Five Whole Days--

Did you miss me? Gave myself a little blog-break after the one-week project from hell, though I'm right back into the mix of my work. Current Class Status:

Advanced Fibers--presenting my idea tomorrow--I will try and take a picture of my sketch/sample soon. I'm working with a simple weave on a gradated warp-painting and gradating dyed weft.

Exp. Costuming--I've mostly been helping people get on track with the sewing machines--our first project was a t-shirt remix, I made some awful little shorts that I drafted wrong (which you don't need to see) and am working on what boils down to a lumberjack onesie right now. But the "Lost in Translation" constructed surface piece is coming up, so that'll be interesting.

Projects--So first we had a one-week project, now we're onto a two-week project. Though, for me, I want to film them in action, so it's really one week to finish the shoes, one week to film. And I'm making shoes. Which I have no experience doing.

The process so far:

Drafting a pattern, it's changed a bit since then.

Putting it to paper.

Some of the pieces being put together--I used the same cording technique as on the wing-vest.

Hammering the holes in the sole--I didn't take a better picture of the heel construction, but it's two layers of leather with a layer of wool inbetween it.

Just basting the sole on--I'm using a thicker waxed linen as I type this to make a more secure seam.

So far! The inside brown leather will be covered with a fur inner sole eventually.

And just because it's awesome, check out my latest scary-South-Philly thrift-store find:


Tomorrow I will try to get together all the photos I just got back from Warren Seelig of my work from last year.

One Week Critique--Finished

And it actually went pretty well, despite my last-minute scrambling to get the tights totally covered, as well as making something for them to go on. We don't have leg-mannequins here, and I always feel really stupid putting them on, or asking someone else too. I also didn't want to wait for the entire costume to be finished to start giving the work some context.

So, night before the crit, I decided I needed a pair of legs.

So I bribed my dear friend Betty with a bag of gummy bears to let me wrap her in duct tape.

After an uncomfortable half-hour, Betty shed her skin and regained feeling in her feet.

Stuffing the duct-tape mold with whatever scrap I could dig up. They're really pretty heavy and solid!

Threw on a hastily constructed cover. Thankfully I had some nude-ish colored knit lying around. The chair was another lucky find. I picked it up a few days ago, originally planning just to salvage the upholstery brads on the bottom. I started ripping it apart to get at the springs on the inside, but stopped because I needed to work on the tights. As I was posing the legs on it, I really liked the contrast between the texture and color of the tights, and that of the chair. So in it goes.

So, at 12:30 last night, I was done and set up.





My critique went well, though I wish the little wrinkly feet hadn't stuck out, it brought up some old people/memory connotations that I didn't really intend. It was also an interesting conversation about the work, as a whole, being a finished piece of sculpture, even if it wasn't a finished costume. I think I'm going to get a lot of sculpture/fine arts associations, but the pieces that the works focus on are absolutely Crafts work--I just feel like that's not enough.

The critique also stressed that less is more in the case of the narratives I'm working on--they thought that this piece (which I personally felt was a little vague and rushed, and had little to inform it) was enough--an indication that when/if I start doing film, I should keep them fairly abstract and plot-less. As much as I love my story, I need to let the audience contribute too.

Anyway. Now I've got a million other things to work on...But hey, I'm doing quite well on updating, I think!

New Friend

Last night, as I was working all by my lonesome when a little friend flew in through my window and promptly went crazy flying into the walls. When he calmed down, I scooped him up and let him back out. Goodbye, little buddy!


Still at work on the feather tights. I saw them on a person for the first time last night, and well, they're a bit more 'voluminous' than I thought. Edging on 'gorilla legs' rather than feathers. But hey, it's due in two days, so I guess that's just how it's going to go.


With the shorts (unfinished) that will eventually go with them. I think I'll probably dye them darker/black to make the whole thing look a little more cohesive. And add a band to the bottom, and fix up the insides.

Up and at 'em

Two days, two projects assigned, too much to do already.

Wednesday was Advanced Fibers--our long-term assignment is pretty much 'do whatever you want, but use weaving in it.) Our short-term assignment is to get 3 warps on a loom for our workshop next week with Pam Pawl. We split into groups--unfortunately, my group got stuck with a pattern with a striped warp, and we were only provided with white cotton. So tonight was dye-night for that.


Swifted yarn and dyes.

All dyed--I just threw in a little of this, a little of that, since I wasn't trying for any particular color. The weaving gods were on my side tonight too--I managed to get these back on the swift and wound up on the ball winder with no major tangles.

It will be nice to have a workshop with such an accomplished weaver, but I'm concerned from the instructions she left us that she assumes we know a lot more about weaving than we actually do.

Thursday was Projects III, and our assignment was equally open. "Do whatever you want in one week" Okay, so that last part's a little concerning for me. Garments in one week do not go well. So I made a list of things possible in that time period--gloves, hats, underwear, neck pieces--but I decided on a pair of tights/leggings/almost pants.

They will eventually go with the wing shirt and vest, and whatever skirt/knickers go under it.


Cutting out the pattern--the mesh is an army laundry bag--it's cotton and a lot heavier than fishnet. The solid was a merino wool skirt--on the top, it's there for coverage and warmth, on the bottom, to anchor it, and make it easy to put boots on over it. These areas will not be covered with feathers.


Cutting feathers--the leather was originally a really hideous leather trenchcoat. But it was made of nice leather and it was in the trash, so I took it. I'll save the scraps, they may come in handy someday. (I save the smallest little bit of fabric!)


Testing it out--I like seeing both the leather and the suede sides.

I also got my new studio set up, I'm pretty happy:


That giant pink thing in the corner is 15 yards of hot pink faux fur. I have no clue what I'm going to do with it.

My shelves of monochromatic fabric.

As for now, I'm putting together the pieces of the leggings in the studio, I will probably go home soon (now that I'm done dying my warp) and keep working!