Fairy Princess

Finished dress without sparkle

I usually buy more fabric than I need. When I am finished with a project I fold up the leftover and stash it. Well, my years of stashing culminated to the big clean out. I wondered what to do with all the left over fabrics; satin, wool, cotton... so I started making piles for new projects like quilting and then thought about all the kids I know. I realized I could give back by making dresses or (dress-up) costumes. So here is the first one.

I had some left-over blush duchess satin from a black tie event and some pink poly satin from a costume I am making for my niece. The pattern is McCall's 6813 and I made it one size larger than the princess who will wear it, just so it will fit a bit longer than a growth spurt.

Princess Petals

Beginning of sparkle detail 

I made the dress in a day, but the sparkle detailing will take some time.  Check back later for the finished dress.



Shoulder detail

Circus Decor

I usually use this blog for sewing thoughts and pictures, but this entry is about other details - Décor. Keep in mind sometimes it is hard to capture the look on film.

The party took place in the Music Hall's main hall. A platform was installed over 15 rows of seating. The guests had cocktails and dinner before the curtain was lifted for the show.

For decorating a plat-formed theater on a tiny budget and the want for a look no one else had, we went about to create it ourselves. It took 42 wood blocks & dowel rods, an electric drill, a couple of cans of spray paint, 480' of tan roping, about 8 books of scrapbooking paper, a multitude of glue sticks
 and two girls on a mission.

Drying in the sun

Spray painting the blocks on my back porch

Organizing the flags

We made two sizes of the flags - below you can see the larger flags hanging from the mezzanine rail in the background and in the foreground one of my designs for the tables.

Below are the smaller flags on the other table design.

The Mylar balloons held the guest's table numbers and were removed for the show.

For the on-stage show sponsor signs, I bought butterfly nets at ACO hardware, removed the nets and replaced them with form core backed signs, which I had made at Kinko's. The reverse side held the sponsors logos and our darling volunteers tuned them as they walked the stage.

 

 

The adorable - Ashten Wallace

Clowing Around

It's all about the dress!



The options are endless when it comes to dressing for the theme of "Circus." So, what would you wear to a Circus party that was black-tie? There is the Ring Master, Tightrope Walker, Trapeze Artist, Juggler, Horsewoman in a Tutu, Clown, Roustabout, Bearded Lady... and then there is the choice of the "Water For Elephants" or "Big Fish" look in color or, as an ode to "The Night Circus," black and white. Ahhhhh, the choices!

 

 I found my fabric at Haberman's in a sample piece by Design Legacy

http://www.design-legacy.com/

and fell madly in love with it. Sure, it didn't fit the criteria of "black tie" because it wasn't the traditional silk or satin. It was 100% cotton and it was meant for draperies.Drapery and upholstery are my favorite fabrics from which to make dresses.

"Hello, Katie Scarlett O'Hara"

 The problem was that the print was a bit big for my 5'4" of height.

How was this going to work? And how could I make it more black tie?

The key was a good fit, really high heels, lots of Swarovski crystal beads, a tube of E600

and a few glittered peanuts!

 

 I think this is my favorite dress I have made so far and my intention is to cut it to tea length, so that I may wear it again.  



Back Stage at Music Hall watching the curtain call

With the Volunteers, Staff and Henry right before the doors opened

Even Henry got in on the act

 

With one of our donors, Paulette

 

 

Step Right Up!!

It is that time of year again. The year-end benefit gala for Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Detroit. CARS & STARS 2013.

As Director of Special Events for Music Hall, I get to create and produce this evening. By "create," I mean chose the theme (and have it approved by our President and Artistic Director), design the gala portion and produce the gala on the night of. The fundraiser has two basic elements; Gala and Show. I am the GALAura. ;)

There is so much involved in throwing a gala benefit... auctions, seating, committee meetings, menus, volunteers, fire breathers, jugglers and stilt walkers, flowers, linens and such, but I pride myself on the twist I give it - the ability to make it different than all the other events around town AND there are a lot of events around town. The biggest key is keeping the costs down, yet having it look and feel rich and sophisticated.

For the last 6 seasons we have had some wonderful themes - Hollywood, Ziegfeld Follies, Mad Men, Cotton Club and last year’s salute to James Bond & Austin Powers. (See previous blogs for pictures).

This year our theme is Circus. I had seen "Water for Elephants" and though I hated (yet it was well acted) Chistoph Waltz's character, the movie hit me to the core. I wanted to do a vintage Circus.

The first thing I had to do was get the idea approved by 'the Boss," which wasn't easy. The Circus has so many elements and being that it is a black-tie fundraiser the risk is of running the fine line between sophisticated and a child's birthday party, not that there is anything wrong with a child having a circus themed birthday party, it just isn't the look we want.

After 6 months, I got the go forward and the ideas flourished. Right now in the midst of it all I am creating costumes for my volunteers -"Bally Girls." The Bally Girls were a girls who sang and danced in the circus spectacles and were 'generally useful' throughout the entire performance. Use of this term probably came from the employment of real ballet girls and dancers in the great circus spectacles of 1880 to 1910. Later day bally broads remained with the show for many seasons working in a featured act, and often, married to a staff member of the show. http://circushof.com/glossary.html

Our "Bally Girls" will seat guests, help with the auctions and appear in the opening of the show.

Here is the progress so far...

 

 

The finished product! This photo is by Scott Lipiec 

 

Casablanca

A trustee at Music Hall celebrated his 80th birthday and his darling wife, Judy wanted to surprise him with a Casablanca themed party.

 I was somewhat amazed when researching the movie that I didn't find enough of what I wanted for collateral to decorate the room, so I created a few pieces from the fuzzy images on the Internet.

Each guest's place card was a "letter of transit."

It was a 3-fold card with the menu and trivia from the movie.  

 The Moroccan feast was prepared and served by two truly lovely people Chef Michael Otto and Ginny of Scratch Catering.

 

Even the staff go into the gig by dressing up!

Thankfully the guest of honor loved it!

 

Oh Henry!

Henry

Some fresh snow brought some fresh clothes.





My little guy, Henry (about 5 lbs) needs extra protection against the cold. He fur is more like hair. Michigan winters are a little harsh on the him. Since he refuses to wear his boots, (so funny when I get one on and go to put on the second one and he pulls off the first) I am insistent upon a coat. Don't want the little guy to get a cold. Might try to make him outdoor Dr. Dentons, remember those.

I find that the stores sell them for a lot of money with very poor quality so... thought I would try. This is my first attempt at dog clothing. It is made from some leftover wool & mink. Yes, Mink. I know what people will say, but it was given to me and it keeps him warm!  

The Lass is into plaid



Black Watch

This latest dress is for a party at Music Hall for


Black Watch and the Band of the Scots Guard

 

My family comes from two clans Buchanan (on my mother's side) and Fraser of Lovat (on my father's). My middle name is a sept of Fraser.

And I actually prefer the hunting tartan of the clan.

Frazer of Lovat

Since I didn't have the time to purchase the Fraser wool tartan, I used a different wool that I found at Haberman Fabrics. I hand sewed the top-stitching with white embroidery floss. I wanted something different.



My darling parents at an Elizabethan Feast dinner at GPYC both wearing daddy's tartan

On the night of the party I will wear my tartan (Fraser) sash with my mother's beautiful Scottish pin and secure it on the opposing side at my waist.

But upon further research, I have found that there are several ways in which to wear the tartan. Royal Scottish Country Dancers wear it on the left shoulder, yet Lord Lyon states that when worn by clans women, the tartan sash is worn over the right shoulder across the breast, and secured by a pin. Totally different than I was taught.