It's been awhile.  I have some visiting to do here with old friends.

A lot of people I knew here in Xanga have moved over to Facebook.  But I wanted to come back over to see who's still around... 

The Flying Dutchman   is coming for a visit!~   I can hardly wait!!  He was one of the very first Xangans I met six years ago when Noppstar first introduced the whole "blog" idea to me.  We've been friends ever since.  My parents met him last year when they toured Amsterdam.  Now it's FINALLY my turn!! 

I'm likely to be off line (again) for the next couple of weeks while he's here -- unless it's to post pictures.  Bill and I are planning trips for him to Yosemite, the Sequoias, Three Rivers, Gold Country (Jamestown, Sutter's Mill, AKA Coloma), and four days in San Francisco, Monterey, Big Sur, on and on.  We'll actually let him rest a few days, too -- in between the museums, of course.

til soon ~

The Tide is IN

I'm all revved up for next year's competition.  It is going to be rather "local" -- San Jose, California.  That means a lot of friends, props, and BIG costumes can be involved.  No airline luggage limits.  And I know lots of people with trucks.  Heh...

For Jessica, a ballerina for many years and the daughter of my longest-time friend, I will sew up this Degas costume:

Jessica will choreograph her own ballet for the presentation, all 30 seconds of it (all the judges will allow for a single entrant).

I'm leaning toward a Cotton Club theme for my Historical masquerade entry.  I need 3 couples to do the Charleston on stage, and some extras to sit at background tables in The Club.  The dance dresses will be from the "Flapper" era, limited to 1926 or 1927.  Lots of beading and embroidery will be involved.  So I guess I'll get started this weekend.  heh..

Still up for grabs/ideas is the entry for the Science Fiction/Fantasy competition.  The sky is the limit, just about anything goes, as you've probably noted from the pictures of this year's best entries.  Anyone feel like brainstorming? 

I met some new Xangans today.  Caught up with a couple of old friends here.  It's been awhile.  Sometime soon I'll have to post some Update Pics.  I saw shredder's page today and it was clear that lots of time has passed since I've kept up here. 

More later, then.

Costume Con 25

The team for the St. Louis convention was impressive!  Of the three conventions I've attended, this one was, by far, the most organized and professionally run.   Everything ran smoothly, even ahead of schedule.  And the parties!!  Whoo!  

This year I did NOT bring my sewing machine.  Most of the work on my entry this year was done by hand....heh...     I did do some sewing at the last minute, but it was not the kind of stress I put myself through last year.  It was also more fun because Letty and I were able to see people we met last year (and they remembered us!) as well as meeting some new friends, Elisabeth, her sister Samantha, and her friend Sue.  Letty and I brought (read "dragged") her son, Jr., this year, too.  He is the idea man, the comic.  His input was invaluable for the presentation we did on stage. 

There are two masquerade competitions:  Science  Fiction/Fantasy and the Historical masquerade.  In each, there are three classes of competition:  Novice, Journeyman, and Master.  Once you win two major awards in the Novice class, you are required to enter the next competition as a Journeyman.  Next year I'll be in the intermediate division then.  Best in Class awards are given for Documentation, Presentation, Workmanship, and for best overall entry for the class.  The Documentation award honors the research that shows why your historical entry (including your fabric choices and sewing techniques) is accurate for the period.  My award in documentation is not a best in class, but more like an honorable mention.  Best in Show is awarded to the very best entry for the each of the two competitions. 

Best in Show -- Science Fiction/Fantasy

The Jones Family (Master division)

Best in Show -- Historical

Angela Grewe (Novice division) 

I did not see her perform because I was in the green room after my presentation, but saw her as I left the stage.  She was absolutely stunning just standing there.  I had to do a double take because she looked like she literally had dropped out of a time capsule from 1943.  Her facial structure, makeup, hair, and of course, her costume, were SO authentic it was startling.  It is very unusual for a novice to win Best in Show over the Masters, but this reincarnated lady really deserved it!!

The judges for the Historical Masquerade included the president of the International Costumer's Guild.  Egads -- I was NERVOUS!!  I won three awards for my entry entitled "Bon Voyage."

Best in Class -- Novice

Best in Class --  Workmanship

Most Imaginative Presentation of Documentation

Jim spray-painted me a 1920 cruise ship from the Cunard Line as a backdrop for my entry. 

I came out on stage with my invisible husband and 10 kids and said goodbye to them all.  About half way through my tearful goodbyes, Letty and Jr. poked their little heads through their assigned portholes in the backdrop and waved little flags through the adjacent hole.  They definitely stole the show.  Especially when Letty put the stick of her flag through the porthole intended for Jr's head and poked him in the ear.  She had to quickly correct and keep smiling.  It was like the three stooges back there.  Heh... Anyway, we had a great time doing it. 

In the Green Room before the masquerade:

Consider this your Casting Call.  Anyone interested in meeting up with us in San Jose, California, April 25-28, 2008 is WELCOME.  Especially those of you with brilliantly warped minds who like clowning around.  Let me dress you funny and put you on stage... whaddaya say?

The Costumes

The costumes were jaw-dropping.  My FAVORITE COSTUME was presented by a guy in the Master class during the Science Fiction/Fantasy Masquerade:

SF/F costumes:

Historical costumes: 

Sue did a Historical Interpretation (rather than a "recreation") based on The House of the August Moon.  Her entry was entitled "Toll House of the August Moon."  Not so subtle in her geisha get-up is the Nestle influence.  She won SEVERAL awards, including the Director's Award for tickling his funny bone (and ours).  (Those are cookies at the end of the sticks in her geisha wig.)