Luau Party Time

Late last year, I go the party planning bug again and decided to host a New Year's Eve Party to see out the end of 2016. Of course, a party needs a theme. This time, my theme was a Luau. It was a small event with 11 of us gathering around the dinner table for a feast. And while I didn't take a whole lot of photos, I did get some at the beginning of the evening to share...

Hello pinterest craft win!

Vampires out on the town

My last event of the year - New Year's Eve.

I spent another New Year's Eve with a group of friends heading to Dracula's on the Gold Coast. We hired a limo for transportation so that we would all be able to get our drink on and not worry about driving or parking.

Dracula's is a vampire theme dinner theatre that provides a very risque show. This year, the show was titled Sin and Tonic. It was fantastic. I had a blast, and ate and drank some very delicious things. For dinner we were served up an entree of mini quiche, for main, I chose Pork Belly and for dessert we were served chocolate mousse in a chocolate coffin. I tried a few different beverages, a delicious cocktail called Manga Madness, a Haemoglobin cocktail served in a blood bag and a number of jelly shots served in giant syringes.

For the evening, I decided that I would make a new outfit. A lot of people that attend Draculas just dress in quite casual clothing, however my group puts in some effort and dresses up in a bit of theme.

I chose to got with a Georgian theme this year. I used a beautiful roll of teal silk taffeta in my stash to put together a skirt and open robe, trimmed with black lace and large buttons. I also added ribbons and buttons at the back to polonaise the gown up so that it would not be dragging on the ground for the evening. I topped it all off with some inspired makeup and a lavender bouffant wig topped with big white flowers.

I love how it turned out and look forward to a new opportunity to wear it all again next year.

NYE 2012

And I rounded out the year on a costume high. This year, I attended New Year at Draculas on the Gold Coast. It is a vampire theme dinner theatre event. We had VIP tickets, so there was no waiting in line in the heat outside, and instead got to go into a special cocktail bar waiting area. We sipped on themed drinks before making our way to the ghost train which would then deliver us to the theatre for dinner. The show was amazing and I highly recommend going. No photos inside though as they're not allowed, but I did get a couple of shots.

As for what I wore, I just couldn't go to a vampire theme event without dressing up to some extent. I think I went a little over the top though. :P I decided to make a costume that I would be able to use again. In this instance it will be a steampunk geisha. To start with, I pulled out my roll of black fabric. It is a heavy satin with a very dull sheen and small spots woven in. I decided to use the pattern from my recent tartan bustle for the underskirt and apron along with the bodice from my Princess and The Frog Lottie costume.

As for trimmings, I used up most of the black lace that I had in my collection around the hem of the underskirt and apron. I then pleated up a heap of black paper taffeta. I decided to do 5 small pleats followed by one large instead of the usual same size pleats all around. It probably took longer, but I really like how it turned out. I used a black braid trim and black velvet ribbon to sew them all on. On the apron, I stitched 1" wide black velvet ribbon down the side seams and finished them off with ribbon loops and large fabric covered buttons. The bodice laces up the back seam with large eyelets and wide silk ribbon. To add the Japanese influence, I used a vintage piece of obi silk trailing over the bustle, and I made an obi out of teal silk and partially lined it with the black satin. The final touch was a Geisha style hairstyle and a kanzashi hair clip. I was very pleased with how it turned out. The next step to steampunk it up will be props, but I am really happy with the gown itself.

Piratey New Year to you!

The way to welcome in the new year? In pirate style of course!

I again hosted a costumed event to roll in the New Year. This year, I chose to go for a pirate theme. I had out back patio decked out with a hammock, lanterns, gold doubloons, jolly roger and a few edible bits and pieces. We played pirate board games, duelled with our swords, battled with our brains (trivia) and popped our cannons (party poppers). I had to be one of the easiest parties that I have organised in a long time, and it was really great to see so many of my invitees dressed up in costume.

I did put together a little bit of sewing projects to get ready for the evening. Firstly, I made a pirate costume for my Dad. He borrowed my pirate hat, sword, belt and gun for accessories, and wore his regency shirt underneath. The only pieces that I needed to make were some drop front knee breeches in black linen, a blue Georgian vest and a red waist sash. All in all, it came together rather quickly, and I was able to draft up the patterns from a couple of simplicity ones that I had on hand. I particularly love the buttons that I had in my stash for him - they are a tarnished gold colour with emblems on them. And while they are plastic, they certainly don't look it.

I knew from the outset that I would be wearing my Tia Dalma costume for the evening, so had no worry over myself. But my mum insisted that she wanted a costume as well. I told her that she didn't need to dress up as my invite specified *costume optional*, but I must be rubbing off on her as she really wanted something appropriate to wear. And at any rate she will be able to wear it when her school does book week and she dresses up each day. We chose to make my mum the proprietress of "The Saucy Mermaid" - our scene of the evening. Her costume was again pretty simple to throw together. I started with the blouse - a cream crinkle cotton, very full that gathers up under the elbows and around the neck (I used elastic to make it easier to wear). I then put together her skirts. Both are made in the Georgian manor, with two halves tying front and back. The underskirt is brown with a feint blue stripe, while the overskirt is a bright blue crinkle cotton. The overskirt is slightly shorter and bustles up at the front with a button and tie. I also lent her my false rump to give a bit more fullness. Then came the waist cinch. Not really historically accurate, but we needed something. It is a simple waist that is straight across the back with a point in the front, where it laces up. I did put a decent amount of boning in it though so that it would actually sit correctly. I topped it off by ragging her hair. This gave me a lovely tight curl that I was able to unravel for a full curly Georgian look. I think it all turned out rather well.

And I really did have a great evening.