Mortem's Tricks or Treats: Blue Minds Need Busy Hands

In a last ditch effort to rid myself of the post Halloween blues, I decided I better get crafting!

A couple weeks ago I began a sew along with a friend choosing to do a most coveted pattern Simplicity had to offer, but had put off posting pictures until today:

I was going straight for the coat. However, I really wasn't feeling it as much as I wanted... hence the tissue paper; I was going to redraft/ redesign it a little differently; adding a hood and making the sleeves belled.

This is the mock up (in hideous mock fabric)

Craft rooms are always messy; this is fact.

I had procrastinated working on it and had been inspired the little chilly air we're receiving using it to produce some wintery items, and didn't notice that in my arrogance I thought maybe I had enough velvet to complete the coat... but no, in shame I hang my head... I clearly underestimated how much was needed!

As a note, if you're going to make this in stretch velvet there are two things you should consider: the pile (the direction of the velvet) and the bias (the way it stretches-- 4 way it doesn't matter a whole ton). In cases such as these I prefer to cut my pieces on single layer, lest either of those factors go awry-- either way, what this means is that you'll need to buy more fabric than what is initially suggested, and whether you like it or not, there will probably be a lot more scraps then what you're used to. I was off by about 2 yards... not sure how I calculated such a gross error-- maybe my mind was tired at the time...

I've been feeling blue, and Halloween and other such gaiety helped marginally; coupled with a savage streak of insomnia, I've not been at my best... though I try to keep that smile beaming.

The other projects of wintery inspiration were that of knitted goods.

My mother sent me my looms bought months ago and never used, and I figured it was as good a time as any to try.

First up was my french knitter:

It seems like such an easy concept to grab, but the night I was using it I was getting mighty frustrated that I wasn't achieving the result I wanted... so I tore out the project in anger, only to discover a happy accident.

In tearing out the little tube I had unwittingly created a nifty necklace. The stretched loops with single beads made for a delicate web-like adornment for myself. Oh and as a bonus you get to have a looksie at those vintage frames I've been waiting for:

3-tier

4-tier

Grouped

Next I decided to see how quickly and how much of a change from needle to loom knitting would do to a final project.

Left is loom knit: right is needle knit

It is exponentially quicker to knit on a loom than it is needle knit; both of the scarves shown are 6'2". I'd like to point out that I am not very prolific when it comes to knitting, so the needle knit scarf took me about a week to complete; working on it once a day in 2-3 hour increments. The way I loom knit was using the common twisted stockinette, yielding an interesting and bulky criss-cross look; it took me 2 days in the same hourly increments.

However, I would still probably use needles because I much prefer the exercise in the use of both hands working, unless I find a comfortable way to work with one peg side of the looms; which I hear can create the same look of said needle knitted stockinette stitching.

Mortem's Tricks or Treats: Devil's in the Details

Good day, my fellow darklings!

Once upon a time, there was a vintage non-stretch cotton top that fit our protagonist beautifully-- she loved the cut very much!
Sadly, dear readers, it was plain, and it was boring! There was nothing that made it distinguishable and it fell between the cracks of her wardrobe into the abyss known as 'The Project Pile'...

For years our protagonist waged war on this pile, digging and pondering 'what shall I do?!'
And for many years the blouse lay there, as it did in the vintage consignment shop...

Until a night like last night, overwhelmed and not wanting to do other projects, our protagonist dove into her wardrobe, needle and thread in hand; she fought her creative block tossing venetian lace trims and antique lace collar appliques. Cutting and measuring, and pinning and poking! Oh she wanted that shirt's fit, she wanted it so badly she fought all night!




And when the dust finally cleared, and the battle ended...

Hark!
Hear ye trumpets of triumph!

Our protagonist won! Oh glorious beautiful victory!
Though, dear readers, her spoils did not stop there-- oh no.

The meat of her battled waged in wanting to replicate the top into luxurious fabrics and notions!
And so the story begins again, as this one ended now...

The end... ?

So. Yeah. Didn't have that much trouble-- but calculating seam allowance, pleats, and darts was a bit of a drag.
I have this wine colored crushed taffeta that I bought with the intention of making a tie on bustle, or a capelet-- but I just may make another one of these tops with some minor but significant alterations to pieces to make it my own. The original top seemed to be handmade itself, perhaps from a basic pattern too-- it's not that fancy at all, but the various (and too many, if you ask me--total of 14) pieces hug the form so well.

Featured self-made jewelry in this post:

Skeleton Closet: Venetian Details

I always seem to have this issue of not feeling like I look goth during the summer months despite wearing black all over. So as often as I want to, I'll be posting up my outfits for the public to decide whether it's just black clothes or gothic summer time flair.

Today's showcase is the outfit I wore to meet up with friends of my husband's.
It wasn't particularly hot in our area, but where we ended up was; and this time it didn't occur to me to bring my parasol and I regretted every minute I didn't.

Anyway, I digress.

 

 In this outfit I wore two articles chock full of venetian details, which ultimately made the outfit-- or so I hoped it did.

I wore another lovely little lace vest number, that has an oh-so-yummy-lace fringe around the bottom. It was bought brand new at a shop in a mall I had previously worked at called Latitudes. The tag, just like many others, has been cut and long has the exact brand been forgotten in my head-- the only thing I ever recall about this one is that it was made in Italy, from the same company that made the lace over-top in the previous post. The skirt was thrifted and is just a simple black hobble pencil skirt.

The top underneath was a surprise gift from my younger brother (technically the majority of my clothes are gifted but one or two were bought for me without my knowledge). But I know exactly where he bought them because there is only one store I know of back north that sells this Seduction brand, and that is Sirens.The straps of this top are detailed with venetian lace, the front is accented with venetian lace over satin, and has a cute lace detail which you tie into a bow. The back of the top is smocked, and the cups are padded.

My make up was done relatively the same as the last post; I'm not very creative when it comes to my make up.

This time I used a darker shade of red lipstick: 36 Black Cherry by Estée Lauder, with a touch of a black gradient effect using Annabelle Smoothliner waterproof in Black (I know it's an eye liner, but it really does go on smooth and stays on for a very long time).


The shoes I chose to wear were pumps I haven't completely broken in... so they killed my feet-- they are black lace with scalloped trim, open toe with a bow detail. The lace is really hard to photograph as it was so subtle and it just looks like a black shoe.



And finally we come to the single piece of statement jewelry I wore. It is one of my own creations (I very rarely wear jewery I didn't make), and I think my favorite one to date. It has a ribcage cameo and I always get a lot of queries and compliments when I wear it.

So... goth or not?

Skeleton Closet: The Vintage Vest.

I always seem to have this issue of not feeling like I look goth during the summer months despite wearing black all over. So as often as I want to, I'll be posting up my outfits for the public to decide whether it's just black clothes or gothic summer time flair.

Last year while I was still living up North, I came upon a vintage shop downtown called USED-House of Vintage. My build is teetering on the larger side, so despite finding many beautiful things my thick ribs and small bust kept making fitting situations awkward and tight.... until I saw a little piece of awesome peeking out from a chest. When I uncovered it, it was one of the most beautiful vests I've ever laid eyes on and it fit!





It is from a company called DAM American Concept; I haven't done much research into it, and a quick google search yielded nothing of note.
It has a mesh front with a floral pattern sewn onto it with ribbon. The back is velvet with a lacing detail to cinch it. The buttons are tattered and I am not really fond of them-- but I haven't found buttons that I'm happy with to replace them.

 

 In this outfit, I incorporated the vest with a cotton black camisole I found at the thrift store by Urban Behavior, and another thrifted find being the black mesh and lace petticoat found at the same thrift store as the vest. I got the beautiful semi-flats at an outdoor fleamarket with my husband years ago, but I've seen the style bounce around in stiletto-pump form.

To top it all off I wore a hairbow and necklace I made.

Obvious steampunk influence

So... Goth or not?