Well, I finally want to sew again, although it might go slowly until I have fabric and stuff. So this entry is only going to be about my plans, and most of the progress may wind up on Facebook. I haven't decided yet.
OK, so I'm going to attempt what is called in the land of Lolita, a "JSK" which is a jumper style dress. I have no idea right now on fabric, other than this first attempt will be whatever is cheapest. If it works, I'll be investing in some serious Lolita fabric.
I noticed a long time ago, Lolita dresses look somewhat like dirndl. Not tons, there's basics to change, but in general, it's the same shape.
So, I've decided to use a pattern. And sadly, there are no patterns for Lolita clothing really except for in the Gothic Lolita Bibles which are expensive ($30 and up as high as $100 for certain issues) plus, the sizes aren't exactly on the large side for my 44" bust line.
Burda Style has a fairly decent dirndl pattern on their download site. They also carry a couple of paper patterns that are actually nice too, and it's not just the same pattern over and over, there's actually some variation to the bodice styles. The online pattern is the Wiesn Dindl #6038 and well worth the $4.00 because it goes quite large. (up to a US 22)
So, how do I come to the conclusion that Lolita and Dirndl have anything in common? Check out this old post on EGL. So, I'll be using the bodice, making the skirt shorter and slightly fuller, I may in fact use the bodice and then the skirt from McCall's 5631 which is I assure you, a Lolita skirt.
I had this printed at the copy shop by the way. In total about $16. Which about as much as I'd have spent on any other pattern since you aren't likely to find a dirndl pattern in the 99 cent Joanne Fabrics sale. So it about evens out with print at home patterns and commercial ones. Sometimes I save, other times I don't. What was nice was, they didn't have regular paper (it's thick white paper normally) all he had was parchment, so to the gasps of SCAdian scrollers the world over, my sewing pattern is on a 8 foot piece of vellum.
- Dress Diary - Dirndl Lolita Dress
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![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1)
jaie- March 12th, 17:18
accomplished
- Tohoku Tote
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- jaie
- January 18th, 18:29
contemplative
I made a purse, that's nearly done, from a pattern from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar's "Tohoku Tote" which I figured was a pretty cute bag, and I've been on a kick with making purses. So far so good, I need to head back to the fabric store and pick up more of the green, I thought I had plenty, but when I did the straps, they are far too short at 20" long, they really need to be the 24" she suggests.
First thing is she suggests pleating before cutting, I have no idea how the heck she does that so I cut first, then pleated.
After you sew all the way around of the outside of the bag, you then go in 2 inches and create a "box", this is one of those little, easy to do things that IMO creates a far more professional looking bag. I also did this bag with heavier than normal interfacing which I have to admit, I'm not keen on. I did another purse recently with Peltex and even compared to that stuff, this stuff is rigid. I'm hoping with washing it'll loosen up.
I did a bow in the same teal as the upper border, I hate working with satin just for the record. I still have to do this bow, it looks awful.
This is the outside of the bag with the liner inserted. The liner for some reason is larger than the outside, I guess that's normal, when I think about it, the liner on a factory purse is slightly larger if you pull the bag inside out. I also lined this and I regret that. When I do this bag again, I think I might try lining just the outer bag, this bag is really stiff. (giggity)
I got all fancy and used purse snaps. These are magnetic and you just put them in the fabric (these were sharp enough to just poke through) put the back on and open the brads to hold them in place. Again, it's this little detail that I think makes the bag look a lot more finished.
Without straps and with. See what I mean by the straps are too short? Most women I know want the straps to go over their shoulder so that the bag hangs slightly below the shoulder area. And yes, this is a BIG bag. It's about 15" high and 15" wide (it's not really square however) half the time people are impressed if I carry a wallet so obviously there's a good chance I won't be keeping this bag.
I do still have to actually sew the liner to the bag but I want to wait until I have some better straps. I still have to figure out this bow's issues as well.
So, long run? It's a fun and fairly easy pattern to work with. You do have to do some top stitching on that upper border, and I used (and will be using more) "invisible" thread, or the nylon stuff so that it blended in. I have two colors of thread, white and purple, plus, I feel using the nylon stuff makes the bag look more "store bought".
- Fishy fishy by the Sea...
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- jaie
- December 26th, 2011
amused
Well, not really. But since I'm sitting here waiting for some smelt to cook up, I figured I'd post.
Nothing really going on. Xmas was it's typical thing that I'm rarely into. I'd rather give my gifts to those I care about year round, not just one day a year. Now, Festivus on the other hand, well, I could totally get behind that concept.
But, I received a couple pairs of new sewing scissors, which was great because mine are hosed. Cutting fabric was really just chewing it apart. I spent more time ripping it than actually cutting it. First person who tries cutting anything but fabric with these will get stabbed with them.
I also received some spring form pans which makes me pretty happy. I like making icebox cake and that's a pain to do without a pan. I think as stuff gets done here I'll be building up my kitchen needs. Really, I have nothing except for some pans. Which has always worked, but it's hardly enjoyable.
I've been making purses lately. I also decided while making said purses, that a new machine in 2012 is mandatory. I'm finding myself more and more limited in what I can do with my machine, a White Rotary. It goes forwards, and it goes backwards. And that's it. The bobbin winder is also fairly hosed and winding a bobbin is a bit of a nightmare. After some searching around, the machine I like is the Brother Project Runway Embroidery Machine. While I could care less about Project Runway, I do like that this is a decent machine and I can download patterns for it to embroider without a 5 grand price tag. Or it'll be the SE 400. It just depends what I find cheaper, apparently they are the same machine.
Tarquin is doing well, he apparently did his boot camp "accelerated" and he's out faster and headed to A school. He also still hates Hello Kitty.
- The Trailer Situation
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- jaie
- December 22nd, 2011
cheerful
As some may know, my trailer is the bane of my existence. It was bought on the understanding that is was an improvement on That 70's Trailer and it wasn't. Not by any stretch. First was the mold that began to appear the second winter in it. Then a separation between the push-out and the main part to the trailer reared it's ugly head. So for about 2 years now, I've dealt with no running water, a major leak inside, no walls, no cabinets in the kitchen, and just in general a ghetto appearance that has been more than depressing and a small contributor to an already fragile immune system.
When Tarquin went into boot camp for the NAVY, we had discussed what to do. Tarquin being Tarquin, he was supportive of any decision I decided to make. Another trailer was discussed, buying a house was discussed, or renovating this place. No matter what I decide, he will be helping me out financially with the decision since he assumes even when he's done with his career in the NAVY, he'll be living with me.
After talking to friends and family, I know that really, I can do any of those things. But, I have made the decision to stay. I've decided that while renovating may cost a bit, it's still cheaper than a down payment on a house or new trailer. I will still be watching for bargains in the housing and land market however. But, I have a low estimate so far on doing this place up of about $2500 and high estimate of 5 grand, both of which are still cheap considering that house or land can run $10 grand at minimum just for a down payment.
So, at some point I'll be taking measurements, hauling out my Google Sketch Up and designing the trailer again. I've never bothered with doing that, not because of any good reason, but because I had assumed it would always be like it is (room wise, not design wise) and I'm seeing it as my great chance to prove my design skills. I have a few ideas, some of them good, some not so much.
While I still want a micro house, even they aren't cheap, running about $45 a square foot, and I can still do it, but while I try to do that, I may as well have someplace comfortable to live correct?
- In Which We Learn Michiru Has a Sister
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- jaie
- November 6th, 2011
cold
Nothing much in the dollhouse world. Little projects here and there and that's about it. Oh, wait. I do have a new girl coming for the house. Unlike Michi this is a "real" Blythe. As in, she can be customized unlike Michi. Not that I will, it's more likely I'll just make sure she and Michi have some nice new clothes. She's got no name yet. We'll see when she gets here. She's a Petite Blythe Totally Tartan and no, I didn't pay even close to that for her.
In other Blythe news, I have a head coming. It's a Basaak head and I'm so OK with that I'm reverse snobbery about it. Much as I'd love a "real" Blythe again at some point, they are investment dolls. I have to get this new head a body, I'm thinking another body like Maude's would be great and is my goal. I also have two extra heads coming for Obitsus. One is the 60cm but it and a 27cm head were only $7 so I grabbed them.
So this winter will hopefully mean some dolls and more on the crafting front. I'm thinking of making a bunch of glitter houses for swaps and extra gifts. I have to gather up my cardboard soon I suppose.
And yes, Tarquin (aka Pookie) is currently in boot camp for the US NAVY. Anyone who wants his address to send him mail, I'm sure he'd be very pleased. Just ask and I'll send it to you.
- I have a favor
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- jaie
- September 12th, 2011
I've entered a contest sponsored by IKEA USA my all time favorite place. (sadly they are not in our area) For $1,000 though, I'm willing to go to even New Jersey. Please, please, vote for me.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Trailer-Trashed/
Please take a few seconds to vote!
- Petite Princess Love
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- jaie
- June 30th, 2011
- giddy
As you might know more from personal experience than my blogging I'm a huge fan of the Petite Princess line. I only had three pieces though.Recently I had remarked that my girlfriend had found a house in her garage attic and wanted to furnish it. I wanted to put in Arcade but she's actually starting to really eyeball the Tootsie Toy stuff and I mentioned in passing how I really liked PP. It's not to her taste though. But, a fellow group member says, "hey, I have extras give me shipping and they are your's. I figured one or two pieces. Nope. Check out what she sent.
As you can imagine, I'm giddy. I never expected this. So thank you to Maureen Fukushima from the Dream Dollhouses group on Yahoo. She really shook me out of some really bad depression with this.
Cross posted http://scaleadventures.blogspot.com/
- Yard Work
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- jaie
- June 19th, 2011
- accomplished
So I managed to get a ton of yard work done with the help of Tarquin and two of his friends. Took a couple days but now all that needs to be done in that part of the yard is stump removal. The sumac really took over in that area. Hopefully we can get a couple more tools we need to work on more like a mower and a weed whacker. I currently have a machete and that really wiped out a lot of the mess so that we could get to the ground underneath.
So now I need to decide what to do with this new area. See, the brush that was there took up over 40 sq ft of space. It was pretty bad. It now makes the yard more even (or will when there is finally grass there)
There were some added benefits to cleaning it out.The yard is more even. Before, I had sort of a choppy yard. When I moved in I became sick so I really didn't care, but now I'm outside more and I want as much of the yard as I can. I am not a fan of this "let it grow wild" shit. I have woods if I want it wild. (I ever mention I'm a huge fan of William and Mary style gardens?) But with this brush area gone the yard is now more square with and even. I'm not missing a massive chunk of front yard.
The dirt under there? Like silk. Rich and full of rotted vegetation that hadn't been cleaned out in the times I've been here. Unreal. That'll be dug up and moved into my raised garden bed I hope to grab Tuesday.This is some of it. You can see it's pretty close to the trailer so really, it's usable as an outdoor living area. And no, I'm not speaking of the area in front of the propane tank. I'm speaking of what is to the left near that shed/outhouse.THIS is the area. I consider from the pole back to the trailer "my" area. It's pretty much the center between the two trailers. (there is a single wide in front of mine) so while I cleaned the entire thing out and will finish doing so, I will only be maintaining what is from the pole back to my place.I'm debating making a patio area. I was planning on putting my wood stove and a smoke house there, but I've changed my mind (of course) I think the back yard needs to be attacked next.This is the back yard. As you can see, it's a real mess. By the way, that's my new compost pile you see there. But I think this is where my new smokehouse and the chicken coop are going to go. We're still waiting on pallets to build both things. And again, I really loathe the idea of a wild free range yard. Yards are cultivated. Lawns are cultivated. A wild mess belongs someplace else. I will be keeping a lot of what is here, but for the most part it will be squared off and will match what was behind my old trailer. This will make the lawn more square all over as opposed to cultivated on the right and sinister on the left.The good news is that the trail that overgrew during my three years of being so sick has been attacked with the machete. So hopefully it'll be mowed better.I think the sambucus trees are going to produce a lot thanks to all the rain this year. I need to clean this tree out though so we can get to it easier. There are a couple of these in the yard.And the blackcaps (black raspberries for those convinced these are raspberries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_occidentalis ) I think the rains are going to give record berries. But this is more stuff that needs to be cleaned up and organized. The berries luckily I think I know what I can do, it was done years ago on old orchards, a type of trellis. But there are so many I'd rather cultivate them and at the very least gather tons of berries to can, freeze etc. Selling them would just be a bonus. So, I really need the lawnmower, the weed whacker, and I wouldn't turn down more machetes and a chainsaw that isn't electric. I do have a rider but it's never run and really I should junk it but I've got faith it can be fixed.
- (no subject)
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- jaie
- June 16th, 2011
I've had so much going with the start of summer I've done very little work. Everything has been put on hold for other obligations, so I haven't done half of what I wanted to for my Etsy Shop.
I did manage to change the banner (which after I finish this post I will be done here with the new header as well).
I want to concentrate on a few things. I feel that until I have the printer up and running, I want to back off from shrink plastic creations. I'm unsure just yet what this will be, but it won't be sewing I'm sure.
So, keep posted, I haven't stopped blogging or crafting, it's just been slow here.
- (no subject)
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- jaie
- May 4th, 2011
I get asked a lot if I work, have a job etc. The easy answer? Nope. I don't. I had this really fantastic nervous breakdown a while back, (which I don't suggest unless you're a true masochist) and since then haven't had to work a traditional job. I'm smart, I've finished high school, even done some college. Do I have assorted degrees? Sure don't.
Yep it was a doozy of a breakdown. And feel free to judge me. I certainly do. Only fair others should. The more complicated answer? I do have a job. Several in fact. I do keep my home clean (I own it oddly enough) I educate myself, I also run an Etsy shop, and write freelance articles. I also have about 500 other hobbies that keep me busy and even make money for myself. Am I rolling in it? Nope. I live on less than a grand a month. Does it bother me? Sometimes.
