Shop Opening (Posted 20th August 2012)

A family member opened a shop at the weekend and last week asked me to come as Jessie. Also asked me to make a Slinky dog. Sooo I went ahead and spent a couple of days, making a 2 person slinky. the fabrics were bought by family member and though it didn't go to plan it went down really well with the public and it was cuteee. Especially loved how the front kid woofed and things hehe. Lots of kids stroked his belly and ears. Had a lot of photos taken. The best thing is deffinatly kids looking shocked and look in wonder and then smiling. Had a lot of high fives and yeehaaa's. Was really fun. Though my body wanted to give up. it was mega hot too, I actually thought Jessie was going to melt.

Paint... (Posted 3rd February 2012)

My niece bought me yellow fabric paint for Christmas so I could finish the dress. Awww. (she's 8)

We finished painting the front back in January, while they were here they wanted to take some photos. So we did a bit of a video and photo taking. It was a bit random and seriously I now realise just how ill I was last time I wore her. It doesn't fit at all but I can't alter it without starting again. The eyelet in the back is the worst thing. Oh and we put together an old necklace thing (name?) because I still can't find what I need to make big foam beads. and the 'doll' merchendise in real life (horrible it is) has petal one like this. Everytime I do a bit more to her, I think... she should be retired, but I just can't hang her up.

Doh! (Posted 21st November 2011)

I managed to get to Hobby Craft a few days ago, I managed to get all the paints and fabric pens and clay I needed to complete a few costumes... So today I get everything out to do another layer of yellow paint on Jessie's Hawaii dress and... er.. Ruthie, you er.. forgot the yellow! AH BUM HOLES!
I'll order some from ebay, it's not worth going to HC for just one pot.

stitchings... (Posted 18th October 2011)

I double hemmed all the edges with dark green standard cotton on sewing machine, except the side where you can see I stitched it with over sized running stitch. I did the yellow over sized stitched with 6 strands of DMC #723 (I will check that number as my boxes are in the other room) Cross Stitch Cotton.
Top image is how I sitched the sitching. 2 other images are the same just the colours look different, the darker is more accurate colour. But you can see the yellow stitching better in the light one.

Just need:
More Yellow Dylon fabric paint as the yellow needs another layer and to make the necklace. I think I'm going to glue some craft foam together to make larger 'beads'.. I can't find anything like what I want.

Hwaiian Vaction Update... (Posted 14th October 2011)

today I finally started painting her 'dress'. Can you believe it? lol, i've had that paint for way too long. My neice (8) [who is one of my aliens] actually did most of it for me to be honest. Thank you sooo much to her. My energy really isn't good and so she was amazing helping. I think she enjoyed it a lot. This morning I ironed out the fabric as it has ended up at the bottom of a washing type basket that I had tons of wigs and sewing bits in. Yes, I haven't been great at taking care of things since last admission to hospital. I drew most of the design in chalk on the fabric. Then my neice got on with the painting, I painted some of the bits where the chalk had rubbed off. We only had just enough to paint the front and only one layer. The fabric is very thin and soaked up the paint wayyyyy to much. I ironed the layer to seal the paint. I think design wise, this is all I will do as we are only using it for the photos and a few videos we intend to do. Basically you won't see the back ever! Although, we might go buy Cars 2 in costume, in which case I will probably paint the back too. If I really can't do it in time then I'm not too fussed at the moment to be honest. It deffinatly needs another layer. reminer: I need white for Penny's t-shirt.

The first image is chalked and start of paintign first layer.
second image is finished painting first layer.
third image is wrapped around me, and more like the real colour of the fabric.
Again, need to get more paint and paint second layer, then add stitching and a popper to hold it together.

Vactionnn (Posted 12th August 2011)

YAY with the dress I won't need to wear the trousers. So it's all good.

08 August 2011: I found some lovely green fabric in my mums craft boxes - after she said she had no green :p and i went to several fabric shops GR! LOL. Anyways, it's really nice fabric.
I also found card all three of the colours I need for the flower in her hair. I decided on card as I couldn't think of anything else that would be remotely big enough.
I drew and cut a template.. well 6 all together, for the various sizes/shapes of the flower. This took me longer than I thought. To be honest, the flower petals aren't very equal. But shhhh, no one will notice :p
I found some pink foam beads in our craft boxes, that I can cut to the right shape for her necklace. Only trouble is there are only a few bigger ones. Lots of smaller ones..

09 August 2011
I used some double sided tape to attach the layers of petals together. Before attaching the middle circle I coloured the layer underneat black and cut out a circle in the top layer so the black showed through, as depth.
I then used sticky tape to attach a brown (so it blends into wig) hair grip.

I bought some yellow paint from hobby crafts. I have a few busy days with hospital and stuff but I hope to work out the pattern .. maybe a large template and hopfully paint it at the weekend. I have a 6 foot tall tube (i think it had curtains in) that i am using for the palm tree trunk, it looks like a large toiler roll tube. I have A3 green card to use for the leaves.

Ohhhh p.s on the flower, i only attached the layers in the middle, and bent back each layer of petals to make them shape around and so no layer of petals in flat.. I think you can tell by looking at the photo :)

Cars 2 + Short.. (Posted 22nd July 2011)

WARNING!!!!!!! SORT OF SPOILER..

Cars 2 is in the cinemas, and according to Pixar Blog, they are showing the Toy Story Toon short: Hawaiian Vacation just before each showing. Sooooooooooo I would love to make Jessie's vacation dress and maybe wear it if I see the film.. my nephew wants to go too... As I've said in my last two journals, I am not sure I can wear Jessie.. at least not to conventions.
BUT I'm already in progress of making the palm tree,her dress, and hopfully the skirts for the aliens for some photoage.

anyways, I will write more soon when I know whats happening.

:'( (Posted 8th July 2011)

I ... think... I ... have.to........

*sighs so hard* send Jessie to the melting fernace.
*shudders*

*heart drops*
I just don't think making new trousers with a higher waist will look right...
Plus I really don't think I can wear the padding (not worn with the costume yet)

Maybe I shoud try different things, I don't want to give up on her!!!!!! The aliens will save you Jessie!!! They have too!!! *Too much sad face from me at the moment*
This is the only thing I was worried about for after the op...

Scared... (Posted 25th June 2011)

I've been in hospital for months, after being fed by a machine and more major operations my big fear is I will be unable to wear Jessie...

My other cosplays are fine or I can adapt them, but Marina and Jessie may have to be retired.

I am too scared to try Jessie's trousers on.. that way I can't be disappointed...

MCM Podcast.. (Posted 27th October 2010)

While listening to the MCM Podcast last week, I saw a message come up in the chat box "Wilterdrose, I heard about Jessie going to the 'insert cinema name' cinema"
I didn't recognise the username so I was abit shocked, and kinda impressed hehe
Turns out they used to work at that cinema, so their worker friends told them about it. They remembered me from messages on the forum, so guessing it was me :)
I thought this was pretty cool.

Toy Story 3 (Posted 11th August 2010)

With one peoples illness and another, Jessie and the aliens finally went to see Toy Story 3 today.

*Thumbs up* nothing more needs to be said.

We had some people look and smile, but there wasn't many people around. It was such fun.

I have a few more repairs to do now :( Jessie wansn't made for car journeys/cinema sittings. Ohhh I did have my arm stuffing but that failed slightly so didn't wear them.will try again.

22 July 2010. (Posted 22nd July 2010)

Painted my boots again, a layer yesterday and a layer today.
They look a bit messy - sadly. But I really don't want to be starting over just yet. I will work on them properly after the cinema next week.

repairs (Posted 14th July 2010)

boots are now in a fit state to re-paint. meh, they aren't going to look as good as when i first did them. i might start them over again after seeing the film.

13 july 2010 i also made some arm covers with stuffing in. not too much stuffing but i hope it works. I am yet to try it on with the shirt.

YOU ARE A TOY (Posted 16th June 2010)

Jessie is teaming up with a whole bunch of the Toy Story gang very soon, keep an eye out hehe :D
Can you tell I'm mega excited and probably going to get into trouble writing this hehe

CAN NOT WAIT!!!!

15 June 2010 (Posted 15th June 2010)

I am sat looking at my poor boots thinking....

15 June 2010 (Posted 15th June 2010)

I am sat looking at my boots thinking....

08 June 2010 (Posted 11th June 2010)

I did some repairs: Cleaned off the collar, took off some of the back of shirt and added poppers.

MCM Expo, May 2010. (Posted 31st May 2010)

THANK YOU soooooo much to ever single person whogave Jessie love on Sunday.
I didn't get to be as hyper as Jessie, and I really didn't get into character like I wanted too. I was so tired and at 6:30am when I got up Sunday, I was very tempted just to pack her away.
I'm glad I didn't though, just annoyed I couldn't do more with her.
I was pretty much stood talking to people in the entrance, trying to 'hide' ;) - that didn't work. I felt like Sudowoodo. (tehehehehe @ Donna)

She had some Overly good responses!!! I'm still shocked by most of the comments as they were really nice. So Thank you to every person! Especially those who said they watched my progress.

My favourite moment came when I was stood talking to something, and from quite far away I heard a little voice shout 'Dessie' I looked over as it was loud and it was a little gil in her mums arms pointing over. She must have only been around the age of 2. So I went over, got into Jessie mode and it was a really lovely moment. I put my hat on her, and she went all shy. So so so sweet.

The day didn't start so great, and I had to hold the back of my shirt all the way through the zigzagged queue area... oh yes, the velcro didn't like me. Once stopped in the queue, I had to give Shaun a quick class in using needle and thread. Luckily his sewing just at the top of the shirt held it shut otherwise it would have totally fallen apart. The collar is covered in make up :/ OOPs. Infact my costume is covered in purple fur hehehehe but that's another story and should brush off. The boots - Oh my god, please no one ask about the boots haha. I'm going to tell you anyways, They are pretty much destroyed and don't know if I can fix them. It didn't help when I tried to kneel down in them - oops there went the brown paint.

Things that am changing after expo:
(Now it's after expo... lets just say there are a few extra things to REPAIR!)

- Re-make buttons.
- FIX boots :( paints all cracked again - *insert bad bad words* not sure they will survived expo. AND THEY DIDNT!!
- Padding on 'bum' and arms
- One less 'plate' on wig. (whoops)

- BOOT (they total destoryed not sure I can save them)
- popper on the back of shirt??? (instead velcro)
- other things which I need to look at once unpacked

27 May 2010. (Posted 27th May 2010)

Things that am changing after expo:

- Re-make buttons.
- FIX boots :( paints all cracked again - *insert bad bad words* not sure they will survived expo.
- Padding on 'bum' and arms
- One less 'plate' on wig. (whoops)

23 May 2010 (Posted 24th May 2010)

Myself and my partner, had a mini shoot to test my Jessie-ness.
I enjoyed it so much.

I made a quick background and we were away.

Shaun had to help me put my boots on and off, but apart from that everything was good.
I really want to add the padding in the palvice/bum area, and the arms need some too I think. I will do this once my body is able to wear it.

Added a couple of the photos here but you can see more onmy Facebook album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=179261&id=541316372&l=47122e0568 :)

22 May 2010. (Posted 22nd May 2010)

Yesterday I redid the cuffs, with the tassels. I then stitched the pattern in the wrong place, and stitched the poppers on the wrong place 3 times.. I had a lot of things going on and just couldnt consentrate. But today, I moved the poppers to the right place, unstitched the red stitching that was wrong, and stitching the pattern properly..
I then got my partner to help me with the eyelet in the back of the shirt. Thank yous
I then tide the string (more like rope) around the plastic hoop and through the eyelet.
I also did grey stitching on the elbows.

this is all I am doing for her until after expo. She's considered READY FOR EXPO!
I need some stuffing on the bum/palvic area and on the arms, but I just can't wear it at the moment so I'm not going to waste my energy until I can wear it. I think she'll be alright, as long as no one out there is too picky hehe. Maybe her arms need to be thinner.. I dunno.. *shrugs*
The make up is a concern, I got some advice but I can't afford everything I need so I'm going to grin and hope.. hehe

YODEL-A-E-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Round up the cowboys Jessie is out of the toybox - into the expo.

20 May 2010. (Posted 20th May 2010)

Idid two layers of glue in the end, it was totally dry so I wrote 'ANDY' on the right sole.
I have NO idea if these will survive the journey let alone a day of expo, Pleaseeeee bootys! I don't mind if I have to make another pair after expo, just pleaseeeeeeeeeee be ok for that Sunday! hehe *shrugs*

EEK! Not very confident with them.. can you tell..

20 May 2010 (Posted 20th May 2010)

This morning, I began stitching the red on the shirt, my machine almost made me cry..
I was using a zig zag stitch but the machine made a lot of cracking noises and didn't 'catch' half the stitches. I tried it on other fabric with worked fine, so I tried it on some scrap of the shirt fabric. I tried everything I could think of, including all the different tensions. I then ran out of cotton on the bottom bobbin. So I wound the bobbin full, and tried again on normal settings. ....
It worked..

Then used cross stitch cotton to do the rope pattern. Added the 'buttons' with poppers and used white wool for the extra stitching.

Image A: uh oh! bad machine, bad bad machine!
B: WAHOOO, It worked. Zig Zag stitch done.
C: Used #346 DMC cross stitch cotton, 6 strands to do the 'rope' design.
D: Used thin white wool to do the extra stitching.
E: Added poppers to the 'buttons'.. Only the cuffs and eyelet for the pull string to do.
F: Close up of the front of the shirt.

19 May 2010 (Posted 20th May 2010)

Tested my glue theory on the boots, only did a small part and it seems to have worked. So I will do the same on the rest of them tomorrow. PHEW and fingers crossed...

Been working on and off for 10 hours on the shirt. I did a lot of basic mistakes becauseI am starting to stress. REALLY wanted everything done by Friday.
I have the base shirt (white and yellow) with velcro in the back, the collar is seperate. [SEE IMAGE but ignore the velcro -I couldn't see to do it up corectly] I'm half was through the shirt, it needs the red, white and grey stitching done, some stuffing in the arms, eyelet and pull string.
I think the stitching i going to take me ages... EEK!

I'm so tired and i don't think i'm helping myself trying to rush. My knees are killing more than normal where i'm knelt on a cold floor all day.. might use my sisters table tomorrow if i can take everythig round. Infact I'm either having an off day or the medication has worn off already - meh! Come on body, I need to at least semi-survive next weekend!!!

18 May 2010 (Posted 18th May 2010)

Sande the boots today, and attempted to paint them..

So, I use ready mixed paint and pva glue mixed together, everything seems fine, and they looked quite good (See image)
After a few layers I left them to dry all afternoon and evening...

Then... tonight I try them on.. and...

CRACK!!!!

lots of cracking.

Tomorrow I'm going to paint them again but while wearing them.. This might work, *shrugs* If not.. I will have no boots at expo :(

Any tips?

I might have to make a foam tube to go over the leg part of the boot... *thinks* that could work.

17 / 18 May 2010 (Posted 18th May 2010)

My wool arrived yesterday. 'Rusty Brown' 5 x 100g.

I made a wig cap from some old tights.
I cut 1 ball into lengths.
Folded 10 strands in half, sewed them to the tights, then twisted 5 and 5 tgeher to make a 'thicker' strands.

Repeated that a lot of times....

Finally after 4 hours yesterday and about 6 hours today (might have been more actually) I got it how I wanted.
Plated the thick strands into a larg plate.

Made a bow and sewed it onto the wig.

WIG COMPLETE. Just the shirt, stuffing to make, and finish the boots... see above journal.

14 May 2010. (Posted 14th May 2010)

After a night of 4 hours on and off sleep, thoughts of expo (and family politics) kept me awake. Then when I got to sleep I had another 'expo nightmare'

The yellow fabric I bought yesterday really is too thin, it's not going to work, and I wouldn't be happy if I used it.

I couldn't get anyone to take me, or go to Masons so hopfully I can next week! EEK!

In a panic, I asked my sister to order some wool from eBay - fingers crossed it gets here. It's thin, but well I don't have time to be picky.

I remembered some old boots that I put into carboot stuff. It's in my sisters house, and so I asked if she'd sold them... PHEW! We went through a couple of bags and found them! YAY!

So, I began to modify them. This might take me longer than I thought.

In photo:
a. How the boots began.
b. Used a saw to cut out the 'chunk' between the sole and heel.
c. Cut funky foam straps, back panel and added foam to the front of the boot.
d. Hot glued all the bits on. Turn over the top on the boot.
e. Began some pva/newspapering on the sole, and around the toes.

A bit more newpapering to do, and tomorrow if it's dry I will paint them with 'Bestrial Brown' and Shining gold on the boots and straps.

Note: I used Skull White and then Shining Gold GamesWorkshop paint on the buckle.

13 May 2010. (Posted 13th May 2010)

I had a big 'Aghhhh I'm not going to get Jessie finished!"

Today a family member came to my rescue and I managed a trip to hobby crafts.
I got almost everything I needed.

I have painted the belt buckle, so that's done :)

11 May 2010. (Posted 11th May 2010)

Buttons... Well, if that's what you can call them.
I was going to buy some Clown buttons and add some clay to them, but well.. I went for a cheaper option... foamclay, newspaper and pva...
A bit of mistake really!!

I cut circles out of foam, rolled up some clay for around the edges. Used newspaper and pva over the top. Added some foam covered in newspaper into the middle of the clay. Left it to dry over night. Painted then, and covered with pva. When i painted them some of the newpaper raised :( So they look a mess really... Booooooooooo! They will have to do though, I'm not happy but.. aghh I'm no good with clay.

06 May 2010. (Posted 7th May 2010)

- Used thin white wool to do the stitching around the chap edges.
- Used thin light grey wool for the stitching on the knees.
- Hotglued the trousers a bit in places on the hip area to hold them in shape - there was no way to sew them how I wanted.
- Sewed the chaps to the jeans.
- Made and sewed on the felt tassels.
- I hotglued two stripes of leather to the back of the buckle.

I want to pad out the bum/hips, but I think I will add the padding to the shirt so when I tuck it in it should work ... I thick.. Just can't put anything too tight at the moment. I hope that will work.

05 May 2010 (Posted 7th May 2010)

- sewed a bit more of the trousers near the hips/top of legs.
- cut some felt for the tassels.
- added velcro to the belt.
- found some thin wool that is ideal for the stitching on the elbows, knees, chaps ect. White, Grey and Red (Red as I can't decided if I want to stitch the pattern of draw it on)

NOTE: GREY - KNEES, ELBOWS, COLLAR
WHITE - CHEAT PIECE, EDGE OF CHAPS.

30 April 2010. (Posted 30th April 2010)

The chaps are done with ribbon bias binding around the edge :D YAYs!!

29 April 2010. (Posted 29th April 2010)

I decided to use the leather left over from Gaara for the belt. So the belt is made. Just two strips of leather cut out and hot glued together.

I bought some more white poly drill today, but they didn't have any yellow. So that will have to wait. I did buy some bias binding for the edges of the chaps so I'll do that tomorrow.

Put some new string on the 'pull string'.

28 April 2010. (Posted 28th April 2010)

I drew a template on card for Jessie's belt buckle.
I cut the parts out of craft foam.
Glued them together.
Used newspaper and pva glue to cover the edges.
Scratched the detail into the 'rope'. The image is half done as I wanted to show it before and after sort of thing.

Just waiting for it to totally dry and borrowing some paint at the weekend.

28 April 2010. (Posted 28th April 2010)

I cut some funky foam with my gilateen (no idea how you spell that) into TWO 2.5cm strips. I then painted it with four layers of white Games Workshop paint.
I hot glued it slightly to the hat.
If I'm honest the hat is a mess. It really is. Especially where I bent it to shape. Sorry, it's going to have to do. :(

26 April 2010. (Posted 26th April 2010)

- Unpicked the trousers I'd sewn, and have sewn them to a better shape.
- I added some foam inside to give the knee shape.
- took out the pocket in the right pocket. If that makes any sense hehe.
- Coloured some gold stitching blue so it's not visable.

- I am using the chaps I made back in 2007, and have sewn the shape a bit different making them thinner and shorter.

I need to get a bunch of materials and fabric now, the white I have wasn't enough for the shirt. Boooo. I need to learn to check how much fabric I have before cutting.

23 April 2010. (Posted 23rd April 2010)

This is the start of the jeans.. As I said in the entry before I bought a pair of larger jeans and am sewing them to the shape I want. So they go in at the knee and out again.

23 April 2010. (Posted 23rd April 2010)

Jessie will be attending Sunday of May Expo. So here starts the remake.

With my current operation wounds and things it's uncomfy to wear the current trousers. Instead of fabric I have bought a pair of jeans that are too big, and am have started stitching them to the shape I want. They are a bit lighter than my last ones.

I have also reshaped the hat - when I say this, i mean push and pull and bend the hat I'd bought before. I'm going to keep bending it and hope it looks a bit neater. I need to add a new white stripe.

ALSO something cool: I have had some advice from Michelle at http://www.youtube.com/user/bluesparks24 about what make up to use to get plastic look etc. She's lovely and helped me a lot, so I will be getting some products and trying out her advice.

02 November 2009. (Posted 3rd November 2009)

I have decided to finish, and revamp most of this costume ready for Toy Story 3 in June 2010.

- finally finish woolen wig
- all the shirt needs re-doing, including stitching the pattern not fabric pen.
- buttons need making again
- belt buckle? (i'm not sure if it's still in one peice)
- tassles to wrists/legs
- doll like sitching in top of arms, knees and elbows (might stuff legs and arms, not sure yet)
- New Belt
- Bigger Hat??

So, not much work to do.. LOL

Things to keep
- Hat
- Jeans etc
- Boots (although they were borrowed)

2007. (Posted 3rd November 2009)

I never had time to finish the woolen wig so I did spray *SHUDDERS* my hair red (yes I knew, but still I hoped), which ended up staining the shirt.. and didn't show up anyway.

This costume was made for a party in 2007.