scottish kilt placemats {in the craft room}

i'm planning a burn's night supper

it happens on january 25th

and is a night of 

literature, revelry

and

haggis

i thought it might be fun 

to have place settings

that match the theme

plaid and kilts

seem very scottish to me

(click here for tutorial)

*these are time consuming, but easy for anyone with basic sewing skills. if you have any questions about the tutorial or method, please leave me a comment and i will get back to you in a jiffy

child catcher halloween costume

yes

i know

halloween is in the past

and we have moved rapidly on to

the next big holiday

but

i want to share something

i am not a seamstress

there was that one quarter of sewing

in jr. high school

where we made pillows and wrap skirts

really, i don't even know 

how to sew

legitimately

but 

i do it anyway

i act unafraid

i improvise

i'm sharing with you

so you understand

it is possible

with little or no training

combined

with a bit of creative thinking

anyone can make

these costumes

for the child catcher coat

i used simplicity pattern 5386--closed the back and didn't add the collar or cuffs

i cut the sleeve pattern as prescribed, then pinned parchment paper to it, and fashioned it around my arm to the desired shape...and cut the parchment to match. opened it up..and had a new sleeve pattern.

all of the colors and patterns, are added on top of the the original coat giving it heft.  i made this in one afternoon

the glove is a black glove with a piece of oasis duck-taped on it. the lollipops are simply stuck and hot glued.

for the planet of the apes costume

i used butterick pattern  b4574--instead of an open collar for the shirt, i kept it closed and added a rolled collar, and hemmed the shirt cuff rather than adding elastic.  from the same pattern, i was able to make the vest--eliminating the cap sleeves and shortening it to hit at the hip.  the vest is made of pleather. i was able to make the ridges by taking strips of the pleather hot-gluing 1/4" cording down the center, then sewing the strips onto the vest.  the ammo belt is also pleather, with a covering of fishnet. 

i know this all seems rather simplified...but it is to make a point

it is rather simple

the work with sewing

is in the preparation

much like carpentry

measure twice

cut once

prepare your materials

pay attention to the directions

and

don't sweat it

i doubt anyone will criticize your costume

while you are handing them candy

i hope you had a great halloween

and 

aren't freaked by the notion

that 

christmas is only 52 days away

why must i be...a dog in a suitcase?

i don't speak french

which is why it is slightly insane

that i subscribe

to french magazines

aside from the few french words 

incorporated into the english language

i have not a clue

if the prose is 

inspired 

or

insipid

however

the photos

and 

creativity

never fail to 

turn this

punctual taskmaster

into a 

daring daydreamer

a recent issue of marie claire idees

showed a small dog

perched in a

 darling white-washed bed

fashioned from an old valise

at a romp through an overstuffed antique store

i found this

with a

 bit of fabric

little ingenuity

and

sackful of patience

(i am a horrible seamstress)

we now have

our own darling version

(if i might say so myself)

both girls checked it out

but only one 

reigns supreme

she seems quite content

mais oui!

*i have a tutorial here with a material's list and some steps

this is not a sewing tutorial...that would be like the blind leading the blind!

linking up to
tatertots and jello weekend wrap up

and

madeline cloak project

i am working on a few things for a school auction

it is that time of year!

in the past i have donated cooking classes and dinner parties

but frankly

i am so busy

and 

coordinating schedules

has become tedious

so this year i switched it up a bit

and i am donating the fixins

for a 

madeline birthday party

i'm not going to lie

i was inspired by a kate landers party

that has been flying around the blogosphere

essentially,

what i am doing 

is providing all the things a

very hip and classy parent

(wink, wink)

would want and need

for their small child's party

and one of those things

actually i made 8 of them

is a madeline cloak

(fully lined, mind you)

i am not a seamstress

so this has been a bit of a challenge

but i have to say

i am 

in love with them

so cute

can't you just imagine

eight little girls

in two straight lines

more to come, i am sure