Stress Cake and Anxiety Salad, Saturday at Costume College

This blog post had too many words. Saturday was a mixed bag for me. We had arrived on Wednesday and I only had to finish the trim on my Gala dress, so I thought I would have plenty of time. I just didn't. So when Saturday rolled around, I was a stress case. I had my only limited attendance class; "It's the 1860's and still handsewn" I didn't think this would be a problem for me since I've actually sewn an entire Dickens dress by hand before. I kind of thought it would be cake.

Stress Cake

The class started out fine. We practiced some hand sewing. I was actually a little further ahead than some of the people around me, so I was feeling a little cocky. Then the part happened that I had completely forgotten about. "we will fit your bodice using a 19th Century pattern system and then you will start construction" I hadn't worn my corset, so when we were going to begin the fitting process, I had to run to my room to put on my corset.

Bonus points if you know what movie this is from

I ran up to my room and grabbed my corset. Even though I had laced it to make it possible to put on myself, I COULD NOT GET IT ON. I was getting increasingly agitated, not knowing if they were waiting for me, not knowing if it just didn't fit me anymore. Arrrgh. Finally, I just grabbed it and ran back downstairs to class hoping someone would just help me put it on.

Well. I had completely not taken into account the fact that we were going to be draping the pattern for each other and I would be completely responsible for the fitting of someone else's costume. I have draped a piece of clothing for another person zero times. Nope, nope, nope. Here's the thing. I am great in a crisis. I have saved lives. Literally. I'm the person you want in a zombie apocolype, but my being responsible for a fitted bodice for another costumer, nope, nope, nope again.

For some reason, I had though we would be fitting our own bodice. On ourselves. This would be almost impossible, so I don't know why I thought this, but I did. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't stay. They thought of trying to maintain while pinning on another person that I didn't know, just started giving me that 'Wa wa' feeling in my head. Any of you who have had anxiety attacks or a panic attack know that feeling. So I calmly took the teacher aside and kind of explained what was going on and that I just couldn't stay. She was very very nice, but I was twenty kinds of relieved to get out of the classroom.

Since I now had a large chunk of free time ahead of me, I decided the best thing to do was just sew. I ran into Jennifer (of So Steady as she Sews) and of being a friend, and told her what happened and she was calm and I felt better. I went to the Marketplace again because shopping is my happy place and ran into my roomate Tanya, who is one of the most maternal people I have met and I felt even better.

I went to the room and grabbed my bodice and sewing stuff. I decided to go up to the Hospitality Lounge so I would be around other people sewing last minute stuff. No one was sewing though, so I decided to head to the bar to sew (as you do) Now that was super positive. I sat next to Ariel, the little mermaid, who was having a nip or two and met Chrissy (of The Laced Angel) and of being really cool. I had a little cocktail, some good chat and got my sew on. The whole drinking with a mermaid thing put me in a good mood, so I made a lot of progress.

Photo from Most Popular and Best drinking games on the Web because that's a thing

Now somehow or other it was TIME FOR THE GALA. I know time must have passed slower than that, but between the tears and the vodka, I don't remember it passing. I literally couldn't have dressed without Tanya and Melissa. They ironed my dress, sewed on a hook and eye, hot glued my bodice flowers, etc. Melissa even had to SEW ME INTO MY DRESS. I had to be sewn into my dress because my corset did fit me, very tightly and the bodice was now too loose.

They were ready before me and looking fantastic by the way. These photos are "borrowed" from Jennifer.

Tanya

 

 

Melissa

 

Jennifer

Once Ken and I hit the red carpet and then entered the Gala, it all was worth it. Everyone was stunning. The food was excellent. I met Gina of ( Beauty From Ashes) and of super talent.

Gorgeous Gina. Photo from Marie-Jo Dulade-Coclet

Gina also managed to get a great picture of Ken and I in all our glory. There are things I will change on the dress (not being sewn into it for a start) but all in all I was pretty happy and Ken is so great at dressing himself. I did have to beg off early because my corset was just too tight and even though my friend Mary tried to help loosen my stays, I just couldn't move.

Photo by Gina White

I learned some hard lessons this day. Finish the garments you plan to wear to events before Costume College, no matter how little you think you have to do. Friends are good to have,especially when they can also sew. There is no substitute for an actual bustle under a bustle dress. Don't tight lace your corset when you have eaten all the carbs. There is no anxiety attack too great that it can't be helped by drinking gin with mermaids.

Costume College Friday Blur

Friday. Friday? Friday......? Friday at Costume College kind of went by in a blur. Let's see. We woke up at the crack of 6:30. (we did this every day, not even on purpose) The L.A. sunshine sweetly singing to us like little birds. This is a good thing, since we had so much to do. Well, I actually had very little to do, since I'd cancelled my tour to FIDM. I thought I would end up taking more classes or work on my Gala dress or something. I didn't really end up doing that.

We did make it down to the Freshman Orientation at 9:00am. Poor Elizabeth, who was giving us the orientation had very little sleep. She managed to be funny and informative at the same time anyway. Here's a "proof of being awake" selfie courtesy of Tanya.

I'm becoming very aware of the fact that there are very few costume pictures on here. I am the worst blogger ever. I don't even own a camera. Thank goodness for other people.

Ah, I also managed to take in an 18th century hair demonstration from Kendra from DeMode Couture . I think that was Friday. Note to self, "blog right after you get back from an event. You are a flibbertygibbet" She wrote and amazing book on styling your own hair or a wig in 18th century style. There are definitely tips in there for working with wigs and hairpieces from any time period.

Buy the book here

Then what happened? I spent a bunch of time in my hotel room watching tv and sewing my gala dress. This was necessary as it was becoming increasingly obvious that it was not going to be finished in time. Then Melissa and Tanya came and rescued me with early entry tickets to the amazing marketplace that was set up in the hotel. I fell in love with one stall in particular.Acme Notions.

So many cool vintage bits and bobs. I think I went back about six time

Then all of a sudden it was time for the Ice Cream Social! Time she does fly. I had my beaded flapper dress made from an eighties dress to wear and at the marketplace I found old fashioned Roll Garters. These are basically just giant hair ties that hold your your stockings up without having to wear a garter belt. There's a really great explanation of what that was for on the Vintage Dancer site. I also scored a cute pink flask which I tucked in my garter.

The flask looks just like this.

You can get your own on eBay

Somehow we manged to be late. Poor Melissa was still sewing sequins on her dress, so Tanya and I went down to check it out. She looked AMAZING. She will no doubt have fabulous photos on her own blog, Sewing with the Benevolent Devil. By the time we got there, the ice cream was all gone, so we did the logical thing and skipped out to the bar.

Yes we snuck out of the Ice Cream Social for cocktails. What?

But, thank goodness and Geri Rex, I have at least one picture of what I wore.

I'm pretty sure Tanya took this picture.

A bunch of us (see previous post of all kinds of ladies around a big table) had some dinner and I'm pretty sure that's all we did. It's fuzzy though.

Like real college, only with more corsets

If I wait until I get my professional Costume College photo's, I will never end up posting anything. Much like actual college, my fondest memories are less about the academics and more about the people I met. First let me introduce my roomates. Tanya and Melissa. Thursday Night was a 70's meetup for friends from The Greater Bay Area Costume Guild. The official CoCo theme was Tiki Party, but we flew in the face of rules. Mwahaaaahaa. (There are no rules) Very different women with very different housekeeping habits. Okay, well SOME of us were very messy and liked the room really cold and SOME of us were very tidy and would have liked it a little warmer. In order to protect the innocent, I will not say which is which. (although, I'm pretty sure you guys know which one I am)

Tanya and Melissa, Photo by Laurie Tavan of Daze of Laur

And Lisa made four on Wednesday Night

I literally dressed from my daughters closet and grabbed an awesome suede jacket. I just happened to have a halter jumpsuit hanging around, so this costume was pretty easy.

Going for that blurry "I'm with the band" look

One of the things I noticed about Costume College, is how easy it was to talk to people. I can be a little introverted sometimes. Oh, I can ACT like an extrovert, especially with a little gin in me, but most of the time I get nervous around new people. This is one of the few places I've been to where it was easy to make friends. I'm not even kidding, pretty much everyone in this picture became friends with each other with something like, "You're pretty. I like your dress. Do you want to be my friend?"

Carol, Meredith, Lisa, Mary, Melissa, Victoria, Tanya, Geri and Me! Photo taken by a random dude using Geri Rex's camera

New friend Jennifer of So Steady as She Sews

So that was Thursday. I'll do separate posts of the other days.
 
I promise to post more detail and better photos as they roll in. There are some great pictures on Flickr. Here are some more of the pool party. Costume College Pool Party 2014.

CoCo-A-GoGo

Only two more sleeps til Costume College! Well, only one more sleep til I check in at the Marriott. I'm so glad we are checking in a day early. I'll be doing some last minute sewing. I know I won't be alone. I'm holding off on purpose on some of the trimming for my plaid bodice, because there will be vendors at the hotel and I might want to incorporate some of the trims on offer. Because I was originally going to take a tour on Friday, I have a large span of time to do with what I want. If I'm feeling confident that my work is done, I'll drop in on some classes. If I'm freaking out, I can use the "panic room" on Friday night and maybe get some help.

Turns out I don't have to come up with a costume for the pool party, because our 1970's birthday party meetup is the same time. I'll be rocking a Penny Lane in Almost Famous kind of aesthetic.Well maybe a Penny Lane meets Rhoda aesthetic. We'll see.

That's Kate Hudson, not me, you know in case you were confused.

Yesterday was a day of madness. Nothing was safe from my scissors and thread. All is fair in last minute costuming frenzy. I was eying the cat, but she was having none of it.

Like this, only with scissors

Stand by for Costume College photos! You may have to stand waaay by.

Back Pain, Schmack Pain

In an incredible case of bad timing, my sporadically spasmodic back has decided to mess with me when I only have three sewing days left before Costume College. NOT OKAY. I only ask that my back stops freaking out in time for CoCo, but even if I have to hand sew that b*tch flat on my back, I WILL finish my gala dress.

In other random CoCo creation news. Here's some stuff. There are several events happening at Costume College that I need costumes for.

Event #1. The Pool Party. This is a Tiki Party theme. I was going to make a 50's style bra top and sarong skirt to wear. Using this pattern. Guess what happened.

Clue: My boobs are bigger than hers that's what happened. It looks terrible.

So, with so little time left, I'm going to have to kind of throw this one together.

I did find these cute red Candie's style mules.

I also have a cute retro cherry print bathing suit from Pinup Girl Clothing that I wore for my 50th birthday party. If I throw on a wiggle skirt and those shoes, I can call that done.

I just feel a tad badly about that, because they are announcing the scholarship winners then and I don't want anyone to think "oh, she sure did earn that scholarship with that turbee twist get up"

Event #2. An unofficial shared birthday party with a 70's theme. Again, no time to make anything, so I think I'm just going to take a page from my girl Rhoda Morgenstern's playbook and make it all about a scarf. I also have a black halter, bellbottom jumsuit I can wear with this.

I wanted to grow up to BE Rhoda

Event #3 The Ice Cream Social. Club Ice. I did a remake on this one. My daughter had a 1980's sequined dress. I removed the shoulder pads and sleeves to make it more of a 20's vibe. I need to make a headpiece of some sort and maybe re-attach the sleeves to the dress, but at this point I don't know if I'll have the time.

Why, yes, I did vote for Ronald Reagan. Why>

Why yes, I did vote for Franklin Roosevelt. Why?

Event #4: Sunday Ascot Tea. I will probably go with my Asilomar get up. I've already embellished the skirt a little more.

Only I'll remember my Corset this time.

I'll add my Mae West hat, maybe with more stuff on it.

Come up and see me sometime

I also bought a really nice wool, Lord and Taylor jacket at the thrift store for $2.50. I may try to re-do that to be more Edwardian.

It has some nice soutache and frog details.

And of course, Event #5: The Time Traveler's Gala.I've already added some embellishment and I'll love to do a lot more. It is all up to my back at this point.

Finish me!

This is my first Costume College, so I don't really expect to live up the really experienced costumers I follow on blogs, but I don't want to look like a complete rookie. Since I won a scholarship, I would at least like a few people to think, "That kid has moxie, she could go far". You know, as you do.

Orange plaid doesn't have to be tacky

I've been so neck deep in trying to get my orange and plaid gala dress finished by Costume College, that I have been terrible about documenting it. Here are some pictures so you can see a little bit of what I have been doing. Unfortunately, one of the main things I have been doing, is undoing. I lined the overskirt in orange to match the plaid and it was just obnoxious.

From the House of Home Depot

I had also lined the bodice in this yellow orange cotton, thinking it wouldn't be seen, but the edges of the front closure and parts of the back pleats could be seen, so that had to go too.

Nobody will see my ugly , pilly, nasty lining right? Right?

I found this dress at the thrift store and snatched it up for the fabric.

Not silk, but not bad

So I completely ripped the linings out and redid them in this silver. You can see a little of it peeping out through the overskirt folds.

Seriously, the silver just hushes those loud colors down a smidge

I also had some of this mystery stuff in my stash

Why yes mystery stuff, I will use you for something someday. See. I'm not a hoarder dammit.

I don't know what it is made up, or what it is for, but I sewed it inside the hem of my skirt to help stiffen it and keep it from collapsing in.

One of the rare proof photographs that show me actually using my machine.

I also had to unstitch all my hooks and eyes from the original bodice lining and I need to sew them back in now that I have switched out the lining.

Please excuse the ugly hand stiched eyes. That will be cleaned up in post.

I still have a long way to go and oh so very few days to do it in, but here's a little sneak preview of this puppy.

It's very small on purpose, because I still want to have a big reveal.

Lots of lessons learned on this project. First and foremost; assume everything will end up being seen and don't cut corners in the beginning or it will bite you in the bustle later.

Switching Gears

It seems to be the time of year for "sorry, I haven't blogged for so long, but I was doing stuff". I will echo that sentiment. I just got back from the High Sierra Music Festival. Four days of music, camping, and general merriment with good friends. There are definitely costumes involved. Not quite at the Burning Man level, but lots of glitter and facepaint. Very very fun, but also filthy. So much dust everywhere, so I don't bring my fancy costumes. I definitely dress differently from every day. Both more colorful and less covered up. It's HOT.

So here is a picture of me 'doing stuff'

Being me is hard.

I made a new friend

This is a rescued jay. She ended up hanging out on my shoulder and sleeping.

Sometimes physical labor was involved

Someone's got to get the ice. Don't worry, I got my turn in the cart with the megaphone

Our motto "Camp Humble, we're the best!"

We're all wearing t-shirts with pictures of our own faces.

Oh yeah, there was also music! For a view of the full lineup click here. I'm not going to lie to you, I saw maybe four or five of the bands. I was really busy making friends with wildlife. Also birds.

So in three weeks, it's silk taffeta and corsets. No vat of buttermilk is going to make this complexion peaches and cream. Time to flip gears for Costume College!