Mother's Tea 2012

The pinning, ironing, sewing, and fussing has begun!  Since I've been off from school (one half day, TWO snow days) I've gotten a headstart on the project that comes together the quickest at the end of semester.

I've started with an amazing piece of fabric that has a pseudo-colonial war scene spilling across it.  The very center has been faded by (what I presume) strong sunlight, so the fabric is almost gossamer in the middle.  I hemmed it up to give the bottom edge weight, as well as pin-tuck like detail.  The sides were pleated back to the center back for a little volume and because I don't want to cut this fabric if I don't have to.  It's so darling.

I've been re-inking some of the center details for a little refreshing of their colour.  Now the flag can really flap jauntily in the wind.

I'm aiming for a "peep show" concept with this.  She is a clockwork doll who teaches history by telling stories with her skirt scenes.  Like having a tiny theatre on your skirt.  A red (taffeta?) is draping amazingly over the underskirt to create the illusion of a traditional red theatre curtain, called A Grand Drape.  I'm not sure I will have it hiked up this far in the long run because, while I love the little flag, it's a little bunchy at the top and I do not want to stress the red fabric.  Something nibbled giant holes in it at some time, and they remind me of ink blot tests.  So far I have seen a goat, and a clown face.  I'm not sure if that is a good sign or not. Haha.

Topping the whole thing off will be a corset of some upholstery material that has yet to be decided.  I want to put a wee box seat on one side with tiny spectators peeking out over the top.  Maybe those Muppet guys who are always at the theatre?  And trim the edge with fancy tassels or something.

At this point in time, my character concept is that I am a clock-work doll who lives in a library.  Our inventor is long gone, having abandoned the library for one reason or another, and we denizens have kept it up as long and as best we can.  I hope to wrangle some other friends into presenting with me.  One as a clockwork librarian and one as something else.  Perhaps the white rabbit?  Literary concepts.  Too much fun!

Status Quo

Well, Cornish is back in action and despite it only being three days back, it feels like a whole week or so.  I am enjoying the majority of my classes as most of them require me to perform duties directly related to my intended major!  Such fun.  Studio is one of these.  In Studio we design a hypothetical play from reading it and gaining first impressions to sketching up designs for lights, costumes, and sets.  We basically do every aspect of production except the actual physical building.  It's a way for us as young designers to hone our skills, have a little practice at working together as a team, and to test our talents.

I'm also taking a lighting class, a Theatre History class, 3D design, and Scenic Painting (which is awesomely messy) on top of being the ASM for the school's production of Pride and Prejudice.  All in all very satisfying and very busy.

So I leave you with this lovely dress.  Alas, I have misplaced the show this was from, but it's made from a tent and I'm in love with the neckline silhouette as a possibility for my wedding dress.

More later!

Cheers,

Anna

Crafty Goodness!

I've been busy!

First up is this ruffle bustle skirt I whipped up from a fab tutorial over at The Noble Hare.  Super simple and very satisfying.  I plan on adding a little more length to this though, at 18" it's darling, but I worry that my knickers may show should I bend over too far!

Next up is my o w l s sweater designed by Kate Davies of the blog needled.  It's such a quick knit that I've knit this version three times!  Heehee.  First two incarnations had minor tweaking that needed to be done.  It's frogged again and back on the needles hopefully for the last time.  However now that the weather has turned sunny it may be a little while before I actually pick this up and knit on it.  It's knit in Malabrigo which is a kettle dyed squishy-soft merino wool.  I picked it up as a reward to myself for finishing my first year at Cornish.  after forking over $80 this sweater better come out perfect! ;)

I have a few other things in progress, a brides maid dress for a friend, starting to tweak my Sabriel costume, and dreaming up ideas for Steamcon in October!  So stay tuned.

Cheers,
Anna

Mother's Tea 2011

Mother's Tea was amazing!  Just as butterfly-inducing as any onstage performance, only I got to spend the day with classmates and friends.  For all the design changes that my outfit underwent, I'm very happy with the final product and presentation.  We're already thinking up ideas for next year!

Mother's Tea #1

For Mother's Tea I'm making a corset (fingers tightly crossed) out of yummy red silk with a black lace overlay.  This is the first mock-up of the corset pattern.  I've got the second one drafted up and it's patiently waiting for me to snip it out of muslin.  Alas I have other finals to attend to.

Under the corset is going a draped-front bustle business made out of a red velvet suit my Mum thrifted for me aeons ago (2004?) and it's finally finding a happy life in this outfit.  Nothing's been cut, mostly because I can't bear to ruin that delicious (and difficult to match) fabric, so if it becomes something else later it's ready to go.  I'm using crinoline (REALLY stiff tulle) to pouf out the back bustle part and make everything else fluffy.  There will be SO much fluffy going on it's kind of crazy.

More pictures forthcoming, so stay tuned!

It's been a while...

Last Saturday my darling Sonya and I stayed up until 2 am dying my hair a vibrant shade of purple.  I got home and rinsed it out and tinted the rest of me purple!  Live and learn I guess.  Never use Special Effects hair colour! :)  Spring break was spent being sick with what ever the darling boy had, some variety of chest cold complete with fever, phlegm, and hacking cough.  For the first time in five days I've made a cup of coffee and am off to work.  Probably shouldn't, but I need to make some cashy money.

Mother's Tea is the next big project we have coming up at Cornish.  We design, make/alter/find a costume and present it at the end of the semester.  I'm going as some form of a Steampunk inspired Can-Can girl!  It's going to be SUCH fun!  So stay tuned for the updates as to it's progress.

Shadowing at the Seattle Repertory

I was so chuffed to be able to sit in the tech booth at the Seattle Repertory Theatre last night with my Stage Manager instructor.  It was like be in heaven!  It also solidified my desire to intern with them over the summer if I can.

Spring 2011

I've been drafting sewing patterns with my darling Ashe.

And rendering an advertisement by way of practice for more elaborate renderings.  We have The Queen of The Night from Mozart's The Magic Flute up next.

Status Quo

Finals ended with a party of sorts in the Scene Shop.  I got all gussied up because it was a party, right?  And you never get dirty at a party. . . yeah, sure.  I will always come out of that shop with sawdust on some part of me.  I have learned that now.  

Christmas Day was spent with my side of the family, which was very nice.  I haven't seen the cousins in a while and it was good to get all caught up.  We played Monopoly.

Played with parakeets, this is Cobalt and she loved to be up high.

 She would also make sure your glasses fit correctly.

And had napping snuggle piles.  Time with Family is good.

The week after Christmas was spent with Nate's family in Spokane.  It was quieter than most times we've been there, but nonetheless, restful and good to get to know his side of the family better.  I spent most of my time with his darling Grammy, and am now a pie baking buddy.

I have two more weeks off from school and then it's right back into the melee that is Cornish.  I love it, though.  So I haven't died or anything.  I've just been catching up on my sleep.

Knitting update to follow!  I've been busy!

Cheers,

~A

Cornish - Update 1 - WARNING: picture heavy post! ;)

It's high time I wrote a little about being at Cornish along with some pictures! I keep promising them, and not yet posted any here.  Cornish is amazing, it's kicking my butt in old ways, teaching me new things, and I'm finding muscles I haven't used in four years or so.  I have friends, I know my locker combinations, and I think I am doing fairly well here.  Midterms start tomorrow which is why I have a tiny lull to write anything at all not school mandated.  Below are a series of photos from within the first few weeks of classes.  We're not quite so silly now that we're nose to the grindstone, but we're doing well.  First up, my locker.  I share this with two other people, and if you can imagine two of me stuffed in there, we would be very comfortable. In short, it's HUGE!

I take a drawing class once a week, and it's been good to get my hand worked up again.  We're covering the basics; perspective, still life, using strong light and shadow, working from live models, so it has been fun.  It's one of the most relaxing classes because we can just draw for an hour or so.

This is my drafting class or Theatre Graphics.  We affectionately refer to it as "Advanced Kindergarten" because we're drawing lines and circles, working on our letters, and using lots and lots of numbers! Whew!  This class is really interesting because it's teaching me to look at things from many different perspectives and manipulate objects in my head, then transfer them onto paper.  We build models, make tiny staircases, and construct our own fireplaces (miniature) at the end of the semester.

This, my friends, is Dennis.  He's my adopted little brother and a cohort in crime as we're both class clowns.  Don't worry, I get my work done on time, and try not to cause too much trouble for my instructors.  He's hilarious and I love him to pieces.

My darling Allegra, doing a charcoal drawing at The Center for Wooden Boats where we looked at Atmospheric Perspective.  She is a sweet girl who has adopted me as her "mommy".  Each class we're in, each morning she comes over to give me a hug and I am greeted with "Momma Anna!"  Because that is what I am.  Momma Anna.

Welding in Shop.  I have only welded once to date (don't tell Greg!) and I fervently hope I don't have to weld much again.  Spending too much time with the fumes apparently makes my body angry and I start coughing and hacking.  I quite prefer soldering, thanks, it doesn't make me cough.  The very patient man in the green shirt (holding, I might add a welding mask, he is NOT staring at the light!) is Greg.  One half of the compliment that makes up our Shop instructors.  He works with Peter and together I have decided need to start their own show.  They are our adorable odd couple and make Shop so very, very much fun.  They kick our butts when we need it, and make us laugh when we mess up, and encourage us when we deserve it.

This is my Sonya, and I love her to death.  She is also a non-traditional student, an amazing mama to two kids, and general all round great gal.  She keeps us cheerful because I'm pretty sure there's not a lot in this 'verse that could make her unhappy.  I have adopted her as my big sister.

Costume Shop, with "other Anna" and Allegra.  At Cornish, you have to take Fundamentals classes that we refer to affectionately as "Fundies".  Half of it is in Scene Shop and half is in Costume shop.  In addition to that you are assigned to a show that you get to hang lights for.  You also help with Load In and Strike.  Cornish WILL keep you busy, and I love it.  Costume shop is run by Carl and his assistant, Diane.  They're lovely people, and I already adore Carl. He's a commanding cranky man who will mess with you just as much as you mess with him.  He's fabulous!

Sonya and I are often the extra teachers when it comes to sewing, because we've both sewn for ages.  So we patiently help to thread machines, wind bobbins, and assist you when Carl or Diane are busy.  That'll be 5 cents, please.

And that's it for now. I have taken more pictures of the Lighting I'm working on now, but those are for next time.  Maybe even video if I can make it work.  I love scissor lifts!  Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed your little view into Cornish.

Got Rhythm?

Well, I am surviving.  I am not quite yet in the thriving mode, though I confess I am too hard on myself.  Here I am, stumbling admirably through my first week (got that, FIRST week) of Cornish and I'm already wanting to make more progress than is physically even possible.  I look forward to finding that groove, where I can be effortless in finding my class and knowing what comes next, instead of this herky-jerky sweaty hurry that I'm stuck in for the next little while.  It's really okay, I have made friends, and I have a locker and everything, but I'm not in the groove yet, and I so wish I was.

I did, however, find my most favourite place in the whole wide world.  Okay, the second most favourite, but still.  I found the costume shop.  Sad to say, I don't have pictures yet, but it's glorious.  Stacks of boxes of neatly labelled fabric.  Notions that could choke a horse.  Mannequins, scissors, sewing machines, and sergers, oh my!  I could live in there, with the exception that I doesn't include Nate.  Pictures are forthcoming, but for now it's just good old words.