This was suppose to be a simple design

I was just going to make the apron and call it a day. Maybe an accessory or two. But noooo. That's not how things work around here.

Apparently my mind has to create an either DnD class AROUND said apron. Which, has led to more accessory concepts, more details, blah blah blah.

Anyway, so I tore the bodice part of the apron out, deciding that frankly it wasn't doing a thing for me. So now, I am working on finishing the apron to be a skirt part only. Which means I need to work on a top concept.

Which is why my dressform is now wearing a partially finished apron skirt, a ruffle necked shirt, and a black buttoned vest I half thought of tossing out to good will last year, but kept in case I needed it for a costume.

Now it's a baker, meets steampunk meets....I don't know - something. But I think I like it.

I just have to make the whole thing cohesive and actually relate it the Slayer's Cake.

*pours over the DM guide for accessories to adapt*

And spats. I should make spats.

*sewing haze*

Huh. Well, it's been a while since I've just done nothing but work on a sewing project. I don't know if it was cleansing or I just feel slightly dazed from hunching over an ironing board for hours.

Started to work on my Slayer's Cake "battle apron." Thought I hit a snag when I realized I didn't buy any bias tape...but then luckily discovered some in the Hoard.

However.... I don't like the bodice part of it. I might need to modify the gathers or something, but I feel like that pattern once again doesn't take anyone with any sort of bust in to account while making it. If it doesn't work, I'll just get creative and make a new style of top. It IS an apron after all. It doesn't have to fit like a dress - It just doesn't have to be weirdly lumpy like it is now.

Of course, I have to figure out what to wear under it. But that's Coco's job right now.

...Now where are my pirate pantaloons.

Right, you. Get to work.

It's a month until FanExpo, and seeing as this is the first time I haven't been a vendor in three years, that means I can dress up in something a little less restricted by the need to fit behind a table.

.... But what is a girl to wear?

....How far do I go?

I'm out of practice doing the: "Full Day Cosplay - no option of changing." thing. At costume cons, I've just worn my piece just to the competitions. And other than that, 4 years of vending has "forced" me to come up with easier to wear, comfy and compact "casual" outfits.

Like my Tardis flapper dress. Which I will wear again, however, because it's adorable.

I kind of want to wear my Jupiter Ascending gown...but I don't think I can handle to shoes. They were relatively comfy and I still have the blister marks from April.

Unless I do flats. Which means the under dress is far too long. Which I can't hem because there is a detailing on the bottom.

..... Unless.... Do I drop the overskirt...because the underskirt IS wearable on its own.... and then, do a tack point which will be covered by a fancy flower, to pull in the flowers to the lower half of the skirt....

I mean, I could do that anyway.... but maybe add a carrying loop to the overskirt so I can hold on to it a LOT easier.

....I think Coco is going to have to become a model for a while, because now I am curious of what I can do.....

.... I forgot, my hair is like..... 6 inches shorter than it was in April. I don't think I have enough to support the headress.

... which means I need a new headpiece.

...which means the whole outfit is being redesigned....

..... I'm overthinking this, and I'm not displeased about that....

Um...It's can't be that close to the con, right?

Two and a half weeks? Where did all my time go?

Though, now that I am sitting down a taking some time to do work, I waver between stressed for time and delightfully focused on what I have to do.

Good News: 14 Flowers completed. I'll make more, but the baggie is getting nice and full now.
Bad News: The beads I bought for my Dean's bracelets are not going to work, so I have to stalk Micheals like whoa for coupons.

Good News: A couple of new, but quick cuff ideas.
Bad News: Experimenting takes time and work-work is now going to interupt me.

But I'm still under budget. Good. Good.

Starting the New Year

Okay.

Hello 2015.

Let's be friends, okay?

As such, let's begin. My silent New Year's goal to myself, was to be more on top of my crafting - with our FanExpo booth all but assured, I at least can take some confidence in the fact I will have some sort of booth this year, and any and all crafting I undertake will be displayed. Normally, everything pins down to Animenorth and whether or not we can get a table there, which following as intense rush of alchemy in about two months time.

We will be applying to Animenorth again with held breath, and crossed fingers but at least I can start making things now for August and if luck is on our side, be that much more prepared for May.

So. Let's begin now.

And, actually, I have. 6 Chocobo fascinators are now in their hatchling stages,of the currently 8 I have planned. I figure if I do a bit each once and a while I'll have them done nicely in between work, my tutoring jobs and life, the universe and everything else.

That's positive, right?

Fan Expo 2014 - Let's do this!

Alright! Tomorrow (or rather later today) the sun rises on Fan Expo! And Magic and Stitchcraft will be there with:

FASCINATORS!
SPATS!
HAIRCLIPS!
CUFFS!
THINGS!

Look for us in Artist Alley, A114! Tell me Coupon Code: "DNA Polymerase" to receive a FREE verbal strand of DNA or RNA!!! (No kidding!)

And now........!!! Sleep. Because I need to run a booth for four days and not scare people.

Wardrobe run down.

Okay. Tentative plan of outfits for maximum adaptability of accessories.

Thursday: Daisy shirt, denim capris. Matches with yellow flower clip and copper wire necklace. Also, pants. Pants are good so I can navigate and set up booth better. Goooood.

Friday: Whovian motif; Black ruffle skirt, blue blouse, black tank. Matches with Tardis spats, and my Timey Wimey Hairclip. My 11th doctor jacket will be also coming along for a ride as well as my sonic screwdiver 'cause I wanna have it at the Q & A.

Saturday: Black and White theme. Not sure what that will be yet. But to show off Supernatural accessories include my personal supernatural cuff and matched with my silver anti possession necklace.

Sunday: Phoenix light. Steampunk bodice, ruffle skirt. Matches with the coordinated hat, spats and such. Phoenix necklace of course.

That is the current plan anyway.

In other news: Finished last pair of AoT cuffs. Finished personal SPN cuffs. What else? ...More of what?

Threshold

My goal was to make enough inventory that the rough total value was going to be a grand after removing overhead. As my most recent pair of cuffs dries, they are that threshold. Of course, that's at total sell out, so while that's not going to happen at least I know I have it. That's factoring in the pricing from Animenorth, so I might gain a bit from individual cuffs though spats might go either way.

... I haven't made anymore. Not sure if there is a yet to that statement or not. Either way, I have blisters forming from grommets so I need to stop for a while. Still need to make those two more fascinators, and then we'll see what else gets made. I should probably make up those two more singles on the Attack on Titan pairs with the rose and unicorn shield, with fancy trim since I have it. And I need to make some more flower pins. I'll have to finish up my supernatural cuff that I am going to wear, but that might be later on.

Ugh, I'm tired. All my mind is chatting about is this booth while I'm sleeping, so it hasn't been a restful couple of days. Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited about this but that's why I am pressuring myself for more, more, more.

Need some mindless TV nao.

*Wrinkles nose*

I swear the whole house smells like fray check and hot glue. I don't know if that's delightful because it's the smell of progress or bad because I haven't really moved for 3 hours.

.... My chocobo fascinators are done at least. They're rather cute. Plus four flower clips. A smattering of cuffs drying and their ribbons. This is good.

... back to it.

Go go go!

Today, I am a machine.

The table cloth is stitched, 4 pairs of cuffs have been grommeted, 2 pairs trimmed, 6 more pinned awaiting the stitching of the trim and I still have a teeny bit of energy left to finish some hand work. I am very pleased. Stressed because I have SO much stuff to do still, but the day was not wasted.

Carrying on!