Costume Problems

I sewed those buttons onto those kid's dresses 5 times each AND used tapestry thread and they still lost a few. I was thinking on bringing some extras but I second-guessed myself and said it should be fine. :-P

Not sure how else to better sew buttons on. Richard never complained that anything fell off his coat or vest, but maybe I should ask and see if it was just a fluke, because of the kid's activity or picking, or because I need to sew them on more than 5 times.

I also had the problem of having to wear long underwear under my gown. Wearing the extra shirt was fine, although I could not wear my chemise with it because it didn't work. Plus, I couldn't wear the pantalets because of the warm pants and tights I had to wear. I also wore some thick white knee socks ($2 at Wal-Mart!!!) and I was still cold. The skirt also tried slipping down a lot because I made it a bit too big as I wasn't sure what number of layers I could have to fit under it. I'm going to have to make it a bit smaller.

The dang white ribbon from my bustle kept poking out for some reason - something that was not an issue last year with either gown. I think I'm going to cut it and if it looks like it's going to do it again, I'm going to have to put the whole petticoat over it and the hoops in the back will have to deal with the higher hemline.

Wish I could find a pattern for a REAL blouse, not a faux dickey. I hate dickies and false sleeves. All they do is create problems.

So maybe my goals for next year will be:

1. Create warm cloaks and muffs that can be worn at TRF or Dickens for the whole family (except for Mom who already has a wool paletot.) Christian will probably need separate ones due to the change in men's cloak styles but I think girls' and women's are pretty much interchangeable.

2. Maybe look for a real fur muff (antique, not new) online like the one the nice lady at the costume competition let me try on. It was so damn warm I could swear she was keeping some of those heating packets in there!

3. Make a thick underpetticoat for myself. The same lady said layers of tulle would be a great insulator between the hoop and my legs. I personally hate tulle because it's scratchy, but if I'm careful and sew in a thick enough liner, then it should work.

4. Get something together for Jenny and Mike (the little girls' parents)

I think that's about it, except for the goal Christian set for me due to the fact that it seems like every year it's a bustle that wins: Spend all year on the BEST BUSTLE EVER. I really hate bustles, and they don't go with Dickens as he died by 1870. If anything, I'd go 1840's. I also can't spend all year on a single garment as I have client work to do and warm clothes to make. But I'll think about it.

Dickens on the Strand Costume Contest - We won!!!

I don't think it quite set in yet - The girls and I won 3rd place in the ladies' compeition and my husband won 2nd in the men's. It sure was competitive this year, as always. There were about 30-35 women and over 15 men.

I've gone into the contest a few times over the 5 years I've gone to Dickens in costume. Last year my matron of honor made the cut but I didn't. For suffering all that great embarrassment, I think I've earned the privilege and honor of not only making the cut this year but winning 3rd!

Christian, who is usually a very soft-spoken kind of guy, really did well in the competition. He made to sure note his pocket watch from the 1870's (his wedding gift I bought from Somewhere in Time antique store on the Strand a week before Ike!) and his hand-embroidered handkerchief that I made him for the wedding, too. Glad I made it in Christmas green and metallic gold because I could see it all the way from the audience.

It's kind of funny because the lady who was in charge of it was rude to me when I came to check in. She said that the focus would be on me, not the girls, as girls cannot actually compete alone (Yeah whatever - I saw the others go on stage alone.) Because I was forced to go up competing with them, we pushed it over the top for sure. I felt bad when somone yelled out "That's not fair!" after the MC said "Cuteness counts in America," because there IS no competition for families or children. It's not my fault. I really wish they'd bring back the family competition, because it would make things more fair. I also think there should be a few catagories, such as Best Day Dress, Best Ball Gown, Best Bustle, and maybe even most creative costume (like the guy who made an effort to get everything at Goodwill stores and the like and still looked good). They probably don't do this due to a lack of prizes, but honestly, who CARES about prizes??? People want the bragging rights, not a prize! (Although a $100 Landry's gift card does sound good right about now. Hehe!) I think a certificate would be a very nice addition to the prizes, as that would be a nice thing to frame and hang next to my wedding certificate from the Queen and my wedding pictures on my mom's living room walls. :)

I probably should've talked about my hair and the hand-embroidered hankerchief I was wearing. I got so nervous I forgot. I even had my handkerchief out to remind me but I forgot anyway. I wasn't mentally prepared for it, although due to my talent of improvising, we all curtsied to the Queen and the other judges (this wasn't planned! Honest!)

The girls, my cousins, were WONDERFUL and followed my direction to the letter, and since I can't share my winnings with them (a Dickens T-shirt) I'm planning on treating them out today to some chocolate at La King's Confectionary on The Strand.

The kids were also great during the carriage ride. We had a better carriage than last year, and better decorated too, I think. Sid from Island Carriage charged us $200 as his standard fee, but for some reason we got a driver and carriage from Seahorse Carriages, who I believe usually charge a lot more. We really lucked out this year, except for the cold. The kids were awesome and rarely complained - they had never been in a carriage so they were pretty excited.

Another stroke of rare luck happened today - My dad and I coordinated it so we would be parking around the same time. (He was coming from a hotel in Galveston and the rest of us from Texas City.) My mom noticed a car that looked like his rental right in front of us at the Opera House parking lot, and lo and behold, it was him! We also had great timing when it came to meeting up with the Reids, as we found them right away over my Mo Betta's. We also got to catch up with Tony from Morgan Costume Studios. We didn't see everybody that day, like the two couples me met at TRF and Marita Beth and her husband. I sure hope they made it there because they always make such an effort on their costumes.

That's it for now. I hope the weather will clear up today, as it is currently raining in Galveston.

:( I have my TRF water-resistant parasol I plan on bringing today as long as it's not raining buckets all day but I don't think it's supposed to.

Dickens on the Strand this weekend!!!

I'm excited not just because I'm a professional costumer or that this is my first anniversary, but my dad decided he had so much fun at Dickens last year that he's coming again this year! I rented him a Victorian suit (slacks, white shirt, cravat, dress jacket, and vest) from Morgan Costume Studios. He doesn't have a website, but I do recommend him if you have an out-of-towner coming or you just don't have a costume yet.

However, if he comes next year, I'm thinking of just outright getting him a costume since I spent $80 last year and $80 this year on them so far. I could've gotten a few costume pieces for that kind of money! But I didn't know he was coming again until late in the fall, so I couldn't. I did however get him gloves from Somewhere in Time, a wonderful antique store on The Strand past Hendley's Market. I also got Christian a cravat there because I was too busy to make one! I had to resort to buying a top hat for my dad since Morgan didn't have any good ones left, so I found a pretty good one on eBay that I would highly recommend. His user name is Hatstu.

I've been very busy lately trying to finish my new gown. I used Simplicity 3855. I had to tailor it down quite a bit since the sizes ran so big. I didn't get to finish the trim on the upper sleeve seam so I'll have to do that for next year. I used taffeta for both the main part and the trim. It's kind of difficult to find a fancy fabric that doesn't shred so I'm not a big fan how the trim came out, even with the edges pinking-sheared. In all, I wasn't too thrilled with the construction of the gown as it is lined AND faced (weird!!!) and the dress was originally designed for 5 panels, with 1 skinny one in the front . I ended up using the pattern I used for my wedding dress and the Sunday dress from last year. I do like the style even though the construction design wasn't the best idea. I think it should last a long time since the front goes into a V and it has a little give in the chest area. I'm aiming at costumes that will last a while so I won't have to make any more for next year unless it's for someone else who doesn't have one yet.

By the way, I bought the iridescent purple/black taffeta on eBay from paylessfabric. I've gotten fabric from him before and he is awesome!!! I bought it at the *best* price I could find around here and online for $5.99/yard.