Location, Location, Location

Y'know. For all the costuming I'm dabbling in, I've never really done a "photoshoot" for any of my outfits in a proper location. Mind you, it's really only recently that the quality of them have improved enough that I actually want to photograph them well. And photograph I mean, shamelessly borrow the mad creative skills of my graphic designer-photographer-hairandmakeup team w00t sisters.

Anyway.

For Red, of OuaT, I'd love to shoot that one full winter in a unbroken field of snow and trees. The red cape would stand out so strongly. If I get it finished before the snow melts...

But I was going through some of my pictures from past roadtrips, and there's two places that would make amazing places to shot some costumes.

Rock City, Chattenooga, Tennessee. So many pictures spots. So many beams of light. Practically crying out for some sort of epic fantasy photoshoot. There's even a rainbow cave, with different coloured glass panels that let the light in,

Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia. A wind swept beach covered in huge pieces of driftwood. It was almost barren and skeletal in some ways, but I bet the silhouettes in the sunset would be so amazing. Perfect for aquatic costumes.

Lot of travelling to get back to those places, but perhaps it would be worth it....

Holiday Haul

As the old year spins into the depths of time, and new year peeks around the corner, what is a girl to do?
Boxing Week Sales, kids. That's where the party is.

Santa was kind enough to give me a new grommet setting kit.



From Farthingales Corset making supplies. Who might be my new best bodice friends in the future.

  I'm very excited about trying this sucker out. I'm also excited about not having torn and shredded lacings with these new grommets. I also have a new awesome rubber mallet of justice to beat the grommets into submission. The mallet currently does not have a name, but that must be rectified soon. Suggestions?

And then? We did some shopping. Amazon/Chapters had this little coffee table book for sale, which looked perfect to add to my collection of "serious books".

I like the sections that have actual mock ups of some of fashions instead of just fashion plates. Easier to figure out how some of those bloody things are stitched together.

From Ricki's I scored this jacket for an excellent price.

Lovely colour. However...the potential for adding a little...something something to it is high. I'm thinking of changing the buttons to more funky ones, and moving them over a bit to tighten the chest area. And some trims. Give it a nice steampunk flavour.

Lastly, I had my eyes on this for a while, and managed to get it on sale at the Bay today. It's made by Rachel Roy.

 It's very...intriguing. It's leaves and coral and reminds me of mermaids and undersea treasures. It could make a hells of a centre piece to a costume. I don't know. But I like it.

And that's the damage done this boxing week. <3

Around the internet - design your own fabric

Well now, that's interesting. That's very interesting.

Spoonflower.com

Submit a pattern design, and they can make in a couple types of fabric? Cotton, a voile and heavier upholstery mainly. I could see this company being very handy for those tricky costumes when it comes to fabric matching; so long as the cotton-blends would be suitable for the project. Currently I'm thinking of a certain wallpaper from a certain 221B Baker St. in fabric form but we'll see. Oh, I never checked Legend Zelda stuff.... among other fandoms.  Hm hm hm, I am intrigued.

I am SHER Locked.

Finally got around to watching BBC's Sherlock. I regret nothing. Save perhaps the wait time between now and the third season. Loved the characterization, the filmography and the acting. And, being me, I want the hat.

It has ear flaps, John.

Nice right? So I'm puttering around the internet finding out where to get it. My research indicates it's grey. I swore it had a brown tone, but whatever. The fact I might be getting close worries me, or rather worries my willpower. Wool though. Why is everything always wool....
But if it's well lined in theory it won't itch through my hair...


I also found this on Etsy:

Skirt by: NerdAlertCreations

Well done, Artisan. Well done. Excellent usage of awesome in that garment.

Maybe I'll make a casual Sherlock Fangirl cosplay, like the reporter wore in the last episode. I could always use more comfortable cosplays.

CC32 Ideas - Friday Night Social

CC32's theme for the Friday Night Social is the "Monster's Club." Quote the web page: "a classy nightclub where monsters and creatures of all sorts go to let their hair down!" So, basically a mythological menagerie of fables, fantasy and faerie feasting upon tidbits, timbits and tapanade? Challenge accepted, Costume Con. Challenge accepted. For this? I see....



RAWR!!! Or, actually an amazing painting by Dan Staten

 That's right. Quetzalcoatl. Aztec Feathered Serpent God. Rain Bringer. Lots of good stuff. Perfect for a fun evening of music, fun and games, amirite? Thought so.

No, I don't intend on showing up in a large feathered snake costume. I would like to experience being able to sit down relatively easily for once in my cosplaying life. Instead, I see the theme being adapted to dance club wear. Bangles, Feathered jewelry, gold scales and snake print dresses. Classy, sassy and maybe a touch of 1920s flapper. Who knows? I don't even know at this point. What I do know is that I found two heavy gold scale bangles at The Bay, which are perfect.

Budget for Costume: $100.
Used: $20 on bangles.

Around the internet

Braided Effect on Fabric Tutorial

That's very interesting.... time consuming on a large project I'm sure, but it would be an interesting detail to have on waists or sleeves. I suppose the biggest thing to consider would be it's effect on the over shape of the fabric swatch you were braiding.

Primetime costumes

Man, I love Once upon a Time. For the story and for the costumes equally. There are some truly fantastic and impossible to recreate garments in that show, and I want them all. And Cap'n Hook's coat. It flared majestically during this Sunday's episode's sword fight.

Grocery shopping would be that much more impressive when whirling around to get potatoes and having your jacket flair around you like it was some sort of world changing event...instead of just getting potatoes.

Also; Arrow. I want Ollie's hoodie. For a big, tough, invincible hoodie it looks surprisingly soft and warm. All I can tell of it, due to Ollie's moody dark backlighting is it looks like the hood is leather on the outside and suede on the inside.

Can it be Game of Thrones time soon, as well please?