Just another couple of weeks and it’ll be back to normal around here.
For now, this is some of what I’ve been up to, 7 days a week, in no particular order:
halloween
Christmas Sale!
Because I keep all my inventory in my guest room, and because I have a Christmas guest coming to visit next week, I need to clear out some inventory. That means–it’s SALE TIME!! I’ve marked most ready-made items down 25%–just look for the “SALE” in the listings title. It’s the perfect time to check off holiday gifts for family, friends or yourself! Come see what’s on sale: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrappedInTimeDesigns
Endless Nights Ball
A quick note amidst all the madness of the season to let you know that I was recently contacted and given the awesome opportunity of vending at the New Orleans Endless Nights Vampire Ball! I’ll be in the Voodoo Garden from 12pm to 6pm this Friday and Saturday! Planning my costumes and trying to get everything in order–it’s sure to be a great time.
Halloween Shoot
Two weeks ago now, I was schlepping about in the swamp for a photo shoot. Well, first I got lost. Really, really lost. Gravel road lost. “Is that a banjo I hear playing” lost. Seems they don’t need fancy things like, oh, STREET SIGNS, out in the swamp.
Actually, there were a number of lovely homes around, and it wasn’t REALLY the middle of nowhere. But, the street signs I needed were, in fact, not there.
The shoot is really the brain-child of my friend Amanda of AHB Hair & Make up (www.ahbweddingandevents.com). She does a big Halloween shoot each year, with a different theme. Since we had pretty much not yet met in time for last years shoot, this was my first opportunity to play.
Shot by Jennifer of Just Be Photojennic (www.facebook.com/justbephotojennic) and modeled by some really good sports (and theatre folks).
I made the Voodoo Swamp Queen and Angel costumes from scratch. The rest I thrifted and distressed/dyed/painted as needed.
The storyline is roughly: Two kids at Grandma’s house are sent out to get an ingredient for her cooking, they take a short cut through the swamp and are nabbed by the Voodoo Queen and the Swamp Man, they get away, Angel comes, cleans up wounds, everyone’s happy, kids make it back to Grandma, end of story. 😉
It’s been so long since I’ve had the opportunity to flex my theatrical costuming muscles–and this project really reminded me of how much I love and miss it. Since moving to the La area, I really have not branched into the local theatre scene. This made me think that I just might….after Halloween, of course.
That’s not all of the images, of course, but enough to give you an idea. I’m waiting on more costume-specific ones (including some with the Angel in pointe shoes), and as I get those I’ll share.
The Voodoo Queen costume is up for sale in my shop now: https://www.etsy.com/listing/165123657/swamp-witch-costume-voodoo-costume?ref=shop_home_active
A few other items from the shoot will be available for purchase soon.
Destruction
First off, I plan to be around a bit more. Today was the official First Day of being self-employed full-time–no more part time gig to fall back on! No more hours spent doing things that are, quite frankly, deadly dull. No more wishing I was home, sewing.
Now for the panic.
Noooo. I’ll be fine. Pass me that paper bag, would ya?
I’ve been sewing, tearing, ripping, painting and dyeing my little heart out for the past week. I’m working on costumes for an upcoming Halloween shoot with AHB Hair and Make up. We shoot Thursday!
First up, Voodoo Queen from the swamp. I first made a beautiful gown and underskirt–mismatched on purpose, as a voodoo queen living in the swamp probably doesn’t buy matching gowns. In fact, she probably takes what she can get. So, after sewing it all up, brand new and lovely, it looked like this:
The material for the overdress is actually a home decor fabric that I’ve been hoarding for years. I purchased it with the express intent of making this very type of dress. The tatted apron/draped portion of the skirt was made by my grandmother. It’s stained and torn, but I’ve kept it around, knowing I’d come up with something some day to do with it–and that day finally came!
Since this character lives in the swamp….well, she couldn’t be too clean, could she? So, it was with an aching heart (and, lets be honest, a little bit of glee) that I set to the dress with dye, fabric paint, scissors and a cheese grater. Hours later:
I’m extremely proud of the outcome. I’d have to put this in my top 5 favorites of all time that I’ve created. I really cannot wait for the shoot!
I still have some accessories to create–some necklaces and hair bits.
This will be up for sale after the shoot, and I’ll be offering it as a custom order, as well (though I’ll never be able to re-create it exactly).
What do you think?
From Under a Stack of Fabric
Well, there went a couple weeks of silence.
Time got away from me, lots of orders in, lots of hours at the part time gig, lots of excuses and forgetting.
I’ve been working on a LOT of really fun costumes and outfits, and I wish I’d thought to, oh, I don’t know, take pictures of it all. Alas, while I have a few to share, they don’t represent even the scantest of hints of what I’ve been doing.
So, without further ado:
A couple of my cincher skirts made their way to the NOLA Red Dress Run:
I finally finished the Doctor Who-inspired Victorian costume, inspired by this:
My version (which, in total honesty? I wanted to keep so bad–that jacket is really lovely, despite it looking rather lumpy on my broken-and-too-small-dress-form):
I even made the decorative frogs–which was a learning experience in itself, trust me:
A dress for a friend, who will be wearing it out this weekend to a concert:
Bunches of other items were made (Alice dresses, Wendy dresses, cincher skirts, leggings, collars….):
One customer requested pink and orange leggings–an excuse for me to order extra and (eventually) make some for the shop:
Some knitting was done in the evenings (as I decompressed and watched terrible old movies):
I found some AMAZING fabric that I’m WAY too excited about….and totally want to make halter dresses out of, for some reason:
I have a lot of stock that needs to be photographed and listed, but finding the time to do so has been a bit difficult:
Today I’m working on another Doctor Who-inspired piece (though this one from Tennant’s era):
And I’m starting to get ready for the Halloween rush–getting prepared, getting organized, getting supplies.
Getting ideas together for a Halloween shoot that I’m pretty excited about….
And…..tossing around the idea of doing a runway show in October–Halloween focused, of course. Because I’m insane and apparently intend to remain so.
Trapped In Time Designs 