Best Sellers

Easily, my best sellers are my Bum Ruffles. Generally speaking, with a few exceptions, these are pretty inexpensive. Most popular with the Tribal Belly Dance crowd, these are great hip wraps, made to be worn with skirts and pants. Some can be used as shawls, some have been seen wrapping a head or two, made to be worn tied to the side, they can be worn any which way really......including being able to achieve a great bustled effect with the more fluffie wraps.

Perfect for dance, yoga, flamenco, Steampunk costuming........they are versatile, which is always a plus in this day and age!

 

Find them on Etsy or contact me at:
kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Coming soon:
More Sampants
Garter Shorts
Bum Ruffles
Dance Pantaloons

And whatever else I can get sewn up!!!!!!

Teal And Gold

I sold out of most of these in early January. The last pair, a large, went up on Etsy today. I have two little tops that match and a bit more of this fabric to make another pair - so let me know if you would like a certain size made. Or else, I'll take a guess and see how it goes........

Its pretty cute, huh!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

I Really Should Be Sewing.........

But I thought I would throw these photos up while I take a little break.
We (Salome's Suitcase) stayed at a rest stop somewhere at the top of Texas that was almost as splendid as the Ritz. Well, in our frozen state of mind, it appeared so!

These were in an exhibit in the main room - I was so frozen, all I could do was drool over how exquisite the bonnet was - I didnt even read who wore it or what the tribe was.

Sorry.

I Heart Albuquerque!

The first stop in Salome's Suitcase's journey through the Southwest was at Flo and Duane Barger's house in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we got bacon and eggs for breakfast and a hot shower. Flo and Duane have a beautiful store called Old World Imports. They carry AmaZing rugs and textiles, and jewelry! Its such a gorgeous store and it made a wonderful setting for our trunk show that was very well attended! They also have an online Store - Tribal Souk - great stuff! Beautiful silver jewelry!

The Bargers have hosted many dancers on their way through the Belly Dance Trail as it is now being called. Flo's troupe is The Rogue Bindis.  Just this last weekend, they hosted Zoe Jakes and Elizabeth Strong. I was blown away by their warmth and generosity. I got to see old friends, ran into an ex San Franciscan  who remembered Rose and I from Haight Street (small world): Revolver - a lovely vintage store - and made new friends while we were visiting. I fell in love with Albuquerque - much to my surprise. I had no idea what to expect, but people were so nice, parking and antiques were cheap and plentiful and the food was great. What was there not to love! I hope I can go back one day!

We stopped again at Flo's on the way back and did some serious shopping. My biggest score: a bodice, skirt, and petticoat from the mid 1800's. $28. Perfect condition. I swear its the real deal. But even if were a reproduction from a later period, its great. I'll write more about this later.

I heart Albuquerque! Thanks so much for your hospitality, guys!!!!!!!!!!!!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Its Edwardian Ball Time Again

I spent this week refurbishing a costume for the Edwardian Ball. Lori King commissioned me to make her an outfit for the ball last year,  but we didn't get to fine tune it. This year we added feathers around the neckline and bustle. We straighted the dress out and made the outer bustle cage easier to maneuver in. Then Lori and Jennifer talked me into going to the ball tomorrow night. They stood over my shoulder and watched to make sure I was actually buying the ticket ...........because I guess I have become notorious for saying I'll go  out and then flake. Well, Im tired. Once the sun goes down, I want to go to sleep. But I let them talk me into it because I secretly wanted to go and Im not vending there this year. And they are very merry company to attend a glamorous ball with.

If I dont turn into a pumpkin at midnight, I'll be very fortunate.

Ive Seen The Velvet And The Damage Done

Stretch velvet 

Looks great on stage

washes well

stretches - duh - perfect for dance

luxurious

makes dramatic pants, dresses and skirts

doesn't ravel

doesn't fade

travels well - doesn't wrinkle

I just love it 

model: Lisa Hyde of Deshret Dance Company
kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Sampants can be ordered at www.kathleencrowley.etsy.com

Fuel Or A Hole In The Ground

Im watching the Science Channel and wouldnt you know it - they are talking about Meteor Crater in Arizona. Salome's Suitcase drove up to it through the cold red Arizona desert. We thought it would be fun to check out. Just one little tourist trap of interest. Some scientific memory we could take home.

But it was $15.00 to get in. To see a hole in the ground. A frozen hole at that. Now maybe on a better day, but our RV was using up an awful lot of gas and I knew I would see something on tv about it soon. Hahahaha - todays the day! So we saved ourselves enough to fill the tank halfway and had to settle for youtube and the Science Channel. Thats fine. They have a great parking lot!

The view was stupendous. The red of the dirt was rusty blood red. The sky was amazing. The view was to die for. The rock formations were crazy.............

Here is the lip of the crater.

Donner Fodder

We got hit by that cold snap that came down from Canada (thank you, Canada. Love ya..but..........) while on the way to Texas. Our rv had no heat. We were freezing. We couldnt get warm. I got grouchy. I lost it. Ive never been so cold in my whole entire life - and my toes were cold for days. I could feel myself shut down. I always prided myself, all my life, on coming from pioneer stock. But I'll be damned......that gene for survival flew out the window on the day of my birth. I would have been the first one eaten by the Donner Party.

After I posted and read this again, I realized that I made everything that Im wearing in the photos. The green sweater with the hood and extra long (ok-one is a wee bit longer than the other, but who cares) sleeves. The muffler, the fleece coat. Im layered underneath with a vest that I found at Ross and had applied trim, appliques and buttons on the back - and then an oppossum fur vest over that - not made by me - but probably saved me on this trip. I slept in the thing almost every night. Im not an advocate for killing animals for their fur, but I found it at a thrift store and it has kept me warm. Thank you little possums!!!!!


kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

The United States Is Vast

I am now back from my road trip through the Southwest and Texas - during a nasty winter cold snap - and am now more appreciative of how vast this country is. It makes me see how insanely hard it must be to keep its shit together and I see more clearly where it fails in this. But also where it succeeds. This is still a relatively young society and like toddlers, we have made a few boo boos. I too, stomped on ants when small............ I love the Southwest.  I love the beauty of the land and I love how nice almost everyone was who we met along the way. I hate what has happened to our original inhabitants. This was hard to see up close and personal. But the big Texas hair in the Dallas grocery store cheered me right up!

Our Albuquerque trunk show was amazing and 3rd Coast was a blast! So as soon as I can, I'll blog about Salome's Suitcase's Road Trip and the wonderful folks we met along the way!!!!!!
XXX

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com