Costume Diaries

Thursday, 16 January 2014

Getting creative about being creative

December and January is always a time of year that I become a little bit reflective, but this time I have been kind a of blue. With both of us unemployed ,again. We hardly get by and there is little or, more honestly, no money for costuming projects. To add to the fun our cat has become I'll and we are spending our savings on veterinary bills.

But with three creative people creating things isn't just about having a hobby or collecting thing it is part of who we are and necessary for us not to become down or sink into a depression. Time to get creative about being creative:

Use our stash! In the last 15 years we have gathered materials. Time to put them to use! If a costume/projects needs more than 1/3 of new supplies, this is not the time to work on it.
Make alterations (if possible) to excisting costumes etc instead of making new things.
Spend more time on a project, (researching, hand sewing, embellishing, tweeking etc) instead of rushing through it on my way to the next idea. Big bonus is a better quality of my work.
Money earned with our hobby, may be spend on the hobby.
Ask for money or supplies for my birthday, applies to Mother's day/Sinterklaas/Christmas as well. With Sint Nicolaas I asked for 4 skeins of black yarn and got them as a present. That made me very happy because now I am working on a crochet shawl.

Remember the Edwardian shawl I made several months ago? It is really lovely, but the colors, madder red and walnut husk brown, made it hard to find a costume to wear it with. So now I've decided to make a more neutral and practical black version.

Thursday, 19 December 2013

Dickens festijn, Deventer, 15th of December 2013

This was our first time at the Dickens festijn. We weren't allowed to make any pictures there while in costume but we where lucky enough that a friend and photographer Gerard Zoethout was joining us to capture the experience.

Please do not use any of the pictures below without his permission!

Travelling in time with a photographer means

that the first pictures ofcourse have to be taken at the train station, in Arnhem.

The queue was enormous, people had to wait up to two hours to get in.

First official event picture.

My friends really where the loveliest couple there.

Chatting with old and new friends.

My nickname for the day, Little Red Riding Hood.

Don't know why?!

Trying to look demure, not an easy task

Shopping with MyLady

Window shopping.

At the train station in Deventer, before travelling back home,

this time one in keeping with our costume.

All pictures copyright Gerard Zoethout

www.animaus.dds.nl

Monday, 16 December 2013

1840's -1850's working class dress

This is the outfit I wore to the Dickens festijn in Deventer last Sunday. These are the pictures my husband made of me in my costume. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the event ourselves, but I hope to be able to share pictures of the event itself soon.

This is my 1840's -50's working class dress. It is made from pinkish red (rosewood) printed cotton fabric .

The pattern I used was #118 from Laughing Moon with a closed front, sewn in darts,

bishop sleeves and a lace collar.

Please excuse my messy hairdo, it was still wet in this picture, I had a fight with the curling iron and lost.

I decided to let my natural curly hair airdry instead.

Underneath my dress I am wearing : a white cotton chemise, white flannel underpants, black woollen socks, my dutch orange quilted petticoat and a white cotton corset cover.

I wasn't wearing a corset, the corset cover was just for warmth, but I hope to have an appropriate corset next year. All the weight of the petticoat and dress was resting on my hips, which was very tiring.

Outside a black bonnet, a red woollen cape, red woollen triangular shawl

and white fingerless gloves where added

Monday, 9 December 2013

Anton Pieck Parade 2013

It rained at the start of this event. As this usually is the time when we make pictures for the website and my blog, we didn't get around to make a lot of them.

Lucky for us there is something like the internet...

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

1885's Blue Bustle Costume.

The blue bodice is finished! I made the base of the blue bodice and my friend finished it, by decorating it with blue velvet cuff and black brandenburgers, she also sewed in the hook and eye closure (50 of them!). The rest of the costume she made herself and I think it's wonderful and she looks absolutely breathtaking!

See for yourself...