...and my favorite

I liked this entry because it really had some personality. Of course, I forget which organization created this great 'can'struction but I did note that it took 6,500 cans to complete.

I've never met a contest I didn't like...

September is National Sewing Month ( whooopppeeeee ).

I posted a link at the right to the official website. There is a contest titled 'Accessorize Your Life' and of course I'm entering because I totally dig contests. Something about how random, yet interesting, are all the enteries. Anyways, I'm going to do a variation on this flower headband that I was sewing over the summer. Was going to post some for sale on etsy but, apparently my account is deeply dormant. Also, there are only like 60,378 other flower headbands on etsy for sale!

So put on your thinking cap and enter something already!

Youtube in Real Life

Here is the first knitted pole I saw and immediately demanded my photo be taken :)

I wouldn't even know what I was looking at if I hadn't watched the youtube video of the knitters in action. The big black hole of the Internet actually enabled me to feel mildly hip and relevant.

GUERRILLA FASHION FOR CITIES

I can't believe I stumbled upon some actual works by urban guerrilla knitters that try to beautify cities. I've seen videos of the knitters in action on you tube and thought it was fantastic. In the middle of the night numerous knitters will converge on an agreed upon spot and begin covering poles with beautiful knitting.
Last weekend I was crossing the street in Berkeley when something caught my eye. It was knitting covering a pole! I was so excited and then we started looking around and noticed probably eight different poles covered with knitting. It is very subtle and no one else noticed until I let out my shout of surprise and delight. Of course I totally embarrassed my daughters but, even they admitted the knit covered poles were oddly interesting.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER...

EXTREME COSTUME CHALLENGE

( Lisa Morrice appearing as Mrs. Wycherly )

( Steve Johnson appearing as Mr. Wycherly)

So the beginning of July the Gallimaufry Performing Arts ( see link on right ) contacts me to re-work some marionettes. Oh yeah, and they all need to be finished by July 20 because on August 5 they all will be in Scotland performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival ( see link at right ). And I already have vacation plans for July 8 through the 12th. How hard could it be? I'd basically have about 2 weeks to transform 4 marionettes, make a brand new one, and re-string 9 marionettes.

Well, luckily marionettes make perfect clients because they hang ( ha ha ) around your studio all day, don't complain if you stick a pin in them ( or saw off parts ), don't have an opinion, don't worry a costume will make them look fat, and are quite pleased with any end result :)

The challenge of this commission is that the play is an original production of a Ray Bradbury short story and is a fantastic blend of music, dance, and human actors whom the marionettes mimic ( kinda, but not really, like a mini me ). It's really a visually striking production and quite unique with the actors/dancers on stage with the marionettes.

The problem was that the marionettes were purchased from Europe and as the show evolved the marionettes appearance became more and more ill-suited to the story.

That's when I was called.


Extreme Costume Challenge: Make the Mr. & Mrs. Wycherly marionettes more closely resemble the actors portraying Mr. & Mrs. Wycherly.

Mrs. Wycherly: before

Mrs. Wycherly was quite a challenge. A total transformation was needed that went beyond a simple change of costume. She was literally a chunk of wood which made her flat-chested, bald, no waist, no thighs, and no upper arms. Lucky thing under her veil she had a pretty face! I stripped, sawed, padded, and sewed to create a new woman. Now I know how those women feel on extreme make-over shows:) She was a diamond in the rough and I think she polished up real pretty!