MacGyver made Kistkas

So, I had a idea a while ago, and haven't had a chance till now to try it... But today I made a few kistkas out of the tips of an old pen and a broken automatic pencil.  

I wanted to see if I could make this out of just stuff I had lying around, without spending any money.  Having a well equipped work shop makes that easier, I don't know how much of this stuff the average person will have lying around. 

Look at the tips of these, they look just like the real deal!

   

Ok, the tools,  Wire (no idea what gauge) wire cutters and pliers, wooden dowels, super glue, drill gun. 

So, first thing. I used the base of one of them to make the loop.

I made the first loop too small, but didn't get pics of the bigger loop.


then I superglued the tip to the loop (And tapped it hard on the table a few times to see if it would stay) and then drilled a hole at the end of the dowel and popped the tip in there
 

Ta Da!
 

Rince and repeat for the other.


Now, a couple of points.  These tips are the solid metal tips. You can't use chrome plated plastic tips and expect anything good when you heat them up to melt the wax.  I have no idea how the superglue is gonna behave when heated a few times. I might have to switch to something else if they  fall off. But this cost me nothing, and took less than an hour to make, so I thought it was worth the try. I will update this when I have  the chance to use them.

Before I succumb to ennui

So  I've been feeling an itch lately to make some nice Halloween props. We have some, but most didn't survive my childhood, and they were of the corny, crappy kind.   I recently saw this post on how to make a Styrofoam  headstone and thought "hey, I have some heavy wight Styrofoam! Let's try this!". 

I've done two attempts so far, with varying success  

 First attempt. 

The tools 

When you're not on edge, you're taking up too much space

So, after not sewing for a whole, I did a lot of speed sewing on a super secret project for a friend that I can't show anyone till after mid June.  Wooo Hoo.

ANd now, with that out of the way, I've started on my Halloween Costume.  This year, I'm going as Alice Liddell from Alice: Madness Returns  ...... I LOVE that game (I'm going to admit I haven't played the first one yet, I have it, just haven't gotten around to playing it.).   Specifically, this dress

I really love all her dresses (well, maybe not Fleshmaiden  or Caterpillar ) .... At first I wanted to do Misstitched, but that proved way too hard to find fabric for. 

Then I saw this fabric  and though " I can work with that".  No, it is not screen accurate  but, it has the roses and the butterflies... More crowded than the other fabric, but not bad. 

Spring dress

It been a while since I've done a "me  project."  Like, since last October. So, after finishing my last commission, I embarked on a small "me project".  It'll be a light spring dress that Inky wants me to do for photos shoots.

 I'll be using  Vogue 8280, or at least the top part. I use it to good effect on my Queen of Hearts outfit (got me a Daily Devataon last year!).  I'm still playing around with the skirt, but I know I want it fuller then the pattern has it... I have this light blue eyelet fabric that I'll be using, (Pic later) so I don't want to cut it up the way the Queen of Hearts is.  I what to preserve the scalloped on the eyelet fabric.. I'm think a pleated rectangle is the way to go. At least the bit's I've plied around with seem to look best that way. we'll see what the mock up says.   I also have this light blue brocade I found in a thrift shore that I'm going to try and work in there as well... It was washed once before I got to so it has an interesting texture to it... I had to wash it twice more myself, it had a faint smell of cig smoke, but hot water and vinegar worked really well.    After that it's all in the trim. here's hoping I don't look like and Alice knock off/