Since I've already posted my Crafty To-Do list I thought I'd post a more theoretical list of things I would like to do or would like to learn how to do:
1. Home renovation/interior design: I am in the process of buying a new condo. My lovely 1-bedroom condo isn't big enough for my sewing stuff so I'm trying to get a bigger place with a room just for crafting (mainly to contain the chaos and to separate the crafting from the rest of my life). I just made an offer on this great place up the road from the theater but it looks like it hasn't been renovated since the 70's. Everything's in great condition, it's just not a style that's to my liking. So I see big projects in the future involving cheap upgrades to my (potential) new home.
2. Blog more: I would like to blog more, the problem is I usually forget to take pictures of my craftiness as it's happening. I will try.
3. Knitting/scrapbooking: I've been avoiding these two things because they seem to be too big of a fad right now. Everyone is knitting or scrapbooking and I try to do things that are a little more unique. Still, because of the popularity of both I keep finding awesome things to do with both so it'd probably be worth learning to do.
4. Sewing classes: UH - Maui College (formerly MCC) has a fashion technology associates degree and it has some clothing construction classes that I would love to take. Most of my sewing skills are self taught so it would be nice to learn better ways to do things.
That's just a start because I keep seeing things that I'd like to learn how to do but probably never will (yarn lei-making).
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Crafty To-Do List
Now that Wedding Singer is open and I have no required crafting projects to do, I have been reflecting on all the things I've wanted to do but haven't had time for, and the things that are coming up that I should start thinking about. So, here is my Crafty To-Do list:
1. Tennis Skirts: This is actually a job I have coming up to make skirts for my mom's tennis team that is going to Nationals in Indian Wells, CA in October. I'm not quite sure how many I need to make, but they should be pretty simple to do.
2. Zombie Costume: Thriller is coming up again and since this is the third year, I feel like it's time to make a new zombie costume. While I love my Zombie Ballerina costume, I think it's time for something new (I'll probably let someone else use the costume since zombie ballerina is usually a popular choice that I've always had dibs on). This year I'm thinking Rockabilly Zombie. I've got a great pattern and fabric picked out and I just love dyeing and distressing things.
3. Dress for Lexy's friend: For Lexy's birthday last year I made her a sundress and now one of her friends wants one too. Pretty easy to do, just need to get the fabric.
4. Quilt for Annie: Annie graduates from college next May (she'll be a Doctor of Pharmacy) and I'm planning on making her quilt since Lexy got one for her graduation from high school. I've started it (Lonestar Quilt) I just need to finish it.
5. Other: I'm sure other things will come up. I also should start using up all the extra fabric I have - that might be an interesting challenge.
6. Waffle Week: I don't know what I'm gonna do, but it's coming up in less than 2 months!
1. Tennis Skirts: This is actually a job I have coming up to make skirts for my mom's tennis team that is going to Nationals in Indian Wells, CA in October. I'm not quite sure how many I need to make, but they should be pretty simple to do.
2. Zombie Costume: Thriller is coming up again and since this is the third year, I feel like it's time to make a new zombie costume. While I love my Zombie Ballerina costume, I think it's time for something new (I'll probably let someone else use the costume since zombie ballerina is usually a popular choice that I've always had dibs on). This year I'm thinking Rockabilly Zombie. I've got a great pattern and fabric picked out and I just love dyeing and distressing things.
3. Dress for Lexy's friend: For Lexy's birthday last year I made her a sundress and now one of her friends wants one too. Pretty easy to do, just need to get the fabric.
4. Quilt for Annie: Annie graduates from college next May (she'll be a Doctor of Pharmacy) and I'm planning on making her quilt since Lexy got one for her graduation from high school. I've started it (Lonestar Quilt) I just need to finish it.
5. Other: I'm sure other things will come up. I also should start using up all the extra fabric I have - that might be an interesting challenge.
6. Waffle Week: I don't know what I'm gonna do, but it's coming up in less than 2 months!
Wedding Singer - Shiny Dirndls
One of the few well planned out costumes for Wedding Singer were the waitress uniforms for Julia and Holly (the script actually calls for a third waitress, but we cut the part and gave her line to a wedding guest). I found this picture online while researching 80's costume ideas:
So, I drafted (for the first time since college) what I wanted to do for the waitress uniforms:
In the end I decided to go with fuller skirts because of movement. I made black satin skirts with a wide elastic waistband. Sewing onto the elastic was tricky and I did it wrong - I used a zigzag stitch which didn't work out wonderfully because the zigzag function on my sewing machine isn't working right. After some research I now know how to do it right (double needle) to avoid stretch issues the next time.
The director thought we should have different colors for the different waitress so Julia's is gold and Holly's is pink (I also bought a turquoise for the 3rd waitress - I still have the fabric).
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The Wedding Singer
The Wedding Singer opened last night and it's gonna be a hit. I started working on this show almost a year ago. When they announced the 2009/2010 season this was the only show I really wanted to be a part of and I was thrilled when the director requested me to do the costumes.
My first meeting with her was last August, so I've had a lot of time to think about it. Unfortunately they didn't cast the show quite so early so I was somewhat limited as to what I could do. But I did a lot of research and studied the script and worked on some costume plots and ideas.
About a month after my meeting with the director, I had another meeting with both the director and my friend Aly, who was going to be the choreographer. The dancing sounded like it was gonna be awesome and Aly suggested that I audition for the show as well.
So I ended up as costumer and as a principal dancer in the ensemble. Crazy.
This is by far the biggest show I've ever costumed. Not the biggest cast (Spirit of the Iao) and not even the most costumes to build (Sound of Music), but definitely the most costumes overall with some crazy things that needed to be done in/with them.
There were about 45 tuxes, 8 wedding gowns, about 4 quick-changes on-stage, a 12 person stripping sequence, 7 sparkly yarmulkes, 2 stunt doubles, 4 80's iconic couples, 7 bridesmaid's dresses, lots of hammer pants, 7 80's celebrity impersonators, not to mention many other crazy things.
This would have been a lot of work had I just costumed it, but since I was in the show I had to sew around the rehearsal schedule. I probably would have come out of this experience saner if I didn't have a regular job. That would have made things a lot easier.
It is nice to be in a show when you're the costumer. I can't blame anyone but me for what I was wearing (except the bagels, those weren't my idea). It was also easier to understand what needed to be done in the costumes when I could see how all the scenes and dancing actually worked. So there were advantages on both sides to being in the show and costuming it, but I hope I never do this to myself again.
If it were a smaller show with much fewer costumes maybe, but musicals probably not. I think after this I might have to take a season off from costuming...but knowing me I'll be right back at it sooner rather than later.
My first meeting with her was last August, so I've had a lot of time to think about it. Unfortunately they didn't cast the show quite so early so I was somewhat limited as to what I could do. But I did a lot of research and studied the script and worked on some costume plots and ideas.
About a month after my meeting with the director, I had another meeting with both the director and my friend Aly, who was going to be the choreographer. The dancing sounded like it was gonna be awesome and Aly suggested that I audition for the show as well.
So I ended up as costumer and as a principal dancer in the ensemble. Crazy.
This is by far the biggest show I've ever costumed. Not the biggest cast (Spirit of the Iao) and not even the most costumes to build (Sound of Music), but definitely the most costumes overall with some crazy things that needed to be done in/with them.
There were about 45 tuxes, 8 wedding gowns, about 4 quick-changes on-stage, a 12 person stripping sequence, 7 sparkly yarmulkes, 2 stunt doubles, 4 80's iconic couples, 7 bridesmaid's dresses, lots of hammer pants, 7 80's celebrity impersonators, not to mention many other crazy things.
This would have been a lot of work had I just costumed it, but since I was in the show I had to sew around the rehearsal schedule. I probably would have come out of this experience saner if I didn't have a regular job. That would have made things a lot easier.
It is nice to be in a show when you're the costumer. I can't blame anyone but me for what I was wearing (except the bagels, those weren't my idea). It was also easier to understand what needed to be done in the costumes when I could see how all the scenes and dancing actually worked. So there were advantages on both sides to being in the show and costuming it, but I hope I never do this to myself again.
If it were a smaller show with much fewer costumes maybe, but musicals probably not. I think after this I might have to take a season off from costuming...but knowing me I'll be right back at it sooner rather than later.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Wedding Singer, Part I
The big show this summer is The Wedding Singer!! I am both costuming it and dancing in it, so I'm gonna be massively busy this summer. Here are a couple things I've done so far - we just had our first rehearsal so it's early yet. I'll try to post more if I remember to take pictures:
Fuchsia Scrunchie!
Taffeta bridesmaid dress!
Character collage! Obviously not a costume. This was for character development - I went abstract because I'm a dancer in the ensemble.
More 80's fabulocity to come!
Fuchsia Scrunchie!
Taffeta bridesmaid dress!
Character collage! Obviously not a costume. This was for character development - I went abstract because I'm a dancer in the ensemble.
More 80's fabulocity to come!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Mini-Bloomers
I follow the Craftzine.com blog, and while most of it is knitting projects (I don't knit) or things for kids (I don't have kids) every once in awhile something pops up that intrigues me (that's how I found the Drunken Cupcakes). Last week it was Madeleine Mini-Bloomers from Colette Patterns.
I've made bloomers before for several different shows, but I would just take a regular elastic waist pant pattern and add elastic at the hem. The Madeleine Mini-Bloomers pattern was specifically intended for bloomers so the pattern was somewhat better than what I've made.
The elastic waist band was made with two rows of 1/4" elastic in separate casings rather than one 1" elastic band - helpful because sometimes the larger elastic can get twisted in the casing.
Also the ties on the hems were made with ribbons run through casings with buttonhole openings - very cute.
Here are the bloomers that I made:
While I have no idea what I'm going to use these for - maybe just to wear around the house - but the techniques that I learned will surely help me sometime in the future.
I've made bloomers before for several different shows, but I would just take a regular elastic waist pant pattern and add elastic at the hem. The Madeleine Mini-Bloomers pattern was specifically intended for bloomers so the pattern was somewhat better than what I've made.
The elastic waist band was made with two rows of 1/4" elastic in separate casings rather than one 1" elastic band - helpful because sometimes the larger elastic can get twisted in the casing.
Also the ties on the hems were made with ribbons run through casings with buttonhole openings - very cute.
Here are the bloomers that I made:
While I have no idea what I'm going to use these for - maybe just to wear around the house - but the techniques that I learned will surely help me sometime in the future.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes!
St Patrick's day is nearly upon us and like a good little Irish lass I am throwing a party full of Guinness and other Irish delicacies.
For dinner I'm making Beef in Guinness, mashed potatoes, and mini walnut soda breads. For dessert I am making the famous (or infamous) Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes, or Drunken Cupcakes as they are called by my friends.
The recipe from Smitten Kitten makes chocolate, Guinness cupcakes with Jameson's whiskey ganache and Bailey's frosting - hence the Irish Car Bomb, which if you haven't experienced one is a shot of Jameson's and Bailey's dropped into Guinness then chugged before the Bailey's can curdle.
The cupcake recipe only calls for a cup of Guinness, so be prepared to drink the rest of the can/bottle. Also, I don't know how anyone can cook with Bailey's without sampling some for themselves, so the baking experience is a party in and of itself.
The ganache (dangerously chocolaty stuff - shown above) is poured into wells cut into the tops of the cupcakes.
I tried to be artistic and make shamrocks with the frosting but then the tip of my piping bag broke and oozing frosting forced me to take a more practical approach.
These cupcakes are amazing. They are moist and filled with chocolaty goodness. Plus they are full of alcohol - and that's always a plus in baked goods.
For dinner I'm making Beef in Guinness, mashed potatoes, and mini walnut soda breads. For dessert I am making the famous (or infamous) Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes, or Drunken Cupcakes as they are called by my friends.
The recipe from Smitten Kitten makes chocolate, Guinness cupcakes with Jameson's whiskey ganache and Bailey's frosting - hence the Irish Car Bomb, which if you haven't experienced one is a shot of Jameson's and Bailey's dropped into Guinness then chugged before the Bailey's can curdle.
The cupcake recipe only calls for a cup of Guinness, so be prepared to drink the rest of the can/bottle. Also, I don't know how anyone can cook with Bailey's without sampling some for themselves, so the baking experience is a party in and of itself.
The ganache (dangerously chocolaty stuff - shown above) is poured into wells cut into the tops of the cupcakes.
I tried to be artistic and make shamrocks with the frosting but then the tip of my piping bag broke and oozing frosting forced me to take a more practical approach.
These cupcakes are amazing. They are moist and filled with chocolaty goodness. Plus they are full of alcohol - and that's always a plus in baked goods.
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