June 24, 2013
Lovely Tablecloth
This lovely tablecloth was rescued from the bottom of some huge piles at an estate sale. Hooray for salvage operations!
I'm finding myself drawn to all sorts of textiles and other art with a multi-color, full-spectrum palette. So this cross-stitch embroidery is just the thing for me, really cheerful and pleasing.
Labels:
cleaning textiles,
crochet,
embroidery,
estate sale finds
June 19, 2013
Unique Vintage Dress and the Fashion Originators Guild
Here's yet another really cool vintage clothing item I have repaired for Basya Berkman Vintage Fashions. It's a two piece outfit, a wool dress with matching wool and fur jacket, dating to the 1930s or 1940.
There are three stand-out facts about this outfit:
June 16, 2013
A Resting Place for Mr. Spenalzo
Remember reading recently about my adventures making the dead body for the recent production of Arsenic and Old Lace?
Well, I made him as a stuffed body that could be dressed differently and used again for some future production. So on our recent costume put-away day, his clothes went back into the costume boxes along with the things worn by all the other actors.
Labels:
Arsenic and Old Lace,
doll making,
Thin Ice Theater
June 14, 2013
Costume Put-Away Day
Last Tuesday, we, that is the Thin Ice Theater costume crew, held a big Costume Put-Away Day. Our costume (and props) collection is stored at 3 houses, mostly in big plastic bins with some special items on hanging racks. You can read about the origins of our collection here. And you can read about about how we've re-purposed costumes for each show: The Importance of Being Earnest, You Can't Take It With You, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Little Women: Beth, Amy and Jo and Meg, and An Ideal Husband.
Our task was to sort and store everything from the past 3 shows - Witness for the Prosecution, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Lots!
Our task was to sort and store everything from the past 3 shows - Witness for the Prosecution, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Lots!
Labels:
costumes,
Thin Ice Theater
June 9, 2013
Our Rug's Resumé
Our living room rug has now appeared in its fifth show with Thin Ice Theater. So, I figure it's time that the rug has its own resumé:
2008. The Man Who Came to Dinner by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
photo by me - set by Joyce Elias
photo by me - set by Joyce Elias
June 4, 2013
Bear's Paw Quilt
I did some patching of worn spots on this quilt, and mended an area with a hole through all three layers. But that's not why I decided to write about it. I just really, really like this quilt. To my eyes, it's a totally successful design.
Sometimes, to help myself learn what makes a successful quilt design, I like to play this little game. I imagine how the quilt might look if the borders were different, or if it was not bordered at all, or if the blocks were set differently, or if the coloring was changed. I can't find any changes that would improve this quilt for me. When that happens, I know I've found a quilt I really like.
Labels:
bear's paw,
design process,
quilt repair,
turkey red
May 27, 2013
Meet Mr. Spenalzo
My main contribution to this weekend's Thin Ice Theater production of the classic "Arsenic and Old Lace" is the creation of a life-sized doll to be the two dead bodies that are called for in the script.
Sometimes he is Mr. Hoskins and sometimes Mr. Spenalzo. We're hoping there will be time for him to have a super quick costume change. It's tricky, since he won't be very helpful with the changes. Another thing he will be called on to do is lose a shoe in the process.
Sometimes he is Mr. Hoskins and sometimes Mr. Spenalzo. We're hoping there will be time for him to have a super quick costume change. It's tricky, since he won't be very helpful with the changes. Another thing he will be called on to do is lose a shoe in the process.
Labels:
Arsenic and Old Lace,
doll making,
Thin Ice Theater