Living a Fantasy

Today we went to go see the Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic exhibit at EMP.  It was a group outing for members of the Beyond Reality Costumers Guild, and so of course there was some dressing up for the event!

I was toying with several outfits that I've worn previously, but then remembered I had a particular outfit sitting in a box in the basement. I'd made it with plans to wear it for the Masquerade for Norwescon in 2012, but didn't get everything quite together in time.  Then I ended up not going to Norwescon this year because I had to attend a conference for work that week, and I'm already committed to a super secret group entry for 2014.  So I decided what the heck, I'd take it out for a spin.

The original concept was to be the acolyte for the high priestess of a religion that never was or should have been.  It was entirely centered around a pair of deer antlers that had been left behind by the previous owners of our house.  No pictures of them as they used to be, but I sanded and painted them, a gold base paint, then a sparkle coat, and then clear sealer.





Of course, there had to be crystals:



The horns are drilled at the base and then wired to a metal headband.  There are two wigs involved, a full wig and just the front part of a second wig, which is sewn onto the metal headband and hides it when worn.  I don't really like this particular wig, and will be looking for something better for the next go-round.

As we're walking from the car to the museum, I heard a "pop" and one of the horns started feeling wibbly wobbly.  One of the support wires broke, so I spent the day with one horn dipping downward and waving a people as I walked.



For the outfit, it's a bodice and pantaloons with a front placard.  There's a layer of gold lame fabric, then a sheer with sparkles, and ivory lace on top.  I found a gold and peach ribbon with which to edge the bodice.  The sleevelets have strings of iridescent beads dangling as well.  Having made it over a year ago, I had to take a couple of emergency darts in the front of the bodice yesterday.  Yaaaah new diet.





Click here for a closeup of the talon nails I made for this outfit.

Here's a tutorial on how they are made:



And an action shot:



Here's the full outfit:



And as an added bonus, the exhibit currently has a replica of the Iron Throne from HBO's & George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones miniseries.



No costumers were killed in the taking of this picture.


~

Of rainbows and chalices

That bracelet-in-progress I posted a picture of a little bit ago is finally finished!  It'll be donated to my church's charity auction fundraiser this fall.  It's a Unitarian Universalist church, which is why I added the hammered silver chalice charm.  I may enjoy its sparkle out and about a bit before the auction arrives.


Rainbow Chalice Bracelet by *dbvictoria on deviantART

Most of the beads are crystal, but I couldn't find a yellow bright enough, so that one color is a faceted dyed agate.





~

The Tooth Fairy

Our munchkin asked us what the Tooth Fairy does with all the teeth she collects.  I blame a recent viewing of  Rise of the Guardians.  After a little brainstorming and some help from my facebook friends, this is what she'll find under her pillow tomorrow morning:





~

Bracelet in progress. Please stand by

I always get so caught up in projects that I never take work in progress shots.  But one of the things I've been making myself try to do is take things in stages and take breaks in between, because as I age my body isn't as forgiving as it used to be.  10 years ago I could sit at the dining room table and wrap wire for 4 hours straight, but nowadays my neck and back get cranky with me, and let's not talk about how the wrists end up feeling.

I'm making this bracelet to donate to a charity auction later this year.  Much later - the auction isn't until November.  But the muse is standing behind me with a gun to my head, saying "YOU MUST MAKE THIS NOW!" so I am being an obliging craftsperson.  (Last sentence inspired by this mug from awesome author Jim Hines.)



I love making these bracelets, but the suck up the silver like nobody's business.  There's 43 links to the length of box chain I am using, and there are 6 beads per link on the chain.  That adds up to 258 headpins.  But they look so pretty!

You can see here how I set things up, assembly-line fashion, when I'm making one of these pieces.  It makes things flow nicely and satisfies my obsessive compulsive tendencies.

Here's a couple examples of it will look when finished:

Friday Favorites!

Alternative Wedding Dress Hunger Games Corseted Steampunk Red, by KMKDesignsllc:



Cobalt Goggles STEAMPUNK Blue Lens Antique Cesco Flip, from machismo:



Victorian style black shoe clips, by annasinclair:



Azore Amore Spring Blossom Green and Blue Flower Fairy Bracelet, by myfathersgifts:



Woven Brown Fused Glass Candle Holder, by theglasspadcreations:

First weekend of Spring

Well, technically last weekend was the first weekend of Spring, but this weekend it actually felt like it.  We meandered into the low 60s and the sun was out all weekend.

Yesterday we made our annual pilgrimage to see the cherry blossom trees in bloom at the Washington Park Arboretum:


Cherry Blossoms on Mossy Branch by *dbvictoria on deviantART


Buds and Blooms by *dbvictoria on deviantART

There was a bit of bird watching as well:


Mated ducks by *dbvictoria on deviantART


Robin by *dbvictoria on deviantART

The munchkin was delighted with all the blooms:





More pictures here!

This was also the first weekend I haven't been at Norwescon for Easter since 1999.  There was lots of yardwork done instead, and I whipped up a tasty Easter dinner:



And dessert.  Because everybody loves a parfait!

Friday Favorites

I've been out of the habit of doing these for quite some time.  Let's see if I can keep them going for a bit again.

Golden Aquamarine, by VickiDianeDesigns:



TARDIS - Blue, Black, and White Full Bustle Gown Costume, by lorian37:



Thor's Hammer - Mjolnir - Necklace - Avengers Jewelry, by EldritchArts:



 Medieval Renaissance Studded Arm Bracers Corset Lacing Style, by CurvyWench:

 

Green Carved Stone Pendant Featuring Two Bats, from ForetTwo:





~