Happy Halloween! - My TV Dinner Costume is complete!

Happy Halloween everyone!  The much anticipated completion of the TV Dinner costume is finally done and here it is!  It really does look like a Turkey and Stuffing TV Dinner!

For those of you following along on the costume progress - let's review from the beginning.  Here are most of my supplies.  I needed to add a few (such as the pillow stuffing for the mashed potatoes and the laptop strap for the strap system).  Most everything else is pictured here though.

Here we have the basic shape of the tray using pool noodles, pipe insulation, cardboard and lots and lots of duct tape.

Next came the "edge" for the tray - again using more cardboard and duct tape.

Covering the tray with gray felt:

Now we are moving onto the food portion of the costume.  Here are the "Peas and Carrots".  The peas are plastic eyeballs that are about the size of the ping pong ball.  The carrots are some square reusable ice cubes.  Both of these items were found at the dollar store.  

Finished spray painting.

And into the tray, securing them with the hot glue gun.

I am surprised at how much they really do look like peas and carrots!

Next came the cranberry sauce.  This is made using the burgundy colored cellophone wrap.  I just crinkled it and glued it in place using the hot glue gun.

Next came the mashed potatoes with a pat of butter on top.  The potatoes are made from the stuffing of an old pillow I had laying around.  The pat of butter is a piece of felt. 

And voila - last but not least - the turkey and stuffing!  The turkey slices are two pieces of felt and the stuffing is made from the small foam piece, cut into squares and then "toasted" using some more spray paint.  My Swanson hat is made from cardboard covered in green felt with the Swanson's logo glued to it.

The costume is held in place around my shoulders using a strap from an old laptop bag.

I added some rope and rings secured around the pool noodles before covering it with felt.  The laptop strap just clips into place on the rings.

Here is my original inspiration for the costume:

I think I came pretty close in the end!  Happy Halloween everyone!

Until next time, Keep on Sewing!

Star

It's all in the pattern.....and other updates....

I am excited to say my October "One" challenge is complete and this is truly the "One" workout pant pattern for me!  I am lovin my new Jalie Cora's!!!  Finally, a workout pant that didn't end up in the bin!

YEAH!!!!

For these pants, I used some red and black animal print, combined with some black spandex and some black power mesh for the calf portion.  I couldn't determine if the red and black print is supposed to resemble snake skin or alligator, but whatever it is, I took great care to make sure the front panels were matching when cutting them out.  

The pant back incorporates a pocket into the lower back area.  I lined the pocket using the same red/black animal print as the front.

Here's a close-up of the pocket.  I'm not a runner so I'm not really sure if I will actually ever use the pocket, but it does add a bit of interest.  For my next pair, I will probably just skip the pocket entirely.

I traced the size "V" and shortened the length by 2 inches.  Other than that, there were not other changes made.  I love the fit of the waist as it is nice and snug and doesn't droop at the back.

For my next pair, I will try using a 1" elastic instead of the 1/2" that I used in these. The 1/2" elastic works, but I'd like to see what difference the 1" elastic makes in the look and feel.   And for the pair after that, I'll try 1 1/2" elastic, and for the pair after that.....well, you can see I really like this pattern.  I can see ALOT of these pants in my future.  I have three pairs of existing pants that I really like the print, but I am just constantly tugging and pulling on them so I'll be upcycling them into some Cora's in the future.

For everyone keeping track, here are the latest yardage stats:
Total yardage for the Jalie Cora = 1 yard
YTD Total = 96.125.  I'm getting ever closer to that 100 yard line!!

Halloween Costume Update

How about an update on the Halloween Costume with the latest progress photos:

Here is the basic shape.  Remember - the theme is "TV".  Any guesses?

Next, we have the border added to the sides.  Any ideas now?

How about now?  It still needs it's "filling" but any guesses at this stage?

That's it for this week everyone!

Happy sewing!

Star

October MAGAM determined, Pool noodle project and a Garment Bag completed

October MAGAM Determined - 

Hello everyone!  It's been over a week since my last post so I am way overdue for an update.  I've selected my "One" MAGAM project for October - which will be to make a pair of workout pants.  I know, I have tried to make workout pants before and failed miserably, but since then, I've read so many good things about the Jalie "Cora" pant, that I have a feeling this pattern just might be "The One!".

The fabric I will use for the Cora pants is some animal print poly/spandex along with some plain black spandex that I picked up during my last trip to Mill End fabrics in Reno.  The reviews I have read all say that the waist in the pattern runs small, which just might be perfect for me.  I prefer to have a tighter waist in my workout pants.  There is nothing worse that doing a few burpees and then having to keep pulling your pants up afterwards!!

Pool Noodle Project - 

I've collected all of the supplies I need for my Halloween costume this year.  Have I mentioned that at my employer - Halloween IS A BIG DEAL!!  The CEO does a company wide speech which everyone attends in full costume, everyone gets pizza for lunch and the decorations on each floor are awesome.  There are costume contests, decorating contests, pumpkin carving contests - you name it, we probably have it.  I won 1st place with my carrot costume a few years ago too!  Really no work gets done this day, but it's all in good fun.

The theme for my area this year is "TV".  So - with that being said, below are all of the supplies I need for my costume.  Do you have any ideas of what it might be?  Leave a guess below in the comments if you do.

My supplies are below:
- 2 pool noodles
- 3 pipe tubes of pipe insulation
- cardboard box
- Gray, tan and yellow felt
- Red cello wrap
- 3 sets of round eyeballs
- 1 bag of freezable ice cubes
- 2 cans of spray paint
- 1 small piece of foam used for a cushion

Garment Bag completed - 

And lastly, I finished the final item on my September Sew for 30 list of projects.  The garment bag is finally done!!  This was a pattern traced and given to me by a dear friend.  It's Butterick 4156.

It's made from a piece of cotton I've had in the stash for quite awhile.  I knew I would never make a garment out of this, but thought the print was so cute, it would be perfect for a garment bag.

Since I didn't have the pattern instructions, but the traced pattern, I had no idea of how much bias binding I needed - so I just started cutting out a bunch.  When I had a pile of what I thought would be enough, I started sewing.  In the end, I was 6 inches too short - not too bad for just guessing!  I just out another strip and finished the binding.

I added a 2 inch piece to the sides as well so I can carry more than one garment and items won't be flattened.

Here's the back view.  I sure I will get a TON of use out of this garment bag.  Each month I bring in Show and Tell items for my local sewing guild meeting and I'll no longer need to bring a clear plastic bag with me to cover my items.  Yippee!!  I'll finally have a garment bag to keep them neat and tidy while transporting.

The garment bag adds a total of 4 more yards to the Stashbustin quest - which brings my YTD Total up to 95.125 yards.  OMG - I am closing in on the 100 yard mark!!!!

That's it for me today.

Happy sewing everyone!

Star