High-Low Feather Prom Dress Refashion

I love a good crafting challenge. That's why when my sister approached me with the idea to create a one of a kind prom dress for her senior prom...I couldn't resist. She came to me with the idea of a feather high-low dress. These dresses can run upwards of $500. That kind of money just seems a bit ridiculous for a high school prom. However, these dresses are super cool and totally fit the personality of my sister. So, I knew I had to help her get one...without the $500 price tag. Being as I am not confident enough in my sewing capabilities to create an entire gown from scratch, I knew we were going to have to get creative with a refashion. Here's what we came up with.


Inspiration

Jovani

Supplies

• Short black cocktail dress with black feather skirt
• 2 yrds black satin fabric
• 8 black feather boas
• 1 purple feather boa
• 1 aqua feather boa
• 1 yrd rhinestone trim
• Grommet kit
• Ribbon
• Black thread
• Sewing Machine
• Needle
• Straight pins

One Saturday we hit the pavement with an idea in mind. We didn't really have a clue what we were looking for...we were just hoping we'd know it when we saw it. And we did. At the mall we found the short black cocktail dress with the black feather skirt. It couldn't have been more PERFECT when we found it on the rack...the clearance rack! Then, we picked it up and realized it was the only one left....and that it was a size 9. My sister is a size 2. But we were still hopeful and took it to the dressing room. After she tried it on, we determined that with some adjusting and taking it in at the seams that we could probably get it to work. It was less than $40, so we had to give it a try.


I took it in and with some more adjusting, sewing, unstitching and sewing again, we got it to fit! Then, we started to work on the long part of the skirt. We found boas at Hobby Lobby that matched the feathers in the dress PERFECTLY. It was an awesome find. We cut the satin fabric that we also purchased from Hobby Lobby to the length and shape she wanted. Then, after a couple of hours of sewing boas to the fabric and covering EVERYTHING in my living room with feathers (it's been two weeks since I finished the dress and we are still finding feathers) the whole back was complete. After that I added the rhinestone trim the the waist for some bling and created a corset look in the back with a grommet kit. She wore black and white oxfords with the dress so we used black and white ribbon for the corset to match. I sewed aqua and purple feathers sporadically around the entire dress for some added color and sewed the lining onto the long part of the skirt. After sewing the skirt onto the dress...it was a completed project!

It was definitely a long process of trial and error but it turned out better than I could have hoped! She looked beautiful in her one of a kind feather dress and it was certainly a hit! 

50's Inspired Skirt

This post is a little different than my others. This project was actually needed for work. My co-worker and I are advisors for a college student ambassador organization called, Pacer Spirit. At the end of each year, we have a celebration with food, games and prizes. We like to add a touch of fun with a theme as well. This year's theme was "Grease" or 50's Sock Hop. So, of course I was in need of an outfit! I hit up Pinterest and started looking at 50's inspired articles of clothing and came up with this skirt. 


Inspiration

 Say Yes To Hoboken

Supplies

• 1 1/2 yrds fabric
• 9 in zipper
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Straight pins
• Iron
• Measuring tape

First, measure your waist where you want the waistband to sit. Add an inch for seam allowances. Take your fabric and fold it to the width you want your waistband to be. Then, cut it to the length that you measured your waist to be plus the extra inch. 

Take your waist measurement and half it. Then, add about four inches for pleating. With your fabric folded, cut it to this length. (If you keep it folded it will still be long enough for the skirt but it will be double layered so it won't be see through and you won't have to hem). This will be the front of your skirt. Do the same for the back except cut the fabric in half so that you have two pieces for the back.

Attach the skirt fabric to the waist band with straight pins, adding pleats. Sew the skirt to the waistband. Sew the seams up the sides. (you can add pockets here if you prefer). Add the zipper to the back and sew up the back seam. 

Birds Nest Cupcakes

I've said this before and I'm sure I'll say it again....I LOVE cupcakes! I love making them and of course eating them. So, when asked to bring a dessert for an Easter gathering, I decided to make cupcakes. I found these super cute ones on Pinterest and tried to make my own.


Inspiration

Martha Stewart

Ingredients (makes 1 dozen cupcakes)
1/2 cups shredded coconut
Yellow and light blue food coloring


Vanilla Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk


Chocolate Buttercream
3/4 cup sugar
3 large egg whites
1 cup (2 sticks) plus 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
3 oz semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled




Cupcakes
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners. 


In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy with an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add eggs, one at a time; scrape down bowl and beat in vanilla.

Alternately add flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Divide batter evenly among liners, about three-quarters full each. Bake until golden and tops spring back to touch, about 20 minutes. Transfer pans to wire rack, cool completely.

Chocolate Buttercream 
NOTE: Reserve 1 1/2 cups of buttercream (BEFORE adding the chocolate) and 1 tsp of melted chocolate.


Combine sugar and egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Place over a pot of simmering water, which until hot and sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Transfer bowl to mixer stand and beat on high speed until cooled, 7 to 10 minutes.


Replace whisk with paddle attachment and set mixer on medium-high speed; add butter, 1 to 2 tbsp at a time, until incorporated. Beat in chocolate. 


Bird's Nest Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until light brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.


Lightly frost cupcakes with 1 cup chocolate buttercream, set aside. Tint 2 tablespoons reserved buttercream pale yellow, place in a pastry bag fitted with a #349 Ateco leaf tip; set aside. Tint remaining buttercream light blue; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #11 Ateco plain round tip, and pipe three blue bird heads (3/4 inch in diameter) onto each cupcake. Using leaf tip, pipe yellow beaks. With a toothpick, add melted-chocolate eyes. Form each nest with 2 tablespoons of toasted coconut. 

Mens Skinny Tie

My husband has been a wonderful supporter of all of my crafting! He has been great with letting me spend some money for supplies as well as creating a few messes all in the name of crafts. So, when he requested I make him something for a change, I did some researching on what to make a dude. Making girly things is pretty easy. There are lots of things to make a girl. Guys are a bit harder. So, while on Pinterest, I found this awesome blog with a tutorial on how to make a Man's Skinny Tie. Knowing that Skinny Ties are making a comeback, I decided to give it a try. 


Inspiration

 See Kate Sew

Supplies

• 1/2 yard fabric of choice (if your fabric is less than 60" wide, another 1/2 will be needed for the lining)
• If your fabric is pretty thin, you will also need 1/2 yard of lightweight fusible interfacing

First, print out all of the pattern pieces that she was so kind to provide on her blog. Cut them out. Tape them together and start cutting out the tie. You should have four pieces of a tie.

Sew the two outside pieces together in the middle. Do the same with the lining pieces. 

Then, sew the two pieces together, right sides in. Leave a small opening to turn it right side out.

After you have turned it right side out and have adjusted it, iron it down so it lays right. Then, fold the sides in towards the middle. Either slip stitch up the entire length of the tie or use stitch witchery to hold it together. 

Voila! Now you have a fashionable men's skinny tie! I have now bought more fabric to make him more!

Cheetah Print Shoes

I'm back! It was a pretty busy weekend and beginning of the week. I have a few things in the works now, so I should be back to posting pretty regularly. Today, I'm going to tell you of a great deal I found. Being on Pinterest, I've seen lots of different styling options that use cheetah print shoes. I haven't really been into the animal print trend...until I saw how cute some of these outfits looked with that pop of cheetah print. 

Inspiration

Love how this outfit has two prints, checkered top and cheetah shoes and then the pop of the red pants!

So, I was super happy to happen upon a pair of budget friendly cheetah shoes at Target. 

Find them here.

They were only $14.99 and are super comfortable. I love them!