Happy Witches New Year!

Its that time of the year again and I'm here at home working and watching hours of Addams Family reruns. There are less that two hours left of Halloween and it has really FELT like Halloween despite the fact that Molly came over to work for a while, we had a mishap with an over watered plant that leaked down onto my overlock, there were no trick or treaters, and I had a fitting at 8 pm tonight. I mean, the town is deathly still over on this side. I thought there might be some mayhem happening, but nothing. Its not witching hour yet, but that veil is super thin right now.

I saw a white mist swirl in front of me a while ago and a fly wont leave me alone. I think its my Grandma Crowley - she always comes and hangs out on this night. Its pretty cool. She gives me good advice. I know that sounds crazy to some, but when I ask her a question, I get an answer.

Lately Ive been staying up til 3 am just working on projects. Ive been on a roll and feeling pretty creative again. I'm feeling more and more like the aftershock of moving and changing my lifestyle is wearing off. Ive been getting used to preparing all my meals - I know that sounds silly, but I seriously have been surrounded by amazing food for the last 20+ years. Ive been soooooo spoiled and I still wake up thinking that I'm going to just run around the corner in my gym clothes after crawling out of bed and grab a bagel and coffee. Its an adjustment, but an OK one. I just make my own coffee and I try to always keep stuff to eat in the pantry.

I'm getting ready for vending at ShadowDance this Saturday coming up. I will have some garments in the Salome's Suitcase fashion show - and this week will see me literally cranking some of this out. I'm pretty inspired and so we'll see what we come up with!

Last week I had a big sale for custom orders, and this was very successful  - not much of a profit margin for me, but it generated interest and I did realize that it really is the economy and not just the way that I run business that has slowed down the cash flow. Its just a global depression, that's all. It cant be Me! Not Meeeeee!!!!!!  :) So that was a nice week.

Big news for my friend Chris March this month! Bravo is giving him his own show..........pretty exciting stuff for sure! If anyone deserves success, its Chris. He's the bestest in the West - or East now at any rate!

Maybe next year I will go out and celebrate the new year/Halloween/All hallows eve........I'm happy staying home and being creative though.

Gotta start saving up for some big much needed purchases by the end of the year: a camera, a computer, a  car. Not necessarily in that order - but gotta have em so the next few months will see me working up a storm!

Happy New Year! Listen to the ancestors. They know whats up. They have the answers.

Ridiculous Sale - But Thats What It Is and Thats What I'm Offering!

If you were sitting on the fence, its time to jump off it now and take advantage of this ridiculous sale. I'm offering my custom Etsy goods for 20% off. I don't think this will happen again, as my custom prices are already pretty darned good as they are, but it feels good to be able to bring the prices down to about where they were when I started making them - if even for a very short time. And while I already have a pattern template that I work from for these designs (and this is how I can make these customized for you at a lower than custom rate), I take your measurements, I go find your fabrics, I make these for you and you alone.

The wait time is the same. There is a long line for my creations, but the line has shortened, Ive got the supplies, I have some help again, I'm all settled into my new studio, I get lots of sleep now, I'm bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to take on more work! Maybe this sale will be just the incentive to get that amazing pair of pants that you were lusting for!

KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture will be taking just a few orders - for no more than a week, and then its prices back to as they were.  So grab them now!

Go directly to Etsy and click on my custom ordering section. If something isn't there that you wanted, it may have just sold and I have not been able to re list the item yet. I will be checking in regularly to watch this. And I will stop the sale as soon as I think Ive sold enough. Ive learned not to get greedy and pace myself. It isn't fair to you - it isn't fair to myself - the wait is long enough!

You can also email me directly at kc.costumecouture@gmail.com .

That Old Cliche' Of Flying Through The Air With The Greatest Of Ease

I made a pair of red velvet Sampants for Rose Nisker to wear while dancing and tumbling through the air last night at the Crucible. I regret that I couldn't go to the event, but a friend forwarded me the link to the photos. Ta Da! Just gorgeous! We put some sparklie fabric under the first layer of flounce and then added flounces to her pre-made corset - which she also wears with a red flamenco skirt to die for from Spain. I raised the waistline on the pants and we attached the pants to the corset so that her costume  wouldn't twist in the silk. This must all be quite stunning while floating in the air!

I added a little bit of sparklie trim to her flamenco skirt (not shown) to make her corset and skirt look like one cohesive piece when worn together. This is a nice little trick if you want to take two pieces of clothing and make them look as if they were designed to go together - take some fabric or trim and place it strategically - and perhaps subtly on both garments. If done well,  this tricks the eye into thinking its a unit and not separates.

I have made a few flamenco skirts in my day, but I have not had the opportunity to inspect many real ones that the dancers wear. Those babies are heavy, ladies! They have so many layers, a dust ruffle, cording to weight the train down and make it lie flat on the ground - to swing gracefully when kicked around, these are not supposed to be cheap and flimsy. All those circular flounces are heavy - as many of you who wear my Fluffie Rufflies can attest to!

 I believe that this is Juan Del Valle Flamenco - I want to give credit where credit is due!

Rose is such a lovely, warm person to work with -
I count myself so blessed - I really know some of the most talented people in the world!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Stripes

I could probably sell striped pants til the cows come home..........I need to look up where that phrase originated from. Obviously a ranching or farming statement. But you get the picture.

Ive got someone in LA on the hunt for a good source since I cant get down there much. They really do seem to be scarce right now. In the right fabric. At the right price. In the right color.

I posted these the other day and they flew out the window.  I like making small runs of fun little pants and things to wear. But I just wish the fabrics that I like to use were more readily available. Not just the cotton lycra (in the weight that I prefer), but rayons and other fabrics. I used to go into fabric stores and go nuts. Now I go "meh". Oh sure, if I could buy in volume, this wouldn't be a problem. But then again, it might if it cant even be found at the LA Fabric District.

What happens,I'm sure, is that it gets snatched up quick. Its out there. I'll find it. Ive got extra eyes now.

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com