Costume College 2011

In July of 2011, seven ladies from Northern Nevada loaded up in my mom's van and drove down to LA for Costume College. It was my first year, and we had a blast! There were many, many wonderful classes, great people, and lots of opportunities to dress in costume. What a fun weekend!

On our way down south!

My mom teaching one of her classes.

The first main night of the weekend, they always have an Ice Cream Social. It is a time for everyone to dress up if they want to and socialize. I decided to wear Vintage 1940's.

Regina and I dressed for the Ice Cream Social.

I just had to take a picture of these two. It was literally about two weeks before this event that I even learned who Dr Horrible is!

This gals wings were awesome!

My mom and I at the Ice Cream Social

LOVE this gal's hat!

Tron costume. All the light up bits were EL wire. It was a great costume.

Loved everything about this gal's outfit!

Victorian Vampire Slayer!

Steampunk Ghostbuster!

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The next set of pictures are some of the things you'll see during the day at CoCo.

In a class - looks like she's doing the macarena, but really she's showing us her sleeves ;-)

Class time. This is one I passed by. Notice the gal in center in yellow. That's a costume. Some people wore costumes all the time.

This hat was in the exhibit hall. Beautiful!

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Gala night pictures!

Getting ready for the Gala.

Lisa and I fixing Mom's dress. Have there ever been two such well dressed servants?

Mom sure is having fun!

This dress has inspired me to make whatever it is I am making for next year's Gala!

Hmmmmm...maybe that's why mom was having so much fun in that other pic!

Paige

Regina

Mom and I

Lisa and I - the Regency girls

Paige, Lisa, Sherry, Me, Mom, and Regina - 6 of the ladies who came from Northern Nevada (Jennie had already gone to bed)

With my masquerade mask

Silly Lisa!

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The next day...

My hair for the afternoon tea. Had to do it early b/c I wouldn't have time later. Found these flowers in the hospitality suite on a food tray. They matched that day's mundane outfit beautifully!

Going to classes. Had to be dressed early if I didn't want to miss some great classes.

Regina and I waiting to go into Tea.

During Tea

Other Tea Patrons

Taking some time out later in the day to do some journaling.

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On our last day, we took the day to go shopping in the Fabric District. 

O.M.G!

A trim store! Each one of those boxes had trims and appliques an buttons, etc. There was an example glued or taped to the front of the box. It was like a treasure hunt!

This is the fabric my mom found for 2012's Gala dress.

The fabric I found for my 2012 Gala dress

When you buy this much fabric, it takes teamwork to get it folded!

Take a close look. Yes, the last person is standing in the hall. An yes, this fabric is already doubled over. That's a lot of fabric!

It was tons of fun. And here it is already February of 2012. I am researching patterns and styles to see what I want to make out of that beautiful silver fabric. It's gonna be another awesome year!

Portrait sitting 11-29-10

On November 29, 2010, I went and sat for a class of art students at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, NV. This was their 5th week out of 6 and there were 9 students. The artists used any medium they wanted, most of them using paints, pastels, or pencil or charcoal. My job was to sit as still as possible for six 25-minute intervals with 5 minute breaks (yes, that's three hours.) My mom (Lady Carolyn), and a couple of our friends have also done the sittings. The students in the class (as well as many others, the instructor says) want to take another session. So, we may be in the running for many more sittings in our outfits. It was a trial to sit still for so long, but it was an enjoyable experience, and so wonderful to see all the portraits take shape. These artists have some serious skill to be able to do what they do in only three hours.

You can click on each picture to see it larger.

This is one artist's paintings from all 5 weeks.

Next week, Mom is going to model in a bathing suit from the early 1900's. I can't wait to see those portraits!

GBACG Social January 31, 2010

On January 31st, my mom, best friend, and I went a social for the Greater Bay Area Costumer's Guild (GBACG). It was a free event for guild members and only $5 for non members. Not everyone dressed up, but of course, Mom and I couldn't resist the opportunity. The social was basically a yearly meeting for members to get together, listen to updates from board members, watch a fashion show, and get some great things from the raffle. Below are my pictures of the event. I will attempt explain costumes of other people, but not all are totally explainable. The GBACG is a guild for costumers. Not historians, per se. So if you are in to costuming, check them out at their website.



Erica fixing a button on my mom's dress.



This lovely lady in a 1500's Tudor style dress sat at our table with us.



A beautiful pink and white stripe polonaise from 1870's (I believe)



My friend, Erica, in my 1905 lawn dress



"Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe costume. He was part of the fashion show


Queen Titania from Shakespeare's Mid-Summer Night's Dream - she also was part of the fashion show.



A beautiful teal creation from the 1880's






There were quite a few people dressed in this era - from the Regency era, or more comonly known as the Jane Austen era.



My mom in her bodacious hat and sweet dress from the Jane Austen era


Me and my mom - both dressed in our Jane Austen era dresses



A couple of lovely ladies dressed in 1860's era dresses



The one on the left is an 1890's and the one on the right is a 1910's



A wonderful 1910's dress - this is the Titanic era


Another lovely 1890's - I just love the color



My mom and Erica waiting (hoping) for their name to be called for the raffle



A very unique bustle dress.



I made my Spencer jacket and matching bonnet just in time for this event



A rather somber, but very accurate dress from the 1500's



Steampunk - think going punk in a time when there wasn't electricity. Kinda weird, but cool.



I just love this picture. Her skirts are so voluminous they just flow everywhere



We did a quick photo shoot after the event was over. This is me in my 1805 "Jane Austen" dress



Erica in my 1905 lawn dress


Me, Erica, and my mom. Any time is a great time when you get to dress up.