Time makes fools of us all

WELL, I m not going to be making a whole new velvet jacket to be the RingMaster. I came down with a cold on Tuesday night, and am still sick as a parrot. But, a day off due to said sickness (thanks to MrC holding the first solo)meant I could have a start at a costume.
I'm quite chuffed with my idea - using existing resources but blinging them up in a circus specific way.
No photos as yet - so here is an interim one showing the tiny topper I made today.
It is a teddy bear bowler hat with a 'cuff' slipped over the crown to turn it into a top hat. It should look well proper ridiculous on top of CC's hair!

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Circus Time!

On September 6, Wellington is the lucky host of the inaugural Winter Vintage. What is it? It's circus, it's market place, it's entertainment, madness and silliness. Based around a 1930's circus theme.
And Constance is the Ring Master.
During the day anyway. At the evening ball/dance/event, I'm reading fortunes!
Naturellement, the big question is, WHAT TO WEAR?? Fortune telling I have nailed already, thanks to Big Fat Gypsy Wedding silliness

It's amazing what an upside down sweet jar and a wreath of hair flowers can do ;-)

But Ring Mastering is a bit more of a challenge. We do love a challenge here at Sent from my iRon!

We could wear this little ensemble from our dressing up rack, but we fancy a new outfit. :)

I want something that looks like it has been handed down from generation to generation of circus folk, with changes made en route. Because I suspect this would be very common And fun!

Inspiration pictures include:

 I LOVE LOVE LOVE this image. I love that neckline - SO Victorian, so Circus. The onesie/combination look is not for me overall however.

 This image was spookily like what I initially wanted - 1830s-1850s mans frock coat in red.

 A bit more predictable, and she is channelling Constance's hair, except Constance isn't channelling her figure ;-)

A bit mad. We like that.

So, we have a very feminine lacy neckline and a red velvet frockcoat-like silhouette. Add big gold buttons, lots of gold braid and I think tassels, and I think we have a plan.

Unlike several of my posts lately about starting projects, as this one has a deadline, it WILL be made. Alas the poor brown velvet frockcoat has to take a back seat while I do it.

The Midas Touch...

Upcycling doesn't always have to be about clothes. I really enjoy overhauling old bits of furniture picked up because it is somehow not deemed sexy enough to be pricey. I have a chair bought off TradeMe (NZ's eBay alternative) that is super pretty but was painted by some dumb ass, thus reducing its value considerably, as stripping it back would be an excruciating process.
This is where Rub'n'Buff comes in. Rub'n'Buff is a permanent paint that is a bit like shoe polish for solid surfaces like wood. It comes in a little tube, has the consistency of toothpaste,and you just squeeze it out and rub it in with a cloth. Then you buff it, it gets shinier, and it dries like paint, no rubbing off. Hence the name! And it means that instead of stripping the chair back, I can apply the gold to the bad paint job and transform it.

Here's my pretty chair. With ugly brown paint and ugly weird upholstery. I've left this on for now, to protect what is underneath from the Rub'n'Buff.

Here's one leg done and one leg to go. It is so easy, just squeeze some of the creamy stuff onto an old cloth, and rub it on. I feel like Midas!

Here's the back all done - showing how it has a nice old looking patina and leaving the grooves in the design still dark. I like that.

Stage one complete!

 The whole chair only took one little bitty tube. The one on the right, in case you were wondering! The colour I used is European Gold.

Midas' rubber gloves and cloth in the aftermath.

Next step - a jolly good buffing to bring up the shine, and a reupholstering. This chair is not for us so I shall consult with the intended owner on fabric.

How easy is this! I've got my eye on some lampshades and other bits and pieces, with the other tube. I've also got my eye on the composite gold leaf in the shop. This gilding business is quite addictive...

This is also about trying out the products we sell. I remember Rub'n'Buff from the 1970s so it is not a new discovery, but nothing has replaced it in simplicity, affordability and effectiveness. Yes, I am a fan!

Adieu to a Comic Genius

I heard the news of Robin Williams' suicide while out driving today. My immediate reaction was as if I had lost a friend.
I have always loved his work - so warm and engaging and funny. I seem to be one of the few people who liked What Dream May Come, a  movie about the impact of tragic death on a family and I guess his family are suffering hard right now.

 Stand up King

 Hamming it up for Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry Be Happy video

 Good Morning Vietnam!!

 Patch Adams

 Dead Poets' Society - Carpe Diem!

 Just being

What Dreams May Come.

Precious moments indeed. RIP Robin, I am sad you are gone.

Middle Ground

Sometimes these days, I find myself talking about Constance in the third person, because it makes more sense. She is me but I am not her, you see. Sometimes she talks about me in the third person on stage and is not always very polite about her overworked dressmaker! HRMPH!
And yet, we are rubbing off on one another. I pretty much wear a big bumpit in my hair every day now, because I LIKE big hair! And sometimes when I go out, I want to have her glamour but stop short at the crazy eyelashes.
Tonight was such a night. Acharmofmagpies and I had our regular date night (because if we don't make it a Thing, life gets in the way and we miss each other after five years of working together every day!) by going out to dinner and then to see Caburlesque, Steampunk vs Rockabilly.
Joy went Rockabilly in the gorgeous pink leopard dress in the link above. Wow. So, I went purple/pink Steampunk.

MrC took this pic of me before I headed out. I put a grungy frame on it in Pixlr and it went all cross processed. Cool eh!
The flower necklace is the work of the Embroidenator. Isn't she amazing? I have worn it every day this week. It looks great with a merino top too.
The goggles I made last night. Had I not been in such a hurry and a bit annoyed as I spilled a glass of red wine over everything, I would have taken progress shots.
They started off as a christmas cracker inner tube, a 40mm gold grommet set, some scraps of gold fabric, buttons and trim, elastic and a fob watch from Camden Market that never worked. I busted open the watch and split it between both lenses- face and cover on one side, dome and back on the other. They are quite cute and blingy but most importantly, they are very lightweight, and don't make my hat topple like my Glastonbury metal ones do :) They are also entirely held together with E6000, the wonder glue.
A little less makeup, smaller eyelashes and not overextending my lips, and I look like both of us.
So yes, integration is possible. Plus, I THINK I was mostly in charge!