Monday, January 18, 2016

Web Comic Review: Broken Telephone

Real talk folks, I read a lot of web comics. Like a ridiculously large amount. I think it's a really great way for artists to tell a story and I love some of the ingenuity that comes out of it. One really interesting format I ran into was Broken Telephone (http://www.broken-telephone.com/). The concept is that each character has their own stories to tell and their own way of telling it and each story has a different "truth" of sorts. The other interesting portion of this comic is that each story is done by a different artist. It really sets each story apart while the story line holds them together, like a different thread colors in a tapestry.

I honestly had a hard time following some of the stories and was often times disappointed that a story had already moved on. I really enjoy learning about the many facets of characters and to just get a flash in the pan of each one was difficult for me to swallow. It was probably a good experience for me....even if I didn't care for the lesson.

Since there were so many artists, there were some styles I really enjoyed (Rachel Dukes, whoever did the arc "Threat Languages", Ryan Estrada and Will Kirkby, Jenna Salume, and Chad Thomas were my faves) and a few that weren't my groove. To each their own right?

All in all, an interesting experience. I do honestly wish there was more fleshing out of the story....but I guess that means there is a good foundation there?

It's worth the read if only for the experience.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

JUNGLE JANUARY!!! Dress #2!

jj45

So, I vowed I wasn't going to buy more animal print fabrics for Jungle January. Then Joann's had 50% their red tag fabrics. So that vow went right out the window. I ran into some lovely rainbow leopard/cheetah print cotton that screamed "MAKE ME INTO A DRESS!"

The Details:
Pattern: Lisette for Simplicity 1419
Alterations: I put a button on the top back because I wanted the zipper lower because of my curves.
Fabric: A cotton rainbow leopard/cheetah print! $1.50 a yard. Oh yes. Plus some black heavy cotton from my stash.
Snazzy Details: It has pockets! Cute button for front keyhole. Color blocked back (see history). Peter pan collar. Pleats!

History: So, there's not a whole lot of history behind this one. It's one of those fabrics that sang to me. The only problem is that there was only a bit over two yards of it. NOOOO! I wanted a dress damn it!! So I improvised.I dug through my stash and found a pattern (I've been meaning to make one up anyway). It wasn't too much shorter that the required fabric for the dress without sleeves but I wanted sleeves (of course). So, through clever laying out of pattern pieces on the single, I was able to get everything on there except the back piece. I wanted to have a contrast collar anyway and had just enough to get the back pieces on it too. So color blocking it is. I actually really like how it turned out:


I ended up having to take in a little bit of extra width all the way around because I'm between sizes. The keyhole was a bit interesting to put together.....getting that facing to lay flat is a pain! Collar worked out good which is a miracle considering my previous experience with peter pan collars.....let's just say my first experience wasn't a pleasant one and I haven't touched them until this pattern. I was also able to use a very random but cute button from my stash. WIN!


Pockets!

Collar and Keyhole!


Pleats!

JUNGLE JANUARY! Dress!

jj42

Here is my second Jungle January make! A lovely 50's styled dress. This was actually an unfinished object: a muslin that I had made for the bridesmaids dresses for my sister's wedding. This is how the bridesmaid dresses worked out:

That's right....I even managed to make this dress for a second person. WOOT WOOT!
But on to the JUNGLE JANUARY VERSION!! It was sitting in my UFO pile to have the skirt attached and a zipper put in.

The Details:
Pattern: Sew Chic Tia Dress (w/ Craftsy Class alteration)
Alterations: The contrasts are not in the original pattern, I was taught how to do them on the Craftsy class (Flirty Day Dress I believe is the name). As such, I won't show you how to do them as the class is actually really helpful. However, be aware that if you wear larger sizes like me, the contrast across the bust needs to be extended in length from what is said in the class. (ASK ME HOW I KNOW....thank GOD again for muslins)
Fabric: $1 a yard cotton that I picked up a long while ago. Working through my stash!
Snazzy Details: Front Patch pockets, contrasts, crinoline worn underneath (from pettiskirt style)

History: My sister and her now wife asked me to make the bridesmaid dresses for the wedding since they couldn't find anything they liked at a reasonable price. I got to choose the pattern and my sister chose the fabric. Since it was a pattern and company I'd never worked with before (I got the class and pattern on sale as a bundle for $20 WHAT A STEAL! SO WORTH IT! about 6 months prior) I decided to do a muslin to check for construction pitfalls and fitting issues. And after I got what I needed......There it sat. Unfinished. Looming. Jungle January gave me the kick to finish it:


Initially I had added length to the shoulders (as it seemed like it would be short) but after construction found I didn't need it (therefore, saving headache for the wedding dresses). So I had to take that back out later. I also found out that using actual lining material for the lining......sucked. Big time. The contrast construction didn't lend well to it. So I did cotton lining for the bridesmaid dresses and it worked out much better especially since it was a September wedding and was WARM. Cotton >>>>Polyester in hot weather for linings. All in all, with the class, this dress was fairly easy. Would it be easy without the class.....eh probably not as easy. Especially if you want the contrast as those directions are NOT in the pattern regardless of what the picture on the front of the pattern looks like!

Details:
Spots!

Pockets!

Contrast!

Puff Sleeves!

Monday, January 4, 2016

JUNGLE JANUARY!!!! Jammies!

jj41
I started off Jungle January by making some quick jammies. They have been sitting in my "To Do" pile for years and Jungle January was just the push I needed.

The details:
Pattern: Simplicity 2811
Alterations: Added 1 inch to the sleeve length, added pockets
Fabric: Jungle flannel my mom and dad gifted to me years ago
Snazzy Details: Racing stripes on the pants

History: Long, long, ago, in a state far, far away (ok it's only a few states away-Montana) I was gifted 5 yards of a cute jungle animal flannel and a pack of matching bias along with a pajama pattern. It went to college with me and then through several other moves. It languished in my stash for years until the Jungle January gods led me to it in my fabric closet. And thus I decided to make:
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So I made these up really quick (about 2 hours or so) I did a quick length check and thankfully added 1 inch to the sleeve length. I also made them big so as to be comfy. Everything came together very easily. They have you bias bind the back neck and since I had a full pack of matching bias I decided to add racing stripes to the sides of the pants because I had so much bias left over. I mean really, I only needed like a foot for the back neck binding. It screamed to be used. It was a very unique color so I knew it would just hide in my stash unused otherwise. I also added pockets because pockets are the best.
Details:
Yoked!


RACING STRIPES!