DIY Monday: Tunic dress

Did you think I forgot that I was going to do a regular "feature"?  Well, guess what....I didn't.  I just spent 3 hours doing this DIY Tunic tutorial then editing the instructions so that you don't look like a beached whale when wearing it!  Again, you're welcome.

So, this dress is pretty cute right?  I thought so.  I was inspired by a color block dress that I spotted at Buffalo Exchange today, but didn't want to pay $30 for it.  I took the $12.95 that I made from selling them clothes that I had previously bought there (zinger!), and walked over to Joann's.   I was looking for magenta and orange fabric to recreate the other dress, when I saw something odd:  A yellow bolt was draped over something...what could it be?

 Just some orange and magenta ikat. No big deal. 

I snatched it up and walked up to the cutting counter.
To make this dress, follow the woman's instructions on the blog. With some modifications, you can get the weird thing I made. If you want a longer dress, which I did, choose 54" fabric, if you want a short look go with 45".
The things that I changed:
This sort of dress just doesn't look good if you have big boobs.  And I do.  Huge actually.  I'm not sure where they came from, no one else in my family has a gigantic rack...but whatever.  So I put some elastic in the shoulders to make it not look soo....African princess, and make me not look so top heavy.

To put elastic in the sleeve and gather it, you have to pull the elastic tight and then zig zag stitch it along the already existing seam in the sleeve.

Fashion a belt out of left over fabric.

So now what you have is this:

What I would do differently, or what I am still going to work on:
It's too long.  I think I was imagining a maxi dress in my head and I ended up with some sort of traditional African tribal ceremonial attire.
It looks comfortable, but it's also see through, so I would use lining.
I would also use a jersey knit, not polyester.
Yep.  That's about it.

Restyle: Necklace, always a bridesmaid, never a bride

So I have been in 60,000 weddings, give or take.  Sometimes, accessories are picked for me, sometimes I get free reign.  For my dear friend Shannon, I get to pick.  Our dresses are a very light silver, and she is obsessed with Jane Austen.  I am not.  Lace and all that stuff is pretty, I will never turn down a good lace (I use it frequently when making garters), but it's a little too romantic and that's just not me.  My original thought for jewelry was to make a necklace out of metal washers and ribbon.  Then I did a little reality check with myself and decided that this is Shannon's wedding, not Erin's (because honestly, that's not going to happen anytime soon), and I should go with her aesthetic.

So, I bought this pearl bobble necklace at World Market, then weaved some lace through it.  Tied a nice little bow, and look at that, Jane Austen is rolling over in her grave!

Just for funsies, here is my version of the closet from 27 dresses (this includes the dresses from last year and this year...I've managed to get rid of others).

DIY Monday: Pleated Skirt with Waistband

So, this is my first attempt at a regular feature.  Every Monday I am going to post a project that I get from a different site. I'll follow their DIY instructions and post what I come up with, whether it works out or not.  This will keep me on track for one of my 20 goals from this list.
I pinned this skirt on Pinterest a while ago and decided to make it today.  I used some fabric that I have had FOREVER and you might recognize from some other projects, like this and this.
Everything started out fine.  Then, along came the pockets.  I'm not very good at making pockets...A lot of the dresses that I make only have one, because I get so frustrated that I just give up and decide to screw it.  On this skirt I accidently sewed them in upside down and then just took them out.  So my skirt doesn't have any.
Also, there were a lot of parts where the author just assumed that you would know what to do next, left out steps and said something like "and now it looks like this".  Nope, it doesn't, actually.
I made the waistband three inches thick, because I thought that it would make it look better, and it did.  I'm happy with the final product, BUT IT DOESN'T FIT.  Measuring FAIL.
oh well.
Here is the waistband and pleats:

 And the whole thing:

Then, my sewing machine broke.  So....yeah.  I have a case of the Mondays.

Restyle! Silk Hearts Dress

Remember this dress?  What a disaster!

Not only did it have shoulder pads, the sleeves were some awful Designing Women inspired tents. Awful.  Since it is a beautiful sunshiney day in Seattle (we have approximately 5 a year), I set up shop on the deck.

With my Pandora blaring for the neighbors, I got to work.  First, I ditched the shoulder pads.  Then I cut the sleeves.  Have you ever sewn silk?  It's like cutting through butter.  So amazing.  I tried it on, and it was a little too long, so I hemmed it up, and waa laa! A beautiful dress.
I then threw it on, and took my new hot dress to the coffee shop so that I could pose for a picture against a fence, like every other trendy blogger.  This thing is really coming along.
Speaking of this blog, I am going to take a little bit of a more serious approach to it. Not necessarily in my tone, or content, but writing for it like it is my job.  I've got some great ideas about weekly features, and hopefully it will really come into it's own and keep me sane during the school year.
This is the first of the feature "Restyle: Change Your Wardrobe"
So, let me know what you think. Oh, and here is the aforementioned classic blog pose:

A fanny pack? Yep.

photo credit

The fanny pack.  Oh man. I always hated them growing up.  My mom wore one.  It was magenta, and held way to much stuff.  Her hair was permed and I was 7.  Generally, I was thinking, "Mom, do you want me to die alone with no friends?" Ugh.  Now, as an adult with lots of crap to carry around, sometimes a fanny pack is necessary.
I was asked by an ex-coworker (we actually never worked together, I replaced her at the Cafe, then when I left, she replaced me) to make a fanny pack so she could store all of her things in it when she was walking her dog.
Sure, I thought.  I can totally do that.  So, I started thinking about what it should look like..and got a little stressed out. I hate using patterns, they are always WRONG.  But, this was out of my realm.  I can sew the shit out of a dress, make a skirt in 20 minutes, sew garters and bow ties all day long, but a fanny pack was going to be my downfall? A fanny pack was going to be the thing that made me say "sorry, I don't know how to do that"? NO.  Fanny pack, you will not break me, you will not win.  So, I went to my favorite jerk women at Pacific Fabrics and bought a pattern.
I was shocked at the lack of fanny pack patterns, I thought for sure that there would be millions, considering the fashion sense of most sewing enthusiasts.  But, there were only two.  I chose the Burda Style 7339.  I love Burda, I've been a member of their online community for almost 5 years now, and trust their stuff.
But this pattern was whack.  I definitely spent the better part of 30 minutes trying to figure out what the hell they were talking about to attach the zipper.  I followed their instructions, and ended up seam ripping it and just doing it on my own.  Also, their measurements are converted from centimeters and don't match any of the notions that we have available in the U.S. How dare the rest of the world not adapt to our measurement system? How are we supposed to make fanny packs?!  Anyway, here are the results.  If you feel like you need one, let me know....it's summer, I ain't got no job, and I ain't got shit to do.

Bridal Shower appetizers

Being the Maid of Honor is a full time job.  But, the perfect full time job for me!  I get to craft, plan, and be in total CONTROL of stuff.  Perfect!  So, here are the things that I have been making/doing so far this summer.  Instructions/ Recipes are included individually below this entry.  If you click on the hyperlink, it will take you directly to the entry/instructions/recipe.  You’re welcome.  Also, I wore an awesome new dress that I made, but I don't have an entry ready about it so, hold your breath, and you can also wear a 60's inspired dress with a "spool" print.

Delicious and HEINOUS Roasted Roma tomatoes.  SOOOO good.  Check out Christina’s blog at Foodie with a Life.  She may roam the aisle of grocery stores and creep out the owners of small businesses, but she makes good food easy for the rest of us.

Super classy crackers with an Italian spread and some sliced cucumber

Here are what mine looked like....I used crackers like a true Ballard girl:

Stuffed Zucchini with goat cheese

Roasted Red pepper with Mozzarella and Basil

Chocolate Mint pudding in a flowerpot

Strawberry cake with chocolate and strawberry Pocky fence

Stuffed! On zucchini

I love Zucchini.  The slut of vegetables.  They absorb the flavor of what ever you cook them with, or they taste like...squash, SHOCKING!  So, here is how to wow your friends with a delicious little appetizer!
You need:

• zucchini
• goat cheese
• olive oil
• pepper 

After browsing recipes I found one for zucchini that I thought would be great.  Then I got to the store and forgot what ingredients I needed to make the filling, so I just decided that a basic creamy goat cheese would work. Apparently the recipe called for one of those flavored spreads...but too bad, it was delicious with what I improvised.
Take the zucchini and cut the top and bottom off.  Cut the zucchini lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices.  Brush each slice with olive oil, pepper them, and place on a cookie sheet with foil on it. Turn the oven to broil and place the zucchini in the oven.  Keep your eye on it, they will burn very quickly and easily.  Use tongs to flip the zucchini over.  Pull then out as soon as they are done (this may require you to take some out before others).
Once the zucchini is cool enough to touch, form little balls of goat cheese and place them at one end of the zucchini strip.  Roll the zucchini up around the goat cheese and then secure with a toothpick.

It's SOOOO delicious.
Also, these were so good that I ate them all and didn't take a photo. CRAP.

Roasted Red Pepper and Mozzarella with Basil

This appetizer really reminded me of working at Red Mill as a child slave.  Just kidding! Every Saturday morning I would go into the Mill at 10am, and peel roasted Anaheim peppers.  To make these little yummers, you'll need

• 3 red bell peppers
• a ball of mozzarella
• fresh basil

Put your oven on broil.  Line a cookie sheet with foil.  Place the red bell peppers on the cookie sheet and place them in the oven.  The peppers will turn black.  Turn them with the tongs until they are black all the way around. Take them out of the oven and place in a bowl.  Put a cutting board or a plate over the top of the bowl so that the peppers steam.  Leave them there for about 15 minutes.  When they are done steaming take them out of the bowl and place them on top of the cutting board.  Let them cool down unless you want to burn your hands and cry like a little girl.
After they have cooled, pull the stem off, and cut them down the middle.  Flatten them out and seed them.  Cut into 1/2 inch strips.
Now, take small lumps of mozzarella and place them on one end of the red pepper strip.  Roll the pepper around the mozzarella and then put a toothpick through the pepper and the cheese to hold it together. Roughly chop up some basil and toss it on top. Look at that, it's a little rolled up piece of heaven!

A Pot of Dirt

Garden inspiration really did a number on me. So, I drove out to Michael's and bought clear glass flower pot shaped votives.  To make these little cuties, you'll need this stuff:

• clear flower pot votive holders
• cook&serve chocolate pudding mix
• milk
• mint extract
• chocolate flavored goldfish crackers (smashed into a million pieces)
• flowers

So, make your pudding,put a few drops of mint extract in it.  You're going to stir forever, so either listen to music, or be engaged in a  conversation with someone that is trying to "study" for their Bar exam at 3am.

After making the pudding, your arm is going to fall off.  Don't worry, pick it back up and attach it to your shoulder.  If it won't stick, my Dad always suggests duct tape.  Pour the pudding in to the containers.  Put them in the fridge to set.  While the pudding is setting, take the chocolate goldfish crackers and put them in a zip-lock bag.  Slam the shit out of it on the counter.  Now it looks like dirt!
Check out the pudding.  Once it is set, take a large spoon and dump the smashed goldfish on top.  Finish them off with a flower that you cut from your overgrown yard.

The Fenced in Cake

So, I decided to take inspiration from Pinterest and then create a fenced in backyard cake...I took the "garden theme" and went a little  EXTREME, to the point that I was in Safeway at 2:30 am on the verge of tears because they were out of Strawberry Pocky (or most likely do not carry it). 
So, here is what you need:

• a box of strawberry cake (I know! How Ballard of me, shocking.)
• 2 boxes of Strawberry Pocky
• 2  boxes (possibly 3 boxes) of Chocolate Pocky -chocolate Pocky that is purchased at Safeway in the early AM breaks more than any other Pocky I have ever purchased...EVER

• 1 container of cream cheese frosting (I personally LOVE the target brand...)

So, make the cake in a rectangular pan.  let it cool.  Frost with the cream cheese frosting.  Then, start putting only strawberry Pocky on your cake.  The dipped part should be facing down. Push it into the frosting while it is still soft, the frosting is going to act like glue.  Now, get about half way through the cake and look at the clock.  ERMEHGAAAAAD!!! It's 2:30 am and you are totally out of strawberry Pocky.  What are you going to do now idiot? Safeway, you little gem, open 24 hours.  Head out to Safeway.  Did you know that they have an "ethnic food" aisle? Well, some WEIRDO walked down it an hid all of the Pocky, but this little detective found it all, after having a  panic attack, behind the Panda candy.  BOOYAH.

Go home, find your roommate has started drinking whiskey at 3am in "preparation" for her Bar exam, and then alternate your Pocky, chocolate/strawberry around then outside of the cake. This will require you to remove some of the original strawberry Pocky that you placed on the cake in the first place, so I suggest buying the appropriate amount the first time. Place the flowers that you impulse bought at your previous Safeway excursion in the middle.  Bam! Fenced in garden!  You're so AWESOME!