Collage Kami

Makeup test for a quickie costumes I'm doing with my fellow teachers. We chose the theme of superheroes with the emphasis of Xmen. I'm going as Beast, but using his more professor look so I don't have to do the full body fur suit. I'm going to style my hair up like the 90's animated.

Latest project. Hanks on the loose! I modified a Hank plush to have a coin pouch in the belly and then sewed a simple book bag. The original idea was for the bag to fold into the plush but the fabric is too heavy for it to collapse well.

Being offered for immediate sale this Alice costume. It is made to fit a 18 month old. Here is a word of warning for all the costumers out there. Always get a written contract. Prepare for the worst and then you can be pleasantly surprised. Doesn't matter if you've "known them forever" The customers major issue with this piece, the price. I was asking for $150 half of that is material costs. Some have asked how I spent that much: $12 pattern $15 blue fabric $3.50 buttons $8.50 heart motif $15 fabric for petticoat, pinafore, checked bottom and polka dot arms $3 zipper $2 tule to go in petticoat $1 elastic $14 4 distinct kinds of lace. I spent 15 hours at least making this dress. Which means the $75 I was going to charge in labor comes down to $5/hour. Forget the fact that this is skilled labor. Forget the fact that I turned down overtime at my real job during this time that could've brought in $400 after taxes. The worst part about it is the woman decided she's just going to buy something she saw from China for $95. In the end I'm most pissed that she valued my time less than I already and charging $75. I put my best work into costumes for kids cause I want them to look awesome. This is heirloom quality, not falls apart the first time you wear it. So in conclusion get it in writing. This should include a description and picture of what will be made, the fabrics that will be used, support garments if part of the commission should be listed as well and include pictures and descriptions. Include the deadline, include the cost for your labor Most importantly take $50 minimum for materials up front. The only thing worse than wasting time is wasting money. Do not let your customers buy fabric. More times than nought they will buy be wrong type because it was on sale or the "right" color. Good luck!

I was commissioned awhile back to make a new born safe R2D2. This was just a little after I had taught myself to crochet altogether. To get the pattern I needed I cross stitched through the weave of the crochet. I couldn't do the traditional felt overlays as that is not baby safe. I'm very pleased with how this turned out, but I don't know how soon I would take another crochet commission.

So a few hours of steady work and the help of a bias tape maker has allowed me to make 11 yards of Dr. Who bias tape. The small triangle is the end cut from the fabric I used. The only thing missing from the end cut is the Dalek, but you can see it on the tape. This is part of a larger project for my girlfriend. I do wonder if there would be a market for custom tape like this? Could I set up an etsy, and what could I get away with charging? Normal bias tape is about $0.50/yard. Could I get away with $3-5?

Alice is done! For those that haven't seen the earlier posts this is a dress and petticoat for a girls first birthday. Things worth noting: vintage styled buttons on the pinafore; bow that snaps out of way to open zipper; 4 layer petticoat with trim; mirrored heart motif on pinafore.

A coworker commissioned me to make an Alice dress for her nieces' first birthday. At this point the dress is just about done, it needs a hook and eye for the top, some hand sewing finished, and a bow for the back of the apron. Some interesting details: -The skirt is so full that when it's not gathered I can wear it. -The buttons are vintage style from the time Alice in Wonderland was originally written -It's based off a picture I was given. Detail choices wear mine to make. -There's between 20-30 of labor in this project. -I still need to make a petticoat