Halloween that never was

Heather has kept me on my toes for years now. Back in 1998 when we were but children in High School - Shakespeare in Love was released and Heather fell in love with the clothes. I mean can you blame her!  Just look at them!

So for Halloween, which we plan for WAY in advance every year, and still do to this day, Heather decided she wanted something like the ball gown in the picture above. If you know her, you know that she is pale and thus would not look good in peach or antique gold.

We decided to go toward a jewel tone and found a great emerald brocade with gold fleur-de-lis on it.  We paired the overskirt and bodice with a gold satin for the underskirt, and a dual layer of organza in green and gold for the sleeve puffs. Antique gold satin was used for pipping the edges and - in a bold move at that time -  I lined the WHOLE thing. It turned out pretty well I thought.

Here is a close up of the bodice: I have come along way my construction skills and can now see all the short cuts i gook in making this dress. But we all get better with time right?

So the dress was made, fit, and finished and hung up...and sadly that is where the story ends! The dress has not been worn yet. Now 10+ years later the dress has been outgrown and mostly forgotten until i was home recently for Babes in Toyland. I think I will take the dress and donate it to TDF costume collection. I have donated a few other things in the past and can use the credit when I design in the future.

My New Drapes

This is the similar fabric to the apron I  made for Heather last year. My new kitchen is red and I happen to find this great kitchy fabric and had to have it.  I think it goes well with the kitchen!

I LOVE THIS DRESS

So I had this red linen left over from Babes in Toyland, it was used for Little Red Ridding Hoods cape. I didnt know quite what to do with it until I found the pattern for this dress.  The reason being two fold: I had enough yardage for it, and the example on the pattern sleeve was a wool tweed dress.

You might not be able to see it, but this is a very open weave and kind of rough linen in a bright cherry red.  it has a boat neck and deep V back.  Double darts in the high waisted skirt that has a slight A line gives the dress a little swing.  The bodice has an over drape gathered down int he center (I added the brooch where they suggested another bow - that was too much even for me).

What I love so much about this dress is the way it hugs the form! even without fitting it it hugs my size 8 dress form like they were made to go together.  I I am putting this dress on my etsy account today and hope it goes to a good home.

MAD MEN

            The first new dress that I made for my Etsy shop is inspired by the hit show "Mad Men"

The clothes  for this show are so detailed and period specific. This show is really responsible for changing the way many women look at work clothes. There has been a huge return to "dressing" for work. Following on this trend I wanted to create something to pay homage to the beautiful costumes created by Janie Bryant.  Within my extensive pattern collection I have found a number of dresses that remind me of these clothes. So here is the first one I have created:

  

It is a tan cotton stretch, with a faint teal stripe.  I accented this with a great teal linen I found at a store here in the fashion district. The dress itself is a beautiful high waisted pencil skirt with a short sleeve louse on top, gathered over the bust and a deep keyhole  opening tied by a large bow. the back of the skirt has a hidden

kick pleat. For whatever reason the kick pleat was the hardest decision for me to make.
          My initial idea was to use the teal linen for this, as a splash of color when you walk.  But after I did this I was a little concerned it was to "costume" and not real enough. But my partner Richard convinced me the detail was cute and since the fabric was dark it would be a good way to brighten it. So I stuck with my plan and think it turned out rather cute!

     This is the first dress I made for my etsy shop, and hope that it is a good way to kick things off!

ETSY SHOP!

I have created an ETSY shop at the urging of Heather.
I am taking my love of vintage clothing, sewing, and my pattern collection and making these great dresses available for purchase!
RJINNY is my ETSY shop name. Only three things listed at this time, but more will be added soon!

Humpty Part Deux

                       So here is the final result of the Humpty Dumpty for "Babes in Toyland".


After it was all said and done I sketched him and actually sent it to the actor who was so excited to see me painting and working.  My mother thought it would be a nice thing, he is really interested in theatre and this was a great opportunity for him.   He was kind enough to send me a thank you and the pic of him in it.

I just got the CD of photos and have not had a chance to upload them yet, but when I do I will post them here for all to see how the show as a whole turned out!

Humpty Dumpty

It has been a long time since i posted on here about my goings on. With the holiday season following on the heels of my family health issues, and desiging a show for the Anoka Childrens Theatre's 20th Season, i have been a bit busy!
But here i am, back to tell you all about my adventures!
The first one is the one that gave me the most trouble: Humpty Dumpty

This costume soon became the bain of my existance.  The child had to be able to sit, so it cold not engulf him and make him a whole egg. He had other blocking, so we saw him in 3-D, thus he could not be a flad egg, that the child hid behind.  My original idea was to have a flat piece that the actor could hid behind (like in the photo)  and when he fell have him dressed as the egg yolk! I thought this was very cute and clever, they did not agree.                     

We decided to do a 3D egg, and decided to do it with the use of an egg crate - the kind you put on a bed.  Matt Lauer's costume from The Today Show a few years ago was the inpiration.

 

    I made the pattern, and fit the kid. But as i didnt have time to make the costume or the otpion of making it and sending it back from NYC.  So mom was hired to make the costume. With my fathers health issues, she didn't have time to do it and it was put off until 2 days before dress rehersal.   This left much to be done in not very much time.

While my fmaily gathered for Thanksgiving, I rushed to get the show ready. Sheila and Marlene got the egg ready.

Here are a few pics of Sheila and Marlene working on the egg:

                 After a few hours and a lot of glue, we got him together, and my sister, Erin, was kind enough to model it for me...