Downtown Shabby

It's been over a month since my last post.  I'm so lame.  But I promise it's for good reason.  I've been preoccupied preparing for a spoof musical that happened last night at the NoHo London Music Hall - "Downtown Shabby" as opposed to the PBS hit, "Downton Abbey".

As an adult this is my first musical theatre production. It was different from the normal cabaret/burlesque shows I've done in the sense that I actually had lines to learn this time around (and a line to FORGET! omg) I played Sarah O'Brien, personal maid to the Countess of Grantham, and ginormous gossip monger.

And here are O'Brien's boobies also known as "The Sisters". Weee.

If you know nothing about the show, the first episode begins the day after the Titanic sunk and is set in England. So, because it's set in England we had to learn to speak with English accents.  I learned mine from watching British Youtubers, like the makeup artist 'Pixiwoo' Sisters, and interviews with Henry...

Seriously, I learned a lot from watching his interviews. Especially how he says his "R's". Ah. Aah. Ahh.

(Oh, c'mon,... you knew I had to throw him in here somewhere.)

Anyway, along with learning "9 to 5", "Every Breath you Take" (and mixing up all them rhyming words on stage - breath fake stay take make cake bake shake take face.)  Even when it's perfect when you are singing alone, it all kinda gets jumbled up on stage when heavy nerves are involved), "One Less Bell to Answer", and a couple of other group numbers... add dance choreography and I was pretty much focused on nothing else.  

Nothing else except for sewing this corset:

Ta'daaaaa!

And here's the inside for your viewing pleasure.  I totally did the lining fabric just for me since it was a musical.

I wanted the corset the be multi-functional so I did a basic, and classic, sweetheart shape.  I also wanted a little bit of an edge so I added the front grommets.  For me it represents that little bit of hardness of spirit that O'Brien has. These also serve a different purpose as I can change the ribbon color there to suit my desires. So I can leave it empty and add a whip and leather for the dominatrix look, or a can add a powder puff pink ribbon to soften it up a bit.  

Here is a pic during the middle of the project when I was adding the boning channels.

Because I made this specifically for the stage where I knew I would be dancing and singing, I decided to experiment.  I didn't use the usual spring steel boning all over.  Instead I opted for macrame chord.  It helped with comfort of movement.  I only used the spring steel in the front next to the zipper and along the center back so the fabric and grommets holding the lacing in back wouldn't buckle.

Anyway.  I know you can't believe that I'm SUPER SHY and that taking to the stage is a traumatic experience to my poor nerves everytime.  It is! And yet, I still do it.  What can I say?  I'm a sucker for punishment. 

I'm thankful to my husband, family, and friends for supporting me with these things.  I'm so thankful to CatrinaQ for letting me do these shows with her.  It's fun doing these shows with friends and making new ones in the process.  It really is why they call these things "Plays".       

P.S. The afterglow of the show apparently is Oompa Loompa orange, but hey.... I'm smiling!

No Sewing, Just drawing

I think I mentioned last entry that I was commissioned to do a some cartoony drawings.  My customer-friend is in England and asked via the Facebook if I could do it for her.  Secretly THRILLED, I cooly responded, "Lemme work on something for you".  Ok, maybe I wasn't so cool. 

I've been sketching monsters, witches, dreamy vampire loverboys, cats. I even did a study of crossbows 'cause I didn't know what they looked like. I'm glad I did that - pretty sure the boy would not want to be found to be killing zombies with a cupid's bow, like a newb.

Here. Have the first monster that I drew, who is not included in the picture.

Now, about 2 weeks later, I have two awesome 11x14 inked drawings that need to be colored in.

I did my 'character' studies in my 8x10 sketchbook.  (Which, by the way, I drew Superman in it so everytime I open my sketchbook I am greeted with his beautiful face and a "Hey girl, hey."  Yeah.  I'm obsessed. Whatever.)  My 'character' studies are just quick sketches that I did of the kids from many photos to get an idea of their face shapes, distinct features, their expressions - just their general presense.  So I have a couple of pages filled with heads of these same kids. And monsters.  And cats. And crossbows.

I need more Superman. Hmmm. I'm not doing anything today and everyone is at Comicon - the bastards. Maybe I'll take myself to the movies and visit Mr. Cavill.  Hmmm. Perhaps.

This time I tried a new method. I have broken down larger pieces of work into small sections so that if I screw up I can fix and alter without ruining the whole picture.  Once I'm satisfied, I move everything onto the larger bristol sheet using my lightbox. (I LOVE BRISTOL PAPER, so wonderful.)   I am 100% happy with how the pictures have turned out so far.  I wish I could keep them black and white, however, I was asked for full color.  So that's what I'm going to do.

It's always the coloring part that really scares me though.  You do all this work, perfecting, inking, and then... you add color.  Color isn't forgiving.  Inking isn't forgiving either, but at least you can sometimes fix it with color. Color is FINAL.  I guess it's that finality which scares me.  There are no fixes once color is down, unless you start all over again.  And starting all over again means time lost.

Oh, you're probably wondering why I am freaking.  It's because this is completely old school art style.  All by hand.  Old school.  None of this digital magic, no clicky of the button erasies.

I've decided to fill it with Prismacolor pencils instead of watercolor paint or my new markers.  I love watercolor, but I use that for fairies.  And I'm not 100% comfortable with my markers yet, though I am positive they would have looked amazing.  I just don't wanna mess it up with an amateur marker hand. Besides Prismacolor pencils are a wonderful medium.  You can get really beautiful blends when you build up with them as they are oil based.  I'm excited that I'll finally be opening my new tin of pencils, too.  I've been on a roll with them as I was illustrating that little story I am writing. 

It's a tale for another day, but I have been writing a story that won't go away. I'm finally writing the book that I want to read.

Anyway, should I get permission to share the final drawing with you from my friend.  I will do so.

Have a wonderful day - - weekend, whatever you are doing.  As for me, I think I will visit my sketchbook.

I Made a #^@&%*! Hat

UGH.  Why is it after 9pm and still ninety-eight-thousand degrees?  Better yet, why was it a billion degrees today and someone decide to "save energy" and not turn on the central air?  Not even for an hour.  Don't look at me - I would have had this house at a comfortable temperature.

First world problems... I swear.

Well, along with me HATING the summer, I am certain my sewing muse ran away for cooler temperatures and left her dim-witted, one-armed, cock-eyed half sister in her stead.  At least that's what it felt like every single time I went to try and sew.

At first I thought I was going to do something simple; something to get me back into the groove of things, something easy like a floppy, summer-y, fisherman-y hat.  I even picked cute-ish fabric because I wasn't sure I was actually going to keep this thing for myself.  So, skulls and pink bows, what could be worse than that?  ("SUMMER TIME" my inner whiner yells.  STFU! We don't want to hear about it now, You.)

See, it ain't so bad.  Right?

WRONG!!  The damned thing was a freaking nightmare.  I told you my Sewing Muse upped and left me with that impostor.  The pattern wasn't fitting together (or I just wasn't sewing it right).  The crown fabric is pinched 'cause there was too much on top and the side band of the hat was WAY too tall.  It freaking looks like a top hat at the right angle.  &*^$@*^$*@&%!#^&^!!!

(I hate Summer.  Give me back my rain and winter!)

Can you see I am unimpressed with my new hat?

Well, I am.  Unimpressed.  Totally unimpressed and don't know what the hell to think besides "I HATE IT!!!"  And totally on the outs with my sewing muse for running off on me.  However, I am tempted to have another go at this hat.  Maybe with the right weather and a different fabric.  Maybe if my Sewing Muse ever comes back.  Maybe after we have the huge fight that's building up in my head.  Maybe after she apologizes... and repents!

Good thing my old friend, Hot Hand, snuck back into my life.  I have been drawing like a fiend.  I have been sketching and coloring and getting back into the groove of this art thing since Sewing Muse has been away.  (What should we call that wench, anyway?)  I have been drawing for at least an hour or more everyday lately.  Mostly quick sketches and movement drawings, just to get the feel of the pencil again, but it's getting better.

Here's a quick sketch of a picture I want to eventually paint with my oils.  (Yep, that's the bride.  Nope, no real pictures yet.  I was told they would be here in the next couple of weeks.)

Even better news - I was asked to do a couple of cartoony drawings for a friend of mine who lives 'Across the Pond.'  I'm still working out all the details and layouts for those.  It's such a cool challenge and I'm happy to do it.

If you know me... You know I do NOT do zombies. I don't like to see them, hear them, think about them, read about them. Zombies? NO! Do not want.  However, I have been drawing zombies.  (Only a friend and the delirium from this miserable heat could get me drawing zombies.)  Well, they aren't exactly the decaying monsters that I fear, these are more. . . . well. . . . sorta like . . . if Disney had a baby with Skeleton monsters.  Yeah.

Ok. I just hit the wall.  My brain just died.  I think that's enough of an update for now.

The heat has drained me.

I perish.

Muse not Present? Need a Distraction? Answer: Henry Cavill.

I wanted to be more regular with this thing with weekly posts with progress on garments, but I haven't been doing much sewing lately.  I've tried, but have been completely... uninspired.  It's almost like my sewing muse is depressed, on vacation, eloped, or something.  It's not for lack of ideas or fabrics because I have shelves of fabric and sketches upon sketches of things that I would eventually like to do.  But sewing?  Even corset construction (which is my heart) it just... It's not something that I'm finding much joy in.  It's just not been clicking.  And I know you have to push through the depression to get going, to get that momentum back.  I've started playing with design lines on Selena.  However, nothing is keeping up the momentum for me.  It's just not clicking.  There is no chemistry.

(Lines on Selena.  Trying to imagine the Inquisitor's Wife Dress)

I was asked to sew my husband a pair of cargo shorts, but the pattern I have is missing the ENTIRE front piece.  I don't think he would like it if I only sewed him pants that would cover just his butt.  Nobody wants to see that.

I know you are saying, "Just make your own pattern!"  Yeah, um, the only problem with that is that I've never sewn a fly zipper so I wouldn't know how to even start to fix a piece for the front pattern.

What's more?  I haven't even picked up a book lately.  I haven't read anything in about 2 weeks.  After the Inquisitor's Wife I read The Great Gatsby.  And,... meh.  I guess I'm not as big a book worm as I thought I was.  Maybe I should reread one of my favorite romance novels, see if it'll get my blood going again.  See, even just thinking about reading something I love and that little voice just said, "Meh."

Perhaps my brain is just taking a break from all this sewing and reading business.

I can't say that I'm depressed, because I don't think I am.  I'm not totally uninterested in everything like I normally get when I am depressed.  I've just been putting my energies elsewhere.  I've been writing a lot.  I've been bothered by a couple of stories that are fluttering around in my head so I've been recording the voices.  We'll see if any of them decide they actually want their whole story to be written and in what format.  One of them sounds like a novel and the other sounds like a screenplay.  I'm actually thankful that I took the Screenwriting class with Kim Krizan (author of Original Sins: Trade secrets of the Femme Fatale. <3 Great book and she's an amazing woman.)  I feel like if those voices decide they want a script... They'll get a script.  They just aren't screaming loud or clear enough right now.  I only hear their voices.  I don't know who they are or, really, what their point is.

I've also been drawing, a lot.  So it's not like I haven't been creative, I've just been practicing my creative skills elsewhere. I bought a couple sets of these Letraset Pro-Markers.  They are an interesting medium to use. It's the first time that I've ever really used markers seriously for anything.  I've done a few fashion sketches with them and I actually really LOVE the way it comes out.

(A sketch I've done of the dress I'll eventually make.  Maybe wear it for RenFaire or something.  I know her left arm is deformed short.)

What else?  I think I want to learn how to paint portraits with oil, but all the classes that I've seen in the area I'm unable to attend because of the time slots.  I'm usually working the hours they are available.  I have tried teaching myself in the past, but I wasn't successful.  I think I need to learn the basics from someone else.  I'm just not sure where to start, you know?  Maybe I'll just try again on my own.

Oh, another thing.  I saw Man of Steel.  Loved it.  Why, Yes, I'll be obvious, Superman is hawt!  He has been since I first saw him played by Christopher Reeve.  Man of Steel? I really enjoyed all the sci-fi, even if it at times totally reminded me of the Matrix. (Like the part near the end when Supes was dealing with that thing over the ocean. Totally Matrix look, but I didn't mind it.  The Matrix is one of my favorite movies.) The whole thing was definitely NOT what I expected, but I am glad they did it that way.  I've also been watching a lot of The Tudors on Netflix.  Husband knows my boyfriend is Henry Cavill.  (He's secretly been my bf since he was a boy in The Count of Monte Cristo, but shh.  Tell no one.)

(See? Handsome.)

 
Anyway, enjoy that eye candy for now.  We'll see what happens this week.  I might get back to sewing.

Ok, you can stop staring now.

Relax....

I haven't yet gotten good photos of Marilyn, so a post of that is still pending.

In the mean time I've been keeping myself busy sewing some lounge wear; and reading,.. a lot.  The garment I made is something that I plan on relaxing around the house in, when going to hang out at a pool, or even hanging out at the coffee shop on these beautiful summer nights.  It's a strapless jumpsuit.  I know!  WTF?  Right? I know.  I know you are thinking like 1970s disco diva jumpsuit, but it's not. I promise.  It's comfortable and it has pockets!!!

I got the fabric downtown months ago.  Again, I got it for like $5 or something awesome. I was planning on making some harem pants.  Don't worry-- not the saggy dirty diaper MC Hammer looking pants that came in style last year.  I'm talking Disney Princess Jasmine style, or pretty yoga pants type things.  This fabric is kinda see through in sunlight, but it's not THAT sheer. It's a very soft dark teal knit jersey.  When I say comfortable I mean, I NEVER want to change out of it, but that would be gross... so I do change.

I made it using and altering McCalls M6083 pattern.  I always have to add like 4 inches because I'm pretty long in the torso and my legs are about 2 inches longer than most patterns.  I refuse to sew myself high waters, so I adjust accordingly.

As it was in progress...

BAM!!! 

I guess I should start off with the mistakes. I should have added about 1.5 - 2 inches length to the waist.  I'm not 100% happy where it sits at my waist, but if I make something like these again in the future I'll know to add more.

Second, I accidentally cut one of the leg fronts on the wrong direction or the fabric, so if you look closely on one side the weave is going horizontal, the other the weave is vertical. Meh. It's comfortable.  It's meant to just hang out in and I made it for myself.  I don't care what my inner critic says.  I take it as a lesson learned:  Always check the fabric before cutting.

I also should have probably used a short zigzag stitch because the threads have popped and broke when I accidentally caught the hem on my toe.  A believe a zigzag stitch would allow for a bit of ease with this stretchy fabric.

Hooray for awkward self photos.

To be honest this is only the 2nd time that I've sewn with this kind of soft knit fabric.  The last time was 5 years ago -- or whenever it was that I was in school.  (Huh... I just realized I made the same mistake in cutting back then too... Ah well, next time I will remember to cut correctly.)

. . . I also just checked the date on my Costume Tech Certificate:  2008.  So, I guess I am still kinda new to this sewing thing.  Still a few years under 10 years actual experience.

Now books:

If you are in interested, I read my favorite book in the whole wide world, The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory, for like the 9th time and I cried at the same spot I cry at every single time I read it.  Yeah, my husband thought something was really wrong because I was sobbing like a child.  When he realized that I was crying over a book he started to laugh (and apologize) from his unbelief.  He really couldn't believe that I was so heart-broken, so moved to tears by it.  Damn you pages 370 and 371.  Yeah, I know it's coming every single time I read it, but every single time I am affected the same.  Every morning after I wake up with swollen tear filled eyes.  I'm thinking maybe it's because I am so invested and can so deeply relate to the protagonist.

I then read The Inquisitor's Wife by Jeanne Kalogridis in 2 days!  I did not want to put that book down.  The only reason I did was because I needed to sleep.  I absolutely loved the setting.  It was so rich, so tangible.  It made me want to trace my roots 'cause I know they go back to Spain somewhere.  (That's another project for the future.)

Next I'll be traveling to the 1920s through The Great Gatsby.  I don't plan on seeing the movie in theaters.

I'm mentioning The Inquisitor's Wife again because I fell in love with the cover.  I should say I fell in love with the dress on the cover, so.... it's possible I may be making myself a costume in the near future, just like I did with Vicki Pettersson's Celestial Blues books.

See, don't you love it too?  

I totally judged this book by it's cover and I'm glad I did.

After Marilyn, a UFO

So, you think you know what a UFO is?  What's that you say? It's an "Unidentified Flying Object"?

*BUZZ!!!!*  Nope.  Sorry.  You are incorrect.

In the world of this seamstress a UFO is an UnFinished Outfit.  That's what I have for you today.  Though I suppose a single shirt doesn't technically count as an outfit.  Meh.  Whatever.  Point is, I finished something that had been sitting untouched for many months.

I started it before I got the task of Marilyn, but had to hang it aside once I got charged to make the wedding dress.  So yeah, it definitely was a good number of months before I got my hands on it again. 

While I was making Marilyn I would look over every once in a while and see this guy, but I felt guilty because I could never really focus.  It had been sitting for months without a collar and buttons.  How hard is it to add buttons and a collar?  Very hard when you aren't sure that you cut the collar right.

When I started this blouse I didn't know that I would eventually start this blog so I didn't take pictures of the early process.  I couldn't figure if I wanted white, clear, or pink buttons.  Obviously the best choice was white.  The fabric is just a soft cotton woven that I got from downtown for something like $5.  I totally need to go back and feed my fabric addiction.  No, I don't. Yes, I do. No, I don't. Yes, we do.  Yes, we do.  Yes, We do.

YES, WE DO.

This pattern came from McCalls #6035.  However, I had to do some heavy manipulating of the pattern to make it to my liking.  I wanted it to be longer and a little more loose around the high hips so I wouldn't feel constricted.  I fell in love with the idea of the mandarin collar, but I wasn't sure it would fit once I cut it.  I like the collar ok.  I think I would like this style better with a different pattern.

I do believe sometimes if you are stuck on a problem, put it aside and work on something else.  our brains are amazing things that work out all sorts of situations in our subconscience.  Sometimes is does take a few months for solutions to incubate on the back burner of our minds, at least that's the truth for me. 

If you are ever stuck on a problem give your brain a rest.  You might be right on top of the solution, but can't see it cause your face is so close.  Sometimes you just need to step back, step away, and look at something else.  Often times when you go back with fresh eyes you'll see the solution immediately, et voila, your problem is quickly, if not, easily solved.

And when you are done, then you can thank the heavenly beings for poking your brain and injecting that wonderful solution while you weren't looking.

Surrogate Mother

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks as I've been finishing up all of the last minute things that come when a wedding is around the corner.  Things like getting nice and toasty with wine at a bachelorette party.  Getting so toasty that I was apparently really enjoying cutting out paper penises with a pair of tiny cuticle scissors for a game. (What is the plural for penis anyway?  Penuses? Penii?)  I was so toasty that I put on my baby sister's straw fedora-thing hat and started singing to myself... Baby sister recorded these performances!!! No, you will NOT get to see any of the incriminating evidence! (Unless, of course, I get a copy.  Then maybe.)

This past weekend we had the Jack'n'Jill bridal shower.  I'm pretty sure I was the only one who danced the entire time.  I had two beers, glass of white wine, Muscato, and some champagne.  ("CHAMPAGNE!") But I'm not writing this to confess my drunkenness to you.

I came here to talk about how I felt upon finishing Marilyn.  On Tuesday, May 14th, I felt like this:

*Kermit Flail* Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

I had completed every stitch.  Or so I thought.

When I was taking her to be delivered I remembered that I forgot to put the hooks on for the bustle.  My mother sacrificed a bra so I could get some white hooks.  Without my Ma (Pronounced, MAH! not Maw) I would have made a grave error in the finishing of this dress using silver hooks instead of white.  Ma saved me and a double bustle ended up happening on the skirt.

I also decided to go ahead and glue the swarovski crystals on. I'm glad I made that decision:

See swarovski. Pretty bling.

So, anyway,  I was sitting alone in my old bedroom.  It was the room that my sister, the bride, moved into when I got hitched.  I sat at the end of my sister's old bed working on the final stitches, snipping off loose threads.  I dunno... I just... Out of nowhere I started to feel this strange sort of melancholy.

I've dealt with clinical depression, but this, this was a really unfamiliar emotion.  Which is why I suspect I got a taste of what a surrogate mother may feel in that last hour of labor when they are giving birth to someone else's child. I knew from the start she was never going to be mine and I was totally ok with that - I have my own wedding dress, thankyouverymuch.  It was the impending loss, I think, but a good loss.

I worked closely with the bride creating the concept for the dress.  I felt elation when she tried on the third style mock-up for the first time and it was right. I'm sure it was same kind of happy feeling women who are trying to conceive feel when the pregnancy test turns up positive.  I felt the fear of losing the dress in those early stages when I had to perform that emergency surgery when I burned her (see: http://themagicgarment.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-do-rocky-and-goddess-kali-have-in.html ). So yeah, like pregnant women who feel a bond with their babies, I did feel a certain kind of attachment to this gown.

I've had attachments to clothes before, but this was special.  Maybe because it was the first (and for the record: ONLY) wedding dress I've made.  Maybe it was because it was for my sister and I needed it to be perfect.

Whatever the case, I was having a bittersweet moment in that bedroom.  She came in and we did the final dress fitting.  (Side note: How do you forget to put the veil on with the dress?  I dunno, but we did. HAH!)

When the final crystal was glued on she was swaddled in a garment bag, whisked away from my arms, and disappeared from my sight.  Yeah, I was definitely having a surrogate mother moment.

However, that was forgotten for a little while as I raided my mother's fridge for bridal party leftovers.  I ended up bringing home a big tray of white rice, smoked chicken, a tray of lasagna, black beans, cheese, chips, and about two dozen sodas.  Ah, Food, The Great Pacifier.

When I got home last night the finality of the loss didn't hit until I walked into the sewing room to put something away.

The purple dress form was bare.

The excited buzz that hung around Marilyn was gone.

The room was quiet.

At that moment waves and waves of emotion hit me.  There was the hint of sadness.  But above all there was abundant joy because I am confident the bride will look lovely on her wedding day.  My work there is complete.  I am content.  I will post complete pictures of Marilyn and the bride once I get pictures when they return from the wedding and honeymoon.

"What now?" you ask.

Now, I prepare myself for all the future projects.  My sewing and art room at wide open for whatever I want.  Corsets, corsets, more corsets, painting, a super sekret spechul project, more corsets, more canvas paintings, a dress for me, and maybe something for someone else.  I said MAYBE something for someone else.  I'll get a glass of muscato and think about it.

Right now,  I think I want to be selfish and make something for me...