Shark Costume Part 2: Drafting and Cutting Out the Tail

UPDATE!  See this link for the Shark Costume Pattern

Welcome to part 2 of the Shark Costume Tutorial series!  This posting will focus on drafting and cutting out the tail. 

I love making Halloween costumes.  In fact, Halloween costumes were the first project to really make me want to learn to sew.  I just HAD to have something different from the standard brothel pirate costumes and Elvira wigs at local stores, but I didn't exactly have the funding for anything elaborate.

So the requirement was "uniquely cheap."  Or maybe "cheaply unique."  :)

Did I mention I had no idea how to sew?

I went to the local Joann's and browsed the Halloween patterns, trying to find something I could manage on my own.  Eureka!  The Flintstones!  How hard could it possibly be? 

Turns out it was a little harder than I thought, but after some trial and error it turned out bueno.  I made costumes for my roommate, myself and our dates.  Roommie K. and her beau were Fred and Wilma.  My short, blond date and I -- with my sassy little bob -- made a picture-perfect Barney and Betty.  It worked out perfectly and I was hooked!  Okay, perfect except my date felt a little too twinkie-esque and added horns to his forehead with fake blood running down into his eyes.  Harumph.  Boys...)

Didn't the costumes turn out cute?!  Sorry for the quality...and cropping.  No creepy ex-boyfriends on this blog!

Anyway, here's how this shark tail thing is going to go down...

Getting on the bus...and off the roller coaster

I'm sorry I haven't been around lately.  You see, I lost my mother in March, and it's been hard to focus on sewing or writing.  When I do write, I get lost in emotion.  The endless photo search just results in waves of silent tears, and then surrender.  Even when I'm trying not to think at all, everything seems to remind me of her.  Even weird, silly things that you wouldn't expect.

Like today when I put Big Boy on the school bus.

Today's Photo Journal: Winter Harvest

What an incredible winter we're having!  I can't believe I have to worry about putting insect repellant on before I go for a walk in January.  I love that citrus ripens in the winter.  What more lovely way to recapture the warmth and beauty of summer than to pick a bushel of tangerines, lemons or kumquats?

With all the unexpected warmth and moisture, our tangerines began to go bad, so the boys and I picked every single one off the trees this weekend and juiced them.  I wish I had a picture of them helping in the kitchen -- they had so much fun, but they made me so nervous around the juicer that I couldn't step back long enough to snap a photo.  They did their jobs admirably, though, with Bitty peeling and Big Boy dropping the segments down the chute.  Our liquid gold turned out perfectly.  It tasted exactly like the color in the glass:  bright, refreshing, saturated, YUM.

A great friend gave me the Noah's Ark pitcher.  The piece, made in Louisville, Kentucky, has quickly become my favorite vessel. 

And the camellias...oh, the camellias.  I wish they bloomed longer, but I find myself very grateful they show up just in the midst of the normally cold, dreary months.  I cut these and brought them in to brighten Momma's room.  They look like they popped right off her chair!  She felt pretty rough this week, but their beauty, combined with my Dad's boyish smile ought to perk anybody up.

Today's Photo Journal: Balmy Beach Weather

I'm not sure what we did to deserve this slice of heaven in January, but the last few days have been positively balmy!  Though we haven't seen much sun, this week's overcast days have offered highs in the low 70s.  Gorgeous!  Would you believe...surfers?

Interview Tips for the Nanny Applicant

Dear Nanny,

1.  Unless he is here to translate for you, please do not bring your adult son and his child bride to your job interview with you.  One stranger in my home is quite enough.  Thank you.

2.  Please be truthful about your expected salary on the sitter site.  It was a little insulting when I offered you more than your advertised rate and you acted like *I* was smoking crack.

3.  Please do not converse in a language that I do not understand IN MY HOME...at a JOB INTERVIEW.

4.  NO, I WILL NOT HIRE YOUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW with whom I did not exchange a SINGLE WORD while you were here.  I contacted YOU, based on YOUR listing.  When would I like her to begin?  Seriously?  Sha.

5.  Please do not act surprised that I would expect you to quit your current job and show up for work before 3 p.m. for a FULL TIME NANNY POSITION that YOU APPLIED FOR.

6.  When I say, "It doesn't sound like this is the right fit," that's my nice way of saying the interview is over.  Don't try to keep negotiating me up to your rate or pawning more members of your family on me.

Other than that, you did awesome!  We'll let you know.  :)

Top 10 Tips for Working with Silky Furry Fleece

1.  Accept that sewing with Silky Furry Fleece will turn your house into a Muppet barber shop.  The mess won't stay contained to your sewing space either -- you'll track it all over the house.  If you would never shave Chewbacca in your living room just for the joy of the thing, this is probably not your fabric of choice.

Okay, now that we're over that hurdle, read on.  (Take comfort in knowing I'm a classic Type-A freak.  If I can work with it, anyone can.)

Today's Photo Journal: You Gotta Be Elfin' Crazy

I recently found myself combing Pinterest for all those blogs with creative ideas for our Elf on the Shelf.  What I really learned was how positively certifiable some parents are.  Oh, try not to be offended if you're one of those overachieving elf people, but I just couldn't imagine myself executing some of those elaborate plans.

Still, our Elf -- Baxter -- has his own style.  I bet your Elf has never done this...

Today's Photo Journal: Jiggity Jig!

Wow!  So, this marks the longest stretch without a posting since I revived and converted the blog in June.  I've been off traveling with SuperHusband and the Offspring.  We spent the last few days walking around the theme parks in Orlando and generally having a great time.  The photo above came from Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter area of Universal Studios.  Recognize Hermione's dress from the Yule Ball? 

I'd like to say I have lots more pictures of places and scenery to share, but surprisingly, the majority of our vacation photos came back looking like portraits.

You see, my priorities were elsewhere.  Let me explain...

Tutorial: The Tooth Fairy Pillow with Raw Edge Applique

I'm so excited to share probably my all-time favorite sewing project for kids today!  I have been waiting years for the chance to make one of these for my own kiddos and then when the moment strikes I find myself in a mad dash to get it done.  Standard, standard.

Anyway, it's been a big, big week at Chez JSO.  Big Boy lost his first tooth Sunday so it's time for a Tooth Fairy Pillow!

Contest Winner: A Big (Boy) Responsibility

Big Boy accepted the honor of pulling the name for our big contest winner.  Before the big moment, I carefully printed out multiple strips for every one who entered the contest.

Big News, Bundles of Joy and a GIVEAWAY!

Holy Moley, what a week!  So, I know I totally promised to have a tutorial out on the Toothless costume by now, but I didn't anticipate the domestic and military craziness that would take over my life.  At least I got a few baby gifts ready to send.  (I love all these fun flannels, but the Chinese lanterns are secretly my favorite.) 

Okay, so I've been chomping at the bit to share some very big news: 

Today's Photo Journal: Halloween Costume Time!

Oh, heavens, it's that time of year again...

One of my closest friends and I have a running joke about the self-inflicted torture mother's engage in when it comes to doing crazy things in the name of loving their children.

Today's Photo Journal: A Mother's Love

The most precious gifts we receive convey love, thoughtfulness and meet a need.  One of the earliest such treasures of my life was "blankie," a simple pink quilt made especially for a tiny me by my mother's mother.  

Tutorial: How to Patch a Pair of Shorts...(or most anything, really)

When Big Boy hopped off the school bus last week, I immediately noticed a quarter-size hole in his favorite shorts.  I asked if he wanted me to patch them, and of course, he said yes.  I'm tickled that the kids think it's no big deal that I can patch things, shorten sleeves or make them a pair of "comfy pants" (read: fleece) and let out the hem the next year when they're too short.  For once, being taken for granted makes me smile. 

Today's Photo Journal: Legacy of Love

 

When doctors first diagnosed my mother and told her she probably had little more than a couple of months, she did something completely wacky... 

Brilliant, really...

She ran for public office.

Today's Photo Journal: Marine Biologist or Artiste?

Looks like we have another artist in the family.

SuperHusband:  What's this that you drew?
Big Boy:  (Matter-of-Factly) A piranha.

Well, obviously, right?  I love the teeth!!

And that's just the beginning...

Today's Photo Journal: Getting Ready for School

My Big Boy is growing up.

It's so hard sometimes to remember that I need to let him do things on his own.  This week he came in with a glass of iced tea for my husband.  I knew he climbed the ultra-tall, barstool (with no back or arms) to reach the glasses in the high cabinet and again to remove the full jug of tea from the top shelf of the fridge.  My first instinct was to scold him, and then I reminded myself that he just wanted to do something generous.  All week, he's asked repeatedly to help around the house.  My heart positively sings when he demonstrates his glad, giving nature.  And he's 5 years old...he's getting big enough to do all kinds of things by himself.

LAST DAY for the GIVEAWAY!

Don't forget, today is the last day for the Ribbon-Adorned Lovey Giveaway!  To sweeten the pot, if we reach the goal of 25 website followers by 6 p.m. today, I'll give away a second, girly lovey.  Don't forget to include a cute baby story in the comments section!

And check out our FaceBook page -- It's brand new, but getting better all the time.  More photos and projects to come!  Happy sewing and Olympics watching...we're total addicts at our house.  :)

Simple Chic Pillowcase Tutorial

I needed to bring a little "girly" back into the guest bedroom adorned with SuperHusband's aviation art and the kids' masculine quilts -- airplanes and dragons.  These dramatic damask pillowcases dressed the space up nicely, and they make a perfect first project for the sewing beginner.

NOT YOURS!

Once, when Big Boy was barely two years old, he stumbled on his short, chubby toddler legs into my sewing space and began to make his way around the room, stopping every few steps to point at some forbidden item and shout, in the loudest meanest tone his precious little voice could muster, "NOT YOURS!"