(from silk and I fee like how she looks, *giggle* )

Sick days, oh man, well it's fortunate for you all because it means I will actually post! I truly do apologize for my scarcity, senior year is really starting to get to me. But I'm not going to think about that. I'm going to talk to you about costumes! Or rather my views on costumes, you know, favorites and whatnot. I should also note that for most of these photos you should be able to click on them to get a bigger (hence better) view.

I would say that details are one of the most important parts of costuming for me, (I'll get into why a bit later) and just look at them in these two screen caps. On the first dress, I'm pretty sure it's smocking on the bodice, and just look how much it adds, without it the dress wouldn't be anything special. As a knitter I can't help noticing the lovely sweater, the tiny ruffle/lace work detail is perfect. There's also another sweater in this movie that I want to try to make some day, I'll show you sometime.

( the prestige )

I find it very impressive when a designer is daring and creative, yet stays accurate within a time period. I haven't done enough research to tell you if this costume is accurate, but it looks right to me. Taking into consideration of course that the story takes place within a slightly bohemian type setting, so rather eccentric clothing fits the characters and their situation. I just love the use of stripes and embroidery here, color too, plus detail!
(Becoming Jane)
Detail in costumes is important for several different reasons, the main one that is relevant to movie goers (such as you and me) is that it makes the world seem real. Even if the audience never sees the details up close and in full, they can tell if they're there or not (at least I can). The other reason is for the actors, if they can put on a costume that seems to have a history, or that their character might have even made herself, it helps them find a reality in the what they are portraying. An actor needs to find a connection with the costume even if they are just seeing it for the first time.

The above dress is simple and yet very convincing, there's no wow factor or anything eye-grabbing about it, yet that's why it works. It has a harmony and accuracy that makes in blend in with the setting and the story. It's simple and it's beautiful.

( secret of moonacre )

Now there's also the costumes that don't have to belong to a time period, instead they help create a make believe world. And those are ever so much fun, are they not? Because creativity is what rules the day, mostly. Now I haven't seen this movie, (and Katherine said it was terrible) but I can't help but love the costumes. You can't really see much in this first photo, only of the carpet bag, which I am SO jealous of. I mean, it's amazing, just LOOK at it! Okay, I'm getting rather excited, but most of you know of my love for carpet bags and this one's perfect.

( secret of moonacre )

I tend to fall in love with any sort of period night wear or undergarments as well, not quite sure why, except that they do tend to be awfully pretty. Some day I think I will have a whole wardrobe that's just for pretty night gowns and such, I've looked for a nice one every time I've gone thrifting for quite a while now but never found what I'm looking for. However, I have been working on some lacy white things for my soon-to-be shop that I can hardly wait to show you!

( Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events)
I've gotten to distracted to go on about costumes now, so I'll leave you with this adorable and (detail-wise) delicious photo of Sunny (imagine making that cloak for a little girl!), and give you a quick up date on how the tutu making is going. So far it's all been about doing the math for the basque and making mock-ups. I'll explain a lot of this later, but just know that not much has really happened. We haven't cut any of the net or bodice fabric yet, hopefully that will change soon! I have less than nine weeks to finish this thing, which should be plenty of time, if I didn't have so many other commitments. But it's coming together and things are going well, I promise to show you more soon, especially when we actually start MAKING it. So, I love you all and thank you so much for your patience with me.

Love, Clara

Tutus

I don't remember if I mentioned this before, but I'm taking a self constructed costuming course this semester and the big project is making my own tutu! I get to design it myself and make it custom to fit my body. Tomorrow I'm going to meet with my ballet teacher who's helping me and Kristen do it all. So, of course I've been looking for all sorts of inspiration as for what I want to do and I thought I would share my favorite photos and websites I've found.
The bodice here is velvet and the tutu white with the purple overlay.

If you can't tell here the one is a tiger lily! Isn't it gorgeous? I love how convincing it is, it also makes me wonder what the dance that was done in it is.

I LOVE the lace.

I just like to stare at it.

wow

This is a tutu for Aurora from the ballet Sleeping Beauty, as you can see the bodice is attached to the actual tutu, mine won't be that way, but I think it's really pretty.

The way the embellishment is on this tutu makes it so delicate, also notice how the edges aren't cut even, pretty interesting right?

This one is AMAZING. It gives me shivers and that place in my chest just wants to spill over. The sleeves, the trim at the bottom, the color, the velvet, everything.

Here's a few places you should look at, they are full of inspiration and drool-worthy costumes not only for dance.

This is the place I'm getting the stuff to make my tutu from. It's really late here, so I'm going to wrap this up, I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I hope you don't mind if the next few posts are on costumes, I've been spending lots of time on them due to my school and I'd love to share what I find with you all, so please tell me what you thing.

Much love, Clara

best things of 2009 part 1

Happy New Year everyone! Well, It's taken me a while but I should be back for good now. This new year is very exciting for me because so many good things are going to happen, but I still want to look back and be thankful for all of the positive highlights of the last year. So here they are!

Good Thing #1 finding Vintage and Antique things at low prices, the little clock and this embroidered picture, thing, are my most recent purchases.

Good Thing #2: decorating my room! Here's my tree, (there will be more on it soon) and I love it so much. I feel so blessed to have gotten to do so much to my room this year, it feels amazing to finally get to make it look how I want it too. (this picture is from this summer when there was actually LIGHT, all my photos look so grainy this time of year)Good Thing #3: My art class. I learned so much, had a fun teacher, and got an A! These are all little drawings from my sketchbook, twice we went to the museum and spent two and a half hours drawing animals, I think that was one of my favorite things we did. Above is a seal.

Left: Emperor Goose, Right: Muskox

Left: Grizzly Bear, Right: Auklet

another little drawing.

Good Thing #4: Altering and fixing up clothes. The dress is what I changed this time, all I did was shorten it, but that's all it needed to become my new favorite dress!

Good Thing #5: One of my goals I made at the beginning of last year was to get better at Photography. Anyway, I think I did. I'm sure the main reason for this was my wonderful camera, but I can still see a difference.

Good Thing #6: Getting to discover some wonderful small lives right in town was amazing this summer, and I realize now that I never shared these with you! These baby birds grew up in our own yard.

This little guy I found while reading outside of the library, I was just doing my own little thing when I heard a noise in a bush near by and saw a bit of movement. So I went over to investigate and it was several mice! I just am still in a state of wonderment over the fact that I actually took this picture.

Good Thing #7: Dance has been full of ups and downs this year, but it's still been one of the best things that's happened to me. This is also a full view of the mazurka costume if you're wondering. Oh, the hours we put into all of those. :)
Good Thing #8: Finding beauty in my surroundings has become so important to be this year, and it's made me fall in love with Alaska over and over again. The light and the sky, the snow, the rain, the clouds, the woods, even the people here are beautiful in the way that people should be.

Good Thing #9: YOU!!! you all have been so amazing to me this year, it started out without having any followers at all and now I have forty! Thank you all so so so so much, you have no idea how much it has helped to know that there are wonderful people like all of you somewhere in the world, your sweet comments have truly brought the sun out on many dark days. I love you all very much.

So, I had planned to go through my favorite books and movies I read or saw for the first time this year as well, but I've decided to save that for another post because this ended up pretty long, also this way I'll be able to do little reviews of them. I'll be back soon!

Love,

Clara

I made it! and after Thursday(art final) I should be able to resume a semi-regular online life. This past week has been so unbelievably wonderful, I got my first pair of pointe shoes! I had to send them back because they were too big, but I should be getting the perfect ones today or tomorrow. Also, I got moved up to ballet four! I think things are finally taking a turn for the better, my hopes for this coming year are soaring high.

I got to help work on this tutu for the sugar plum fairy the picture is blurry, but this tutu is absolutely exquisite. Some more good news is that I'm going to be doing a self designed costuming class next semester with a focus in dance. Kristen and I are going to do it together and each of us will make our own tutus.

The Swanhilda tutu is one of my favorites, it's for the wedding variation.

Here's some photos I took during the dry tec, they changed the backdrop before the show, that's why it's rather strange. Enjoy!

Odette from Swan Lake

Swanhilda from Coppelia

The Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty

The Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker

Giselle from Giselle

I wish you could have watched the show because the photos don't do these girls justice. I'll be back soon!

bouquets,

Clara