Something old, something new…Lacey's wedding

Busy busy busy bee, sewing constantly this month!

In addition to several costume commissions I was hard at work on some very personal projects for my dear friend's wedding.

Lacey is one of the most considerate, thoughtful people that I know. We were in a burlesque troupe together for years, so we've become sisters of a sort. I love to give gifts to show people that I appreciate them, and for someone who you know will appreciate the effort, it's even more fun.
And Lacey truly deserves heartfelt gifts.

First of all she asked me to make headpieces for herself to wear during the reception, and one for each of us bridesmaids:

 Stephanie Kaloi Photography

 Stephanie Kaloi Photography

 Stephanie Kaloi Photography

 Stephanie Kaloi Photography

It was such an incredible wedding full of personal touches. The bride and groom had couple's portrait drawn by their favorite tattoo artist and made into temporary tattoos. The bride's brother designed all of the printed goods, like invitations. Our friend made Lacey a little coat to go over her dress when she was outside. The groom's aunt and cousin played music during the ceremony. Another friend made a light up heart for their back-drop, and a close friend married them. The result was one of the most beautiful productions I've ever been a part of.

As I mentioned before, Lacey and I were in a burlesque troupe together for years. We traveled the Pacific NW and grew very close. Here's our troupe a couple of years back:

This was taken by Kaylin Idora shortly after Lacey got engaged. It's our troupe version of the wedding photographer classic, "Look at the Ring!"

As our troupe gift to her, from her burlesque sisters, we made Lacey a special quilt. We asked every member to contribute any scrap material from their burlesque costumes over the years, within a certain color range, and we sewed the pieces together to make her a lap quilt!

It was the first quilt I've ever made and I am so grateful for my partners, Charlotte Treuse and Nina Nightshade for being such talented seamstresses! 

 Stephanie Kaloi Photography

Photo by Peter Carlson

 She absolutely loved it, and we accomplished our goal - to make her cry. 

 This is her reaction when we told her what the scraps had come from. Thank you Stephanie, for capturing the moment.

 Success!

My Poster for Metalesque!

I am really happy with the way that this turned out. I wanted it to have the feel of a love letter to metal, in all it's sleaze, cheeze and debauchery, like an album cover or some 70's teenage fan art. I hand painted the elements with gauche then composed them digitally.

I am co-hosting this show with the always fabulous Vera Mysteria of Sign of the Beast Burlesque, who is the co-creator Black Lodge Burlesque, a show I am also a part of. I am making at least one insane new costume for this show and it is going to be loads of fun!

Miss Gulag

Last night I watched a documentary called Miss Gulag (2005), about a woman's prison in the middle of nowhere, Siberia. Every year they have a pageant for the inmates to earn points towards their release and raise morale, and this doc was supposed to follow their progress. It was kind of disjointed, and didn't actually spend much time at all following the contestants in their process preparing for the pageant, but it was interesting enough. I was completely charmed however by the pageant itself. The women did spend hours sewing their own costumes for themes like Greek Goddesses and Spring, staying up late the night before, and were clearly nervous. I can't help but feel for people who are freaking out about being onstage, especially putting all of their own ideas and work on display with no training. Sincerity in creativity is always so powerful. The vitality in their costumes was heart breaking considering their bleak surroundings.

This woman was so tough, it was fascinating to see her made up and working the cat walk. They all had pretty adorable model-walks, very serious. I particularly love how they just straight up drew on their faces to add glamor.

This woman is beaming at the woman below...

...who I'm pretty sure was a prison guard, who had helped her sew her giant gown. She was crying, she was so proud.

I love this girl. That dress! The angry glitter eyebrows! So ahead of her time in 2005.

The judges / prison guards

This one, stiff with terror, covered in leaves...that took guts.

I wish I knew what was going on in Russian fashion at this time. The combination of elements is fascinating. I'm sure it's they were influenced by pop culture, but probably lagging a little behind on what materials they could get their hands on. And they're in Siberia, in a village, not Moscow, so there's rural fashion...Then there's the trends that circulate within insular groups. One person paints some swirls on their face and it becomes the hottest look in the gulag. It becomes almost a tribal signifier.

Oh, the awkwardness, it brings out the mama bear in me. I just wanna give them all crowns.

Some took to the stage a little more naturally. And that outfit...inspired.

Yes, girl. WERK.

I love this prison guard grinning uncontrollably. That would be me in the audience.

And she won. Tears.

 Trailer

The Girl on the Swing

Revisiting Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge reminded me of a life goal of mine, to be partially employed as a girl on a swing.
Nicole Kidman spends a lot of time on swings in this movie:

This is, of course, inspired by actual cabaret shows and trapeze artists, but the symbolism is appropriate in this film.
The girl on the swing is the untouchable object of desire, flying high above the audience's heads. It's an elite post but it's also a lonely one. She is isolated from her peers, and society, in her position as the coveted sexual object, a pretty pet.

Backstage at the Latin Quarter by Gordon Parks, Life Magazine (1958)

Erte

So it's a bit sad, but nonetheless it's an image that has a powerful hold on our collective consciousness, bridging the trapeze and the even more depressing, but fetishized, woman in a (bird) cage. The image of the bird cage is an interesting one, but I wouldn't want to be stuck inside.
But then I hate seeing birds in cages.

Josephine Baker in Zou Zou, 1934

Louise Brooks, “Prix de Beauté” 1930

Louise again

60's Go-Go Dancers in a cage 

Then there's Dita...

And Catherine D'Lish...to name a few modern performers that embrace the cage.

Baz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge

The Tango scene from Moulin Rouge got me thinking about the incredible sets and costumes in that film. It's not my favorite movie, but it's visually stunning. I would love to spend a couple of days drinking absinthe in this world. 

It's difficult to find good quality images from this film online, especially of this bedroom set, which I loved because it looks like the inside of a valentine!

I can't help but think that the scalloped design on Satine's Diamonds costume are a nod to Marilyn Monroe, who sung Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend,.

Marilyn in Bus Stop

This movie reminds me of my lifetime goal, to be at least partially employed as the girl on a swing at a glamorous club. But they don't make clubs like they used to...