The Queen of Hearts

This post was supposed to be about the drafting of Nebula but Halloween happened.  One of the other costumes I've been working on was The Queen of Hearts.  She has been around for several years now and I was never quite happy with the bodice.  So, when we decided to be Disney Villains, I thought it would be great to give her a re-vamp and a more historical flare.  Its first debut of the new and improved version had many, many lessons.  The biggest being that this is not the costume to be historically accurate.  She is now going officially to the fantasy side where she should have been all along.

 Lesson One:  I did not try on the bodice with the shift I made...couldn't get my arms through...the sleeves of the shift kept getting bunched up.  Brilliant!  And I already had the stays laced up...ack.  SO.  Maybe my sleeveless Victorian shift I made this summer.

Lesson Two:  My stays are the devil.  This is my third set and I have another one on the way.  The first set I tried was a pair I made for my daughter eons ago...nope.  Second set was beautiful but too small so I sold them on my Etsy.  This third set fit but wasn't the right colors.  They still had some fit issues.  I have come to the inevitable conclusion that my modern figure was not made for the Rococo silhouette.  Let me explain.  The girls are not my own and don't squish like the real thing.  It looked and felt unflattering.  This is the main reason I will be going to the fantasy side and once again remake the bodice.  Again, maybe use the Victorian corset I also made this summer.  I feel like I need new stays or a corset because they support the weight of the panniers, pockets and skirts so well. 

Lesson Three:  As hard as the last lesson was to admit...this one is just a cringe-worthy rookie mistake.  In my defense, I did it so as to make the decoration removable because I wasn't sold on the look.  I used...hot glue and pin backs.  We had snow last week and my 1928 home does not have central heat and air.  As I gracefully swooped around the glue failed and my drapery decoration fell to the floor in places.  I love the roses but not the swag...still contemplating a solution.

Lesson Four:  Also a rookie mistake...break in your shoes before wearing them for long periods of time.  I love the rose covered Converse...Going to wear them more and break them in.

Now for the things I loved.  

I adore the pockets.  They are amazing!  Pockets are important!  

I love the jewelry my friend at West Coast Clay Designs made for me.  It was perfect. 

I like the overall look of the costume it just has a few issues I need to rectify...again.  I'm glad I had this trial run before the cons started again.

Nebula

 I thought I would start blogging about my adventures in costume making.  I haven't written anything in quite awhile so I'm going to start with a tiny bit of history.  Since I was a kid, back in the dark ages, I've been in love with costume making and sewing.  I took a break in the 90's, when my kids were little, to paint things.  Then a friend introduced me to Steampunk and I've never been the same.

Over the past several years, I've learned a lot about my own personal taste in costumes.  Sounds like a "give me" but apparently not.  I like Victorian and Steampunk but I found, through trial and error, that it must be feminine and a mash-up of fandoms.  Just so you know...I also tend to talk about my costumes in the third person...they are their own entity.

I may go back and revisit the process for previous costumes, but for now, Nebula is my most recent and most difficult.  She is in process so I don't have finished photos.  Every new costume must be a new challenge.  It must stretch my skills or build new ones.  I get bored easily.  I don't wear anything well if it wasn't hard work. What fun is that?

So, where do I start in my planning a new project?  I have no idea.  My husband has been continually told he should cosplay Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy.  He decided he wanted to do it.  Our tribe of Steampunk cosplayers were all-in so we started picking characters.  I was hovering between Rocket and Nebula.  I'm nearly 55.  Nebula seemed a stretch.  And I love Rocket's character...but I really didn't want to be a furry.  My daughter said to try his original comic book outfit...loved it.  Then I had an idea of how to do Nebula's hair since I did not wish to shave my head.  I threw off my age bias and threw my brain into how-can-I-make-this-work mode. Oh...did I mention my hair is an aqua color? (When I became more than 50% grey, I ditched the normal color...that's another story.)  Victorian hair-do along the mohawk line and appropriate color. BAM...silver Victorian hat?  Yes.  Silver monocle? Yes!  Paint the face like her and we have the hardest part figured out.  

Onto the outfit.  A Victorian number with a short skirt?  Maybe circus type thing?  Or saloon girl?  Must have quarter length sleeves...because...55.  I hopped on Pinterest looking for inspiration and started an idea board.  Then I found this...

That is the pattern and all the directions there is.  Yes, this would be a challenge!  And it was...there were many times I wanted to chuck it and use a regular pattern.  But I kept coming back to it...no challenge, no fun.  Next post I'll talk about the drafting process and other fun stuff...

Wichita Falls Photo Shoot (part 3)

Here are the last two models Jamie and Summer.  They are beautiful girls and did an amazing job!  I can't thank the models enough!

 This is the Dark Ballerina and she sold before I could get proper photos up on her.  I'm so in love with this crown though!

This is the Pink Airship Pirate...it's listed here on Etsy
.

This is Lady Grey.  She will be listed later this week.

Star Trek TOS inspired this one.  I call it T'Pring after Spock's arranged wife.  She is on Etsy

Thanks again to Lou Ann Horton Photography

We must do this again soon!

Wichita Falls Photo Shoot (part two)

Again, thanks to Lou Ann Horton Photography.  And the models Kentzie Rhodes, Bailey Kaufman, Jamie Obermier, and Summer Crossland.

So here's Bailey...isn't she wonderful!

This Airship Stewardess is listed on my Etsy

Go Cowboys!  This is steampunk in full color.  To see the full listing click HERE.

Wichita Falls Photo Shoot (part one)

First...I want to thank my wonderful photographer Lou Ann Horton at Lou Ann Horton Photography and my models Kentzie Rhodes, Bailey Kaufman, Jamie Obermier and Summer Crossland.  Also the makeup was done by Heather Powell.  If you are anywhere near the Wichita Falls, TX and need Cosplay Photos done...Lou Ann is your woman!  And very reasonably priced.

These clothes were all available or are available on my Etsy Site.  Check it out!

Lots of photos...this might take more than one post.

Let's start with Kentzie.  She rocks the steampunk look!

This brown corset will be listed this week.

This outfit..the Lady Jane will also be listed this week.

Milah!  Will also be listed this week...watch out!!

Hook cosplay from Once Upon A Time

I love Captain Hook and his costumes from ABC's Once Upon A Time. Recently, I got the itch to make something piratey.  It's not a replica but my own version of the costume. I had the best time making it. 

Special delivery

So, I have a friend having a baby soon. I looked all over Pinterest for something I could make and found a pattern and tutorial for a hospital gown.  The perfect gift!  She needed some extra length, so I added a ruffle and substituted snap tape for Velcro.