MrsEvils' Me Equivoque Contigo Dress - Pt 1

~or~ How to turn McCall's 4450 pattern into an asymmetrical (short in front long in back) dress!

This is the first time I've drafted an asymmetrical dress. Mind you, I understand the concept. But knowing and doing are different dragons. So I hunted the interwebs for drafting tips but I could only find a couple of mentions of dresses with trains, which while close don't quite have the shape I was looking for, and the odd lopsided skirt. So dusting off the drafting knowledge I've squirreled away in my brain I just went with what looked right to me.

Keep in mind MrsEvils is adorably pocket-sized. Okay, MrsEvils is not all that much smaller than me but she is adorable. How could you not want to put her in your pocket? Alright I better stop before she kicks my butt ;D

I sent her here a rainbow of color options but she decided on red lining to go with the awesome fabric she sent me. Red. Deliciously bloody red. Ahem, err, excuse me. Here's the red color mockup:

There were a few tweaks to the M4450 pattern but I'm going to focus on the asymmetrical skirt portion here.

Before you ask, the pattern  pieces might look odd because 1) I don't reinvent the wheel when I'm surrounded by mounds and mounds of collected patterns and 2) I snip & tape back the edges so I can use the patterns other sizes. Sneaky me. And the crappy pics are because they were quick snaps as I was working in the wee hours of the night. I was busy, okay? Jeez. Anywho, for quick reference, since I'm going into seamstrix mode here in a sec: CF = center front, CB = center back, SS = side seam, WL = waistline, hem edge =  finished hem + 1.25" hem

Starting with the CF piece I measured down from the waistline and made a perpendicular line (pink chalk line) where the new hem edge was going to be.

Then I went to the CB piece. At the center back seam I marked a perpendicular line across the bottom of the pattern at the level of the new back hem edge.

Now to get the angled line between the two I subtracted the finished hem length of CF from CB. This is now my SS length.
Of course the one time I need seam allowance marks they're not on the pattern. Figures. So I marked the 5/8" seam allowance, between waist and hem, on all pieces and then pinned them together.
Next, at the SS, I measured down from the WL and made a small mark for the new SS hem edge.
On the new CF hem edge line I made a mark about 6" from the CF. Using a big metal ruler, I connected that mark to the SS mark and then continued the line until it hit the horizontal line I drew on the CB piece.
Now what to do with this big old zigzag? I use a varied form curve (like a french curve but a lot bigger) to smooth out the zig on the CF piece. Easy. The trickier part is the zag on the CB piece. For the CB I just used my elbow as a fixed point and swung my hand back and forth to lightly chalk a curve inside the zag (my old drafting teacher is probably having heart palpitations right now). I used my varied form curve to make sure it connected smoothly and drew the line in stronger using the varied form curve as a guide.

I briefly pinned it to my dressform to double check that I liked the shaped of the new hem, the pink chalk made it easy to see whether looking at the right or wrong side of the pattern. Yup, good. Time to cut! I'm hopeful that I'll need the pieces that I cut away so I was sure to write on each as to what pattern piece they corresponded to so I could always tape them back in place.
 
I made sure to get ALL of the pins out of the pattern pieces, gave them a quick press and...

To be continued!

2010 Holiday Cards

I recycled some old unused but out-of-date postcards (hubby's old band lineup) into Holiday Cards! They're fairly quick if you need some last minute cards/stocking stuffers and have some old postcards/cards laying around.

I searched for "christmas ornaments vector", found some I liked and arranged 4 of them in Photoshop. I then printed the 4 ornaments on colored construction paper, cut them about a 1/4" smaller than the post card (giving an 1/8" border) and used Modge Podge & a small foam brush to glue them in place over the front of the post cards. Stick them under a heavy book while they dry so they wouldn't curl up. If you don't weigh them down they will curl, as I learned the hard way with my first batch :p

The Holly is a removable pin! Which I found the directions for on marthastewart.com: directions & template

I used a single jingle bell (special ones have a Holly Spider too!) and tried different types of ribbon. Keep in mind double sided ribbon is easier to make the bows from than single sided. For the bows I used a 1.5" template I made out of  cardboard scrap. Directions to make your own templates and a chart for multiple sizes here.

Once your cards are dry and your pins are done, on the cards about a 1/2" above the top of the printed ornament mark 2 dots horizontally an inch apart. If you don't have a hole punch that can reach, like moi, make a small 'x' with an Xacto blade and then gently poke a knitting needle (I used a size 9, 5.25mm), or something similar, through the 'x' to make the holes for the pin to go through.

Write your message on the back and you're done!

xx ~Static

Cloud 9 Is Made of Stripey Socks

Two more packages arrived the other day. These...

... because my friend and old roomy doesn't want me darning my holey old socks. But, but they're stripey and still have a *little* life left in them :'( Love you, Donna, thanks! All the sock pics are from SockDreams.com because my digicam batteries are still charging. They like to torture me. SockDreams has the best stock of stripey footy-leggy goodness. Evah.

And, the other package had a Voodoo Dude magnet (damn that's a strong little magnet!), a swirly black & red bat plaque, a black bat pin & and black cat tie tack pin. All thanks to a swap with the adorable Jinn aka DreadfulDesigns!

Again, this is Jinn's pic because my digicam is on strike. You'll just have to imagine the cuteness of the other items. Believe me, they are.

Aaaaaaand, there's still one more package that arrived yesterday! It is definitely awesome but I'll save it for another post. I'm sleepy and it going to be a part of a whole other kind of awesomeness. My digicam better be behaving by then!

Rock On, BellaLili

I was lucky enough to win BellaLili's Ocotober giveaway and received this gorgeous bracelet!

 

That's BellaLili's pic & more views can be seen on the linked listing. I can't do it justice with my camera and crappy lighting. Did I mention it's gorgeous? And, let me tell you, there is not a drop of glue on this beauty. It is all solidly soldered together. Which is perfection because I'm a tad rough on my jewelry. But I promise to take good care of this lovely!

Thank you, BellaLili!

Black Friday to Cyber Monday 2010 Sale!

Bookmark this post and get ready to kick off your holiday shopping!

Between Friday Nov. 26th and Monday Nov. 29th, I'll be having a 20% off sale in both shops, 11/26 to 11/29, only. No promo code needed, all prices will be marked down 20% on the morning of the 26th!
Discount applies to purchase price only and does not apply to tax (TN only), custom, or postage.

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SWStitchery 20% off all items

StaticWhite 20% off all items

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And for more great Black Friday to Cyber Monday deals check out the post over on the EtsyDarkTeam's blog:

You Asked, He Answered

After bugging Scott at the very least 4 times today about answering the questions inquiring and twisted minds wanted to know (from my Badger Scot post and FB replies), here they are! And, thanks again to Erin of OhHonestlyErin! This was fun! And, here's to hoping he doesn't return the favor :p

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Darien - Dear Scott, name the three worst things you could imagine having shoved in your pants?

Scott - 1) an actively running chainsaw, 2) a riled up hive an angry hornets, and 3) only *one* hand from someone else. Anything less than two is just a tease.

 

Sheila - Ok, I gotta know the answer to the zorro cape thing.

(It's like Jeopardy, in the form of a question please LOL So you mean, "Does Scott really run naked with a Zorro cape when he thinks no one is looking?")

Scott- Absolutely I do. Though even though I think no one is looking, I'm secretly hoping that they are.

 

Blacknick - Okay I'm going to badger Scott with two questions:

1) What music/muscians influenced Scott early in his career?

Scott - Very early on, my folks' collection of LP's from the 60's and 70's (Beatles, Steppenwolf, Creedence, Dr. Hook), lots of "oldies" radio when I was kid with Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, things passed to me from my big brother (Pink Floyd, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Guns N Roses) and bits I went out and found on my own (Stone Temple Pilots, The Clash, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains). And as far as playing bass goes, mountains of Robert DeLeo, Jeff Ament, Duck Dunn and Patrick Dahlheimer. There is of course far, far more - but that was just the starting point.

2) Who does Scott think had the better vocal talent Elvis or Roy Orbison?

Scott - Roy was the better vocalist. Elvis was the better entertainer.

 

Darien -  Have you ever considered learning to play the bouzouki?

Scott - It's a pretty fascinating instrument. Never crossed my mind to take it up. Would be cool to pick up if things got to the point where all we were doing for a living was music, so there'd be time and resources to do it. Plus, it's just fun to say. "Bouzouki". Like a rocket launcher, but cooler. And more Greek.

Does the Flowbee give you nightmares?

Scott - Years of therapy and expensive pyschopharmacological treatment can't undo the damage that Flowbiephobia has done to me. Thanks a lot for bringing that up. Jerk.

Can I braid your hair into Viking pigtails?

Scott - Absolutely. Can I carry around a big Viking axe and raid coastal villages after you do?

 

David White - What are you hiding behind your hand?

Scott - A Mona Lisa smile. But without, you know, the charm or the class.

 

FaerydustPixy - Dear Scott, What would Maya say is your most annoying habit?

Scott - Tapping / playing drums on anything and everything, all the time, usually subconsciously. Yes, even in my sleep.

(Yes! Even to songs he doesn't like! The weird part though is that sometimes he'll keep time by rubbing his big toes against the "index" toes. He does it in his sleep too. That shit used to wake me up in the middle of the night. I'm used to it now.)

Do you sleepwalk?

Scott - I think I did once when I was like five years old. I'm way too light of a sleeper to sleepwalk these days. I do sometimes sleep-kitty-punt though, if the little fuzzy critters are camping out too close to my kickin' foot in bed.

Who is sexier: Freddy Mercury or David Bowie?

Scott - The Thin White Duke. Eight days out of the week. The man drips charisma all over the floor and leaves a trail of it behind him. Sure Freddy is awesome and had an amazing voice. But Bowie was Jareth. I mean, c'mon. Labyrinth fer Pete's sake!

 

ForeverFall - Dear Scott, What I want to know is this... What would you do if werewolves were real?

Scott - Teach them to hunt sparkly vampires.

 

MrsEvils - hmmm...Scott, what is your favorite thing about Nashville?

Scott - The fact I have a ton of great friends here. And fried pickles.

 

EJPcreations - Scott does the impending doom of the robot uprising trouble your dreams?

Scott - Not in the least. I, for one, welcome our new mechanical overlords with open arms and a can of oil.

 

Nitebyrd - Zorro? Don't you think a Dracula cape would be more classy?

Scott - Dude, no way! That high-neck cape just doesn't sit right on me. Besides, if I do something completely hurr-derr in a Zorro cape I don't feel so bad. I'd really hate to besmirch the name of Vlad Dracula though.

(Besides, the Dracula cape is mine.)

 

Erin - Scott, if Maya were to make a plush version of you, what would be the signature touch that would really make it scream, "This is a plushie of SCOTT BOWEN, and not nobody else, fool!"? 

Scott - Probably the long hair with the undercut. And the smarmy bastard smirk.

(Smarmy bastard. Yes.)

One more!

Scott, how do you like your ideal grilled cheese to be made? (i.e. bread type, cheese, etc. - I'm an enthusiast of the grilled cheeses and need to know for a fake research paper I'm writing on a slice of Velveeta.)

Scott - Grilled cheese must absolutely be cooked just a *bit* too long so it's blackened ever so slightly (okay, lightly burned!), and this is the important part coming up. Seriously important. If you forget this part, you can just go home now and not bother. I mean it. Don't forget it. SERVE WITH HOT TOMATO SOUP! Grilled cheese + a bowl of tomato soup is nothing short of pure and utter win.

It's badger Scott time!

Okay so I saw Erin's post on her blog, OhHonestlyErin, entitled Harangue Henry (the replies are here) and back tracked through a few other blogs. Pretty funny stuff. Basically, people got to ask her man anything and he had to answer. No, really, you don't say "No" to Erin. So, I thought it would be fun to try it on my blog. See this guy?...

Yeah, him, that's my hubby (Ooh, serious face).

This is one of his more usual looks (far right)...

It's either that look or an "innocent" who-me? look. Mhmm. Who needs the Comedy channel when I've got him? Sigh.

Anywho, ask him something. Anything. He'll answer. Just like Henry can't resist the gentle caress of Erin's pillow over his face neither can my Scott refuse the smoldering eyes of his beloved Stabberican gypsy (Me. With pointy objects).

Do you have a question for Scott? Want to know what it’s like living with me? What’s it like being a drummer/guitarist now bassist/singer? Why he replaces words in songs to make them about squirrels & himself? What's with all the dead hooker jokes? Does he run around naked in a Zorro cape when he thinks no one's looking? You can ask him band stuff, geek stuff, movie stuff, anything really. You'd be surprised (or frightened) by what he holds in that big head of his.

Go for it, he doesn't know I'm doing this! At least not until this post feeds over to Facebook >:) If I don't get enough questions there won't be a follow up post and, well, I'll be sad. And then Scott will be miserable because no one likes me moody. Not that I get moody. Much. Often. Oh hell, if you love me, you love me! If you don't, it's your loss. It not about me, it's about Scott, so ask already!

xx

Friends don't let friends be mooches

Just a friendly holiday reminder.

Friend ≠ free stuff

Just saying. That symbol (≠) means does NOT equal just so we're all on the same page here. Granted sometimes it does if that creative friend is feeling generous, can afford it and so on. But, to just expect, or worse demand, freebies from your creative friends is just plain tacky. Musicians, artists, seamstrix, etc work hard at what they create and deserve to get paid for it too. Support them, love them, tell your other friends how awesome they are. They are your friend after all, right?

I haven't had it happen to me recently because, well, I'm a hermit and I also know how to tell people "No". Although I am seeing quite a bit of it going around (thank you FB).'Tis the season to be greedy? I've seen demands for free CDs from musicians. I've seen whining for free plushies, jewelry and accessories from those who make them. Yeah, yeah, all in "jest" I'm sure. How about instead of being "funny" you buy that item? If you really want it and don't have the funds at least offer to trade something in return for it. That'll get taken a lot better than just demanding a freebie because you're supposedly friends. Or worse, vague acquaintances. We all like free stuff, and maybe your creative friends will offer up freebies when they can afford to give things away, but your friends have to eat and pay bills too.

Creative types, if you see your friends pulling this sort of thing smack 'em. Or give 'em a good falcon punch/ monkey-steals-the-peach. Which ever is most appropriate or needed.

Friends don't let friends be mooches.