Best Laid Plans....

It seems more often than not even best laid plans go wrong and you have to improvise to make the best of it.  I know not every event is going to be a success, hell not every event is even going to take place and sometimes you just have to shoot from the hip. 

Case in point, this past weekend I was supposed to be the subject of an outdoor Steampunk photo-shoot at the historic Ornamental Metal Museum in downtown Memphis.  I was so looking forward to this shoot and I even spent a week or so prior hand building several new pieces to feature in it.  

Day One - Hair & make up done and looking good.  Wardrobe, props, and accessories in hand and off I go to meet the photographer on location.  After a half-hour of standing around being gawked at by visitors I realize, to my horror, that I am A DAY EARLY.  Yep, your calendar is only as accurate as the user.  Trying to be optimistic, I figure, hey, one more day to prep!! Wonderful.  I can clean up some last minute details add a few more bells and whistles!! 

Day Two, Hair & make up done and it looks GREAT!!!  Even better!!!  Wardrobe, props and accessories in hand again and I am on my way.  Half way there I notice the sky is starting to cloud over and the thunder starting to roll…urgh!!!  Hand built accessories with a lot of metal gears, leather and glue do not always work well in the rain.  As I arrive I am on the phone with the photographer who is now huddling under the gazebo with his equipment and I am stuck in the car.  After sitting for a bit we mutually decide the storm is not going to pass in a timely manner and it may be best to reschedule.  Clearly this one was not meant to be. 

 

 

OK I am officially bummed out….but my hair & make up look great!!

So now comes the improvisation.  A quick stop by my house removing all traces of Steampunk gears and swapping my black Victorian walking skirt, tapestry jacket and neck corset (yes it is a miserable as it sounds) for a black and red gothic / circus get up, I grab my personal photographer and off we go in search of a location. 

We went to a great location only to find we couldn't get in anymore due to a new locked gate. Still looking like the effort was for nothing. Finally we were able to find a great old cemetery in a neighborhood close to my house.  The overcast day offered perfect lighting and with some acceptance that I was going to get this dress wet, was able to produce some of my favorite images to date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a save!

 

I am still planning on the Steampunk shoot as a matter of fact we are scheduled to reshoot later this month.  Keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

Open Letter to Vintage Shop Owners & Thrift Stores

Vintage shopping and thrifting seems to be all the rage at the moment.  There are TV shows about it, a hit song, and it seems to be the foundation of the hipster movement.  But at its core, there is nothing better than that feeling of accomplishment when you find a truly unique piece from your favorite era and rub your personal style all over it by incorporating it into your wardrobe or home.

Vintage Swing Dress, Bolero Jacket & Crinoline

One thing I have learned though, is not all vintage or thrift stores are created equally…or even play by the same rules.  This was never as evident to me as it was on my most recent trip to Nashville, TN. 

As normal before visiting an area I researched and mapped all the vintage stores I could find.  I read reviews on yelp and looked at photos, if available, to help me determine if the store was indeed somewhere I would like to shop.  I am partial to Mid-Century Modern furnishings & décor and 40s, 50s and early 60s style clothing so a shop specializing “boho or hippie chic” is not going to offer a lot for me.  

My hubby and I were staying in the newly revived and trendy East Nashville area, so of course that is where I started.  Seeing this area was home to a large concentration of hipsters I figured the vintage shops would be plentiful, and they were!  We were able to make a couple of days’ worth of shopping out of this trip.   We started by making several stops in smaller “vintage stores” and I have to admit that, starting out that way, I was just about turned off for the entire weekend.    I have two major pet peeves when shopping and a handful of these stores hit on them HARD!

First, I take issue with stores supplementing their inventory with new or “vintage look” items mixed in with true vintage items, much less being the majority of the inventory in a so-called vintage store.  I personally do not consider anything this side of 1990 vintage--an opinion, I know, but to me anything newer than that is just used clothes.  Several of the smaller shops I found were just glorified boutiques with the price tag to indicate so. 

I had almost given up on the idea of this being a prosperous trip when I stumbled across The Hip Zipper.  WOW!  These people not only offered a huge selection of clothing, shoes, hats and accessories, they offered a refreshing method to ensure customer retention.  Upon making a purchase (at a reasonable price) I was offered a list of vintage shops in the Nashville area AND they were mapped out for my driving convenience.  I spent a little while speaking with the girl at the counter and she offered me insight into shops I would really like.  How refreshing to find someone interested in their customers not just their own pocketbook!!!   I took the list and followed it around the city marking my favorites for my next trip.  Of course there were couple of shops I could not make it to in the matter of hours I had left in the city but will definitely get to them in the near future.  Thank you Hip Zipper for your help and support!

But back to the topic at hand...  

The PERFECT vintage store for me!!  I LOVE
all the Mid-Century kitchen goodies.

Vintage store shoppers are each as unique as the items their customers are searching for.  When entering a store I like to see the following:

•       Good selection of vintage items.
•       Limited retro or reproduction items and they should be  labeled as such.
•       Atmosphere – since my heart is 40s, 50s,& 60s how about some rockabilly swing or jazz music.  NEVER hip hop or alternative.
•       Employees who are not only happy to be there but knowledgeable and passionate 
•       Modern looking girls or guys hiding behind the counter, with their feet kicked up playing with whatever electronic device they have available will sometimes make me do a perimeter sweep and leave. You should be selling me on a lifestyle, not just a new blouse.

Secondly, thrift shops are just that THRIFT SHOPS. I always thought they were designed to offer everyday items at reasonable prices.  I just want to remind shop owners if your store sign has the word “thrift” in the title, please do not price your items like antiques!  Occasionally having a pricey item I find ok, but everything in the store? COME ON!!!  I find it really sad when I find big chain store brand items priced higher than they would have sold for new.  As part of vintage shopping group that frequents thrift stores this is sure fire way to get your potential customers to walk out without spending a penny! 

A Vast Array of Goodies found while vintage shopping - Train Case,
This Thing (hanging lamp & table which I LOVE), Mid-Century Glasses in carrying rack,
and of course Wonder Woman glass...anything Wonder Woman makes me happy!)

A word of caution to all vintage shoppers, although most if not all vintage shops are independently owned and operated that does not mean the owner has a sense of ethics when it comes to dealing with customers. 

The ethics of a shop owner and his or her employees was evident in another Nashville favorite of mine.  Live True Vintage seemed to truly embody my beliefs about the right kind of people and the right kind of business.  The shop was VERY reasonably priced and offered room after room of clothing and home goods.  The air was filled with music from Elvis, Johnny Cash, and the Stray Cats, and a back room was set up for live music, something we were truly disappointed we couldn't be there for.  The owner shared his story with us and I realized the greedy side of vintage we witnessed in other places in Nashville was not just something I was imagining.  He told my husband and I that he had been working for another shop in town and had watched as the owner bought thrift store and estate sale items to put in his shop.  Nothing wrong there, it is after all about compiling the inventory for the customer's convenience.  But the guy would buy a $30 sofa and price it at $900 on the showroom floor.  Then he would refuse to work with the customer on the price no matter how in love with it the customer might be.  My favorite thing the Live True Vintage owner said was "I don't want to run a museum.  If I sell something and make a few bucks then I can buy more stuff to put in my store."  That, dear reader, is the heart of it all. 

Vintage life is about love and preservation of the past.  It is remembering the things that made people happy and enjoying the fruits of a day when things were built to last.  Nobody looks at a couch from 1990 and says, "Man, my grandmother had one like that and I always loved it."  So to all you vintage shop owners, I offer this bit of advice--If you want to sell something to the customer standing in front of you and have them return some day for more, make sure your business practice makes them as happy as the item they are ogling in your shop.

Image from an impromptu pinup shoot at in Nashville

The No-Show Streak

The NOW Award Winning WWII Batman & Robin
photo by Bethany Brantley

I would first of all like to take this opportunity to apologize to anyone who has participated in a Cosplay Contest and has experience delays due to a No-Show…Unfortunately, it may be me.

Over the last couple of years my daughter and I have been regularly attending cons and during the course the attendance we are usually approached by staff to enter in the costume contests.  Excited by the prospect we always agree and sign up…AND just like clockwork, each time something unforeseen keeps us from participating in the contest.  It has actually become a long running joke in my house. We put a great deal of work and love into our costumes and feel strongly that we can do well in competition, but fate sometimes has other ideas.  That being said, it was nice to finally break the streak and show up for once.  How it happened is a story in itself.

Pirates photo by Timid Monster

Recently my daughter and I had the privilege to assist a local college photography student with a project.  She had found us through my Facebook fan page and had contacted me asking if we might be willing to pose for her.  Naturally we agreed. We were asked to come in the World War II inspired Batman and Robin costumes we had premiered at the Wizard World con in New Orleans back in February.  For the shoot I brought along a gothic dress I have been working on because I was told Captain Robert Darksoul of the MidSouth Buccaneers would also be photographed at the same time…well blow me down….I love pirates and what a fabulous opportunity to test run my latest creation. 

Over the course of the next couple of hours we discovered that the MidSouth Buccaneers were not only a group worthy of recognition but our participation!  Hell Yeah we were going to party with the pirates!!  So we joined up.  Along with our introduction to the Buccaneers came an invitation to join them at MidsouthCon 32, in full pirate garb of course. 


French Pirate D'elle
photo by Toy Robot Photography

Once again my daughter and I were approached by staff members of the con to participate in the Masquerade (MidSouthCon’s Cosplay Contest).  When I alerted the Captain of the Buccaneers he was quite adamant we participate, not in pirate regalia, but in the Batman & Robin costumes he had seen at the photo shoot.  So we EXCITEDLY registered to do just that…when it hit us…neither of us were prepared to don the Batman & Robin gear.  Not only were we dressed as pirates (not a pin curl or victory roll in sight), but we did not even have the costumes with us! We had come completely unprepared to do any such thing!



Did I mention this was a local con?  Whew….with 2 hours before the kickoff of the masquerade, we drive across town and change our costumes and completely overhaul hair & make up!  We made it back JUST in the nick of time to start the pre-judging.  For those people who have never participated in this type of contest pre-judging gives the panel the opportunity to ask questions about the design and view the workmanship of each costume.  Picture the cast of FaceOff only not as brutal as Glen Hetrick.



Captain Robert Darksoul & D'elle
phot by Timid Monster

We were then moved from pre-judging to the stage.  As we stood in line to go on stage…Scarlett and I started discussing how we were finally breaking our No-Show Streak and wondered if Wizard World has us on a special BANNED FROM CONTEST list…yes we have no-showed that many times…



As we were waiting to go on stage …we discussed how to do our “Action Pose” My idea was to tell her to “look at the flowers” as I acted like I was going to shoot her, but she vowed never to cosplay with me again if I insisted on mixing fandoms.  We also discussed the nearest escape route and debated whether we should we maintain our No-Show Streak and flee the building!



After much laughter and acting out, we decided to stay and actually go on stage.  We strutted across the stage, struck our pose to the cheers of the crowd, and walked away with pride.  The No-Show Streak is officially broken.  And I'm glad we did.  All our efforts were justified and our anxieties about rejection were squashed as we took Best In our Category Without a Skit.  Win number one is now in the can.





Better give up now!
photo by Toy Robot Photography



The original gothic dress from the photo shoot
photo by Bethany Brantley



Just two pirates...shopping for comics
& collectibles...

Vintage Stero Cabinet into Wine/ Coffee Bar

Cabinet Pre-Upcycle

My husband shares my love for vintage stuff and, being a guy, often has a different take on the creative process.  With the sudden surge of information about "upcycling" and "repurposing," it was only natural that he would find himself getting into it as a creative outlet of his own, outside of his passion for photography.  We often go thrifting together and he heads out sometimes on his own, and I always get a kick out of his excited phone calls about the latest treasure he has found.  When he called and said he had found an old console stereo he liked and wanted to do a project with I offered an encouraging word although I must admit I had some doubts.  He sent me a text with a picture of the console and it was admittedly a cool piece, but I sometimes have difficulty seeing what he sees.  But I put my faith in him, especially when he said he was going to build me a coffee/wine bar out of it.

Wine Racks replaced the
fabric covered speakers

So he went to work gutting the ten tons of electronic guts from the cabinet and cleared out the spiders and assorted critters that had come to call it home.  He removed the speakers and went to the process of sanding and prepping the wood.  He painted the piece inside and out, leaving me amazed at what he was able to do with spray-paint.  I never would have thought it could be used for a detailed project like this, but it performed remarkably well.  The top he finished with a gloss white enamel so it would be durable and bright, resistant to spills and stains. For the interior, he chopped and added some wine shelves he salvaged from a wine cabinet he got from a thrift store, and set in a hanging wine glass rack from Amazon.com.  



Once the piece was finished I was blown away.  Even my teenaged daughter raved about how awesome it was, and she doesn't get very excited about old furniture. When it was moved into place in the dining room, we moved all wine and coffee service items from our cabinets into the bar freeing up space for other things.

 


 So now every morning starts with a cup of Joe and my nights can end with a glass of vino courtesy of our favorite vintage restoration.



Storage includes wine glass rack
and plenty of space for
coffee and mugs


 

Completed Project...Coffee Anyone?!?






 

The Inevitable Visit from "Aunt Flo"

As a woman I am NOT accustomed to waiting with hopeful expectation for “Aunt Flo” to pay her monthly visit.  Like most women it is a most dreaded time and one of few times I don't like being a girl.  While I am attending to my monthly,  I would prefer to stay home for a couple of days dressed in old sweatpants eating dark chocolate & Cheetos and drinking wine to numb the pain.  About the only time most women find themselves eagerly awaiting the return of the monthly curse is to make sure there is not a bouncing oops-a-baby in the near future.

This, however, is not always the case with cosplay girls. 



WWII Bomber Pilot Robin

As I sit here writing, I am hyper-aware that today marks the 7 day countdown to a big Comic-con I am preparing to attend.  During this Con I will be debuting my latest and greatest design, an awesome WWII inspired Robin, along with my oldest daughter as my WWII Paratrooper Batman counterpart.  My costume features form fitting pants, red steel boned under bust corset, and an ammo belt which is to ride low on my hips.  Of course, the timing couldn't be any worse as I also begin to notice those little signs that my not-so-beloved Aunt may be on her way with her affection for puffiness, bloating, and bitchiness.  I cannot tell you how stressed I am about this as the days tick by.  The last thing I want is to prepare to wow the crowds as a smoking hot Robin and come off more like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

I work out regularly, but I am a woman in my 40s and can be very self-conscience about extra pounds showing up here and there.  Especially AFTER I spend months constructing a new costume.  Every event I attend, I find myself on the show floor in full costume alongside 20-somethings who are the picture of perfect health and physique.  I am not very easily intimidated but I am aware that I am not a spring chicken and have birthed a couple of children.  Ok, maybe I am easily intimidated, but you have to give me props that I can still do this at my age.    

Just for shits & giggles I decided to mention my dilemma to my daughter and her reaction was about the same…at first she laughed at me…then I could see reality set in on her face…she was counting days too. After all, there is that whole synchronized periods issue with women in the same house.  Don't hate me, but I had to smile to myself when I saw the realization come into her eyes.  At least I wouldn't be alone in my misery.

 

So for the rest of the week I will sit here with my fingers crossed praying that Aunt Flo shows up and leaves on time…and the rest of the week trying to count how many days I have left before I am and out of Puffiville.  But just in case, wish me luck that in all my suffering and impatience I do not choke out some 20 year-old skinnier-than-necessary Harley Quinn at the Con.  

My Confession

I have a confession to make …I cannot draw.  There I admit it.  My lack of art skills can from time to time make the creative process a bit complicated.   

Example:  I was recently in contact with a local F/X artist to discuss building a custom prosthetic facial appliance which is to accompany my latest steampunk dress design.   The dress, which is still in the VERY basic stages of construction, is a basic formal skirt and a corset top.  Looking at this piece now reminds me more of a prom dress than a steampunk creation.  So when the F/X artist asked me to send photos or drawings I was almost embarrassed to say “I don’t have either.” 

Like most of my designs, I have an image in my head.  I can attempt to explain my image however it can sound like someone reading technical instructions aloud.  Until I know I can realistically create the image that is in my head I won’t even discuss the design.    

My saving grace in the creative process is I make a lot of notes and I can doodle.  Wow that sounds awkward…I am a doodler!  I keep a journal on me at all times and at any given moment will make notes and childlike drawings of art projects, sewing projects or anything else I want to create.  In some cases my rudimentary drawings resemble stick figures with notes...A LOT of notes! 

Anyone who knows me knows that I am passionate about art and design.  The mention of a possible project and my mind starts the creative process immediately.  My lack of sketching skills, although hindering the process, does not stop the end results.  I guess I shouldn't feel so bad.  Every once in a while I will see a show like SyFy's Face Off and catch a glimpse of a sketch by a truly talented sculptor, that looks like it was rendered by a 3 year-old with crayons.  I see those and say to myself, "look, a kindred spirit!"



Seriously DO NOT LAUGH

 

 

Corsets and Cosplay

1940's Retro Catwoman
with the Batmobile

I was recently on a shopping binge at an upscale boutique decided to try on yet another corset, having found one to my liking. While taking said corset to a dressing room the overly perky sales girl asked me if I had ever worn a corset before. *smirk*

I must admit I occasionally forget not everyone knows of my love of vintage clothing and cosplay.  My current personal selection of corsets is around 10-12 and the stock is always growing and changing. So naturally I told her "Why, no I have not…" just to see if she could offer me any little pearls of wisdom when it comes to wearing one.  You never know when someone is going to drop that "Why didn't I think of that" gem in your lap.

As a costumer, corsets are a vital part of my wardrobe and I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the pearls of wisdom I have picked up over the years.

Before you even put it on go to the powder room and take care of your "business!"  Do not wait, because once it is properly laced properly it will apply pressure to your bladder.  It is so much easier to go to the ladies before the corset is on.  Preparation beats regret any day.  Also, anything that requires bending, do before you lace-up. (i.e. shoes, stockings…)  I am not a Chinese Acrobat therefore cannot contort into the unnatural positions that will be required to finish dressing once the corset is laced.   



Now you are ready to put the corset on.  Loosen the laces entirely and open the front.  One you are properly in the corset close the busk closures (the front closures of the corset).  For me I then stretch my arms toward the ceiling, which creates awesome cleavage.  Manually adjust if necessary.  I have from time to time laced my own corset although I do not recommend it.  It always helps to have someone lace it for you.  Do not over tighten the laces at first.  Over-lacing can cause the busk closures to snap off rendering the corset unusable.  I normally have mine readjusted to tighten things up as needed. Remember, it is a process, lace, relax, lace, relax, until you get where you need to be with it.  Try to do it all at once and you end up an uncomfortable mess. 



Waist training is the art of tight-lacing a corset to drastically modify the size of your waistline.  I do not waist train so I do not claim to be an expert on any of this.  I can usually reduce my waist by about 5 inches and it helps with my posture!

When purchasing a corset, it should fit snuggly but not be unbearable to wear. Steel boning is a must. If a corset does not have steel boning it will often buckle and dig into your waist. It is not uncommon for me to wear a corset for 8-10 hours at a convention so comfort is everything in this notoriously uncomfortable garment. I know several people who have or are waist training and will wear one for up to 23 hours....yikes!



Armored Wonder Woman



And honestly how do you create a Wonder Woman cosplay without a red corset?!?

Back to the overly friendly sales girl, what was her pearl of wisdom for me? "You may want someone to help lace you up." Really!?!?

 

 

 

 



The Roaring Twenties

With my love for all things vintage, I keep a steady eye out for events that may tickle my fancy. Quite by accident I stumbled across one that I almost missed. Fortunately, the timing was right and with some quick action, my husband and I were able to get in on it. I am speaking of the annual SpeakEasy event in support of the Memphis Oral School of the Deaf. This event was spectacular and I highly recommend attending. SpeakEasy is a Roaring Twenties themed event which features food provided by local restaurants and caterers, a "casino", silent and live auctions, photo ops, a jazz band and dancing.

The biggest issue in preparation for the evening was of course was finding a 1920s themed dress that did not look like a flapper Halloween costume.

Being the thrifty girl I am, I immediately began searching for the perfect dress that I could repurpose. I wanted to create something that not only would be memorable and would translate "Roaring Twenties" but something soft and feminine in the vein of the Great Gatsby.

I was able to find a boring pink dress at a local resale shop for under $20. With the addition of A LOT of lace, T-strap shoes, a cloche hat (which the brim had to be cut to fit my face better) and a lovely vintage crocheted lace sweater this is the look I was able to come up with! 

I even MADE some natural colored back seamed stockings by following this tutorial.

Here are several photos my hubby & I pre-event and pre-adult beverages!

Of course a girl is only as good as her accessories!

During the course of the evening we received MANY compliments on the authenticity and originality of our attire with people stopping us to take photos all night. As a costumer I love to see other people get into the spirit of the event with their attire. Many of SpeakEasy's attendees were in twenties attire but of course, ours were a bit more over the top and dramatic than most...but hey what would you expect from a costume designer!?!

All photos are produced by Toy Robot Photography.