My Sister/My Love for Mordake

The ending scene of Mordake where he just cut his "twin" off of his head and is now dying. Love the music and visuals! It was also a fun costuming project! And I love the story.......

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

This Fine Spring Day

Yes, thats Ms. Courtney Love and Im pretty sure those are my sleevelets that she's sportin.............which reminds me that Ive got to make more!

Lotsa packages going out today! And then one more large shipment of way backed up orders and I'll feel like I can breathe a bit. What am I saying............then its the Tribal Fest crunch sewing marathon. I want to take Fluffie Rufflie Dance Pants, maybe some pantaloons, hopefully those tops from that bag of pretty fabric sitting on my table, SKIRTS - skirts: the promised skirts, sleevlets, scarves, pantaloons and pretty cholis.....how the hell am I going to accomplish all this????????????

We'll just see what I can pull out of my magical hat!

Maybe I'll win the lottery - well, we all dream, don't we! Some people go crazy when they strike it rich. They buy stuff they don't need - cars, furs, houses.......you name it and then they lose it all.

I just want to pay some debt, buy some health insurance, buy a car that runs good, take care of my aging parents, buy shoes and clothes (of course) within reason, and get the little workshop/ atelier of my dreams. I want to employ people who know their stuff, work their asses off, help me grow my business, and in turn, I will treat them well. That's all. That's all I want.

Oh, and to travel around the world and help out my son and Friends and family.

Oh, and to hire someone to field all the crazies and people who want a piece of me!

Oh, and to retire in one of those fancy/shmancy elderly homes that cater to all your needs.......and then just put me in one of those pretty baskets and bury me green in a field somewhere. Give me to the worms. Amen.
:)

Well, Im off to pick up Haydn at the airport for a mother and son Easter reunion!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

New Cotton Lycra Sampants!!!!!

Victoria is super happy in her double ruffled stretch cotton Sampants!

I'll be posting them up on etsy as fast as I can get them made! As soon as I make them, they seem to walk out the door! Same Sampant fit, same great feel!

Model: Victoria
Photo: Kristine Adams

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

Tribal Boutique!!

A new collective of professional bellydance desingers and artisans has formed to network, collaborate, propell ourselves forward out into the world, and hold each other up as a supportive unit - something long needed - and I am a proud member.

Since we are so new, we dont have an official name yet, but we thought that those of us who are around right now, could have a little boutique that might be more accessable for some - rather than wait for a more bustling venue. The plan is to do this once a month and hopefully be available for the traveling dancers and admirers of our work.

Forgive my photoshop attempt! I just wanted to get the info up! LOL!!!!!

So far we have:
Minerva's Antennae
Medina Maitreya
KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture

Please come by if you can!

kc.costumecouture@@gmail.com

New Things Up On Etsy

Im finally getting around to putting some stock up on etsy again - things I brought back from my vending adventures!

Im still purging my closet bit by bit. I cant say that Im giving you huge bargains, but I think that what Im posting is pretty special. I just dont have room for it all in my little closets anymore and I want these garments to eventually find good homes!

Photo: Kristine Adams
Model: Victoria

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

I Can So Relate To This

Maybe you can too.
I never really thought about ideas and creativity this way.
It certainly does take the pressure off!
Maybe we can all chill out some and just let that Muse do the work!

Kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

The Subject of Fashion Piracy

Ive been obsessed with the subject of fashion piracy of late.

While I don't care if someone is inspired by my muse to make their own costumes, I don't really appreciate taking my work and the work of other amazing artists out there and behaving like this is no big deal..... There is a serious problem with that in this country and we designers don't have a leg to stand on......yet.

The laws may be changing. Maybe not very quickly and they may be hard to enforce. Only the big boys and girls can really sue each other over design issues - and I don't want to go down that road anyway. Almost everything has been tossed into the stew by now, but If someone wants to blatantly copy for their own profit (and I'm not talking about making a one off for a random client or making something for yourself, a Friend, or your troupemates), maybe it means that thier own genious is lame - LOL - see the video above! This always speaks for itself, although it can be very annoying. Especially when you swim in the same pond that you are selling your copied wares in. Well, its just rude. Its stealing. Its undercutting. Its piracy. Is this what we want to pass on to our kids?

There is also the whole collective conciousness thing at play as well. Ideas seem to float about until they get grabbed and someone always seems to get that idea into form at about the same time someone else does. Im not talking about this either. Im talking about copy cats.

So I just spent several hours online looking to see if Ive accidently copied anyone. Ive just seen hundreds of pictures of bloomers, yoga pants, samba pants, pantaloons, and I haven't quite seen my exact designs on anyone. I think I saw my fluffie Rufflie Dance pants on a samba dancer on youtube once - and not out of lace. But to be fair, I dont know if its been done my way or not - Im not copying anyone. And nobody that I know of was making them like I do - until now. Someone must have done it at one point, but I think that by the lucky fluke of being able to get my things onto the right people, trends were started and collaborations happened. I was in the right place at the right time and .........well...........................................................



I dont know that anyone as yet has been able to take hundreds of dancers measurements and combine them down into a basic sizing system that fits most. Perhaps. But they are not making what I make - and I started making these with modern dancers in mind: not victorians.

Often imitated
Never Duplicated

Im very proud of these designs and if I never make another pretty thing that someone adores, Ive been blessed hundreds of times over! Now if I can just get all those blossoming ideas out before someone does it first!

Dancers: Barefoot Bellydance, Salt Lake City, Utah

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

My Dream Sunday

Life is kind of settling down now for me into a pleasant new hum of activity without the previous stresses of my prior daily life.

Thank You Universe! I got Exactly what I asked for!

So yesterday, I had packed up a bunch of orders and did a little photo shoot with Kristine Adams and her niece in our hallway. Feeling like I had gotten a lot done that day, I hitched a ride with Kristine and friends to go pick up some furniture at the Warehouse in Port Costa. And then some other friends were going as well, so it turned into a little party.

When we got there, it turned out that Wendy Addison from Theatre Of Dreams was going to be letting us into the building. So I FINALLY got to go inside her Amazing Wonderland of a shop and meet her. I felt like I was meeting the Queen. Rarely do I "idolize" people (for lack of better word - maybe an artists' crush would be more like it?) - but there I was being the nervous fan. Silly but true and she hugged me. Does it get better than that??????

Now Kristine and I have great big glass glittered WC letters on our bathroom door!

So we loaded up furniture, had drinks at the warehouse, had fun and intelligent conversation, headed back to town, unloaded furniture and then we all went out for dinner in the Haight. One of my more fun and all-too-rare-these-days impromptu adventures..........


Such a nice Sunday!

Photo stolen from Wendy Addison's blog - this is one of her beautiful walls!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

My Favorite Childhood Song.........

What can I say.......



This version isnt as gory as the one I grew up with, but I guess we have to be more sanitary these days!

Happy Saint Patricks Day!

Heading Down to GothLa

So Christina of Black Lotus Clothing and I are loading up her RV tomorrow morning and heading down to GothLa for a fun day of peddling our wares and hanging out with our friends and patrons. Jill Tracy will also be there with a table of merchandise and I highly urge you to go say hi to her because she is Supremely Lovely! And please come say hi to us as well!!!!!

My etsy shop will be down for a week while I'm out doing some serious fabric shopping.

I'll be back for a few days to get more orders out and then I'm off to Rakkasah for a few days.

Back to business after that. I don't think I'll be taking many online custom orders for a while. I have to put a little moratorium on those and restructure how I'm going to handle these in the future. It would be nice if I could just get a proper little line out for all to buy when one needs a Click N Fix, but we'll see............baby steps! Like Kristine likes to say.....Bird By Bird...........

And then its going to be time to get ready for Tribal Fest 09!!!!!
Cant Wait!!!!!!!


kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

The Well Dressed Friar

Today as I was running around town, buying fabric, shipping packages, and putting out fires in general, I saw a friar waiting at the bus stop. I see them around sometimes. Brown robes. White belt with three knots - very medieval. And they are always wearing cheap cotton robes. Now, maybe that's their everyday about town friar street wear, but it kind of looks cheap. Like you could buy it at any Halloween Superstore. And their robes are always too short. Kind of undignified.

Having been brought up catholic,and having many miserable catholic school experiences, I have an aversion to brown robes, black robes, red and grey plaid, and unhappy women in wimples. But its such a novelty to see these guys in an every day setting, that for me anyway, its like watching a car wreck. You don't want to look, but you just cant help it.

Maybe they save their good robes for mass, special occasions, or for when family comes to visit. I just don't know. Ive been commissioned now and then to make several robes for various people, and I cannot make a plain cotton one. It has to have some weight. Some drape. It has to at least be 1" from the ground or the proportions feel wrong to me. It has to look like, well - like something someone would wear in the middle ages. Like something out of an ancient manuscript. Our new modern monk just isn't cutting it, in my opinion. But I will admit, I don't really pay attention to what the Catholics are doing anymore as I lost interest long ago.

But I kept thinking about this and I googled "monks" and all that goes with: I came across a website that seems to offer both cheap ass friar garb and the good wool stuff. The prices seem reasonable enough, so for all you folks who need a good Friars' robe, ecclesiastical wear or something medieval, and NOT something from the Halloween Super Store, I send you this link:
www.gothicgarments.com
I don't make em anymore.

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Who Gets Waltzes Composed For Her.............

Certainly not I. But my friend Lynne did and as Erling Wold is the composer, and I worked below him in my basement workshop, heard the things being created, and was inspired to fantasies of being swirled around a grand ballroom in a red silk bustle dress by a tall, dark, handsome, mysterious stranger, I can attest to the fact that this will be a delight to your senses!

Invite that I received this morning:


Dear all,

On the last day of February, next week in fact, I will be conducting the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra in the premiere of a new work, viz. Two Orchestral Waltzes for Lynne. The express details of the event are below, but first, something on the nature of the dance itself:

"The waltz, in fact, is magnificently improper - the art of tone turned bawdy. I venture to say that the compositions of one man alone, Johann Strauss II, have lured more fair young creatures to lamentable complaisance than all the hypodermic syringes of all the white slave scouts since the fall of the Western Empire. There is something about a waltz that is simply irresistible. Try it on the fattest and sedatest or even upon the thinnest and most acidulous of women and she will be ready, in ten minutes, for a stealthy kiss behind the door - nay, she will forthwith impart the embarrassing news that her husband misunderstands her, and drinks too much, and cannot appreciate Maeterlinck, and is going to Cleveland, 0., on business to-morrow..." H.L. Mencken.

The two waltzes here are written for my inamorata, and reflect two of her most beguiling facets, the first: as the fallen Russian aristocrat, the woman of a certain expectation lacking the allowance that would sanction it; the second: as the haughty and dominating sovereign, unwilling to brook any usurpation of her ultimate and crushing authority. Popularly, waltzes are thought of as dances in 3/4 time, but the word waltz merely means a revolving dance, as both words come from the same root, and many dances named waltzes over the last few centuries have been in a variety of meters: 2/4, 3/4, 6/8, 5/4. But in the end, composers get to call their works whatever they want, so, while the first soi-disant waltz is in 3/4, it is hardly a dance at all, more a concert statement of unbridled passion, discords and all, and the second, while primarily in a fast 3/4 with shifts to 2/4, carries us away in a whirl, a flash of ankle as the ball gown spins up, bodies pressed against each other, a fevered head falling to a shoulder in a swoon of sweet and utter surrender.

And now, the official announcement:

SAN FRANCISCO COMPOSERS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA and Old First Concerts Present:
FREE FOR ALL, (but for you $15)
Saturday February 28th, 2009 at 8 pm
Old First Concerts
1751 Sacramento Street/Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94109
$15 General, $12 Seniors (65 and older), $12 Full Time Students

Tickets are available through the Old First Concerts Box Office at (415) 474-1608, online at http://oldfirstconcerts.org and at the door. For more information, please call Old First Concerts box office.

SAN FRANCISCO, February 2, 2009 -- If you are looking for an invigorating new musical experience ranging from new through-composed gems to electronic music and free improv with graphical scores; have we got a deal for you! SFCCO, the only orchestral ensemble comprised of compsers, has the largest selection of new and pre-owned new-music premieres.

There is great value! in new music by: John Beeman, Michael Cooke, Philip Freihofner, Gary Friedman, David Graves, Loren Jones, Lisa Scola Prosek, David Sprung, Clare Twohy, Davide Verotta, Erling Wold, and Mark Alburger.

Michael Cooke considers quantum mechanics and general relativity in “String Theory” utilizing graphical notation and free improvisation for the entire ensemble. Philip Freihofner's “What Are You Going to Dream Tonight” presents technology-driven free writing for oboe, clarinet, electric keyboard, and viola. From the dreamy to the hallucinogenic with Davide Verotta’s “Yanitl”. David Graves and Clare Twohy team up for a fire sale in the collaborative “Fireproof Winds” Lisa Scola Prosek’s “Serenade for Trumpet” is based on a melody by her son Eduard Prosek (who is also the soloist) and the drive-in movie side of film noir. Loren Jones’ “February's Children” expands the ensemble with electric guitar and bass, harp, synthesizer, and percussion. David Sprung's “Serendipities” is an ambitious piece for large ensemble. Special deals for you thrill seakers with Erling Wold's bawdy “Two Orchestral Waltzes for Lynne” and Mark Alburger's deliciously inappropriate “Sex and the Orchestra”. If more traditional means are your thing, consider “Wind Sextet” by Gary Friedman and “Adagio and Dance” by John Beeman.

Libby Bullof

One of my favorite artists, Libby Bullof, is having a show in Seattle. And of course, I have a vested interest since she just photographed Molly of Deshret Dance Company - my trusty assistant, wearing some of my costuming.

Aside from that, Libby is so talented - go check out her work if you are in the Seattle area!

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

Im In Love

I'm In Love with my new home. Its Valentine's Day and so it is fitting that I talk about the things that I love. Not only do I love all my friends, I love my customers and clients. I especially Love My Son. I love my new home, I love my neighborhood and all that goes with it. Ive traded gangs for your typical San Francisco "charactors" - and that's just fine by me!

I love what I do. I love what I make. I love that I can wake up and have coffee and go to work without walking out the door. I love that I can walk to the fabric store and hop on a bus that takes me where I need to go. I love my Roomie and her pets. I love my cat. (If you come by, you cant be severely allergic or afraid of animals - sorry - I cant live without animals in my life!)

~Don't worry - I keep all animals away from the clothes and fabric!~

And I love that after just a short time, my home actually feels like a home instead of a sea of boxes! (thank you Kristine!)

I just seem to have a lot to be thankful for these days and I love that!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!
XXXX

March Madness

March Vending Schedule:

Gothla
Saturday March 7th
Pomona, Ca.



Rakkasah
March 13, 14, 15
Vallejo, Ca.

This Town Is Just Too Small Sometimes

I took the morning off from unpacking, arranging, and trying to figure out why I have so much stuff. I took a walk around the neighborhood and walked into Community Thrift - reminding myself that I had just made a pact with me, myself, and I that if I bring something into the house, two things have to go out.........so Im perusing the aisles and pulling out cute little dresses when lo and behold, there are two dresses on the rack that I just got rid of!!!!!!!!!

So does that count?

Just When I Think Its All A bit Too Much.......

I moved into a smaller place and while Im so very happy and ready to roll again, I started wondering why the hell am I doing this? Why do I make things? Why do I collect so much stuff and why do I try to make things for a living? Why why why?????????

And then DeJeNerate posted this picture on tribe and I had my answer. Cuz I like to make pretty things and my things go well with all kinds of other things, people feel good wearing it, and its just a nice thing to do with one's life.

Dancer: DeJeNerate
Photo: Matthew Loal T. Hepworth (SLC, UT)
Kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Rattie Tattie Neck Warmers

Im still jumping over boxes, but the move was as smooth as a move could be and I just posted a few new things up on etsy. I'll be back to work tomorrow and happy as happy can be!

I made some of these black and white scarves and they are all gone but one thats now lonely and needs an owner! I'll have more, but since they are all a bit different from one another, this one here is the last of its kind for now!

http://www.kathleencrowley.etsy.com

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Naivete

Why I thought I could make this move happen quickly and without pain, I have no idea. Perhaps because the mere thought of moving kinda makes me sick and I just chose to be in denial.

I expect that it will take me a good week now to get set back up - although I will still be working and checking emails. Everything will be going under one roof again, which will make my life much more efficient. Im so excited!

Bear with me!

Kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Cold Turkey Not Good

DO NOT......
I REPEAT......
DO NOT stop drinking coffee cold turkey while moving
and working furiously with deadlines.

Not a good idea!


kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Nesting

I should be working because I am overwhelmed with so much to do right now, but I just cant help myself - I found a home! I can rest. I can nest. I can work when I need to and the commute will be very, very short. The neighborhood is great. The bus stops a stones throw away. Im surrounded by cheap eats, good produce, and the hippest shops. Im sure that I'll be in heaven once Im all moved in. And ........tada! Im a short walk to a good fabric store! And best of all, hell aint freezin over yet - so thats a good sign, right? (unless you are over on the other side of the country)

Ive been needing to nest for a long, long time now, and every time I try, Im just up against a wall, so now I can. Its been a long adventure - and lets just leave it at that. Not only will I be happier, but a happy Kathleen gets her work done quicker and can actually go have fun now and then!

I found this photo of a nest. And it led me here - a great green reuse crafty blog! So read it because its full of fun little crafty ideas! And you can learn to make this nest! Every home needs one. And a house isnt a home unless you can nest.



Here is one of my new room mates!
Isn't he just adorable?

So I probably wont be working for the first week of February and although Im overwhelmed with the amount that I have to do before then, hey, I am never bored.

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

I like to promote my friends when at all possible and I believe in their work. This man's art is especially amazing and you should go to this if you are in the area.
He also dresses very nice and I give him extra kudos for this!

Patrick Segui
The Shooting Gallery
February 7th
839 Larkin St.
Sf, Ca
415-931-8035

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

I'll Be Vending At The Edwardian Ball!

Its time for the Edwardian Ball again! And this time I'll be vending! So come by and say hi!

There is so much amazing entertainment as always, but there seems to be so much more this year - or maybe more of who I like. And it is always so much fun to see what everyone is wearing!

I will be accepting checks with proper id, legal tender and swigs off your flask - but no credit cards - sorry!

Come out to the ball!

The Regency Center
Sutter and Van Ness
San Francisco
Friday vending
January 23


kc.costumecouture@gmail.com