Tuesday 3 December 2013

A little bit of Whovian on the brain

So one of my biggest recent projects was my first time trying my hand at cosplay.  Don't know what cosplay is?  See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay

So,  last year (2012) when I went to Fan-Expo I hear word that a Doctor Who convention was in the works for 2013. I was given a flyer and it got tucked away and nearly forgotten about for almost a year.  Then, one day in sept, I was cleaning around my bedside table and found said flyer.  I checked out the website and what do I see? PETER DAVISON IS COMING TO TORONTO!!!?!?!


Number 5 himself over here on the other side of the pond.  I was all excited and having missed Colin Baker at Fan Expo this year I begged the hubby and he said sure! It would be a fun family thing and being a small convention would be a great 1st con for Little Badger.   Well,  my head started running with fun and crazy ideas. What would I wear? To cosplay or not to cosplay?  Make something new? Just wear my Tardis skirt with one of my many Doctor Who t-shirts? (yes, yes, in case you haven't noticed by now I'm a big geek.) November 1 was coming up fast and I had to figure something out ASAP.

Then it happened.

One day, I was out shopping at a local Once Upon A Child and there it was. . .  without any effort at all,


The perfect vest!  Ok. So, the real 5 is wearing a full sweater but GOOD ENOUGH!   Also found a nice pair of white denim pant which I later dyed with coffee to get a nice rich beige.  (Forgot to get pics. Boo.  )

While I was at it I grabbed another outfit for a potential 2nd costume which lead to the inspiration of my own.  I ended up going with the nurse from an episode called "The Empty Child".



A great, slightly creepy, episode about a little boy trying to find his mummy.   And so for day two I decided I'd dress my son up as THE empty child.


So, I had the basis for both costumes but the troublesome parts were the coats for both of Badger's costumes and the dress for mine, and the masks for both of us. I wasn't up for spending $50 a piece for real gas masks that would only get worn once and never again.  And I didn't have time to sew coats and dresses from scratch.

The first coat ended up coming from a women's small crop blazer. You know, the kind that are supposed to spot at the waist instead of the hips?  I though I had a before picture of it but apparently I don't. But here it is after cutting off the sides and reattaching the sleeves.  Also cut took in the sleeve by an inch and cut off and reattached the extra length to turn it into a cuff.


One thing I learned was that the hardest part (for me) to reattaching the sleeves was making sure they were both at the same angle.

So with that done, then came the bias tape.

Let me just say, this was my first and very likely my last ever time (if I get my way) working with bias tape.   Oh my god so not for me.


But I did it.  Here you see I started with some faux pocket flaps.  And (as seems to be the theme of this post) I failed to get pictures of the back. That was also a bit tricky but I was able to stitch rip up the back seam to as to give the coat a tails sort of look.



And  striping the pants. Used a fabric marker instead of paint since then I could use a ruler to draw the lines.  Though after how long that took I will admit to having had some second thoughts. But they turned out.  And there you go. One Mini Doctor Number 5!


So there were two new things under my belt. Adapting a coat and using bias tape!  Next up was mask making.  But wait, I was running short on time and still needed to sew bits for my nurse costume

I sent out a plea and a lovely lady (a new friend I made recently at a craft show) answered my call.  Last minute notice she threw something together for me that was the basis for the perfect on the cheap mask.


And she even made two of them! One for me and one for Badger.  I then took them home, adjusted the straps, cut the eye holes bigger and added the canning rings.

The finished product won Best mask making in the novice division of the masquerade (basically a costume contest)

The rest of the costumes came together quickly.  I found the perfect dress but in a light blue. Dyed it navy (yeah yeah no pictures again. )  Make the arm covers out of dress shirt cut offs with elastic run through.  The collar just some white cotton sheet and interfacing for stiffness. And the apron made from a bed sheet that had a nice hem so I kept that hem for the bottom of my apron.


And there we were on Sunday, the perfect creepy mommy/son duo.   This was a photo taken by one of the other convention goers.

But Saturday really was the best. His mini 5 got so many oohs, aah,s and awwws,  By the end of hte day he was a posing pro.


He LOVED petting K9. Also, FIMO CELERY!


And blue Tardis became his new favorite words that weekend. Well, that and red Dalek.


Ok, this was seriously adorable and I wish I had thought to film it instead of photograph it. The cutest little Dalek was just enamored with my Mini 5 and she kept tottering up to him trying to touch it face. he'd giggle and run away and she would follow after.

Oh Hey, a backside shot!


The best part, well for me,  was meeting the man himself.  As he turned to Badger and I he looked down and exclaimed "I'VE BEEN MINIATURIZED!"  That was the best compliment I could have gotten.


Silly green socks.  Oops. Oh well. Nothing's perfect. It was an amazingly fun weekend being able to really geek out and run around and see the creativity of all the other fans.

Just a few other pictures. Sorry for the poor quality. Most of them were phone pictures.  But good news! I finally have a new camera! So hopefully better pictures will be seen in the near future!

Nice to see more of the one-off costumes.

And more on-offs and an old school character.

Only ran into one other nurse. Looking at this picture I'm thinking I should have gathered my apron a bit. A well.

Really great cyberman!

And even an Ood!

A really nice one taken by another con goer!


So there you have it. A major bout of geekiness and sewing.   Next up, more birds. Because I'm way behind on sharing all the new ones with you. ^_^


All Who'd out.

Until next time,
Keep Crafty


Linked up:

A giveaway for a little help.

For the back story as to why I'm helping out this specific family, see below the giveaway.


 For Christmas this year (2013), my best friend of almost 20 years has entered her parents into a local (to Green Bay Wisconsin) radio station contest in an attempt to win them a much needed new kitchen to replace their falling apart kitchen in their 170 year old home.   I've voted twice so far but I can see they are really lacking in votes. So I'm reaching out to you.    I would really love to help this wonderful second family of mine get a much deserved special pick me up.

So!

Being that I don't have 10,000 minions to set loose in voting frenzy. . . I will instead host a giveaway!


In return for your time and vote(s) you will be able to earn entries to win your very own custom "A Bird For Every Reason" ornament at a value of up to $30!  

You know, one of these:


* PLUS NEW ADDED INCENTIVE*


A SECOND PLACE Prize has been added of a mini bird in your favorite colour.

AND IF THEY WIN THE KITCHEN CONTEST,  I WILL DONATE $25 to the first prize winners' charity of choice!


I'll even throw in a couple of random 6x8 prints from my Life in a Lens Photography stock just for fun.





So follow the link above to the contest page, register, vote. Easy as that. Then come back and claim your entries in the rafflecopter below! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Once registered you can vote and even go back and vote once a day until the contest ends for more entries!  (Voting period - and therefore the giveaway- ends December 20th at 6pm Central Time)


You can also tweet about the giveaway once a day for extra entries as well!   I'll post the winner on the 22nd. 


Now for the back story.
First off, here is a tip. Never leave a post open in edit near a tddler.  See's like common sense no? You would think by now I would know better?  Yeah. . .  so,  will have you that back story again soon. . .


Sunday 24 November 2013

Ok, so I have all these pictures...

All these things I want to talk about.    I have so many things that happened over the summer.  I can choose to desperately try to find the time to find and edit and post them all and try to play catch up. Or I can attempt yet anther fresh start and start with something recent and just carry on from here. 

Hmmmmmmm . . . .


In the mean time I'll leave you with this. . .


Tuesday 1 October 2013

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

For those of you who do not know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Earlier this year  I started my Awareness Edition birds. Starting with Breast Cancer as a neighbour of mine was at the time battling again a re-occurrence of it. She didn't make it.  She is one of a few now that I have know who have fought and lost again breast cancer. And though it is one of the more often survived cancers, it is still devastating every time it takes a beautiful life. 

So for the month of October I am going to be pricing down my Breast Cancer birds. 10% of the sale price.  BUT the 25% that goes to Breast Cancer Foundation of Canada will still be calculated off of the original price! This goes for any bird already in inventory or any custom order of a Breast Cancer Bird.

Sparkling Pink Breast Cancer Bird - DiSCOUNTED PRICE! 10% Large Size - Bird Ornament -  A Bird For Every Reason                 DISCOUNTED! 10% Off! Pinky Breast Cancer Awareness Bird - Medium Size - Bird Ornament - A Bird For Every Reason 
These are my only two left in stock at the moment. But there is another batch of birds on the paint table


One in 9 Canadian women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime, (by the age of 90). One in 29 Canadian women will die of breast cancer. Breast cancer rates have stabilized yet it remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian women, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. This means still more work in research, early detection, and awareness is needed. For more Information visit: www.cbcf.org


PS:

 My little birdie also got a feature on a Sheknows.ca article showcasing some breast cancer awareness items!  http://www.sheknows.ca/home-and-living/articles/960321/etsy-breast-cancer-awareness-month-items

Tuesday 27 August 2013

So, I'm apparently a bad summer blogger...

So, it seems once again I've proven to be a very bad summer blogger.  There I was ramping up my blog, announcing my birds, making plans, and then I go and drop off the radar again. Just like last year, June hit and suddenly I was falling behind in everything trying to fit in day trips, family visiting, travel, art shows, and what not, on top of our daily routine. And all leading up to Badger's birthday.  
Once again my craft room became lost in piles of stuff that needs sorting and storing. My dining table has disappeared under a pile of bird making supplies and random crafting stuffs. My hard drive is full if photos that I kept meaning to blog about. And my house looks like a tiny tornado lives here. 

So, now that Badger is official two years old things should start winding down again and hopefully I can start playing catch up. Right after next weekend's art show in the GTA's Cabbagetown ( Sprucecourt School: arts and crafts booths located in a more informal space at the corner of Carlton and Sumach Streets. Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8. If you're in the area and want to come out and see the birds in person) and then the first meeting for planing this years haunt, then the 5k on the runway that I'm organizing a team for in memory of a sweet lady on our street who passed away earlier this year,  the Run for your Lives event that I'll be a chaser zombie in, the swimming lesson's we are looking at signing badger up for....

Then again...

Oof...

I know a lot of you crafty bloggers out there do all this and more with 2/3/4/5 kids and still kind time to craft and blog. How do you do it? And life/time saving tips you could offer?

(pic spamming for a brief overview of my summer)
A new item!
 
Wire wrapping skills slowly improving.
From my Garden!
At the beach on his birthday.
Go Go Gadget Farmers Market!
Nana Bird anyone?
My first Robin!
More puzzle pieces for more Autism Birds.
Custom order of my first outdoor bird!
Dressed up for vending at Faerie Fest
Amazing custom wallet I had made by the talented Carla at Half Dozen Daily!
I can officially accept credit card now!
As always, more and more birds!

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Top to Bolero Remake

So, about a month ago, I was sifting through the racks at Value Village and came across this really pretty top.

I fell completely in love with the pattern in the sheer fabric . . .



And the beautiful lace lining the neck . . .







BUT, there was one small problem.





I may have lost almost 20 lbs since Christmas but this shirt needed another 10 to fit. 


Still, i had this crazy idea I could do something with it.  I hummed and hawed.  I thought about all the unfinished and backed up projects I had stacking up and thought about how I really didn't need another one did I? But ooooh the print . . .  sooo pretty . . .   the lace . . . sooo pretty. . . but cut it up without knowing if it will work? For $7.99?  And will I even get a chance to work on it?!

Sadly I ended up putting it back on the shelf.  For $7.99 I just couldn't bring myself to cut into it not knowing.

Forwards a couple weeks and I get news of a 50% off day at Value Villiage This is a golden day for pro thrifters. I gather up a bag of toys and a big packed lunch and my toddler and spend a few hours going through the racks. Lo and behold there it was! Still waiting for someone to take it home.

Well,  now it was only $4?  I said fine! BUT, only on the grounds that I work on it right away.

So I snatched it up and took it home and started by cutting off the white bottom.


Still didn't hang right so I also removed the elastic that was added around it.


Then I decided it still needed a little something but what?

Digging around for something I came across some lovely peach satin ribbon that had been intended for a baby blanket that never got used. (The ribbon, not the blanket.)

Pinned and sewed and here is what I ended up with . . .



A very sweet and light bolero style shrug.

My god this is a terrible picture *hides*



I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out given I was really wingin' it.    I might still go back and round out the corners of the ribbon but we'll see.  Now I just need some nice warm weather so I can wear it!

Do any up-cycling or clothing mods yourself lately? 



Till next time, keep crafty!


Linked up!




 I WAS FEATURED!!!

Sugar Bee Crafts