Category: Projects

A discussion of works in progress, costuming, design and more.

Dickens Season is here

I have volunteered my services as Minion to the folks running the Dickens Faire costuming shop. We’re starting with some hats for a dramatic production set in the Cavalier period. (The little theaters throughout the Faire put on different productions each season and the costume shop supports all the actors at the whole Faire.)  I like working with other costumers and learning new things. I’ve wanted to work this event for some years and I’m glad I have this opportunity.

I also have an assignment from one of my day- job supervisors to make several aprons with a “prom” theme for a catering . ( frilly, colorful, fake flowers or Very Bright fabric – whee!)  A couple of gals from my informal costuming group are venturing forth to a new-to-us discount fabrics place tomorrow afternoon. I hope to get suitable fabric for said aprons.

Meanwhile, her majesty Roo continues to be under the weather. I hope she will soon be willing to deal with her medication for her kidney/bladder problems. She’s quarantined to her room /my sewing room.

Halloween 2009

It’s the most Wonderful time of the Year!  Project List

With school starting and the little goblins and ballerinas getting ideas for their outfits, we’ve got a full plate here at the Emporium. (not to mention, our recent relocation a few zip codes away from the old MPE studio.)

Here’s a few of the ongoing projects:

8- 10  aprons for a kindergarten class so they can cook and do art

1 “Stitch” costume and 1 “Max as wolf” costume for a little boy, size 4-5; I have a size smaller piece to transform and re-use

1 Klingon costume for our friend Corvus, for whom I made a wizard costume, somce years ago, to his specifications – I like specifications!  (he sent me a photo of an action figure for a model this year – yay)

Completion of the two bonnets for the fabric-obssessed friends in the costuming group who have been promised the completion of these lovelies;  and then the preparation for Dickens Faire 09 gears up…

Now to find the copy of “Bleak House” dvd; you see, her majesty, Roo, has been clamoring for it, now that Autumn is on its way.  I think I might have to settle in with some “Jeeves and Wooster” on the dvd player,  in the background.

I have converted two unsuspecting dvd-watchers to the wonders of  British television series: “House of Elliot” and “Jeeves and Wooster”.  And you pondered what I had been doing, when I was too busy to blog.  Hah! There’s no need to fear! The super-distractor is here!

Oh, and there are all these boxes of fabric and books to unpack, sort, label.  Ahem.

Bonnet making class in Berkeley

Today I’m teaching a bonnet making class to kids and their parents in Berkeley.

It’s through a group of folks who have space to have classes, crafty night and other educational gatherings for their friends and colleagues.

Today’s class will be from 2 PM to 4PM at 1340 Arch Steet in Berkeley. We will be making SIMPLE bonnets for mothers, daughters and familes. It will about the process. Here is a photo of the lovely and happy Jenna, who completed the bonnet she began in the class:

Jenna's bonnet
Jenna's bonnet

costumes for “Ballad of Baby Doe” at Berkeley Opera

I completed the costumes for the character of Augusta Tabor, in “The Ballad of Baby Doe”, played by Lisa Houston.

Thank you again, Ms. M. I couldn’t have done this without your moral support and your loan of various garments to alter!

The show is set in the 1880s and 1890s and based on a true story.  You can see it at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Avenue, Berkeley

Saturday, July 11, 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 15, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 17, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 19, 2:00 p.m.

The names of Baby Doe, Horace Tabor, and Augusta Tabor have become mythical, but they are actual figures in Colorado history. An exquisite period piece of Americana, The Ballad of Baby Doe is based on their story of love, honor and politics, set against the boom times in Colorado in the 1880s when silver was king. Douglas Moore‘s lush score depicts this gripping riches-to-rags epic through lyricism of irresistible beauty, soaring arias and rousing chorus scenes. A star vehicle for the late Beverly Sills, the role of Baby Doe will be sung by soprano Jillian Khuner.

CAST

Baby Doe …….. Jillian Khuner
Augusta Tabor …….. Lisa Houston
Mama McCourt …….. Marney Margules
Horace Tabor …….. Torlef Borsting
William Jennings Bryan / A Politician …….. John Bischoff
President Chester A. Arthur …….. Ross Halper

Also featuring Elizabeth Wells, Angela Hayes,
Cary Ann Rosko, Elizabeth Gentner, Cass Mann,
Kelcey Poe, Darcy Krasne, Adria Swan,
George Arana, Wayne Wong, Michael Crozier,
Alex Taite, Kenny Louis, Michael Beetham

Buy tickets to The Ballad of Baby Doe
or order by phone at 925-798-1300

Production photographs by Ching Chang

Historical information: Baby Doe lore; Baby Doe photos

friends who sew inspire me

And here is Ms. A. in her Regency finery:

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hat help

My friend who one of the many B in my life, is a collector of vintage outfits. She has often assisted me in vintage shopping forays. She needed some last-minute support in getting her hair up and her hat organized for a wedding last weekend. B had purchased a hat at a shop in Berkeley and was wearing it with one of her vintage dresses.

I added some complimentary elements to the hat so it would match her dress and put her hair up into a French twist. She especially liked the banana-shaped, net flourishes that came on the hat but felt it might need a little something, in addition to some repair. I re-attached a barrette to the hat. And I added a bit of color with some green ribbon and some orange, silk flowers.

hat for wedding
hat for wedding
hat and hairdo from back
hat and hairdo from back

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18th c. hat progress

It has been unseasonably hot in our region of late. I don’t know about where you are, gentle reader, but the area of Oakland, CA has been very sweaty. So warm in fact that Roo the Magnificent, (the Cat of the Emporium) has been lolling about on the floor under the sewing table for several days now, flicking her tail and consuming vast quantities of water. And making ungodly noises –not unlike a screech owl –in the wee morning hours to get her Minion to feed her. Ahem. (Minion is what she calls the lowly human who feeds her and cleans her box.)  The single, industrial sized electric fan has been on full, in the studio and the heat just let up this morning thanks to some fog that may have rolled in last night. Phew.  It’s been tough to sleep, especially with all the chocolate left over from the egg hunts at the day-job.

The seamstress/Minion has been hard at work helping Ms. Mia with her hats, chemises and other garments, for her impending visit to a Costume Convention in Baltimore, MD, to see her family and to join our pal Sahrye in Williamsburg, VA at the historical village there.

Thankfully, the fog came in tonight and there’s even a breeze. I’ve been reviewing books on ribbon work. I got more work done on Ms. Mia’s hat. Here is the evidence.

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chemise details

I think I am finally done sewing M’s chemise, or shift. It’s linen and she had some vintage lace for me to add to it. I put in a channel so she may gather it up at the neck. Here’s a photo of the lace I sewed along the neckline. I enjoy hand sewing.

detail of M's chemise
detail of M's chemise
linen chemise neckline from back
linen chemise neckline from back

inspiration for 18th c. hat for Ms. M.

So, I’m sewing away on M.’s chemise and she calls me today and tells me to get ready to see the inspiration for the hats I’m going to help her create to go with the rest of her 18th c. wardrobe! Whoa. Here’s the first one:

beautious hat image found on web site by Ms. M.
beautious hat image found on web site by Ms. M.

I think she even found the right ribbon to emulate this effect. She’s going to look lovely in Williamsburg. That’s our goal.