The next few months

Not hectic, but a lot of planning 🙂 And not in order of importance.

!) Spanish work. I have texts and physical costume to finish. They are both at the personally satisfying stage but not at all ready for public viewing. But the two have been working together. And I do now have my physical project stored in a way I can work on what needs to be worked on.

2) Cleves/Cologne wardrobe. Finally got my “sunt” kirtle made. This is so that I can do all the finishing work on my gown and accessories while I work on the undergarments proper. I know I am bang on in fit and contruction of my outer gear (making a new heuke though) but the undergarments are taking a little more time.

3) Marie Antoinette. This is possibly my last media recreation costume for a while, so it’s going to be a delicate but ultimately workable project. There are elements I can bang out quickly, there are going to be small hand worked elements. And I finally decided how to tackle the lace. It’s not the first time I have hunted for real metal lace so I know how and where to look.

4) Mina. I need that corset made.

5) Maleficent. The gown is fitted and assembled, I need to figure out the machine sewing stage as pressure and thread and everything will affect the hang of the seams. Hand sewing might be my best bet. This is bias cutting and it is only mildly less difficult than with charmeuse satin.

6) Sunburst. It’s been ridiculously long time coming, and I am still not sure I have enough supplies. I think I missed out on the last lot of beads that match so I’m going to have to carry a swatch with me.

7) Workshops- waiting to hear back what is going to be the best match. But I now have a frame work to make these totally portable. But I also have to make it clear I do not do easy techniques, they are not shortcuts, what I teach is a way to look at a project with a different eye. I do teach some basic principles but they are not easy. Once you get it though, oh it makes everything else make sense.

8) Showcase. Yep I’m having a showcase of my work, and so I need to tailor that to the audience, so I will be promoting that as soon as it pops up.

9) Other workshops. These are going to be limited and I am struggling with the self promotion aspect. Had way too many knocks. Not valid ones, they come from misunderstanding but it still has decentered me enough to not be in marketing headspace. Marketing is not about being self assured it’s about promotion. I don’t do that!

10) children’s charity events- got a few planned. I need to confirm a few.

11) Elsa. I need a new cape. My cape is literally too beautiful for this world- it’s so delicate that I want to preserve it. This is not a flaw, this is me making art in a format that is not really intended for durability. Oh it’s going strong, but repeatedly handling it is going to break it down eventually.

12) Website. It’s 13 years since I self hosted so maybe this year is just feeling worse because of that number. I don’t believe it is unlucky, but rather it was Friday the 13th that we had the house fire, so it’s just there in my mind. So coincidences stand out. Confirmation bias or whatever, I still just feel the need to do better.

And my site has really changed from what I wanted due to interference of others, but I do need to play catch up and do this asap. My archive of what I have done has been lost and it’s no use me saying “but I did that in year x” if I don’t have my work up then it’s meaningless.

I think that’s it. Enough to try and get a handle on anyway 🙂

 

Today is tidying up after the sewing and organising so it’s going to be a day of rest, then tidy, rest, then tidy.

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Early start to what should be a good day

First a shower, I am online with a coffee to wake up. Then removing some clothing from my project workboxes, and then I can work on my real passion projects:

  1. Vasquina y ropa y manga redonda. It still needs a jubon y manga justa. That will require my embroidery frame set up to lay the miles of trim on!
  2. Maleficent Christening Gown- so close to finished, and then I can work out how much leather I really want. Also I have a date for this one now 🙂
  3. Mina Red Gown- well I need my corset finished to refit the bodice. My new mannequin is amazing so should be much easier.
  4. Marie Antoinette silver gown- I had some fail with finding enough colour remover, I have it now and can press it all tidy.
  5.  Worth Sunburst gown- I need to transfer the cutwork, so it’ll be a case of machining the detail and then beading on the frame and finally cutting.
  6. Cleves festkleid, I am facing tiny narrow strips and scarps for the hem as spotlight no longer sells vibrant red velveteen (crimson- it’s crimson)

So that is a lot, but I’m able to put the projects in different project boxes so I can use the machine and frame.

The neighbours are also working early- so this is great. I’ll put All The Musicals on! To the CD storage box.

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ELSA BLOGGING, LAST POST OF THE DAY

ELSA BLOGGING, LAST POST OF THE DAY

by admin, December 22, 2014

The book is Elements of Modern Dressmaking. It’s on Gutenburg and I am pretty sure I posted the huge section on bodice linings on my blog (search for sateen 🙂 )

Mina and the beaded chiffon make an appearance. Best viewed in 720 or 1080 resolution to actually see anything I’m rabbiting on about.

 

If you spot the fluffy balls of yarn and guessed Pink Diamonds was on the re-do list you’d be right 🙂 I need to treat the yarn in a way to make it a bit more able to stand out than it is currently, I got to see how heavy the original is. No way I’m sewing anything as heavy if not heavier!

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BOOM! THAT’S CURVY!

BOOM! THAT’S CURVY!

by admin, December 21, 2014

Even more so than Elsa- same pattern but I’m avoiding the desire to tone it back. And behind them both is the basis of a rather shapeless elf dress.
Mina is two layers of sateen so far and still pinned at key points. I’ll try and pinch a little more under the bust though it does work better on me (plus padding).

Slightly general untagged post as I am fighting what I know as physical signs of depression. Right now I’m having some relief from the therapy but have no appetite and just want to sleep. Two issues related to the therapy but I also found myself starting to delete myself from online again and that is not part of the sick reaction.

This tends to be a time of year when all sorts of stresses fall, and this year has just been a doozy.

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Very Victorian wishes

I started lookig through my historic folders again and I think I have a start, a list of costumes that will see me through the next few years.

The photo of me in my Elsa wig shows how very baby faced I can still be so it seems appropriate to try and ultilise that a bit more. I was a bit puffy from the infusion yesterday, only a few grams of the anibodies but in a full litre of saline. I managed to… well de puff from all that excess water but want to read up on standard means.

I recently wore my Lucy dress and looked like a fairtail character enough little girls were pulling their parents to me but were ignored (the parents were interested in what they were fans of.

So the current must does are:

Elsa, Maleficent wings, Worth Sunburst Gown, taffeta manteu (or adaptable bustle a la Arnold), fluffy lace and cotton net something… Tissot-esque?

Also I fell in love with a bodice style that sort of influenced the Lucy dress. I can’t find my illustration but it is from the very start of the straight fronted corset era- before the tilt forward, and more of a push up. So a long torso with long tapered waist.

Anyway, i have a few examples saved from auction sites 🙂 Once Elsa has been made as a base I can start hunting for files in the great receces of my historic folder. It’s more frightening than the Pop culture one as I saved pages as complete to have a record of where they came from. Very very very much concerned with credit on serious research that has implications for our wider understanding of costume as dress/fashion/industry.

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So, I may have had to have had a high dose of steroids the other day and it may have finally kicked…

So, I may have had to have had a high dose of steroids the other day and it may have finally kicked out… currently squinting and hunched ove the keyboard and hoping to get some sleep tonight.
A few added stresses aren’t making things great so I’m putting a…

View Post

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So, I may have had to have had a high dose of steroids the other day and it may have finally kicked…

So, I may have had to have had a high dose of steroids the other day and it may have finally kicked out… currently squinting and hunched ove the keyboard and hoping to get some sleep tonight.
A few added stresses aren’t making things great so I’m putting a…

View Post

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Day 16-30

(Have collated days 1-15 in one post, once these are done will do the same for the rest)

30 Day Cosplay Challenge!

Day 16

Not locally because I’m the smelly judge 😉 No really. But I am part of one or two groups that not everyone can say they have been invited to be a part of 😉 I may one day get to meet another member if I am lucky. They all bloody live in the US! 😉

17. What events have you cosplayed to?

Again, costuming in general because it’s more what I do 😉

SCA events: Since 2004. They are semi-private in that you need to be a member to attend (though this does include “event” memberships).

Theatre: when I did theatre I would regularly costume myself or others or do hair and make up.
Armageddon: recreation costumes.

Charity events: I got to be Peter Rabbit when I was at high school and just adored it. Since then I have used every excuse under the sun to do more.

18. What is your best cosplay memory?

Hmmm…. so many good ones 🙂

SCA: being laurelled for sure 🙂 While I didnt have all my friends I had a lot of good people. And the venue was amazing and the whole event. Sadly so many of those venues are gone due to the Christchurch Earthqaukes.

Theatre: performing at the Aotea Centre 🙂 Irish Dance spoof. It was fun.

Charity: Peter Rabbit at Starship and Ever After at Special CHildren’s Christmas Party (07)

 

19. What is your worst cosplay memory?

Hmmmm….. health issues have made a number of events really pretty horrid. Home burning down made one pretty shocking too.

 

20. Have you won any cosplay awards?

Yep 🙂 1st at Armageddon Auckland 03, 04 and 3rd 04 Welly Geddon and Best Costume Auckland 06.

Also best costume Sydney Supanova 10 (saturday)

i’ve also helped others who have gone on to win contests here and overseas.

And in the SCA I was laurelled for my costume research.

And several audience participation awards in various places.

 

21. Show us your best cosplay derp photo!

derp as opposed to just sheer bloody awful? Hmmm…. how about a video instead?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDyOtvv9L3k

And like omg a fat comment. *eyeroll*

22. Have you worn cosplay in a regular situation? (eg. at school, to work)

No.

 

23. Your most expensive cosplay

Not yet finished. And costume as opposed to cosplay 🙂 Though weight/cost it’s probably not too bad…

Saya y Jubon y Galarilla (skirt with short train, doublet and semi fitted coat) c1600 Spanish.

Skirt and coat (and additional matching doublet to turn it into a Saya entera):

Silk/cotton brocade: 7m

silk dupioni lining: 7m

22m silver bullion trim (I need another 10 at least, so far 1.5kg of trim…. possibly silver plated definitely over copper wire)

Glass pearls, at least as many metres worth to be strung and couched.

Cotton muslin for interlining.

Doublet (jubon):

Silk satin for doublet

cotton sateen lining of doublet

hair canvas for interlining

linen canvas for interlining

14m silver ribbon for doublet

silver buttons for doublet and coat and sleeves.

Underskirt (faldalin):

1 silk saree

2m tabby linen

farthingale (verdugardos):

15m velvet ribbon

2.5m silk twill

2.5 starched cotton canvas

2.5m tabby linen

26m flat steel (will be using plumbers coil)

Corset (cuerpo baxo):

1m linen satin

1m fine linen

120 individually cut bones (probably cable ties)

I have not managed a total cost but even with good prices this is heading to $700 easily in raw materials alone. Half of that on trim.

 

24. Your most comfortable cosplay and most uncomfortable cosplay

Done and all respectively. Really. I don’t do comfy.

 

25. The cosplay you put the most effort into

It would have been easier to answer least effort as I do so very few that aren’t OMGWTF was I thinking????

My AvP Human Hunter sent me to hospital.

My Slave Leia almost did the same and I will be lucky if my new Bounty Hunter doesn’t do the same. Allergy to the world I haz it. But specifically epoxy allergy. And it is one of those repeat exposure= exponentially worse. i am a pink duckface is what I’m saying after three days.

My Historic stuff is based on a few decades of research and understanding of historical technique. Believe it or not what works for 16thC doesn’t work for 18th or 19th. And then the early 20thC.. SHEER BLOODY MADNESS!!!!!!!!!

But currently my Bounty Hunter. I am far better at organic shapes and styles when it comes to sculpting and working outside of fabric. But I am having great fun converting my hand drawn patterns into computer files (printable as gifs but lines were vectors originally 🙂 The files will be released once I have made my own gear. I think that is fair enough!

 

26. Any unfinished costumes?  Will you ever finish them?

Ahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahah

Ehem.

Just a few. No idea when any of them will be finished. Some yes, some will be finished to the point others can finish and wear them.

So…

Padme Fireside, Padme light blue, Codex, Shae Vizla, Mina Red dress, Lucy lilac dress (Both from Dracula), Satine Pink Diamonds, Dawn white corset, Poison Ivy, Dark Phoenix, Glinda bubble

Silly Spanish c1600, Cleves/Cologne Festkleid redo, ruff of doom

Worth Sunburst (c 1887), 1830s cotton, 1860s green velvet, 1890s Hunting, 1760s smocked gown, hanfu…

Actually it’s not that bad a UFO pile compared to what I was thinking… I just have a few other containers of fabric not even cut yet… Nor things I have thought of doing but haven’t even started buying fabric for.

27. How many wigs do you own? Which is your favourite?

Umm… Lets see:

Leia, Dreads, black goth.. I used to have more but got rid of them. I do have a few hair pieces and have just bought human hair wefts to make my own wig 🙂

fave is definitely the dreaded wig.It is a full wig but worn as a 3/4 so my own hairline blends into it. A lot of people were fooled into thinking it was my own hair.

http://articles.glittersweet.com/howto/recreations/bigwig.htm

28. Where do you work on your cosplays and where do you store them when they’re done?

I am very lucky to have a workroom 🙂 Ever since i have had access to a converted garage I have been able to get into the really mucky stuff (latex, resin, drilling, sanding etc.) so that is where I do most of my work. I do have to make sure my fabrics are stored in plastic containers with lids and that I keep the sewing machines cleaned regularly due to this dust and mucky stuff though.

Storage after… well I am trying to keep myself limited to the wire drawers I store my costumes in. I use wire drawers as Auckland is so muggy and where I live is really very damp (a lot of greenery) that my oak wardrobe and drawers are at risk of mildew. The wire drawers keep everything aired really well too.

So I try and limit to that (when I get too much I start giving stuff away). But my Togruta headpiece and my resin pieces are stored on top of my wardrobe.

I have far more storage for stuff to make costumes from than costumes and more costumes than clothes. Maybe not individual pieces (socks number many) but in volume yes.

I also build my costumes to be able to be stored as easily as they can. My Mina dress for instance will fold up- the fully pleated skirt as one piece, the drapery will also be able to be undone and folded and then the bodice over that will lay flat. The jewelery is stored in a cabinet and wigs and boots stored as much as possible with regular clothes.

It is just all very out of order right now due to post WellyGeddon mess. And due to poor health and lack of energy.

29. What is your favourite cosplay item? (eg. a pair of shoes, a wig)

My Togruta headpiece 😀 Even more fun than Samara though pretty much everything looks cooler with alien tentacles 😉

30. Describe cosplay in three words.  No more, no less.

Playing dress ups.

Really. You can do all sorts of other things with it like get involved in the community and social aspect, you can focus on the art side. But the second you wear the costume for fun it is dressing up. And there is nothing wrong with that. It has a very long history. Usually for the very rich rather than anyone else but still. Check out the fancy dress balls of the 1800s. Very speccy and silly.

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Day 1-15

30 Day Cosplay Challenge!

1. Your first cosplay.

Christine Daae. Funnily enough. Not a direct copy, an interpretation for a Song in Costume class for the North Shore Performing Arts Competition in 1994.

Can’t find my photo of it online. Ah well. I still have it. To remind myself of how far I have come but also what you can do with blind ambition 😉

I won that class by the way 😉

2. How many costumes have you done?

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm……………………………..

http://costumes.glittersweet.com/resume.htm

That’s most of them.

I count 92 there….. And that doesn’t include the ones this year…..  or last. Right. Okay.

3. Your most recent cosplay.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newswirenz/5617674233/

Darth Tykhi. Sith Togruta.

4. Your cosplay communities, where do you go to talk about cosplay?

Livejournal, cosplay.com, CNZ, the RPF, SWNZ, Flagship Eclipse, Rebel Legion, Australian Costumer’s Guild.

I also have many yahoo groups I am still on, though many of them were from when they were called eGroups or were hosted elsewhere.

5. Blatant self plug! Link us to your cosplay page, be it dA, ACP, Coscom, whatever

Okay………

http://costumes.glittersweet.com

http://articles.glittersweet.com

http://glittersweet.deviantart.com

Not really sure I want to link to all my profiles online everywhere 🙂

6. Your favourite cosplay (that you have done)

Coooooo…… ummmm… I don’t have just one 🙂 I do way too many different things that I cannot fairly compare 🙂

(Added ‘cause I meant to originally say:)

Because of the pretty intense research and development of all of them. I really need to get more of that online. Whoops!

7. The character you have cosplayed that is most similar to you (if none that you have cosplayed, then one that you will cosplay)

Hmmmm…… I don’t think i chose characters because they are like me so I really can’t say any is most like me without it being “most like me out of a whole lot thataren’t like me at all.” 😉

I like to choose characters that have some story to them and mostly their stories are not the same as mine. I don’t think anyone could say I am like a character I have ever costumed from. I may share some strengths and some weaknesses.

 

8. Your cosplay plans for the rest of the year (if you have no more for this year, then do next year!)

 

Oooh, well I have been trying to scale back but these are the ones I need to do:
Shae Vizla: Bounty Hunter from the Deceived cinematic trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Mina: Red “absinthe” dress.

Glinda bubble dress: from Wicked, I can sing the part and I just reallyw ant to fluff around and eventually have a sparkly frock for child centric events:)

Then I also need to finish a few projects to get them out of the UFO pile:

Mystique: boots nearly made 🙂

Padme fireside: I love the fabric so much

Worth Sunburst gown: 1887 gown at the met Museum. I will be doing my own version seeing as Worth copied the gown at least once for another client and with different colours and pearls in place of faceted beads. So I have the pearls of one and the colour of the original

c1600 Stupid Spanish Gown: as the name suggests silly project of epic silliness. Ruff as wide as my shoulders, 2kg of bling trim and an entire 60L container of fabric.

1830s day dress: windowpane cotton dress.

And any work others may fling at me 🙂

 

 

9. The dream cosplay that might just happen

I have just about completed that list 😀

My dream costumes have all been from the artwork that inspired me from my early days. So they are:
Slave Leia: I saw the film at the theatre when it was first released. I collected all the cards i could as they were all I could afford. It was probably the first costume that inspired me as a costume and so it was a long time coming. Also girls can freaking make props and work with resin!

Catwoman: I didn’t see the film at the theatre I don’t think but fairly soon after. but I loved Catwoman growing up and this version is so wonderful for so many reasons, though as a stand alone.

Christine Blue Dress: I was 9 or 10 when I first heard music from Phantom and very soon after got the recording. Hooked.

So the ones left:

Mina Red Dress: Eiko is amazing her costumes are pure art. And this one is nearly finished.

ummm.. and I think that’s it. I have a lot of “want to make” but not so many Dream costumes left. A heck of a lot of “want to make” like several G worth of files…. But they don’t have the same connection to them that I have with these.

 

 

10. The dream cosplay that will never happen

Only because I am broken and don’t like getting help (pride, the fact that I have a valid reason makes it harder to accept help) The Elizabeth Armour in real metal. I do still want to make it but will probably do so with plastic.

 

 

11. Something cosplay-related that you will never do (eg. crossplay, cosplay from a certain series)

Hmmm…. probably cross play actually. Though no I have done that. I don’t make a very convincing boy. I’m okay being a Bob- clearly girl in boy clothes a la Bob from Blackadder II- but being a convincing boy?

So not for “moralistic” reasons just that I really would not do any justice. Though I do want to be The Kurgen one day. And I do want to Dress as Freddie For a Day.

So maybe that’s not really on point…

12. Your cosplay idol.

Animal X yo!

Not a cosplayer but costumer as artist and craftsman. She is amazing and was one of the very first to really elevate this dressing up lark.

All you yungin’s need to get The Costume Maker’s Art. You need to. See what was being produced long before the internet and easy access to information from others and even easy contact with other people who share the same passion.

So:

http://www.costume-con.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1373&g2_page=8

My favourite of her work.

And lighting up costumes since 1991!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJTdJ3DpcH0

the book:

http://biblioz.co.nz/lp25762225886.html

I read that very soon after it was published, it basically gave a name to what I wanted to do. At a time when there was nothing local it was very reassuring.

13. Your cosplay specialty (ie. something that seems to apply to a large amount of your cosplays, it could be a specific series, or a common feature in their appearance, such as glasses)

Ermm… I’m not sure. I don’t think there is a pattern:

http://costumes.glittersweet.com

Except I do have a liking for a lack of furbelows and overly ornate details. I like a bit of subtlety in that regard. So I like textures and manipulation of fabric (pleating, slashing quilting etc.) over lots of lace and embroidery. I love solid fields of colour as opposed to patterns. If there is a pattern I prefer woven in design over print and generally geometric over floral.

Heck even the bubble dress is a symphony of use of one colour in many diffferent materials and textures.

And I love a challenge! tailoring proper, historical patterning, casting and molding, sculpting… I love it all 🙂

14. Your cosplay-making habits (eg. singing while working on cosplay)

Hmmm… Making a great big mess! Atcually no I like to keep things as organised as possible but there are times I just can’t tidy due to not leaving enogh energy to do so. It can be hard figuring out that point at times.

I do though like to work to a few things:

~ BBC2 Pride and Prejudice. What can I say. Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle. And it’s 6 hours so I can pace myself fairly well.

~ Musicals!!!!! I generally cycle through the following: Phantom (Dutch and Canadian casts for preference), Wicked, Aida, Jane Eyre, Martin Guerre, Hey Mr Producer. I will also pop in the double CD of Jekyll and Hyde (Anthony Warlow, melt)

~Movies: Fifth Element, Space Balls and Ghost Busters usually. They are just fun to listen to and a tiny bit camp 😉

~TV: Big Bang Theory, IT Crowd.

Which of those depends on the weather and what I am doing as they play on my mood a lot. Generally though musicals during the day and movies at night or I wake the neighbours singing loudly. I sing. A lot. Oh yeah, and usually to Mozart and musicals. Mozart knew how to write for the voice, difficult in many areas but not straining or ruinous for the voice.
15. Your least favourite thing about cosplay

The same old.  The issues that arise in all groups! But on the personal journey aspect? Hmmm…. When I have spent too long too closely looking at my work that a 1mm difference in width of a 150mm wide strip becomes so freaking important!

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