31.7.14

Beauty and the Beast

Its been a while since I've posted anything, the thought has been weighing on me so I figured I'd do something about it.

Since my last post, I moved...which was a LONG project in itself.  I didn't realize how many UNFINISHED projects I have laying around. It is simply unreal to me.  How is it that I get all excited about a project and then simply quit on it?  Well, I have vowed to stop that habit.  Not just because we don't really have the space, but because I love the feeling I get when I do finish something.  Its a feeling of satisfaction really, and every time you see your work, you get that feeling again.  I find that if I set out to make something for someone else, I finish it.  But when something is for me, I get lazy and forget about it.  I am going to try to get better at this.

Another thing I noticed when packing is, I have a TON of craft supplies and FABRIC.  I just cant help it.  Since I started sewing, when I find beautiful fabric, or sheets, I just cant pass them up.  I am proud of myself though, I went into Joann Fabrics the other day, and did not buy one single thing! Yay!

Anyhow, here are some of the projects I have worked on lately.

In my last post, I mentioned working on Beauty and the Beast for Elite Dance Studio. This was one of the biggest challenges I have faced, but I was totally up to it and thrilled to be asked to do it.
I started out with drawings of each.  I'll start out with the Candlestick:
I wasnt quite sure how I was going to make the candle holders or how the dancer would even be able to actually hold onto them.  That thought honestly haunted me for a while.  Then I came up with this idea (which I have to say, I am pretty proud of myself:) ) I took 2 plastic plant pots and cut a hole in the bottom of each one of them.
Then I got out one of my most loved/hated tools...my glue gun and glued those babies together like so.



I was ok with just spray painting them and adding some embellishments, but I knew I had to do more.  So I decided to make a fabric cover.  Please note, I used this amazing "dance/swim fabric" there is a name for it, but I can not remember it.  The thing to remember with this fabric is that it stretches all ways, so it is super flexible and pretty easy to work with.  I measured the length and the diameter of the top of the pots.


Then sewed along the edges.  It took some work, but I was able to eventually get it to fit.


I wasnt able to get a picture of the top as I added a thin strip of elastic.  But as you'll notice in the picture below, it held up pretty well.  So as for the "candles", what is it that I used you ask?? Cone, yep, cones...Updsidedown.  How did i get the candle to look like it was dripping? Spray insulation foam:) Then I just placed an orange "flame-like" bulb in the insulation before it set. I still wasn't happy with the foam, so I covered the bulbs and spray painted the foam an ivory color. 


I decided to add some embellishments with the extra fabric I had after making the rest of the costume.  Not anything too crazy, just strips glued on.


Next I started on the neck piece.  I had some trouble with this as the peltex is a PITA. (Look that acronym up)  It just would not sit the way I wanted it to.  I traced around the pieces and made a fabric insert.




I wish I would have taken more pictures, to show the rest of the process.  I will do a better job with my future projects.  But here is the end result


 Here are a few other costumes I worked on for the show
Mrs. Potts


Babette


This was such a fun experience.  I hope to have more opportunities like this in the future.

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