Fall Fae

Growing up my mom made our Halloween costumes from scratch. Sometimes from a pattern, sometimes just off the top of her head. It is one of the many things my mother did that inspires me still today.
In keeping with the tradition of handmade costumes, I too make my kids' costumes for Halloween or what ever occasion requires a costume, even just a photo shoot.
In October of 2014 my two youngest daughters wanted to be fairies. I looked though my stash of fabrics and couldn't find enough of one fabric so I figured I would make some fabric.

I played my favorite Pandora station, pulled out my olive greens and egg plant purples and went to work piecing together a "shabby" woodland fairy costume.

 Pulling Scraps

I repurposed some olive green knit fabrics from a mermaid costume I made for my oldest daughter in 2013 as a base and accent pieces. After laying out the fabric pieces I pinned them in place and began sewing.

This is the result of "quilting the pieces together. I didn't want it too neat so the fabrics that did not have enough synthetic threads to heat seal I left raw. I heat sealed the others so it wouldn't to messy looking, kind of a bohemian gypsy look. 

 

 

I then trimmed out the pieces and made ruffles with the repurposed fabric and pieces I had in my stash. I made a halter type top that tied at the neck and buttoned up the back.

 

 

Here is the final result of putting the pieces together. I also made her wings and head piece. I will be listing her costume in my Etsy shop. Her wings and head piece have already sold.

Here We Are In Peoria, IL

It has been very slow going with the unpacking from the move, hence my absence from blogging. But, I have been busy. Busy mostly with getting settled into our new house, new state, new school, new job, new people, new everything. We are literally starting over. That has been a little bit tough on all of us. We moved from right outside the city of Atlanta, GA to Peoria, Illinois. And yes, parts of it really are just miles of corn fields. Closer to the river in the historic part of town it is much more green and lush. Eventually I will start scouting soon for photo shoot locations since my matchbox size, cookie cutter backyard isn't going to cut it.

Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios FL

In the mean time, let me get you up to speed.
Since all of my kids have their birthdays in July and we didn't have a house, we decided to take them to Universal Studios Florida for their birthdays. We made lots of wonderful memories. We also had a little party for them at SkyZone in Kennesaw, GA before we moved. I think their daddy had more fun than they did.

SkyZone in Kennesaw, GA

Then there are all the new items to make and photograph for the shop.

Several custom orders for birthdays and weddings

Then there are the seasonal items that are pretty popular, like mini top hats for women and children.

I am possibly going to be published in a book, that's very encouraging for me. Fox Publishing wants to publish some of my photos and products in their winter book coming out, Ice Princess Crafts or something of that nature.

 I was then contacted by a school in Ontario, Canada about replicating the icicles in the Snow Queen crown, on a large scale. As in 5 feet long large scale. That is what I am working on right now, while still unpacking the rest of our personal belongings.

My goal it to have us pretty much settled by then end of September so I can get back into my photography. We will see...