All Stocked Up.............And Ready To Go!

It was not by design, because Im not one to create merchandise specifically for the holidays, but in my sewing quest to fill some racks for a Pre-Playa sale (which was a lot of fun - thank you 5&Diamond!) and finish up some items that have been languishing on a to-do shelf, I have been able to stock my Etsy store with lots of fun and pretty garments that will be a great cross-over for the Halloween season! This little green lace skirt would be wonderful for a Christmas party as well. (It'll be here before we know it!)

These are fun to wear and very versatile - three channels to scrunch and ruch up for a variety of different looks - but I don't see me making too many more of these Rattie Tattie Skirts in the future. Maybe once in a great while, but this is all there is for now. Grab em while Ive got em!

Rattie Tattie Adjustable Length Skirts

When I can get around to making these skirts, they usually fly out the window. Why? Because they have three channels in the upper body of the skirt that allow you to adjust the length of this garment in many ways. And they are super cute and comfortable!

Granted,. this is not a new idea and has been around for years, but I dont see a lot of people offering these styles fairly consistantly. I adopted this technique years ago with many other skirts, pants, and dresses - and whoever I was inspired by (probably the Belgians in the 90's), we thank you!

 I often, but not always, use the fabrics left over from cutting out my other garments. Not only are they rarely ever all the same, but there is less of a toxic footprint on the environment, I can keep the costs down, and you can get a versatile, cost effective piece of clothing that will serve as a base for many different looks if you choose.

Clothing, costuming, bridal, steampunk, romantic, gothic......................the choices are many depending on the colors, the fabrics used, and your imagination!

Below are some of the best photos that I could take of the various possibilities. This is one skirt from my limited edition Harvest series. Some are subtle - meaning that the same length adjustment on a different position on your hips will change the whole look - and some are very obvious. Not all bodies are the same, so one look will be better on one person than another. But how rare to have choices!! And in this day and age when our pennies need to go a long way, how cool is it that you can get more bang for your buck!

The dress form and my camera limitations cannot convey the depth of color and how lovely these really are in real life - but if you think its cute, trust me, you'll think its even cuter when it arrives on your doorstep!
(I ship world-wide)

Cyberweek Coupon

I've been asked many times if I offer coupons, but its just not something that I am capable of doing online.  I'm sure its fairly easy, but I have not had the time to mess with it. Etsy now offers coupons and I'm going to try it out this week coming up. I didn't get all the merchandise made up that I had planned to by Cyber Monday, so I'm going to list new stuff during the week as I get it sewn and photographed. Keep checking in!

I am posting the coupon code here and you can use it for 10% off anything in my Etsy store when you check out. This will last for 5 days only - until Friday December 3rd - and then the coupon expires. So lets see how it goes:

Use this code when checking out!
CYBERWEEK2010

A Review of Fluff

I was wondering how many Flounces Ive made over the last few years. I don't have time to do the math or go through all the photos, so I pulled a few pictures that Ive posted on Etsy and Im putting them here to see how pretty and fun they are. Fluffie Pantaloons, Fluffie Rufflie Dance Pants, Fluffie Leg Ruffles. That's a lot of Fluff.................next I want to post all the examples of pants I have sold.

Splendor In The Grass

Black Lotus, Medina Maitreya (of Salomes' Suitcase) and Kami Liddle went out into the wilds somewhere in the East Bay hills for this photo shoot! They battled snakes and wild cows and Mountain Lions to get this shot! I love the whole composition - the hair - the clothes - the setting - the photography. Its just lovely! While I enjoy seeing Gorgeous Belly Dancers in their amazing costumes, its nice to see them wearing fashion as well. They are true Trend Setters!!!!!

Kami is gorgeous anyway...........but these photos are just lovely!

Kami is wearing stretch velvet Sampants - often copied, I might add, and the subject of my previous rant.
I was very upset. I know there is nothing that can be done, really about pirates, but it does help to know that I have the ability to modify this design (and all my others) to fit the hard to fit - which the pirates cant and wont do. This copying for profit practice does hurt designers, and it does hurt my business, but it just forces me to move on to other things..........I'll make it work to my advantage somehow. We all must.

I love this corset vest also. I want one and I have to get Medina to make me a much larger version somehow! (pretty please) This is your classic example of why we should try to buy from the designer. Sure I have the capability of making something similar. But would it be the same? No. Same Fabric? No. Same flair? No. Would it fit the same? No. Do I have the time? NO. Will it help the economy and help keep someone in business? Yes.

So There.

Model: Kami Liddle
Photo: Black Lotus
Corset Vest, Camisole, Hair, Makeup: Medina Maitreya
Pants: KathleenCrowleyCostmeCouture
Earrings: Auberon

Ok. So I lied about battling the snakes, wild cows, and mountain lions............but they could have!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

My Victorian Score

I mentioned in a post earlier that I had found a dress and petticoat in an antique store that is dated as having been made in the 1860's. The corded petticoat and 2 piece dress were a steal. I thought it had to be a mistake and picked it up and started carrying it around. Then I thought about it and put it back. It couldn't be real at that price. Then I showed it to one of my friends and they thought I'd be nuts to not get it, so I figured that even as a good replica, it was a great score!

It was probably someone's good visiting  dress, I'm sure. The gown is in almost perfect condition. The outer and inner fabric looks barely worn. Usually the silk linings are shattered from the weight of the garments and the environmental conditions it was stored in. The outer fabric doesn't look faded at all.

If this is about 150 years old, its in great shape - maybe the fact that it was in the desert of New Mexico helped to preserve it. It smells like that good old fashioned trunk-in-the-attic mustiness. Its got the old hook and eyes, boning, and little tiny stitches - all done by hand. Only a die-hard costumer/preservationist would attempt this now. These are the stitches that I try to emulate when I do handwork. But even I, who loves to sit and do handwork cannot replicate these. Ive seen much finer stitches on the nicer garments......but still.......

This dress is way too small to fit even the smallest of my friends, so I had to drape it onto my mannequin the best I could. I thought I would take some photos of the inside, as well, to show how it was made. I'll do this in several posts.

 

 

So this was a super fun find for me and a lovely example of good old fashioned everyday dressmaking!

Pardon my poor photography. This camera just flew out of my hands and broke the other day - so I guess its time to upgrade!

I'll post pictures of this turned inside out soon!

I Left My Tooth In Oklahoma

 

I have always had a thing about wanting to go to Oklahoma. I dont know why. Maybe its because of the musical. Ive costumed it twice. Ive sung every song. Ive got friends from there. Ive heard all about it.

But the reality was: I was freezing. I thought I was gonna die. I saw mostly gas stations, frozen prairie, and empty towns. No Curly. No Ado Annie. I was cranky and we couldnt find propane. I broke a tooth. We visited a Walmart. 

And that was it. I dont think I'll be returning. 

But the guy in this conveniance store was really nice and boiled some water for us so that we could fill up our hot water bottle. (no heat in the rv - cold snap - Misery) 

Picture: Kathleen, Lee, Rose of Salome's Suitcase 

Stupid White People And The Meaning Of Life

This has nothing to do with fashion or costume, but its my blog and I'll write what I want - I just read a comment made by a family member who was joking about bringing a peace pipe to a Burger King on an Indian Reservation in order to get something decent to eat there. Maybe I'm being too sensitive, but I thought this was said in poor taste.
Maybe there was a thread of truth in the statement, though, as Ive seen what goes on behind the scenes in fast food joints and the sight of a wealthy, well fed, blond white woman stepping into a Burger King on an Indian Reservation might very well bring bodily fluids into the meal............just a guess. As would the sight of a wealthy, well fed white G-Man.......just sayin.

So this statement brought me a night of sleeplessness and trendy white guilt. I looked up all the info I could on the state of the Native American people today. Dear God. While it looks like The Bureau of Indian Affairs is trying to better the situation, it still looks like more of the same bullshit that has been doled out for so, so long. I'm no expert and most of us modern Americans are either not interested or we are too busy trying to occupy other lands. And granted, you cant turn back a clock and fix mistakes or wish people away. Many of us are trying with great difficulty to make ends meet in our own little occupied pockets of land. Every country has been occupied - taken over by someone. People and tribes enslaved, wiped out, assimilated. This particular genocide makes me so sad, though. It just wasn't all that long ago that a nation was almost completely wiped out. And look what we've done to the land. Its just awful. However, if I was a white person back then, would my consciousness be at this current level? Would I be like my grandma who chased starving Indians off their stolen land? Probably - but who knows.

This all reminds me of an incident that occurred last year when I was in line at an Asian run convenience store. A drunk Mexican man in front of me was hassling the store owners and calling them names. I tried to shush him up and help them get him out of there, but he spun around to face me and said "why don't you go back to England where you belong!" Well, he had a point and while I wasn't about to argue with a drunk, I totally saw where he was coming from. I couldn't excuse his bad behaviour, but I saw his pain. And all I said was " I tried, but they wont have me." Which was the truth. I looked into it - a lot. And we both just shrugged. We both knew the deal. Whataryagonnado?

So while we don't want to really look at these things or see the underbelly of the wealth of this country, there are real wounds caused by hatred, fear, greed or famine, religious persecution and fanaticism that take many hundreds of years to heal. If not thousands.

Maybe our dear government feels a debt is owed it. It was hard work to exterminate these people and force them onto these little parcels of mostly unworkable land. It cost the United States Of America a whole lot of money to conduct this project. I'm tellin ya - this made the Jewish Holocaust and the Japanese Internment look like a piece of cake!

There is the not so popular view that if the underdog has the tools and technology, it will conduct the same behaviour as the current alpha dog. This may very well be true. People are people and do stupid people things regardless of their color or creed. The humans with the most money and the best tools will always win out. Look at the Vikings, for cryin out loud. White people fight white people. Black people fight black people. Some offer help. Most turn away. Few want to be responsible for their miserable behaviour.

But it really is a sad state of affairs. I wish it would just stop. Well, they say that in 2012 it may very well..........stop. I cant wait to see what happens. I'll be mighty disappointed if there is no drama and happenstance. Mighty disappointed indeed. We need a little cleansing.......not a genetic cleansing, but perhaps the human species could use a little spanking soon. Time out? Play time over? A taste of medicine? One can dream. I dream that it will simply be a time of awakening. We will all just forgive and move forward. So this means that I also have to forgive my relatives, stupid people, ancestors, and my own arrogance ( I must seem stupid to someone )- and hope we all see the light eventually.

Sigh.

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Bloomers, Baby!

Bloomers! Ive got Bloomers!! A shorter variation of the Fluffie Rufflie Pantaloons! Cute, Comfy, Easy to wear, and a great filler for your wardrobe! Great with skirts and dresses - Ive been wearing them a lot and they are pretty versatile .........nicest bloomers since 1849!

These would be great for a Victorian or Steampunk inspired wedding!

Ive been on a new order moratorium for about a month now. Ive had so much catching up to do and I just had to take some time off to eat and sleep. You know - the important things in life.

So I ate and slept a bit and only have about 15 orders out there needing work on - many mostly done waiting for final touches.

I can take some new orders now. I'd like to keep it to Fluffie Rufflies and just have everything else available on etsy as I can make it. I also have to get ready for Tribal Fest and our next Tribal Boutique.

When ordering, please give me a few months at least and realize there are people ahead of you in line. I have to make those ahead of you my priority although your order is special as well!

Ive spent the last couple years trying to make everyone happy and it has ended up with a couple people getting angry that their orders were taking so long. That's how it is, though, folks. And while I only want to make cute, pretty, or amazing things, I have to have the time to do it in. Its the 'I only have two hands' syndrome. And although I have helpers when possible, I do most of it.

So this year, I am hoping that I can make all those skirts, tops, pants, and outfits that Ive wanting to make. Patterns too. But the patterns just don't seem cost effective at this point in time.

Model: Victoria
Photo: Kristine Adams

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Ode To Times Gone By

My brother has been working with my father to compile his memoirs into an interesting blog of note about times that came before and will never be again. Its a heap of memories and data about the old days on the prairie in South Dakota - growing up without electricity. Hungry wild cats trying to rip the roof off the sod house to get at whats inside, Native Americans, Cowboys, good guys and bad guys, The Great Depression, happiness, World Wars, a bit of Little House On The Prairie, a slice of American life, living with less and not knowing any different, the consciousness of the day for better or for worse.

I find it very interesting and Ive found out a lot about my dad that I didn't know before. Its odd that you can live with a person for 18 years and know so little about him. When I hear about how tough times are today - and they are for our modern sensibilities - I like to be reminded that perhaps we have too much and we don't appreciate the things we really really need. But I'm happy for this little island of family lore and for those with an interest of times gone by, you might enjoy!

Thunderbutte.com

Ode To Times Gone By

New Stuff On Etsy

Leg Ruffles
Arm Sleevelets
Garter Shorts
Lace
Lace
Lace

We're soooooo on trend!

kathleencrowley.etsy.com

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Basics

I would like to see the day when frillie pantaloons become a staple item in everyones' closet. Well, maybe not for all.....but for those who care.

Why not.

Model: erling wold
Photo: kristine adams

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Labels

I was shopping at Clothes Contact on Valencia St. yesterday and I saw "Prairie Glam" over one of the racks. This reassures me as Ive been wondering if I made this term up or if I stole it from someone. I dont get out much.

I think I first saw it used on Etsy for something cute and patchworkie.

The label makes something previously unwearable new and fresh.

Wear whatever you want.
Wear it whenever you want.
Love what you wear.

Model: Samantha Hasthorpe
Photo: Kristine Adams

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com