Thrift Shop Thursday

This may become a regular column. I prefer to gather most of my costuming supplies at thrift shops. Not just because it is cheaper, but because it really flexes my creative muscles. There is something about a fabric store that (although I love them) brings out a little bit of anxiety in me. I have ADHD and sometimes there are just too many places to look. Shopping in thrift stores narrows my focus. It gives me parameters. Since I have decided to use only natural fabrics when possible, I have to really concentrate on what I can make with what I can find. I also see things differently. I don't see things for what they ARE, but for what they COULD be (something I also used to do with men. bad idea) Here are a few things from my latest haul.

This is what was hanging on the rack:

Huge baby blue 25% linen %75 Cotton tablecloth $4

This is what I see:

The link took me to Elegant Vintage but this item wasn't listed

Then I found a bag of several (not sure how many) yards of this unused fabric:

smells like smoke, but it can be washed. 100% cotton.

Thinking about this:

Right? So cute.

And then there was this hideous beaded tank:

polyester. Ugh.

But when I look at the sequins closer:

They are ridged and metalic, not plastic looking

And I think, "I will remove those cool sequins from that ugly tank and use them to make".......

Flapper!
This concludes your tour of the inside of my brain for this blogpost.

Prohibition Pub Crawl 2013

What an amazing night! I can't even begin to describe the feeling of walking onto the cable car and being surrounded by beautifully dressed people right out of the 20's. Ive been to events before, like Dickens Fair where there are people dressed up and some people don't don't. But Ive never been to anything so immersive. It was magical.

I was terrible at getting everyone's names, but we all had so much fun

The pub crawl was put on by Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild . We started off at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco and then drove around on the trolley to various speakeasy type bars. We made quite the entrance, I'll tell you that. There was some elevator hooch swigging and spontaneous Charleston doing. All in all, a marvelous time.

The photos are a little blurry because they were taken on a moving trolley

My ever game boyfriend, Ken, who puts himself together by the way. He's the best accessory a girl could have.

I'll try to get some better close up shots soon. I also made the hat

Flapper Dress in Process

I have lots more bling to throw at this thing. I'm also going to add a low waistband (hip band?) to kind of pooch the top and I'll probably toss the green fringy stuff on the bottom.

More gold! More movement!

I also need to make the hem shorter and move uneven. It's midnight time to call it. What me worry? I have one more night.

Time and Tide

I've come to the conclusion that I simply don't have time to do all the ribbonwork detail that I wanted to do on my Robe de Style.

Not by Saturday!

I may just go full on flapper after all. Like this.

Not pictured. Me fitting my size 14 body in this size 2 dress.

I do have lots of shiny things around the house. I grab beaded mother of the bride tops and dresses whenever I find them at the thrift store. So I'm going to throw every shiny thing I have at my mannequin ands what sticks.

oops