2019 Costume Year in Review

(I'm behind on updating events for the second half of the year, but you'll get some of that within.)

I… pretty much did nothing this year. Ok, that’s not totally true, but going through year two of motherhood + working full time leaves not enough time for me for sewing. At least, not enough big, contiguous chunks of time. I used to take a whole free weekend (when I had them) and spend all day on a project. I don’t have that anymore. And my evenings are for relaxing and recovering, and they are just enough time to take stuff out before having to go to bed. It’s just not working for me now, but I know that will change. And someday she will want to do her own thing, and I’m going to wonder what to do with my time!

Knowing all this, last year I said, “ Since my sewing time/drive has been so low, I think my main goal for 2019 will be to have as many of my older costumes photographed as possible. At least I’ll have a good record of them that way! So it’s accomplishing something.” and “ So next year, I’d like to finish the mending pile, to include actually assembling that new regency dress. Trimming the francaise would be good. As would doing literally anything else. I clearly need a bustle gown. Other than that, I think I’ll just try to rewear stuff that never was well-photographed, and get as many pics as I can.”

Since I set the bar so very low, I can say that yes! I accomplished this! I rewore stuff, I had photographs taken of old stuff. I did not trim the francaise, though that’s not because I didn’t try. The trim I had envisioned just didn’t look right with the fabric I had, so after trying a couple different ways to pleat the fabric, I put it away for another time. So I did at least try. And I did finish my mending pile!! I did not assemble the regency dress. I took it out a few times and just wasn’t into it. And since the Pumpkin Tea this year was bustle era and not regency, I figured I can do it next time I need a new regency day dress. So I deprioritized it.

I did go to quite a few costume events, which was nice. And I bought two Victorian gowns on FB, so I finally have things to fill in the gaps where I have not had time to sew. One of them still needs hemming, though I hemmed the first one I bought.

So here was my year.

February: Victorian Tea at Dupont Hotel



The lighting was terrible but Mike and Gloria did do some pics. I wore my old 1840s watered silk gown with an antique pelerine over it just to do something new. Here’s their pic of me:



I participated in In the Long Run Designs New Kit-Cat Club photo project. Here was my photo from that project. I wore an older gown, but one of my favs. Red and white striped silk and a take on the famous gown from the KCI collection. I got some nice photos of it from that shoot!



More below the cut!

Celestial Ball

Next up, we are into May! Thanks to Janine and Ron babysitting for us, we were able to attend the Celestial Ball at Gadsbys Tavern. I was just a tad slow to realize that the ball was on… May the 4th. Also known as Star Wars Day. Get it? Celestial Ball? Anyhoo, once I realized, I sprang into action. I was hot off of rewearing my Leia Bespin gown at AwesomeCon, and I thought… maybe I could make a regency Leia Bespin outfit and Star Wars bound. So I dug out the very first regency dress I ever made (which was terrible) and took a look at the available dyes I had, and tossed it in the washer with said dyes. It took a mix of scarlet and tan, and taupe and 3 tries, but I finally got it the shade I wanted. Dry, which was tricky since it looked the right shade wet, but then faded when dried. I wore my actual screen accurate Bespin cape as an over dress, and added Han/Leia profile necklaces, the accurate hairdo (it totally worked!), and a rosette I got as a party favor at the waist. And I wore my Leia Bespin flats. So basically it was almost all screen accurate but the dress. Doug wore his Han Solo jacket over tan pants and a white embroidered vest. I’m not sure how many people attending really got the whole Star Wars thing, but it was *definitely* Gadsbys intent given their traditional cheese hedgehog had Leia buns, and the menu was done in a Star Wars font. Awesome.









Outfit:











And one of the highlights was when the musicians played this little number. Music on for this short video! (You might have to click through because Flickr is sometimes not great with video.)



It was awesome seeing friends, but there is always someone who has to be rude and yank you around if they feel you are going the wrong way. Which sometimes you are not. Don’t be that person. Yanking someone’s arm hurts and it sucks.

AwesomeCon 2019

I only went to AwesomeCon for one day, but I had a great time. I got to hang out with Mike and Gloria and do a photoshoot with them, and I got some quality time in with Janine at the Princess Awesome booth, since she was helping boothsit for them, and I was happy just to hang out. Plus my daughter wears Princess Awesome, so I was happy to help talk it up to passersby.

I wore my Leia Bespin costume since I haven’t worn it in like 10 years, and I was hoping to get some good photos of it, since last time I did wear it, the photo quality isn’t what it is today!



Ron had a broken foot and made the most of it.



Janine wore her Captain Marvel, though she was an exhausted Captain Marvel with so much going on, I was amazed she made it to the Con at all!









Meanwhile, at home, lunchtime!



Glynnis found a lady Thor and Lady Loki!





Mike and Gloria were trying out some photographic techniques and it was fun seeing them set up for it! When you see the results, you would never guess this was how they got them!



You can see the results here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-and-g/albums/72157691278629823

Here’s one of Ron:
 

And here is the one of me:



Then we went upstairs to find a spot to take some photos. Mike took a ton of great photos of my Leia Bespin costume. Thanks again to Mike & Gloria of In the Long Run Designs!!















Behind the scenes! Man, I’m short! haha!



This is probably my favorite one because it shows off all the awesome embroidery:







While we were taking pics, there was also a Lando (from Solo)!





Selfie!



I love this little polaroid of Gloria and I!



So nice to see Kristin because I haven’t seen her in years despite knowing her since the 90s!! She makes gorgeous bags now.



I did buy a Trek bag from her on Etsy so we made sure to get a photo!





Meanwhile at home, peanut was up from her nap:



Meanwhile at the Princess Awesome booth:



I went to change after hanging out at the Princess Awesome booth, and to meet Doug and Elena, who came in to meet me & MIke & Gloria for dinner. I was sidetracked when I spotted what looked like an amazing Titanic Jump dress on the escalator. I followed her and managed to flag her down, and when I asked if she used Costumer’s Guide for her dress, she recognized me and freaked out and it was super flattering.

Her dress is amazing in every way and she even had a red wig going. So shout-out to Laci!











We went to Spice 6 for dinner - fast casual Indian, and they had dosa, which were something I’d not had before. Two thumbs up! Elena enjoyed it too! She scarfed down the chickpeas!





Lastly a group pic with some friends: