New Years Eve Costumes

Well I did it. I also got Anthony's costume done in about an hour, before we left. He realised he had nothing, so I dove into my stash and came up with some old white sheet that had been hacked into, and one yellow satin sheet that I'm meaning to turn into some 1880's delight, and pinned it and voila!

We didn't win the costume prize, but we were pretty good I reckon!

I modified the Sense & Sensibility Elegant Ladies Closet Cross Over gown,

The arrows are made from dowel painted silver, with black fake feathers bound to the top. I only sharpened 2 of the 6. The vinyl wouldn't stay on with glue to the posttube quiver, so I glued as much as I could and then bound it with green ribbon. Nice effect I thought.

Here we have Grecians mixing with a Roman. Tensions were high. But we made it without killing one another. A good night, with guests such as Mario and Luigi, Princess Fiona in Ogre form, Batman, Bellatrix Lestrange, Daisy and Princess Peach, Harry Potter, Jessica Fletcher from Murder she Wrote, Wally from Where's Wally, Shrek and some cops and gangsters and inmates.

A moment of 'Duh' for New Years Eve

I assume we've all had those moments. I was wondering what to go as for Anthony's parents New Years Eve party. I was in about 3 minds as to what to go as, I thought of the Queen Victoria dress, Captain Cook or a Grecian Goddess. After much pondering and thought as to the weather, the location and such, I've settled for Artemis! The goddess of animals and the hunt.

And then I started to worry that I don't want a toga or just to wrap a piece of material around me and had a little look into it. I thought of buying material and then remembered the very fine muslin sitting in my stash that was going to be used (and even had about a foot of embroidery on it already!) for a 1770's skirt. I thought that I can always get more material and do not bother myself with wasting money on something I already had, and it's more than enough for what I want! I can always pull apart this dress and reuse it! And then the worry of draping and patterns. And the ultimate 'duh' moment struck me! The Regency gals of the day based their whole style on the Grecians! And what pattern do I have more of? Regency! Needless to say the worry is over now, I just have to cut and sew the daylights out of it between now and New Years Eve....I can do it!

I'm going to heavily modify the daylights out of this pattern: The Elegant Lady's Closet. Mainly using the cross over bodice and gathering it severely and then adding a skirt which will gather all around, no sleeves of course, I should be able to drape this material around me come to think of it, to break things up a bit. When I do my mail run on Thursday (which is tomorrow cunningly enough) I'll grab a post cylinder and make my quiver out of that, I'll fashion a bow out of a stick and bobs your uncle!

Next project

Now that the Queen Victoria outfit is complete. I have to focus on finishing another project started at probably the same time as the corset, if not earlier. My red and black dress. I have to put the zipper in and hem it all and bind it and it should be done.

I've had a few requests to do some costumes for friends and friend of friends short films for school. But their timing is rather questionable. I would prefer a month in advance, and 2 weeks is a big no no. I have many things, beside my own projects, work, a partner, a house to maintain, work, youth group beside just living and winding down from a days work.

I have my partners family new years eve party to attend this year and it's fancy dress. I was going to drag out the Queen Victoria dress, but after being in it a few hours and it being hot, and it's not really summer yet, I may have to rethink this. I would love to use the sash and tiara again, so I might just go as some Regency Royal. Any suggestions would be awesome!

Le Fini!

We have come to a conclusion, me myself and I, that we have something that resembles a dress once worn by Queen Victoria in a portrait or two!

I will have pictures of me in it tomorrow, right now, it's 11:30pm and I could not be bothered getting into it and trying it on. I know it fits. Driving in it should be a laugh!

I will go for a quick run to the shops tomorrow to see if I can find a simple bar brooch with diamontes on it to keep it on the shoulder like she does.

*Edited to add a photo from the night: The Regency, Tudor and Victorian era's represented.

Nearly there

The back of the skirt has been sewn up, the sleeves have been attached, the lace bertha tacked on. My tiara arrived on Tuesday, thankfully. I already have pearls and gloves. I just have to hem the skirt and finish the sash, which I can do Friday night or Saturday day.

Driving in hoop skirts are not impossible!

Looking like a dress.

We have the bodice almost complete, save for the bertha and the sleeves. I always manage to leave the sleeves until last. Don't know why. I just do!

Ever have trouble with men getting too close? Well fear no more! These pins will do the trick! I had just pinned the skirt to the bodice and saw how they were sitting and found it funny enough to share.

This is to show how sheer this material. In some photos it's not as sheer as that, but there you go.

I know I should have gotten Anthony to help take photos, but he was busy. Plus the dress isn't entirely finished, hence why you can see my chemise at the sleeve holes. Still have to sew on the sleeves, the back of the skirt, the sash and await my crown in the post!

Befitting Royalty

As Queen Victoria was in fact a Queen, I found I needed a little something to complete my illusion.

I bought this on ebay and expect it (hopefully before the 13th of November!):

I was initially looking for things like the sun ray tiara, or something with sapphires, emeralds or rubies, but alas they were all either too expensive or didn't look anything like anything she wore. This is the closet I could find on the budget that I had. I do know she wore pearls in some of her crowns/tiaras. So here's to hoping it looks good!