Super Special Christmas Dress

Now that it's almost February, I figured I should write a blog about the *special* dress I made for Christmas.  It was my second time using the Danielle pattern from BurdaStyle [it was free]; the first one had ended in disaster!

BurdaStyle

pic-raggedy anne dress

Well, I learned from my mistakes.  It came out very well, although I had some fitting problems.

Yay!

Petticoats Please - FAIL

I saw the "Petticoats Please" tutorial on BurdaStyle and decided to give it a try because I've been needing to make one anyways...  I downloaded the instructions, measured my tulle, and began to cut.  Only problem is, I didn't read ALL of the instructions before beginning!!!!  PLUS my brain just isn't working today!!!!  Snip, snip, snip.  Forgot to add seam allowances.  Chop, chop, chop.  Didn't realize the first layer was supposed to be cotton.  Oops.

But of course, crafters don't just throw away a botched project!  I have succeeded in salvaging it.  I'm very proud.

One huge lesson I've learned throughout my years of crafting is never give up.  If things don't work out the way you planned, be flexible!  Be creative!  That's the point of crafting.

Tips for Taming the Tulle (haha)

• Weight the corners with something
• Work on a surface that is contrasting in color with the tulle
• When cutting a straight line, just fold it in half again and again until you have a shorter piece to cut
• Good lighting!  That shit is hard see
• Gathering all that tulle and making it even is a bitch...use a higher tension setting on your machine (I used a 5 on mine) and it will gather the tulle for you

I didn't put any satin ribbon on it because I didn't have any :[   I did have some sparkly purple ruffly trim. Unfortunately, not enough!  I'll have to order more [I got it from I Love Cookie Party].

Sweater Top Red w/ Black Sparkly Bow Vintage by heartattackcouture

Sweater Top Red w/ Black Sparkly Bow Vintage by heartattackcouture

I just listed this new item on Etsy! If you love me, you will at least check it out so I can feel good about myself when I check my Google Analytics.

Job Hunting

Well, obviously I'm not going to become rich selling on Etsy and eBay any time soon, so now I'm looking for a job.  Oh yeah, my financial aid ran out, too.  Since my last disastrous job as a "cocktail waitress," I'm terrified of getting a real job where I have to dress nice and show up on time.  And I might even have to work in the morning--ugh!  I'm terrible at sales, so I figured that some kind of clerical job would be best for me. 

Searching for jobs is frustrating.  I browse Craigslist and Monster, sending my resume to all kinds of places, but I haven't heard anything yet.  I guess it just takes time...  My boyfriend is supporting me right now, which makes me feel kinda lame since I was raised with the idea that women are supposed to be independent. 

Progress

Goal-achieving has been bad, bad, bad.  I haven't sold anything in weeks, and I'm starting to think my stuff is really lame.  Worse, I can't buy new materials until I sell stuff because I just don't have the money.  I keep hoping that something of mine will end up on Regretsy for being so ridiculous--I don't care if they laugh at my stuff because it sells!  And it's actually pretty funny...