Whimsically Chelsea (2024)

13/10/2023

A major thank you also to my parents who let us use the large backyard and around the house for the photoshoot! These are some of the prep shots my sister took while hair and makeup was happening. Bonus doggo shot at the end!

Photos by Colvinisms Production

11/10/2023

The day of the photoshoot, in addition to my sister taking the photos for essentially 8 individual photoshoots, my friend Esther Puckett came and did 8 very different hairstyles. I did a lot of the makeup, and Heather's sister, Stephanie, videotaped the process and behind the scenes (for the future YouTube videos that are waiting to be edited 😅).

While it was definitely a full morning with a lot of moving parts, there was a lot of laughter too!

09/10/2023

While I was preparing for the photoshoot and figuring out styling and hair/makeup, I fell in love with these hair accessories that my friend, Esther, helped me purchase from Lilla Rose. She was super helpful, and the accessories were so beautiful that I started buying a lot for myself 😅 Check out her link at Lillarose.biz/ElsiesHairWear

I had a lot of fun pairing the hair accessories to the fabric and implementing them into the final photoshoot!

06/10/2023

The final photoshoot would not have been possible without my photographer sister. She helped streamline the photoshoot day while also keeping me sane 😅

04/10/2023

Firstly, I want to thank my friends (Heather, Ann, Sasha, Hannah R., Maddie, Hannah S., Sabrina, Eme) who agreed to the experiment, and who helped design and model the finished products! I had a lot of fun and fond memories of this project because of you ladies!

P.S. Miss you all! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

03/10/2023

Once upon a time... 8 of my friends agreed to participate in a "Dream Dress" project that was supposed to culminate into multiple YouTube videos for the Whimsically Chelsea channel. Turns out, editing isn't my fastest work 😅 So the photos and videos lay dormant in storage... waiting...

2 years later, I finally decided to share some of that process. The videos may be put together someday, but for now, enjoy a flashback to the first half of 2021, and all the fun and creativity that ensued!

30/09/2023

Throwback to Pi(e) Day on a Friday!

This was one of my favorite projects of February/March 2021, made to celebrate one of my favorite unofficial holidays!

I followed a tutorial from Sewcial Dee for the basic beret concept (unfortunately, the website, and all links have since been deleted and I can't find the original source for the pattern). I used a circle purse pattern from ModernSewingPatterns.com for the base circle purse.

For the beret top, I took a circle of beige felt, fused the berry fabric on top, made the lattice top out of straps of beige felt, and tacked down the lattice to keep the straps from shifting and catching. The bottom of the beret was made from another circle of felt with a hole cut out to accommodate my head. The ruffle edge was pinned and sewn into the beret side seams, and then hand tacked in a few spots to stand up.

(Fun trick, I used a pinking blade from Hobby Lobby on my rotorary cutter, and paired with a cutting mat and ruler, it made gorgeous straps for the lattice and edge)

The circle purse was canvas base with the felt and layered pie top (same as the beret) fused on top before construction.

The whipped cream topping was made of white felt (the pattern from Sewcial Dee resembled a pinwheel of half circles) that was carefully folded over a small ball of polyester stuffing and hand sewn together.

The photoshoot for the finished project is still one of my favorite looks! I absolutely love how cute I look here!

I plan to make a coordinating dress in the future that is more comfortable and retro inspired to go with the beret and purse.

28/09/2023

March 2021, I found this gorgeous green velvet with gold dots on clearance at JoAnn Fabrics, and decided to make a fairy/pixie inspire jacket from it (Simplicity 1251). The trim and ombre dress were purchased from Amazon, the closure from Hobby Lobby.

26/09/2023

February 2021, I invited my friend Oleseya Sivyy Lerch to come make some hair accessories. We made a couple clips using Simplicity 1601, and a basic scrunchie out of scrap fabric while discussing MONAT products, upcoming Whimsically Chelsea plans, and hopes and dreams for our respective futures.

22/09/2023

Between all the experimenting, I ended up creating two bags. While very decorative as simple pouches, I think if I were to try this again in the future, I would do more research into making more functional dice bags.

20/09/2023

Making the bags was pretty simple. The same size circle was cut out of velvet and faux armor fabrics, the two pieces sewn wrong sides together and then turned out and hand finished. I used grommets on the first bag and didn't like the size, so I tried eyelets on the second bag (much quieter process too). Jewels were attached using E6000 glue and cord was threaded through the grommets/eyelets for a drawstring

18/09/2023

Early 2021, I decided I wanted to try and make some medieval inspired dice bags. So I pulled out all my velvet and faux armor fabrics, some twisted cording, grommets and eyelets, and some plastic jewels for sparkle.

16/09/2023

February 2021, we decided to take some better photos of the finished dress. I love how these turned out, and how lovely Christen Colvin looked as an everyday cosplay viking!

14/09/2023

I had not gotten into the habit of documenting every step of sewing/crafting at that point, so all I could find is the photoshop that helped me visualize and simplify my sewing plan, and the fitting photos on my sister, Christen Colvin.

12/09/2023

Let's throw it back to an early project! December of 2020, I decided I wanted to spruce up a Hot Topic dress that I had in my closet. Roughly, I wanted to add armored cap sleeves and a modesty panel to bring up the neckline, plus add a matching belt to complete the look.

09/09/2023

Hello friends! Sorry for the involuntary year break... a lot has happened 😅

Firstly, greetings from Texas! 🤠 I made the move across the country about 1.5 months after my last post. Another smaller move later, and I have space for a decent sewing/crafting corner.

Secondly, I have a backlog of projects to share (Dream Dresses, items made at my last residence, etc.), so there will be some throwbacks and never-before-seen projects coming up shortly!

Thirdly and lastly, I have a lot of projects I'm looking forward to working on very soon!

So hello again to friends old and new! Let's make some whimsy! 🦋

09/09/2022

The finished dress paired beautifully with the jacket! I love how this looks on my lovely mother and cannot wait to see what adventures and occasions she will wear this dress for!

07/09/2022

Around 2019/2020 (I forget exactly when), I purchased some lovely sequin mesh fabric for my mother's birthday, with a promise to make it into a dress that would coordinate with a silver jacket she had in her closet. We would later buy some corresponding main/lining fabric, but because of other projects and circumstances, the dress got pushed to the back burner.

Earlier this year, I mentioned wanting to tackle the pattern for the dress and we finally figured out a sleeveless style with a mandarin collar, fitted bodice, and a full circle skirt with pockets. (Bodice is Simplicity 8330, style C)

02/09/2022

art looks so lovely in the finished collaboration dress! I absolutely loved working with her, and am so thankful that it came together as smoothly and as beautifully as it did despite last minute location and schedule changes.

31/08/2022

(Go all the way to the end to see the final look)
art and I met some friends at a mall and purchased some flower accessories from and . Add some ribbon from and fairy lights from , some tables at the food court, and we were able to turn .art 's hair into a glowing braided hairstyle worthy of a princess!

29/08/2022

A last-minute finishing touch was adding some lace, ribbon, and horsehair braid to the skirt hem. The ribbon and lace were used to finish the edges because there was not a lot of room left between the cut edge and the art designs by .art to accomplish a proper rolled hem. The horsehair trim was added to assist the skirt in holding its shape.

26/08/2022

As part of our collaboration, .art painted a design on the skirt and sleeve hems, taking care to avoid where I would be joining the pieces. We then steamed the fabric paint to set it, and I started assembling the whole dress together.

Check out .art page to see her closeups of her paintings.

The main pattern used was B4443 with drafted bell sleeves. The fabric and ribbon were purchased from .

24/08/2022

The originally sketched bodice was simplified to a plain bodice with a mock lace-up feature. Who knew so much math was involved in pinning down ribbons to look even?

The main pattern used was B4443 with drafted bell sleeves. The fabric and ribbon were purchased from .

Collaboration with .art

22/08/2022

Earlier this year, I reached out to .art about collaborating on a Tangled inspired dress. As an artist and a painter, she would use fabric paints to decorate the dress I would sew for her.

After some back and forth conversation, this was the resulting sketch. We were both very excited!

17/08/2022

Because the Undercorset Belt pattern by Steamtorium has 6 clips and the accessories I made had a sum total of 5 D-rings, I was trying to figure out a final accessory that could attach to the remaining clip. Because The Awkward Hedgehog makes handcrafted items to sell as a vendor at faires (as well as on her own website), I decided some kind of sewing pouch would be practical to include. I found a tutorial by Sewingtimes and adapted it to be a little smaller and to include a D-ring to attach to the undercorset belt clip.

15/08/2022

This was one of my favorite undercorset belt accessories to make! The Teacup Holster pattern from Steamtorium is perfectly engineered to cradle the teacup and secure it with the strap through the teacup handle. With a padded saucer holder pocket, spoon loops, and a back packet for holding tea, this holster is well outfitted and such fun to make!

I followed the instructions for converting the holster to use with the undercorset belt clips, but instructions are included for making it with larger loops to use on a regular belt.

12/08/2022

I experimented with making bonded fabric appliques using Cricut. I then made the pouch pattern from the Undercorset Belt pattern by Steamtorium and ironed the hedgehog applique to the pouch flap.

10/08/2022

The Undercorset Belt pattern from Steamtorium included two differently sized fan holder patterns. I used the larger sized pattern, and paired it with a personalized fan from https://www.etsy.com/shop/beckiebo who was a vendor at Canterbury Renaissance Faire this year.

08/08/2022

Gonna be posting about the individual attachments for the belt for The Awkward Hedgehog because (a) they're awesome and (b) a lot is happening in my offscreen life, so any content needs to be streeeeeetched 😁

But for now, the belt and attachments in their entirety!

Undercorset Belt and Teacup Holster patterns from Steamtorium

DIY Scissors Case tutorial from Sewingtimes (adapted for the belt)

Hedgehog is from Amazon.com, fan was purchased and personalized from (https://www.etsy.com/shop/beckiebo) and a fabric applique was made using Cricut

Teacup, saucer, spoon, and items in scissors pouch are mine, and are being used here demonstration purposes (not part of the gift)

Whimsically Chelsea