Dolce and Gabbana Inspired - Red Lace 3/4 Sleeves Tailored Dress

Dolce and Gabbana is going with a Catholic/Byzantine theme this fall and winter. The show started off with dresses printed in mosaics with motifs of saints and priests. All the women wore little gold crowns and crucifix jewelry. The show ended with the flood of Cardinal red lace pictured below. Several of the dresses caught my attention. 

(When I found 4 1/2 yards of red lace and a red cotton bed sheet at the thrift store, I knew what I had to be done!)

Here is a Dolce and Gabbana advertisement in Vogue for September 2013. Notice how the dresses have red material behind the red lace. That's the look I was going for. 

This is the cut and style of dress that caught my attention. This one is kinda see-through, though.

Here is a close-up of the same dress. I used this picture to figure out the sleeves.

Notice the bodice. The flowers are symmetrical and placed above the breasts (instead of on them, which would be distasteful). I knew that symmetry and placement were important, so I tried to keep them as I was cutting and darting. If you can't see what I'm talking about, scroll to the next picture.

I circled the flowers I was talking about.

Here is my dress. I didn't iron it because I don't think you are supposed to iron lace. I will steam it before I wear it, though.

See the symmetrical flowers??? That wasn't easy. That's why I'm making you look at them!

I also got the sleeves as symmetrical as possible. See the flower right on the ball of the shoulder?

It's like that on the other one too.

I don't know what the back of the original dress looks like, but I know on Project Runway they say that if the front of your dress is high, then make the back a little lower and vice versa. If they are both high it looks "Madame" and if they are both low, it looks trashy.

More symmetry in the back--notice the flower symmetry. Oh, I forgot I was going to put false buttons on the back. I was too excited to post it! I will have to post and update later. I also kinda haven't decided if I want to take another couple inches off the bottom, because I'm kinda short. I'll definitely post an update at some point.

This is a picture using the flash. I put a cross necklace with it as a nod to the runway show.

No flash.

The End!

Elephant Man Hat and Cowl

Sometimes, when you are a maker of things, you get asked to make the weirdest stuff at the strangest times. I wasn't planning on blogging today, but when I woke up to my sister's calling and asking me to make her an Elephant Man hat and cowl for a play she and her husband are directing. . .I realized I would be blogging today after all. . .Yes, Sister, you let me stay at your house for a year rent-free. . .I guess I can make you an Elephant Man hat. . .

This is the original one that is in some museum somewhere. Until this morning, I had no idea what it even was! I mean, I knew he wore a thing over his face, but I didn't know there was a specific hat. Learn something new every day. . .

Here is another view:

Here is mine:

I went to Goodwill, but I couldn't find any brown velvet, so I bought a pair of brown tweed pants. I used a pillow case for the cowl.

I used the lining of the pants as the lining in the hat.

If you look at the original again, you will see it has some kind of ribbon around the bottom half. Well, obviously, I didn't have that either, so I just sewed around and around the bottom half with white thread. I think it gives it a rustic feel and it at least alludes to the orginal.

If you look closely, you can see that I put a bit of thread down the middle of the eye hole. Having done theatre myself, I know how much an actor needs to see on stage, so I cut the eye hole bigger than the original. To keep the hole from gaping open, I tied a bit of thread down the middle of it.

A close up of the eye hole.

The End.

Chanel Inspired (but kind of not) - Leather and Jersey Shirt

Okay so, this one came from an idea I came across in Alloy magazine. 

I really liked the leather sleeves and how the bodice part of the shirt runs straight into the shoulders and sleeves as all one piece of material. It's interesting and different. Mine turned out a little girlier than this one. (It looks a little motorcycle-y in the picture below.) I wanna play around with this look for awhile, though, and have a few ideas in my head of ways to do it.

I said it was "Chanel Inspired" because. . .it ended up looking more couture than I thought it would, but I'm okay with it! I think it looks interesting.

I used the same quilted material that I've used before (here and here ) and the same patent leather as I've used before on things. Yes, that's the same skirt as here. 

This one took forever to make the pattern for, for some reason. I used a shirt I had to get the sizing right, but because the sleeve was so different, it took awhile to draw it properly. I guess that's why people buy patterns!

Close up of the sleeve.

If you notice, the neckline and the bottom hem have the same stitching, but the bottom is much more flared and the neckline lies flat. I learned a trick doing this that if you lightly pull on jersey fabric as you sew, the hem will flare out. If you lightly push the jersey into the machine while you sew, the fabric will actually lie flat. I know it seems like if you push it in, it will get all bunchy and gathered, but because jersey is stretchy and because there is tension in the machine, pushing will actually just counteract the stretch. I'm glad I thought to do this, or the neckline would be huge!

See the difference up there and down there?

Granny's Apron

Sue, my mother-in-law, asked if I would make her mother (aka: Mildred Spake) a bib for dinner. Granny already has one, but it's nice to have another one on hand. Basically, it was just a panel of fabric with a hole cut in it for her head to go through, but. . .I thought I'd get a little creative, and it turned out so well, I thought I'd share it here.

The End!

Chanel Inspired - Patent Leather Skirt

I have been reading many many fashion magazines lately. I know. . .I should read books. . .Anyways, Chanel and other designers keep making these unlikely full leather skirts for fall. We are all used to leather making a nice pencil skirt, and then there were those A-line skirts that Gap kept selling during the 90s. Nowadays, it seems that designers are adding even more volume into leather--even making ball gowns with the stuff! That seems absurd, but it got me to wondering if I needed one. Not a ball gown. A skirt.

I had a piece of black patent leather from which I used a portion to accent on The Lady Grantham Dress, astute readers will remember. Anyways, seeing Chanel's new looks for fall, I got inspired to copy the silhouette and maybe I jump on the fashion train this fall too. . .but for no money. . .

Okay so see how that white is peeking out the bottom of the one on the left? I could only wear that with certain things, but I did like the white on the black. Also, the silhouette is a little obnoxious for every day--sticking out that far, I mean.

This is a better picture of a full leather skirt (the one on the far right). 

(These pictures are from the September 2013 edition of W magazine, by the way.)

This is what I came up with. It's a little toned down from the fullness of the skirts above (because there is such a thing as princessing people to death). I used the quilted white jersey (from this dress I made earlier) as the waist/hip band to help elongate my torso and minimize my hips. Also, the skirt comes down to almost the top of my knee so it's work appropriate. I didn't bother with a zipper because the jersey is stretchy enough to pull on and off.

I really like this sweater with it. Hard and soft. Notice my nod to Chanel again with the metal surrounded pearl buttons. 

I'm suuuuch a poser!

Make Five Days (At Least) of Dinners in One Hour - Superfood Soup and Salmon Sauteed Salad

There is never enough time, right? These recipes will help you save time and energy (both yours and your electricity), and help your diet. Furthermore, when it comes time to eat dinner, you can alternate these dishes every other day so you don't get bored. You can modify these ingredients and supplies to your own taste and what you have available. I'm just listing the things I used.

Supplies:

1. Large cast iron skillet (or regular skillet).

2. Large steel pot.

3. Flat wooden spatula (or regular spatula).

4. Large knife.

5. Cutting board.

6. Glass 9 x 12 casserole dish (or metal one).

7. Slow cooker.

8. Spoon.

9. Electric Kettle (or stovetop, but electric is far faster and energy efficient.)

10. Largish container to keep the salad in.

Ingredients:

For the Superfood Soup:

1. 3 lb. bag of sweet potatoes.

2. 2 cans of pumpkin. (Not pie filling)

3. 3 small butternut squashes.

4. 1 red and 2 vidalia onions.

5. Several spoonfuls of minced garlic.

6. Cinnamon.

7. Curry powder. (If you don't like curry...guess what...don't put it in then!!!)

8. Burmese curry powder. (Same!)

9. Ginger.

10. Butter (The real stuff. None of this margarine business...) or olive oil.

11. Olive Oil.

For the Salmon Sauteed Salad:

1. 1 red onion.

2. A few spoonfuls of minced garlic.

3. 1-2 salmon filets.

4. 1/2 bag of sweet corn.

5. 3 roma tomatoes.

6. 1 bag of baby spinach.

7. 1 avocado.

8. Lemon juice.

9. Basil.

10. Ginger

11. Soy Sauce.

12. Olive Oil.

13. Quinoa (or rice).

Directions:

1. Fill your electric kettle with as much water as you can and plug it in.

2. While the water is warming up, wash and cut your sweet potatoes, and put them in the steel pot.

3. Put the pot on the stove and pour the boiling water over your potatoes, turn the stove on high until the water comes back to a boil.

4. While that is happening, cut your squashes in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, cut little slits in the skin, and place the halves face up in the casserole dish. Put a tiny pat of butter (or olive oil) into the bowls of each one and a little cinnamon. Put a little water in the bottom of the dish.

5. Put the squash in the microwave and cook on high for 10 minutes. (As you have time during this whole process, keep recooking it for 10 minute intervals until the flesh is soft.) Turn your sweet potato heat down to medium low or low--whichever maintains a steady, but not violent, boil.

6. Put your skillet on another eye on your stove. Cut your onions and put them and your garlic into the skillet. Begin sauteing them in olive oil on medium high.

7. While that is happening, open your cans of pumpkin and dump them into your slow cooker, and then turn it on medium heat. Maybe heat a little more water in your electric kettle, and pour that over the pumpkin till you get a soupy consistency. Put the lid over the pumpkin.

8. While that is happening, cut another red onion and set aside.

9. Once that is done, your first garlic and onions should be ready. Dump them into the slow cooker.

10. Pour the newly cut onion into the skillet along with the garlic from the second ingredients list. Saute them in olive oil.

11. As soon as they are starting to brown, lay the two salmon fillets in the skillet and start braising them. Add the basil and ginger.

12. Once they start turning whitish pink, chop them up in the skillet with your spatula. 

13. Start picking out the pieces that are done and put them into your container and set it aside. (Don't overcook the salmon.)

14. As soon as that's over, add the corn and start sauteing it. 

15. While that is happening, slice your tomatoes. 

16. Add the tomatoes to the skillet and lightly saute them.

17. While that is happening, dump the bag of baby spinach on top. Pour a little bit of water and oil over it. (You will actually start steaming the spinach before sauteing it this way.)

18. Once the spinach starts to wilt, begin stirring the ingredients together and turn off the heat. Keep stirring until the spinach is lightly wilted. Remove from heat. 

19. Either put the salmon back into the skillet and stir it or pour the skillet into the container and shake it. Do which ever one gives you the most room to combine ingredients.

20. Put the salad in the refrigerator. (You will serve it cold. You will also cut the avocado and add lemon juice just before serving over quinoa. Quinoa is really easy to make. Just follow the directions on the bag just before actual dinner time. Boil your water for the quinoa in your electric kettle and save even more time on the stove!)

21. Turn off the heat on the sweet potatoes.

22. Hopefully your squash has had time to cool at some point here. Take it out of the microwave and scoop the flesh out with a spoon and add to the slow cooker.

23. Pour the excess water off your sweet potatoes. Mash them up with your spatula (or a masher), and add them to the slow cooker.

24. Add flaxseed if you want more protein.

25. Add the spices to your taste. Let it continue simmering for as long as you need to before cooling and refrigerating. Your work here is done.

Other ideas:

1. For a Clemon game day, make the soup with just red onions (purple and orange!).

2. If you want your soup blended, blend it! I'm too lazy...

3. If your slow cooker dish is too small and your soup is too thick and you can't add more water without it overflowing, just keep it thick and before serving, add more water to each serving before reheating.

4. You can freeze the soup if you need to.

5. Corn bread or toast, and/or a little white cheese, goes well with the soup.

   You will have soup for 2-3 people on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and salad on Tuesday and Thursday (and it may even run you into the weekend)!