Egads, I haven’t posted here since Costume College 2015. I did go to CoCo last year, but it was super-abbreviated — I flew in late Friday, taught one class Saturday morning, wore a modern cocktail dress to the Gala, and drove back with Sarah and Francis on Monday. I didn’t make any costumes last year,
In case you haven’t noticed, I kinda like to combine books and costumes a bit. Also, books and costumes and movies. So over on Frock Flicks for National Book Month, I rounded up my top five and bottom five movies adapted from books, with an emphasis on costume. There’s some Jane Austen, natch, and a
Making lemonade out of lemons — since my hair fell out from chemo, this seems like a good time to go for one of those freaky-cool shaved-forehead styles that has popped up in various points of history. Go big or go home! At first, I though of Burgundian 1470s. It’s a period I don’t know
Kendra mentioned this to me at Costume College & I was all “meh.” And then I realized, hey now, I can Carnevale-ize this baby! It’s a two-fer — make a big crazy 18th-century court gown now, goth it up & do it in OTT me style, then I’ll be all set should I need to
In May, I was honored to be chosen as one of Queen Etaine’s artisans. In the SCA’s West Kingdom, the Queen’s Artisans are people (non-Laurels) recognized for their artistic ability and usually given some creative goal to work on during the reign. Since Etaine is a costuming Laurel, she had a very specific and exciting
Well, I’ve scrapped plans to make anything new for Costume College, & I’m forging ahead on future plans: for renfaire & Collegium. Which is far more practical anyway. Ok, Collegium is, since I’m running the event, thus any personal costuming should be done in advance so I can concentrate on event details. For renfaire, new
CoCo, meaning Costume College, of course. I’ve been going back & forth about what to make for my Gala gown. I had one idea all set, with fabric bought months ago. And then … Costume Attention Deficit Disorder struck. Alas! Now I’m scrambling to see if I can find / afford new fabric in time.
While the sewing is on hold, the research continues! I just returned from the U.K. where I finally got to see both portraits in person — and, wow, they are totally different! It’s not merely a difference in image reproduction. The originals may show the same person in the same pose and gown, but the
I’ve decided not to try to make the MQoS pink gown for 12th Night this year. Just don’t want to push it. The thing is alllllll trim and pearls, meaning allllllll hand-sewing, and we should know how I feel about that by now. Why kill myself to do it in 2 months? Even with Mom’s
It is begun! I cut the pink taffeta, spray-basted it to some white twill for body, and sewed all the side seams of the bodice. Then I started hand-sewing on the trim. Have to start with trim over the seam lines, you see, then work out in 1.5″ spacing. I’m not actually doing the exact
I’ve loved this dress since I first saw the portrait in a book, sometime in the early 1990s. It’s the classic refutation of “pink is not period” for renaissance faire or SCA. It’s super-girly. It’s fantastic! It’s very Pretty Pretty Princess! This has been my dream gown, and dammit, I’m going to make it. So