Next Week - The 10 Yard Skirt!

This last Wednesday wrapped up with our students completing a pair of pantaloons made from 4 yards of taffeta. We used the Tribal Dancer Folkwear Pattern designed by Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman. (she and I co-teach this class) They both picked the same  fabric and color, but ended up using the pleating techniques in their own individual way. Isabel created smaller pleats and Helen created larger pleats. Both ways were challenging in their own right, and both ways of creating pleats created a lovely, blousy, full pair of dance pantaloons!

Next week, we  move on to sewing a 10- yard skirt out of 8 yards of fabric! Go HERE to sign up or to find out more about it. Seating is limited, so hurry! We have a LOT of fun and a lot to share!

SALE - HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY

This summer is flying by! What have I been doing? Working on a wedding dress and Halloween costumes, developing a few new items for the Bessie line of clothing, prepping for a couple photo shoots, developing a few pieces of bridal wear,  gearing up to co-teach a few sewing classes with Carolena Nericco - Bohlman in the fall,  and slowly building a new website where everything can be all in one place.....all the time......that's all keeping me very busy!

What better time than a sale! Take 20% off of your purchases in my Etsy shop at checkout by using this coupon code: HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY

I'll be discontinuing some of this merchandise, so if you like it, please grab it!!!

There are lots of adorable festival skirts  and tops!! Halloween is right around the corner - and some of these garments would be just perfect for the season! 

Join Us at the 5 & Diamond Pre-Playa Loft Sale!!

I'll have a couple racks of Playa Wear at the 5&Diamond loft sale this year!! A bit of this and a bit of that - sequins, glitter, and cute, sexy stuff all geared toward adorning yourselves in comfort and style out there in the desert! Come by and say hi! Come get your Playa on!!

Its The Curve In The Back...........

Its the curve in the back that makes this  little "underbust" vest stand out from the rest. That and the materials I use - the fabrics and embellishments make each vest a work of art!
Its such a flattering little number on everyone!
The buttons have a fair amount of room to be moved for fit and comfort. 
These run from XS to 2X and I make them in limited runs. I sold most of them this May while vending at Tribal Fest and I'll be posting what Ive got left up in my Etsy shop, starting with the smalls.
So keep checking in!

Deidre Anaid

 Deidre Anaid makes the best Evil Queen ever.
Ever.
A very stunning and confident woman,  she always has a vision and knows what she wants when she comes to me with her ideas. We always come up with something dramatic that she can work with in her performance. On top of being a very innovative dancer, the lady's got the visuals DOWN!

Its a bit difficult to see, but there are two skirts for this costume. A Rattie Tattie Style skirt of paint spattered lace goes under a tear away overskirt. I had fun with this one - I got to do some fabric painting and fabric distressing after the fitted garment was done.

Head piece by Snake Church
Photography: Dark Soul Photography

Sherri Wheatley

  Ive made many costume components for Sherri over the years. This was a quick one where she needed a skirt and there wasn't much time to send swatches back and forth. I lucked out on my first shopping trip and found a great rayon with a copper sheen. Its got lots of buttons and loops. She can bustle it, wrap it, or leave it down. I love the print and the drama of the length. She wears it well!

Colette

I made Colette Todorov's  wedding dress back when I was living on Fell St. in San Francisco - quite a long time ago now. Ive been digging through old photos and pictures that have been sent to me. Colette's popped up and I thought I would share. This lavender dress has a chiffon overlay trimmed with  ribbon of a darker hue. Its a perfect color for her complexion! Don't be afraid to choose a complimentary color for your wedding dress! Especially for a less formal venue. White does not suit everyone. Show off your personality and have fun!

I dont know how she does it, but she still looks the same!

Colette now lives in Oregon and is the director of Scarlet Thistle Studio.
kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Tribal Fest 2012 Recap

 Tribal Fest 12

To make a long week very short:
It was fun.
I made a new Mother Goddess belt for Lori Tawasha of Bal Anat
I saw some  KCCC  grace the stage
I sold lots.
I caught up with old friends.
I made new friends.
I saw new things.
I took some pictures
I saw some dancing.
I saw a Baby Eater Thing.
I saw a giant unicorn.
I was busy.
I got inspired.
I got sunburned.
I got dirty.
I laughed a lot.
I cant wait to do it again.

The Fluffie Rufflie Pattern Results

I really want to see what everyone is making with my Fluffie Rufflie Patterns!
Marci Turner-Holcombe sent me this photo of the Fluffie Rufflie Dance Pants that she made for Forever By Your Side - Belly Horror 2011!

This is a lovely photo by Stereo Vision Photography!
Please send me photos and I'll put them in my Facebook Album! I REALLY want to see what you come up with!! Its pretty exciting!!
Thank you Marci!
XXX

Vestuses for the Bestuses

 I keep telling people to go to my blog, and Ive just realized that I don't have many photos of my work up - a lot of inspiration, but silly me - where's my work?
I like my pictures big and taking up all my space on this blog, so they sometimes get cut off - click on a photo if you want to get the whole view!

I had been trying to make a simple vest for quite some time, but that thought materialized into these cute little shortie underbust vests that I sold at the Salome's Suitcase trunk show during Tribal Fest. Ive sold out of most of them, but I still have about 5 left in a variety of sizes in my Etsy store. Once Ive got my current orders under control, I'll make a few more of these out of different materials. I took my button and applique stash to embellish them randomly in different patterns which was a lot of fun for me since I love watching tv and doing hand sewing! So any excuse to do that makes me a happy camper.

They button in the front and fit rather tightly. They are meant to be form fitting and not a loose fit at all. Ive worn mine with Capri's, skirts, dresses - I really, like them. I think they are flattering on just about everyone who likes this sort of style. The buttons can be moved over if you need a tighter fit, but they are not really built to be made larger. Its best to buy a size up and move the buttons over if you are questioning your fit. But you can email and ask me to measure the vest again.

 These are bound with a self bias and fully lined. This fabric is a microfiber fabric that I found somewhere - there is no real fabric content info available. There is a sheen to the fabric, but its not shiny. Great for day or evening!

And last but not least, this vest would be awesome for Burning Man!

Here is Daniela Adriaenssens wearing her Vest at Tribal Fest. - and isn't she adorable!
kc.costumeccouture@gmail.com

Sneak Preview Pattern Cover

Well, I have a ways to go before I actually can get these patterns printed up the way that I want them to look  - but Im so excited about the drawing that Katherine Summer did for me, that I just have to squeal with excitement, jump up and down, and show a sneak peek!!!!!!!!!!!

I 

Isnt it pretty? Damn, she's good!!!!!!! What talent! Im so lucky!!!!!!!!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

P.S. 

The Fluffie Rufflie Dance Pants tutorial is up here in my "pages" section - hope it helps! XXX

Mini Steampunk Bustle Skirts

The word "Steampunk" gets tossed around a lot these days and
Gets misused.
But what other category would you put a bustle in?
I think these are the cutest little things!
Im planning a little photo shoot soon so that I can put these on a real person.
They sell much better in real life, and while they still look cute on the hanger,
They look even cuter on a body.
But Ive got these up in my Etsy store and I would love to sell you one.
These are the sizes that I have left.
Email me if you would like a size or color that I dont have up for sale.
And yes, they enhance your derrier - they were made that way.
Thats what a bustle effect does!
kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

SUbZero Festival - June 3rd!

Black Lotus Clothing, Katherine Summer  and KathleenCrowleyCostumeCoiuture will be vending at SubZero this Friday evening, June 3rd! This is an outdoor street festival is San Jose - Cant wait! As usual, we will collaborate in creating a great shopping experience!

SubZero Festival

6pm - midnight
San Jose SOFA disctict in Downtown San Jose
(on South First Street between San Carlos and Reed Streets

We will be putting on a fashion show that starts at 7pm - come check out what we are coming up with for the show! You will not be disappointed!

Come check our fashion show and then stop by and say hi!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Lightning In A Bottle

I wont be there because Ive got so much work to do here in the Studio, but I and most of Salome's Suitcase have sent our merchandise down to LIB with Medina Maitreya who will be sharing a booth with Foxy McSugah the tooth bling Queen ( and designer extraordinaire as well!)

Wish I could be there, but I'm also getting ready for another festival coming up in San Jose on June 6th and I'm just going to have to be in Southern California in Spirit!

So go to the Marketplace and check us out! I hear the booth is beautiful and I know you'll find something that you just cant live without!

So much fun to be had!
XXXX