2011 New Years Goal

Could you give up conventional clothing shopping for an entire year?? Could you only make your own clothes? Could you refashion items from goodwill or ones from your closet?

Think about it..... could you actually do that? For an entire year??? Did you know that clothing is one of the biggest things filling up our landfills? (I had no idea)

I know many people are not as crafty or into sewing like me, but I thought I would take this challenge. There is a growing trend of people out there on the world wide web turning hideous clothing into wearable, cute outfits. Many of which offer tutorials on how to do it! And another plus is its greener for the environment-you are recycling clothes!

As many of you know I LOVE CLOTHES. I think its actually an understatement. I am also a collector of clothes. I have a wooden brace for my closet so i don't tear a hole in the wall of my apt b/c the bar sags. So yes I have a lot of clothes....I love being able to walk into my closet (s) and put together a different outfit all the time. Fortunately my weight doesn't fluctuate much so I also usually keep clothing for a long time. However, I do get these streaks in me where I go on shopping sprees (though its never full price) and i do love my shopping. and it just adds to my collection..... Now i have tried to debulk my collection and cut down on my shopping a lot for the past few months. My credit card has been happier and I'm working on paying those puppies off ..... But I find myself occasionally bored with the same items in my closet.... and want something new. In this vicious cycle, I get tempted to buy newer items but I need to stop this.

And I do have lots of fabric in my stores. I could make a couch out of all the fabric i have all folded up and in storage. easily. I bought a stash of fabric (for almost like 10 cents a yard) off another crafter looking to move. I did not realize what all I was getting into and I need to use up this fabric. I initially bought it b/c i wanted to learn how to sew better and I would not feel bad if i completely ruined something sewing it and then tossed it. But i have not gotten around to using it much. I blame Lisa's wedding and beading those cranberry sets.

Thus bringing me to where I am now. I want new items but shouldn't be spending money on my closet (i do want a new car within next year or so, a house would be cool, same with zero balance on my visa). But I am really creative and crafty and into sewing, painting, and bedazzling so why couldn't I take the challenge? Why not let my creativity run wild?? So for the year of 2011, I am going to take the challenge of not going to the mall and buying new clothes (thus the term conventional shopping) I am either going to refashion an item from my own closet, an item from goodwill, or sew something with the fabric i have in my apt.

Let's see if i can do it for an entire year. I even think 6 months would be impressive. :)

If you are curious as to what others (and those people who have heavily inspired me) check out these websites.

http://www.newdressaday.com/

http://refashionista.net/

some of these befores will make you cringe!

Mom's Christmas Fla Ornaments are done!

Finally these babies are done I am so happy to be finished with them. They look great! Here is a pic from camera phone. having a problem uploading to blogger grr.! finally done! on to the next project!

Review of 2010 resolutions....

What to do again just like the crafts post i'll do the same with the general post....

So my new years resolutions this year is to ....
1. reduce my fabric collection by 50%. this mean make those costumes for bellydance for me and baklava LMAO um i actually made my fabric collection bigger. what was i thinking.... eek!
2. reduce my craft projects by 50%. this includes the christmas felt projects, the cross stitches, and the pumpkin sewing projects. all which if i focus i can crank out fast! well i actually did i'm giving myself this one. i also added to the craft projects so if you put them together. the answer is YES
3. stop looking like a slob when i get out of bed and go to work! yes i had to i work in a glass jar!
4. finish my glass dance beep the answer is NOPE.
5. reduce my debt to 50% of its current status. (very feasible) i sort of did. ive done really well lately!
6. sew each of the following: sweater, dress, skirt, shirt, and a jacket. they have to be non-bellydance related! doh no
7. volunteer a little more this year! um i did volunteer at RMH with the girls this year. i helped out with a couple of events. i don't know how to score this?
8. stop getting sick! actually i did. ever since i left COM i haven't had a head cold or bronchitis for a long time. ive been pretty healthy!
9. Run at least 5 5Ks! (this will have to wait about 2 months) FAIL
10. Finish using up everything I have!... I started this resolution last year and was very successful. I never realized how many hair care products, body lotions, face treatments, masks, perfumes, etc i have and that I have stock piled. I made the resolution to not buy any lotion or soap, etc last year and i can say i am still not done with everything! And now i'm back stocked up again from the holidays with my family! let's see how long i last! :) YES i got rid of a ton of makeup, lotions, shampoos, perfume, etc. i may have to go and buy bodywash now! i'm on my last bottle! wahoo!

RESULTS: 6 OUR OF 10!! that is 60% so more than half! With that I can say this year was a success! (for the general resolutions list-i can't say much for the crafts list!)

Review of the 2010 craft resolutions

Well 2010 has flown by! I thought I would review what I initially wanted to do with my crafts and etc. My "craft resolutsions". Reading them is almost comical. What was I thinking? Though I did mention that I would be happy with half. Let's see if I got half!

Items in bold I completed. Red is side notes lol!

1. lion latch hook (its going in my closet to replace my barbie rug) Nope in my closet in the box :(

2. fall leave and pumpkin table runner. its a cross stitch that i will back with material and serge to finish. Yes I did and mom used it for thanksgiving this year. It looks fabulous. I even blogged it.

3. matching pumpkin cloth napkins (this again is for mom!) yup. see #2

4. Turkey and pumpkin stuffed projects. I have like a gazillion of them too. this is a first for me, may take some time to tweak. again for mom and family for fun times at thanksgiving. nope but recently pulled the fabric out b/c this could be an easy project to complete.

5. Snowmen pre-printed cross stitch stockings. they are so cute. will probably be gifts but i'm guessing i'll fall in love with them and won't want to part! there's 2 of them tho! no opted to sew bellydance costume

6. cuban cigar cross stitch. this will be my grandmother's christmas gift. i never finished it this year. counted cross stitches at times get on my nerves and i want more instant gratification. nope probably opted to sew a bellydance costume

7. finish my silver hipbelt that i made to match my silver bra from china. :) yup blogged about it too! it still looks great!

8. Make matching gold and black hip belt for the bra i beaded. i also need to add the glass bead fringe i got from egypt too. no :( i don't know where i want to go with this yet.

9. make matching crimson and black hip belt for the bra i beaded too. nope this costume is changing

10. Asian halter tops for me and baklava! i have this gorgeous asian brocade fabric that is just being called out to be used up! :) this will be corset tops instead. we recently decided to try this out

11. Pink leopard costume set. Skirt is almost done. Need to bead it and then cover a bra. You will probably see me from space that fabric is so loud but so cute! nope had to quit.

12. iris latch hook (dreaming but would love to get this out of my closet!) no but i would love to!

13. vintage light up santa cars. its a felt kit, very cute. nope did others first!

14. penguin noel wall hanging. this is for joan for xmas. she loves penguins. Working on it now. i'm going to count this

15. christmas at the beach felt ornaments. don't know who they are going to but someone in south florida! going to mom. 1 more ornament left! wahoo!

16. finish up my small asian "bless this house" needlepoint. i already have one done, this would match! wrong again. still in the craft box

17. finish up all the small cross stitch ornaments. they take me no time to do and it would get rid of some clutter! i'd say there are almost 10??? most can be easily done in 1 night. i got a few of them done

18. flame skirt. and i think make a matching halter for it. could be a bellydance costume, could be a halloween costume if i throw on a pair of horns (or just let mine grow out according to some people) and get a pitch fork. waiting. this fabric is difficult and i'm trying to get a good pattern.

19. sew the following fashion items
A. Dress
B. Sweater
C. Skirt
D. Jacket
E. Shirt* (open to what i actually make)
nope they were all bellydance items i sewn! ;( bummer maybe next year!

20. advent calendar, easy sew project! thought about it. does it count?

21. valentine wreath finish yup in a blog too :) yay

22. Make beaded heart necklaces with the monofilament yup gave one to mom :)

23. Peacock feather bellydance costume???? :) oh yeah! i'd like it to be functional in either the tribal fusion and cabaret worlds too. nope i need more practice with it

24. Pink pearl necklace! um i don't even know what i was intially thinking so i don't even know!

25. Gold chain beaded necklace. no i needed more practice beading first.

26. Make a quilt/blanket for Project Linus (www.projectlinus.org) would have had i stayed in my crochet class. lol

27. Zipper heart pendant nope

28. fix, sequin, and line those spandex skirts I also got from china yes i did. though now i think i want to pull the sequins off. the belt's fringe get's caught in the sequins (esp the pink one)

8 out of 28. eek! that is 28.5% so i didn't make my cut off here. but got slightly higher than 1/4th of my projects done!

Now here are my excuses .....

1. i wanted to practice on other projects first before i started some of these
2. my train of thought changed
3. i saw somehting else that was sparkly and decided to do soemthing with that inside.
4. i needed better patterns for skirts and tops.

i am sure i have plenty more excuses but i'll spare you! now onward to thinking for next years craft to do resolutions......

Yay these costumes are done!!! :)

Here is my finished product of the costumes we designed for Lisa's wedding. Man let me tell you this was one heck of a project. Props to Laura who got thrown into a sewing bead nightmare and she's never sewn before.

Basically there are about 6,000 beads per costume. I spent many weeks on ebay buying silver stardust beads and clear ab swarowski crystals for this in order to save us some money! We have gone thru probably 11 packets of those red silver lined beads we got at hobby lobby (thank god at half off!!!) and we are now starting our 3rd packet of red 5mm bicone beads (each pack has 2450 beads!).

Unfortunately we did not finish lisa's costume in time for her wedding to give to her so the sewing is not done either!!! but we need to fit her for a belt. its a bit tricky to get the belt even on each side since the belt has shape to it.

I have countless holes in my fingers. I broke 1 stainless steel needle. I have dulled another needle. But all in all the costumes look great and Lisa was very happy and pleased (and excited to get her own).

Stay tuned I actually practiced this costume before I started to sew it and now I have decided i love it so much that I will actually finish this costume!! Its black AB beads all over it! It will take your breath away! :)

Assuit belt and bras done!

Ahhhhh finally getting to post the costumes we have been working so hard on! Here is the costumes complete.... The assuit belts are done, the bras are also covered with assuit and have D rings in the back. the harem pants also made by us. The 10 yrd cotton skirts are also done by yours truly. After making those skirts, I am never hand gathering again! I am buying a foot for my machine and serger! NEVER AGAIN! we also made the silver over skirts but you can't see them. It was really hot out and we tucked a lot of our skirts in order to not be so hot. Everyone draped their own chain on their bras and we also attached the kuchi charms to the center. Everything I have on (Last on the left) I have sewn myself! Even my headband!

I actually took pictures while i was sewing the last assuit belt so i'll have a bit of tutorial to post with it. Ive posted enough tonight so I'll save that for another night. Plus my cat and my boyfriend are snoring here in bed! :)

Pirate Cat ship!

gift from mom......

many, many parts and pieces!

Took me over an hour to set up!

This is what it looks like....

And neither of my cats will go in it! I think they may be scared!

Another Gift for Mom!

Ahh. Another gift for mom done. Yes I'm late blogging. I had this old square sequined fabric leftover that I swore I never would sew again. I'm trying to destash my crafts and use what I have. I previously blogged about making a heart wreath and mom liked them alot. So I decided to make her some... Like 3. I played with colors and positioning of the smaller wreath and I like what turned out! Hot glue, heart styrofoam wreaths, and a few slightly burned fingers. :) I can't wait to see when she hangs them up! :)

Mom's table runner is finished! :)

Ahh yes I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to bloggin but i'm playing catch up tonight since I got to take a nap today. Here is the Thanksgiving table runner I cross-stitched for my mom! Had I not had costumes to sew I would have finished it closer to her birthday (February 2nd) and not May (I did get it to her for mother's day!). I completely cheated and used stitch witchery and grossgrain ribbon for the outline of the table runner. The runner actually puckers a bit but that's how the fabric was when I got it. I made do with what i had. But it turned out great! I'm so excited! :) She now has 2 thanksgiving table runner (the other one was a turkey i made 2 years ago). and now napkins to match. I serged a few napkins after I finished the table runner. You can kind of see them on top! I love when projects are complete!

My bellydancer self now on canvas

Tada! we went painting at paint party studios and i painted myself as a dancer! I love it and of course I had to add bling! :) What girl doesn't love sparkly things!

Assuit Belts Started...

So I stayed up late and woke up early but i just covered the first half of my assuit belt! The leftover assuit from Sonja's hideous assuit dress we slashed (figuratively speaking). and covered bras with and now we are making matching hip belts. :)

After much thinking I figured out how to attach the assuit to the belt with the felt, buckram and lining. And I figured out how to do it with the least amount of sewing necessary!

Order I did it in.... Sew buckram to felt. Quick baste stitch Assuit to felt. Then take lining cut to size, fold over buckram then whip stitch to the assuit. Really quick and easy! yay! The sides are not done b/c i want to make sure i have the correct width and I am still undecided with how I am going to finish it (to grommet or not to grommet, that is the question!). Thus why you see the piece of fabric in the R side.

Still a work in progress. But I'm getting closer. Won't be able to work on it since we are house sitting with some dogs so I've got to wait until Sunday night (realistically to work on it). But my apt is also a huge mess so either I clean or I sew. LOL you know which one I'd rather do!

Evolution of a hip belt...

The Evolution of a Hip Belt

Well Its a semi-journey here... I took pictures between some of the intermediate but this is by no means a tutorial.

This all started with my purchase of a silver bra with the matching skirt from ebay. It was very inexpensive but it did not come with a hip belt. The picture was deceiving. But that is beyond the point.

I decided to set out and design and make a hip belt to complement my new shiny bra. I knew from the get-go that I would be unable to exactly match it. And even when I tried I learned I could not get the trim that matched it (it came some where from China and impossible to find in Alabama). I decided to make my own using 8mm cupped silver sequins and gluing rhinestones to each one in the same pattern as the bra.

So I started one night and using a belt I got at an outlet store, which makes a great template, I traced out a simple hip belt on white felt. I then attached a white satin (crepe satin maybe? i forget!) that sort of had the same feel as the white straps. I stitched them together with my sewing machine. Since i was adding trim on top of my belt, no one was goign to see my line.

Here's me adding the first sequins with my middle circle I am making to match the circle on the bra. It was still being glue at the time (it was a wrapped wooden circle bead with white ribbon). I started to add the stones to them, to get a little idea (plus its easy!) Now onward to blinging...

Next I made appliques that semi matched the design on the bra. This was harder than i thought. And i never did this before! But i made a total of 6 in the 3 different sizes and added them to the belt. I anchored it by using some 11/0 seed beeds (~3) and tiny silver sequins (3mm i think, cupped). Here is the larger view for both sides. :)

Well we are still pretty bare and need some filler sequins. I wanted to play a bit with texture so you could distinguish the different types of sequins. I used a 5 mm flat silver sequin and 5 seed beds and i started on the bottom left and worked my way to the edge....

Nice!

Here is a better view

And yet another view.. (Can you tell I was happy to figure this out!)

Next I worked on the botoom left and began to fill in. Here is the picture of what it looked like in addition to adding the circle. I could not complete the next step until the circle was added. So i just glued it on! Seriously!

Next I filled in both the top areas and the areas on the bottom next to the circle. I then added the hologram sequins in the middle of the circle. Hint if you are using no beads, use invisible thread so you don't see the thread! makes a whole big difference.

Wow I was starstruck and here is the whole belt done! and with the bra!

Another view looking at the edge.

Well I still needed some fringe! I mean come on I AM A BELLYDANCER! This I had to make myself. From past experiences with belts I know its best to sew each one individual so you don't loose everythign should one of them break. In the middle of the belt below the circle i added a string of silver seed beads with a hologram oval and some pearlescent beads. each one indiviually done!

Need more fringe! I cam up with a simple idea (mostly b/c i was running out of time!) I marked with a disappearing ink marker every 2 inches on the belt. Then I beaded 3 inches of seed beads and made a loop and continued a long on the belt. Both sides. At each loop then I added another single strand of beads just like in the middle.

A farther out view.....

Then I was done. Not too shabby for my first time! Here is it on me for an event (sorry the picture did something weird to our skin). And somehow after i added my hooks the fringe actually lines up. its crazy and i will never be able to do that again! Ever!

Enjoy!

Lauren of Baklava Bellydance

Mobile, AL

Every time!

This is what happens every time i try to craft, sew, etc on my table in my dinning room. My adorable cat Isabella aka "Monkey" or "Monks" always tries to lay on top of everything. Then she gets soooo comfy that she falls asleep. She decided to sleep on the batting I was using for one project.

LMAO!!!

My parents just brought a new cadillac escalade. my mom loves it b/c she loves suv's and being higher and taller. however the one thing they did not consider is will it fit in the garage.....

LMAO!!!

I told her that rappers drive escalades but she just loves it! she's going to put a low jack on it just in case it gets stolen.

they believe it will barely fit in the garage lengthwise

they believe it will just fit in the garage heightwise (barely!)

however opening and closing the doors may be an issue..... they can probably get one side to open but if someone wants to sit on the passenger side well sorry you must climb!

they are in the process of rearranging the garage and deciding what to do (toss some crap???) and hopefully my mom can put her pretty black escalade in the garage.

this still just cracks me up!

wahoo for civics!

I'm serger ready!!!

Well yesterday I had my first lesson on sewing with a serger. For those of you who don't know what a serger is, a serger is basically a fancier sewing machine that will cut your material as it is sewing on a series of threads. Your fabric won't fray and the ends looks professional. I got my serger off craigslist. I have never used one nor did I know anyone who actually has one. I had some basic ideas of what i wanted in a serger and luckily an ad came up on craigslist for a Janome serger. I looked it up, the machine normally costs $500 and they wanted $160. I chewed the guy down to $140 and poof I had a serger! Its actually in great condition considering the guys wife only used it 5X!!! Sweetness.

But before I could sew I need lessons. I managed to get the machine threaded and snuck a quick sew. Awesomeness but i really didn't know how to use the machine. I needed lessons. Basic serging 101 was offered at "all about sewing" (see www.allaboutsewing.org) Again I was the youngest person in the class. And I was the only bellydancing scientist too. But I mentioned to my teacher how i was interested in sewing costumes. Luckily she had in the past sewed some gynastics uniforms for her son so she had a lot of advice to give me.

I got there and immediately my already threaded machine was dethreaded before I could blink my eyes. That little old lady was there and maybe she recognized me and immediately she started to talk her head off. She also kept showing me stuff, and i just thought maybe she's just this friendly to everyone. LOL I havve no idea! And i had to learn the proper way. Poo! And apparently I'm a retarded b/c i didn't bring a screwdriver or tweezers or a needle lasso like everyone else so i had to keep asking for help. LOL they just said bring your machine and 4 different colors of thread. But i mastered rethreading it and theory quickly and i was the first in my class to sew. Take that lady who's machine is idiot proof and threads itself! :p

I finished my class excited and on cloud 9. i can do a rolled hem now. sweetness.i got a needle lasso. and i go home pumped. i need to debulk my black skirt i have so much extra fabric in there. perfect time to test out my machine. with a few calcs i figure out how to debulk it. I took 20 inches off the waist! OMG and with in minutes the edges of the skirt look great. now i just need to fix the casing for the elastic band. and the skirt is officially done. now i'm jonesing for another project! LOL :)

Valentine's day Wreath

Is done! OMG it is totally not what i had intended to do with the heart wreaths since I got this heart garland on sale a few weeks ago. I got inspired by this sequin fabric i had brought years ago (circa pre 2004??) but never used it b/c the glue used to attach the sequins messed up your sewing machine unless you want to clean the needle every few inches. So i never wanted to actually sew with it! but I thought it would be awesome to attach it to the wreaths it might be cool. i cut strips and grabbed my hot glue gun. After getting hot glue all over my fingers (it means i'm doing it right!) they were complete! I sat and looked at them and thought what else I should do with them but I just couldn't get myself to add anything to them and I didn't know what i wanted to add even if i did. I just thought it would be too cheesy. The picture does not do it justice b/c they sparkle. LOL I love things that sparkle! Tacked a hook on the back to hang up and it is now the decor on my front door! Someone better not steal it!

Ok off to finish another project but tonight I need to go to bed early tonight.
I'm exhausted, maybe from all the thinking i have done in addition to the crappy sleep i got last night. So early bed time for me tonight, I need to have my A game tomorrow. I get trained on the new confocal tomorrow. I am going to need every brain cell tomorrow.

doing the happy dance!

well its official i have officially signed the papers for my position til June 1st here at the college of medicine. i am so excited and blessed to the way things ended up. I have a fairy godfather! I'm not jobless and I have plenty of time to look for another position and think things thru.
And with all the reading i am doing i have found some loopholes and avenues to pursue now in research! yes! i'm so sick of sitting on my ass in my office. i am ready to do some work and generate data! i am so excited about it! :) yay!!

Craft and sewing resolutions

Here is my craft list of the things I'd like to do this year, laid out more.....

1. lion latch hook (its going in my closet to replace my barbie rug)

2. fall leave and pumpkin table runner. its a cross stitch that i will back with material and serge to finish.

3. matching pumpkin cloth napkins (this again is for mom!)

4. Turkey and pumpkin stuffed projects. I have like a gazillion of them too. this is a first for me, may take some time to tweak. again for mom and family for fun times at thanksgiving.

5. Snowmen pre-printed cross stitch stockings. they are so cute. will probably be gifts but i'm guessing i'll fall in love with them and won't want to part! there's 2 of them tho!

6. cuban cigar cross stitch. this will be my grandmother's christmas gift. i never finished it this year. counted cross stitches at times get on my nerves and i want more instant gratification.

7. finish my silver hipbelt that i made to match my silver bra from china. :)

8. Make matching gold and black hip belt for the bra i beaded. i also need to add the glass bead fringe i got from egypt too.

9. make matching crimson and black hip belt for the bra i beaded too.

10. Asian halter tops for me and baklava! i have this gorgeous asian brocade fabric that is just being called out to be used up! :)

11. Pink leopard costume set. Skirt is almost done. Need to bead it and then cover a bra. You will probably see me from space that fabric is so loud but so cute!

12. iris latch hook (dreaming but would love to get this out of my closet!)

13. vintage light up santa cars. its a felt kit, very cute.

14. penguin noel wall hanging. this is for joan for xmas. she loves penguins.

15. christmas at the beach felt ornaments. don't know who they are going to but someone in south florida!

16. finish up my small asian "bless this house" needlepoint. i already have one done, this would match!

17. finish up all the small cross stitch ornaments. they take me no time to do and it would get rid of some clutter! i'd say there are almost 10??? most can be easily done in 1 night.

18. flame skirt. and i think make a matching halter for it. could be a bellydance costume, could be a halloween costume if i throw on a pair of horns (or just let mine grow out according to some people) and get a pitch fork.

19. sew the following fashion items
A. Dress
B. Sweater
C. Skirt
D. Jacket
E. Shirt* (open to what i actually make)

20. advent calendar, easy sew project!

21. valentine wreath finish

22. Make beaded heart necklaces with the monofilament

23. Peacock feather bellydance costume???? :) oh yeah! i'd like it to be functional in either the tribal fusion and cabaret worlds too.

24. Pink pearl necklace!

25. Gold chain beaded necklace.

26. Make a quilt/blanket for Project Linus (www.projectlinus.org)

27. Zipper heart pendant

28. fix, sequin, and line those spandex skirts I also got from china

I'm sure I forgot things too but its nice to make a formal list. get things off my brain and have some record of it that i can check off as i go! I'm sure it will change as the year progresses but its always good to aim high. if i get 75% of this done by the end of the year i'd be super happy

hmm maybe i should open up an etsy account and sell some things that i am not going to use. that may make my boyfriend happier. LOL!!

2010 is here!

So 2009 is done and I'm glad its over. The beginning and the end of the year were rough for me, espcially healthwise. Due to my current injury it looks like I'll be a little less active physically this 2010 beginning so I'll be crafting more! :) Got to rest my broken hip muscle and I'm only 30 years old! Seriously!

So my new years resolutions this year is to ....
1. reduce my fabric collection by 50%. this mean make those costumes for bellydance for me and baklava
2. reduce my craft projects by 50%. this includes the christmas felt projects, the cross stitches, and the pumpkin sewing projects. all which if i focus i can crank out fast!
3. stop looking like a slob when i get out of bed and go to work!
4. finish my glass dance
5. reduce my debt to 50% of its current status. (very feasible)
6. sew each of the following: sweater, dress, skirt, shirt, and a jacket. they have to be non-bellydance related!
7. volunteer a little more this year!
8. stop getting sick!
9. Run at least 5 5Ks! (this will have to wait about 2 months)
10. Finish using up everything I have!... I started this resolution last year and was very successful. I never realized how many hair care products, body lotions, face treatments, masks, perfumes, etc i have and that I have stock piled. I made the resolution to not buy any lotion or soap, etc last year and i can say i am still not done with everything! And now i'm back stocked up again from the holidays with my family! let's see how long i last! :)

Let's hope for a great 2010! This is hard to write on my checks still!