Since my last post, I moved...which was a LONG project in itself. I didn't realize how many UNFINISHED projects I have laying around. It is simply unreal to me. How is it that I get all excited about a project and then simply quit on it? Well, I have vowed to stop that habit. Not just because we don't really have the space, but because I love the feeling I get when I do finish something. Its a feeling of satisfaction really, and every time you see your work, you get that feeling again. I find that if I set out to make something for someone else, I finish it. But when something is for me, I get lazy and forget about it. I am going to try to get better at this.
Another thing I noticed when packing is, I have a TON of craft supplies and FABRIC. I just cant help it. Since I started sewing, when I find beautiful fabric, or sheets, I just cant pass them up. I am proud of myself though, I went into Joann Fabrics the other day, and did not buy one single thing! Yay!
Anyhow, here are some of the projects I have worked on lately.
In my last post, I mentioned working on Beauty and the Beast for Elite Dance Studio. This was one of the biggest challenges I have faced, but I was totally up to it and thrilled to be asked to do it.
I started out with drawings of each. I'll start out with the Candlestick:
I wasnt quite sure how I was going to make the candle holders or how the dancer would even be able to actually hold onto them. That thought honestly haunted me for a while. Then I came up with this idea (which I have to say, I am pretty proud of myself:) ) I took 2 plastic plant pots and cut a hole in the bottom of each one of them.
Then I got out one of my most loved/hated tools...my glue gun and glued those babies together like so.
I was ok with just spray painting them and adding some embellishments, but I knew I had to do more. So I decided to make a fabric cover. Please note, I used this amazing "dance/swim fabric" there is a name for it, but I can not remember it. The thing to remember with this fabric is that it stretches all ways, so it is super flexible and pretty easy to work with. I measured the length and the diameter of the top of the pots.
Then sewed along the edges. It took some work, but I was able to eventually get it to fit.
I wasnt able to get a picture of the top as I added a thin strip of elastic. But as you'll notice in the picture below, it held up pretty well. So as for the "candles", what is it that I used you ask?? Cone, yep, cones...Updsidedown. How did i get the candle to look like it was dripping? Spray insulation foam:) Then I just placed an orange "flame-like" bulb in the insulation before it set. I still wasn't happy with the foam, so I covered the bulbs and spray painted the foam an ivory color.
I decided to add some embellishments with the extra fabric I had after making the rest of the costume. Not anything too crazy, just strips glued on.
Next I started on the neck piece. I had some trouble with this as the peltex is a PITA. (Look that acronym up) It just would not sit the way I wanted it to. I traced around the pieces and made a fabric insert.
I wish I would have taken more pictures, to show the rest of the process. I will do a better job with my future projects. But here is the end result
Mrs. Potts
Babette
This was such a fun experience. I hope to have more opportunities like this in the future.
