Ren Faire Costumes

I have been going to Renaissance fairs for a few years now, and I usually make my own costume to wear. Since I am doing this on my own, I want to share my costumes on my artsy/craftsy blog.

First Year: 2010 Bellevue Berry Patch 

Yep, I'm awkward at posing

My first attempt at sewing anything remotely this complicated. I believed I used a Simplicity pattern. I made it too big in the shoulders and too long, but overall I was happy with the results..at least til I got to the fair. You may have noticed that it's outside...in the summer...and I'm wearing velveteen. So I learned something that year!

Second Year: 2011 Scary Acres

Mirror Selfie -classy!

This year I wanted to do something a little different than your middle ages Ren Faire. I couldn't decide between pirate or western, so I mixed them together! Unfortunately, this is the only picture that survived the Great Computer Crash of 2013, so its not the greatest. All pieces were from Goodwill and very little was modified. I created draped skirt layers with safety pins. I wore real cameo jewelry and heeled boots to top it off.

Second Year: 2011 Bellevue Berry Patch

I could be wearing anything in this picture...or nothing!

I pooped out for the second ren faire of the summer. I wore a t shirt and jeans. But don't worry, things get better!

Third Year: 2012 Bellevue Berry Patch

Rwar foxy laday!

I said screw it to patterns this year because I didn't have months to work on it. Spring sorta crept up on me this year. That being said, this is probably my favorite costume because I totally made it up in one day! The skirt is a bed sheet, the vest I got from Goodwill and modified, same with the undershirt. The apron and hat I made from fabric I had laying around. And the pièce de résistance: the fox tail! I actually bought that from a vendor at the fair. And yes, it is real. Turns out, people back in the old days would have to walk through fields and meadows to get to their neighbors. If you've ever walked through a field you know that means bugs! Lots of 'em. To deal with this problem, people would wear tails of animals. The bugs would be attracted to the pelt/fur rather than their skin. Once they reached their destination, they would drop the tail into a basket outside the door just for this purpose. Pretty smart, eh?

Anyway, got sidetracked... so I had so much free time after this costume that I made a second for my boyfriend to wear that year.

M'lady?

Not the greatest picture of his costume, but mine was better anyway!

Year Four: 2013

Could we zoom in please?

You know how you get better at things when you practice? Well that definitely proved true with 2013's costume. Once again I went back to patterns, but this time all the frustrations worked out!. This is by far the most money I have ever spent on costume making. All told, I think this one cost about $90 plus of course 2 weeks of labor! I also made a cloak to go over the dress, but it was too warm for it. 

Got a little Marilyn action going on

Remember that boyfriend I was talking about? Yeah, he got a costume too. I also made that. His costume clocked in at $75. Yikes! So that's where May's rent went! We had a good time though, and these can be worn again for years...as long as neither of us gets fat!

It's getting to be time to start planning for 2014. The boyfriend wants to be a knight...maybe I'll go as a horse and mix things up a little!

Key or Jewelry Holder

Pintrest bender! While I was perusing I found a cute piece of art that could also double as a key ring holder. The project seemed simple enough, and I had everything I needed on hand! Most people have this stuff lying around...except for the keys. I bought mine at Michael's a few months ago, hoping to find a project to use them in.

Supplies I gathered: an old frame, scrap of fabric, keys, hot glue gun, craft glue, paint/paintbrushes.

Craft Supplies

First I had to get the frame disassembled. Remove glass, any art or pictures, and the supporting cardboard. After that I painted the whole thing a golden yellow with a red accent. The accent helps tie it in with my living room where it will be hung. Drying time was pretty fast with acrylic paints.

While it was drying I took the cardboard that was the back of the frame and my fabric of choice. Place the fabric face down and the cardboard on top of that. Cut around the board, leaving at least an inch around the edge.

Use craft glue to glue the edges of the fabric around the cardboard. Let dry.
Screw small hooks into the bottom of the frame to hold keys or jewelry.
Replace the fabric-covered board into frame. Arrange keys how you want them. Hot glue one by one.

The Almost Finished Project

If your frame had hanging hooks or pieces already in place you are finished! Mine didn't so I am thinking of attaching some picture wire and hooks to the back or frame for hanging.

DIY Phone Case Designs

I was browsing through Etsy earlier this week, when I came across a DIY phone case design kit. This is such an easy idea for personalizing your phone that I can't believe I didn't think of it on my own! I ordered a kit for an iphone, even though I don't have an iphone. The kit came with everything needed to design your own case (even a case, although I didn't use it) except glue. There were four sizes of pearls, a bow, and a piece of lace.

Parts of the kit.

Since I don't have an Iphone (Galaxy S4), I used an old case that needed some sprucing up. I made some variations because of differing placements of cameras and speakers.

The final project.

I feel like it is totally doable to find things in crafts stores to put together your own kit. It is a very affordable project. I think the kit was $5 plus shipping, total coming to less than $9. Compared to a similar case online (fully decorated, $30+) this is a great deal!
Mostly this project was gluing. It took about an hour and a half to complete.
I used a hot glue gun and tweezers to attach everything. It took about half of a small gluestick. I was worried that pieces would fall off, but so far only two pearls have fallen off. If I do this again I may look into super glue or another adhesive.

Easy Pillowcases

Years ago I bought some fabric at a sale. I really liked the design and colors, but I didn't have a project to use them on.

Skip to 2013. I have a very ugly floral covered sofa with two throw pillows also in a hideous floral. A slip cover took care of the sofa, but the pillows were going to be more challenging.

The old cover and fabric for the new.

I finally got a project! I didn't have a pattern, but I do have removable pillow covers. The original cover had a zipper, but I didn't want to deal with that. These are decorative pillows and I don't expect a lot of dirt to get on them. I decided to use an overlap to be able to remove the pillow form.

Backs of new cases, pulled open a bit to show overlap

Step one was to cut around the edge of the original pillow case on one piece of the new fabric to create the front.

Step two was to cut around the edges of the original pillow case on one piece of new fabric, adding about 8-10 inches on one side. This would allow some overlap.

Step three involved cutting the larger piece in two. I didn't cut it in half, but approximately 1/3 of the way up. I left enough for a generous seam for both sides of the overlap.

Step four: create hems for both pieces that overlay each other. Fold edge in, press, fold, press, pin, sew.

Step five: align the three pieces with right sides together. Your back pieces should overlap. Sew around all edges.

Step six: Trim seams as needed. Flip right side out and stuff with a pillow form!

Front sides of completed project

Art Gift for My Artist Friend

I lost my job right before Christmas this year, so I had to be very thrifty for gifts. What's more thrifty than homemade gifts?! Of course, the gift still has to fit the beneficiary, so that makes it even more tricky. I have a friend who is an art teacher at a local elementary school. So she likes kids and art...hopefully. When I think of kids I think bright colors and big messes, and that thought led me to Pintrest where I found this pin!

All done! Yes that is a tootsie roll wrapper there...

ComeTogetherKids Blog is where this project is originally from. Due to slightly differing techniques our pictures turned out a little different. I used a hair dryer and that added a lot more splatter. (Check: messy) Also I put a word inside my heart because my friend says "Delightful" all the time. I thought it added another personal touch. The big box of crayons was on sale for $2.50 (check: colors) (check: cheap)
If you don't want to follow the link, here are some basic instructions.

Supplies:
Canvas or canvas board
Big pack of crayons
hot glue gun
contact paper
white paint
hair dryer or heat gun.

Instructions:
Arrange crayons in the order you like along the top of the canvas.
Glue them down. You can take the wrappers off or leave them on, whichever look you prefer.
Cut a design out of contact paper and place on canvas. The paint is because the paper will lift up on the edges and let the crayon leak in. (could try gluing around the edge to keep this from happening)
Use hair dryer to melt crayons. The longer you melt the further down the canvas it will travel.
Once you are satisfied, let dry.
Add personal details and touch up with the white paint.

My First Attempt at "Art"

My friend Tom had a good idea for home decorating: make other people do it for you! It's pretty genius! He supplied the canvas and told everyone to make art on theirs. I feel very nervous around canvas and paints, but I found a neat alternative. I Googled around a bit and came up with this piece:

Put a bird on it!

It required very little painting, but a lot of patience. I used a USA Today as the base layer because they use color in their articles. After modge-podging all the newspaper on, I drew out my branch and birds. Followed with a black acrylic paint. I could have also used a sharpie to make this project totally paint free, but I was already pretty high from the glue...

So I guess now I can say I'm an interior decorator?

Storage Wars! On my closet...

I live in a tiny apartment and have no storage space. What am I supposed to do with my shoes! I tried using a laundry basket, but that was really inefficient because the shoes I wanted to wear were always on the bottom. Which lead to ALL the shoes being tossed out onto the floor.

Since I can't permanently modify anything in this stupid place, I needed a solution I can remove when I go. I went to my old standby, Pintrest. People use all kinds of crazy things to hold shoes, most of them not practical for my life (such as making cubby holes beneath each of your steps in the staircase).

I saw ladders being used for shoes, scarves, books, knickknacks, etc. So for months I looked for a ladder that I could transform into my storage hero. I found nothing. At least nothing that wasn't really expensive. So I decided to make one. And by that I mean, boss my boyfriend into making it for me!
We went to the Home Depot and got 2 1x2's, paint, and three dowels. I measured, and he cut and assembled.

Baby Ladder and Daddy Ladder

Once it was put together, I sanded and painted it this lovely green color!

Shoe Gymnastics

It holds all my high heels with room to spare! No help for unheeled shoes though. But its a step in the right direction!