HELLOmynameisHeather

Fierce Determination

A work in progress.  Here's where I'm at on Charlotte's dragon headress for Halloween -- a 3D sketch. So far I've built, in effect, a dragon dressform from a foam alligator hat, a pumpkin head and a metal jug.  Now to create a pattern and sew, sew, sew.

Fun to see the process, huh?  Let's hope the finished result measures up.  Of course, now that I've let you in on it, there's no backing down.

Little time, big ambition. I'm heading off for Houston in less than two days and there's no shortage of other work I have to squeeze in as well.  Aaah!

Bat Couture

Meet Cornelius. "Do NOT call me Corny," he insists.

Charlotte is obsessed with bats.  Last year she was a bat for Halloween.  This year she turned the hollow at the back of one of my dress forms into a bat cave.  There's a street nearby where the bats cluster under the street lights for a bug smorgasbord.  As such, it's our preferred route between Heather Bailey headquarters and home.  Bats are a thing around here.

Looking for some Halloween fun?  Download my FREE Betty Boo Sock Doll pattern -- link posted in the sidebar under Free Patterns.  This year I've added a new companion pattern, the Bat Couture Cape. It's FREE as well -- link in sidebar.

 

All you need is a Halloween sock, some great felt, and a few bits & bobs.  We have a bunch of bat kits put together if you're looking for ideas.  Move the bow from any Betty's ear to the top of her buttons and she changes gender;  voila, Candy becomes Cornelius.  Simple as that.

The cape is quick and easy to sew, but oh so formidable.  For my next cape, I'm going for colorful felt, then embroidering the back with a web and a spider.

Cornelius and his sister, Candy, are available as kits.  Get a bat kit for free till 10-31-10 at midnight MST,. Details here.

Jaunty Frolic

It's official.  My first collection of home decor fabrics is in the works.  I mailed out the artwork earlier this week.  I'm so excited.  And relieved.  That last part of the design process is pretty grueling.

I can't show any sneak peeks till the copyright process is completed.  I can let it slip that one of the prints is called Cakewalk.  A great name with an even-better history.  (There are no cake illustrations involved though.)  I love learning about weird stuff.

Here's the skinny.

The cakewalk is a dance from the civil-war era.  It was a tradition begun by slaves which developed into a parody of high society ballroom dancing and dandy mannerisms.  Instead of taking offense, plantation owners encouraged the comedic dance.  Many would host Sunday cakewalk contests to determine who could high-kick, saunter, curtsy, and tip his hat to best effect. The prize was usually a cake wrapped in cabbage (I'm guessing early Saran Wrap here).  It is from this tradition comes the saying, "That takes the cake!"

The dance hit the mainstream around 1890 or so -- Victorian society was due for some silliness.

The high-stepping march of a band majorette stems from the cakewalk as well. 

After discovering old-timey cakewalk footage on You Tube yesterday, Isaac and I took a stab at the dance ourselves.  Right here in my office.  Flag that one for the next church talent show, right?  If you need a stress relief, I highly recommend it.  Odds are you'll win a good belly laugh and burn off some cake while you're at it.  Then again, you might need to be punch-drunk with exhaustion to fully understand.