"Quick, Before It Melts!" The Frozen Photo Shoot: Part I

Two weeks ago I finally had the chance to do a proper photo shoot in my Elsa gown, with my "Anna", Lorelei Winter.
Near the snowy peaks above Lake Tahoe, there remained plenty of snow on the ground. As a large group of us were spending the weekend at a friend's summer cabin, we grabbed mittens, costumes, snow gear, sleds and cameras. Many, many thanks to Mary Anne Butler and Bill Watters for the photography skills.

"Anna loves her new flannel petticoat, but do I really need these boots?" The cold didn't bother me, but...yes. Yes I did need them.

I was surprised at how comfortable I was for nearly 2 hours, in what was essentially a strapless evening gown and not much underneath. Sanity dictated that I wear warm boots, and even though they clashed with the gown, I'm glad I did. "Anna" wore her regular boots, but kept sinking into the deeper snowdrifts. Sometimes well above her knees. My boots were built for snow, and (for the most part) kept me from sinking past my ankles. My "ice slippers" would have likely come off my feet with each step

Moments of glamour...

...and lot's of "WTF!" (FYI, Anna is not kneeling. She actually sank that deep!)

Stay tuned. More photos on the way!

The 'Deluxe' Elsa Costume

Here's one photo so far, of my nicer of the two Elsa costumes made this past year.
It's hard to see much detail here, but hopefully there will be more so stay tuned!

Photo by Mary Anne Butler, at Dragon Con 2014.

The wig was still sort of behaving in this photo, but I need to make a new one from a new wig base. I purchased this one and while it's ok, there are some things that could have been done differently for better effect.
Also, the bits of red you see on the bodice are the icy blue sequins reflecting the red carpet ;-)

More Deco Darlings

Last year, I spent a grand weekend with friends aboard the Queen Mary for the Art Deco Festival.
I didn't make it back this time around, but my friend Laura had taken some great photos.
Here's an extra shot of the 1935 striped organdy dress that we'd forgotten about. There are also a few cute shots of us from this year's Spirit Of '45 event, at Kelly Park in San Jose.

On the Queen Mary, in airy striped organdy.

A close up of the sash belt I had to make from some ivory organdy, since the original was missing (and a close up of the manicure ;-)

 The shoes, and the fabulous flounce of the hemline. Yes, I love this dress.

Quick, before the ice cream melts! With Laura Erlich

Peppermint chocolate chip and pretty automobiles, yum!

Agfa Foto! I Finally Have My Vintage Camera

For a long time, I've hoped to find a vintage camera, preferably German, that was still in good working condition.
I think I finally found it; an Agfa 'Billy Jgetar' from around 1931 that someone in the UK had in their collection.

I can take this beauty to living history events (carefully of course), hopefully to get a few historically accurate 'fotos', and learn to develop them myself. Film for these can still be had.
This little lovely even had a roll of film already in it, that had been there for who-knows-how long. The film had only 2 exposures left, so even though the film is likely no longer good, I used those two shots taking photos of my adorable dog, Lucy just for the hell of it.
I wonder if anything on the previous exposures, or my own shots, survived? I'll just have to get it developed to see ;-)

 Still had its original canvas case

Zee film...

 

Adorable case in fair condition. The tip of the closure strap is ripped off, but someone was kind enough to keep this little bit inside the case. I may attempt to repair it by backing the two pieces together using a small additional bit of leather.

Flight Of The Valkyrie: Part II

Just because there are more great photos of this act in motion from a recent performance, I need to share.
Photo credit goes to Patric McCarthy, Jeff Spirer and RJ Johnson (of lightreclaimed.com)

A Few More Photos...

Slowly cleaning up the mess left after the Dickens Fair madness. My sewing area looks as though a bomb hit it, as it does every year at this time. The plan is to start on the 18th century projects again, before some other event rears its ugly head, and requires a new rushed costume.

Since I can't resist sharing more photos, here are some extras. Many thanks to my friend Anders for the photographic assistance.
This isn't so much because they are pics of me and my outfit, but more for the simple reason that the location is so lovely! I still can't get over the fact that this is just 15 minutes from my front door...

Holiday At The Villa; Empress Elisabeth In Velvet And Mink

My reproduction of Empress Elisabeth of Austria's velvet and mink ensemble is complete, and now I have some glorious photos to share. I had also just gotten over the flu, so it was nice to get outside for some fresh air and a walk.
My friend, Anders was generous enough to take the photos at a favorite location. Villa Montalvo is practically in my backyard.
It's stunningly beautiful and not only reminds me of some of the smaller summer palaces in Austria, but even a few villas located in the more southern areas of Europe. Places Sisi may have often escaped to on her many travels.
This creation is by no means perfect, and there are some things that I would have fixed if I'd had the time. Here are a few notes on the costume for the nit-pickers like myself:

- Yes, the skirt isn't as long, wide or voluminous as Sisi's was in the original photographs. This costume was intended to be, and was, worn for a role played at Dickens Fair. It needed to be a true walking style skirt, and hoops were required to be under a maximum circumference of 110 inches. No more. And no elliptical hoops were allowed either, so I was forced to make this skirt a more 1850s shape
- Indeed, I'm not wearing gloves. Neither was Sisi in the photos and even though I'm outside, I'm not sure Sisi would have cared much either ;-)
- The hat is a bit different than hers. I decided that since I did not have the time or the materials to create an exact replica of the one she wears in the photos, this other historically accurate version would do. It's also a style I think she would have appreciated, wit the cute little mink pom-poms in back.
- I'm glad we did the shoot when we did, since the deep chestnut color I put on my tresses is already fading quite rapidly. It's now officially a dark blonde, yet closer to what Sisi's color was like. While my own hair has gotten quite long, it's nowhere near as long as hers was. So, the braids you see are actually hairpieces I added to my own. These are a much lighter shade than the darker ones I wore for Dickens. I knew my color would fade quickly since it's a semi permanent. By chance, these ended up a surprisingly good color match.

I will be breaking this up into two entries, as there are a lot of images. There are just so many pretty areas to shoot in at this location, and the late-day light was beautiful.
Without further ado, and a happy Christmas to you: the photos.

 

Part II coming soon!

A Brief Photo Post

I found a couple more photos of the other ensemble I made, taken by my friend RJ Johnson this past weekend at Dickens Fair.
When seeing these photos all I can say is wow, I REALLY need to put stays/boning on those side seams and front darts! The lack of time whilst also completing the Sisi velvet project played a part in that. Still, not too shabby for a somewhat rushed bodice.
I want to find a really nice silky ivory brush fringe to apply to the sleeves, just above the pleating on the cuffs, and around the shoulders going into a 'V' down the front of the bodice. Probably at the bottom edge of the bodice skirt as well.
Like I had mentioned earlier, after Fair is done I'll get some nice full length photos of both outfits.

I was so sleepy that Sunday, heh!

The lovely bonnet is on loan to me from my friend Laura. I need to make a similar one for next year, I have found myself adoring the drawn bonnets of the 1850s.

 The new Dark Garden corset I'm wearing underneath also made me considerably smaller (even though it didn't feel like it!) than the one I had been using previously, and to fit this bodice on. So, the bodice fits a tad looser now, hence some of the wrinkling. The pattern I based it off of also calls for a slight amount of padding between the bust and armscye, to get that hourglass curve into the nipped waistline. Another thing I didn't have time for, but this may also help to smooth things out when I do add it.

The temp. hair color is also fading out nicely, and is even lighter now since these photos were taken. It makes me glad that this is the final weekend of Fair. Any more and it will have faded out to the point that my add-on braids of fake hair no longer match! I'm looking forward to getting back to my own blonde color.

XOXO

One little photo...

The dress was a success, at least in its current state. Hopefully there will be more photos of it, after this Sunday at Dickens Fair. Or after the madness of the holidays is over, I can get a few shots of it outside in better light.
Here's one so far, taken of Anders, myself and our friend Todd at The Bohemian absinthe bar, and its 'not-so-great-for-photos' lighting.
I still want to add some pleated trim in the same ivory silk to the bodice, going from the upper back over the shoulder seams and down the front to a 'V'. The little poof at the shoulder seams bugs me and that should balance it out a little. I went with a double tiered skirt instead of the triple version, since it worked out better with the type of stripe the fabric has.

FYI; the odd shape of my skirt is due to the placement of my mantle (cape) resting off one shoulder.

'Valkyrie' Photos

Photo by RJ Johnson

As per my last burlesque costuming posts, here are more photos of the act in motion; my tribute to Loie Fuller.

"Loie Fuller (born Mary Louise Fuller in 1862) was one of the most innovative dance artists of the twentieth century. Her work influenced not only future artists in modern dance, such as Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham, but also a whole range of poets, painters, sculptors, and intellectuals. She brought both revolutionary dance forms and technical innovations in costume and lighting to American, Caribbean, London, and Paris stages." - The Modernism Lab

I, however; put a little personal twist on mine, adding a bit of Scandinavian lore in the form of crystallized deer antlers and the coloring of the costume itself. The theme is The Valkyrie.

Photos by Johnny Crash





Photo by RJ Johnson