made it for will be carrying my name (as her middle name) and that makes it a little bit sweeter. Little Miss will be blessed in Utah later this month, but this dress goes out in the post tomorrow!

I used new fabrics for the entire dress, but the appliques and beads are from the original dress I was married in. My BFF from high school was married in the same dress and that is why I made her this dress for her little girl.

 

 Front                                     Back

 Jack-Jack wasn't the most willing model, but she sure looks pretty!

 Applique headband

 

 Barefoot sandals

 Here are the other pictures of what I made out of my dress. 

(Both girls are wearing the same dress.)
The boy blessing outfit was for Little Miss' big brother.