Rashani World Fusion

Today I woke up with laryngitis and chills. So its a good day to wrap myself up in a warm blanket and get to all that invoicing that I keep having to put off. I know that doesn't sound very business-like, but since Ive been doing the work of 5 women around here lately, it just happens that way sometimes. Ive been getting that much needed sleep and I guess its better that I waited to get sick now rather than a couple weeks ago!

I have been going to Wendy Marlatt's dance classes at the MoBu dance studio in Noe Valley. This is a great little light and airy dance studio with a barre  and lovely wood floors and a huge wall of mirror. She's been teaching us new arm movements (well, new for some of us, anyway) that I never would have considered with my ATS training. Its a nice blend of many dance styles. Its hard not to laugh in class sometimes ( but we do)  because she's so graceful and we are trying to learn to move gracefully without holding zills. Its a very different thing altogether for those of who focused mainly on American Tribal Style for years. My brain is rebelling with all the new footwork, but it was actually easier this week. You should go - she's great, warm, and a lot of fun! And the studio is very easy to get to. Its right on the J Church line - and its not a stinky bus with icky people for a change.

I haven't been promoting my dancer self much because I just wasn't dancing for quite a while. I got rusty and shy and full of low self esteem, but Ive been performing with Rashani World Fusion for a while now, and I'm finally getting back into the swing of things. Ive been doing solos lately, which, if you know anything about ATS (my roots), it  is not focused on solo performance. And while dancing by oneself for others can be very freeing, I have had very little training in this. Its freakin scary. But thanks to Wendy, I'm  having fun with it. Who cares if I'm not doing every little thing "right". That's not what its all about!

The thing that I'm enjoying with Rashani World Fusion, is that the focus is on being a collective of dancers rather than being a troupe with just one style. So far, we all have had that strong ATS base that makes us very strong, powerful dancers and enables us to jump in as a group and dance together improv style and then jump back out and each do our own thing. Its interesting, its fun, the audience enjoys the variety, and we get to experiment. This collective thing is by no means a new thing, but I'm having a great time with it! We are all seasoned stage performers as well, so throwing a set together at the drop of a hat and performing in an awkward setting now and again is no big deal. (Thank you, Carolena! )

We perform two Friday evenings every month at L's Cafe. Its a friendly, warm, cozy, woman-owned cafe in the heart of the Mission. Come have a happy hour send off to the weekend and start your Friday night off at L's Cafe! Support us, and a great cafe and neighborhood!

Rashani World Fusion
June 6th
June 18th
7pm and 8pm
L's Cafe
2871 24th street
Btwn Bryant and Florida
San Francisco, Ca.

Top photo of Wendy and Kathleen and Wendy taken by Kristine Adams

Wedding Gown Inspiration

One of my favorite things to do when I have a few minutes - or am just too tired to move away from the computer - is to go on Etsy and look up vintage patterns. I buy them when I can to add to my collection, but I mainly "favorite" them because I can usually just look at the picture and figure out how to make it anyway.

I feel like I am heading back to my custom dressmaking - which means, I hope, that I'm going to be able to focus again on the dieing art of making clothing that actually enhances you and makes you look your best. One of my favorite things, of course, is Bridal. Not only is it one of the most important days of your life, but you can really make a statement about who you are and indulge your fantasy about wearing a silhouette that you probably wont be able to wear on a day to day basis. You get to safely play dress up and its ok.

So I thought I would suggest to all of you who are looking for dresses with a vintage feel that you go to Etsy for gown ideas. You can take an idea from one dress and apply to another. Or you can get inspiration, or you can take the pattern to an experienced dressmaker and have them make you something similar that will fit you. The vintage pattern doesn't have to be in your size if you know someone who has pattern making skills.

I can grade a pattern to size. And its a lot easier for me if I have something to work with already - hence my extensive pattern collection! I always make mock ups of your dress first and we always have fittings. This ensures the fit that makes all the difference in the world.!

Its also best to plan your gown/outfit a year in advance so that your dressmaker can take the time she needs - and we always juggle projects - so planning is key to success! I would say that 6 months should be the latest you could consider..............even a "simple" design is something that has to be fitted and constructed. There really is no such thing as "simple" in couture.

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Cher Chez La Femme

I found this photo of Sherri Wheatley performing at Tribal Fest 10 in her new nude colored Fluffie Leg Ruffles. She is soooooo on trend as nude is going to be the new black! This is such a great picture! Sherri is a beautiful woman - inside and out and a gorgeous, very talented dancer. I dont know who took the photo though. If you contact me, I'll credit you!! you can see how great these look in motion! They really do float around your legs!

Here is another photo of her in a pair of Leg Ruffles that I made for her a while back. I dont know who made the rest of her costume.....Medina? Im not sure. Very lovely though.

 

And here is Sherri modeling an off white backless halter dress of mine on stage at the Tribal Fest Afterparty last month. Sequoia Emmanuelle took some lovely photos of everyone in the worst lighting ever - this attests to her skill. Some of the photographers gave up and wouldn't even bother. Ok. that was our one SNAFU.  But we tried to get the stage lit better, we really did! Next year, we're on it!

 The hat was made for this dress by Medina Maitreya. I am so blessed to work with such talented people!


kc.costumecouture@gmail.com
Photo of Sherri at the Afterparty: Sequoia Emmanuelle

The Stuff Of Dreams

I don't think we actually set out to create a fairy tale wedding, but it turned into one anyway! And why wouldn't it with these two. They have always had an air of drama and an otherworldly flair  about them. Im so glad they finally tied the knot!  It was the sweetest wedding, ever!

 I was lucky and honored to make the  wedding attire for my friends Lynne Rutter and Erling Wold.

For Lynne, I made a black taffeta "poufy dress"  with a scooped neckline. It was somewhat based on a fifties look with a twist. The fabric was fun as it never really wrinkles and it can be poufed out and stay that way - or be calmed down and stay that way. Thank you microfiber (or whatever the hell this fabric is!?!) I took apart the train from the wedding dress of her first marriage. It was a beautiful lightweight ivory silk and I made a jacket with this silk to go over the black  dress. The old wedding dress had English Cotton Netting used as a lining for the lace sleeves. So I took off the sleeves of the old dress and used the ECN as a lining for the bodice of the black dress. It worked out really well. We revamped the old dress a bit and now she can  put it up for auction on ebay. It will make a cuter than cute modern wedding dress now for some lucky lady! These new and remade garments will be worn many times again, which is great,  and the jacket was a bit "green", which made us both happy. I like being able to reuse materials when I can.  And for the marriage ceremony itself, I took loose weave scrim and made a blinged out fairy tale dress to go over her black gown. I didn't plan on focusing on any particular theme, but when I saw the set that Lynne was painting, I knew I was on the right track. She wore a tiara stuffed with her veil from the previous wedding - and voila! Classy lady turned into Fairy Empress!

 Here are I and my friend Erica (also wearing a silk velvet coat that I made for her wedding several years ago!) We were Lynne's attendants on stage and I am wearing a dress that I found in a thrift store - I threw it in a dye pot the day before! I'm also wearing my little Fluffie Bloomers. It was cuter in real life - really - bad photos.....and the camera adds pounds......right?

And those are vintage Fortuny drapes btw. Nice touch for the old Slovenian dance hall.

For Erling, I put ruffles on one of his red shirts, constructed a vest with epaulets that he could wear over   his tux and with his shirt later on. We thought something versatile, fun, and a little silly yet manly would give this party some extra drama! And I gave him a fancy cummerbund. We did buy some new trims, but I went into my stash and used a lot of what I had - and I was glad to as I have way too much stuff!

Lynne is such an amazingly talented woman. Well, they both are extraordinarily creative, but Lynne just whipped out this set in a few days. It was magical. Here is the black and white outfit. I swear I'm going to get some good photos. She was simply stunning, but I'm in the mood to blog and I couldn't wait! However, not too bad for an iphone. I maybe should have waited to take pictures before I started sipping the whiskey though.

Here is Lynne in the background with her black and white outfit. I'm praying for some better photos down the line. In the foreground is Erica in a Poiret inspired coat that I made for her wedding several years ago. This was a beautiful taupe silk velvet from Thai Silks in Los Altos. Why am I giving you my source? Because its where you should go for your silk. Period. Except that I just found out that if you need heavy stretch silk in colors, Silk Road in Oakland is the place to go. Good to know, because I thought they were gone. Lynne etched this pattern on the back of the coat. Awesome as always.

I just finished a wedding dress yesterday for my nephew's fiance'. So these projects and Tribal Fest royally kicked my ass. I feel as though Ive been running a marathon for two months! I'm again behind in getting orders out the door, but most everything will be done next week and I'm not going to feel guilty about it. Its all cut and bundled or partially put together. I was able to breathe this last week and actually have a little fun again. All work and no play make Kathleen really hard to deal with. I'll take Memorial Day off as well. Shock. Nuff said.

So next week is going to be filled with getting caught up again, answering all those messages and emails, dealing with all those stacks of paperwork piling up around me and just getting enough sleep.

Sleep, blessed sleep!

P.S. You should contact me as early as a year in advance for your wedding attire as Spring is when I am busiest! And it can take me a while to get back to you - although I'm working on that!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Oh Tribal Fest.........

I think Princess Farhana said that going to Tribal Fest is like stepping into Brigadoon every year. And it is. It is always different yet always the same!

This year, the design collective that I am a part of (Salome's Suitcase) vended at the Beats Antique show, vended at the Tribal Fest Afterparty 2 nights, and put on  a very glamorous fashion show on Friday night. Every model looked stunning. There were no exceptions. I am so proud of all of us. We all have horribly busy schedules, sometimes we can be a little scattered with all the daily juggling, we all have our own special style and vibe - and we pulled it all together. We had a lovely fashion show that went off without a hitch - AND set up to vend - AND manned the booth - AND wheedled, negotiated, cajoled, and manipulated to get what we needed in a very pleasant manner - All at the same time. Without fighting. Without trauma. Without turmoil.  In cramped quarters. In the freezing cold. We rock! We are all professionals! I am woman, hear me roar!

I'll post more photos later ............

And while vending late into the night was a little hard for me - this just is not my schedule any more - it was great, because we got to wander around Sebastopol and Bodega Bay during the day, hang out and schmooze at Tribal Fest, check out the competition and  even get work done or for some, go to school or work the next day. I think I like this better.

So now its back in the saddle again...........Ive got two more weddings to finish up, orders to finish and send out, and see about restructuring how I do things. I may just have to up my custom prices to what they should be and take on a lot less work so that I can pursue my other interests. I may have to source out the basics (locally) and really do small manufacturing correctly. Why haven't I been doing that all along? Why because Ive been trying to give everyone something special. This started out as a labor of love. I love my dance community, but the love just got too big!  And "special" takes too long to make and some just don't get that. It stresses me out when someone doesn't get it despite all the education I try to do on the subject and the stress isnt worth it. I would rather get paid well or not make it at all. Life's just way to short for that.

So changes are a comin. Some will benefit and many will not. But that's progress. Right?

Happy Cinco De Mayo Sale!

Im having a little sale today - everything in my Etsy shop is at least 10% off! Some things a little more - clearing out and making way for new!

XXX

Tribal Fest Afterparty!!!!!

Its that time again everyone! Tribal Fest and all that goes with it! People travel from all around the world to attend this dance festival - and hopefully you will be no exception!

The design collective that I am proud to be a part of - Salome's Suitcase - will be the featured vendor collective at the Tribal Fest Afterparty!!!! Do not miss this! We will be having a fashion show on friday night, May 14th.

We will be vending at the Afterparty ONLY!!!!!!! So come out and share your pennies with us!!!!!

Salome's Suitcase is represented by the following artists:

Black Lotus Clothing
Kathleen Crowley Costume Couture
Katherine Summer
HiBeam Bindis
Medina Maitreya
Yasimin Yildiz
Minerva's Antennae
Rosehips
FoolProof Studios

Salomes' Suitcase
Kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

F*#K You Mercury!

I went to bed last night wondering how Im going to accomplish everything I set out to do this month. Projects are getting log jammed despite my best efforts. Despite having started them at a good clip a while ago. I'm going to blame it on Mercury having gone retrograde. Damn you, Mercury! You are supposed to be my friend!! I guess you have to have the bad to balance out the good. Right?

Well, May is packed with goodness and fun for me - Im not going to let the planets ruin everything! By sheer will, I will carry on and get things accomplished! Even my worst attempts at making something quickly are better than some!!!!!!!!

I have wedding attire to finish, weddings to go to, gigs to perform at, A fashion show to make stuff for, the Tribal Fest Afterparty, the Beats Antique show to vend at - and if I dont have much to sell, I can say hi and take your orders..............because the load will lighten up after this month and its business as usual!

Ive decided to not vend very often after this month. I'm not going to say "never", but in case you are not aware, vending is quite an expensive project and very time consuming. The last few venues that I traveled to and sold at were either not well attended, or the market was just inundated with ruffles - and stuff "inspired" by what those in the design collective (Salome's Suitcase) that I'm a part of had started ages ago. In fact - I just found the photo above of me working on the prototype for all those ruffles that are now filling the market. Flipping off the photographer. I must have seen it coming!!!!!! (I'm grateful, don't get me wrong!)

Its time for me to use my time more wisely now. I have patterns to make. New ideas to create. Orders to work on. And new roads to go down. I need to not forsake my bespoke roots. I don't want to lose everything Ive learned over the years. And I feel that Im starting to. Use it or lose it. And I need the time to keep up with marketing and emails. Ive spread myself thin - so no vending for a while!

Just to clear up some misunderstandings - I will NOT be vending at Tribal Fest!!!!
I WILL be at the Tribal Fest Afterparty!!!! It is gonna be amazing this year! And our models are off the hook drop dead Gorgeous!!!!!!

So dont spend it all at Tribal Fest, folks! Save some for us!!!!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

My New Etsy Purchases

Thank you - and you know who you are - for buying my lovely skirts off of Etsy yesterday! I, in turn bought groceries, paid Comcast, and bought myself a couple little vintage patterns.

This one will be worn at my son's wedding next year. Thats the plan anyway. It will go swell with my new look (get it!). I will be chic and socially acceptable and no one but my closest dear ones (and an ex dear one) will know the crazy girl inside. I will be poised and sophisticated in this silhouette, don't you think? Little will anyone know of the trouble maker that lurks inside!

I have two choices here - summer sophisticate or cool weather svelt. Either will take me anywhere I want to go.........unless they have some funky ho down wedding or something like that and then I'm screwed.

And this is a little outfit right out of 1952 for little Ivy Skye. She is either going to just hate me and be traumatized and  embarrassed to death by my eclectic tastes - or she wont care. I don't care either. It'll be fun! Wouldn't this be perfect Gothic Lolita though?

RIP Malcom

You pissed a lot of people off with your ambitious reach, , but you really knocked the world on its ear. You were always a character to me and you gave me much to jump around and dance to! It is befitting that you would have a party for a funeral. I'm not so sad about this death, because he had a fairly longish life and did a lot of things. And its quite probable that I'm just getting to that age now where I'm growing numb and my age group will start seriously dying off now. Punks' been dead for a long time because we are all so coddled with our toys, gadgets, and readily available distractions. But maybe when the lights go out, we'll get another non electric version of it. Ya gotta be really angry for punk to be effective, and most of us have had it just too damned easy.  I have not seen the anger yet. Despite everything thats going on.

Nothing In Particular

I borrowed my roommate Kristine's little camera and spent the morning taking photos of things I need to post up on Etsy. I have learned that iced velvet soaks up all light and despite my best efforts, I could take very few decent photos. But I did my best.  I'll spend part of tomorrow putting new things into the store.
And I'll attempt to make some decent photos of more things.

I have to get myself another little camera because my last one flew out of my hand and fell with a sickening crash to the floor. I have no idea how to shop for cameras. I lucked out with that one. But that and somehow financing a computer and dental work are all on my to do next list. The fun never ends......

Kristine makes really great little art pieces and this is what you see behind my dress form. The walls are covered with her art and I love walking through our hallway because of it!

And I still love my hair!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Fluffy Not Stuffy

Ive cut it short plenty of times. But Ive always left little dreads in - because you know- I'll just put more right in again!

But last night Kristine and I picked out a mess of them, my neighbor Jessie helped me with the process  first til she stabbed herself with the seam ripper (yeah we used whatever - I used an awl and a comb), and I picked out the remainer of them deep into the night, leaving only a few for Wendy. She was going to cut them out anyway.

My scalp is tingling from all the pulling and prodding and combing and tugging! But I have not been able to run a comb through that mess for 20 years! As it stands, my scalp has probably never fully been able to breath in all that time - and I can literally feel the skin on my head sighing in relief. Oh, the things we do to ourselves!

I love it and I feel like I have left 5 years or more of dead weight and bad joo joo back in Remedy's garbage bin. My head feels light and fluffy - in a very good way! I think I'll cut it even shorter next time!!!! I love it! Thank you. Wendy!!!!


Wendy Allen
Remedy Salon

And they always have great art on the walls..........

And OMG - Look at Ivy's forehead. We have wrinkle lines in the same place. Wow - the nut falls not far from the tree.

Hair - Down To There

I could be wrong, but I THINK Im over with the hair extention/long dreaded phaze of my life. Its been a good 20 year run on and off, but I simply cant stand that stuff hanging off my head any longer. There has been nothing new with this craze and Ive always loved it since I was a kid running around the yard with strips of sheets tied into my hair so that I could look like that damsel in the fairy tales! Ladies have been adding to what the gods gave them for centuries. This woman could be wearing false hair as it was the fashion to do so.  But Im going in tomorrow to have Wendy Allen chop it off again for me. I cut it, I add more. I cut it again, I add more. But its time to just let the hair do its wispy fine white girl thing for a while and admit that the length doesnt suit me any longer and maybe its just time to be whatever the hell I really look like. Ive tried many times to just let it be and I get an itch and have to add more. Old habits do not die easily. I think long hair is fun. You can do so many things with it - but Im so busy most of the time that I just put it up in a bun anyway. How creative is that?

Ive also been seriously watching my diet and have dropped a dress size or two and that old 20's look is appealing to me more and more. So Im heading down another road. I cant be fair maiden any longer. (well, thats been the case for QUITE some time - LOL) So Im moving on. Its in the stars. We've all had to go on some sort of diet, wether its been with food, or relationships, or finances..........doesnt matter. Its been a good thing. Eat quality and you will eat less. Marry quality and you will have fewer headaches (thats how its supposed to be, right???????) Buy quality and it lasts longer and you wont be filling up the landfills as much with useless broken items. Be quality and be useful. Just be?

All that from just chopping off my hair. We'll see how long this phaze lasts! But a little change is a good thing.

How To Wear A Bustle

Samantha Emanuel just sent me this photo. I dont know who the photographer is, but I'll ask.
I think Ive posted a photo of her wearing some of these things before, but I dont think I got a good one of the bustle/train until now.

She can actually dance in this. And that takes a lot of talent and guts! But as the flamenco dancers do, you sweep the train away with your foot and let velocity and gravity take it where it needs to go. Im always so inspired when I see good photos of my things being worn. I feel somehow that something got channeled through these garments to enable the wearer a a means to express him/herself. But lets face it, a huge part is the wearer themselves using the garment to transform. If even for a few moments. They know what looks good on them. They study their physique. They know how to move in fabric.  Someone with enough talent can wear a plain old coffee sack onstage and wow the audience. That would be Sam for you, but she does wear pretty things well! The clothes dont wear her, she wears the clothes.

How to wear a bustle: Don't wear one that your body cannot handle. If you are not accustomed to wearing a bustle or train, practice, practice, practice before you go out in it. Your whole alignment feels different.  If you cannot wear it gracefully, then don't wear it all. I see so many dancers running out on stage with a bunch of fluff on their asses, thinking this is cute. ( And sometimes it is!) Its the whole Steampunk craze going on - but what is your message? Can you make this look graceful and elegant - can you make it a look that creates an interesting silhouete, or are you just plopping a bundle of ruffles on your butt with a tiny hat and not thinking about proportion? What is your story?  Well.......I just thought I would put it out there because as with everything in life, some can pull it off and some cannot. Usually its simply a matter of not knowing your proportions and what looks best.  And don't get me wrong - have fun and experiment - just look in the mirror at your back side and your side view before heading out the door!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Rachel Brice

About three years ago or so, (was it really that long ago?) I made this Tango dress for Rachel Brice.
I do that a lot. I make something and then forget all about it until something or someone reminds me. I don't even remember what fabric we made this out of.  But I love the halter and the way the dress was cut in a flamenco way for drama. Its hard to see in this photo, but there are lots of ruffles.

People often ask me if I get sad when something Ive made walks out the door, but even though there is always a part of me in everything I make, I am continually on to the next project and just relieved that my client likes what Ive made.

And then when a photo like this pops up out of seemingly nowhere, I get that warm and fuzzy feeling inside and just want to jump up and down clapping my hands in glee! Pretty! Pretty! Lots of happy faces!

Rachel moved up to or around Portland, Oregon last year. And even though I didnt get to see her often, I was still sad to see her go. So its nice to have this photo. There is just something about this woman that makes you want to love her. But for those of you in the belly dance world, you probably already know that!

This photo was taken by Kristine Adams who is amazingly talented! Hire her!!!!!!!!!
Kristineadams.com
Location: Amnesia, SF

Its Time

Today was my day to see the tax guy downtown.  I was only happy to see the marble walls and floors.

Ordinarily I love going downtown when I can, but understandably, I wasnt too excited. I had time to kill before my appointment, so I decided to do some much needed window shopping. In fact, a friend of mine has instructed me to take a day once a week and go see whats going on in the world of fashion. She thought I might get some ideas and inspiration. And I thought she might be right. So I meandered about for a while.

So silly me, I visited H&M, Forever 21, The Gap, Old Navy, Anthropology, Urban Outfitters, and DSW - thinking I might find something better than the last time I went into those establishments.

Ok. Urban Outfitters layout was bare. Where was the merchandise, I asked?  I got a lame excuse - but we know its because everyone is afraid to buy - so they in turn cant buy. Anthropology still had cute plates and saucers, cups and dresser pulls, but the cupboards were bare. The clothing ugly. If these companies are sending their "designers" out into the world to knock off and steal others ideas for profit, we are in a sad, sad state of affairs here. Because there was nothing Designerie going on that I could see. Except for a cute pink prom dress in Forever 21. And I already have the pattern. If horizontal stripes and oversized shirts and the ever present ruffle on anything that will support one is all there is - not to mention the color blocking, neon colors, gladiator sandals, and ugly 80's rehash - then we may as well just kill ourselves. Its all over folks.

 I will say this.....the right person could rock those shoes......but I dont think I want to know her.

But this is why I sew. And this is why I love thrift stores and fabric stores. This is what Ive been stock piling all those bazillions of vintage patterns for - for a time like this when fashion is dead and we are being fed diarrhea and the maggots off of the carrion of fashion. And those Marc Jacob heels there in the back ground..... I'm so sorry. Maybe it would be different if I could turn back the clock and wear them - did I wear them in the 80's? No. I wore vintage and a Fluevog when I could get a pair. Maybe Im just bitter. Although I will say that I kept a pair of gladiator sandals from back then, but I just don't wear them out in public.


Hopefully a time will come again soon when I can walk into a store and be so bummed out that I cant afford anything in it. There were some cute espadrilles. Some really cute gingham skirts and blouses (boy - I called THAT one!) and I do like the long dresses - but you really have to cut them to allow a stride. Please remember that,"designers"! Do you know the term? You actually have to cut enough fabric to allow one to walk down the street in it! The Gap was more basic than I can remember. But basics are good to build on, lets not forget that. Lots of white and black - thankfully to counterbalance the shock of neon next door.  Dont even go to Old Navy. Dont even go. Right now, I can honestly say that its a good time to be poor. Cuz there is nothing to buy anyway.

Hey - My tax guy saved me tons of money - and I was not inspired to drop a dime.

Im heading out to the Haight next and report on that scene. Hopefully I'll see something cute.

Rev up your sewing machines, people! Its time!

Kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Little Princess Ivy

Little Ivy is lounging like a princess in the  silk and lace gown that I made for her. Refined and Regal as a princess of my lineage should be!

Ok - there WAS a castle in Belgium somewhere down the line according to some in my family...........but there were also a lot of peasants on dirt floors. We'll just pretend, shall we, that Ivy is a throwback to royalty for now. She COULD be!

I sewed the seams of some of this outfit by machine, but the rest was all hand stitched. I had a lot of silk scraps from various wedding gowns over the years and a bit of lacie loveliness that I couldn't throw away. So for those inclined to making baby clothes, you can do wonders with a lot of time and a few materials. This is not my calling, but I'm glad I did it. Hand sewing can be very relaxing and I enjoy it immensely, but baby clothes are a whole different world!  For those who notice these things, I would do the neckline differently next time. A simple little facing would have made more sense. I was using two vintage christening gown patterns with missing pieces. The directions were confusing and I just winged it. It was very intuitive and felt much like sewing with The Force guiding me! I sewed on pearls and buttons for embellishment. It turned out pretty cute - and Ivy is an awfully pretty baby regardless! But of course, Im biased.

Thank you Sarah and Haydn, for posting Easter photos!!!!!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Loveliness Abounding

Yesterday, Salome's Suitcase had a wonderful trunk showing of their wares in Minerva's Antenna's storefront. This spacious loft is one of those amazing SF treasures tucked away in the middle of seeming nowhere - yet in a really easy to get to location. High ceilings, airy and roomy, Edwardian detailing inside, pillars, Huge doorways and a wonderful window to showcase her designs. Open by appointment only, this would be my dream studio. HOWEVER, I'll just enjoy it when Im there for now!

A good time was had by all, we had a great turnout and a lot of ladies from overseas came by and emptied their wallets. They were taking the FatChanceBellyDance General Skills workshops. Thank you ladies - you know who you are! And thank you to everyone who came by to schmooze because we really like knowing you and catching up! Its one thing to sit behind a computer sometimes and talk to all these people from around the world but actually knowing the person is way better. And then of course, its easier to remember them next time they order or send a message!

There is Lisa Manchester leaning on one of those pillars, looking all stunning in red!

Sorry about my iphone photography! I couldn't capture all the loveliness abounding. Our finery is being copied mercilessly these days, but I really don't think anyone can copy the soul that goes into our creations - but hopefully you get the idea with my pics and  come hang out with us next time!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Salomes' Suitcase Trunk Sale!!!!!!!

Salome's Suitcase (my design collective) is having a Trunk Sale!
Bring your piggy bank!
Try on some clothes!
Peruse the finery and adornments!
When: Saturday, April 10th
Where: Minnerva's Anntenna
2886 16th st #B @ South Van Ness
San Francisco, Ca   1-6pm 

Photo: Black Lotus
Model: Sarah White
Hat: Medina Maitreya
Adornments and embellishments: Foolproof
Vests by Rosehips and Black Lotus Clothing (Not sure which, sorry - correct me if you know!)