nakedbee: photo of a bee (Default)
[personal profile] nakedbee

It's that time of year again and I've spent the last few weeks sewing merrily away at some costumes for Chrysa's Mad Tea Party. This year I made bits for the Queen of Hearts, the White Queen, the Mock Turtle, and the Lobster Quadrille!

Photos under the cut!

My fabulous fiery-haired friend's Alice in Wonderland party is now in its third year. I love this party deeply because the costumes are consistently beautiful and original and it just delights my costumer's heart to see what other people come up with. I also love the chance to stretch my costume-y muscles. They sure got a work-out this year with the Queen of Hearts outfit .. I'd like to take more credit for it, but the design & accessorizing of the outfit was all Chrysa ... I may have been the engineer and general contractor, but she was totally the architect.

I haven't seen photos from this year's party yet (I didn't take any at the party itself) but here are links to the previous ones (well worth checking out):
2007 Tea Party
2008 Tea Party


Higher-res versions are in my LJ Gallery

The Queen of Hearts

Amazingly, this isn't even the final version of the costume ... this was just the last fitting. It's hard to imagine, I know, but it looked even more fabulous on the day of the party with super-fierce hair and some customization of the crown.

The White Queen

This outfit is all about recycling. The crown was borrowed from Chrysa's 2007 Queen Alice costume and the dress was a rework of one of the $25 wedding dresses (3 down, 3 to go!). My bustle obsession remains in full force, so of course I took the 4 foot train and turned it into a fabulous bustle. The original dress was a size 14 ... to make it fit my size 18 frame I replaced the side and back seams with lacing. I originally meant to make a new white corset to wear underneath, but I ran out of time and resorted to duct tape instead. It worked pretty well and I'm happy to report it wasn't nearly as painful to remove as I had feared. ;)

The Mock Turtle

Return of the papasan chair! Last year Mr. Bee went as a mushroom using the same under structure. I wonder what he'll be next year if we try to use it a third time? Maybe an oyster or a cracked Humpty Dumpty?

The Lobster Quadrille

Dancing lobsters. I mean, really, does it get any better than that?

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-13 05:33 am (UTC)
elke_tanzer: DW my fandom knows where the entwives went (DW entwives)
From: [personal profile] elke_tanzer
You are made. of. awesome.

*waves pompoms*

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-13 02:07 pm (UTC)
treewishes: All season tree (Default)
From: [personal profile] treewishes
I have to say that Dancing lobsters might just be the pinnacle. :) And you make a dazzling white queen!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-12 10:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] martian687.livejournal.com
Those costumes are amazing! The Queen of Hearts is especially stunning! I am in awe of your skillz!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-13 11:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nakedbee.livejournal.com
Yay! Thank you! This is what happens when I have too much free time ...

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-12 11:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dracofiend.livejournal.com
Wow, those are all incredible! I totally want a dress with a high dramatic collar now! Let me know if you know of anyplace I could get one as I sadly lack any making skillz of my own...

Thanks for posting!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-14 12:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nakedbee.livejournal.com
Thank you for the compliment! I don't know of any place that sells them pre-made, but I am available for commissions. Email me at {my lj name}@gmail.com if you're interested. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-12 11:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] amoken.livejournal.com
Holycrap!! I love all the costumes, and I agree that you really outdid yourself with the Queen of Hearts! She looks totally fantastic!

Out of curiosity, was it feasible to sit while wearing the chair? Did he have to sit in the chair-shell?

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-14 12:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nakedbee.livejournal.com
Hee. Thanks!

I don't think he even tried to sit while wearing the shell, although it would have been possible on a bench or stool or something. The shell was only attached at the shoulders ... like a backpack.

We joked about trying to sit in the shell, but I imagine that (like a real turtle) he might have had trouble getting up again if he did.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-13 01:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] porfinn.livejournal.com
Lovely threads! How inspiring.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-14 12:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nakedbee.livejournal.com
Thanks!

Yay for the GG icon! I think it would be cool to do costumes from that universe sometime, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-13 01:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] minitsu.livejournal.com
Oh man those costumes are beautiful!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-14 12:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nakedbee.livejournal.com
:) Thank you, I'm glad you liked them!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-13 02:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnomad.livejournal.com
These are so awesome!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-14 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nakedbee.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-14 12:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com
Dancing Lobsters! Omigod, all of them are so great!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-05-17 02:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nakedbee.livejournal.com
Yay! Thank you!