Winter Themed Yukata

Some of you may know that I am also on DeviantArt. One of the groups I belong too, KimonoDreams (for Kimono lovers!), was holding a design contest around the theme “Winter”; entries had to be original creations or design, for Kimono or accessories, of any medium. Many entered drawings, a few entered Kanzashi and one entered a doll. The contest had been running since November 20th, and I wasn’t going to enter, but when I received a “5 days left” reminder last week, something clicked and I changed my mind. I figured it would be the perfect kick in the butt for me to start a prolific costuming year – and clean out my project bin.

Winter Yukata and Obi fabrics

So on Saturday night, with 2 days to go, I cut both my Yukata and Tsukuri Obi, I sewed the Yukata on Sunday afternoon while my daughter was napping and made the Tsukuri Obi on Sunday night, after she had gone to bed (yes, being a parent, you have to work around your child’s sleeping schedule to work on your costumes). Monday, I took pictures and sent my entry in (1h30 before Contest closing – reminds you of anything?), and today, I am sharing my first 2011 project with you.

I used Printed Quilter’s Cotton to make my Yukata: it is a lovely two tone blue chequered print with snowflakes in each square - Perfect for the Winter theme. And of course, I got it on sale! As for pattern, I used the same one I always used, a modified version of Simplicity 5839 (I used the pattern as a block long ago, made my own pattern and have been using it ever since for all my Yukata – I should post instructions one of these days).

Winter Yukata - Flat

For the Tsukuri Obi, I found white tone-on-tone chequered jacquard in the decoration section – on sale too! Since I own a Tsukuri Obi, I measured it and based my own on these measurements. The bow is made of two rectangles, overlapping at the center fold and loosely tacked together in the middle. The ribbon to tie the bow around my waist was tacked to the bows. For the hook, I used an old metal hanger which I cut with bolt cutters (breaking a nail in the process). I then bent the ends and inserted them in my top bow’s fold. Finally, I wrapped the knot band around the bows and hook and hand sewed it tight and shut.

Tsukuri Obi Belt and Bow

In my second attempt at Kitsuke, I put both Yukata and Tsukuri Obi on last night for a quick photo shoot.

Winter Yukata - Front

Winter Yukata - Back

Please excuse my bare arms; I have yet to make a Yukata Juban.

(Note to self: must make more under things for all projects to be worn correctly).

Pretty Snowflake

It is a winter themed project after all!

Kneeling - A Japanese Must!

For those of you who have watched the making-of of Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), I concur with what the actresses said: it is an art to learn to kneel (and walk) in a Kimono.

Of course, as my entry for the contest, I made a lovely montage:

This has got to be the fastest costume project I have ever made: 48h from cutting to photo montage! Let’s hope it is a sign of projects to come.

'Tis better to give...

I love receiving costume-themed gift, you must know that by now; but I also love giving them! This year both my Sweetheart and Nancy-Raven got costumes from some of their favourite TV shows as Yule gifts.

Let’s Begin with Nancy-Raven’s present. Nancy-Raven loves vampire stories. We used to watch Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) while drinking red wine coolers – the ones with 0.5% alcohol, nothing to get drunk on, it's practically a soda – even though our favourite one was lime-kiwi (green).

True Blood "Inspired by Sookie" Set

It will not surprise you then that she loves True Blood (2008 - ), both the Sookie Stackhouse books and the HBO hit TV series. So I (we) got her the Merlotte’s Waitress kit, which includes a T-shirt and pocketed apron with the fictitious bar’s logo. Everybody owns black shorts, or can find a pair at any store, so these are not included in the kit. She was really happy with it. Now I just have to get a picture of her wearing it. Oh, and I have to get myself one too!

On to my Sweetheart’s present(s). We are NCIS (2003) fans; my Sweetheart even has McGee’s shoes! (Okay, the truth is we one day noticed that he did, but he did not buy the shoes on purpose because of their resemblance). For years, he’s been asking for some Caf-Pow every time we watched the show, so as I was shopping for him, I discovered that the CBS store now sold a Caf-Pow cup for geeks like us!

NCIS Caf-Pow Big Gulp Cup

Since I was going to pay for shipping anyways, I figured I should get him more NCIS items.

NCIS Special Agent Jacket

I got him the windbreaker and cap (with perfectly curved tab).

NCIS Special Agents Hat

I also have to get a picture of him wearing this Very Special Agent look, holding his Caf-Pow cup. Bonus: he now has a costume to wear to go trooping with l’Alliance Impériale!

And now you know what Santa Costumeholic has been distributing to all the good little costumers.

New-Orleans Carnival Mask

I was somewhat disappointed this year to no costume related gifts for Christmas, other than the Shoe-a-day calendar from my mom. I don’t want to sound ungrateful; I always appreciate that someone took the time to think of me and choose something they though would make me happy. Still, I’ve been spoiled* in years past with books on my favourite subject, and they were missing from under the tree.

So imagine how happy I was when Nancy-Raven gave me my Yule present tonight (mark your calendars: in 15 years of friendship, it is the first time we have exchanged our gifts during the holiday season – we usually manage to find time by Easter). It is a beautiful carnival mask she brought back from her trip to New-Orleans back in September. And lo! It is Silver and blue. It was meant for me!

New-Orleans Carnival Mask

I can’t stop staring at it. I feel inspired by it. It sort of reminds me of Sam's mask in A Cinderella Story (2004).

Hilary Duff as Sam Montgomery, A Cinderella Story (2004)

So now, I have to design a ball gown to go with it.

Hilary Duff as Sam Montgomery, A Cinderella Story (2004)

Don’t you just love creating a whole outfit to match one accessory? Occasions to wear such a costume can always be found later.

* I really do sound like a spoiled brat, don't I... Dear family, I truly did appreciated like everything I was given. Really! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do for me. I mean it!

Black & White Evening Dress

This year, I made myself no new dress for Christmas. Instead, I wore an old dress which I had not fitted in for years (so I put on a couple dozen pounds…), but now do because I lost 25 pounds! (*Applause*).

This dress I had originally made in May 2002 for a Film Study Gala at the end of my first year of University, but everyone in my family happened to forget their cameras that night, so I have no picture of me wearing it at the time. The evening was to showcase the short films done by us students, and out of the two categories my team’s film was entered in, we won both! I still have one of the Trophies:

"Remstar" Jury's Choice Award, University of Montreal Film Study Gala, May 2002

Although most students attending were wearing jeans and t-shirts, the ticket called for “Evening Wear” and I followed the dress code. I used pattern Butterick 5367, which I had bought in 1999 with a couple others while looking for a pattern for my dream Prom dress.

Butterick 5367

The bodice is made of imitation white silk shantung and the skirt is black satin. I would love to tell you that I choose the colours in homage to Black & White movies, but really, it is simply that I love that colour combination.

Gwenyver wearing her Black & White Evening Dress, Christmas 2010

My dress is sleeveless like the pattern, but the back opening, which you can’t see in this picture, has been raised a little to hide my bra. In this picture, I am wearing a bolero, bought at L’Aubainerie, because this dress was made to be worn in May and I wore it here in December. This picture was taken at my parent’s house, on December 25 (and I should mention that my parents strongly believe that heating a house is for wusses – 16°C in winter is a fine temperature inside the home).

Of course, I was once again over dressed (my uncle was wearing jeans and asked when he saw me why no one had told him it was a black tie evening), but I don’t care. I can currently fit in it, so I am going to wear it!

The Austrian Ball of Montreal

Have you ever seen images of Debutantes at Viennese Balls? All the young girls wearing white ball gowns, with their partners’ black tie attire contrasting like night and day… I remember seeing such a seen in a travel documentary about Vienna and it made me dream.

The Vienna State Opera Ball

I know these are supposed to be old tradition and that their purpose is to say loud and clear that the young woman being presented is of noble blood and is eligible for marriage. But I’m a girl, and I love princess stories; even modern ones.

To my surprise, I have discovered that there is a Viennese Debutante ball, right here in Montréal in November of each year by The Austrian Society of Montréal. And check this out, debutantes have to be younger than 30 (plenty of time for many of us to be one).

Edit: I can no longer confirm that information on their website, but I'm sure I saw it before. So, age unconfirmed.

Montréal Austrian Ball Debutantes, 2009

When you are a debutante, you must wear white. The colour is reserved to you and other debutantes for the evening. While debs in other places might be free to get which ever white ball gown they want, the Montreal Debutantes must all rent the same dress. They are also expected to dance a traditional waltz (dance lessons are included if you are chosen as a debutante).

Of course, I will probably never be a debutante at any ball; I am not Austrian, or single, or of high society. But I could still attend a ball and wear a gorgeous ball gown, in any colour except for white. In Vienna, during the Ball season (between November and June), there are about 300 public balls. Anyone is welcome! All you need is your ticket and evening wear. And perhaps some dance lessons.

Now I have another reason to visit Vienna (the first being to eat Sachertorte – the world’s best Chocolate cake!).

Young Academy at the Oireachtas

This week-end I went to the Oireachtas for the first time. In Irish Dancing, Oireachtas are championship competition at the regional level. Since the next step up if you place is the World’s Irish Dance Championship, you could say it is a big deal. Now, I’m nowhere near good enough to dance as a soloist at this competition, but I did enter the Mini-Feis, which was more my calibre and just for fun. I was also a member of a Céilí team, in our case an 8 person group dancing one of the traditional choreographies for 8 people.

Since this is a costuming blog and not a dance blog, I know what you really want to see is my dress. I received my school dress last week, just in time for the competition.

Gwenyver in he Young Academy of Irish Dance School Dress

Our school dresses were made by a seamstress in New York. We sent her the school logo and the colours we wanted and she designed the rest. It is really beautiful. We all love how our dresses look.

Young Academy of Irish Dance Céilí team and Coach

I don’t know if I lost that much weight since sending the dress maker my measurements, but, my teacher had to tighten my dress with safety pins and try to make it look good (yet she refuses to let me take it in, I guess due to the cost of the dress and the fact that the school paid for half and therefore owns half of it – trust me dear, I’ll do a good job).

About the competition, we didn’t win anything, but hey, at least we had fun!

Young Academy of Irish Dance Céilí team - Charlie's Angels style

And next year, we’ll be more experienced and will do much better; I am confident of that!

Halloween 2010

Last night I broke a 10 year tradition by not hosting a Halloween party at my house on October 31st. Instead, We, my Sweetheart, Baby Daughter and I, went with our Alliance Impériale friends to the Halloween Celebration in Old La Prairie. It was a blast! I had not seen most of my Alliance Impériale friends since our Christmas Party of 2008! We had quite a lot of fun partying in old La Prairie, dancing in the streets and Trick-or-treating at the different booths. We had so much fun, and I think we might do it again next year (maybe I can have my Halloween party on a different night, without clashing with Nancy-Raven's).

Because it was so cold and windy (about 1°C, by the river), I had to wear four layers under my Juban, leggings instead of my blue tights and thick leg warmers instead of my black and white striped socks (which is why I wore plain black half gloves instead of the matching black and white striped ones) and my winter booties instead of my cool new heals. Oh, and I chickened out of the full face white makeup. Too cold, too tired, too lazy.

Gwenyver as a Cyber Goth Geisha

The star of the evening was my Daughter the Mouseling, who was running and dancing around in her big furry costume. The super long tail was a very useful leash: she could walk around almost freely and I just had to hold on to the tail and walk behind her. (A lot of people thought I had made it long for that purpose, but in fact, I started holding on to it so it wouldn’t get dirty and I discovered its other use). And to think I had thought of shortening it! She was really adorable. Many people stopped to stare and say how cute she was.

Baby Mouseling posing on the sofa, at Home

Baby's first Trick-or-Treating

With us were different characters.

A Drow...

Marie-Ange-the-Celt as Aruhaniel, Drow Matron

Since a bunch of us wanted to go with an Asian theme (you can see a Samurai in the back - his armour is made of fun foam!), Marie-Ange-the-Celt made her Drow a Kimono-like outfit. Because Marie-Ange-the-Celt is very busy, she ran out of time to finish her costume. I was sewing on her collar while she was ordering Chinese food for the rest of us. But it looks good!

A Japanese Woman...

MageKnightTerra as a Japanese Woman

MageKnightTerra ordered her Kimono online for the occasion. She was more daring than I was, wearing the full face white make-up.

Neo and a Ninja...

Neo from The Matrix (1999) and Tionniel as a Ninja

Tionniel has been taking Martial arts, so she decided to make a traditional ninja costume. It was very well done, and at least she could wear many layers underneath without taking away authenticity.

A Princess...

Princess J

Marie-Ange-the-Celt's cousin accompanied us, wearing an old Princess dress.

An SG-1 Soldier...

Freeze!

And Tiger!

Tiger loves Cotton Candy!

There were others with us, but would you believe it, my batteries died, so I don't have pictures of everyone.

Happy Halloween!

I will try to take pictures soon of me wearing the whole look, like on the conceptual art drawing I made, but I can’t promise anything. I fear I might have once again over done it – I am exhausted and I am coming down with something. Darn! I never learn and I made myself sick again. Oh well, at least I had fun!