I'm having some trouble making my gadgets show up - they'll show up when viewing individual posts, but are all mooshed towards the bottom when viewing the main page(s).
Does anyone have a suggestion of what I can do to fix this?
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Melia Wonderland Costume
Melia is re-purposing her ball gown for the tea as well - we'll have and update for you for soon!
Upcoming Costumes...
I don't have the time (or funds...hah) to put together a whole brand new outfit for the upcoming Wonderland Tea - so I've decided to cannibalize my 'Midnight' gown to put together a little something....see if you can guess!! (ok, not that hard to guess, but still....)
Ironing and Ironing Accessories pt. I
It has to be said, I'm kind of a junkie for sewing gadgets and gizmos. One of my most used types of sewing room gadget is anything to do with ironing. (Since it's kind of my.....thing)
It's kind of a disease! (an enjoyable one, but a disease nonetheless)
Spray starch in a can is a total rip-off, and way too expensive! So, what are the alternatives? (That one itty bitty bottle of Best Press was $6.95!!)
I like to use liquid starch (Sta-Flo, to be exact), and make up my own in a spray bottle. It's nice to be able to formulate different strengths and not have to go buy a new can every time! I've found a good balance is just a little less than a 1:1 ratio. (This is the same stuff I've used to soak partlets and petticoats, and anything that needs a stiffer starch set)
Starch is amazeballs, but when you need a nice press set, without all the starchiness (for example, pleats in silk; a spray bottle of about 1/2 white vinegar, 1/2 water totally does the trick. I've not had it stain or spot anything (yet), and it gives a nice crease and set to things without the crunchiness of starch. (Don't worry, the vinegar smell dissipates quickly - you won't be walking around smelling of pickles!) Kind of works the same as Mary Ellen's, but way cheaper, though not as nice-smelling. (and in some respects, works better, I think!)
Pressing cloths are amazing - use them, love them. If you don't have any yet, I would suggest starting to collect some out of scraps or stash - at least 1 canvas/duck, 1 muslin, and 1 silk organza. White is the best - no fear of colors bleeding. Making a pressing cloth is the easiest thing in the world - just cut out a piece of fabric (about 12"x12" or so) and zip around the edge with a serger or zig-zag. (Here is a great list of the uses for different types of pressing cloths)
Inbetween starch and pressing cloths is something called a 'Rajah Press Cloth'. It's supposed to set in/take out creases in poly and poly blend fabrics. I don't use mine very often, as I don't use poly very often at all....but just so you know, it's out there....
A neat trick is to slightly dampen the press cloth (with straight water, or water/vinegar) - it gives kind of the same effect of using steam from the iron, but is a lot more gentle.
It's kind of a disease! (an enjoyable one, but a disease nonetheless)
Spray starch in a can is a total rip-off, and way too expensive! So, what are the alternatives? (That one itty bitty bottle of Best Press was $6.95!!)
I like to use liquid starch (Sta-Flo, to be exact), and make up my own in a spray bottle. It's nice to be able to formulate different strengths and not have to go buy a new can every time! I've found a good balance is just a little less than a 1:1 ratio. (This is the same stuff I've used to soak partlets and petticoats, and anything that needs a stiffer starch set)
Starch is amazeballs, but when you need a nice press set, without all the starchiness (for example, pleats in silk; a spray bottle of about 1/2 white vinegar, 1/2 water totally does the trick. I've not had it stain or spot anything (yet), and it gives a nice crease and set to things without the crunchiness of starch. (Don't worry, the vinegar smell dissipates quickly - you won't be walking around smelling of pickles!) Kind of works the same as Mary Ellen's, but way cheaper, though not as nice-smelling. (and in some respects, works better, I think!)
Pressing cloths are amazing - use them, love them. If you don't have any yet, I would suggest starting to collect some out of scraps or stash - at least 1 canvas/duck, 1 muslin, and 1 silk organza. White is the best - no fear of colors bleeding. Making a pressing cloth is the easiest thing in the world - just cut out a piece of fabric (about 12"x12" or so) and zip around the edge with a serger or zig-zag. (Here is a great list of the uses for different types of pressing cloths)
Inbetween starch and pressing cloths is something called a 'Rajah Press Cloth'. It's supposed to set in/take out creases in poly and poly blend fabrics. I don't use mine very often, as I don't use poly very often at all....but just so you know, it's out there....
A neat trick is to slightly dampen the press cloth (with straight water, or water/vinegar) - it gives kind of the same effect of using steam from the iron, but is a lot more gentle.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Just a few pics...
In all the last minute fitting and finishing, I managed to forget my camera! Thankfully Anne took some photos on her phone! I'm hoping we can get a proper photo shoot fairly soon.....
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| Melia and I planning a raid on the punch! (Ignore my Silence-esque profile, courtesy of the picture frame I am standing in front of!) |
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Noelle's 'Steampunk' Hat
Thankfully, my sister did both of our hat blanks! (I owe you, sis!) I ended up making my hat at the very, very last second, and I *le gasp* constructed the entire thing with hot glue. It's not as composed as I would have liked, but honestly, not too bad for an hours' worth of work, I think. 
