Preschooler Elsa

So what was my big project for January? 

Oh, just a little costume from a movie that might have been a smash hit. 

Artist Source

Actually, this dress never made it to the movie, but it was in all the concept art! 

A friend messaged me asking if I could make a preschooler Elsa dress for her daughter to wear to their family trip to Disneyland. Little miss had outgrown the Princess Anna dress that I had made, but her little sister could fit it now! It seemed appropriate to make an Elsa dress for the older sister. 

There was just two problems: I was working on an alteration commission from someone else, and my friend's deadline was just in a couple weeks. By the time I finished the alterations, I had only one week to plan, get supplies, and make the dress. Oy.

I'm pleased to say that it was finished just in the nick of time! But my days were literally go to work, get home, and get sewing. Power sewing to the max. That is it. 

I used Simplicity pattern 1507 as a base for the dress. I traced out the bodice pieces and drew on the straps and decorative bib on the front. I could have made this as two separate pieces, the jumper and a shirt, but I wanted it to be a single piece that you could easily put on without needing to hunt down all the parts of the outfit. So I took the pieces that I drafted and essentially appliqued them onto the bodice. Easy, straight forward, simple enough. The skirt was a similar story. I sewed down the ribbons along the skirt edge, and ta-da! All the sewing is done.  

Then came the details. I had several directions that I could have gone with this. I could do the rosemaling in the traditional style and embroider everything, cut out each of the individual pieces and applique them on, or pain them on. Time was not on my side, so I opted for the fabric paint. 

I've used this before for my Captain America Disney-bound dress. This particular fabric paint doesn't stand out from the material, and it's matte = no shiny. I found some close-ups to get the details and made stencils from that. They weren't perfect, but they got the general idea across. ;) I then turned on Gilmore Girls on Netflix and painted for goodness knows how long. 

But I'm really please with how it all turned out. I couldn't imagine doing all of that embroidery or appliqueing. I doubt that it would have been done in time. ;) 

Bodice Detailing

Close up of the skirt hem

I chose to do buttons instead of a zipper because they're so much cuter. 

I think it took me a week to recover from all that power sewing. :P 

Project Details

Pattern: Simplicity 1507

Materials used: Cotton Fabrics, fabric paint, buttons, thread

Time spent: Well, the sewing was done in probably 4 hours. The painting? I have no idea...

Until next time!

SG

People You Might Meet

In my vast  experience (okay, only 2 years now) of being a vendor, I've noticed some trends, stereotypes if you will, of people who frequent those sorts of events. Maybe it's the markets that I've chosen to go to, maybe it's just representative of fair-goers in general. I don't know. This is just what I've seen. :P

Let me introduce you to:

Everyone's Grandma

You know, the one that everyone loves because she's amazing. She oohs and awws over handmade goods and reminisces about when everyone knew how to do things well. She's there because there was a flyer at the senior center or church, and she and her friends had some free time, or she's shopping for gifts for friends, her kids, or grandkids, or maybe she's an organizer/assistant for the bazaar. For whatever reason, she is there and loving every minute. She might be looking for something special and unique, something that can't be found in a store. She brightens your day and talks to you for quite a while, but you don't mind because you've decided that you want to adopt her for your own grandma. There's nothing wrong with having lots of grandmas, is there?  

Everyone's Grandma's Hubby

He's there because Everyone's Grandma convinced him to. Maybe he's a volunteer for setting up. Maybe he's here for the food. Maybe he wanted to get out of the house. Maybe it's all of the above. Maybe it's just because. You like him a lot too because he's so cute following his wife around and trying to amuse himself at an event that is certainly not entirely his cup of coffee. But he likes it because his wife likes it. That makes me happy.   

The County Fair Judge

This is the one who very closely inspects the technical details of what you're selling while not talking to you or making eye contact until they have finished looking over everything. Seams, stitch sizing, hem allowance, how the seams are finished, everything. You hold your breath while they conduct their inspection. When they're finished, they look up at you and give you a smile, a nod, and a 'well done,' and they move on. At least, that's what you hope they say. I haven't had them say anything else. Yet. ;) 

The Tag-Along

They are here because their friend dragged them along. Unlike Everyone's Grandma's Hubby, the Tag-Along isn't all that excited or self-entertained. They tend to be more critical. Everyone's Grandma might try to initiate some sort of a conversation with them or include them when talking about the dying arts, but it usually falls on deaf ears. The tag-alone usually doesn't appreciate what they're looking at, in fact, they might rather be anywhere else. 

The Crafter

Now this could be two different people. 1) Those who are inspired by what you make and 2) those who know just enough of your craft to show off to their friends their boundless knowledge. 

The former will ask you questions about resources, your experience with such-and-such, they're there to learn and be inspired. I love these people because little do they know that they inspire me as well with their different approach to doing something. A fresh perspective can rekindle a passion for something that has been relegated to the UFO pile.

My favorite experience with the latter: 

Lady looking at my doll dresses: Well, why did you line it? That's so much more work. See, if I made it, I wouldn't make a lining. And why did you serge the seams? I wouldn't do that either. Too much time. 

Me: raises eyebrows

Me to myself: wow...

Me: tries to explain the reasoning behind my decisions

Her: That's still too much work for what you're making (exit stage left)

Me: still wondering what happened

The Parents

They usually have a stroller and a couple kids they're trying to corral. They are the sneakiest people I've met because they somehow manage to buy Christmas presents for their kids while they're right there. The parents are usually awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time. Do I need to keep my eye on you because of how good you are at that? But seriously? Your kids are clinging to you and bouncing around, yet they literally are completely oblivious what you're doing.
"Ooh, mommy, I like that! Can I have that?"
"Not today sweetie." (slips a credit card across the table)

The Networker
These folks seem to know everyone, and there's at least one person in their social circle who knows how to do your craft. You get to hear all about this person's adventures, but you're sad because you'll never get to meet this amazing human.
"Oh, so-and-so can do this. Do you know them?" 
"Uh... no."

Vendors

We tend to be each other's best customers. We all watched each other set up, the first ones to wander the market before it's officially open, talked a bit throughout the event, swapped market stories, and then something catches our eye. It will sit there for the entire event staring us in the face. By the end of the day, we cave and slip away from our booth to our neighbor's and slip our own credit card across the table.

Do you find these observations to be true? Or is it just me?

Until next time!
SG

The Year Ahead - 2018

Where to start? I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head that it's hard to pick just one thing to focus on! 

First off - the blueberry dress to wrap up the fruit sisters series. I started this summer 2017 with drafting my own pattern from a shirt in my closet, but I made the waist too long. It really wanted to be a 20's dress with a dropped waist, but my waist measurements don't fit my hip measurements. ;) So I need to rip out the waistband and zipper, trim up the bodice about 1.5", and then put it all together again. Easier said than done? We'll see. 

Next up - the galaxy skirt. I found this border material during my trip to my favorite cotton shop. I'll give you more details when I work on it. 

Next on my list is some boring things - like Regency stays, shift, petticoat, and chemisette. I love the early-1800's, but I've never truly felt like I walked out of the history book. Since I seem to gravitate towards that era, that should be a good place to start. Maybe this year is going to be the year that I dive into corset making. :gasp:  

Source

I have some ideas for my cosplay for comic con this year. It primarily involves another circle skirt with appliqued details on it and a cape. I don't want to give it all away just yet. ;) 

Beyond that, I have a secret project that I can't share with you yet because it's a present for a certain someone. Don't worry, I'll take in-progress pictures and share it with you when I can. :D 

And that is it for grand sewing plans. I have doll dresses a plenty to do, aprons to put together (I have a stack of them cut out, I just need to finish them!), pillowcases to assemble, etc... AKA things to restock my booth. 

While we're on the subject of booths... I'm seriously considering taking my product and selling online and only doing a few select shows this year. Any tips, ideas? I'd love to hear them! 

Until next time! 

SG