Monday, March 26, 2012

Random Thoughts



So, I should probably be studying Chinese right now, but with my ballgown all but finished, my mind has now moved on to ancient Greece. I'm really excited to begin working on my Steampunk Artemis costume for World Steam Expo's (rumored--the Events page on the site isn't updated yet) costume contest. Supposedly, the theme is mythological figures, and I really hope it's more than rumor, because my persona's name is Artemis Grey, and it'd be nice to show off her namesake. Lol. Either way, though, I'm super excited to be working on this costume, as I've had it in mind for a while now, even before I heard the rumors.

I think right now my main concern is making it steampunk enough without sacrificing the Grecian element, or going overboard. I have my initial design (seen below), and I'd like to stick fairly close to it, but at the same time, I've since had some good ideas that would change things a bit...the sleeves look more and more complicated, the more I try to think about how to do them. Lol. I'm also concerned about finding a corset I like well enough, and with enough time to ship, and for a price that I can afford. Right now I'm thinking I'll forgo the traditional pins at the shoulders, and maybe rig some leather straps with cool buckles, instead. I also will need to make the hip-quiver pretty soon. My dad gave me a bunch of old arrows to use for crossbow bolts, but I'm planning on making most of them dummies, just in the quiver for show. I'll have one or two I can take out and pose with, I suppose, but so as not to offend convention weapons rules most of 'em will be fake. The eye-thing...well, I don't really know. I have an old brass decoration from a horse harness that's a few crescent moons, and I'll probably try to work that in, somehow. ^____^

In other news, I've decided I really can't call my dress form anything other than Idris (sorry, Mom, no "Lenore"!), since she time travels. Last week she was preparing for a Victorian ball, and this week, it's Ancient Greece, so you see, "all of time and space" really suits her quite well. ^..^;;

Saturday, March 24, 2012

World Steam Expo -- One Costume Down!

 So, I've nearly finished my ballgown for World Steam Expo...basically, I just need to whip up an underskirt (super easy, shouldn't take more than two hours, if I'm taking my time, but I don't have the fabric yet), and it needs to be hemmed. But, I thought I'd put pictures up anyway, because I'm really excited even though it isn't technically finished. :)


Here's the font and back. It's gonna have a red underskirt to match the corset, and I want a red lace fan, but I don't know if I'll be able to find one... I have elbow-length gloves somewhere, and also a dark red hair net which, if it looks right, I'll probably wind up using, since my hair is so short right now. :) In terms of jewelry, I have absolutely NO idea what I'm going to do.
The busk on the corset is silver, so I'll probably try to match my jewelry to that, rather than going with something more "steampunk" like brass or bronze. Dunno what I'm doing for shoes yet, either, which is another reason it isn't hemmed yet. Lol. Honestly, if it comes down to it, the fabric doesn't fray much and I might just leave it not hemmed if I run out of time. I already have my next project draped over my dress form (whom I have decided to call Idris, since she's blue like the TARDIS, and I'm a nerd that way), and I'm really excited about it...but I think it's going to be more challenging than I initially expected, because the fabrics involved are tricky. Gotta go look up some Grecian art, I guess, to find a style of chiton that I like...

Friday, March 9, 2012

Thrifting

Went thrifting with Jamie, Kiki, and Lindsey (and briefly Kaeli) today, and Craig joined us later. I think out of everyone, Lindsey probably got the most stuff purchased, but we came up with some good ideas for Jamie, and I bought a crossbow which I'm super excited about!! It's not really in working condition, but that's fine because I'm planning on steampunking it with Craig's help into something AWESOME for a semi-secret costume I've decided (last minute) to throw together.

...and I have no idea where my tea dress from 2010 has gotten to... :(