In Lieu of a Catchy Title...

"Some Sewing Stuff" just didn't cut it...Titles seem to be the hardest part, always!

Anyways, hello, loyal readers & welcome, new friends!  Today's post is a catch-all for the busy weekend last, with Spirits of the Past & Trick or Treat Day at the village, and a "throwback" to my earliest attempts at millinery:

Bustle dress & hat on the stairs of Hyde.

But first, you may have noticed a few changes to the blog...probably the most obvious addition is the new banner!  Yes, The Young Sewphisticate finally received the banner it had been waiting well over a year for, and I hope you like it is much as I do.  Also, speaking of overdue updates, check out the completed GCV&M Internship.  Lastly, I discovered that I somehow deleted quite a few pictures from earlier posts.  So, I spent some time combing through my posts and updating those broken links.  If you ever come across similar problems with my blog, please do not hesitate to let me know!

Even though the museum season has officially ended for the year, there are still plenty of opportunities to be had onsite.  One of those great opportunities is Spirits of the Past!  Very much like the Yuletide Tours in December, these spooky, after-hours, theatrical tours run for two weeks during October.  And, on the tours, guests are led by candlelight through the village to see and partake in the horrors of popular, 19th century literature.

A costumed tour guide resting on the steps of Hamilton.
Poor & bloody Mary has some nasty scratches - she warns her guests
to stay close and be on the look out for demons...she's never lost a guest, yet.

This year's theme was grim and gruesome tales from the Brothers Grimm.  So, each building along the tour featured a short, theatrical retelling or scene pulled directly from the pages of classics like "Cinderella," "Frau Trude," "Godfather Death," and many more.  Sometimes guests stood witness, helpless to save characters from impending doom, and other times they even became part of the scene.  And if the stories didn't scare them, the spooks of the night sure did!

Snow White at the head of the table.

This year, I was thrilled to have the chance to play Snow White in a two-part scene.  The first, in the Hamilton "castle," featured one of the two queens (double cast role), a huntsman and the royal cook; the second, in the Davis "cottage," the same, vengeance-seeking queen and Snow White.

Set & props for Snow White's cottage - the guests loved the dwarves'
place settings which featured each name in German!

Snow White foolishly disobeys the dwarves' warning not to let anyone but them in and is tricked by a harmless looking peddler, the evil queen in disguise, selling irresistible, ivory combs!  

Dressed rehearsal photograph courtesy of Maria.

While the comb may have only put Snow White to sleep, the apple got her!

Dressed rehearsal photograph courtesy of Maria.

Anyways, it was cold, but lots of fun thanks to friends!  And last weekend, the last weekend of tours, we sold out!  So make sure to reserve your tickets next year to take part in the spooky, historical fun...you won't want to miss out!


Sunday, October 25th, featured another Halloween museum event, this time much sweeter and more family friendly: Trick or Treat in the Village!  Children had the chance to partake in all kinds of holiday fun, including, meeting our historically accurate, Disney princess, roasting marshmallows, face painting, coloring spooky cute pictures, and, of course, knocking on historic doors in search of candy!  We were absolutely SWAMPED with children in cute, little costumes!  I heard it was a record breaking day - and the traffic jam to prove it - with attendance figures of over 5,300 people!!  (Wow, I sure wish every museum event could bring in those numbers!)

I was stationed in the grand Hamilton House for the day - lucky for me, next to my good friend and partner in crime, Ariana, in Hyde.  There was a non-stop line of trick or treat-ers between our two buildings, and we both had to be rescued with more candy.  At a rate of just one Kit-Kat per child, I went through three entire tubs of candy in 4.5 short hours...

So, my costume for the day...any guesses?

If you guessed a young, Queen Victoria, than you are correct!  What happened to your Cinderella costume, a few of you loyal readers may ask...well, I didn't end up finishing it for Sunday.  Instead, I fixed up an older costume (more on this to come).  But, never fear, Cinderella is not forgotten and she'll get her day yet...Anyways, I think it was a hit as I've never been called a "princess" or had my likeliness taken so many times in my entire life!!  I'm happy that the children (and their adults) enjoyed it :)

Ariana & I even slipped away at the end of the day to have a few royal portraits taken on the porch of Hamilton:

Doesn't she look regal?  I love her bustle dress!

Photograph courtesy of Ariana.

Photograph courtesy of Ariana.

AND, she even posed and allowed me to take a few more detailed shots of her 'seventies hat!  Many thanks!  This was my first attempt at millinery ever back in 2011:

Front view of Late Victorian tilt hat.

The vintage(?) straw base had to be cut to size, wired and bound with bias tape.  Then, it was attacked with flowers and cheap craft feathers...perhaps not all that period correct, but we all had to start somewhere, right?

She's so photogenic!

Someday, I'll get into the bustle era...but, for now, here's another early millinery throwback from The Secret Garden (2012), directed by Elana Gizzi.  My first hat that made it onto the stage (and, on second thought, may have actually been my first attempt at millinery, hmm...)

Pulled a hat from the box, covered it in fabric and proceeded to tack just about everything I could find onto it.  Yup, I've come a long way...

On stage.  I also made the ghost costume furthest to the left!
It was a challenge to get the fabric to drape and stay the way I wanted.
Photograph courtesy of Facebook.

Well, back to sewing I go!  Unless I "dye" first...more on that to come.  Thanks for reading!

"This world is but a canvas to our imagination"

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

~ Pablo Picasso

It was American Transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, who declared that "this world is but a canvas to our imagination."  Each of us hold a paintbrush, poised and ready to fill a life with color; adding but a small, yet individually significant, contribution to the vast and timeless mural of history.

Today, paintbrush in hand, I have the last, planned, "past project" post to share: costume renderings from my Independent Art Study, completed during the first semester of senior year in high school.


Ever since I could hold a crayon, I've been filling my world (and sketchbooks) with color.  So elementary & middle school art classes were the highlight of many school days.  My mom still has a box full of my old artwork under her bed...here are a few that I pulled out just for pictures - what a trip down memory lane!

Ink & watercolor peacock from 6th grade art show.

A surrealist doodle page from a 6th grade sketchbook, #2 pencil.

A detail shot from a 7th grade, oil pastel, still life in the style of Paul Gauguin.
This piece along with two others, I believe, went to our local airport art show.
I still remember driving all the way to the airport with family to see the show,
and receiving a certificate from our county clerk.  Good memories!

However, by the end of seventh grade, I had tucked away the hours of creativity in exchange for textbooks and college prep tests.  In fact, it wasn't really until a required, one-semester "Art" credit in junior year that I kind of rediscovered my love for creating with color!  Mr. Lorenzo, the teacher for "Drawing I," was very encouraging, setting aside extra time for any student who wished for helpful critique.

Our first project was a graphite still life of an object of our choosing: Naturally, I chose my violin!  

Our next major project was a charcoal abstraction of our chosen object:

We were also encouraged to keep a sketchbook for daily practice & a few assignments:

Graphite exploration of texture - folds in satin fabric.

My figures left much to be desired...colored pencil.

Who knows why was I drawing on black construction paper...
Discovered the magic of Prismacolor pencils!

Anyways, after the short introduction to drawing, I definitely wanted more!  Mr. Lorenzo left such a positive and encouraging impression with me, giving me constructive criticism and constant instruction for improvements.  SO, when he offered to take me on as one of his independent art study students for the first semester of my senior year, I immediately jumped at the chance!

The first step was to draft a written proposal outlining the plans and expectations for the independent study in drawing.  My rational, was simple:  To costumers, design is the essential form of communication.  Therefore, as an aspiring historical costume designer, the opportunity to take an independent drawing study will allow me to delve deeper into a field that is a passion and to develop necessary drawing skills for my professional career.  Furthermore, a focused study will enhance my ability to communicate and visually clarify my ideas through drawing.  (I still have so many ideas floating around in my head that I wish I could just get out on paper!)

The focus of the study, explored through various sketches and finished drawings, was to better represent the movement of fabric and visually suggest various materials, improving the communication of costume intentions.  Also, representing proportional figures and increasing the intensity of value throughout compositions to give the illusion of realist movement were goals.  And, while I still have so much to learn, looking back, I definitely made great strides towards my goals!

All semester I kept an active sketchbook to, well, practice drawing.  I sketched costumes for my favorite musicals & books:

Costume designs for Éponine from Les Misérables, colored pencil.

Costume designs for the Lucie Manette, "Little Lucie" & Charles Darnay
from A Tale of Two Cities, graphite.

As well as costume renderings from history: 

Vivandière uniform, colored pencil & ink.

Discovering water colors!  (And that regular sketchbook paper 
is not sturdy enough to handle the magic that is water color...)

Mr. Lorenzo just could not have been a finer mentor!  I will be forever grateful for all of the time, energy and patients he willingly took to encourage me.  Week after week, he allowed me to work in his room, and carved time into his busy days to sit with me and evaluate my progress.  All of those hours spent critiquing and complimenting were the best assistance and motivation any student could have asked for - and, because of Mr. Lorenzo's guidance, my drawing improved by leaps and bounds by the end of those 20 weeks!

SO, when it came time for the final project, Mr. Lorenzo had just introduced me to water colors.  (And, I'm in love with that medium!!)  I ended up creating a series of seven, multimedia costume renderings, exploring all that I had listed as goals: movement, color & proportional figures.

Tudor costume, rough pencil outline.

I began each finished drawing with a pencil outline (like above).  Then, I
inked the outline if I was satisfied, and colored the figures in with water color, sometimes overlapping layers of color.  Finally, shading or extra details were added with colored pencil.

Finished Costume Renderings:

Fantasy dress, exploring movement & layering water color.

1770s riding habit, modeled after the iconic painting
of "Lady Worsley" by Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1776.

1770s riding habit, a change of color & material (watered silk).

1810s sheer, cotton dress.

1840s day dress, wool.

1840s day dress, silk.

Mid-century bathing costume & bonnet.

Together, these seven finished drawings made up the costume renderings section in my college portfolio & came with us to every interview in Pittsburgh, PA!  Now, whenever I sit down to draw, I think of Mr. Lorenzo and his dedication to encouraging the next generation of art students.

This post is rightfully dedicated to Mr. Lorenzo, whom I credit with setting me on the right path for a future in costume design...here's to forever painting with brighter, bolder colors! 

“I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart” 

~ Vincent van Gogh

Doctor Dolittle (Part III)

What made the show so special for me was that it was the first time I really saw my designs fully realized on a stage which broadcast to a larger, local community.  I guess it was then that it clicked in my head that this fun hobby could become my career...

Tonight we're wrapping up Doctor Dolittle (2013), the Stages musical that I had the privilege of student costuming, with the third and final past project post of the series!  (You can read Part I here - all about Emma's foundation - and Part II here - an in-detail look at Emma's Act I ensembles.)

Emma's "Island" dress & bonnet.
Photograph courtesy of Dan Olean.

Like in the first act, the directer, Dianne Schaumberg, wanted Emma to have three outfits for the second act: one for the "shipwrecked" scene, another for all of the "island" scenes, and one final, grand outfit for the "protest" scene.  So, without further ado, I present the act II costumes - enjoy!

Doctor Dolittle (Part III): Act II Costumes

"Shipwrecked"

Act II opens with our poor protagonists recovering from a slight navigational error.  Emma's trunks are nowhere to be found and she, herself, seems to have, ehem, lost the clothing off her own back! 

Photograph courtesy of STAGES.

Embarrassed to appear in only her underwear, a pair of pink drawers and a matching corset (see part one), every effort is made to successfully recover her clothing trunks.

Photograph courtesy of STAGES.

Pink Island Dress & Bonnet

Emma's trunks eventually wash ashore, and for the majority of act two, Emma dons her "island" ensemble.  

Preliminary sketch.

Photograph courtesy of STAGES.

The dress itself was another refashioned 80s prom dress.  (Could you tell by the giant bow?)  Delicate lace and sequin trim were added along the neckline.  At the time, I didn't have the heart to remove the giant bow in the back, but the slew of polyester flowers had to go!

Next, perhaps my favorite piece of the entire show, a matching, dinner-plate shaped, 30s poke bonnet was fashioned.  (Nicknamed the "Cosette Bonnet," and a little inspired by the bonnets in the 2012 Les Miderables, directed by Tom Hooper.  Les Mis has always been my favorite musical!)

Constructed in pretty much the same way as the Act I Turqoise bonnet, a straw base was cut to shape and bound with pink bias tape.  Gathered, cream lace was tacked along the inside brim, and the same, delicate lace that appears on the dress was used for the bavolet.  Flowers, vintage plumes and a neat, crocheted (?) butterfly complete the trimmings.  

Finished portfolio pictures:  Jessica (Emma) looked stunning! 

Photograph courtesy of Dan Olean.

Photograph courtesy of Dan Olean.

Photograph courtesy of Dan Olean.

Finalle "Protest" Dress

Last, but not least, Emma needed a dress worthy of her grande finalle when she took the stage one last time to rally the animals in protest against tyranny and oppression.  The only dress I could think of to do the job was my "Young Victoria" inspired dress, a tiered confection of lacy fanciness! 

Photograph courtesy of STAGES.

Inspired by one of my favorite films, Jean-Marc Vallée's The Young Victoria (2009), which was costumed by the talented Sandy Powell, this dress was originally created for the "pop culture movie" themed spirit day at my former high school.  There is just something about period dramas that instantly draws me in...perhaps it is the lovely dresses or dancing, not to mention dreamy couples.  Yes, Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend were perfectly cast as the royal couple - talk about one of the greatest love stories ever! 

Historically speaking, Queen Victoria has always been one of my favorite female figures of the past.  I admired her sense of nationalistic duty, her courage and bravery, her leadership skills, and just her all around toughness.  (I even channeled her words for my senior yearbook quote: "we are not interested in the possibilities of defeat.  They do not exist." ~ Queen Victoria)  So, lucky for me, I found a pale, pink prom dress buried in the back closet just waiting to be turned into an 1840s ballgown!  

Picture taken without flash.

After a fair amount of repair and alteration, especially to the undersleeves and pleated oversleeves, lots and lots of lace was added!  If you look closely at the lace panel on the bodice, you will see my piecing job.  Worn over a hooped petticoat and one ruffled petticoat; a vintage cameo brooch is pinned to the bodice.  

Picture taken with flash.

And that concludes Emma's Act II wardrobe & the Doctor Dolittle past project posts!  Thank you so much for reading!  

Photograph courtesy of STAGES.