Waffling About

Again, I should be sewing, but I love this:

Third Coast Or Bust

My pictures from Third Coast Tribal mainly suck. I was using my iphone camera indoors in low light. That wasnt my most brilliant move - but I had misplaced my real camera and this had to do. Most photos didnt turn out, but I just want to show how pretty our space was.

Thats one reason I love our little collective.........we make our booth pretty and interesting - and we work well together. Our goods are high quality and we like things to look interesting and a cut above the norm. So we are always moving stuff around on the racks and tables and freshening up the look and feel of the booth. And then we take notes and figure out how to make it better next time!

 

~Rose taking notes in her new winter 5 & Diamond jacket~

We were right up against the stage at this venue, which was pretty, but maybe not the best area all in all. The lighting was poor and since there were workshops on the stage, shopping had to be kept at a minimum - not the best place to put a vendor - but we made it work and everyone was so nice. I met women who had purchased from me on Etsy - and that was so much fun! I just LOVE meeting people who buy and wear my things. Call me crazy...........but its such a huge compliment!!!!! And then of course, we got to watch our stuff in action on the stage in the workshops.

:)

So we made it. We got there. We had fun. We financed our trip.........and thats what matters!

 

  

  

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com 

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 

Sleepless In San Francisco

This is what happens when I cant sleep.

On Etsy.

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

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

The Start Of A Great New Year!!!!!!!

The first project for my new year (aside from my ongoing filling of custom orders) will be my first trip to Texas! Salome's suitcase is loading up the RV - thanks to Christina of Black Lotus Clothing- and we're heading out for Fort Worth Texas via Albuquerque, New Mexico! So if you are out that way, please come by and at least say hi and see what we are up to these days! Dont be shy - we LIKE knowing you!!!!!!!

Lots of sewing for the next few days - and lots of sewing in the RV as its rolling down the road! This is going to be fun for all!

I'll be bringing Sampants, the new Jessiepant, Bum Ruffles and whatever else I can squeeze into my suitcase!

And for those of you who have no idea who Salome's Suitcase is, we are a collective of adornment and apparel artists. We are united by a focus on unique design and quality craftsmanship!
We are:
Black Lotus Clothing
FoolProof Studios
HiBeam Bindis
Katherine Summer
KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture
Medina Maitreya
Minerva's Antenna
Rosehips Designs
Yasemin Yildiz

Contact us at: salomes.suitcase@gmail.com

The links for all are in the costumer/designer column on the right!!!!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Have A Very Fluffie Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone! Whatever you believe in, I hope you have a lovely day!

I personally opted out of the commercialism and toxic family functions years ago and choose to either spend it by myself or with good friends. Its a day of peace and quiet for me. I'll read and work on a dance costume for me today.

I finally got my Dickens outfit together and attended the Faire this year with my friend Erling. This was a huge accomplishment as I never have time for these things anymore. And I'm so glad I did. It wasn't quite as merry as I remember it from the old days (is anything ever), but it was merry enough and I had a good time. They do such a lovely job of giving us an old time Christmasie world for a month out of the year! A literal Christmas card event! It always helps to go with a dapper man with manners as well. I would love to vend there. It would be great if Salome's Suitcase could get in. I know we would be a hit. Well, I'll try to make it happen. Now THAT would be a blast!

And for those of you who have no idea who Salome's Suitcase is, we are a collective of adornment and apparel artists. We are united by a focus on unique design and quality craftsmanship!
We are:
Black Lotus Clothing
FoolProof Studios
HiBeam Bindis
Katherine Summer
KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture
Medina Maitreya
Minerva's Antenna
Rosehips Designs
Yasemin Yildiz

Contact us at: salomes.suitcase@gmail.com

Since my room mate is in Egypt right now, riding camels and all that fun stuff, I kind of didn't want to make a fuss with decorating. It seemed like a bother. But my friend Matt dragged a fake tree over on Christmas Eve that he had found in a box on the street.
I felt the spirit of Christmas take over and lead me to my box of decorations and my hand was forced to decorate this tree with scraps of fluffie Lace. Leave it to me to have a fluffie tree! I love it! Merry Christmas!

Labor Of Love

Its been a while since Ive blogged - so much has been going on! Ive been vending and working on backorders and trying to get into the spirit of Christmas .......but only made it as far as Solstice!


First of all, my new little granddaughter was born last saturday. Ivy Skye. Fabulous name if I do say so myself! And she's awfully cute. Hopefully I'll go see her early next year.

I mentioned before, that I wasnt going to be making baby clothes. But I caved because of all the cute little vintage childrens' patterns out there. And the baby needs to be decked out. I mean, she just does.

I dug into my remnant bins and came up with a lovely grey/brown silk velvet that was used once several years ago to make a wedding coat for a lovely woman I know. I used a bit of blue silk velvet for the trims and bonnet. I made self covered buttons. I used up some of my bits and bobs and came up with a pretty cute little outfit. I wasnt sure if it would even fit as we usually pop out pretty big babies, but shes's a wee 7 pounds 14 oz. So no worries there. And worse case scenerio, she'll have doll clothes.

Then I took some scraps of Ariellah's wedding dress and made a little dress that resembles a christening gown, although that was not my intention. With a little china silk, I made a little slip - and there you go.......

And I vowed I would never do it again! (but Im always saying that about things) Its hard making baby clothes!!!!!! All those little pieces! Some of the pattern pieces were missing, so I did my best. Not so crazy about the neckline on the dress, but the directions on the pattern made no sense whatsover. Still, its pretty and the photos dont do it justice. I used this pattern for the coat and bonnet. The dress pattern seems to have disapeared. We didnt like each other!

Im sure I'll find the time down the road to make Ivy something cute now and then, but this was truely a labor of love! There is a reason these designer baby clothes cost so much in the boutiques!!!!!!



kc.costumecouture@gmail.com