One of our friends, who performs at the Dickens Fair, asked us to create a mural for his seven-year-old daughter. She loves fairies, flowers and butterflies. So, our House Elf Committee has been taking this on over the past several weeks of May and June.
Once again, it has been quiet around the Emporium. We want to say Thank you to friends, old and new, who keep the creative inspiration flowing for us here.
Thank you, Roberta Lincoln, proprietor of Frog Fountain, who offers lovely, handmade doll outfits and toys via her Ebay shop.
Thank you, Hilda Westervelt, proprietor of Bellisima Couture for doll collectors, who offers amazing handmade couture garments.
Also thank you to Linda Wenzelburger, costume maker and convention-goer extraordinaire; and Scott Pennington, kilt-maker, for seeing me through the months of the Dickens Fair, 2014 and into January of this year.
Thanks to Beth Woolbright. Thanks to Scott Hamner for going for hikes and talking about singing, recently.
And this year, thanks to Eileen S. for volunteering with me at the Costumer’s Guild open house and finding time to have tea and talk about survival and the creative process. Also thank you to Judith H. Dunlap for making me feel welcome at the same event where I met Eileen. Here is a cupcake painting she made some years ago.
From the Stuff We Love files, here is another “competition” for the most crafty, beautiful, clever and creative entries we’ve seen in costuming – this is focused on Embellishment of costumes. This from Shear Madness, The Joy of Impractical Costuming
“The Shear Madness Mascot is heavily embellished. Embroidery and trim on her boots. Embroidery, beadwork, trim and chain on her skirt. A faux-mechanical fronts-piece with findings, gears, copper strapping and copper vent-covers. Embroidered lapels. Hand-beaded silk sleeves. Bloomers covered with lace, trim, beads and cording. A copper beaded ruff with copper mesh. A beaded crown on her knit and crocheted wig. I don’t think there is a single piece on this that isn’t embellished, other than the pre-made gloves.”
And here is the Malvena Pearl’s Emporium Proprietor dressed as the First Doctor (can you spot her hiding between Glynnis and Nell?) in this group of Doctor Who(s) plus Cindy Lou Who:
I am going to attempt to make something that resembles this to wear at Gallifrey 2013.
Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations are part of our calendar year. They are different traditions; the the Day of the Dead in early November is a time for us show gratitude for our ancestors. Halloween falls on a number of birthdays for our friends. We celebrate the moment and the passing of the year with them.
Both holidays can be an inspiration to create something unique and share it with others: costumes, headdresses, toys, masks or drawings. The possibilities are endless. Today we show gratitude with this quilt square made for a charity quilt.
Are you interested in repairing your own clothing? Not quite certain what to do with that torn shirt? Never known how to sew on a button? How about patching a torn pant leg?
In this workshop, we’ll cover the basics of sewing by hand. You’ll also learn how to repair and care for worn-out and vintage clothing. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have all the knowledge necessary to confidently sew by hand!
Needles, thread and patch fabric will be provided. If you’d like to bring a garment to repair or transform, please do!
Soon it will be birthday time for a young lady who would really like a wizard cape. Her folks asked me if we could create this design in her favorite colors with a special collar. Here’s my work on this project:
We recently put in a request to the elusive batch of House Elves to do some overtime, assisting with the pillow covers for a client’s sofa. The client provided all of the materials and requested biased piping, using a cashmere blend that will match her sofa. It turns out that the House Elves were on sabbatical, so the Proprietor completed all the sewing, research and musical accompaniment selection, herself. Soon, the House Elves will return, but until then, I’m on my own. With some limited assistance from Hercule, who eats his dinner in the Malvena Pearl Studio and sometimes naps there, this project is now COMPLETE. And as my thesis mantra became, Done Is Good.
Any road, here are pictures that Mr. Acorn was kind enough to take for us.
NOTE: The musical accompaniment that assisted in the completion of two pillow covers are listed below the photographs. Happy New Year!
Music that helped me complete this project:
The Band (the brown record)
Mel Torme sings Songs of New York
Frank Sinatra Songs for Lovers
Robin Williamson Songs of Love and Parting
Bruce Springsteen Unplugged
Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown
Mr. Cinders (1983 revival original cast recording)
K.T. Tunstall Live in London 2010, in which KT does her impression of an audience member: “MORNING LOVE. I’M OFF TO WORK, NOW.” in her Biggest most Boring Voice, ever.
Today is a special day. Remember those who went before you. Dance, sing, draw, paint your face, celebrate. Your grandparents wanted you to be here. They may even have prayed for you to be here. So embrace the life you have and give thanks in a way you know they will still hear. Decorate some sugar skulls. Light a candle for those who are no longer with us and tell them a story.
I designed and made the quilt square using fabric from my stash and gave it away, here. It will be part of a quilt that raises funds for a national domestic violence prevention program called Becky’s Fund.
I recently designed, produced and completed this sparkle collar for the owner of a very lucky Brittany Spaniel
