It's been insane the last few months with doing the teaching. My business is finally taking off a bit, but now it's end of year so I will be selling things at huge discounts!
The dress is finally looking good, but now I have all the finishing bits, like hooks, snaps, bottons. The buttoning down the front just got too intemedating for now so I did the hook and eye thing and will just sew on the buttons, collar and the removable cuffs. I haven't got the pattern for Vaughn's vest yet so I am not sure about it, getting it done before Dickens is asking too much. We may have to make it up for next year.
I wish that this school stuff wasn't taking up so much time, I have things I would like to work on . I have planned for at least finishing the Ren costumes, doing an Italian Ren, and of course trying to do that first LOTR dress. I still have to rescue my other ear from Trystan's cats.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Monday, October 04, 2004
Movie Review, Vanity Fair
I think the color palette was amazing and wild, lots of fun...but the historical side of me says:
1. What was she doing scrubbing the floor in that dupioni!!!! The dress would have been plainer, even if Becky was leaving that day.
2. What of that lack of bonnets? Now, the headwear was quite silly and faciful in the time period, but still there is something to be said of keeping that skin protected while traveling. Of course as Becky rose in the social ladder, her hats could be just as outrageously silly, but still a fashion statement.
3.Parting in the rain without shaperone or gentlemen's escort, unheard of even if people didn't like the little minx.
Now, a lot of the hair showing off was quite wonderful for the Apollo Knots and head dresses, still, when it was raining, head covering was very important.
Oh, I forgot, they had an American Starlet in the lead. Oh, silly me.
Now, I did like the outer layers of the Pelises and such, great amounts of silk and layering in colors were devine. I look forward to some feather and hairdoos from this film showing up at the Cyprian's Ball. The Bollywood number from the Marquis of Steyne's performance would be very entertaining.
It was interesting to see Natasha Little who played the Sharpe character in the A@E production as Lady Jane in this production. Wonder how that was on the set?
All in all, I would get it on DVD for the costumes alone, but that is what we do anyway;-)
1. What was she doing scrubbing the floor in that dupioni!!!! The dress would have been plainer, even if Becky was leaving that day.
2. What of that lack of bonnets? Now, the headwear was quite silly and faciful in the time period, but still there is something to be said of keeping that skin protected while traveling. Of course as Becky rose in the social ladder, her hats could be just as outrageously silly, but still a fashion statement.
3.Parting in the rain without shaperone or gentlemen's escort, unheard of even if people didn't like the little minx.
Now, a lot of the hair showing off was quite wonderful for the Apollo Knots and head dresses, still, when it was raining, head covering was very important.
Oh, I forgot, they had an American Starlet in the lead. Oh, silly me.
Now, I did like the outer layers of the Pelises and such, great amounts of silk and layering in colors were devine. I look forward to some feather and hairdoos from this film showing up at the Cyprian's Ball. The Bollywood number from the Marquis of Steyne's performance would be very entertaining.
It was interesting to see Natasha Little who played the Sharpe character in the A@E production as Lady Jane in this production. Wonder how that was on the set?
All in all, I would get it on DVD for the costumes alone, but that is what we do anyway;-)
Thursday, September 30, 2004
My 40th Birthday was filled with blue gooo....
Well, I can say that it was one really great way to do something fun with friends and some strangers and live to tell the tale! I went to the GBACG's Ears workshop taught by Jay Hartlove. We learned how to make plaster casts of our ears. The first part is really eery as we had to have a cup placed on our ears and then had blue goo poured over my ears. It was rather bizare to have to lie with our heads on the table and trying to keep the body propped up while we were at such odd angles. The hours went by in various stages as we poured ears and had others keep it straight and then swapped with each other. The molds started with a dental mold gel, then we poured plaster and started the long process of building up the ears.
The purpose of all these stages, is to build a plaster mold of your ears so that you can then make a mold for latex or gel ears. The next step is to sculpt clay onto the tips to make elven ears, or whatever your character may be. I hope that over the holidays I will be able to do this as right now the next two months is just chaotic.
The purpose of all these stages, is to build a plaster mold of your ears so that you can then make a mold for latex or gel ears. The next step is to sculpt clay onto the tips to make elven ears, or whatever your character may be. I hope that over the holidays I will be able to do this as right now the next two months is just chaotic.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
And Yes, I Still Hate Bodices
Whew, this last three weeks has been murder trying to get time to be creative, all the student teaching has been draining me. I have slowly gotten my bodice to just about the next phase. Then I found out the dies for the grometer won't be available until first week of October. This is really making my costume drag out until the bitter end. I hope to do the length on the skirt tonight if I can get Vaughn to help with a fitting, I guess I can do the tedious work on heming and then some of the other adjustments. Last night I started putting small faux pearls on the fore part. I have to do it in a way so that it is reversable, so it's of course going to take longer. The comes the trim placement. I have been agonising over this for quite a while now. I have trim I want to use, and I know it's really cool looking stuff, but I still think it could be overblown. What, Elizabethan over blown...yee jest surely.
Vaughn's doublet is starting to take shape. I got the lining done but the outter fabric is so thick that I will have to have him do the deed. I love the color of burgundy, and it has a cool brocade on it. But still, it twill be stiffling possibly.
Vaughn's doublet is starting to take shape. I got the lining done but the outter fabric is so thick that I will have to have him do the deed. I love the color of burgundy, and it has a cool brocade on it. But still, it twill be stiffling possibly.
Thursday, September 02, 2004
AVP Movie Review
Okay, we knew it would be strange and well, you know the last sequel wasn't so great. Here's what I had a problem with. Warning, spoilers rules don't apply, they just don't.
I had to admit that the costuming was great for the creatures, lotsa scary goo and all. The Predator weapons were really fantastic and well done. Well, accept for when they suit up the heroine with a Alien Head shield and the lance made of tail, those looked pretty bad. Also, the whole,"yeah we chose to be on the Predator side as a lesser of two evils", didn't really do it for me. Pretty flat.
Problems: okay, how is it that the larval aliens can transform so quickly into adults? In all the other films, the metamorphose takes several days and yet that also helps build the suspense up a bit. From the time the hosts are attacked in the upper chamber, it seems like a few hours has passed.
Overall, if you like the effects, that's what you watch it for. The creatures had some great costuming. But plot wise, you are left hanging in dead airspace, not suspense.
I had to admit that the costuming was great for the creatures, lotsa scary goo and all. The Predator weapons were really fantastic and well done. Well, accept for when they suit up the heroine with a Alien Head shield and the lance made of tail, those looked pretty bad. Also, the whole,"yeah we chose to be on the Predator side as a lesser of two evils", didn't really do it for me. Pretty flat.
Problems: okay, how is it that the larval aliens can transform so quickly into adults? In all the other films, the metamorphose takes several days and yet that also helps build the suspense up a bit. From the time the hosts are attacked in the upper chamber, it seems like a few hours has passed.
Overall, if you like the effects, that's what you watch it for. The creatures had some great costuming. But plot wise, you are left hanging in dead airspace, not suspense.
I started this costume why?
Okay, so after days of battle with the bodice that a Jedi Knoght would be proud of, I have finally decided to work on the skirting bits. Have I explained how much I hate piping? Even with the new piping foot, it is a daunting task. I think I will use the quilters glue tape I got for another project to help make the piping stay basted on while battling the piping foot. I always seem to get slipage problems. So I will spend a good amount of time preping the pieces and hoping for the best.
Ears!
In a few weeks I will be at a workshop for ear making so I can have the pointy things. I know, it will be a headache trying to learn how to work with them. Then trying to actually put them on for the con will be very strange. I wonder if L'Oreal true match system with work for them, you know with the blending. Well, then there is the costume designing for one of the LOTR background characters I wanted to make. I will have to try to find a fabric that comes close to being the right color even...sigh.
Ears!
In a few weeks I will be at a workshop for ear making so I can have the pointy things. I know, it will be a headache trying to learn how to work with them. Then trying to actually put them on for the con will be very strange. I wonder if L'Oreal true match system with work for them, you know with the blending. Well, then there is the costume designing for one of the LOTR background characters I wanted to make. I will have to try to find a fabric that comes close to being the right color even...sigh.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Japonesque Polonaise
japonesquepolinaise
Originally uploaded by janetscostume.
I made this with the Truly Victorian Polonaise pattern and after sizing it according to directions, I may have to move the frog closures over and create a third dart on both sides. I still have to attach the back of the bustle to the underskirt with big hooks. The interlining while helping to hold the shape, did indeed make it very hot to wear.
I like the way it looks and it is nice to ba able to step into it. I may make another one in a lighter fabric in the spring of this year.
Victorian Mourning Gown
Victorian Mourning Gown
Originally uploaded by janetscostume.
I miss this costume. I finally outgrew it so I had to adopt it out to a slimmer person than me.
This was made in 1991 using the Past Patterns reform 1880's dress. I liked it alot because you could bone it a bit and it looked like you were corseted, but you weren't. The dress celebrates the dress reform movement where a doctor of the time decided that yes, all this corseting and heavy clothing may not be good for a woman's body.
Monday, August 30, 2004
argh, lost the blog
I really hate Ren Bodices Now, I just lost my blog. Argh, I lost all the work and I hate having to do it again.
So, the redo on the bodice was hell. I had to keep sizing it down. I had to convert to a back openning from a side opening bodice. I really hate that I went one way and the fit decided another. Grr. And I don't care if the piping is right at this point, it's a miracle it happened at all. I will have to hide a lot of mess with the killer trim of doom I got.
Argh, this was some mess. I hope if I figure out the picture upload on this I can get some photo's in the blog.
The Dicken's Costume idea I had seems a piece of cake at this point.
So, the redo on the bodice was hell. I had to keep sizing it down. I had to convert to a back openning from a side opening bodice. I really hate that I went one way and the fit decided another. Grr. And I don't care if the piping is right at this point, it's a miracle it happened at all. I will have to hide a lot of mess with the killer trim of doom I got.
Argh, this was some mess. I hope if I figure out the picture upload on this I can get some photo's in the blog.
The Dicken's Costume idea I had seems a piece of cake at this point.
Friday, August 27, 2004
No Time to Sew, Sigh
It's a weekend that was stolen yet again. I have to somehow creep in some work on the bodice and cutting out Vaughn's doublet. The house finally got cleared of some debris from the evil kitchen that ate our lives, and sorted out some of the cyclone in the costuming room.
Now, I know I labeled and organized tubs full of the current project, but now I feel lost. Like, where is it, you labelled it, but I knew where it was before. Can you see why I watch Clean Sweep on TLC? Or is it the other network, whatever. It's good to see that other people can be worse at clutter than me.
Now, I know I labeled and organized tubs full of the current project, but now I feel lost. Like, where is it, you labelled it, but I knew where it was before. Can you see why I watch Clean Sweep on TLC? Or is it the other network, whatever. It's good to see that other people can be worse at clutter than me.
Welcome To My Costume Madness
Faire-Ly Speaking, it's right into faire season and I am still slaving away at bits and pieces of my and Vaughn't costumes. Of course, everyting has just gotten in the way, life keeps seeping in, the main evil doer being the Ikea Kitchen From Hell. More on that terrible experience later.
So, where are we at?
The bottom portions of the costumes are mostly done. After re-doing catridge pleating twice, fiddly bits, and trying everthing on, I discovered I had already ripped a gusset just doing fittings. So, I have to go and fix that bit. If we make it to Northern or Folsom Faire with the bare basics not including sleeves, twill be a miracle.
J
So, where are we at?
The bottom portions of the costumes are mostly done. After re-doing catridge pleating twice, fiddly bits, and trying everthing on, I discovered I had already ripped a gusset just doing fittings. So, I have to go and fix that bit. If we make it to Northern or Folsom Faire with the bare basics not including sleeves, twill be a miracle.
J
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