day two: 2-for-1

Technically, today is day three; but I'm writing about day two, and will probably continue to have a one-day time delay throughout the rest of the challenge. Taking photos of my completed project, uploading them from the camera, editing them, uploading them to the blogosphere, and penning a lucid account of the experience is really too much for me before bed. Morning is tea-and-internet time, so that is when you'll hear from me. Probably.

Without further ado, then: day two! It's a twofer! (Aside: blogger's dictionary has no issue with the word "twofer". But apparently does with "blogger's".") That's right, two, TWO!, projects for the low, low price of... ahem. As I mentioned yesterday, the Cabaret Carnivale show is coming up this weekend, so it's all about costumes and props for me right now. Both of today's pieces are for the candle dance I'm performing with Monique and Elinor. To enhance the effect of the candle flames, the idea is to be as shiny and mirror-like as possible; hence:

Silver bra! Elinor has a seriously wicked-cool metal bra with stainless-steel cups. I am not as awesome as she is, so mine is pleated foil lamé attached (vive le hot glue gun!) to a bargain-bin bra. I toyed with the idea of doing a silver-leaf effect with aluminum foil, but feared it wouldn't hold up to the sort of torment I put my costumes through, and I had leftover fabric hanging around that matches the silver panel skirt I'll be wearing with this costume, anyway. I put the bra on the judy and draped over it, gluing as I went, to ensure that I got the right contours over the cups and enough stretch through the back strap. This was a totally no-sew endeavour, which might mean that it won't be terribly durable, but it just needs to get me through the night.

My second project was a pair of flared jazz pants inspired by Monique's black glitter dot Melos, which I have coveted all summer long. Not a lot to say about these, except that they're fantastic and sparkly and fit even better than I'd hoped (especially considering the amount of eyeball guesstimation I did while cutting, and that my "pattern" was another pair of pants I'd made). In order to get the most out of my fabric, I had to make the back leg in two pieces, with a horizontal seam across the knee; with a different fabric, I might have been able to flip the legs in opposite directions to get a good layout, but with this I had both the nap of the velvet and the shine of the glitter dots to contend with. This way, though, I ended up with very little wasted material.

And now it's time to run to the fabric store! Back with more adventures tomorrow!

day one: fingerless leather gloves

Well, it's been a full day, and I nearly missed getting my first post up - how embarrassing would that be? Not for lack of productivity, mind; I'm busily preparing my costumes for the upcoming Cabaret Carnivale show (this weekend! belly dance! fire! can-can! burlesque!).

Today's piece is part of my can-can outfit, a pair of black fingerless leather gloves.





Pattern pieces:


One down:


The finished product:

thirty in 30

In order to jump-start my productivity this fall, I'm challenging myself to post details of a completed project each day for the next thirty days. (And yes, I realize that October has thirty-one days; I'm taking Halloween off.) The point is to accumulate five surprises stock for the upcoming holiday shopping season, repopulate my online store and some local boutiques, and generate interest in the line; but you will probably also see some non-merch projects - such as costume pieces, custom items, and additions to my personal wardrobe - mixed in as well. Wish me luck!

shout-out time: cotton candy cupcake

I recently picked up some rockin' bijoux from local (Halifax) artist Cotton Candy Cupcake:

(I also had a pair of large purple/orange fabric-feather earrings, but - alas - one of them jumped ship last weekend while I was out on the town.)

--

And in other cupcake-related news, I just finished an amazingly delicious vanilla-mint "babycake" with key lime buttercream from Fred., which is a strange hybrid of cafe, art gallery, and hair salon that somehow... works.

art harvest

Phew... finally approaching a state of recovered-ness after this past crazy craft market weekend! Had a great time at the Halifax Crafters' Art Harvest - big thanks to the organizers, and a shout out to all my fellow participants (great work, folks!).

Pics or it didn't happen, right? You got it!



I think you'll agree that Helen (below) looks, in the words of another crafter, "absolutely smokin'" in her new five surprises sweater dress:

procrastinating

When I get stressed out, I make lists. I have a craft show in two days (for which I am insanely unprepared), so...

Things To Do

• make to-do list (check!)
  
• make list of inventory
• sew straps on purses (6)
  
• sew boot uppers (2 pairs)
  
• sew dresses (2)
• sew tops (2)
• go to bike shop for used tires (for soles)
  
• go to hardware store
  
• go downtown and collect backup stock from Love, Me Boutique
• finish boots
• buy fishnets (not craft-related, but needs to get done before a performance tomorrow evening... did I mention I also have two shows this weekend?)
• do laundry
• do dishes
• make business cards/tags
• figure out some kind of display set-up

I can do, uh, some of this in 48 hours, right? Right? Guys?

february blahs

It's been a while since I updated, I know. Sorry 'bout that. I've had a touch of the winter blues and just haven't been that productive. I'm turning things around today, though. I made a series of really fun bags out of skirts, keeping as much as possible of the original design detail in tact - so they've still got zippers and buttons and pockets and pleats. They're not quite done yet, but photo evidence of their existence will be along shortly.

I've also set up meetings, updated fivesurprises.com, blogged, AND taken time to look after myself and my space; today has been full of small victories.

~

I went looking for something spring-like to cheer us up as we ponder the expanse of February lying before us... I'm not going to try to argue that this brings to mind tulips and dewy meadows, but I keep running across this Etsy seller, Urban Heirlooms, and I think it's pretty rockin'.