Project listing for 2012... In no real order.

Hi everyone!  I thought I would map out a few things I would like to get started on once the new year starts!  I am going to be documenting each project (or at least try to remember to document), showing what I am making and how I am making it.  So if there is an item on this list that interests you be sure to keep checking for updates.

Sew Projects for 2012
Matching belt and clutch purse (and anything else I can make out of remaining fabric)
 More Lolita Hats and Hair clips  Completed a lot and still going!
Hat Boxes (for the Lolita Hats)  Completed 1
Finger-less gloves
Handkerchief (The Green Lolita)
Masks
Winter cape (I have actually been trying to work on this for a while, just been finding a lot of issues)
Lolita Skirts  Completed 3
Lolita Dress (must be done before the summer!)
Bloomers   Completed 2!
Teddy Bear toy
Ties, for men, women and children (I will include a link to a very good tutorial on Youtube!)  Completed one woman's tie
Fairy Costume
Jewelry
Bedding (this will have to be after the summer).
Steampunk Goggles

So what is my goal by doing this?  Well I am hoping that by doing this I am doing something more than just staring at a box for the rest of my life.  When I get older, and I am holding something in my hands that I made,  I want look back on it and go "Hey, I did this!"  I'm not looking to get rich by making and selling these pieces (because I plan on wearing and using most of them and if I don't, giving them away as gifts).  I do have an Etsy account... but I'm not really selling my items for very much, so I wont really make a profit off of them.  I might put a few more items that I make online, but if I do sell them I am going to sell them for how much it cost to make them, for the time being.  If the Etsy store picks up I might think about rising my prices but for right now I just want to make stuff and be happy knowing that whoever buys them will enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

There is another reason why I am giving myself such a task.  This past Christmas, I gave my niece a sewing machine.  Nothing fancy, its a simple crafting sewing machine.  I want to use this project list as something the both of us can work on and its a learning experience for her.  She is a very smart girl and I expect that she will pick up everything really quickly.  No one taught me to sew, not like in a classroom.  I learned from watching friends and they showed me the very basics.  After that I read and looked up online.  That was helpful, and every time I sew I do notice that I am getting better and better at it.  I only wish that I had become interested in sewing at a younger age.  The point though isn't about how I didn't know how to sew before, but that I know now and I am doing something with it.

Well, that is it for today.  If you have any suggestions on project ideas or questions, please feel free to leave a comment below!  Thanks!

-Lolita Doll 11

Happy New Year!

Seasons greetings everyone!

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful Holiday and looking forward to the New Year!  Now that all the crazyness of shopping and wrapping presents is over, in 6 days it is going to be a whole new year, and I have decided what my New Year Resolution will be.  This year I plan on making more things instead of buying (unless it is materials).  I plan on saving more money, not only for myself but to help others as well.  I will learn something new, be it to do with sewing, learning a new language or maybe something about history that I didn’t know before.

Aside from that, I would like to share with everyone a few things that I have made over the past year.  It is not as much as I would have liked, but by doing this I hope that I can use this to help myself in my goal to make even more beautiful things in 2012 (it is going to be the last year on earth supposedly).

In most of these pictures you will notice the same fabric has been used.  It was a few years ago I saw this Music note fabric.  I kept waiting and waiting until I had money to buy it.  Well the day that I did, there was only 1 yard left and was told that they were not making anymore of it, so I bought all that I could, as well as buy some fabric I found online (of course I ended up paying too much for it).  It sat in my drawer for a while until I figured out what I wanted to do with it.  Then I met the designer for BruteForceStudios.com.  His name is Thomas Willeford.  I modeled for him a few times and he made me my own corset with the music note fabric that I had bought.  After that I made a skirt with the remaining piece and then a hat.

After that I made a few more hats (there are about 4 of them on my Etsy account right now).  Discovered that I still had some Music note fabric, and a friend of mine made a large donation to my lack of fabric, and so I made another skirt and a cravat to go with it.  It’s a shame that I don’t really have anymore left, I would love to make some more pieces.  For now I plan on making more items with the fabric that I have.

For the Holiday I found this adorable fabric that I knew I wanted to make for Christmas.  Red with white poke-a-dots and Christmas themed cupcakes.  I was worried that I didn’t have enough fabric for it to be long enough, so I made a white hem with some red stitching.  As it turns out I wouldn’t have needed it, but I think the little white ruffle really pulled it together.  It was my first time doing an elastic waist (normally I use zippers), and I made it a tiny bit loose.  I wanted to have something for my hair that matched my skirt so I made this really cute hairclip.  After my pieces were made I realized that I made a Sweet Lolita outfit (at least it looks Sweet to me).  I normally would never wear Sweet (nothing against it, I just normally don’t wear it).  When my family came over I was expecting all sorts of questions like “What are you wearing?” but I was surprised when everyone kept saying how cute I looked and then were shocked when I said I made what I was wearing.  It was a great feeling, my one aunt ended up inspecting my skirt and told me I did very well on it and should sell online.  I don’t think I will be selling clothing anytime soon, because even though I can, I don’t know if I could keep up with the orders, but it is a thought for the future.

So that is all that I have made so far that really screams Lolita.  As I said before, I want to make more things for 2012.  Keep an eye out on my Etsy, I just might post up a skirt or two.

Speaking of Lolita clothing for sale, a friend of mine has posted some of her clothes on the egl livejournal.  Take a look at it, there is a beautiful AATP (Alice and The Pirates) dress that I want but sadly I need to save money for my trip to Wales.  If you’re not a member of http://egl-comm-sales.livejournal.com/ I suggest that you fix that.  It’s a great place to find some great pieces (or to just look at them as I always do).  Have a happy New Year!

PS.  Still getting used to posting pictures.