Supanova Saturday - Shinku

I think Friday night of supanova was my problem night. After the fiasco that was my pants drawstring snapping in several places, I have decided that I need to put some elastic in the waist for my next wear. But the rest of the weekend ran smoothly for me. I was so pleased with how my costumes turned out. I love the way my Mrs Lovett looked on Friday night and I even plan on using it for Halloween this year. Though I guess that will depend on what I end up doing for Halloween. It would be nice to have some black boots by then though.But back to Saturday. I took my brother in for the morning, and we spent a chunk of our hard earned cash. I picked up some iron-on patches for my next attempt at a Battlestar Galactica costume, and a singing Gizmo (from the Gremlins Movies - Huge fan of those movies). And I got the cutest little strawberry cookie ring from One Day in Paradise. I dragged Nathan over to watch the cosplay chess around 12. It was actually pretty nifty, but half the time I felt like trying to yell instructions to the players who really weren't very good at playing.

As for my costume, I was dressed as Shinku from Rozen Maiden. It was rather warm in my outfit considering that I was covered from neck to wrist and toe (stupid humidity) but I was very happy with how it turned out. I ended up using both of my 1950s petticoats as well as the one that I made to go with the dress, just to get enough fullness in my skirts. It was enough poof to get them sitting out nicely. And it was really great to be so comfy and un-corseted for the day. I got recognised heaps too, which was kind of nice. And best of all I was the only Shinku there on Saturday. There were even a few people dressed as the other characters in Rozen Maiden. Who knows, I might attempt one of them next year. But the thing that you are really wanting are the photos...

Supernova 2 - Shinku Part 2

My Shinku costume is now complete. Well, apart from the wig. I still need to style that, but I think that I will wait until the night before I wear it. At the moment it is fine just sitting in the box. Anyway, I have photos of my completed half bonnet. I am rather happy with how it turned out, the brim is a good size and I put wire in it, so that it is bendable and I can shape it to how I like it. I would have liked silk for the bow part so that I could have a really puffy bow, but every shop I went into did not have the right colour. As for the rose pins, I ended up painting some cheap plastic earings and using them as a sort of button. Decorative and a hell of a lot easier than making my own out of clay.

Thursday 12th

Progress is coming along nicely for my supernova costumes. My Shinku, Rozen maiden outfit is just waiting on hand sewing, as is my Mrs Lovett. I have a bit more than that to do on my packing padme, but at least I am progressing. Although, now I have a couple of more projects cropping up. Next Saturday 21st for one. I have the vintage fashion fair in the morning and of course I wanted a new dress. Thankfully I had one that just needed some hand sewing. It had been sitting in my room for all of 2 months waiting to be sewn. I got stuck into it the other night, and then realised that the skirts were already sewn together and hemmed and all I had to do was sew the skirt to the bodice and insert the zip. I am rather relieved that’s all I had to do. And while it is a 1950s design, I am going to make it more 1960s, as they still had the same style in the early 60s, but bigger and much cooler hair.

But then on the Saturday night, I am going to a friend’s housewarming party and it just so happens to be costumed. The theme is cultural costume (I guess because of harmony day on the 20th). I am going to make up an Egyptian outfit. Ancient Egyptian of course, because I love the makeup. So, tonight on my trip over to Spotlight, I picked up some bits and pieces of fabric. Mostly just to wrap around me in a fashion. But I think it is going to work. Either way it looks set to be done this weekend. Busy.

Oh and on the Steampunk front, I have changed my mind (yes again) as to what I will be doing. I wasn’t really happy with how my fabric was looking, I probably picked something that was just a little wrong. So instead, I am going to do a very oriental inspired outfit. My plans so far are to track down a hat (one of those traditional cone style ones), I am still going to have long hair, thought I am thinking braids, and maybe twisted up some way. Oh and I am still using the same jacket pattern that I had intended to use, but I will get a chinese brocade fabric for the vest part. And I am thinking black cotton or linen pants (really loose) and boots. Not sure what boots yet, I may just go for a sandal or ballet flat. But at least I am getting my preliminary designs set in my head. But that is all going to wait on hold until after I get my April costumes completed. I looks set to be a busy year.

Supernova 2 - Shinku Part 1

My Shinku dress and capette are now done. The first two photos are of the dress itself and the other two are with the capette. The colour in the photos is a little off (a bit too bright). In person it is closer to the colour that I want it to be. And of course, it is made from corduroy. I have to say that I really do hate sewing with the stuff. After making everything I feel like I have inhaled a roll of it as well. Ugh.

But I really am glad that it is mostly done. I am starting to feel very relieved that all my supernova costumes are coming together. And not in the last week before the event. Phew. I was worried for a while there, because I was so far behind. But everything is on track now. But back to the sewing. My next thing is to finish the half bonnet...

Sunday 1st

Phew. And another busy day draws to a close. I made quite a bit of progress today. I caught up on my hand sewing and can now make a bit more progress on my Mrs Lovett costume. I also managed to finish my 1850s crinoline outfit. I don't have any photos, but it is done and just waiting to be ironed. Phew, huge relief that I do not have any last minute sewing before the big walk next weekend. My fingers are very tender from pushing needles through fabric all day.

I also progressed a little further on the rest of my supernova costumes. My shinku is now all cut out, and I used up the rest of my 20 metres of 150 wide cotton cutting out mum's petticoats. I am slowing working on them when I get the time. But I really do need to make some more effort into my supernova costumes. It is fast approaching; now only 1 month away. I can tell you now that my weeknights are going to be busy sewing like there is no tomorrow.

Debbie's Victorian Chemise

This is my mum’s brand new chemise. I used the simplicity pattern again as I really like how it turns out and I find it pretty comfortable. Believe it or not, it was really hard to find everything to actually make this; like the white voile, every time I go to spotlight they never have any in white (reason behind the pink drawers???) and then it took me an age to track down the broderie anglaise trim that you can thread the ribbon through. Now mum is really starting to get excited that everything is coming together. I keep presenting her with a new piece every now and again. First was the corset, now the chemise. I have started working on her petticoats but I need to take measurements with the corset on and of course I forgot last time I had her laced in.

Onto other news, I had the day off work on Wednesday and I managed to get quite a few things done. My 1850s round crinoline outfit is coming along nicely. I have the bodice almost complete and the skirts are attached to it and hemmed. All I really have left to do on it, is a smidge of hand sewing; namely the sleeve seam needs to be stitched down to the lining and I need to put my little hook and eye closures on the front, and add my bow trims. So I will be able to get it done this weekend. Other than that, I have the head piece pattern drawn up and I think I have enough of my fabric left over to get a little drawstring bag cut out. I am intending to use the dress fabric as the lining, and make both the bag and head piece out of my matching sash fabric. I tried the partially finished dress on Polly over the top of my crinoline and petticoats, and I am so pleased with how it is sitting. And with it only one weekend away, I am starting to get very excited.

Though, that also means that supernova is fast approaching and I really need to make more of start on my costumes. My Mrs Lovett is on hold until I sit down and get my hand sewing completed; my padme vest needs to be taken in a bit, edges need to be finished and I need to start on that embroidery piece; and as for my shinku, I have to cut out some fabric this weekend so that I can get stuck into it. I did manage to score on one front today, I picked up some large silver hoops to use as my padme armbands and some rose earrings for my shinku buttons, bonnet and shoes. These were that last hard things that I really needed to find. I am hoping that this weekend, once my 1850s dress is done, to get stuck into my supernova costumes. It probably does not help that it will be my brother’s birthday on Sunday and I may not get that much done. But I can live in hope.

Shinku, Rozen Maiden - Petticoats

For those of you who have never seen Rozen Maiden, the picture to the right is Shinku (in the red dress). And this is what I will be making to wear to supernova on the Friday night this year. So far, I have the wig from my chobits costume last year, I just need to put it into the hair style. I also have the shoes, as I will just be using my black lolita shoes and adding little flowers to them.

Apart from that, I still need to make quite a bit more progress. I have the dress partially cut out, and I am just waiting to free up some pins so that I can cut out the rest. Then comes the process of making it up.

And on that note, I have just finished the petticoat. It was a bit of a challenge to work out the right style petticoat to get the right shape of for the skirts. I obviously needed something, and my Lolita petticoats are way too short as this is supposed to hit me mid calf. And I really did not want too much bulk at the waist. Therefore, I went wiht a more a-line shape. I have the base petticoat pleated onto a 15cm yoke and it has two ruffles attached to it to give more fullness at the hem. This layer is also starched to hell and back and has a pretty trim sewn on one layer. Over that, I have two layers of bridal tulle gathered mid way up the yoke and bound over with bias tape. I am pretty happy with the shape that they give and am looking forward to having it all done up.