(no subject)

[nakedbee]

I've decided I don't post enough. Honestly that's unlikely to change long term, but I figured I could manage a short binge. Here we go!

I recently completed a trio of Alice in Wonderland costumes that I'm really proud of.





My fabulous friend Chrysa hosted an Alice in Wonderland themed party for her birthday and commissioned me to make her a Gothic Lolita Alice costume. It was a ton of fun to make. I'm getting pretty good at working without a pattern, and the puff sleeves were the only thing I used a commercial pattern for (go me!). Doesn't she look gorgeous?





I finished Chrysa's costume Thursday night. That left Friday night to design, shop for, and build two additional costumes for my husband and I to wear to the early afternoon Saturday party. I think they came out pretty well given that I spent less than 12 hours total on them. I more frequently make clothes-type costumes and it was fun to try my hand at these less-humanoid and therefore less precise-fitting outfits.

For my own costume, I spent a little while doodling Mad Hatter designs, since Chrysa had earlier in the week picked up an amazing top hat for me. She knew I'd been unsuccessful in finding one at the Dicken's Faire last year (yes, this girl is awesome). I couldn't quite settle on anything though, until I found a caterpillar costume in a book I've had since I was a kid (Amazon link to Jane Asher's Fancy Dress). I gave up on the idea of wearing the hat and went to the fabric store intending to buy some blue or green insect-like fabric. There was a perfect green and silver print in the clearance bin, but sadly there was only a yard left. Next to it was a ton of black/silver as well as some white/silver fabric in similar patterns. The availability of this fabric, the color of my new top hat (white with black trim) and my recent viewing of Velvet Goldmine (thanks for the rec, slashyfilm!) all fused together and inspired a very femme, glam-rock glitter-pillar costume. It's a good thing Chrysa throws the kind of parties where that sort of thing is admired!





For the hubby's costume, he'd expressed an interest in being the Jabberwock. So I looked up the Tenniel illustration (Wikipedia link) and was immediately struck by the fact that this big scary monster is wearing a button-down vest. Which is odd. I had been vaugely thinking along the lines of some sort of full-body monster suit, but a clothes-wearing monster immediately appealed because it's much cooler-looking (and easier!). Hubby's closet already contained many items commonly worn by your proper Victorian gentleman and I even had some glasses and antennae left over from a previous bug costume. All I had to make were claws, arms, wings, and a tail and voila! the Gentleman Jabberwock was born!

Comments

[joesther.livejournal.com]

These are brilliant!! So amazing and I'm particularly impressed that you put the last two together in less than a day. Woah. I'm sure you were inundated by compliments at the party.

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's all about having a deadline, really ... I don't seem to get anything done unless there's a specific date I have to finish by.

[corvus-coronis.livejournal.com]

Wow, these are all very impressive!

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Thanks!. Im pretty pleased with them.

[kaleidoskope]

Whoa. They are all relly cool.

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad you liked them.

[user-undefined.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. The Jabberwock rocks my socks. ...and rhymes, apparently.

They're all fantastic, but for some reason, I, too, am hugely enamored of a monster in a gentleman's vest.

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yes, the Jabberwock was quite the hit at the party. There was also, coincidentally, a guy dressed up as the Jabberwock Hunter, and they had a good time chasing each other around the yard at one point to the delight of the rest of us.

[acromantular.livejournal.com]

Wow, those are awesome!
I'm inspired. ;)

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks! Hey, if you're inspired to make a costume, be sure to post pictures - I love costume pictures!

[acromantular.livejournal.com]

My costumes tend to be "something to go out dancing in" rather than such cool character efforts, but I'll share when they happen!

[araneae.livejournal.com]

Wow, they're all awesome =) *admires like whoa*

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you. I do love making costumes, and showing them off is even more fun. :)

[gnatkip.livejournal.com]

Wow, wow, WOW, these are gorgeous. I can't stop staring.

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the compliments! I'm glad you liked the costumes. :)

[kittehkat.livejournal.com]

Absolutely stunning! These are just so brilliant in color and the costume diveristy is shocking! Wonderful job!

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback. :)

[patrissimo.livejournal.com]

wow, that last one is a freaky and awesome picture of Mr. Bee!

[nakedbee.livejournal.com]

Cool! Glad you like. :)