Thread: Finished some real costumes! With thanks to Lara and Ozma :)

Hello Bhuzzers,

Backstory: I have never been good at sewing. Before a couple of years ago I'd never used a sewing machine, couldn't sew a button, etc. My dear friend Lara, who is a sewing rock star, showed me some basics, but I never progressed much until this past summer. I've had a lot more free time since I was laid off last April, and between that and the fact that I'm almost never a fan of costumes I see for purchase, I decided to tackle my own. Oh, there were mishaps, make no mistake. But in the end I made two whole costumes that actually came out a lot like I'd envisioned them (a rarity!) and in the case of one skirt, even better than I'd thought! Mainly because my first idea didn't work and I had to cut it up and redo it, but version two came out a lot better. :)

Special note of thanks to Ozma: Your designs and your funny, interesting, and generally stellar blogging about them are inspirational. You made costume design feel accessible in a way it never had before. So thank you for helping me feel like I could actually come up with and make a costume that would be worth wearing and putting in front of people. :)

Without further ado, from my recent photo shoot with Michael Baxter:

Costume one! I covered a Target bra, made the matching Rosehip-esque hip accent, and sewed the skirt. (I even made the hair flowers.) :)



Costume two: This was more ambitious, and this was the one wherein my first skirt idea didn't work at all (I tried a ruffly-thing with lace and man, it just failed). But I like how it came out with the satin better. Once again, Target bras to the rescue. :)



Anyway, just wanted to share, and say thank you to the people that helped me feel like I could actually make my own stuff instead of being at the mercy of the market! And thanks of course to Michael Baxter who can make almost anything look amazing. ;-)

Happy shimmies,
Eve

Wow! Great work. I love the black & white with the tan color in the first costume.

Ozma, I should add: it will be a looooooong time before I tackle any beading like the stuff you do! ;-)

gorgeous, wow congratulations!

I am still afraid of my sewing machine, but I see there is hope!

Eve. these are great! Michael Baxter is just capturing that greatness, not creating it. Kudos you m'dear!

Thanks! There IS hope! I recommend finding things that you can sew in a straight line and then feel proud of yourself for completing. Like curtains, say. That's what I did. :)

I just noticed that the chains on the gold bra were tangled and gimpy for that photo. Bummer.

WOW! they are gorgeous, very well done I am another non sewer, well I can mend and take hems up etc, but beading and sewing in a creative way, I am way too impatient and the slightest hiccup and everything is bundled into a sewing box never to see the light of day again, so I have stopped the attempts due to wastage.

I am very impressed with your creations They are so

beautiful job! your colors are perfect and the lines are awesome!!!

Nice job and they look flawless on you. Isn't it fun to wear your own creations?

Looks great - you should be very proud of yourself and finding your own style.

You've come so far since that first little project! I don't feel like I can take any credit at this point other than for cheering you on ,r:; I'm constantly impressed.

Thanks all! And Lara -- you're way more than just my cheer section ("what did I do wrong? How do I do this part? What would you do here? Heeeelp!"). ;-)

Originally Posted by eve_adelfi

Ozma, I should add: it will be a looooooong time before I tackle any beading like the stuff you do! ;-)

Awwwww, that's ok.

I'm just really touched at your shout out...truely.

See now, I think the beading is the easier part to undertake because it's more like arts and crafts! I'm super impressed you made a skirt with lots of different types of fabric and sewed it yourself- I'm petrified of undertaking that kind of project. I bow!!! They are both lovely!

ZOMG! They're so elegant and sophisticated. These costumes (imo) look simplistic enough to concentrate on your dancing but decorative enough so they don't bore. I think you've created a wonderful balance.

Love them! Great job!

Thank you all so much! Diyung, that was what I was hoping for, so that makes me feel great! :)

Stunning work! :)

very nice! The look to be the perfect style for you :)

These are gorgeous Eve!

Awesome job!

love them both, stylish and super elegant!

Oh awesome!!!!