So me-made January...

I was doing so well. First run enthusiasm I guess, but January definitely slowed down the making department around here. I feel like I thought I needed a break from everything in December, and as a result the pull of youtube and the internet called me in the evenings after work rather than the sewing machine. Alright, I think that's all the excuses.

I did get a *little bit of sewing done. I had seen many a tutorial for a gathered skirt, and this tutorial for a circle skirt dress by Annika Victoria had been bugging me for a while to be made, I just needed the right fabric. As is the way lately, this gorgeous, fall scene cotton fabric happened to wander past the cutting table back in November. It was also in clearance, and half off, so several yards came home with me with this project in mind. I started to make a gathered skirt and that's where it started to go funky.

First off, I stupidly did not put pockets in it like I should have, because pockets are awesome. I also decided that now was the perfect time to try self-drafting, even though I probably should have realized that my massive rack wasn't going to play nice with Annika's tutorial (this is not a slight to her, her dart instructions were actually super helpful with this one, I just need 18 of them). I also got ahead of myself and started doing top stitching before actually finishing all the adjustments that are needed for the top, because that was a good idea. Now, I have an unfinished skirt, a mostly sewn top that still needs several adjustments, and three pieces of waistband fabric to sew together. I'm at a crossroads now since I'm uninspired to finish the top to be presentable/actually get it fit nicely, but want to do more than just a skirt that I didn't put pockets in. It doesn't help that I'm stubborn and don't like to give up on things too easily when I've payed for them, cheap or not.

I will admit that I'm really pleased with the top stitching, and my actually smart idea to use an old, very thin t-shirt as lining fabric for the top of the dress (woot woot stash raiding!). The pile of pieces has been sitting on the dining room table for a week or two now, so perhaps February will be its month.

Totally unrelated and hopefully on a more positive note, this awesome, purple, stretch lace was in the remnant bin at the store, and became mine for a whopping $1.50. Lace underwear making time! I have actually made a pair of underwear before, which I may work out a way of creatively photographing for the next post, using the self drafted tutorial from Annika Victoria and an old t-shirt that no longer fit. I was really pleased with my final result, but my God are they funky looking. I need to work on sewing with elastic!

Onwards.

Super late Halloween decor post

While falling down a youtube hole around Halloween last year, I came across this video for this fantastically creepy and classy Halloween decor DIY by Karen Kavett on HGTV Handmade.

I actually went out the next day to get the wreath and as many cheap snakes as I could find.... which turned out to be not much, despite being Halloween season. The craft store only had big expensive ones, and dollarama (the great mecca for plastic, not always 100% anatomically correct animals) only had these weird, jelly snakes that smelled awful. I know buying them online is an option, but the lack of instant gratification of finding more snakes and the usual DIY project procrastination resulted in the parts I had collected being put away for an entire year and ignored.

If a new bid to try and actually do some half done/not done projects to clean up the stashes, I started looking for snakes again this year! I trip to Honest Ed's while killing time one afternoon got a few medium sized ones and the craft store had a multi pack of snakes that nicely rounded out my pile.

All you need is a vine wreath, a 'knot' of snakes and some spray paint.

Step 1) Arrange ALL THE THINGS. I went with Karen's advice and started with the bigger guys and filled out the bare spots with the medium and smaller snakes. With Netflix on in the background, weave all the snakes together and arrange until you're happy with how they're looking. I ended up with a few heads sticking out, which gives it personality.

Hey dude!

Getting there.

No actual snakes were harmed in the making of this wreath. Well maybe, I don't know if the hot glue gun ran one over on the way to the craft store. That would suck if it did, but I can't be held responsible for that.

Hot glue certainly helps, and thankfully didn't melt my jelly snakes (which don't smell nearly as bad a year later!)

Step 2) My wreath didn't have a hanger on the back, but some stiff wire from the stash and a healthy application of hot glue solved that problem.

Step 3) After you prepare a spray painting area so as to not ruin your balcony floor and panels, spray paint the crap out of the entire wreath. Make sure you move it around and get it from all angles, and try to get a second coat to make sure you have good coverage everywhere. Let it dry for a good few hours if you can, but it will smell like paint for a while... and maybe make half of your apartment hallway smell like spray paint. Maybe.

My super sexy spray paint set up. It's outdoors with good ventilation, stop judging.

Before....

During/First pass... 

Almost there...

Step 4) Hang it up and creep people out!

"Why did it have to be snakes?" Because snakes are awesome Dr. Jones. Suck it. Also, the lighting in my hallway sucks balls.

I am super pleased with how this turned out. Having it the one colour makes it kinda subtle, as much as a wreath of snakes can be, and it's creepy enough to be outside the spoopy range for Halloween. Also, this turned out to be the only thing I did for Halloween at home, so an afternoon well spent. I know I used a 50% off coupon on the spray paint, and I might have for the wreath last year, I don't remember, but I think I spent about $35 in total for the whole thing, which ain't bad for something I can creep out guests with for years to come :)

My "why I didn't 'do' Halloween this year" post will be coming up shortly, with a nice little Halloween Easter egg, and here's a bad snake pun to tide you all over.