My Late Embellishment Report

And this is how we begin!  Several years ago I realized that some types of products I was making were too time-consuming to be made for a price people wanted to pay...so I sent out some fabric to have these made in one of the factories specializing in doll sized items.  Since that time, I have really done very little with them, and the company that helped me do it is now gone, but I still have this heap of tiny shirts.  There are 9 styles of shirt and I had 20 in each style made....I still have 19 or 20 of many of them.  This project has been a LONG time in coming! hehehe
For the great embellishment adventure I decided to pull out my supplies (of which there are mountains....you should see it!) and actually DO something with these.  Here is a little taste of what can/could/might/should be done with them:

The first four shown are SD sized.  (I would be happy to share measurements if you are interested....and if you don't know what SD sized means, well it probably doesn't apply to you or any resin you own. heh!)
I found it was MUCH more difficult to generate a good spiral pattern on the small sized shirts.  If you look carefully you can see it on the orangey crewneck shirt, but it is pretty subtle.  The circular yoke dyeing was clearer.  The longsleeved was done just with horizontal bands (Carolyn did that one!  Her very first!) and the fade was done with dipping rather than tie-dyeing.  Those were a little tricky because the biggest problem I have in tie-dyeing is dye-pooling while still active.

In a normal setting you put the dye on pre-wet, pre-wrapped shirts and it has to cure(?) for 4-24 hours while remaining wet.  This usually means: in a bag.  Of course if you really saturated your item (because you want strong color) you are going to end up with you shirt in a puddle at hte end of those 24 hours. (We saw this with many shirts during the family reunion tie-dye extravaganza...where we also saw MUCH better spirals.)

Since I wanted the white to STAY white I actually clipped the shirt inside its bag to a skirt hanger.  You can see that we had a little cross-over with the bight pink on the sleeves, but on the whole I think it was fairly successful.  You can see that same effect on the boatneck tops for the 16 inch-ish dolls.  For those I just dipped the wet shirts hems and sleeves and let the dye creep up the fabric while it rested in the baggies (hanging up.)  You can see how the magenta and turquoise behaved a bit differently on the purple one.  You can also see where (if you look closely) I got a small dot of yellow on it.  Argh!  It is really hard to keep track of all the dye at once!  We had a LOT of trouble with that during the extravaganza too.  This round was better because I used a wire cooling rack instead of a flat surface as my work area, but there was a stray drip of yellow I didn't wipe away before I set the shirt down while working on it.  Sigh!

You can see some bullseyes, and almost spiral and even a slightly too subtle heart in this group too.

Here is my first ever hot-fix rhinestone use! I have had this little motif forever and, since I am not much for sparkly, just never used it.  I didn't get the straps on, but here is "Independence."  I think the motif is actually supposed to be a snowflake, but I think it looks more like fireworks....besides I need to use some of this fun ribbon.  My excuse for not having the straps on?  Can't decide if I want it to be a super casual tie-neck halter, if it needs some fancy back and forth through loops or if I should just put sliders on plain straps so it will fit "everyone."  Probably the latter but who knows.  Someone actually wanting it would be enough motivation to get it done I think......hehehe

These are the other two I tried going for actual embellishment. I know that my "embellishing with color" is kind of cheating but since this group is for "motivation" I figured I had better take that motivation where I could find it! The purple ribbon tank has sliders on the straps...like you would see on a full sized tank with adjustable straps! Can you tell I am pleased with that? I also included a little sequin shaped like a flower under the beads but the pic isn't great. heheh

These last pics are of my adventures with silk screen paint. I actually used stencils (as the prospect of making screens for tiny things is still daunting me.) The first pic includes my first and last trials of the evening in question. The SD (larger) t-shirt suffered a terrible accident, in that I was not as careful with my workspace and it got dripped on, and then I over ran the edge of the stencil. There was much cursing, let me assure you! According to the information on the paint itself, until it is heat-set it should wash out. I set the spider and should wash it to see what I get. The sleeve drips are smear-y because I just rinsed it a bit to see if there was an EASY fix. We shall see I suppose.

The small tank was my first realization that you could control the density of color. The first was too thick, so this little spider was done with a very dry brush and I love the misty look it has.

The last butterfly's only excuse is that I was tired and didn't secure my stencil carefully so it shifted. Poor thing.
And THESE, which have been in the plan for almost as long as I have had the "shirts," are actually part of a greater plan. I have some great camo fabric...that is made of butterfly shapes. There is a GREAT clothing line in this fabric, and this is the beginning. Sadly, the rest of the line needs to find me some more motivation. Even the notebook I drew the sketches in is missing! Some day! hehehe

I custom mixed this color (I have all the "basics" but didn't really want it black or bright.) I mixed and mixed and then mixed some more and finally got a convincingly camouflaged color.....of course by then I had a huge bowl of paint. Using my new-found knowledge, I used paint density to get a surprisingly wide range of color for my little butterflies. I also tried to come up with some less conventional placements.

The stencils I used for all my projects are from "Dreamweaver Stencils".  They are metal and very easy to use. She has some really great designs (and I was delighted to find this tiny butterfly which is almost the exact shape of the motif in the fabric in her collection.).  In case you are wondering, I asked the designer if I could use her products in creating my work and she graciously said yes.   Crafting Ethics can get complicated sometimes, but I have found people to be gracious each time I have asked for permission, and as such, I have no trouble in saying "You should go buy stuff from this great designer!"


So there are my adventures in embellishing for September!  I have all the supplies for it, so if you want to try any of those things out, come on over! k.

k. embellished with color

I feel very guilty that I have not done my post....very guilty. hehehe  I had great fun this month embellishing with color.  I dyed, I used silk screen paint to print with, I even used s few sparkles.  I also just lent my camera to my Father in Law so I can't just grab it and take my final pictures to post.  I am a terrible "example" for my own brainstorm group.  Do NOT follow in my footsteps!  (Seems like we still need some introductions.....)

I promise that once I have my house back there will be pictures of tiny tie-dye, some ombre dip dyeing, tiny butterflies everywhere, and some information about water soluble stabilizer which is my dearest friend, after you of course, dear reader.  I will also tell you more about "Dreamweaver Stencils" and http://dharmatrading.com who were my suppliers for most of my adventures this month of embellishing with color. 

Also, I have a plan for my Alteration Project.  Remember to submit challenge ideas also! k.

Mine

Okay, side by side mine isn't as cute, but I still really like it. Also, please overlook the way I'm standing. I don't know how to pose for pictures. Also, I cut my head off because I'm too vain to post on the internet how I look at the end of the day.

I bought a long-sleeve t-shirt, cut off the sleeves, made long strips of ruffles from the sleeves, and sewed them onto the shirt. It's quite simple and something I've tried before. For that reason I feel like I took it too safe with this challenge. I had plans to buy some interesting and fun stuff at Dongdaemun to embellish a t-shirt with, but when I went at night it was closed. So, don't go there at night. Someone told me the hours are 9-5ish. I can't guarantee the closing time, but I was there at about 8 p.m. and it was dark and empty. I've always gone in the morning before at about 10 a.m.

I also made the shirt a little more fitted in the sleeve and sides. This shirt is 95% modal (which is "essentially a variety of rayon" according to wikipedia, and as you know wikipedia can be written by anyone so it has to be true) and 5% spandex. So it's a slick fabric, if that's the right word. When I cut the sleeves I kept getting a v shape on the top of the arm, which I tried to fix and never could. I decided I liked it and left it. I also didn't hem the sleeves because 1) I was feeling lazy 2) I like the raw edge look sometimes. I tell myself that the raw edge of the sleeve goes well with the raw edge of the ruffles.

I have more shirts that I'm going to ruffle or otherwise continue to embellish. I know we've moved on to another challenge, but I may still share with you my adventures.

Meetings and Warnings.....

So the first Monday is almost upon us.  If you are like me you have procrastinated the day of your repentance....or at least of your Embellishing until it is nearly too late.  Whether you are coming to the meeting (Monday around 9 a.m.  at my house, please email so I know who to expect) or planning on posting your adventures online, please make it happen this weekend.  The new challenge will be issued on Monday and I want us to have made a good showing for our first outing. :)

(Speaking of Outing, those of you who haven't done your introductions had better get on with it!  Put your name and "introductions" in the post label section.  You should label your discussion of your own work with "embellish" for September, and possibly the word September as well as you name and any other appropriate labels for your techniques to help others find it in future.)

If you need help getting started posting, let me know and we will see what we can do.  If you have been meaning to sign up and haven't yet, get over to "The Rules" and send me an email so I can get you on the authors list. ;)

I hope everyone has lots to report....good and less good, by way of adventure for September. k.

Inspiration

I think Etsy is a great place to find inspiration for our embellishing challenge. Below are some favorites if you're interested in embellishing a t-shirt like me. I'm actually going to have Audrey and Megan do this along with me. The photo is from a shop called I love treasures. It is so simple, but my girls would love it.

1) Lace

2) Matching appliqued t-shirt and jeans

3) Matching fabric & shirt

4) Ice cream applique (selling for $3, we can do that with leftover scraps)

5) Ruffles on a cardigan

6) Leaves

7) Matching mickey mouse applique and headband (I think of Amber when I see this)

8) A little crazy, but I like it

9) Crocheted flower

10) Rosettes

11) More flowers

12) shirt & tie (same shop as the mickey stuff above)

and here's one thrown in from the Gap. Ribbons.

"Bling Your Bra!" Contest

This was too timely to pass up. hahaha  September's "Embellish" Dare AND Breast Cancer Awareness.

Bernina Blog

If you can't come up with something different to embellish, I am going to expect to see lots o' fancy bras here come the end of the month. :)

(Also, if you do have ideas, post.  As our first exercise, I am afraid we might be a little limited in our mind's eye.  Get to work everyone!) k.

September's Dare: Embellish

To start off with something easy, this month's challenge is to explore a new technique or product for embellishing.  You may apply this challenge to something ready-made or incorporate it in to another sewing project you have planned.

In case you are stuck for ideas (although I suspect that every last one of you <so far only Carolyn...hehe> already knows exactly what you have been contemplating...but not justifying...trying out!) here are a few I thought of...... (add your brainstorms by comment to this post.)

Embroidery of all kinds: silk ribbon, machine, decorative stitches on your machine, needlepunch (which I tried for the first time this summer :)

Applied decoration: beads, rhinestones, fabric applique's, jewelry findings, nailheads.  (You know, on the 5th floor of Dongdaemun.....)

The secret is to explore some new idea, try something new.  Once you have tried it out (success or not), be sure to post your adventures so we can learn together.

The physical meeting will be held October 4 at my (k.) house.  We will discuss how we will go forward from there with the "meeting part."   The October Dare will be issued on that day as well (and I promise to post it right away in case you can't make it.)

Blog posts should all be up before the meeting, but can be posted throughout the month-long dare.  You aren't restricted to only one, that is more of an "at least" guideline.  If you don't know how to post/upload pics etc, please let me know and I can talk you through it.  You should also feel free to post links to techniques/ideas that you like from other sources.  Be sure to give appropriate credit when posting the work of others (and get permission if you can.)  Be sure to include appropriate "labels" for your post: the month, the dare, your name (or initials) and pertinent keywords for what you tried.  That way, 6 months from now when you need remember how to do that beading technique, or you can't remember who has the wool-felting tools, you can look it up by keyword in the archives.

Me?  I think I may use some of the 40,000 nailheads I bought, or maybe I will do some eyelets with my new setter.  (In case you were wondering, I have the supplies for all sorts of things......go ahead, ask.  I bet I have it....oh, except for a hot fix gun for rhinestones. hehehe) k.