New Web Page

Yarp, got a new web page I am putting up on my .Mac account, so I am going to link from this site to that site, and on and on.
Grring today because I can't get to see the new John Adams Film by HBO until the release it on DVD.

Oh, yeah, much interest has been shown in my contest/challenge. I have been sending off guidelines to many people and hopefully we can meet up in 2009 to see all the creations.

Yep, That Butterscotch Dress

Finally, after selling at CA 2008, I can get back to finishing up a project from two years ago. I have made a challenge to all of you, get out your stash, use up scraps, actually make the costumes you've been planning for years. Eek, isn't that scary.

The truth of it is, we all have hoards of fabric in containers and bins. It's a spring cleaning project, it's a bad economy project, that's right, it's even green. Use and recycle what you got! Finish up that costume, and stop people from yelling that you need to stop spending money on your passion. Use the passionate fabrics you already bought!

Wait, this means you cannot procrastinate...but it's good you use the resources you already have. So, here you go:

• Instead of going out to movies, dinners and things that cost money, costume.
• Use fabrics and supplies you already have
• go to more sewing circles with friends, brainstorm
• carpool to events...saves gas
• attend more garage sales, find stuff for costumes and recycle old clothes and items

The Challenge: Costuming in This Ugly Economy

I am making an official challenge to all costuming fiends I know!

Okay, so I am sure many of you have partners who do not sew and have
been cranky at you about your costuming($$$$$). I have had this happen
lately and trying to get in the spirit of doing things on a budget, I
am giving myself the challenge: Make costumes for this year from
fabrics you already have.

The challenge: After CC26 or May Day, you must make costumes for the
rest of the year, or at least one costume, from fabric you already
have. What, actually use your stash? That's right, planning on going
to one of the events coming up, use fabric you already have!

I know, it's shocking, but when the economy is soooo baaadd the
partners are cranking...what, more fabric! No, dear, I am using fabric
I have been hoarding for 3 years. I thought you wanted me to go
through my stash????

Yes, you are using resources you already have.

Are you interested in this challenge? This way you are using resources
you already have. But we may have to make some official rules like,
yes you can buy thread you don't already have. what do you think guys,
up for the challenge?

Hmmm, I think I have at least three hunks of fabric that would work
for this year.....

So yeah, you better buy up all that sale fabric you have drooled on
this month, because if it's in your residence by May 1, I guess it counts.

What to Wear at CC26

So many crazy things to think about. I have to sell at CC26 which is intimidating enough, but everyone will be in costume of some sort, and since I have to sell, I should wear costume. The answer for me is to get some of the regency day wear projects finished and the Romantic Era dresses are 90% done, so I guess I will have to go with that. I actually roughed out the 1830's bustle pads yesterday, and will start hemming some things today. Finally, get to wear the silly things! So, here goes to actually taking them out of a spin. I think I may make some aprons for the Regency and Romantic period if I can squeeze it in. HMMMM, much to do. Oh, and the silly floppy caps must be made!

Back at Creating: Natural Form

It's been a series of unfortunate events since the holidays that have kept my creative self just hiding under a rock. After digging out of computer death and taxes, I have finally had time to get back to the Natural Form Victorian project and look at where to pick up. Some many months back, I began working on the project of turning two swags of sale taffeta into an interchangeable ensemble from the Natural Form Era.

Silver and Dark Green
The fabric was a deal, and I said to myself, I have liked these two colors together and don't see them much together. I also wanted to be able to bring something to say, CC26, and be able to interchange the pieces. So, I had begun with the skirt and was determined that since I had enough fabric for once, I could do a train. So, I embarked upon the train of doom.

Ruffles
Yeah, love the effect but really hate the labor. I basically, one of the many reasons I found the project intimidating, and on the back burner for years, is just the sheer overwhelming power of ruffles that go on for days. Literally, in order to do ruffles, and on such fun fabric the snot type is,I had to say that it's a daylong project where you do as many as you can and that's all you do. So, after two rows of silver and green alternating, and doing the bustle up, I had to set it aside before the holidays and finally get it on the dummy this week and really look at it. I got pictures finally, and feel like I really accomplished something.

Skirt
Considering I hadn't done a train in a while, the whole time I have been making it, I have had to think of the weight dragging and how to keep the skirt in good shape. Hmmmm, the period way to do it would ad too much weight, so I may opt for a bias strip of cotton flannel instead of wool. I had lined the skirt, so it is very heavy already.

Over Skirt
I decided after many drooling moments, that I wanted to do the Split Pannier Skirt front Truly Victorian that I sell on my web store. It was a bit of a challenge working with the fray prone synthetic taffeta....sadly, could not find silk taffeta, let alone afford it. After much wrangling and weight considerations with lining, I opted to finish off the ends rather than line. Natural form is not to be too bulky. This weekend I shall be working on the ties for the underskirt, and putting some drapery rings in to tie down with. So, I have most of the practical things covered, but shall I trim with fabric flowers? I have had this idea of doing calla Lilies out of fabric and I am getting stuck on how to do it. I will have to look at some of the live plants in town and see what I can do, then there is the question, white white or off white???? Decisions!!!!

Taffeta Terror 1870's

Well, it is a long slow process with this one. The first time with a pattern is always so. It sits mournfully on the Uniquely you, waiting for attention. I have been working on the lace for the overskirt and hope to finish it this weekend and maybe get some photos of the project so far. I lost some of the other pictures I had when the computer went kablam. So I hope to get some more soon.

Taffeta..synthetic...ick. I know, silk taffeta is more appropriate but I just could not pass up this sale fabric to work with. So I will make a silk purse of sow's ear.

And What New Year Costumes Are You Planning?

Yes, while it's still January, well, for one more day anyway, I have to plan these out. It was a challenge not to give up all together before starting this years plotting.

Every year around the holidays, I plan out several costume projects to finish up and get started. This is the time I normally have a bit of a break. This holiday season transpired plots against me.

Plot One
Too many customers at my business..This must have been the first year, even with a rather bleak economy, that I had such craziness with shipping. So crazy and then trying to make physical room to even sew was a challenge. Then when xmas came about, my computer dies...

Plot two
Yes, the computer dies and then I have to spend all my planned sewing time trying to get it fixed. I had at least three days planned to just spoil myself and sew! I was a wreck. To do my business I have to make money, to do that, there needs to be a computer. Buying new computer means less money and time for sewing!

Plot three
They say the fates conspire against me, and the next wammy was the power outage of several days that the rest of my holiday meant rescuing house and not being able to even do hand sewing.

So, with that start to a year, I decided to work on the sewing/business offices by organizing more and cleverly hiding things I sell behind fabric covers. I hope this will help when I do get to sew this weekend, artfully hiding distractions from myself helps a bunch.

Pictures of Graveyard Tour

Sorry this took so long, you can see more on my Flikr account, but here are the pictures of me at least at one tomb being sufficiently glooming I suppose. Got rather warm that day, the picnic was great, too.

Black silk mourning dress using Laughing Moon Patterns Shirt Waist and an antique veil I found.

Back In Town, Costumes on the list

Finally catching up after such a long time at southern cal visiting family. Then these terrible fires start up and my heart goes out to all in the south being driven from their homes.

I have three costumes I am working on, it always seems to be this many doesn't it??? I have pictures to unload of my visit to a grave yard in full mouring, and it is nice finally seeing the dress out on the town, well, so to speak. I have also got the first pictures of the silver and green Natural Form costume begun. The ruffles of doom! Then, there us the horendous smocking I am doing on a dress for Dickens Faire. So, I will unload the pictures over the next few days and get them up on here and in my flicr/yahoo account as well.

A 1840's Day Dress, or A Romance of the Fabric

After sitting in on Lynn's class at Cos Coll , and seeing the museum pieces she had from this time period, I must make one up of her new pattern. The 1840's Round Gown is quite lovely and with my strange facination with day dresses. Well, they are sickeningly sweet and geeks should just not be into this froo froo ness of them, but I do get sucked into them. I hope to make one for Dickens if I can break away from other projects. But what to make it of??? I have been looking at cottons, of course wanting to be brave enough to do silk. But at least my budget doesn't allow for such frivolities right now. Maybe a miracle will happen.

The bodice is the thing. to be con't

New Projects, Fall 2007 1870's Natural Form Grey Costume

1870 Day Dress- or An Experiment in Taffeta Terror
Goal: (Oooh, I hate these) To create a dress in the Natural Form style (1870-1880)and have a day bodice and evening bodice done by Costume Con 26, or the latest, Cos College 2008.
(I know, I should really keep this easy, since Regency theme is running for this event, but why be simple???)

The challenge, I had experienced my first CosColl this August and just been flabbergasted by seeing costumes all day, many being changed, and thinking about what a pain the shipping or carrying of costumes was to get the measly 3 I got there. I had to find a better way to get to wear some of the costumes that I bring to such and event. So, when I saw the huge sale on the gray fabric, and of course there was much of it(not being a popular color) I wanted to make a costume with which I could do day and night options. So, the challenge began.

The Reality
Okay, already faced with the flu this week, and being of crazed costume mind and body, I do declare I must press on with my Victorian Natural Form costume. I have been doing battle with some very dark gray acetate taffeta, spending huge amounts of time really fussing with a ruffle on the Fantail Skirt by Truly Victorian. I know, acetate is not historical, but it is all I could find here in the dreary north.

I have actually got the first layer of ruffle on which I did the old fashioned way, and now I vow not to do it again. I have located a ruffler and I am determined to make the trim in a better more professional way. Experiments in using a ruffler shall commence this weekend.

I have started to create the over skirt, which is a very large piece of rectangle that must be fashioned into poofs. The problem with some of the poofing, is that it is directly at the hips. Now lovely draped swags in those areas does not bother me, but this poofing is like, here, wind yards of fabric to show where your hips really are. I know, it is natural form, but I already know where the hips are. I don't need a banner for it.

I shall prevail, I am determined to finish this costume by Costume Con 26, but of course, being I will be selling at this thingy, I need to get some more practical day wear for the table in the dealer's room, hmmmm, I am thinking of finishing the 1830's High Waisted I started and adding a silly floppy cap and apron. It's period and practical.

Anyway, I digress. What to do for the bodice? I want to do a day bodice and hope to get an evening done out of it as well.

So, here I go...but will have to set aside this project for the Cemetery Walk in two weeks time. Then, to do a new Dickens or not???

Costume College 2007

Where to begin? It has taken me a week to catch up with myself and when we were there, it was just sooooo much fun and to think, there's costume con in the spring. EEP. I had some fun classes, but did not make it to the ribbon folding class. I will next time.

Hmm, we started a long list of what not to forget for next time. I think I will have to get some retro dresses up an running as well, that way I can go to class in style. That is, if it's not a messy class...wait, this is costuming.

I came away with some fun photos you can see on the flickr account.

I did get the Fantasy Renaissance Costume I did for BayCon 2006, up and running finally. I was so feeling like a stuffed sausage in the arms. I have to rework them again. But here is the photo.......

Yeah, Summer School is out

And now for some time as a Costume Fiend.

I have been looking at some photos I had meant to get up and well, I can finally have some creative time for me...I can only hope.

I will be going to Costume College and for the first time and I get to take classes!!! will wonders never cease???? I am sure that I will be exhausted after one day of looking at all the fun and creative things people have come up with.

Wow, what a week

Got back from BayCon and took me a week to recover and find everything again. So, now, I finally got my new sewing machine out of layaway. I have just started learning the computerized gizmos. I was hoping to start on my Harry P dinner costume, but it may be a bit before I find the fabric. I have got a pattern for a hat in mind and would like to work on that first. Then I can just use bits and pieces to create my character.

The last Bits of the Sickeningly Sweet Gown

Gads, it's been all weekend it seems. I have been doing stupid fastening by hand loops for the front of the bodice. I have to do them for the back of the skirt fastening, but that may end up being safety pinned just to get through this darn picnic. Grrr.

Well, the trim won't be happening either until later this summer, just selling at too many shows this summer.
More to come about the bodice. Front and back views pics and hopefully some actual event photos.

Now, to get that LM dress done

I have been finally getting the rest of the tiny green checked fabric into skirt form and I am almost to a trying on point. I had to mend a grommet hole on a corset this week and have got all the under pinnings together. I hope to try it on tomorrow and get the length right.

The bodice is finished accept for putting in the spiral stays. I had hoped to trim it out using the new machine, but I still have a bit to pay on it. I guess I will have to work on Harry P as the breaking in project. Of course, as luck will have it, I am really having a hard time finding the fabric I would like for the robes.gggggrrrhhhh.

I have some photos I hope to have up soon for the blog here. The newer camera has been so much easier to use and I don't feel like I am fighting it too much. I still have to use all the features in it, which I have not tried them all yet. Ahh, gotta dig out that straw hat and get it trimmed up.

$99.00$ to go, new machine

I have gotten very close to freeing my new machine from the hidden depths of layaway. I have been waiting to use it maybe on the LW dress I am working on. I hope to get some pictures of more in progress of where I am at with it all. I am sad about not being able to cartridge pleat as planned, had to quick guage. Grrr. Don'tike this getting old stuff.

Little Women and Surving Sewing of

Okay, so the Little Women Picnic will be very silly. I have started the costume out of a tiny spring green check. It is sickeningly sweet, and sometimes the checks just want to make me puke. But I do not make these things for myself, I make them for Sally to use in her many dangerous expositions and fashion shows.

So, I hope to have the skirt panels cut out and work on them this weekend, need to take some time to let the stress out.

It Seams a Mountain...Small Spaces Big Style

I have been recovering from selling at Costume Academy in Berkeley this past weekend and feel the need to be creative for me. How do I get this going?

Well, I have started spring cleaning early. After handling all my supplies this last week, I realised I had soooo much wasted space. I have room I have never had before to be creative, yet I find I work all over the place in that room. Sometimes it's a great creative feeling, but others I feel that I am blocked by not really having the flow through I would like to have. So this last trip, we got some things I hope to use for organizing and as they say on all the clean it up , neat nick cable shows, release myself from fabric prison!

I have to share with you some of my viewing pleasures in this area. I have watched some shows in the past, like Clean Sweep, and it is encouraging to see that there are other people more cluttered than I am get better with organizing. Of course, I don't have a behind the scenes crew to help...you know those minions of cleanliness. And the show Neat has inspired me a few times, but still seems unrealistic.

So the one show I found that has really got me to think creatively about organizing, is Small Spaces, Big Style. Seeing what people can do with a house that is half our size, or even a dorm room makes me think, I have so much more space than that, I have no excuses.

So my spring cleaning has begun, and rearranging my sewing and stock space is the priority this week. I have to have the space to create!

So, PHASE I
Create better storage for back stock of patterns
I have got another double filing cabinet and I will be setting the two up as a desk/shipping area.
Create better sewing area.

I have begun both of these and it is really a matter of getting some things better utilized. By swapping out the current space I use for shipping, a closet, I can store so many things in there and not have outside clutter. This frees up some movement room in the space.

Business Expansions, New Camera

I have been slowly getting the business side of things in order, and have decided to expand patterns to wearable art and Asian influences. I have been searching for a way to incorporate the art side of things for customers. I know myself to feel inclined to wearing things that remind me of retro influence, and also I have many people contacting me about Sci Fi/fantasy costuming. I think the many new independent pattern companies have some great lines in the patterns that could be great garb for an alien.

Okay, we took the plunge into one of the newer digital cameras. I know, I need to get more pictures up on this blog and in my online store. The camera I have had is so terrible that no amount of editing with Photo shop will fix them. I hope to chronicle my costuming and get more things up that are way easier to see, not so muddy. I am still intimidated by the the actual setting up of shots, learning about how not to use the memory stick up with one shot...