Thursday, September 15, 2011

Thursday Threads: Jasmine


I have a tendency to forget to update, so I am going to start updating every Thursday with Thursday Threads of current and future projects I am and intend to work on.

Currently, I am starting extremely early for CONvergence next year with a Belly Dancing princess: Jasmine (above). I've collaborated with my friend, Lea, who did the beautiful drawings and pretty much all the designs for the skit. I will be seamstress extraordinaire, helping make all the costumes (7 total) and also collaborate with the choreography.

We are taking various princesses and adapting them for Egyptian belly dance style costumes. I barely had enough fabric to cut my harem pants, but (as Tim Gunn advises) I made it work!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Hairspray!


Hairspray opened this evening at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater! It's pretty great and the costumes are fantastic and fun. I had the wonderful opportunity of returning to the shop for another summer and working on some adorable dresses!

If you go and see it, I put together most of Amber's and Shelley's Costumes. Amber was such a fun character to work on, she had so many costume changes that were all so pretty! I would love to take that entire wardrobe home for myself (if I only I could fit in those 24" waist size dresses..).



Friday, July 29, 2011

1950's Wedding Dress


I am making a wedding dress for a gal from the Chanhassen based on the above dress. I am so glad she picked this one because it was my favorite out of the 1950's patterns I found!

The neckline is so classy, and I will carve out the sleeves to make it sleeveless.

The wedding is in early September, so I only have a month to complete it. Go, Go, Super Stitcher!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

New Look!

Gave the ol' blog a new look! What do you all think? A new title and everything.

I have not been keeping up with my vow to draw more... though I did do a few and they turned out rather better than I thought!

No more news on the costume front, though I plan on writing up on the new Harry Potter film (while trying to keep long winded rants to a minimum).

Also, more people should totally "follow" my blog :D

Monday, July 18, 2011

Drawing

I have decided that I am going to learn how to draw.

I have never been very good at it, and my costume renderings are never very detailed because of it.

I've also been inspired by looking at Makani's fanart, my desire to redesign the Harry Potter costumes, and Lea's amazing drawings of our Belly Dancing Disney Princesses :)

My goal is to draw at least one new thing a day to improve my skills. If any of you (ehhhm.. Lea..Lauren..) have any advice, please feel free to throw it my way!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

I feel pretty! Oh, so pretty!

(Photo by Moments Shared Photography)

CONvergence was amazing! No wins, again.. Boo!

Pictured are the Hogwarts gals in their Yule Ball best!

Future Costumes planned: Belle Ballgown, Belle Blue, Jasmine, Alana (Ariel's Sister)- a functional mermaid costume, possibly Rapunzel.

What's with all the Disney, you ask?

MN Princesses and Company, a new costume and entertainment crew, devoted to walk in parades, socialize with enchanted children, and flounce about in pretty dresses. Look us up on Facebook!


Monday, August 16, 2010

Costumed Fantasy!

I recently watched two movies that, even if they were terrible, could be watched solely for the costumes. As it turns out neither were terrible, but I did like one more than the other for both costume and story.

From Costumes By Ally
From Costumes By Ally

Both amazing costumes! Colleen Atwood, who did Alice in Wonderland and many other Burton films, is one of my favorite designers. However, Beatrix Aruna Pasztor could give her a run for her money.

Alice in Wonderland:
The costumes were fantastic! Atwood's work always is. She has a very distinct style that I find quite appealing. Her period work is more inspired by the select time period spliced with her own eye for creativity and design. The designs are also complex (youtube costume link).

However, the design of the Mad Hatter I thought was a bit too much. There is a great flashback scene, where you see a bit younger Hatter while working for the White Queen. Both his hair and makeup in this scene better fit the character. I found the bright orange and the extreme pale face far too similar to that of a clown to make me comfortable... (I don't like clowns...)

The Secret of Moonacre:
My favorite of the two! This is a movie I would have been obsessed with between the ages of 8 and 12. Such a sweet story with fabulous costumes. This is definitely a costume movie based around a time period, set in a fantasy world.

The Maria's (The lead's) dresses have fantastic cage bustles in the back, but not underneath as you would think. The bustles are actually built into the dress! Each dress has beautiful embroidery, so intricate and detailed. I also found the men's styling to be intriguing, with Robin's (Evil De Noir's son) period, yet contemporary punk look. Not to mention the great scene when you get to see undergarments like the bum pad! All great costume movies have an undergarments scene!