Alyrenee's Copious Spare Time

The Grand Opening Mera doll, Tiny Betsy Visits the Hudson Valley, and Winter Romance...which looks like a russet haired Glinda doll maybe? Free Shipping Promo Code TCS01 until February 14th and three store exclusives.

Vogue Epstein Anniversary Scarf In Progress Originally uploaded by alyrenee Yippee...it looks so nice and pretty all steamed. Now I have to sew all the little ends up to make the flowers...ugh its going to be hateful.

The spring preview for the next Interweave magazine is up and I am swooning. Often I find the patterns a bit boring in there and have yet to attempt anything from them...but these images have me hungry for more. Lots of vintage inspiration. I especially love the Holly Jacket and the Hexacomb Cardigan . Both look like yummy Anthropologie numbers and completely my style.

I just loved the scarf and had to make it....here we are. Now I have all the annoying finishing work to do. Which is something that I have almost no experience at so I might use this as my craftster challenge.

Well I got my box of knitting goodies from Knitpicks and tried making a plush Buffy stake for safe stabbing fun. I used the Palette yarn in Inca Gold. I sort of free form riffed the design starting at the pointing end and slowly increasing on the way up. In a few spots I would increase then decrease again to give it a bump would like appearrance a la Mister Pointy. Hope you like it. I plan to make a fabric version and maybe sell some since the originally planned soft plush stake never was made. I just need to find a fabric with a wood texture print. Or maybe print up my own.

Well I started on the gorgeous flower scarf from the cover of the Fall 2007 25th Anniversary Vogue Knitting designed by Nikki Epstein. I am using Anny Blatt silk yarn in noir and mryte (black and silver blue) and a skein of Eden bamboo yarn in an ivory. Its a really easy repeating pattern that is perfect to do while in meetings or watching tv since you don't need to think or count too much. I plan to make or buy a black cocktail dress to wear with it. I cannot wait to finish!

The Costumer's Guide rules! As a costume designer for the stage, I often use it to reference things I have seen in films to get ideas. But it's really great for the crafty uber-fan that wants to recreate a garment from the big screen. I have not had the time to do this yet but someday I want to make a whole slew of re-creations. Right now I am starting small and doing some for my 16" Tonner dolls. I bought a Spiderman Mary Jane with an official Kirsten Dunst likeness to revamp into Marie Antoinette! I started on a muslin and plan to make the milkmaid costume and possibly the blue silk dress or the one with the red velvet belt. (Plus I MUST make the belt for me too!) I also have the Elizabeth Swann/Kiera Knightly doll to makeover into Lizzie Bennett from Pride and Prejudice (just ask my boyfriend how often I watch that film...at least once a week). And of course, Jack Sparrow/Johnny Depp to redo as Sweeney Todd. I am hoping to nab another Euphemia doll to use as M...