aka Chesty LaRue

I have always relied upon the kindness of strangers

(Cross-posted at Live Journal as well.)

I may not be Blanche DuBois, but I am so very appreciative right now.  7/10 of the Six Wives costumes has sold (Anne of Cleves, Catherine of Aragon and Katherine Parr are still available) and all of the proceeds have gone to Layla's surgery fund.  We have covered the MRI she had yesterday (showing a very large interior liver shunt with a small bend in the vena cava which is worrisome), various vet bills when she was very sick last week and required IV fluids twice and blood draws twice, and it looks like we will have enough left over to cover our part of the surgery costs.  Which is a tremendous relief to me and my family. 

I went into the Six Wives project trying to find a fun group project for the Wench Posse and also to challenge myself to do something BIG.  Who knew it would turn into something even bigger in terms of the generosity of people I have spoken to all over the world?

Kathryn Parr is going to Australia.  Lady Jane Grey went to CA.  Others went to Florida, Texas, and the East Coast.  Queen Mary Tudor went to a Wench Posse member who was unable to participate on the day of the Six Wives.  And I am slowly finishing the Queen Elizabeth costume for the lovely Marti Potter who is completely recovered from her H1N1. 

I am just so honestly grateful for the people who spread the word on forums, blogs, bulletin boards, Facebook, My Space, eBay, Etsy, etc.  It is a huge weight off of us financially to know that the vet costs are covered, and that maybe we really can Save a Puppy. 

We are waiting to hear back from the surgeon who is to do the surgery to tell us if he has the proper size coils that get put in the shunt to close it off (or has to order them), and if Layla is still considered a good surgical candidate based on the vena cava issue she has.  We are crossing our fingers, as it would be heart-breaking to everyone involved to come this far only to not be able to have the surgery. 

Again, I am so overwhelmed at the generosity I have seen displayed towards myself and my family.  Costuming people really are the best people in the world.  Thank you so very much for all of your help.

Rocking out at Costume College

I will put up a bigger post tomorrow, when my computer doesn't want to eat every picture I try to upload. 

However, I had a great time at CoCo, met some people whose blogs I have read for years, roomed with the lovely Margo Anderson and made The Chick eternally happy by having my picture taken with her favorite costumer. 

Oh, and I wore this:

That would be the reflective tape glowing.  Who knew that would happen when taken with a flash?  I'm a seamstress Jim, not a photographer...  (Check out that terribly sexy double chin.)

It was such fun to wear (I can't wait to wear it again this weekend at Bristol's Day of Wrong) and was a completely last minute decision because my German is nowhere near complete.  I am beginning to think there is a black hole or vortex of some sort over my sewing table....

I am happy to be back home with the Wench Posse, but excited to see my new CoCo friends again at Costume Con in April.  The Chick is already planning our wardrobes. 

Lastly  - changes are coming here.  I am switching over to a website with blog access from LiveJournal this month, so things might be a bit hairy around here for awhile.  The name will be changed to "The Accidental Seamstress" mainly because "akachestylarue" (while awesome) is not very business-like.  And The Chick's suggestion of "Tits McGee" has been outright vetoed. 

Thanks again to my wonderful posse to include the Chick, Gay Blade, Georgie, Danger Kitty, Pirate C, Princess, TraynerShayne, and all the others who made my trip to Costume College a reality.  I just might owe you some sort of chocolate....

More tooting my own horn

Have I accomplished anything today?  Not so much.  However, my Venetian dress from this faire is going to be featured starting today through the end of June on this site.  

I am very proud and honored to be showcased on Realm of Venus.  Particularly for my first ever Venetian outfit.  

Also, I have broken down and agreed to let the picture of the horrible original Elizabethan/Venetian combo dress be displayed on the showcase to show how you can turn something Pretty Awful (which started as a good idea, mind you) into something Much Better.  Or two somethings that are Much Better.  It also shows the Importance of Wearing a Corset When You Are Well-Endowed.  Heed my warning folks - it isn't pretty.   

If you want to see a really lovely version of an Elizabethan/Venetian hybrid dress, go here.  Also?  It is made of shower curtains.  I kid you not.

The showcase may not be up for a day or so, as it is run out of Australia and our June 15th is not always their June 15th.  Please check it out when it is up!

The dress in question:

Project Tudor, kind of, and a request

I had meant to post about this previously, but my short term memory issues snuck up on me.

Several weeks ago I went to Canterbury Park with El Jefe to watch the horse races.  In one of the later races there was a horse called "Henry the King."  Instantly I was up at the counter, betting my $2.00 that he would either Win, Place, or Show, as it seemed a bit like fate.  $6.00, on "Henry the King?"  Totally should have worked in my favor.

And he started out great, in the main pack, and then, right when it counted?  He choked. 

So just to sum up, I lost $6.00 on "Henry the King" at Canterbury.

This stuff just writes itself, folks.

Now the request:  I am in search of Mardi Gras beads.  A member of the WP has an exciting costume coming up, and she needs LOTS of beads.  At the party store they are hugely expensive!  Who knew?  And I know from going to MANY garage sales that people often have leftover beads sitting around that they have no use for.  So if you have any, let me know and we can arrange a pick-up.  I am happy to take them off your hands. 

And to any male readers out there, we will be transferring the beads in a plain paper bag, and not the traditional New Orleans way.  Because I am such a prude.

What's in a name? and some Terribly Exciting News (in other news my grammar skills go completely out the window)

Ok, it would appear that adding in Facebook, the blog, and those who have e-mailed me or called me, that we are down to 2 options for the name of my Foamy Twin:  Sophia ("Picture this!  Sicily, 1942.") or Bettie (a la Page, the pin-up girl).

Check out the handy poll box over there on the right.  It expires on Sunday so vote now, vote often! 

Also, I am to be the featured costumer for June 1st's showcase on Realm of Venus!  I am terribly excited.  If you go there on the 1st (I will surely have a link) you can also see a picture of the monstrosity that was the cobbled together Elizabethan/Italian dress.  In the interests of honesty and accountability, I decided it had to be included.  It's not pretty.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

Thanks everyone!  The final name will be announced on Monday.  I'm sure you will all be anxiously waiting over the weekend.  Hee.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

(A Cookie goes out to the first reader to guess the title reference.  And.... GO!)

So many happy things happening lately.  Finally preparing to leave my insanely busy job.  LOTS AND LOTS of costuming flying out the door.  Attending so much Ren Fest that I am almost a bit tired of it.  (Of course that could be because 2/3 last times I attended I did so with children.  Which makes everything a bit more tiring.)  Getting ready to go out of town for a little vacation trip.  Hand beading.  All things I am happy about.

Pictures, you say?  You want proof that things are getting accomplished?  My spreadsheet posted here won't do?  Even if it is highlighted and color-coded and sparkly?

Well, as we had to completely wipe my computer and reinstall everything, I am a bit behind on pictures.  And I can't find the camera install disk, as it is likely buried behind pattern pieces that I need to sort through, so until then there are no pictures.  I am deeply apologetic.

Hopefully by this afternoon we should have some though.  And until then, a glimpse into my Ren Faire life yesterday:

S, Larue and S's buddy Little L attend the Ren Fest.  Little L is knighted, and S is stung by something not 20 minutes after we arrive.  After The Drama is over, we proceed to ride rides (the giant rocking horse) and eat Crappe (steak on a stake, YUM and Gelatto).  We hang out with the Princess, and borrow her consort, Dread Pirate Sean to walk around with us, watch belly dancers, and carry things for us.  He was very useful.  Upon arriving at the car, tired, dusty, and filled with the HUZZAH, S slips her shoes off and shows me her filthy little feet.  I immediately request the feet go BACK into the shoes, and not be rubbed on my car.  S goes to do so and says, "Hey!  I think I had my shoes on the wrong feet!"  I ask her, "All day?"  She nods and says, "Yeah!  No wonder they hurt!"  And then busts out into fits of giggles. 

Love that kid.

To Sum Up

Well, what a weekend.  I am still picking the glitter out of my hair.  Had a swell time with all of you at BlogHerNot!  But sadly, I still had to work.  Chained to the sewing machine, that's me.

Princess A has a completed mudder and pictures will be coming soon.  I have SEEN The Lost Boys  and it was GOOD.  It will also be coming to a blog near you tomorrow.  There may or may not have been snacks and liquor consumed with the viewing, so we will see how great my memory is.

I also hosted The Wench Posse (minus Standing Still and the Squid Wrangler, both of whom were out of town, and Gluten-Free C, who had an Irish obligation).  After the obligatory trip to Joann's (where I was actually mocked by the Posse AND the women who work there - thanks guys) we discussed costuming, whether male frontal nudity is actually necessary in cinema, and my personal pet peeve with costumers IN cinema, and people who refuse to call their costumes "Costumes".  (Saving that rant for another day, but trust me, it is a RIGHTEOUS one.)

And thus I cut out about a billion partletts, finished the mudder, and finished The Chick's Raven skirt.  After talking her into a photo session (which involved the words, "Want to have your picture taken?" and her responding, "Does the Pope shit in the woods?" or something like that), I wound up with the following excellent shots. 

You can thank me later.

ACTION SHOT!  (Last year's costume.)

And now I present "That's So Raven, Nevermore:"

Design by The Chick.  Execution by LaRue.  Wings from eBay.  Crown and arm bands coming soon.

ACTION SHOT! 

See you tomorrow with Vampire Goodness.  Yum!

A Public Service Announcement

When looking for tutorials on how to make a leather mask for a Venetian Mardi Gras costume, do NOT Google (or search on eBay) for "leather masks."

You will be afraid.  Very afraid.