Costume College on a Budget

Another Costume College has come and gone, and wonderful memories were made again.  Its so nice to visit with people I only get to see in person once or twice a year.  The theme this year was Hollywood 1920 to 1955.   Yes!   Finally I can go to CoCo with no bustles, wigs, petticoats and polonaises.  I had six costumes, and they were all between $8 to $20!  Here is what I wore:     

Thursday Night Pool Party.   Five of us decided to go tiki themed. My friend Cat and I were in the LA fabric district several months ago, and we shared the cost of six yards of a cotton tiki print we found on sale at Island Fabrics (3 yards each).  I can’t remember the exact cost, but it was not more than $5 a yard (so about $15 for this dress).  Val got a similar Tiki fabric, and April and Joanne were lovely in blue and green tropical dresses. The theme of the pool party was Carmen Miranda, and there were plenty of ladies with "tutti fruiti" hats!

Friday Day. The Bottle Brigade!  This was a fun project that snowballed.   Joanne and I were shopping at Yardage Town one day and found the cutest retro bottle print.  There were two background colors, cream and pink.  I think this dress cost me around $20. Well, I was a natural for the pink and Joanne bought the cream.  I told Cat about it, and she said "I think I have that fabric too!"  Sure enough, she had it in the cream!  She also made hers up first and added some vintage blue rick rack.  She gave me some to put on my dress.  I then told April about our dresses and said she should get the pink to even us out.  She did!!  Here we are, a matched set.  (Note, after CoCo, a friend asked if she could be in the bottle brigade, as she found the same print in a turquoise background!  Yay!  Now we need one more blue to even us out.  Any volunteers?)  Cat made darling cigar box purses, and brought a ton of them up with us.  Look at our cute purses!

 Friday Evening.  Ice Cream Social.   I love Barbie dresses.  I have always wanted one with pink roses.  This dress fabric was only $1.50 a yard, so the whole dress only cost around $7.50! I lined the top with scraps, and wore a pink crinoline I got at a thrift store for $6 under it.  Joanne wore her lovely Regency gown to the social.

I used Vintage Vogue 1957 pattern number 2903.  Now, I tried to make this a week before leaving for CoCo, only working in the evenings.  I admit I rushed through it, and when I got to the sleeves, I messed up.  I was trying it on after sewing in the sleeves by pulling it over my head.  I got stuck.  Bad.   That dress would not go up or down, and my arms were straight up in the air.  I hollered HELP!!!   Jerry had to inch it up my arms to get me out of it.  Once out, after gasping for air, I threw it in the corner and decided not to fix the sleeves.  Five minutes later, I just ripped off the sleeves and made it sleeveless!  It fit fine without them.  Oh, and these cute pink shoes?  Joanne found them for me in a thrift store for $3.50.




Saturday Day.  Class Time.   Since I was wearing my pink crinoline under everything I was glad my class on Saturday was - making your own crinoline!  I wore my cherry dress, which was only $1.50 a yard so this dress was about $6.  This was retro 1952 Butterick pattern number 5033.   I wait until Butterick has their $1-2 pattern sales, and I just buy about 3-5 every sale.  I love pinup hair, so out came the Victory Rolls again along with a 40's hair net for the back of my head.  I actually popped into a 40's hair class just as they were discussing this very look!  This picture was taken in the hospitality suite which was decorated in a USO theme.  It was really cute!  Below I am with Val in her gorgeous Edwardian pink and white stripe Summer gown.

BEFORE!

Saturday Night.  The Gala!   This is where I repurposed an old gown.   Years ago, I attended the Masquerade of Jareth Ball in a black and white gown.  (see picture) I was pondering what to wear walking down the red carpet Hollywood style.  I needed to be glamorous.  I have always loved the photograph of Audrey Hepburn in black gown and tiara, and decided I would take that modern “prom dress” and turn it into a 50's ball gown. So, I borrowed one of Val’s tiaras and Cat did the cutest updo for me, with a side curl down one side.

AFTER!

                                            On the skirt of the dress were white diagonal strips going around.  I took them all off. I bought $1 a yard black tulle, about 6 or 7 yards, and gathered it around the waist of the dress.  For the top layer I splurged and got a few yards of sparkle tulle at Walmart at $3 a yard.  I then softened the bodice with two layers of tulle.  The topper was my mother’s white fox stole. Bad Cindy.  But everyone at CoCo wears fur, so I made an exception.  Walking with Vanessa as Rita Hayworth in her black dress and white fox, and Cat as Jean Harlow in her beautiful white bias dress and stole, we were quite elegant.

Sunday Day.  Hollywood Awards Tea.   I love my tea dress.  I hit a sale at Frock You, a vintage clothing store here in San Diego.  It fit great and was only $23!   I got the shoes on clearance for $10 at Burlington that were a perfect color match.  Cat’s white flowers in my hair and pale pink gloves made a perfect tea outfit!

 You can see from my picture how tired I was by Sunday, but I love this dress!!!  Joanne looked lovely in Regency.  This was the perfect ending to a wonderful week at Costume College. 

This year I was the assistant tea mistress to Val, who did a great job planning this year's tea.  Next year's Costume College theme is Cavaliers with a touch of Pirate - and I will be tea mistress next year.  Gee, wonder what my tea theme will be????

I also had my Marie Antoinette tea gown in the costume display exhibit, so people were able to see it that didn’t go to Myth Masque ball!

I had a wonderful weekend, and enjoy reading other attendees’ blogs and stories.  You can read Val's blog at timetravelingincostume.blogspot.com

For All You Dr. Who Fans Out There!

My family has been planning since last Comic Con to attend this year's Con as Dr. Who characters.  My brother Tom has a screen accurate 10th Doctor suit, coat, shoes, tie, glasses, sonic screwdriver and several other items unique to the Doctor. My nephew Brian has an awesome 11th Doctor suit.  My daughter Amy, with long red hair, naturally became Amy Pond!

My sister-in-law Kathy chose Rose Tyler, dressed in 50's from the episode The Idiot's Lantern.  A trip to the fabric district in Los Angeles yielded the pink sequined fabric and pink crepe backed satin needed to make the dress. This was a delayed Christmas present for her from me.  Kathy purchased the jacket, the shoes and made screen correct jewelry.  I used a strapless ballgown pattern for the dress, shortening the skirt length.  At the first fitting, we discovered it was too long waisted and the skirt was not full enough.  So much for that pattern!  I took the skirt off and shortened the bodice by about two inches.   I also cut wider panels and added them to the skirt to make it fuller.  A zipper down the back (real fun to do in sequins) and an underskirt with a tulle slip and it was done!  To finish the look, Kathy bought the pink sunglasses - and a blonde wig which she had styled just like Rose's hair!  Kathy is a natural brunette, so seeing her blonde was a bit weird but she pulled it off wonderfully.  A bit later she switched from the pink pumps to pink tennis shoes so she could walk the exhibit hall.   

 I decided about last October to be a Clockwork Droid from my favorite episode The Girl in the Fireplace. My brother is a wonderful maker of gadgets and electronic equipment (such as a steampunk time machine, a working R2D2(still in production) and other marvelous mechanical things!)   So for my birthday, he made me a screen accurate Droid weapon!  In case you don't have any idea what I am talking about, these Droids (and Dr. Who) have travelled to Madame du Pompadour's time where the episode takes place.  Therefore, they have disguised themselves as best they can as members of the French court.  Here is what they look like. 

The arm piece/weapon looks like this:  Poor Madame du P!  My brother made me the one on the left.  Luckily I already had a similar dress, as one of the first costume I ever made was a Marie Antoinette dress for a tea in her honor.  I added the long white gloves and jester mask, which my mom bought me from the internet and gave to me as a gift.  The wig I used was originally a Victorian wig, but I only wore it maybe twice as it is not really my color.  So out it came, and I ratted it all out.  Here are the results of our family effort.

Attacking Vyxsin from Amazing Race

The pattern for this dress is Simplicity 4092.  Very easy to make, but I think the pattern has been discontinued.  The fabric was inexpensive polyester, probably no more than $2 a yard.  The trim was made with dark brown ribbon which I got for 33 cents a yard.  It was long stitched down the center and then ruched. 
                            

Tea with Marie!

On Saturday night, I attended Myth Masque, a wonderful new masquerade ball in Los Angeles held at Vibiana, one of the most gorgeous venues I have ever been to!  It is a former 19th century cathedral with  beautiful marble altar area and niches, garden with fountains, etc.  I have always wanted a big, pink Marie Antoinette type fantasy gown, and this was the perfect occasion.  Over a year ago I purchased a pink Marie mask and planned my dress around it.  I had the idea to incorporate real tea cups and tea pot into my outfit.  I needed panniers with a firm surface in order to place them on my hips.  I used.... laundry baskets!  I cut off the sides of two baskets, and made cardboard inserts(cut up fabric bolts) inside to rest my hips on. I then strapped them to a belt with webbing.  I then added tulle around the edges to soften it under the skirt.

Next, I bought a china tea pot, a china cup and saucer and a creamer at the swap meet.  A friend of mine has a lapidary shop and he drilled holes in the bottom of the china.  I bought a pale pink rose embossed polyester for the majority of the dress as it was only $1.50 a yard!  for the underskirt/petticoat I splurged and bought 1 1/2 yards of ribbon roses fabric in hot pink which I used for the front panel. I used the pale pink for the sides and back of the petticoat. 

The pattern I used was Simplicity 3637.  The pattern calls for 20 yards, but I did not use that much.  I only bought 14 yards, and it was enough because I didn't make the poofy trim and didn't use it for the front panel or the bodice front.   For the bodice front I got 1/2 yard of teacup fabric.

Once I had the petticoat and overdress done, I called my friend Joanne to come over and help me with the hemming.  But first, we had to figure out the china pieces placement.  Once we figured out where on the "panniers" to put them, we marked on the layers of over/under skirts where to drill the holes into the baskets.

Getting dressed was.......interesting.  I first put on a very full crinoline, as I did not want the skirt to collapse in under the baskets.  Then I strapped on the baskets, followed by the petticoat and the over dress.  I had marked where the holes were in the sides of the dress so I placed a long bolt through the china, through the layers and into the hole of the basket.  In order to secure them, my boyfriend Jerry had to get under the baskets and screw a nut onto the bolt from underneath!  LOLOL.  

Here are some pics.  I hope you like them.

This is my friend Rebecca.  She was gorgeous!  My friend Cat came with me as Madame Pompadour and was beautiful!  See her photo below.  Jerry and my daughter Amy and another friend April came as well.  See us together below too!   The last picture is of opera singer Prince Poppycock, from America's Got Talent!  He was one of the entertainers at the ball.

               

Breakdown:


$21  14 yards pink @ $1.50 yard                   
$18  1 1/2 yards hot pink @ $12 yard          
$3    1/2 yard tea cup fabric @ $6 yard           
$5    China teapot, cup, saucer, creamer          
$6    lace napkins 2 @ $3                                 
$3    hooks 12                                                  
$2    hardware                                                 
$6    laundry baskets 2 @ $3                             
$6    4 yards tulle @ $1.50                                
ribbons, belt, webbing in stash
                                                   Total     $70   

Ooohhhhh, Secret Project Ahead!

What do teacups, feathers, masks and laundry baskets have in common?  Just you wait and see!  Here is a sneak peek: 

 Casey helped by lending me his cat food cans to use as pattern weights, so I let him cut out part of the costume.   Enough hints for now!   Be back soon for the whole story.  Go eat cake!

The Pink Plaid is Done!

Today six of us from the Costume Guild modeled in the Creative Stitchery Guild's fashion show.  I wore my purple pleated gown (my icon picture) and my new pink plaid!  Here are a few photos from today.  The first one was taken by Val LaBore in the dressing room.  I was adjusting my ruffles.  Below, I am standing in the hall with my friend Randy, who was very brave and modeled in front of a room full of over 200 women.  I think the early 1870's remains my favorite era to sew.  I love ruffles and pleats - I am a true girly girl.  The Stitchery Guild gave out costuming awards, and  I was honored to receive the Past President's award.  I receive a gift basket full of fabric, a bobbin winder, a pattern fitting book, and a beautiful pair of earrings!  This award was for my purple gown, as it was covered in the handmade pleats!  Val wore her bloomer gown, Belle Epoque gown and her underpinnings.  Cat wore a Tudor gown and 1700's gown with wide panniers.  Randy wore two gentleman's outfits.  Mary wore Elizabethan and Edwardian gowns and Marcee wore several gowns from the Regency era to Edwardian. 

EDIT:  I forgot to post my breakdown!  Here it is:

$66    9 1/2 yards fabric ($7 a yard)
  $6    6 yards grey tassel fringe ($1 a yard online)
  $3    1/2 yard pink fabric ($6 a yard)
  $2    1 dozen buttons
  $1    pink sheet for lining (thrift store)

TOTAL      $78

Titanic Weekend

The San Diego Costume Guild got together on Saturday, April 15th and appeared at the Del Mar Antique Show in Edwardian costumes.  There was quite a group of us as you can see from this picture. I barely finished my Secret Santa dress in time for our event.  I will be wearing this dress again when the guild goes to the Natural History Museum to walk through the Titanic Artifact Collection on May 5th.  I didn't get the hat done that I was supposed to wear with this dress, so wore my huge foofy one!  Here are a few photos of my dress:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Gorgeous!

I am real excited about Wearing History's newest pattern, a beautiful 1910's blouse.  And she is giving a pattern away too!  Check out her link here:  http://wearinghistoryblog.com/2012/03/giveaway-1910s-blouse-pattern/   Here is a picture: 

Yay for Pink Plaid!

I have finally started my 1875 pink plaid  gown I have been waiting to make!  Here is a reminder of what my inspiration photo looks like:  I purchased some pink satin to make some contrast ruffles, but I didn't want the shiney look.  I am using the back side of the satin for my ruffles.  I edged the ruffles in gray bias.  I don't have enough plaid to go around again, so across the top of the top pink ruffle I will be adding a pretty gray trim. I will also add trim across the top of the smaller apron ruffle.  As soon as I do that, the skirt will be finished!  Then on to the bodice.   Here is a picture of my progress on the skirt, without the trim on the top ruffles:

I have also started cutting out my Secret Santa Titanic gown!  I changed my mind again as the first pattern I wanted to use isn't available at the moment.  So, this is the pattern I am now using.  Its the pink one.  For the tunic part I have a pretty embroidered net that I want to look similar to this photo.  I went to Los Angeles again with Val and found a beauiful blue grey dull satin for the under dress and I also got my white embroidered netting there.  I didn't see anything I wanted for the sash and bodice inset.   About a week later I found a pretty dark blue/green that will be perfect.    Here are the fabrics.

 I attended an Edwardian hat workshop yesterday and learned all kinds of hat decorating tricks.  I have a white large brim hat I am decorating to match.

Again, thank you Secret Santas!  This one's for you.

This and That

Three things:

1.     I have decided on the outfit for my Secret Santa Project.  I knew I wanted to make a new outfit for all the Titanic events coming up.  I love the floaty dresses, but I am getting a bit old for those.   I don't want a matronly suit either.   Perfect compromise:  A wonderful out of print Simplicity pattern. If you wanted to buy it online now, it will cost you around $50 more or less.  I just happen to have a wonderful friend who has this pattern, and I am copying it from her.  The great thing about having costuming friends is you can trade patterns and trace each others.  I bought a huge roll of pattern paper from Michael Levine's in LA, and it lasts forever.  I have had this roll for about a year now.   The big question is this - What color should I make it?  I don't want to do it in blue because I don't want to look like Rose from Titanic. 

2.   I can finally start my pink plaid dress!  Very excited about that!  I have to be very careful about the yardage as it will be very tight.  See my previous post about what it will look like.

3.   The Loose Change Project.    I made this funny little graph so I can watch the progress of my quest for change.  As soon as I hit $50, I cash it in and get a new dress started.  (at $6.89 right now).   May take six months, but I can keep busy til then!  I will just keep stealing change from Jerry's pockets and the bottom of my purse.

An 1880 Natural Form Seafoam Green Victorian Skirt and Bodice - Part 2

Photo by Marcee C.

Well, I finished it!  The bodice was a bit difficult to fit on myself, as I have a curvature in my upper spine/neck area. I found this little half collar does not work well on me.  It stands away from the back of my neck due to the curve.  It was a nice pattern to work with though, and I love the way the back tail looks.

Here are some pictures from the Costume Guild West's Winter Tea at the Biltmore in downtown Los Angeles.   What a beautiful venue for a costumed event! 

 

Val L. and Me

8 yards black 3" lace $8

2 yards beaded trim $3

Polyester horsehair braid $8

Glass beads $2

8 yards fabric  $32

Full size sheet $3

Lining in stash

Thread in stash

Buttons in stash

Bias tape remnant in stash

Total $56. Over budget by $6, but worth it!







Photo by Val L.