The Singing Costumer

       This is the last installment of my blogs on my new Edwardian undergarments set. I have 3 petticoats. I shall write about them in chronological order as I finished them.      The first is a white cotton petticoat trimmed with lace, shown below. I made it at least 4 years ago or more. I used the Free Hoop Petticoat Diagram on the Truly Victorian website for cutting directions. I don’t think I followed it exactly to the letter. I just did two tiers total. It was way too long, but I had already attached the lace at the hem, so I couldn’t just cut it. So I instead made rows and rows and rows of tucks at the hem. It only took 5 million hours. It is beautiful, though. This was simple to make, but tedious. This will continue to be a theme as I write about each petticoat. The top edge is pleated and sewn to a ribbon for a waistband. This is meant to be worn under my Belle costume, so I chose a pretty scalloped lace for the hem to match her petticoat. One can occasionally catch a glimpse

     Please allow me to take you back to last year. Well, actually, that might not be the best plan. Let’s leave 2020 in the past. Anyway. In 2020, I had a project which I called “Unmentionables Through The Decades”. As a whole, this project was very successful. I managed to complete a good number of my planned sewing projects that year. There were a few projects that I didn’t blog, a few that I might do later, and a few that I don’t plan to make after all. Today, I thought I’d get back to my Edwardian undergarments set. This is by far my favorite set in this series. I blogged about the drawers, the chemise, and the “bustle”  last year.  This week, I’ll write about the corset and the corset cover, and finish up the 1900s series next week with the petticoats.      Corsets are always my least favorite projects, but I am incredibly pleased with this one. They are usually a lot of work, for a garment that isn’t even seen. This is the “Edwardian Straight Front Corset” from Black Snail Patte

My first medieval fair dress was made in maybe 2010 or 2011? I don’t really remember. I was part of the cast for the local Medieval Fair for many, many years, and this was my first costume. I wore it for several years and it served me well.  But by 2015, it was looking a little worse for wear. The trim around the neckline was getting ruined by this one particular necklace I often wore with it. (I know, I know. Be sensible and quit wearing jewelry that destroys costumes.) I was going to be walking in a Christmas parade with the Medieval Fair cast, and I just thought it needed a bit of an upgrade. And if I could give it a bit of holiday pizazz and bling, all the better.       I first removed the damaged trim. At Joann Fabrics, I found some really pretty red and gold brocade. It complemented the red main fabric and the gold lining of the sleeves rather well. So I bought a few yards of it and got to work. I decided to use the brocade as a trim, basically.  I don’t remember exactly how I di

  How do I even begin this blog? Little baby Sarah’s dreams are coming true! Beauty and the Beast has been my favorite Disney movie since the first time I saw it as a little girl. I am still obsessed with the gorgeous stained glass imagery, the catchy Alan Menken music matched perfectly with the clever Howard Ashman lyrics, the flawlessly flawed villain in Gaston, the timeless story… I could go on and on. I was honored to be cast in a production as a Silly Girl in summer 2021.       This dress has been in the works for at least 5 years. I found an Instagram post from 2016, announcing Belle as my Halloween costume that year. That didn’t happen. A few years later, it was almost finished, then I decided I didn’t like the design. I added another layer to the skirts.  And finally here in 2021, I am finishing it up. It consists of a separate bodice and skirt with multiple layers.       For the bodice, I added boning and slightly adjusted the shoulder swags on the bodice. I don’t even know wh

I have been cooking and baking much more than I used to as of late. My favorite meal to make is garlic and butter steak bites, with roasted mushrooms. Simply delicious! I also love roasting parsnips or carrots with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and spices.  And as for baking, I love to bake cakes. I really want to learn to decorate cakes someday. All this to say, I need some aprons. Not only for cooking or baking, but for protecting my shirt while washing dishes or doing other chores. But I love beauty. I love form and function in equal measure.  Why waste my time making something boring? So for your consideration, today I present 2 Disneybounding aprons.         I actually sewed this first apron several years ago, but never posted it here. It is inspired by my favorite Disney Princess, Belle. I bought this apron pattern only because it reminded me of her ballgown. I used Simplicity 2592, view D. (Sadly, this pattern is out of print.) It is very girly and cute, with 3 layers of ruffles.

     I first watched Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas as an adult. It's so charming and sweet. I was inspired in 2019 by Sally's signature patchwork look. It's more of a Disneybound rather than a cosplay. A full cosplay will be coming someday, but for today, I present my Sally-inspired sweater. I decided to make a sweater to coordinate with my future costume. Most years in Oklahoma, October 31 is cool enough to at least require a light sweater. And I can't wear a mundane, everyday coat or sweater with my costumes. Oh no.      I bought 4 sweaters at the thrift store. They were carefully chosen to have different textures in the knitting, and also to match a specific color palette of muted traditional “fall” colors. From the beginning, I knew I wanted a pumpkin orange, a mustard yellow, and a green. Funny enough, those are all also my least favorite colors. But the more I thought about this project, the more I convinced myself that no other colors would do. And

     Let’s go back to the Before Times. Summer 2019, I saw that anyone could send in an audition to sing at the State Fair of Oklahoma. No pay, sadly, but I thought it could be good practice for me. I sent in a clip of my singing, and they asked me to sing. It was very exciting. I used a costume I had worn before and had a great time at the fair. Then a few months later, March 2020 happened. Ugh. Obviously, there was no state fair that year. But this year, they asked me to sing on the big grandstand! Naturally, I had to make a new costume. This ensemble is in 3 pieces; the dress, the over skirt , and the cummerbund .       I didn’t want to spend a bunch of money on supplies and fabric, since I wasn’t being paid. Luckily, my local thrift stores provided some cool gold curtains and a tablecloth. The curtains are a very shiny, very light, smooth satin. And the table has a bit of a slub texture to it, and is a bit heavier. I think my total cost for this costume was less than $20. Everyth

  “I do… I did”      M y plan this year was to do a Disney Parks specific cosplay, and I am so pleased to have achieved that goal. I am delighted to introduce Constance Hatchaway, the black widow bride. If you are familiar with the Haunted Mansion attraction in the Disney Parks, you will know this deadly, dastardly lady. Somehow, any man that marries her mysteriously passes away. And of course, the grieving widow receives all the inheritance from her dearly departed hubby. In each new wedding portrait you see, she has added a pearl necklace. It’s an obvious symbol of her power and wealth growing with each husband. She’s been married 5 times, but she’s looking for husband number 6.       Haunted Mansion is my second favorite Disney attraction. (Only Pirates of the Caribbean ranks higher on my list.) There are an overabundance of happy haunts to choose from, but there was no doubt I would do Constance first. Her dialogue is basically just twisting the traditional wedding vows into very t

     On to a few construction details. The skirt of my gown has a base layer of light blue satin. Next is a light tulle. Third is another tulle, with little sparkly sequins on it. Last is a shiny organza. Each layer is 5 yards long. It was quite a chore to get that hemmed and gathered together on a waistband. But the effect is so stunning that I can’t be mad at it. This skirt was somewhat inspired by the 2015 live action version of Cinderella.  The skirt of her ball gown is made of layers upon layers of lightweight fabrics. I didn’t have the budget for the 10,000 swarovski crystals that decorated the movie gown, sadly. But maybe I can add some crystals in the future.      Her little waist poofs (I still don't know what to call them?) were circles, about a yard across. Folded in half, then stitched all the way around. Then I cut a little hole in the straight edge and turned it inside out. Lastly, I gathered it to a waistband. The only reason that these are separate from the skirt is

        The design for my gown was inspired by both the 1950 original animated film and the 2015 live action film. But mostly, the original gown. Plus a little dash of my own style, especially in the sleeves. I rarely like how her sleeves are done in the Disney Parks. Especially her previous look. Please see below. I'm sorry, but no thanks. This is not a look. (Photo found on Google for reference) The actress and the wig are gorgeous, don't get me wrong.      I have always loved Cinderella's strawberry blonde hair in the original movie. I liked that her hair color is unique among the Princesses. But in the Parks and on all the merchandise, she has very light yellow-blonde hair. Not the same at all. Now, for this shoot, I didn't have time or the money to buy a brand new wig. I styled a light blonde wig I already owned. I followed a tutorial online for a general idea of how to do an updo. I am not a stylist, and I am not happy with it by any means. but it will have to su