Steampunk Pieces

These are some little embellishments that I made for Halloween this year. They really aren't all that big. I just took close-ups of them so the details would come through.

 This one has been cleaned up a bit. There isn't as much of the felt backing showing through the individual pieces and that bottom cog has been moved up so it doesn't look like it's hanging out in the middle of space.

I really like this one. The compass rose was my favorite find and then I just started putting things behind it and this is what came out. The gear on the bottom right of the picture isn't as far out as it seems. I ended up moving it a bit so it would flow better with the rest.

Yes, I don't look all that elegant or ecstatic in this picture (it was really really late at night and most of the pieces I had removed by then) but you can see the size a bit better of the pieces. The one on my chest isn't pictured here, but the Compass Rose picture in this post is the broach right above the pouches on my waist. 

I'll see if I can get some better shots of them.

Costumes of Once Upon a Time

I haven't been watching all that much modern TV lately but my husband and I started our Sunday night tradition of watching Once Upon a Time last season and we're kind of hooked. The story is actually kind of fun, but my real draw are the costumes. They are absolutely gorgeous! Colors and textures abound. Not too crazy about their "modern" clothing, but their storybook clothing is fantastic.

If you'd like to learn more about the costumes, check out these articles written about the show:

'Once Upon a Time': Emilie de Ravin on Belle's debut (and return!)

Sketches
The Saucy Milliner (the lady who creates a bunch of the hats for the show)
Better Look at Some of the Costumes

Fun show and pretty costumes. Looks like I have some to add to my re-creation list.

"Charleston" costumes

I was lucky enough to get to do a Charleston set of costumes for a local Folk Dance Festival this past week. I also had the opportunity to dance in the group, so it was doubly fun.

The dresses were made out of a standard quality satin with a black organza overlay skirt, bias tape around the neck and arm holes, and a ribbon around the hips separating the skirt from the main top. I was supposed to also make some bows on the costumes to stick on the sides, but that didn't happen as I ran out of time.

Photo by Janneke Marquez Photography

There is a set of 12 costumes. I think they turned out kind of fun and sassy. While they aren't "true" to the time period, they are close and fun. The necklaces were made out of christmas garlands (easy enough and cheaper than actual necklaces). Each of the girls got to make or find their headpiece which helped with the fun aspect of it all. Personality yet pulled a few things together.

There are plans in the future to put some fringe on the bottom of the costume to have more movement and another fun element.

Interesting "historical" find

Take a look at this interesting find from Europe.

A good interview with a Costume Designer

Here is an interview with the costume designer of the hit show "Mad Men." While I haven't seen the show, I have seen some of the style influences that show has had on the market.

"Beauty and the Prince"

In the middle of May my husband, Jakob, was asked to be in a community show in our hometown. He was doing the fight choreography for it, but they had a bunch of people drop and he was asked to take one of the parts. While that was happening, I showed up at one of the rehearsals since I was just going to make the King's costume (our good friend Adam), and Jakob's costumes; I wanted to talk to their costume person to ask about the vision. . . and the entire production team didn't have a vision (which was apparent by early rehearsals).

Long story shortened, I was asked to do the costumes for 95% of the show. Since I only had 2 weeks, I didn't have enough time, money (since I was spending my own), or "workers" to do the entire show. They had pulled a lot of the costumes from someone else's supply and they looked HORRID! I mean "prom-bomb" to the max.

Here are the ones that I created for the show.

"Captain Raul". Black leatherette jerkin, black wide sleeved shirt, baggy pants. Black leather belt and Black baldric were made by Tim Buck.

"Fairy Faith". Yellow organza overdress, yellow silk underdress, bell sleeves, white belt, white and gold necklace

"Young Beauty". This dress is special since it is one my mother made for me over 20+ years ago. Since I didn't make this one, props go out to my fabulous mother

"Prince Justice". Silver puffed sleeve shirt, leather jerkin (found from Museum Replicas). Leather Baldric made by Tim Buck.

"King Christophe". Gold tapestry with green velvet contrast in sleeves, peplum, and collar. Green velvet waist sash.

"Francois". Grey cutoff pants, cream shirt, brown long vest. Apron made by  Tim Buck.

"Ambassador". Cream microsuede dress with small train, brown long over-vest.

"Fairy Hope". Plum underdress, plum overdress with small star details. Blue belt, dark pearl necklace.

"Goodwin". Mustard underdress with small train, brown belt with feather detail. Recognize the overdress? :p

"Sophie". Gold and blue corset by Damsel in this Dress, blue maxi-dress from  Charlotte Russe. Yes, this one is a stretch, but the character is supposed to be the weaver so perhaps she is the most "fashion forward".

"Monique". Steel blue dress with small train in satin, over corset by Damsel in this Dress.

"Fairy Grace". Orange and red shirt and harem pants. Multicolored belt and necklace. Gold cuff from Forever 21.

"Malicious". Staff from an old curtain rod, hand painted corset with blacklight reflective dragons.

"Duke Henri". Brown jacket, cream shirt. Baldric by Tim Buck.

"King Christophe". Silver jacket with blue contrast in peplum, sleeves, and collar. Detachable sleeves. Blue contrast waist sash. Baldric by Tim Buck.

"King Christophe". Brown and orange textured jacket with orange contrast in sleeves, peplum, and collar. Detachable sleeves. Orange contrast waist sash.

"Random Old Man". Black leatherette vest with 20+ buttons.

It was frustrating and fun all at the same time. There are more individual pieces that I made that the other characters wear but not the full costume. Lots of work for a community production. There were 10+ hours days of sewing. My back and fingers are still trying to recover. But at least I have a few more pieces for the collection.

New Project

There is a new project on the "horizon" and I'll keep things updated here as I go.

www.crimefightingcheerleaders.com is the page about it. It is a web series we're trying to get off the ground and running and I get to do costumes/wardrobe for it!

I should be getting some of the basic pieces soon for it. Kind of excited to get this web series rolling.