Project Madness
As usual, I have several projects going all at onceand our house is suffering for it! Don is soooo patient.
Inspired by my method of theatre costuming(cutting up and remaking clothes from thrift shops), my girlfriend T decided that we(I) should design really cool Altered Couture pieces for sale at the holiday craft/art fairs. T imagined we could start with embellishing jean jackets. So she twisted my arm and we went shopping.
Well, the designs quickly evolved way beyond blue jean jackets, as we found truly hideous dresses and jackets that were truly wonderful fabrics. We stuck within our budget for materials and dry cleaning and decided to introduce twelve one-of-a-kind design pieces this winter. My brain has gone into overdrive and the sketchbook is filling up with imaginings.
Now the dining room table (and the floor under and around it) is covered in velvets, sheers, luscious trims, vintage buttons, rhinestone buckles and snips and snaps. I will eventually do better photography, but for now here are poor snapshots of a few of the pieces weve put together so far.
This was once a red dress and a velvet coat .
Pinned together jean coat with collar and cuffs cut from a pleated dress
Velvet dress that is now a fitted tux jacket may use velvet flowers on sash instead of velvet bow…
Im experimenting with these velvet flower corsages as welll.
Arent we having fun? 🙂
And then there is the project on the coffee table in the TV room. This is covered with clay–as I am also working on production for “Itti-Bitties” for this up-coming holiday season. The preliminary work for making 50-100 pieces at a time is pretty brainless, so I roll clay balls in front of movies. These particular projects are this years addition to the little Nativity sets I make, and red prototype Razorbacks for Charlies coaches and friends in Arkansas. (I need to do a “What The Boys Are Doing Now” entry as soon as I get more time….) More time? *laughs hysterically*
And THEN, on my crowded drawing table is an illustration project for one of our own diarists here in OD
Plus there are projects I do not have photos for(yet!) the school musical and all that entails, is gearing up in all its delightful madness. Try-outs begin today. Cant wait to work with those amazing kids again!
One of the great established costume designers in our town recently called and invited me to design a show with her this spring. I am thrilled and flatteredas she will not only be a magnificent mentor for me, but a delight to work with. We will be designing Enchanted April which takes place in 1920s Tuscany. *melt*
We just invested in a great camera for me, so that I can get better in-theatre shots. My new toy is a Canon Rebel SLR with a telephoto lens and other thrilling bells and whistles. With this wonderful equipment, I may start doing more people portraits as well. I like doing portraits too .
(Can somebody please clone me?)
Oh, and just for fun…..
I did not design thesealthough I wish I HAD! I just wanted to share this with those of you who know about our peculiar monkey sickness….
(*bowing up and down “IamnotworthyIamnotworthy…”*)
:)xo
Adagio
I want Claire’s bridesmaids to wear those monkey dresses in her wedding. Oh yes I do. Oh yes I do.
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OMG those monkeys are to DIE for!!! And I had a lovely pang of recognition at the Fire Mountain catalog, which also sits nearby for me 😉
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I really need to send my child to you for a few weeks. She would LOVE the kinds of projects you do. She might even finish something (heh – the mountain of unfinished projects is one curse of being 11). I love the designs. Morgan’s school puts on a theatre production. I can’t remember if 6th-graders are allowed to be involved, but I think if they are, she’ll probably end up backstage designing something. This makes me smile. Her daddy wants her to consider being onstage because she’s such a drama queen, but I think she would love creating the world of a production rather than the characters (if that makes sense). You know, you just amaze me.
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What fun!:)
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I’ve been trying to tell Morgan what a wonderful state Colorado is. My folks used to have a lot in Crested Butte, but never built. We used to ski there when I was a kid. I doubt I could convince Morgan she wants to move there, but a visit may be easier to sell. She has been nominated to participate in this thing called “People to People Student Ambassador” program, which I think is set fornext summer. We’re trying to make sure it’s legitimate (and also to figure out who the heck nominated her. I’m thinking it was dear Mr. Lang, her social studies teacher). But she’d be gone in June or July, not August. I want to figure out how to make such a visit a reality. wheee!
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Eeee! Sock monkey madness! *checks…hmmm good. No knots in monkey tails!* 😀 I just want to dive headfirst into all your crafty goodness! Be well,
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Oh my, you sound like you are having fun and being insanely busy. 🙂
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Ooooh, I love your remade clothes! You do need a clone – or two. I am wondering what a razorback is. The monkey dresses are very creative but my goodness, the last one is for a brave person to wear. 🙂
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stupid OD isn’t letting me leave a note! let me try again: hahahaha!!! I showed Morgan your designs and the crazy sock monkey designs. she says the last monkey dress, where the monkeys are situated, is “just wrong!”
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You MUST MUST MUST buy that last dress and give it to one of your sisters. Promise. Love the custom costuming! RYN: Some days I see my father staring at me from the mirror and other days it’s Mom. I really wish they’d stay out of my bathroom! LOL! Glad you enjoyed!
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I think the Altered Couture is going to be wildly popular.
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Wow, your house is a shop of creation. I really love those top three tops, how cool if that’s we could walk outside and see women wearing, all one of a kind and delicious. I’ve always been a sucker for your art style. So many projects, the more you do the more you think of, like those scarves magicians pull out tied to another and another. A clone is a good idea lol! But then of course you’d need another house! (((HUG)))
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Your jacket designs are fabulous, A. There is a clothing designer here who uses old kimonos of wonderful silk patterns. I have several of her pieces and just love them as they never go out of style — wearable art. Post more photos as you continue to design new pieces — I can’t wait to see them. Love,
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OOoh that black and red jacket at the top is to die for! All of your projects are fabulous, and so are you! 🙂 The OD diarist for whom you’ve done that beautiful illustration is a very lucky, pleased and grateful person! 😀 😀 😀 I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you are doing Razorbacks 😉 You always do a grand job of creating costumes for shows. And the monkey stuff is so much fun! You are just overflowing with creativity. Glad you have that new toy. Enjoy, whether cloned or not 🙂 Hugs,
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The clothes are amazing. YOU are amazing!!
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Your creativity is astounding! I’d love to see someone wearing the sock monkey dresses, too funny!
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oh my goodness, you are making me feel so unproductive now. LOL 🙂
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RYN… I’d love to see Picasso’s study of ‘Las Meninas.’ It sounds intriging. I only wish we had more time in Madrid. One could easily spend a month or two there just enjoying the culture. I have indeed been to the Falla Museum in Valencia. I have a few pictures of the ‘ninots’ that are housed there. You’ll love Valencia… especially if you go at the right time of year. 🙂
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Mmmm….just reading about and seeing your creativity is soothing to the creative part of me that isn’t getting out much these days. Your work is so lovely!! Can’t wait to see more. 🙂
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…you my dear…are U.N.B.E.L.I.E.V.A.B.L.E. You are SO worthly! With all that is going on with you…I can’t help wonder how the kitchen floor is going! 🙂 The pieces you’ve come up with are amazing but I wonder how you’ll ever be able to give them up for sale. I’ll take the comment about the Razorbacks as indication that C’s doing okay there. The monkeys? I’m speechless. Really. 🙂
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such wonderful and creative clothes!!! I love’em! : )
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ryn: no farce. I’m afraid it’s quite serious.
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thanks for your kind words about Razz. She is doing better today. People should be more like dogs…she never complains and even smiles (wags her tail at me) when I have to pill her or clean her sutures…I’ll be back to read more as soon as life settles down a bit.
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My God, how brilliant are you…you must get one of those dresses they are incredible. I love them and the work on your desk..
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your altered couture is wonderful. i love seeing your work–in all its facets. as a person who doesn’t spend enough time being creative (other than on paper) you are a wonderful example…thank you.
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oh no the sock monkeys! reading something like this just makes me feel tired and wonder why i cant do stuff like this. 🙁 thanks for your note. helps to know others are overwhelmed when school starts. it’s just so scary that it gets so desperate for me, i’m at absolute zero, not just a little stressed, but as maxed out as can be. 🙁 i dont know why. i know it was that one stressor thatset me off to be depleted, and i’m not over it. im sure all the fears of failing school and stuff are part of it. and i dont know. i just dont know. i’m still going, so far.
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Must. Have. Monkey. Dress.Must. Have.
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Kairs! I just found out that those are not buttons beneath each monkey face on the first dress…THEY ARE NAMES!! Pam
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I am always amazed at your creativity and talent, not to mention energy.
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PS…those two jackets are the best! I love the idea of taking old things and putting them together to make something new. You could seriously market those…oh yeah. : ) And the monkey dress….wacky wow!
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I so admire your talent, but I dearly love your sense of humor. Can you be as nutty as I can? I hope so; it feels pretty good..
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Did you buy that monkey dress yet? It belongs to you, you know. RYN: I thought everyone would be upset to learn that I kill spiders and bugs, but apparently there isn’t a whole lotta love for spiders out in cyberspace, either! LOL!
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I read this and think to myself, “Why, of course!” And all is still right in the world. LYM~
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Oh, I hope you keep at this…. I definitely think you’re onto something here, and love the designs you’ve made.
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Hey there, Myz goddess of art 🙂 You have email. Ahem, it’s email I should have mailed many days ago. Proving once again that I should not save anything to drafts 😉 But then if only the world would stop interrupting my creative times, yeah! I hope you can work with Jen to get the cover put together for my poetry book. Then Cathy and I can do the rest, I think. I sent her email addy. And I hope I’m not taking up too much of your time. I truly and deeply appreciate your friendship and artful help. Warm Hugs,
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I understand. Life goes like that 😉 But Jen is on vacation next week, as far as I know. Cathy will be back but I don’t think she knows anymore about Paint Shop Pro than I do, so I guess it will just all come together when it does. It will be okay 🙂 Hugs,
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Oooo oooo oooo! Ahhh ahhh ahhh! Such hilarious dresses! And such beautiful jackets! I LOVED seeing all this! (Thank goodness for a patient husband, eh?) By the way, having just fried my own digital camera, I’d love to know if these pics were taken by your new camera? Can we see some macro and telephoto work, please? Ryn: Thank you! *Whew…*
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Oh wow oh wow!!!
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I loved the movie, “Enchanted April”. Those jackets are wonderful. You are so talented.
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Your creations are fantastic! And love that sock monkey dress. You inspire me to get back to my art!
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