St. Patrick's Day

Well almost everyone knows that yesterday was St. Patrick's Day.  I am one half Irish from my Mother's side and one half Italian from my Father's side, I have always felt more Italian than Irish, but on St. Patrick's Day I revel in my Irish heritage.  Now when I lived in Denver, I usually wore a shamrock sweater and other green items.  But here in sunny, warm Phoenix area, those clothes are definitely out, so I made this outfit to wear.  The green shorts came from the thrift store.  I made the t-shirt from two t-shirts I got at Walmart. 

I loved the front of this shirt, but always like to have something on the back of my t-shirt since I believe that people see you both coming and going. 

I did reverse applique on the back of the t-shirt with the front of the second t-shirt I got at Walmart , which worked great.  I also shortened the t-shirt a couple of inches.  For me the shorter, boxier look is better.  The hat I found on clearance last year for $ 1.  Now how could you resist a polka dot hat for a dollar, even though it is not much of a sun hat.  It had to go home with me.  As I was gathering my fashions for St. Pat's Day I ran across this hat and I knew it would be perfect to wear.  The frou-frou on the hat is a combination of items I purchased on St. Patrick's Day clearance at Claire's.  I got many compliments on this outfit which I wore with green polka dot tennis shoes.  I bought the lime green shoes and painted dark green polka dots on them with fabric paints.  Now this is my celebrating being Irish.  My Mama is smiling somewhere. 

Decorated Easter Hat contest

This post is about my adventure in decorating a hat for a Easter Hat contest.  I am president of a Ladies group at my Church.  Last year I missed the contest because I was visiting my fabulous grandbabies in Denver and Sheridan Wyoming.  I have never met a fashion challenge I didn't like, especially a hat.  I was told that the hats that won last year's were more quirky than functional.  I was trying to do both.  I don't believe in throwing stuff on a hat unless it adds to the design in some way.  Also those hats you would never wear except for them to be in a contest.  I wanted my hat to be functional.  I wanted to wear it again.

As a base, I started with a hat that I already had on hand.  I had decorated it for Easter several years ago, and only worn it twice I think.  The hat just didn't fit well on my head. I liked the decorations.

I started by making the top part of the hat.   

I sewed my fabric to Peltex.  Not the fusible kind.  I felt that might make it too stiff.  I did sew a couple rows of boning to the side that was not going to be squished so it would hold it's shape.   Before I stitched up the sides I sewed the ribbon in equal distance rows.  Somehow the math worked out and my base fit the hat.  Same went for the top of the hat.  Sometimes I am so lucky. 





 I thought my finsihed hat was this top version.  I wasn't totally happy with it.  I think I was unhappy with the large poka dot ribbon on the smaller poka dot fabric.  Too jaring I thought.  My husband suggested putting ribbon bows on the top of the hat where the buttons were, and the rest, so to speak is history.

After bows and rhinestons my hat is finished and I love it.  I will definitely be wearing this hat on Easter and perhaps for other occassions.  I have titled this hat PINK EXPLOSION.  If you are wondering I won second place.  A quirky hat won 1st place.

Wig heads revisited

Well some of you might remember that the first blog post I did was of some wig heads that I painted so I had some place to hang my hats and fascinators when I wasn't using them.  I wanted something more interesting that just the white styrofoam wig heads you can get at Hobby Lobby.  The long neck models I ordered on-line.  I had seen a couple of different versions out and about in shops.  This first picture is what that first group looked like.  They were different hair and clothing colors of course.  I liked them very much, but again, I was on a quest to make my faces funkier. 

I needed to paint a few more ( too many hats ) so recently I painted these new ones.  I certainly did a different face, and I think the hair looks different because of the faces.  Now I know that not everyone will like my new faces, but I definitely like them.  I think these new ladies look like they have attitude and we can never have enough of that !!!!!  You would never guess that I love poka dots, checks and stripes.