Valentine's Minnie/Mickey Ears

Now available in my etsy shop.  I made a pair of Minnie/Mickey Ears just in time for Valentine's day.  They are red sequined with a little rhinestone bling.

Enjoy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Jeannine

1930s Button Dress-Tropical Style

I made this 1930s style dress this past week.  I saw The American Duchess' version of the dress and fell in love with it. Had to have the pattern!

This is the pattern from Decades of Style. It is a 1930s dress that has been sized for modern bodies.

I used a tropical print in  a cotton fabric for this first try of the pattern.

I'm not completely happy with some of the styling.  The neck is too high for my comfort.  I like a scoopier neck.

And the curved waistline in the front seems like it should be higher, closer to the bust. I may even go down one size when I make the dress a second time.

Overall I am still happy with the pattern.

And how fabulous are these shoes?! They were a Christmas present from my husband. They are the Gatsby shoes in gold and creme from Royal Vintage shoes. Of course they are considered 1920s but they work well with this dress.

What do you think?

Jeannine

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a Thankful and Peaceful Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Jeannine

Disney Inspired Mickey Ears

Lately I have been making Disney inspired Mickey Ears.

A series of Star Wars inspired ones.  They have  "diamond" Mickey Ears in the center.

Mad Hatter inspired, including "diamond" Mickey Ears.

And two different Christmas Mickey Ears.

Gingerbread

Gingerbread Man

And for something Not Disney, Minion Ears!

And Evil Minions.

Check them out in my etsy shop. 

www.dazeofgrace.etsy.com

Which ones do you like best?

Jeannine

Ichabod Crane Revolutionary War Coat

I finished the Ichabod Crane style coat last spring but never had a chance to have it modeled.  Finally got that done this week.  

I wanted to simulate this coat from Sleepy Hollow from Fox TV.  I can not afford wool flannel so I went with cotton flannel in a navy blue, it is a bit darker in person, but not much. I changed the collar a bit from the pattern to reflect the costume.

I used Butterick 3072.

I did not put in buttonholes but I may go back later and add them.  Ichabod Crane has a very plain coat without any trim so I was trying to copy the plainness of it.  

I'm working on breeches and a nice white shirt to go with it.  They will also do double duty for Husband's pirate costume

    

I really like how well the back came out.  It is fully lined as well.  I have never made a men's coat before so this was a learning experience.

As soon as I get the next two pieces done I will post those pictures as well. Maybe I'll add the dirt for authenticity when he wears it!

Blessing, 

Jeannine

Pirate Vest

Since Husband and I are going on a second Disney Cruise in spring 2016, I decided we needed new pirate costumes.  I started with the same Simplicity Pirate costume pattern, based on Pirates of the Caribbean.

I then used the linen I dyed royal blue to make the vest.

I enjoy the way it looks weathered already, like the pirate has been out to sea for a while. It has machine sewn buttonholes and "pewter" style buttons

I wanted to top stitch the edges but wanted it to look hand sewn so I actually hand stitched a running stitch around the edges and down the side seams. I used embroidery thread for this step.

I like the way it came out.  it is fully lined with blue chambray style fabric that was a freebie from my daughter's mother-in-laws fabric stash. It is a little heavy but works well overall.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Blessings,

Jeannine 

Dying Linen for Costumes

A year ago, or so, I bought two pieces of this linen blend fabric. Each was about two yards long.  I had planned to make a 1700s style petticoat. Then I realized that the fabric was probably too heavy for petticoats. Since husband and I are going on a Disney Cruise again in the spring I need to make us each a new pirate costume for pirate night. The linen would make a great pirate vest, but not in white. So back to the dye vat.

I decided to use the royal blue from Rit.  I like the liquid for its saturation and solid color.  

I heated water in my water pot and added a cup of salt along with a gallon or so of super hot tap water.  Then I stirred it a bit and added the dampened fabric.

Rubber gloves and a stir stick are necessary so that my hands didn't turn blue.

I left the fabric in the dye solution for half an hour, turning and opening the fabric out once or twice so it was entirely covered.

Then I started rinsing it with cold water from the outside hose. Remember to dump your dye and salty water out in a place where you are NOT trying to grow grass in a drought.  See that dry spot? That's my lawn. I forgot and dumped purple dye water here a year ago and it is still dead in this area. Oops!

This is a little view of the color of the fabric.  It has some spots that look very weather worn, which works great with the pirate theme, but doesn't show great dye skills.

I do like the way it came out and the entire Pirate Vest came out great.

Blessings,

Jeannine