The day i don't remember

And the reason i don't remember it.... The woods right behind the costume shop parking lot... they decided to do some sort of controlled burn. And the smoke coming off of it... ALL DAY... was terrible. I have a migraine, was nauseous.. and just an overall feeling of yuck. Our Draper went home early. I'm really surprised our pregnant first hand stayed. My partner in crime had a bad headache too.

They really really could have done it yesterday... there were no shows.. and a bare bones staff. Uggghh
When i came back from lunch.. the theater was clouded in this this smoke. So bad and ucky!! Who even knows what they were burning :(

At least i think i got a few mockups done for hats. Henry's hat and Anne's French hood. I also did tons of labeling for "Travels with my Aunt" which starts dress tonight. And i rebuilt bow ties.

And then my supervisor found this picture:

Please notice his headwear :)

 The hat that Henry is pictured in ... in ALL his portraits. Well his coronation portrait can't be left out. He just plopped the crown on top.. I couldn't stop laughing at this.

TGIF

Yaayyy!! It's friday!! That would normally mean i have one more day till i have my "weekend".. BUT i guess folks were owed several vacation days, so we have tomorrow off from work. Meaning.. 3 Day weekend!! 

I'm a little bewildered. Confused. I haven't a clue what i'm going to do for the next 3 days. Sleeping in is definitely on the agenda.

On a fun note.. we spec'd Henry today. Meaning, the designer and costume floor manager, Scott and myself went over what was needed for the show. I have a bazillion hats to make. A BAZILLION (well ok.. like 15, but that is still a lot)

Wednesday... just Wednesday

39 Steps went into Dress Rehearsal yesterday. We figured we would come in to tons of notes. We've had two. Scott asked the designer what happened. Well she didn't get a chance to look at craft items, because of the craziness of getting all the costumes on at the right time.. And quick changes.. tons and tons of quick changes. So tomorrow.. i can bet we will get tons of stuff. At least we can get stuff cleaned up today.. so we can start the next show.

Technically, the next show is "Travels with my Aunt". It's a bought show so there is very little for us to do. Label things. Put dance rubber on the bottom of the shoes. Stiffen the hats.. Yeah.. that's about it. We will probably have that done today.

And after that.. HENRY the 8th!!! I can't wait :)

Monday.... well really Tuesday..

So work started off great today. I finished labeling all the socks, garters, pins, glasses.. etc. Sprayed some shoes gold. Dyed a gold purse more black. Had a yummy coffee flavored brownie.. and BAM!!! I got sick. Awesome.

I managed to finish adding velcro to the bow ties.. and my supervisor was kind enough to let me go home at lunch and stay home. He said we were kind of done anyways with projects. The show has Dress rehearsal at 6pm tonight. So we'll see what kind of notes we have in the morning. I just came home and slept. My tummy is pretty angry. Boo.

stupid coffee flavored brownie :(

Didn't blow away yet :)

I'm still here. I didn't blow away yet. It's been wet weather down here. This morning we had quite a storm. It's blown over now... but I felt the need to look for my ruby slippers.

Work has been good. "39 Steps" goes into tech this week. All the costumes go down to wardrobe tomorrow. Crafts are feeling extremely confident with that. Saturday I finished the Pilot Scarves.

Where did that strong gust of wind come from?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never expected to be the one sculpting these. Scott is more the "trick designing" guy. But knowing that I did this and it looks awesome.. well it's priceless.

It worked!!

 

 

 

 

 

Originally the scarf was to be built on a vest that sat under the jacket. It would have two wires that extended down into long pockets on the back of the vest. I built the vests. Put them on a dress form. Put the jacket on top of the vests.. and went "hmmmmmmmm". It was just too thick. A bit of an overkill, really. So Scott and i put our pointy little heads together and simplified it. It was a little terrifying just how insync our brains were. I mean, if we were to take over the world.. there would be no surprises :)

All one piece.. Super easy to remove for cleaning.

 It's a pretty simple construction now. The scarf is in two pieces. The part that wraps around the neck is pretty straight forward and scarf like. The part that sticks out is hanging off of buckram covered hoop wire.There is horsehair fabric sandwiched in between the two layers of scarf. The fringe is stitched on netting, with a small piece of wire attached at the top. The hoop wire continues goes into the jacket at the neck. There is an opening in the collar and it slides through into a boning tape. It's pretty brilliant and simple. And really.. simple is much much better. Hopefully this lasts the run of the show.

We've already been having trouble with the hats in rehearsal. Every time they come back to us.. we have to re-stiffen and shape them. They are just not getting cared for at all. It's very very frustrating.

And now, time for a Pug picture:

Momma, can you change the channel.. i can't find the remote.

This is how she spends the day... lap of luxury for a pug! And yes, that is MY pillow she will be drooling on.

Okay okay okay... ya got me

Sorry i haven't been posting daily! There are a whole long list of reasons why.. some involve a dog.. some a hamster.. and others.. well, i can't tell  you or i may have to hurt you ;)  But really.. working again, makes me tired... so i come home.. walk Jasmine. Make dinner.. and flop. I don't even look at my computer. Sad, huh :(

But let me tell you, it's been fun. I've already made a ton of hats. I'm working on a scarf gag for an aviator scene in 39 Steps. There was the "SURPRISE!! You need to make a trick knife gag!!" (Actually a combination of people, not me, did that. I was just there to bounce ideas off.) Dying all kinds of things. Fittings. Fake boobies of all shapes. And more hats! And in there we got some nice little castings this knotted rope filigree that already existed in the shop (GO ME!!)

Scott took me to a scary thrift store that smelled horribly of bleach. We did find the butcher knives we were looking for.. heheheheh (for the knife gag) I went to the walmart today.. that was a little busy and overwhelming.

I'm also contemplating making something for myself ... maybe something a little victorian :) Or there is the Arashi Shibori that i am so intrigued with right now. The shop even has the dye and pipe to use. Soooo i just need to find some silk. NOM nom nom nom!!

Jasmine is using her cuteness to gain friends with the hotel staff. Tonight, on our walk, we stopped by the front desk.. and ended up standing there for 20 minutes while someone was petted and cooed at. She could do no wrong.. and was in her element. Everyone is loving her. And i got a new pot for the kitchen :) Benefits of the cuteness.

Whoa..

The awesome news.. I have internet back in my room again! Yay!!  Work is still going awesome. I've just been so exhausted from my fibro the past two days. The weather is changing faster than i can change clothes. One minute it's warm and i'm feeling great. The next day it's bitter cold and windy.. and I'm popping pills to make it through the day. Ugghh! The forcast for the next few days seems to be looking up.. so here's good thoughts for it.

Still working on making molds and casting things. Dying stuff and working on hats. It's been pretty awesome. Sadly, this is all i have to report. I'm so exhausted.

Molding and sad internets!

So i'm currently sitting in the lobby of the hotel, doing research and playing on the internet. I'm in my pj's and i have my hair in a cute turban. If i have to sit here to be on the internet, damnit, i'm going to be comfy. To hell with them. And i'm not alone. There's a guy here, with a baby, doing stuff on his laptop too. Man i hope they get this fixed soon.

Today was like kindergarten in the shop. We did crafts... like lots of crafts.. and making messes. We did silicon casting. I've not really done it before... but luckily Scott is pretty experienced with it, so i learned tons!!  We had tons of molds already, so Scott taught me to how to mix the two part mix. We added bronzing powder to some. Got some gorgeous gold and silver plastic pieces. I have pictures, and will post them later when i can get internet and the photos in the same place. I also experimented with leather dye and the clear resin. The results were awesome!!! I don't want to give it away right now... but oh do i have ideas. And i'm doing research on things now so i can do more. Wooooo!!!!

Before we left the shop, we started working on a project that will get a mold cast over it. It's pretty cool. I've always wanted to do this kind of stuff before. I'm so excited about it!!

Baahh.. interwebs

SO i was really really hoping to spend these two days off playing online.. gaming.. generally not leaving my room except to walk Jasmine. However, that has not happened. The internets are a little sketchy right now :(  The hotel is aware of it. They are trying to fix it. I've even talked with the internet company. And last night there was a storm that made the tv go out.. and the internet. So i'm currently sitting in the lobby of the hotel doing what i need to.

It is very nice to have two days off though. I've gotten tons done. Jasmine even got a bath. I got some shopping done yesterday, and some exploring as well. Today i need to figure out laundry... must go get quarters. And somewhere in all of this there is a gym that i need to find. I'm trying to change little things every week.. and one of them is getting more exercise. So far, i've remembered to take my meds everyday. That doesn't sound like much... but it really is. Getting into a routine is good for me. It will help me remember with my foggy brain.

And can they seriously have their lobby TV any louder.. whoa. On that note.. i'm going to finish what i need to and head back to the room.

Here's wishing everyone a happy week!!

One week

Today signifies the end of my first week back in theatre. It's been an amazing week. This morning I had a wonderful epiphany. It is a joy to get up and go to work. I love what I'm doing. I like the people I work with. And I'm very much, back in my element.

Today I finished two hats. One is a Scottish Tam that was built from scratch. The other is a sweet little straw hat for a Charlady (played by a man). I only have pictures of the straw hat.

Look at all these sweet vintage flowers. So fabulous!!

ASF has such a great collection of hats and floral trimmings. These are all vintage flowers. Far better than anything you can find at the craft stores. The smooshed even helps the Charlady look.

And of course.. I need to post a picture of Jasmine.

Someone finally fell asleep on the ride to Alabama.

On our trip monday, Jasmine refused to go to sleep. Often sitting up trying to watch me or the window.. and i would hear snoring and look over at a little drooping head. She's been sleeping a lot in the past few days. She's eating more too. I think spending the next two days with her will help ease her mind. She's doing so much better with barking as well. She barely does it when i leave, which is good.

Yaaay!! I have a weekend. We may go to the park and play tomorrow. I might also go out and find some thrift stores :)

Day 4

Today was a good day. Managed to finish rescuing the gypsy coin scarves for Midsummer. And was complimented on a job well done. Yay! Also did a little dye work... Making an off white zipper bright blue.. easy peasy. Every time i dye something, i realize just how much i really really love dying things, and color matching!!

I also finished cleaning our craft area. It needed it... and a few of the other shop folks came and thanked me for doing it.. and encouraging Scott to clean his area so nicely. Yay!!

We also specked the next show, "39 Steps". Scott and i figure it will only take a few days to get things done. We all figured this would be a prop/accessory heavy show... and really.. it's not. Boo. But i do get to make and decorate a few hats. And a little jewelry work.. which i already started before the day finished. I'll try to remember to bring my camera and start taking photos.

Today, I also didn't stop home for lunch. I've been coming home during lunch to walk Jasmine and make sure she's doing ok. When i came home after work, she greeted me at the door... and NO Barking!!! Totally awesome. Though i do not feel quite as bad about her barking. This seems to be the pet block. Next door has a cat who likes to sit at the window. Across the breeze way has the two big dogs. And somewhere else in these suites is a small dog that barks more than Jasmine!! So i'm in good company. She is currently snuggled in her huge crate/cave snoring away.

Day 2 down!!

So today was the second day of work.. AWESOMENESS!!!!!!!! I really feel so at home in this shop. It's good to be back. The people are all really nice. And i get along well with my fellow crafts person, Scott.

Jasmine is settling. Loving all the walking we are doing. She's still getting used to me going to work, but i love that she is super bouncy when i come home at lunch and after work. And i love snuggling with her.

We are kind of in between shows. There are two opening this week.. so we are just doing little repairs. Well ok, today wasn't so little of a repair on the gypsy coin scarves. They are really cheap fabric and are just shredding, so i've been rebuilding them. Also been cleaning and restocking everything that has built up from the past couple of shows. It's good for me, so i can remember where everything is again.


Yaaaaayyyy!! Awesomeness!!!

I'm HEEERRREEE!!!!

So we made it safe and sound. There were some dicey moments with snow and ice.. but once i hit Tennessee, things were clear and sunny, but loads of wind. The trip did take longer than it should, but i was playing it extremely safe.

The hotel is posh, though i hope the wind stops soon.. my door to the outside is whistling. And the best thing, there is breakfast served, like a regular hotel... even though this one is a long term. Across the breeze way in one of the other suites are two dogs... a deaf bulldog and a great pyrenees. So Jasmine is going to have friends to bark with during the day...eek.



I start work tomorrow morning at 8:30am. I am working at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival as a crafts person. I've worked here before, but only for 4 weeks. This time.. 3.5 months.. Sweet. I'm like a snow bird.

Jasmine is already sleeping.... so that's my cue. Good night ALL!!

Brand New Year!!!

Taking a small break right now. I did way to much yesterday. Today, I'm exhausted but i have Champagne. I was a poop and went to bed before midnight last night. So we had some at the family dinner. I'm the only one that really really drinks it..... SOoooo More for me.. Weeeeee!!!

Yesterday i did something epic. I said I was just going to shut the door to my sewing room, but when I went to find my sewing tools to pack... Well... chaos ensued. My husband came home to find me buried in my room, frantically cleaning. It's not spotless, but it's sooo much better. You can see the floor, the top of the table and the ironing board.. all of it!! Amazing really.

So in between entertaining family.. i'm still packing. And somehow i just reorganized the pantry. Don't ask, when i get motivated... get out of my way I've got just about everything packed. I still need my computer stuffs and my bath stuff. I'll probably think of little odds and ends as i go. I've been dragging this poor little note pad around with me all week. It's a little wrinkled, but it's doing the trick.

So Happy New Year Everyone!! Tomorrow starts a new chapter in my life. 2012 has to be a good year. It has no choice.  2011 was not good, sure it had it's bright spots... but overall.. *sad panda face*

So here's to a good year, a good life.. and a good trip with my pug Jasmine :)