craftgrrl | a little sewing and embellishment

i tried my first applique!

i found this vintage dress at the dollar thrift and it fits perfectly! but it needed something.. a giant ~~squid~~ octopus attacking a ship to be exact. i used wonder under to anchor it down then used a buttonhole stitch around the edges. tentacles are difficult! i then added some grommets and the head of a jewel snap for details.

next time i won't be afraid to make it bigger. i'm thinking a GIANT octopus on a skirt, tentacles wrapping around the sides. yes. next time. now that i've experimented with the technique. i <3 buttonhole stitch!! it took me a bit to figure out that it could be used in this way.

i also made a robot skirt.

i beaded over the eyes and control panels. it needs to be ironed, though. apologies.

my camera had a tough time getting a good photo of this. i painted an open bidrcage on another thrift skirt and sewed butterflies made from sheer ribbon flying out. the eyes are beaded as well. i'm going to give the black lines another layer of paint, the skirt fabric just soaked it up and it melds into the pattern more than i would like. so call it "skirt alteration, phase one".