Malvena Pearl’s Emporium

The Accordion Babes who played at the German restaurant on Christmas Eve were fabulous. They were all separate acts and many of them had posed for an accordion babe calendar, as we found out. We had some great dessert and a good time.

When we got back from xmas celebrations with relatives, we also attended a Boxing Day party with a large group of science fiction fans — my pals who love the Maker Fair, among other celebrations. They had their annual potluck feast and ‘white elephant’ gift exchange. Very, very silly stuff. The novelty Star Wars helmet emerged again as the gift of choice and after exchanging hands several times, it went home with a new owner.

I completed work on another cute apron and some spectacular, shiny pants for a client just before Xmas. They client was very happy with them. It’s been a quiet day around the studio, today, since I have time off from the day job; I’m cleaning up and still unpacking. I keep finding boxes of books and tools that need to be sorted from the move. Not to mention the fabric. And my friend at Black Swan Bookshop has located some interesting costume pieces in her collection. I ran this information by the Obsessed With Costumes group and I think at least one of my pals would like to see photos of the Black Swan costumes.

So much fabric, and many books to sort. Onward toward the year 2010!

I met the folks from Dragons Treasure ( jewelry designers) at Costume College last summer. They were creating a new set of jewelry for Steam Punk fans, including a diving helmet. They now have it available in bronze and silver on Etsy.com. Click on the link above to see it.

Well I found my copy of “Bleak House” on dvd and have been working on the Halloween costumes for the little ones.  The Emporium project room is still being unpacked, so it’s multi-task a go-go, these days. The cats have decided I need to take Many Naps during this process. That makes it is slow-going. Her Highness, Roo, has been under the weather again.  See the Roo Report for more details.

It’s the most Wonderful time of the Year!  Project List

With school starting and the little goblins and ballerinas getting ideas for their outfits, we’ve got a full plate here at the Emporium. (not to mention, our recent relocation a few zip codes away from the old MPE studio.) 

 Here’s a few of the ongoing projects:

8- 10  aprons for a kindergarten class so they can cook and do art

1 “Stitch” costume and 1 “Max as wolf” costume for a little boy, size 4-5; I have a size smaller piece to transform and re-use

1 Klingon costume for our friend Corvus, for whom I made a wizard costume, somce years ago, to his specifications - I like specifications!  (he sent me a photo of an action figure for a model this year - yay)

Completion of the two bonnets for the fabric-obssessed friends in the costuming group who have been promised the completion of these lovelies;  and then the preparation for Dickens Faire 09 gears up…

Now to find the copy of “Bleak House” dvd; you see, her majesty, Roo, has been clamoring for it, now that Autumn is on its way.  I think I might have to settle in with some “Jeeves and Wooster” on the dvd player,  in the background. 

I have converted two unsuspecting dvd-watchers to the wonders of  British television series: “House of Elliot” and “Jeeves and Wooster”.  And you pondered what I had been doing, when I was too busy to blog.  Hah! There’s no need to fear! The super-distractor is here!

Oh, and there are all these boxes of fabric and books to unpack, sort, label.  Ahem.

Update on our friends’ visit

Ms. M. and Sahrye report back from their visit to Colonial Williamsburg, PA

They went  in costume in their casual jackets and petticoats. (a promise of photos, forthcoming)  Then we got word that they paused in front of the web cam near the Magazine! Yes, our friends were caught on the web cam!

Our friends ran into another group of costumers from our own Greater Bay Area Guild who were also visiting before Costume Convention 27 in Maryland. They met up with Kendra V., Trystan and Sarah Lorraine, authors of  some of the finest and most inspirational costume blogs we have ever found. Kendra teaches at Costume College and at Bay Area Costume Academy; and she was visiting with a number of other very knowledgeable and well-dressed GBACG members who are also enthusiastic about 18th century dress.

Ms. M. said that she and Sahrye were pleased to look so authentic — they were asked for directions and whatnot by other visitors! They went to the Dewitt Museum and saw many of the open drawers in the Textiles section - they had the opportunity to study many lovely, hand-made items such as stomachers, quilting, jumps and aprons.  Sahrye got to be a living “model” and show off her many layers of 18th c. clothing.  They went to the Chowing Tavern for dinner with a couple from Denver, CO, and “closed down the Tavern” with Kendra and the other folks from the Guild.

Trystan and Kendra

Sarah Lorraine in Williamsburg, PA

The next day, Sahrye and Ms. M. received a personal tour of several pieces in the Conservation Collection from Linda Baumgarten. They were also able to take a peek at some upcoming exhibition pieces. I believe when these two return, we will have to share their notes and have at least one gathering.

Saturday, March 22, a small group of us gathered at our friend Cecille’s apartment for tea and lunch before heading over to the De Young museum to see the Yves St. Laurent exhibit. We all wore hats.

We visited Bittersweet Cafe on Fillmore after we’d been to the Yves St. Laurent exhibit.

March 7 was the annual Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild Academy, held in Berkeley. The Greater Bat Area Costumer’s Guild offered three class sessions at the spacious Judas Magnes Museum. Costume enthusiasts joined up to take classes on 18th century shoe recovery; makeup and hair techniques for both the Victorian era and the 18th century; sewing tips and tricks; ribbon embroidery; advanced crochet techniques; and several hat embellishment classes. One class offered students a chance to make a reticule out of an ostrich egg and fabric.

Vendors and instructors from as far off as Fort Bragg, Sacramento and Watsonville, California came to sell their wares and students exchanged fabric, shared books, findings, jewelry and patterns.

And at lunch my group had a little birthday celebration for Amy and Mia!

I took Lynn McMaster’s class, “Millinery: Flowers & Net”; Kendra Van Cleave and Bridgit Bradley-Scaife’s class on sewing tips and tricks; and Bridget’s class on Hair in the Crinoline era. The attendance was really good and the location was great. We had room for the many class offerings and the vendors lunch were held in an auditorium.

Greater Bay Area Costumer\’s Guild

My friend got a plain, green bonnet form to match her new outfit for the Dickens Fair. She’s making the rest of the outfit so she asked me to decorate the bonnet. Here’s what I did.

For a full report on Roo, please go to the Roo Reports page!

I am altering some garments that I found at the flea market–  and also resurrecting a skirt I completed sewing a few months ago– to wear to ‘Space 1889: A Victorian Steampunk Ball in Space,’ happening in just a few short days.

The folks with Period Enactments & Entertainment Recreation Society are at it again. Their monthly soiree will be all about Steampunk: gloriously anachronistic Victorian technology and it’s derivatives. The event features a performance by the Legion Fantastique.

There will be live music from Bangers & Mash, dancing and revelry at the Masonic Lodge, in San Mateo, CA.

Rule, Britannia!
Britannia rule the stars!
Britain’s flag extends to Venus, Mercury and Mars!