Steam Punk Dance Costume Photos.

I finally found a good pic of my Dance costume for Gaslight Gathering! In usual fashion, I was too busy running around like a crazy person to haul out my camera...such is my absent minded way. But I did get this one great photo of me!

Photo taken by Mr. Muggles, He always makes me look good!

In reference, here's the original sketch again: 

Not too shabby! In retrospect, I think I'm going to change the shape of the sleeves of my chemise. They seem a bit too wide in photos. But they moved really well on the dance floor. Still, I may narrow out the sleeves and keep the flair at the elbow only.  The ensemble was extremely comfortable for a full day's wear. I was a bit worried since both the ghawee and chemise were mostly polyester. But it breathed great!

Here's me in action... Ignore my dancing concentration face. I need to work on that.

Photo by Jerry Abuan.

As with most of my steampunk stuff, I'll be doing little tweaks here and there when I need to wear it. But overall I feel this was a success.

The entire crew. Photo by Jerry Abuan.

My next venture into costuming will be at Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball. My friend Jen and I will be heading out as Steampunk style saloon girls. Progress shots soon to come!... Now that I have all the materials finally that is. Also, all my patterns are FINALLY bought to start my Victorian Walking dress. Better late than never I say!

 

Also, I'll be donning my 12th Night dress soon as I head to Caid Coronation in June. Hopefully I'll remember to get some decent photos of it. Cheers until then!

Gaslight Gathering Dancewear!

I'm Back! And sewing like the wind!

Gaslight Gathering is approaching and the Calafian Middle Eastern Guild has been asked to provide ambient entertainment again. Needless to say, I am STOKED!  Finally the three of us dancers decided to put something together... at the last possible minute of course. Well in my defense I DID buy the fabric weeks ago.

We're all going for a basic ghawazee and flowing pants look. I went with a very rusty color pallet to fit in with the whole steampunk feel. Here's my basic design sketch for what I'm trying to do:

Rust orange for the ghawazee,  beige for the chemise, and orange for the pants. You can't tell in this photo, but the fabric for the pants have some gold sparkle in it. I used a basic ghawazee pattern and lengthen it to a little above the ankle. You can't tell in the photos, but the side and back seams are split up to the hip for movement.

Work in progress!

Found some nice frogs at Yardage Town for 1.50 a piece. So much nicer that the $6 a piece Joann's was asking for.

Here's where I stand so far with it. Its pinned a bit halfassed to the dress form in this pic. I was tired last night.  Yes, I am using that bra YET again. I took many a finger wound for that bra so I am getting my fill out of it! I'm considering taking the hem up of the ghawazee a few more inches. Not sure if I'm happy with where its laying.

A quick detail shot of the patterns.  I was at first afraid to use so many prints but since they are both small and subtle I went for it.  I've been on this weird "I NEED TO WEAR PRINTS" kick lately.

And that's where I am about now. I should hopefully have this all done by tomorrow if the fates allow. I also am in the middle of making a cowboy duster for my friend, and another ghawazee for a fellow dancer. Needless to say my plate is full!

Stay tuned for pictures of the finished product!



Regina Black photos!

Of course I find these three months AFTER Steampunk Symposium.  Here I am in my Regina "Reggie" Black costume on the Queen Mary. These are some great pics of my vest and gun holster, which I was lacking. My gun..well it still needs to be finished.
I'm a slacker.

The photos were taken by Richard Lowe Jr., a very sweet gentleman who managed to not take a goofy photo of me. Thank you very much Richard! You can find his website at www.richardlowejr.com
Definitely check out his work when you can. He takes lovely photos of Ren. Faires and tribal belly dancers. If he stops you for a photo, he'll definitely make you look good. Hell, he managed to keep me from looking like a total doof. You know how hard that is?

 He also caught me sketching in the vendor's hall later that day. Thank you AGAIN Richard for the great shot of my goggles!

I'll be updating here very soon. Gaslight Gathering and Labyrinth Ball is fast approaching and I have lots to get working on!
Stay tuned!

12th Night Dress

When Caid 12th Night approached I remember saying that I was not going to make a new court dress for the event. I already had a good amount of court gowns I built in the past and I only wore them a few times.

Of course I say one thing and completely do another.

Here's my dress I wore to Caid 12th Night.

Pardon the wrinkles. 12th Night was at the beginning of the month and I just now managed to pull the dress back out from the garb laundry pile to take photos. Its made out of a lovely brown linen I bought up in the LA Fashion district. There was a linen sale. An SCA gal can never have enough linen.  The plus for using linen is this dress is now washable!

I used a different style of pattern than the one I drafted for my orange silk Italian Ren. I was trying to have a more 1520's Venetian silhouette so I changed the neckline and put the closure in the front.

This portrait was my main inspiration:

Palma Vecchio, 1520s: Woman In Blue

 I was completely taken with this portrait and wanted to create the same feel as it. I ended up only having a week to put the dress together (I caught the plague the week before) so there are parts that need refining. Overall, I think I did a decent job.

 Once again, Trim from a impulse by at war.  I KNEW it would come in handy! Do to the shape of the neckline I had to put it all on by hand. That.. was an adventure Alas, you can catch some scorch marks on the trim there. My iron was WAY too hot *facepalm*. The ties are made of simple grosgrain ribbon. the gold balls on the end are leftover buttons from some other project long forgotten. I thought they finished up the bodice nicely.

Ah yes, my "Special" moment. The trim was a bit of a nightmare to put on and I ended up with bizarre gap at the back of the neckline. So I added this little loopy bow detail on the back  I thought it was kinda a cute detail for the time I had. But I might change it out later on.

I really loved the red brocade I used for the sleeves. I lucked into a yard of it when a friend of mine was getting rid of his fabric stash. The diamonds are really pretty. 

Unfortunately I don't have any photos of me in the dress except one:

And the jazz hands in it are epic.

H.R.M. Steampunk Symposium

We had a great time vending the event and really enjoyed exploring the Queen Mary. What a great place for a steampunk event!

 

Of course the fun part for me was the dressing up. Colleen, also being a costumer, joined me with the costume fun. He has some great photos of us playing on the Queen Mary in costume that i will be stealing from her in the future.  Here we are dressed in Steampunk Romani  on our first day of vending.On Saturday I even donned the Regina "Reggie" Black costume which I put a few more details on. I'll be hunting some photos down soon.

 I only took a couple goof ball photos of us playing on the sundeck of the Queen Mary. Mainly of us trying to sneak into this locked door.

Most of the weekend was spent vending so I didn't see much of the con, luckily some awesome looking folks headed over to the booth to peek in on our wares.

Not only did this gentleman light up, but his winds were mechanized and moved up and down. Beautiful work!

Aw, I want a spray can full of the powder of Ibn Ghazi too!

These two were my favorites of week. Native American Steampunk. How awesome is that? This couple were extremely sweet too. LOVED their plague maskes especially.

ARRRR, ITS DRIVING ME NUTS.

Now that I'm fresh from the con, I'm already plotting to delve more into the costuming world. I especially would like to start on my Victorian walking dress and I am considering putting together a "Great White Hunter" costume for my husband...and a steampunk cowboy costume for him as well...for my own personal reasons..I love the period cowboys.

Hopefully I'll hunt down more photos to put up soon!

H.M.S Winter Masquerade Ball.

Yup, The hubby and I headed out to another Steampunk event. This one was the H.M.S Winter Masquerade Ball at Balboa park sponsored by Waltz 'n Such. It was a FANTASTIC event! 

As you can tell, the two of us went once again to the Middle Eastern/Bedouin look since neither of us have had a chance to put together our Victorian garb. I pieced together the outfit from my SCA garb. The coin bra is from my LoJ costume a couple years back. I figured I worked so much on it, I should wear it again.

My overcoat is new, though. I cut out a period Middle Eastern coat years ago and finally had a chance to put it together a few weeks back. The fabric was another awesome swap meet find from way back in the day. I'll have to take some detailed shots of it eventually.

Max, donned his Morocco Mole outfit. I love it so.

Here we are with my friend Ace who went the Bedouin route as well. She decided to look more exotic. I absolutely love the hair falls she made. She also did a kick ass coat there. I wish I had a better picture of the sleeves because they were awesome.

...the random boot there is my husbands...He likes to shed boots around the house.

The reason I love the Morocco Mole costume so much is because my husband feels compelled to get into character whenever someone points a camera at him.

The event itself was a total BLAST! I really hope they do it again. by then I might even know how to waltz!

Here are some pics...done yet again with my dang camera phone.:

Steam Powered Giraffe opened up the event with a great set. They played throughout the night. I have really fallen in love with their music. And they put on a GREAT show. I'll hopefully get a chance to attend more of their concerts in the future.

Dancing, Dancing, Dancing! This was the opening dance, the Grand March which was really fun to watch.

Waltzing! This so made me want to learn how to waltz. Luckily Waltz 'n Such give lessons every Friday evening in Balboa Park. I'm hoping to start attending after the Holidays. Must learn!!

And we will end this post on a goofy note:

...yup.

Halloween Cuteness Overload

I just wanted to post some photos of my adorable nephew in his finished costume.

Just LOOK at that cutey...LOOK! That's my oldest nephew, Danny all decked out in his devil duds. The top was a titch large for him but the undershirt my sister put on him solved that problem nicely. I  am THRILLED to see one of my boys in something I made!

I also whipped up a vest for my Brother in Law, Ryan so he could match his boys.

Ryan likes to take the boys out Trick or Treating. He's a big Halloween nut and wanted to dress up like his sons. The little one is my youngest nephew, Tommie. I didn't make his devil costume but my GOD is it adorable!

And just to end this post on a double awwww...

Halloween Sugar OVERLOAD!!!