Vampire Choker #2

Having made one choker that I absolutely love, I had a couple ideas for another one, so I decided to make it for my friend Ronelle...

 I did the same pleating technique as before, but this time I made the choker much wider so that I could cut it into a slight V shape.  I also added a strip off lace behind each of the red strips.

I finished it the same way as the previous choker, adding a layer of organza at the back and using my lighter to melt the edges and make a frayed and tatty look.

I used a red flower in the center this time and added beadwork again.

Vampire Choker

Another fantasy fair looms on the horizon, and the theme this time is... Vampires and Zombies!!!

Stay tuned for further costume details, but in the meantime I have spent the last couple of days working on this little gem:

I started off with a strip of black chiffon and using a lighter I melted the edges to give it a bit of a rough look (also so that I wouldn't have to hem it Ha!) Then I double pleated it like this:

It was a painstaking process involving many, many pins.  Once I had the pleats in place I inserted the red bits so that they would stick out between the pleats.

The next step was to sew the choker - I chose to place a stitch in each panel, leaving the pleat openings free, so that they can open up if I want to show more red.  Be careful not to stitch too close to the edge - Once I tried it around my neck, I trimmed away 1/2 a centimetre on either side so that I could add the lace details - it would have been too broad and very uncomfortable otherwise.  I once again had to melt the edges after the trim.


I then added two layers of organza strips behind the choker and again used my lighter to melt the edges of the organza - this gives it a ratty, old look and again avoids the use of hems.  Remember this is for a costume! It is supposed to look like it belongs in Morticia's closet!


I added a final layer of some Black lace, one of my fabric roses (see previous BLOG entries) and some beads. Viola!

As a final touch I will add a ribbon at each end to act as a closure (when I get to the fabric store on the weekend :-)

The added detail below is simply safety pins inserted and clipped in from the back and can be removed if you are going for the more 'romantic' look above, or left in for a harder look:

Transformed Dress

If you have been following my BLOG you will no doubt have seen the gold dress that I helped make for the Midwinter Fair.  I had intended to make an entirely new outfit for the Elf Fantasy Fair, but being short on time and because I will be moving to Canada in a few months, I decided to use the same dress to spare myself extra luggage.
I made a little skirt a while ago and learnt to make these tine fabric roses that I hand made and stitched onto the thing. So I went out and bought fabrics that I liked and made a whole lot of roses for my dress.

 One of my friends took a more detailed pic of the flowers themselves, with her superior camera - as soon as I get a copy of that, I will post it too.

And here it is:

Trailer Park T-Shirt

Queens Day in The Netherlands looms once again and it is time to break out the orange clothing.  I dont have the shirt I wore last year anymore, so I needed something new.  I bought several things and didnt like any of them! So I have decided to modify them to make me happy... And this is the T-shirt that I am busy with:

It is just a normal basic T-shirt that I have cut in the back and in the sleeves to make this sort of ripped "Trailer Trash" look.  Queens day is pretty outrageous, so this will be just fine.  I still have to trim all the bits, but you can get the general idea here.
Of course now that I have done this once and love it, more to follow!

Blaze's Goth Skirt #1

I made this Skirt using Burda pattern 7462, but of course I have added an extra layer here with the lace between the upper and lower layer.  My daughter (16 years old) has recently decided that she quite likes the Goth look in the clothing department, but living in South Africa (and a small conservative town at that) is unable to find anything that suits her new tastes.  So I decided to make her a few things.  This is the first skirt from this pattern, the prototype, so there are a few bugs to iron out.  But not a bad first effort, I think.

I added the hand made fabric roses to push the envelope a little further.  The top of the skirt (the waist band part) is made of a strange stretchy fabric that has a leathery look.  The upper ruffle is crushed taffeta.  Middle layer is a very wide lace, and the lower layer is a soft black netting.

I followed the pattern for skirt A

Midwinter Fair Dress

Finally finished the dress the weekend before the Fair - a few late nights and sleepovers at Nelle's place to get it done, but it was so worth every little bit - It turned out absolutely beautiful!

Unfortunately it was a very wet and rainy event day, so all our photos have a lovely band of wet dress at the bottom - and we really got cold!

Umbrella Done!

And the first umbrella is done!  So pretty... Now I need to get to work on that shawl... oi!