Have an Inspiring Valentine's Day!

Happy  Valentines' Day everyone! Its kind of my least favorite day of the year, (all the frenzied rushing around for last minute declarations of love)  but I do like some of the visuals - and its always nice to remember to show your loved ones that you care.................and we do forget that anyone can and will be taken away at any moment..................life is short.

I love my family

I love my friends

I love my dance community

I love my studio

I love my cat

I love fabric

I love buttons

I love pins and needles

I love fabric stores

I love fashion

I love costuming

I love being inspired .....................................

                                                                              Erte'

Here is a video of the Salome's Suitcase ShadowDance Fashion Show.
Enjoy!

You can contact any of the designers and artists by clicking on their pages or going to:
salomes.suitcase@gmail.com

Thank you to Ariellah for inviting us to participate in ShadowDance as both vendors and entertainment!

Thank you to the models for your patience, and for your grace and beauty!

Thank you to Jessie Cowan of Crops and Bobbers for your uber amazing hair and makeup!

Thank you to Melanie Shapiro for assisting with hair and makeup!

Thank you to Bellyscape for the video!

And we thank ourselves/each other at Salome's Suitcase - this is a rare group of strong creative women who work very hard to make the world a nicer looking journey for you.

Designers/Artisans  in this show:
FoolProof Studio
KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture
Katherine Summer
HiBeam Bindis
Sandi's Ocean
Minerva's Antennae

Models in order of appearance:
Elizabeth Strong wearing Fool Proof Studio
Natalie Nayun wearing a Salome's Suitcase Collective look
Predislava Derugin wearing a Salome's Suitcase Collective look
Amaryst Bauer wearing Fool Proof Studio
Scottie Chapman wearing Fool Proof Studio
Rose Nisker wearing Katherine Summer
Sandi Ball wearing KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture
Molly Mitchell wearing KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture
Amber Burke wearing KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture
Jamie Lynn wearing Katherine Summer

Some models were wearing HiBeam Bindis and awesome jewelry from the Sandi's Ocean collection.

Music:
Miss Levine by Beats Antique

Just Your Average Fabric Shopping Day In San Francisco

Unsinkable Molly and I went fabric shopping in town the other week. She has a big new loft and needs curtains for her dance studio. She also has a lot of bright windows that need to have the sun blocked out in the morning.......a lot of yardage is required, so off we went to Fabrix and Discount Fabrics.

Fabrix on Clement St. should always be your first stop on your journey through the fabric world here in in SF. It is very hit and miss - you never know what you are going to find. Sometimes nothing - sometimes you hit the jackpot! We didn't come up with much this time, although I found some cotton lycra in colors that I don't normally run into in these parts. And Molly found some great stuff for new dance pantaloons. You wont find many wools or the nicer fabrics - but like I said...its hit or miss. You just never know what you are going to find. I usually end up with yards of  bargains that I had no intention of looking for!

At $2.99 - $3.99 a yard, you cant beat it. I always head here first when possible. Ive found amazing deals!

And since it was Chinese New Year, the lions were out on the street chasing away the demons and bringing the community good luck -I felt so blessed to be fabric shopping while the lions were dancing around us in the aisles!

We hit up Satin Moon while we were on Clement st. This place is the the exact polar opposite of Fabrix - a whole other world of silks, brocades, fine velvets, novelty cottons, and upholstery textiles that you wont even find at Britex.(Britex is a whole other world - do not act like an imbecile when in there - they smell fear) Not for the feint of heart. Quality and service. They also carry patterns. Obviously we were not shopping for our bargain fabrics there, but I like to take people in to drool. I prefer shopping for Bridal materials here when possible.

We found what we were looking for at Discount Fabrics on 11th and Howard. Molly chose a great tree branch print which will be perfect in such a huge space! The boyfriend nixed the yardage on the right - I guess I cant blame him, but this would make an amazing costume! (that isn't him there in the background - I don't know who that was) We had to put it back as it wasn't in the budget that day. She went online to find the blackout fabric that we needed as DF didn't carry it wide enough.

Discount Fabrics doesn't often have the knit fabrics that I use in my garments, but I still can find many a treasure here. And if you need yardage at a reasonable price, this is the place to go!

And while we didn't go here that day, I need to mention Fabric Outlet on Mission st. and 17th. This is a large underground fabric store that carries a large variety of textiles and notions. Sign up on their mailing list so that you don't miss their huge 40% off sales!!!!!!!!!!!!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

Inspiration: Georges Barbier

Georges Barbier

 

Rashani Tribal Fusion at Tannourine on Sunday!!

Rashani World Fusion ( Wendy Marlatt and I ) will be guest performing at Tannourine this Sunday, February 6th! I'm so excited! FatChanceBellyDance and Elizabeth Strong will be gracing everyone with their presence for the evening and Wendy and I will be doing some of our skirt work for your dining pleasure! Cant wait!!!!!!
   There are such good reviews on this place! Come out for dinner, some amazing dancers, and a lovely evening!

Tannourine Resaurant
120 West 25th Ave.
San Mateo, Ca. 94403
650-638-1960

kc.costumecoututre@gmail.com

A Little Sale To Ward Off The Global Recession Blues!

 I never get tired of how pretty all these flounces of lace look with costumes or under skirts and dresses! This is not a look for everyone, but how pretty!!!!! These are perfect for a Steampunk Wedding - or a Victorian Wedding..............well, I wear mine all the time. They are really the most comfortable things Ive ever worn! And such a romantic vision. Yes, they just ooze old timey romance!

And if you are a dancer and you can rock this look, you will find it so easy to wear and dance in!

KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture is having a little Global Recession Sale at the olde Etsy Shoppe this week! I knocked off about 15% on all my custom goods and I can take some new orders now - so read all the info, take your measurements, and let me make you some new duds! This is a good bargain in these difficult times if you are ever so stylishly inclined. The Fluffie Rufflie Pantaloons alone take sometimes 12 yards of fabric. But the way they are made you wouldn't know it until all that swishy laciness starts floating around your ankles!

You'll find that my garments can take a while to make. As much as I wish it were not so, I can make no apologies for this because I don't farm my work out..  Its done right here in my studio. I have to go at my own pace. I cant rush the process because there are chances for making mistakes when I do. Sometimes I work fast and sometimes I work slow - this is no sweat shop. There is always a line of orders and Etsy  purchases to process. I take on new orders in order to keep the cash flow moving. If that stops, the presses stop: I cant eat or buy fabric if the flow discontinues. This is how many small handmade businesses work. And sometimes we forget this because we are so used to immediate shopping gratification. So I'm always working. Always making something or looking for the right materials to work with, or doing the admin. Or looking for more projects! There is a lot more to my little business than sitting and sewing all day!

All orders and merchandise are cut out one at a time by myself. I sometimes have a helper come in, but not as often these days. This is a skill and a craft that is going away - which makes what I try to do all the more special. This is how things used to be made. Ive been soooooo lucky to be able to support myself doing this and my goal is to continue to do so in the coming years!!!!

                                                           *******************
Ive been cutting away at the last batch of Etsy orders that I took in. I'll be starting to ship those out bit by bit soon. And thanks for your patience!

Photo: Barefoot Bellydance wearing Fluffie Rufflie Pantaloons!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

The 11th Annual San Francisco Edwardian Ball!

 I cant wait for this one! But its right around the corner folks, and there is so much to do! There are some amazing vendors this year and Salome's Suitcase are no exception! This is truly the costume event of the year and you do not want to miss it!

The Edwardian Ball 2011
The Regency Ballroom
1300 Van Ness @ Sutter
San Francisco, Ca.
January 21-22
Afternoon Vendor Bazaar - Saturday, January 22!!!!! Free Admission and full bar for those over 21!!!!!!!!
noon - 6pm


Anything goes in the Edwardian/Gothic/Romantic/Steampunk/Edward Gorey vein!

Don't forget to shop my Etsy Store - I have a few corsets and Pants that would be lovely additions to your ballgown or costume!!!!!!!!!

I'll be bringing some of my better costuming to this event to sell: things that would be fun to wear to the ball - so come on in and let us deck you out!

Saturday afternoon is a special day of shopping with free admission to the venue before the ball!!!!! No pressure! Just walk right in and drool over all the finery! You will, I know you will!!!!!!

Not only is the Regency Ballroom full of history and a San Franciscan architectural treasure to boot, the whole vending room will blow you away!!!!

Come say hi, come support local artisans - many of us earn our whole entire living this way! We need you. If you don't support the arts, the arts go away. What a dreary world that would be!

And the entertainment is spectacular!

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

1/1/11 Happy New Year!!!!!!

There is much a brewin in my humble little Sugar Shack. Its true, I live in a Sugar Shack! How many people can say that????????

The winter days are long and often gray and bleak, and the outside of things can  appear dismal and not very exciting right now. But its whats on the inside that counts - and I count my blessings and my lucky stars every single day. Here is where I will start to be more creative in the new decade and where I will focus on making this world a little tiny bit better if I can.

Thank you one and all who have supported me and shown me the path and the means to my new studio - my new place to stretch out and let my creativity take wing!

Ive got plans. Plans to make my Sugar Shack cuter and more pleasing to the eye. Plans for promotion, plans for patterns, plans for new designs - maybe new directions. Plans for a new little computer, a decent camera, a roadworthy car - plans to expand both in the physical world and the spiritual. Plans to get you out here to visit if I can and have a little studio party. (Can I say "plenty of parking"?)

It just doesn't work to have one without the other, now does it. And when both combine, we have creativity. And being lost in your creativity is to experience the Divine.

Enough of the New Age sentimentality: I'm just feeling inspired!

And in the meantime, I still need your support. All independent artists do. Please don't forget us after the holidays as this is usually our down time and life must go on as usual.........bills and rent to pay.....food and materials to purchase. Local artists and artisans (and I'm speaking for all of us) need support to keep making and doing nice things for the world. If we cant stay afloat until easier times, some may have to go work at MacDonald's. And I shudder to think it. We all suffer when this happens.

If you read this far, I'm offering you a 10% off coupon code for anything in my ETSY store during this weekend of new beginnings! Just enter this code at checkout and it will do the work for us both. (Yay!)
HNY2011

Happy New Year Everyone! Happy New Decade! Happy New World!!!!!

                                 
kc.costume@gmail.com

I Had A Barbie Christmas

First of all, I hope everyone is having  a great Christmas Season no matter what your beliefs or your circumstances! I feel a little guilty about my Christmas this year because so many have gone without this time around. No money. No presents. No good feelings. No hope. I don't usually do much during the holdays, but I spent a Barbie Christmas with my sister and my niece and nephew. There are still plenty of people with good jobs and with luck, things will turn around one of these days. It just doesn't feel like it. Chin Up!
No matter what though, we can all live vicariously through Barbie!

I have never seen anyone in possession of so many Barbies in my whole entire life! There were more - everywhere I looked, there were Barbies! I remember when I FINALLY got a Barbie and it was SUCH A BIG DEAL to get an outfit or some accessories for her! I had  the cardboard Barbie Dream House and I took that over to my friend Maggie's house all the time and we made Barbie clothes and most of the fun was just getting her dressed and setting up the house. Just like real life. (Well isn't that how it is, really??????)

 I'm not judging. Garage sales and birthdays and Christmas are for getting Barbies. I would have this many too if I'd had my druthers.  But I think these kids have more than all seven of us had all year long! And that my friends, is the main selfish reason why I hated having so many brothers and sisters. I didn't get much and there wasn't much to go around. I hated it. I hated sharing. I hated that there were only a few Barbies and that most of  Barbie clothes were hand made. I wanted this many Barbies. I craved this many Barbies. I wanted her outfits. I wanted her friends and her furniture! I wanted her life!

So I can go to Tricia's house because we live closer to each other now and we can play Barbies all we want.

Dillon got tons of Legos and a remote control jeep - but Barbie kind of took over. I think he was perfectly fine with that.

Here is Ken and the Barbies in the Barbie Glam Jet Plane - with pool and alcoholic beverages - being all natural and having fun. Yeah - Id be doing this too if I were Barbie. I'll be honest.

My sister spent most of the morning putting this jet and other toys together. It was crazy how poorly designed a lot of this stuff is. They make stickers that you have to put on everything yourself and the stickers don't match the diagram or fit on the toy correctly. It took HOURS! Fiona ended up playing with the box, but oh well. She's just too little to understand how special her Barbie lifestyle is yet.

She also got that Ken doll that you can record nasty messages to Barbie on..................that got confiscated, I believe. We must set limits.

New Rattie Tattie Skirts on Etsy

Well three. I have three red and black striped skirts in a small, medium, and large up on Etsy now.

I'm all recovered from the bad day yesterday. Very intense. And I'm glad that's over. And not only did the cosmic energy change, but the weather warmed up a bit this afternoon - it was almost balmy on my trek to the post office! I was kindly reminded by my friend Chris later in the day, that it is 20 degrees in NYC right now. Oh.

(Buy Chris's book, by the way - its incredible!)

I did wake up this morning with mosquito bites on my face. I did not know that the mosquitoes were around in December. And where have they been hiding? They must have been the Christmas Mosquitoes - I mean, even mosquitoes have to have a holiday feast, right? Well, they fed well. Glad to be of service.

It feels so good to get the packages sent. Its like crossing things off a list. I have a few more things to send off domestically on Monday and then we are done for the holiday season. Except for all the orders that I have to sew up still. Better to be busy than not!!!!!!!!!!

Kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

All Tied Up In Knots

Its been one of those weeks. Mercury is retrograde. My horrorscope has very little to say in a positive way about how this month is going to treat those born on my birthday.  Business is slow and today was very intense. Just like it said it would be at Astrologyzone.com. I have to say, they are usually right on the nose. This solstice is having a double eclipse or something like that and I personally will be ducking and covering. I advise you all to do so as well. Don't sign any papers. Don't buy electronics. Don't get out of bed!

Fortunately this is just temporary. But of course. Thank God.

And then I found out that Captain Beefheart died today. Well that just put the nail in the coffin of a day. I remember when I was pregnant with my son and my husband would play Captain Beefheart .......Haydn would start kicking viciously. I didn't think the music agreed with him all that well - or maybe it was just getting him all excited. It was hard to tell. That's one of my fondest memories today - being pregnant and Captain Beefheart. And now I'm kinda sad.

I got a lot done today nevertheless: cut and sewed some orders, made some  skirts to put up on etsy, answered emails, and tried to stay warm. But I hit a wall around 10ish and had to stop. I guess that sounds about right.......but of course I cant sit still and watch tv like everyone else does. I opened up one of my ribbon flower books and decided to start learning how to make those things.  And I made this. It would go on a hat in the teens. Out of a different ribbon, of course, but at least I learned how to do a new thing. And this saved an otherwise unpleasant day.

Its a little crude. But I'll do it better next time. I'll decorate one of my old hats.

There Are Some Larges Left

Just a heads up for those size Larges out there:

Ive got some size Large Sampants and a few smaller sizes in my Ets shop right now! Ive got a few stretch velvet Bum Ruffles, and a bunch of other things! I also have some fingerless lacie sleevelets, Fluffie Pants and other pretty assorted items in my studio! Email me if you are interested in something and we can either make an appointment for you to come visit, or I can send you some pictures!

XXX

kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

  

Have Yourself A Merry Little Disco Christmas

I have to admit, I went to discos, many guys looked like this, I didn't pass up a line, I dressed in vintage and velvet and lace, I fell off a platform shoe or two, I loved Freddy Mercury with all my heart, those were the days. No - they really were. It wont ever be like that again. But if you go to Retro Fit on Valencia, you'll find plenty to take you back to those times! At least you can pretend!

I don't have  a lot of free time for blogging right now. Orders have to go out and merchandise has to be made. Christmas is leaping at me and while Ive got my tree all up and decorated,  I'm not ready for it yet, I know I'm not alone in this...........but here's one for the road........

My body is screaming to hibernate. I'm pretty sure that because of the quiet around here, the darkness of winter, the short days, my body and mind have accessed that primal code that says huddle  around the fire and stay in the cave. I think that I'm going through the transitional phase of not being overly stimulated for a length of time - maybe  for the first time in over 20 years. Myself just doesn't know what to do with this new thing called peace and quiet. Myself just wants to go to sleep - and Me, Myself, and I are having a bit of a battle about it right now.

Well, I'm sure as I get used to my new surroundings and lifestyle, the body and mind will adjust. Its like being thrust back in time with severe jet lag. That's exactly what it feels like. (not that Ive ever been thrust back in time...but you know what Im sayin....)

And I have to admit that I have been on quite a ride for a long, long time. 

So Last weekend I went all bridge and tunnel on myself and went to my friend Matthew James' annual Christmas party. He has a new theme every season and works very hard all year to provide the environment and ambiance for his circle of friends to come hang out and be silly for a while. He makes a new tree every year, makes and glitters his ornaments, makes all the decorations. This year was Studio 54. And he did not disappoint! Maybe because of the theme and the fact that some of us were actually around to know what those times were like, it wasn't hard to throw something together and get into the swing of things. Even those who were not of that era did a good job of it. I had a really good time  and we all hearkened back to the day. Its not hard, really....the stereotypical collars and pants and wigs are all out there and clothing today is very heavily 70's themed. I saw a lot of short little jumpsuity things and drapey dresses. - very cute! Anyone remember Quiana?

Wigs transform. Can I just say that if I HAVE to come back again for another round of earth living. that I want to come back with a big blond mass of poodle hair!  Screw this pansy ass white girl thin hair shit...............some ancestry I say,  as I stomp my foot.

Steven LeMay, owner of Retrofit on Valencia St. was my date for the evening. He let me borrow his best fro wig, we donned our tossed- together -at -the -last -minute apparel, hopped into a Homobile, and headed to Matt's house. Despite my best efforts to buy or steal that wig, my efforts fell on deaf ears. There are no more to be found. And its his last one. Oh well. At least I got to borrow it.

All  had was my iphone for pics, but you get the gist. Merry Disco Christmas!

 

                                                                     Matt as Dig Diggler