Before heading to DragonCon last year, I made three Slytherin quidditch uniforms for myself, my husband, and my bro/fellow costume maker Aimee. Deciding we’d eventually need emotional support Hufflepuffs, I had my niece cut the pattern/fabric pieces for herself and our friend Katy. And then earlier this year I made a matching Ravenclaw uniform for […]
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Costuming Quidditch from Harry Potter: The Pads
One of my most comfortable and fun costumes to wear is my Slytherin quidditch uniform from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The robes were easy to make, but the black pads were either hard to find or priced higher than I was willing to pay. So I’ve made 5 sets of black pads […]
Feeling Fancy with Fitted Face Masks
It seems this pandemic and the requirement to wear face coverings in public is going to be around for a while. I made over a hundred of the pleated kind for myself and my husband, close (read: nearby) friends and family, and donated to our local vet, all able to drop by for a porch […]
Sew You Want to Make a Cloth Face Mask
With recent CDC recommendations to wear cloth face coverings in public, people are scrambling to make masks for themselves, others, and to donate to medical facilities. So I made a handful for myself and my husband, and close (read: nearby) friends and family that could drop by for a porch pick-up. And then I must […]
Limoncello Marmalade
This recipe is a variation from my Surprisingly Simple Citrus Marmalade that I developed for Houston’s Italian Cultural & Community Center’s 2020 Fashion Show & Luncheon next month. If you’re a swag bag recipient, you’ll receive a jar of this yummy goodness! It’s too good to not share, so you’re welcome to make this at […]
Costuming Brianna from Outlander: Season 4 (Patchwork Shirt)
I usually costume Claire from Outlander, and I have outfits from the first 3 seasons. But in season 4, a costume worn by Brianna (Bree) caught my eye, and I started working on it before the first episode even aired. I made Brianna’s patchwork shirt that she wore while hunting with Jaime in episode 409, […]
Ghosts of Costumes Past: DragonCon 2018
Every year during Labor Day weekend, I attend DragonCon in Atlanta, one of the largest pop culture conventions in the United States. While it’s not the largest and the most widely known, it is my version of a costuming Super Bowl. As I’m currently on my way to Atlanta for this year’s convention, I’m taking a look back at what I […]
Ghosts of Costumes Past: DragonCon 2013
As I prepare for this year’s DragonCon in Atlanta next week, I’m looking back at the first DragonCon that we attended in 2013…what a blast from the past! And wow, things have changed in 6 years! This was before I learned how to sew, before I knew any of you awesome nerds, before the blog, […]
Packing Light: Carry-On for a 7+ Day Cruise
Could you do it? Packing for a week long (or more) cruise in only a carry-on suitcase might seem impossible, but I’m here to remind you it is not! I recently got back from an 8 day cruise (with 3 days spent in Miami) with only my backpack and carry-on rolling suitcase and people were […]
You Spray Painted What? A Chalkboard Paint (DIY)
When preparing our suburban home of 10 years for the market, we walked through the house with our agent and noted everything that needed to be fixed, replaced, updated, and painted. One of those things was our chocolate brown master bathroom cabinets. I turned to Pinterest for easy, affordable, and quick inspiration and actually let […]