Repurposed Sari Skirt-Finished

I am almost finished. The only thing I need to do is go back and clip some straggler threads, press a few seams and I'm done, friggity done!

Headband alteration

In the bellydance community, altered headbands are common. I like the creations a lot more than I do the dance. Don't get me wrong, I love the dance too but it's that creative process that piques my interest more. I finally got around to making an altered headband. The headband I used is wide, covered in a black satin type material. They are readily available in several colors, white, black, blue, orange, purple, red, silver and gunmetal(darker silver color).

This altered headband is actually 2 headbands. I also used some eyelet material as decoration. This is a pic of the headband before I added a few things to it.



This is the headband at the finished stage. I made it so that I could change out the flowers and feather accessories until I decided on a 100% or I may just leave it. I haven't decided yet. I added the afgani or it might be a kuchi pendant to the front, which also can be changed out. The way this headband is put together it opens up the potential for so many additional things.








Here is me wearing it.





I started on another altered headband, this one, that gunmetal color and a very pretty ribbon I got from Wal-mart and some swarovski crystals. I haven't decided yet if I want to alter it towards bellydance related or just altered enough for everyday type use. I haven't taken any pics yet because I haven't decided anything and I still need to clean up the ends of the ribbon and I keep forgetting. LOL!

Down to the Wire

Thanksgiving is the week and Christmas is just around the corner. No lack of ideas but still in the energy slump. I have one present done, one I'm thinking about doing but not sure yet and no real idea for any others. My 15yr old daughter wants to make some tube scarves and we just bought a knitting ring to do that. No lack of yarn that's for sure. LOL!

Yesterday I sat down and was doodling with a skirt design for belly dance stuff. The design is fairly simple using a stretch fabric. I have some fabric I bought some time ago, just for that and didn't get around to it then. I seriously need to make myself a duct tape dummy or buy a dress dummy and soon. I have ideas busting out of my ears for sewing and plenty of fabric and even new attachments to make my sewing eaiser.

I think other than not really having the room, I don't want to upset the SO. I just need to tell them to kiss my butt, I'm going to do what makes me happy. I'm so worried about causing friction at home in our cramped apartment that i'm not helping myself and my current blues. I think that will all change this weekend because i'm going to get some durn sewing in or something. I need to get out of this slump. I keep buying material for the ideas but not doing anything with them.

Having Christmas just around the corner isn't helping any cause i'm broke and have made so many thing over the years for my family that i'm kinda lost as in what to make now. I have a few ideas but i'm limited because of space, time and money. So very frustrating.

Sewing

Well, I finally finished one of the cuffs and will probably start working on the other one tonight. I've already gathered the ruffle part of the matching cuff. I like them, except I made them a we bit to big for my wrist, so they are a bit loose. I think I may need to change the method of closure to maybe a button and elastic cause threading the 2 holes and trying to tie it on yourself is a pain and pretty much impossible.





I didn't get to the duct tape form this weekend but I did manage to clean off my kitchen table, which about killed me. Okay, I'm exaggerating but the amount of stress I felt from doing that, was horrible. The S.O wanted to use the table for some of his stuff. First he just wanted to move all the loose stuff off the table that was piled a mile high, into a box and even brought out a box. I felt anger, tears in my eyes, lump in my throat and just anxiety. I was in the middle of cooking breakfast and started the clearing off process and by the time breakfast was done, I couldn't eat it I was so upset.

I tried to figure out why I was getting upset. Everything on that table hasn't been used in months, if not years. I have been in a creative funk for several years now and having to put that stuff away just reminded me even more of how much stuff I have. I have a lot of crafting stuff but at the same time I don't have enough room not only to store it but to create with it. I think that is the core of the issue, not having the room to feel free to create without someone complaining about the stuff laying around. I still feel a little hurt about it but at least the feeling sick to my stomach is much better.

Updating

Hi, it's just me, still alive and kicking. Sometimes I really don't feel all that alive, more like a zombie. LOL!

Well, not much to report. I did try to do some sewing this weekend. I did get one shirt mended. I tried to work on a pair of wrap pants and some gauntlets. I'm not sure what is going on with the damn sewing machine. I'm using a zig-zag stitch to do the hemming on a stretchy knit like material. I have no problems with the first few inches then it starts skipping, not picking up threads, sewing a straight line instead of a zig-zag. UGH! I checked the needle to make sure I was using the right one for the material, checked the bobbin tension and the top thread tension. I made adjustments, test strips and it's still doing the same thing. I'm ready to give up and do the easy hemming with some iron on interfacing strips. The only thing I'd have to sew then is the top with ties. Yeah, I think I will do that.

On the guantlets, I'm going to have to make a few adjustments to the pattern but the idea is cool and will work, that's what matters.

My next project will be to finally finish my grandmother's apron and then I can work on some more belly dance stuff.

I still have lots of sorting and organizing to do but I'm taking a break for the moment. I have enough stuff sorted out to keep me busy for a bit.

I'm still here

I know it's been awhile. The past few months have been a bit hectic to say the least. As far as craftiness goes, it's been about non-existent production wise. I have plenty of ideas which I really need to write down before I forget them. Right now I'm somewhat focusing on getting some things organized and sorted out. I started belly dance class about 3-4 weeks ago and i've been focusing on that some. Most of the ideas and designs coming to me are belly dance related. I'm hoping that in the next week or two that life will slow down a bit and give me some time after I get some things sorted. It's time for some spring cleaning and I want to get that out of the way before I start working on things again. So, I'm still here and I miss creating but other things are taking precedence right now.