Pop Art

As promised here are some of the pop art pictures I have made, some are celebrities and others a character from a fandom (or a friends fandom:) I've enlarged the pictures for better viewing.

Emma and Hook "Captain Swann" (Once Upon a Time)

Emma (OUAT)

Oprah Winfrey

Jack Sparrow portrayed by Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) in secondary colours

Will and Elizabeth (Pirates of the Caribbean) portrayed by Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom

Davy Jones (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Bill Cosby (The Cosby Show years)

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (young)

Princess Diana

WARNING MICHAEL JACKSON OVERLOAD

Shades of Purple

Primary colour scheme

Secondary colour scheme

Negative space

Realistic colours

Album cover from Bad

Sparkly shirt

Sparkly outfit

Anti-gravity lean from Smooth Criminal

Thanks for stopping by!

Caftan Tutorial

I found out how to make a caftan (a very easy to sew gathered dress) ...somewhere. All I can tell you is that I did not come up with the idea/pattern, but I will share this with you 'cause its so easy and pretty! I already made the caftan, so for the first steps I made powerpoint slides, (I hope the instructions are clear and simple enough).

You will need:

-Light material like that used in leggings, if the material is stiff you will end up looking like a beggar  child dressed in a potato sack (that's how my first one turned out)
-Measuring tape (or have someone trace you)
-Sewing machine (unless you have more patience than me)
-Thread (this is really a no brainer)
-A pair of scissors
-A belt (hint, its good to have a belt that isn't the same colour as your material)

You could skip this stage or do it last

Now put on your dress, it will probably look like a big pillowcase (see picture)

Put on your belt, adjust, tuck and pull as needed and you're good to go!

Have fun!

My LOWCW contribution

I know today is the last day for "Legends of Western Cinema Week" (hosted at "Meanwhile in Rivendell" and "A lantern in her hand") I really meant to do this earlier:) ok no excuses lets get into it. I haven't watched many westerns, I can only think of "The Lone Ranger" 2013 (here is the link to the review I did on "The Lone Ranger 2013") But I have posted so many reviews lately, so I thought I would just share the western costume that I recently made for my brother (still need to make the spurs) but here it is.

He wasn't the most willing model but I dragged him into it. 

We got a big roll of cloth that looked leathery (but was really soft)

I always use what we have on hand, I found a cowboy straw hat but that didn't look quite authentic enough, so I sewed the cloth on it.

I cut three strips of cream colored cloth and braided them to decorate the hat.

The chaps are strung on to the belt to keep them up (and we found a belt that says "pioneer" on it so that fits the theme)

I also made a vest (but you can't button it up)

And of course a bandana, It was interesting to read about all the uses a bandana had (yes I research when making costumes:) a bandana kept dust out of a cowboy's mouth and nose, it was tied over the hat to keep his ears warm when it was cold, it filtered water and was used as a bandage, really quite essential.

We had found a pair of boots at our local thrift store that looked like this.

I covered those in faux leather too.

Then all that was needed was a shirt and a pair of Levis to complete the look. The spurs will be a strip of cloth tied around the base of the boot with washers hanging off the edge to make a clicking sound when he walks.

My sister and I went to a western themed mystery dinner in May, here is the link to the post I did on our costumes.

And I have another tutorial coming soon!

Colonial Silver

(I am bringing over posts from my closed craft blog to Sweet N Salty for you to view)

Something different today, a few years ago (when I was about 12) my Mom was teaching us (my siblings and I are home schooled) about Paul Revere, and we started looking at the silver he made, as well as other silver from the colonial era. Feeling inspired I made a set of dishes myself (using mostly cardboard and plastic bottles, whatever I have on hand at the time).  I also made some salt dough and made food to go with the dishes. It is not doll sized, its the size of a little girl's play kitchen set.

First off, a big silver platter and a loaf of sourdough bread (all dishes are covered in aluminum foil to make them look silver) and a bread knife.

To go with the bread, some cheese and butter

Pot of soup

(popcorn kernels for soup)

And of course, a silver ladle,

And a woven pot holder

On to dishes...

Footed cups (like goblets) the bottom is the top part of a bottle and the top is the bottom part of a water bottle.

Two deep silver dishes that can hold soup or bread

There are two knives, two spoons and two forks

A milk pitcher and a cider pitcher

The candle sticks are the top parts of a water bottle

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Let's start dessert off with some cake...

... and a cherry pie with lattice crust

where there's cake, there's cream

A pie lifter

Peanut butter cookies (not very colonial, but the dish is)

Napkin holder and cloth napkins

To complete the set, a silver vase and a bouquet of flowers.

So that is my Paul Revere inspired colonial dish set, I hope you enjoyed it!

Salt dough recipe

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour

Mix the ingredients carefully, I suggest adding the water last so you know when enough is enough. When sticky enough (not too sticky) start kneading (like bread), and then make whatever you want!