Bouquets and Broquets and Boozequets....oh my!!!!

Hello There My Little Butterflies!

I know I know, It's been a while but here's the thing.  I've been super busy.

We have this Dirty Santa thing on Wednesday at work at our Christmas Party (which I jumped right into organizing once someone asked me for help.  Just took it off her plate and put it on my own....it's what I do.)

After the fiasco of the crappy hell hole I was working at last year and the entire Dirty Santa Situation there (Seriously, I brought in a bottle of booze, I got a bar of soap that had an undisclosed amount of money in it {SURPRISE it was a GD dollar}), I decided I was going to make a gift basket of sorts. Anyway, I wanted to show you what I was working on.  I've been seeing these things for a while bouncing around Pintrest.  So think of those edible arrangement things, but for guys.  Well Here's the thing, why do only guys get to have fun bouquets?  So I'm not calling it. Broquet.  I'm calling it a Boozequet.

So first, per usual, we gather our supplies.  Now I know it looks like a lot of stuff went into this but really, the whole thing cost me maybe $20 total to make.  So here we go....

Here we see 9 bottles of booze.  Get the sippers or nips as some folks call them at the local liquor store.  Also we have tape, floral foam and gift tissue.

A gift bag (You will definitely need it) a glass stein, a bag of sunflower seeds, a bag of peanuts, a bottle of Champagne jelly beans, a beef stick and (believe it or not...) a bacon lip blam. 

Oh yeah!  Skewers, get the dual sized pack, you need both sizes.  

And now , on to the process.  So first I trimmed away the excess floral foam.  I determined the size I needed by pressing the mouth of the mug firmly into the foam.  This gave me a starting point as to where to start cutting away.  And speaking of cutting, when you are using this type of floral foam (the "wet" kind, you know, the one that holds the water?), you don't really need anything sharp to cut with.  I literally used a plastic butter knife.

I suggest working on a surface, I used a piece of cardboard.  Side note, this type of floral foam gets super fine, which is great fo shaving it in the shape you want but the dust goes everywhere!.  So.....fair warning.

You want the foam to be large enough to support the items you shove into it, but you also want it small enough to go into and out of the glass mug easily.

My next step was to take the yellow tissue paper and fold it into fours so it's one long 4 layer piece.  You only need one sheet of tissue for this.  Then, take a thin white strip of printer paper or whatever and tape it to the top of the yellow piece with a little bit of the white passing the yellow paper.  Now put your foam at the bottom edge and roll the paper around it.  this will give you a yellow and white tube, white paper at the top.

Pirate treasure chest stress ball bitches!

Next, GENTLY (remember I told you this foam is grainy and stuff.) slide the tube (yellow on the bottom with the foam) into your beer stein.  You now have something that give the illusion of beer in your mug.

Pretty neat huh?

Next, I began with the bigger items.  I placed the skewer on the back of the item, wrapped tape around it, and secured it with more tape along the back.

Here are the three tallest items already in the foam.  

TOO CLOSE WITH THE FLASH!!!!!!
You can't see it, but I'm showing you the tape around then the strip up and down to secure the skewer

I placed the tallest item (the beef stick) in the center and in the far back of the foam.  then the smaller items out a bit and on the sides, jelly beans in front of  the beef stick and a little lower, finishing with the smallest non food item  closest to the opposite side of the foam and over lapping the rim a bit.  All the heavier items got a longer skewer.  Mostly for height but also for security.

Adding in the booze!

And now, we do the same with the mini booze bottles.  two on either side of the lip balm at staggered heights.  These got the smaller skewers, they were shorter so they got extra tape.

And now the last 5 booze bottles.  One in the center, then two on either side at staggered heights.  These got longer skewers because I wanted them to have more height.

Someone will be filled with the Christmas Spirit! 

You can find the mug, tissue paper and the beef stick all at the dollar store.  I got the gift bag and the floral foam at Walmart. I got the jelly beans at a Store called Five Below (LOVE THEM). The other snacks and bacon lip balm were found at big lots and I got the booze 10 for $10 at the liquor store.  Total the materials cost me about $19.50 with tax say $21.  It took me about 30 minutes to put together 

And there you have it Butterflies!   Above you find the finished product.  Then I just stuck it into a pretty gift bag, covered the top with red tissue paper and BOOM done.  A fun and unique gift for a friend or coworker that doesn't break the bank.

Merry Christmas Butterflies and Feliz Ano Neuevo!!!!

Failures...And recoveries

Hello My Little Butterflies, 

    Ok, so I don't have any pictures.  Mainly because I wanted to just get this thing knocked out and show you guys the finished product.  Well, disaster struck...

     Last night, I got home from work and decided "Hey!  Let me work on assembling the skirt portion of my Halloween costume!  It should be just a few seams and I can use the serger at Mama Pixie's on Thursday to finish it off."  Ok so I came to realize two things.

1) I will never, ever, EVER make another skirt from a GD pattern again.  Only my paper patterns for my customized circle skirts.  Patterns lock you into a GD box.  

2) I'm short.  Ok so that last one isn't exactly a realization.  I've known this forever.  But here's the thing.  After I tried the shell of the skirt on (which was a F&%KING nightmare let me tell you all about that in a few moments.) I realized that it's too long!  Like a foot too long!  It literally reached my ankles at my natural waist line.  This is without the 2-3 inch elastic waistband.  When I took that into account....It was literally to the floor!!!!  Now my pettiskirt (remember the pettiskirt I'm working on?)  Is only 15 inches long.  With the waistband it reaches between 16-18 (you figure with hems and all that stuff)  There is NO WAY my itty bitty pettiskirt is going to work for that!  So last night, I got disgusted (You know....as you do) and just figured I would have to scrap the whole thing.

    Now, Here's what happened to make me so frustrated.  As I put together the original pieces I had cut, I thought, hmmmm, this is going to be too small.  When I put it all together I thought, Hmm maybe not.  As I tried it on....I split one of the panels right down the center.  *blinbblink* DAFUQ?!

    Well, In my infinite wisdom, I had cut super long pieces of the waistband they wanted me to cut. So I took the offending skirt, pinned some of the waistband and sewed it in. I did this twice.  What was I thinking people?!?!  You know what I was thinking?  "I GOT THIS!  I can save this disaster."  Turns out...No, I can't, it looks like shit, it's still too long and GD IT!  I tossed the offending skirt aside and went to watch the NetFlix in bed with my fur babies.  

    RECOVERY TIME!! 

     Let's fast forward to this morning.  I'm in the shower, washing my hair and of course, I'm thinking of that stupid skirt!  I'm going to have to buy material all over again, re cut it and...wait.....I know what I can do with the F'ed up skirt!!!!!  So, I put in those two panels right? Well, I can take those out pretty easy, use them as a guide to cut up the rest of that skirt and use it for ruffles on my apron!  The costume needs an apron, the apron needs ruffles, so why throw away that material when I can easily join the pieces.  Once the pieces are joined, I can ruffle them then sew them onto the apron!  

     I'm a GD Genius!!!!  Hurray for being thrifty!  I will used the serger at Mama Pixie's as planned to surge the bottom and sides of the long strip, then ruffle the shit outta that bastard and sew it onto the apron.  YES!  What an amazing way to incorporate the pink into the white of the apron.  Oh I'm excited.  Once I get the new yards of material for the circle skirt, I'll be able to knock that out in no time using my customized pattern (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see the tutorial here.  Circle Skirt Tutorial )

     Ok Little Butterflies, I'm going to leave you with that.  Hopefully I will get this strip made tonight and will give you pics of the deconstruction/reconstruction of the materials.  

Peace and Love, 

Pixie

Why Ask Why....

Hello Butterflies,

     I didn't much feel like creating today.  It's more like finishing.  I'm almost done with the one spat for my costume. I learned quiet a bit and did things for the first time such as button holes (YAY ME).  So it made me think... why do I do it?

     I've been asked on more than one occasion why I prefer to make most of my costuming myself.  "Isn't easier to just pay someone to do it or just buy it already made?". Short answer... yes.  It is cheaper.   But you don't get the reaction.  I'll explain later. 

     Another thing is, quiet honestly, quality.  Unless you know the person you are hiring to make the item you want, you run the risk of not getting a high s quality as you would like.  Not to mention, What short cuts are they taking? No I think if I can figure it out, I'd rather make it myself.

     Now, remember when I mentioned the reaction?  There is no better feeling when someone gushes of a piece you're wearing and you can say those magical words, "I made it.".  The look on their face and when they ask you how you did it, it's like a drug.  I love every minute of it. 

So create my little butterflies. Show the world what you are made of.

Love and Peace,

Pixie

So, you want to draft a circle skirt pattern?

Good Morning Butterflies!!!!

     I am SUPER excited today.  This week while at Mama Pixie's, I spent the day sewing with her for the second week in a row.  It was AWESOME!  My Mama Pixie kicks ASS when it comes to crafts.  There isn't much she can't do.  She sews, paints, works with clay, makes dolls...Just anything and everything!  She is AWESOME.  That must be where I get it  Anyway, this week, I was able to teach Mama Pixie something which made me so happy and proud.  AND I forgot to take pictures....Damn it.  Realizing this, I recreated the procedure in my house only I made the "item" longer.  I'll explain in a minute.  First, let's talk about what we're working on here.  Remember how I mentioned I wanted a pettiskirt, super fluffy and insane looking?  Yeeeeaaaaah so that's kind of what were working on....We're going to make the base of our pettiskirt...the Circle skirt.

     I started off per usual doing my research.  There is a program out there where you can punch in the digits, some of them want you to divide by 6.85 or something like that....uhhh no.  I stumbled up the video below on YouTube and was in LOVE.  Not only does she take you through it step by step but she also GIVES you a link to download a little inner circle pattern guide thing.....Just watch the video and get the link sillies.

     So, here I go, gathering my supplies.  This project is so quick, I didn't even have time to GATHER the EoL!  That super quick.  Below you see my supplies which include the pattern (YAY!), a yard stick, the Box O' Markers, My home made pattern weights (Did I mention how much I love them?!), scissors for paper (I'll explain that), and believe it or not.....wrapping paper.  I would have rather used craft paper (you know the brown stuff on the roll? Sometimes it;s called shipping paper.) But honestly, I didn't have any, I didn't want to buy any (Because I'm "Thrifty") And I have rolls upon rolls upon ROLLS of wrapping paper.  (I buy them when they go on Clearance after the Holidays.) 

Pattern weights, scissors and the yard stick. 

Markers and paper!

Yardstick and pattern.

     I'm going to STOP right here and explain about scissors.  I once knew someone who grabbed a set of my sewing scissors and said "Wow, these are sharp!".  Then proceeded to cut a STRAW with them as well as paper.  I freaked out.  Sewing scissors are specifically designed for cutting fabric, NOT PAPER.  Do not, I repeat, DO NOT grab a seamstresses (Is that a word?!) sewing scissors and use them to cut paper.  They will be ruined, you will get yelled at and you will be out some money when she freaks out hard enough that you buy new scissors to shut her up!  Just a word of warning my little butterflies, cause I care and I love each and every one of you.

     Anywho, below you see the placement of the pattern in a corner of the paper I am using to draft the circle skirt pattern.  You can do this straight on the material but honestly, I like having a pattern to work from.  PLUS, I have a pattern I can use over and over without have to measure it every time.  I should also mention, the pattern goes up to 44 inches....Being a Rubenesque girl, I had to measure the distance between lines and add a few more before I cut it.  VERY easy to do as well and it fits perfect now.

Pattern in the upper left hand corner of the paper, held my pattern weights and the Box O' Markers.

     I then traced the pattern out, and removed it for the next time I need it.  You are done with the pattern now.  Put it someplace safe!  Hell I think I want to laminate mine!!!

     Next, we take the yard stick and starting at the inner circle, we measure our length.  I went with 22 inches.  Because I'm short and 22 inches is like tea length on me!  Plus if it's too long, I can always take it up.  You can always take up, much more difficult to let out.  

All my little dashes.

     OH I also said I would explain as to WHY I needed it to be longer.  Well, the original one I cut for the pettiskirt is only 15 inches long.  Why?  Well, because it's going under another skirt and will have layers of tulle on it and I will be wearing bloomies too.  So my badonkadonk will not be on display for all the world to see LOL.  But for every day wear, I definitely wanted something LONGER!!

Close up of my little dash marks.

You see I'm measuring for the inner circle line, not the top of the paper.  If you work from the top of the paper, your pattern will be all jacked up.

     OH! I forgot to mention!  To make your "dashed" line, you will start at one side of your inner circle, make a mark, then move your yard stick.  You will always keep the top of your yard stick on the inner circle thus making an arc with your dashed lines.  See below?  (Watch the video, the young lady explains it so much better LOL)

     Your next step is to connect your dots or dashes or what have you.  

Connect the dots, La La Lala!  (Anyone else love Pee Wee Herman?)

     Forgot to take pictures and Hubby Hubby wasn't home to do it for me but then you cut out your pattern!

TADA!!!!!!

There is it!  My custom made circle skirt pattern that is perfect for my waist and 22 inches long.  Can't wait to find my material so I can make a skirt with this one.  

    I'll make another post soon about how to use the pattern.  But as a bonus, below you see the progress on my pettiskirt.

Here is the circle skirt all by it's self.  It's got chalk marks all over it for my placement of tulle.  

And here is 20 yards (YES YARDS!) of tulle that have been ruffled.  

      Ruffling tulle is a WHOLE different blog post.  Maybe tomorrows.  I need more tulle!!!!!

     Well my Little Butterflies, I hope this helps.  

Peace and Love, 

Pixie.

Ok, They can't all be perfect.

Hello My Little Butterflies!

  As I've stated before, not all crafts are perfect.  Sometimes, they are down right...well....shitty looking.  Now before I begin, please let me state YET AGAIN, all opinions are my own and really, I think most of this stuff is My errors.  I'm not perfect.  Let's begin.

    So, I've been watching this Make your own tricorn pattern and site because HEY Pirate hats can be expensive!  I think either my cardboard was too thick or my felt was but either way, here's my process.

My supplies.  Bias Tape, cardboard, my6 pattern, cool tool glue gun and glue sticks and my felts.

    Some of the pattern needed to literally be put together.  You see the process below.  

 

     Now I Printed two copies of each pattern.  The reason being is because you use part of the pattern as your cardboard pattern.  And because I didn't want to print out the pattern a bunch of times, I went ahead and put all the patter pieces on this cardboard and cut them all out.  

 

     There I started tracing onto the felt.  

After That was finished, I glued everything down and cut it out (AGAIN!!!)  I also began to make little slits around the out side to glue it down.   

Unfortunately, my material wasn't long enough and it just didnt come out right.  I was very disappointed.  But, here's the thing.  I plan on trying this again.  I'm not going to give up are you kidding?  I will do it again, I will try it another way, I will do lots of things but eventually, I will get it right!  

     As I said, Not everything is a hit out of the park.  But we should never give into the feeling of defeat,  I will try this again. 

But a different post coming tomorrow.  Until then, Adios!

Peace and Love, 

Pixie!