I had nothing to add yesterday!

So it would seem that blogging everyday just isn't in the cards for me.  It's not that I don't aspire to writing every day...it's just that some days I have nothing of value to talk about.
However, I did get some more sewing in yesterday.  I came across a website about repurposing, revamping, reconditioning your wardrobe.  It's a group of people who have promised themselves they won't buy anything new until they can and will wear everything in their closet.  I think I can do that!  I have a closet and dresser full of clothes that sort of fit, that I sort of like, that I don't like at all but I paid good money for.  So, I pulled out everything that I refuse to wear for whatever reason and started cutting last night!  I've always been a fan of making something usable out of something I already own, so that was easy enough.
Let me first start by saying that I am in love with my duct tape dress dummy.  This was the second time I've gotten to use her, and the first time I've used her for a recon.  If you don't have a dress dummy...get one, make one, steal one....they are soooo worth it!!  Mine now has a pink name tag placed by my 18-year-old son that says Hi, my name is Mom.  He tells his friends I made it so that he would have something to hug when I'm not around *L*.  He says he'd like to take her with him when he moves out this summer so he won't miss me so much.

Ok, so onto the new shirt...here is the first in a long line of things I will be revamping.  It started out as a long sleeved button up..I don't wear it as it way too big and sort of frumpy:

It has now become a cute little blouse that I will totally wear...in fact, I am wearing it right now!!

A close up of some of the details.  I already had the skully fabric in my huge stash!!  If it's pink and has skullies or bows I buy it!!

I was going for a bowling-esque shirt...didn't turn out exactly as I pictured it in my mind...but they almost never do.  *L*  I have a tiny bit of tweaking to do still.  I want to shorten it up a bit...it's still kinda frumpy long, and I got a little chop happy with the neckline and it shows a bit too much boobage.  So I'm gonna add a little skully panel to fix that....But I would say it is now a wearable article of clothing for my closet....

Overalls are a GO!!

I have been obsessing over trying to make a pair of 1940's style overalls...seemed like they'd be comfy and flattering to my ... um ... more rubenesque figure.  Sadly, I couldn't use a vintage pattern, for several reasons.  Can't afford to purchase one, and I'm pretty sure that once I bought one I wouldn't be able to bring myself to cut it up.  *L*  And, finally, those girls in the 40's where a bit skinnier than I am so I would have to do some major modifications. So, in true Trixie fashion I morphed a couple of other patterns into what I was looking for.
Using Betty the dress dummy is AWESOME...why I never made one of those before is a mystery.  It made sizing so much easier!  She's not quite as "soft" as I am, but what a great tool to have!
My husband got me a book for Christmas called Sewing for Plus Size by Barbara Deck.  What a great book.
She shows you how to correctly alter patterns to fit us bigger gals.  I tried my hand at moving the darts on the front of my overalls and wouldn't you know it....it worked!  *L*  So, it would seem that my sewing skills are advancing again just by using the right tools and information....who knew??
I had a few hiccups with the overalls...this is the second incarnation of them.  I buggered the zipper a bit and my next pair will have a slightly longer crotch....but they're really comfy, I look sorta dressy while still being able to wear overalls.  So great!

 Hubby and I went searching junk stores yesterday.  I love second hand stores...you find the best stuff for very little money.  I have a bad habit of buying way too much stuff though, because I look at things with a slightly different eye than most.  I look for fabric prints and textures that I love because I know that I can modify it into something I will wear and/or that will fit.  I managed to get away from our shopping trip with two pairs of shoes, one pink plaid shirt and a lavender twin set.
I am most proud of my shoe finds.  The first pair was a black modern take on a vintage oxford.  I LOVE them and I only paid 3 bucks for them!  My second find...and probably the coolest, was a pair of maryjane style Keens!  I have been trying to figure out a way I could score a pair of those, but they're 85 dollar shoes...just couldn't justify it.  However, I found a brand new pair at the second hand store for $1.50.  SCORE!!

I'm going to modify the pink plaid into something a little more form fitting and rockabilly....it's a 5X long sleeved button up....lots of fabric...I can do something with that so check back!

I look like THAT??

Got a lot of things accomplished this weekend, but didn't blog about it!  It's so much easier to write when I'm at work sitting in front of a computer all day! *L*

I love stripes!!

Perfect Hair!

I went with my mom and my friend to my tattoo gal and had a big piece done on my right thigh!!  It's a chubby pinup girl holding a cupcake.  I'll post a picture when she's done!  We just did the line work and some shading.  I'll be going back after Christmas for the color!!  I am in love with her.  She was going to be a red head, but I am now leaning towards giving her bright pink hair!!  My hair was PERFECT on Friday...so perfect in fact, that I took pictures.  *L*  I also ordered pink hair dye...FINALLY!  Should be here next week!  I get a hair cut on Tuesday then pink hair here I come!!

I started working on my 16 year old daughter's Christmas present.  She is leaning toward Visual Kei/Gothic Lolita styles...so I'm making her a kimono style dress out of some blue and gold fabric my grandma gave me.  I will post pictures when that is finished and sized to her.

Oh Betty...you're so big!!

I haven't been sewing much for me lately because I have been wanting to make a duct tape dummy.  I'm a big gal with lots of bust goin' on and I have to modify EVERY pattern I buy.  I've been sort of winging it forever, but the disaster of my overalls prompted me to get rolling on the dummy!  SO...last night my husband spent quite some time wrapping me in duct tape.  I asked him to painfully careful with the shaping....once it was cut off and stuffed, I was SHOCKED!  I know I'm a chub...but geeeeez.....seeing it in all it's glory in silvery duct tape was a whole lot of reality!!  So, in true Shannon fashion, I decided to embrace my chub and started covering the whole thing in leopard print duct tape and named her Betty (I name everything Betty *L*).  I'm going to mark the shoulders, waist, and such with hot pink.  She should be done tonight!!
We will be building a stand and she will become a working "art" piece for my sewing room.  Still startling to look at but it will be a great help in making my clothes fit better!!

Ahhhh, Christmas is just around the corner!

So I did nothing even sort of creative last night!  My husband, our boys and some of their friends played cards last night.  My craft room cutting table also doubles as a gaming table...I was all stiff from my fall down the driveway yesterday so I settled into my chair with a blankie, my laptop, some aspirin and a can of Almond Roca (so much for the diet).  I was in bed and asleep by 9!  I did manage to stay asleep all night, which is a rarity for me....Feeling pretty good today!

I do have sewing plans...but I am finding it hard to be all motivated when I get off work at 4 and it's already dark and cold outside.  During the winter I find that I'd much rather cuddle on the couch with my husband and hot chocolate then sit in my sewing room.  However....Christmas is just around the corner...a little more than a week!!  I promise myself every year that I won't be getting things together just days before Christmas!  I don't think I've EVER kept that promise.  The other problem I'm encountering is when I finally do manage to drag myself into the craft room I can't seem to concentrate on Christmas gifts...I'm far more interested in making things for myself.  *L*

Do you like my fluffy pink bird?
He's my work pen!  *L*

So no Victory rolls today...just too lazy for hair and makeup.  So I have pigtails and a completely makeup free face!  I am wearing the denim skirt I made for myself out of jeans I never wore.  It's so cute...probably too young for me, but this my year of "I don't care what people think".  *L*  Leggings, brown sweater and brown socks with my super cute tennies!!

I think today might be a good day!!