Almost done costuming another show

The Complete Works of Shakespeare ...  Abridged!  I made 2 and altered the rest.  A guy is playing the women's parts!

Gertrude (made with no pattern)

Lavina (also made with no pattern)

Ophelia

Juliet

Cleopatra

 I am still working on the nurse costume... and kilts for Macbeth!  So if you are wondering why I haven't produced any art work in a while... here's why.

Homeschooling your kids can lead to post homeschooling passions.

I went right from making costumes for the Dorothy /Alice show to making costumes for a Shakespearian show.  I am very happy about that. Next to murals, (or set painting, which I have to get in better shape to do) this is my favorite form of art, I think.

Right now I am exploring period proper clothing, modern relaxed clothing that is an homage to the Elizabethan era, i.e. the time of Shakespeare.  I am also exploring outfits that take a humorous twist on clothing of the time period.  The mashup will be interesting.

Interestingly enough, I would have never become interested and involved in costuming, were it not for homeschooling.  Following my daughter's interests led me to making costumes for her drama club which I absolutely love. This led to her becoming more interested in costuming as well, and seeing it as a possible side job to her acting aspirations.  She has implored me to keep it up, as she sees it as something we can do together when she is done with her education.

That makes me very happy.

Costumes or art? Definitely both.

I've been really busy since depositing the kids back at college. I have been doing volunteer work for a community theatre, and my job right now is to make costumes for a show that is quickly approaching, so I haven't had the opportunity to write or do art-work.  Or have I?

Some of the costumes I have created have turned out to be some interesting works of art.   Here are some of the things I have made.

Wonderland flower.  a few fake flower bouquets attached to a sin visor. 

Wonderland flower dress.  Green pillowcase dress with tulle tutu

Tin man hat.  A plastic funnel, grey and shiny silver duck tape and some christmas garland

Tin man suit. Silver sweatsuit I found, with wire sewing into the hems to make it rounded.

Using Halloween Costumes for Drama Club

I spent the whole day on drama club duties. The homeschool program my kids go to is having three plays this year. The first on is Secret Garden, the second is Once Upon a Mattress Jr., and the third is a musical called Just So.

Our first play is coming up fast so I have to collect all the fees, order all the t-shirts, and arrange for rehearsal meals, cast dinners, and parties. When I wasn't doing actual drama club duties, I was scouring websites for costumes for the productions. For the second play especially, Medieval, Renaissance, Lord of the Ring, or Maid Marion Halloween costumes will serve our needs just well. I especially like the one in the above image.

I realized that Halloween Costumes make great drama and play outfits last winter when my daughter was in the Bugsy Malone Jr. Play, we were able to get great flapper outfits for the showgirls, as well as gangster outfits too. I noticed that the halloween costumes are of much better quality that what was available when I was a kid. In fact, many of them can be washed and worn again and again.