Stitch stitching

I decided I didn't like the combination of the gold and bronze scales I've been chopping, as the gold ones are too shiny and make the bronze look dull. Since the bronze are nice on their own I've decided to transform a dress I never wear with them.

Chop chopping

One chopped up bag

More scales

I finished a bag full of the bronze ones, and started with gold.It's quite therapeutic really!

Gold pieces

I have a load of gold/bronze scraps left from the Angel costume, and so I've decided to reshape them into scales. I've thought I'll make a gold dress for a while, may as well get chopping and building a supply!

Presentation time!

This week I did a slide show presentation at the Blackpool Embroiderer's Guild, speaking about my creative work and theatre work, and showing lots of photos. I also took some dresses and other small pieces to show. It was a lovely friendly group, so a nice setting to do my first presentation since university!

Dress in a day

I've put this together today for my mum who wanted a red carpet style dress for a fancy dress evening. I've used materials I already had in stock, it's nice to use some bits up! Just need to had a few sparkly crystals ands a zip, and hope it fits!

Ulverston Dickensian festival

Today I went to the Dickensian festival, and thought it would be a shame not to get dressed up! I don't have much in the way of authentic 1850s attire, so went for a more generic "fun" approach to the Victorian theme

Jellyfish display

My jellyfish dress currently on display at the Dukes theatre in Lancaster

Skirt in an evening!

I'm planning on going to a Dickensian festival at the weekend, and tonight was my only evening off until then, so thought I'd see if I could make myself a generic Victorian skirt to wear! (Didn't want to stand out too much, and sadly not enough time to make a more authentic 1850s outfit). I have a jacket already which I can wear it with, so should look acceptable in combination!

Angelic Appearances!

My friend very kindly modelled this costume so I could take photographs. We had a bit of fun trying different effects using long exposure photography and light. By holding the camera shutter open for a couple of minutes at a time, and turning a light on and off, we were able to make it look as though there were more than one angel, when in fact I only made one costume. The images have not been edited at all (except for a little bit of cropping), what you see below is exactly how the camera captured it!

Angel wings!

Not conventional feathery wings, but a silhouette motif on the coat

My sister's wedding!

Here are a fee from my sister's wedding...I made the bride's dress, the bridesmaids,a jacket for everyone, and also covered the umbrellas!

Assembling pieces

This is a costume of many parts, which I'm slowly figuring out how to put together... The reflective stuff has a similar feel to paper (but it tears less easily!) So it doesn't behave like normal fabric, and is a bit strange to work with!

With sleeves

The coat has sleeves

More coat advancement

Making the coat in the real fabric

Yesterday I fitted the coat to my friend who is going to model it for me. Today I've taken it apart to make the required alterations, and have begun to back the pieces with the outer reflective fabric.

Angelic bits and pieces

Because this costume is an Angel (I'm making it for a Christmas exhibition!), I've started weaving a few hints of Christian symbols in amongst the general glow-in-the-dark-ness, to give a suggestion of the character's allegiance. I have taken some of the less regularly depicted descriptions of angels in the bible as starting points for the design, to dig beyond what is expected. For example they are sometimes said to have arms and legs of bronze, and bodies of chrisolite (green gemstones). Quite surprising really! It's been an interesting topic to examine,as the little cherubs we see on Christmas cards are a world away from the frightening warrior messengers referenced in the bible.

Coat pattern

Have started to make a pattern for the coat. The fabric I have used shall eventually be the lining.

Thursday waistcoat

Green waistcoat/tunic

This will go underneath the coat. I've sewn up the neckline and shoulders, but have left the side seams open for now so some detail can be added more easily before it's all attached together.

Additions to yesterday's pieces

More parts!