Handworks Crochet and then Some!

I know its hard to see on this red mannequin... but here is the progress of the Rhythm/Salsa dress I am making for a competition dancer here in town.... I have a ways to go on the top and I have to completely cover it in crystals! Its going to be gorgeous on her!!! This is the first time I've made a dress like this!! Its very exciting to me... I go this fabric at the wonderful Gail K's. The Lycra fabric was pretty reasonable at $12 a yard... but the netting I'm using was $20 a yard!! Thank Goodness I didn't have to use to much of it to get the effect I wanted. And I can't wait for Rach to put her bellydance costume on that I made her last week!!!! I want to post it so bad! Punch Needle! Yes, I love to punch needle lots of little designs and I never have any clue what I will do with them! Here's what I'm currently working on.... and here is my new punch needle toy!!! Its seriously cutting my time in half because I don't have to keep putting new thread i...

Sooooo busy!!!!! In between trips, getting my son back into school, taking care of the Bald Man and sewing... but not sewing for me!!! (all sewing lately has been design/costuming work... beautiful pics coming soon!) I haven't had much time to blog!!! To the left is one last pic I want to post from the FL trip.... This view from outside our window, with a rainbow!!! How beautiful!!!! I know rainbows are a sign of God's promise but they always make me think... wow! there is so much beauty in this world!!! The Atlanta trip was fun! As always!!!! Here I am at Gail K's... where else! I was on a mission for some hot orange fabric for a rhythm/salsa dance dress I have been hired to make. I am very excited about this dress... new challenges! I am so up for it!!!! I made the skirt for it today.... its gonna be hot hot hot!!!! In other sewing/costuming news I finished a bellydance costume last week for the lovely Rach . And I finished a handbag today for my swap with Lory !!! No ...

Well, my swap partner from the recycled hand bag swap received her Felted Handbag I made her... and I think she loved it because she gave me a 5 and a heart!!! yay!!! To the left it the sunglasses case I made to go in it.... made from a childs sweater (I felted it) and on old trench coat button To the right is the hand bag... made from an old sweater (felted), trench coat button and its lined with an old shirt... the pocket if from the scraps of another old shirt... This was a simple bag to make and ofcourse very low cost because everything was recycled!! I want one for myself now!!! THE COCONUT STORY. You see, I love baby coconuts... I eat about 3 a week! While the Bald Man and I were in FL I couldn't help but notice all these baby coconuts on the palm trees everywhere!!! It had been 4 days since I had a coconut.... my month was seriously beginning to water when I would see them... Now Bald Man could see I was getting excited every time we passed a tree full... especially if it w...

Yes, down in sunny (hot!!!) FL for Bald Man's annual Chaparral dealer meeting. And... well... its boring! Good things about it though... the hotel is beautiful and we have a great view! I get to Internet shop and the Bald Man doesn't say anything about it... because you know, I have nothing else to do when he's in meetings! Not that he says much.. but sometimes I do get a little carried away on Ebay !! Also we got to ride in Chaparral's new 40 ft yacht ... which was super nice!!! The boat pic above is one of their smaller models but its still sharp... they really do make the most beautiful boats. The pic of us above is the first night here.. we cleared out early from dinner because there was nothing I would eat... not even salad!!! We went to a place called Blu Sushi... very trendy but still really good. Our second night was more eventful... here I am.. very happy at the dinner party because the Bald Man has already feed me else where! lol ! Can u tell I don'...

OOP Vogue 9026 is done! And ready to be worn at the ultra boring boat dealer dinner/awards ceremony! I am fairly happy with it.. this is my first attempt at a top this constructed... and let me tell you.. the inside of this top is a hot mess!!! lol!!! I sewed it up, altered it... took it apart.. did all kinds of crap! I know.. I should have made a muslin... esp. since I've never made anything this constructed,,,, live and learn. I think I should have used a heavier fabric too... then if would have draped better. I am very happy with the skirt! It was a straight skirt with a flare at the knee... well with me being a shorty (5'5) I knew I couldn't pull that off with out looking 'choppy'. So I lengthened it to my ankles.. to a mermaid style skirt... wanting to keep some sexiness alive I did away with the flare on one side and slit it up to my thigh.. did a narrow 3 thread hem in grey embroidery thread with my serger all around... Pretty! Then up the front panel by the...

Ok... The look to the right is the first shirt I made to go with my Boston fabric skirt... the look to the left is the wrap top I just made for the second "look" I think I like the left look with the wrap top better than the black T..... The only thing about the new "look" is the wrap top is a little short.... and I think I kinda look fat in it... Bald Man thinks I'm crazy when I say that.. but whatever! Maybe its the way I'm standing in this pic... anyhow.... I like the "islandie" look of it! The grey boloro looks pretty cute with the wrap top too! I just didn't wear it last night because the Bald Man thought it looked to dressy to go out for just a drink (he's becoming quite the fashion police with all the Project Runways he watches with me!)... which turned into Salsa dancing at the local Latino club! Yep, it was one of those nights.. long! I have to work (bellydance) tonight so I'm trying to get my energy up! Been a while since ...