Lions, Tigers, and Textiles.. OH MY!

Any Project Runway fans out there? This past weeks episode was about the designers creating their own textiles, and fabrics to use in their design.

I liked how they made it seem like only the biggest, and best of main stream designers are the only ones who can get their grubby little hands on their own custom made textile. NOT TRUE! I was researching and came across a lovely little site.

SpoonFlower

Not only can you create your own textiles from ANY image, but you can also buy other customer designs, and on top of everything, if you submit your textile design for public use you'll get a 10% discount! So, maybe someone else will want an apron made with fabric picturing your favorite Boxer Puppy.

Who knows... it's a crazy world.

Their prices are pretty good considering you're paying 16+ dollars a yard for that awesome designer print at JoAnns. They also feature organic cottons, which make the earth happy, and also a lot of other fabric varieties.

*It's an all around great site, and I recommend it if you're not one to pull up your sleeves, and pull out the silk screening kits.

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There's not a whole lot on the home front of sewing. I've been working on a sun dress for the lovely weather here in Ohio, but won't post picture until it's completed. Throughout the process I've learned that empire waist lines absolutely hate me, so I'll be making adjustments.

Okay, I won't leave you entirely hanging... Here's a quick 5 minute photoshop sketch of what I hope to be a final copy. So far my skirt is completed, and I have some adjustment to work on the bodice to lower the waistline on it. I'm thinking of incorporating some hand embroidery to make it a more personal piece.


I hope everyone has a lovely Easter weekend!!

Tootles! :)

Make your own dress form

Like every other DIY fashion designer in the world you come to a point in your life when you decide to dressform, or not?

My answer is simple. If you are made completely out of Benjamin Franklin's then be my guest and spend 200 dollars for your dressform. Oh wait, you're NOT a size 0-10? Well then, since the sewing industry still doesn't recognize that a plus sized civilization exists perhaps it would be best if you spent $600 on a one size mannequin, because we know you'll remain the same size for probably the rest of your life.

Okay, enough with the Andy Rooney Sarcasm.


While surfing about the web looking for decent Plus size patterns I decided to do a quick search for plus size dress forms, because I'm not the skinny teen I use to be who could try on garments unscathed by the pokes of pins and needles, and also because I'm no dummy. I can make my own patterns. I've watched project runway enough. Heheh.

I came across this E-HOW tutorial:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4425108_make-dress-form-mannequin-from.html
It seems that one can now make themselves a working dress form from duct tape, packaging tape, and other forms and objects.
Phew, and I thought my last option was going to be plaster molds.

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If you are looking for embroidery projects, then I'm posting. Nothing of course is completed, but I'll give a glimpse into what I've been putting my fingers to off and on for the past month.

The spiral tail has only merely been touched.
I suppose I need to just suck it up and stop procrastinating, and just finish the damn thing.



Au revoir, Lovies!