Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Today’s tip was inspired by the great David Lynch. “She’s dead, wrapped in plastic.”

Do not store your costumes in dry cleaning bags.

If you were obsessed by Twin Peaks, as I was, I hope you thought fondly of that iconic line.

Dry cleaning bags are just supposed to provide temporary protection to get your clothes home safely. Used long term, they can cause discoloration, especially yellowing, and can trap moisture. Don’t kill your costumes…

You’re much better off ditching the bag once you get home (and taking it somewhere that recycles plastic film) and storing your costume wrapped in a fabric made of natural fiber, like cotton.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again! How’s your year going so far?

This is a great time to…

Organize your costume closet!

Pull everything out and decide what still suits you and what can be sold, remade, or given away. Decide if your current organizational system is working for you and if it’s not, try something new. Then put everything away and congratulate yourself!

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy New Year! I hope 2025 is a good one for you!

Often early in the new year we look forward by making resolutions (which I don’t care for) or set ting goals (which I do). I’m going to suggest a look backward for today’s tip:

Look at what you’ve accomplished over the past year.

Every month I write up a summary of my activity for my Patrons, so they can see what they’re been supporting. In January I sum up the entire year and I’m often quite amazed at how much I did. Give it a try — I suspect you’ll be amazed too.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

As we reach the end of the year, I am so grateful for all of you who follow my creative endeavors — here, at the Kitchen Cabinet Project, in print, on Patreon, on YouTube, and in real life.

One of my barre instructors ends every class with…

Expect nothing; appreciate everything.

which I think is a nice thought on which to end the year.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! This is a crazy time of the year and I’m grateful you’ve taken the time to read this brief missive. That said, here’s your tip!

Go out and see live entertainment.

I’ve probably given you this tip before, but it bears repeating. In the past several weeks, I’ve seen a variety of different shows, from Shakespeare to sideshow, and it reminded me just how great live performances are.

The performers are energized by the audience and vice versa. There’s just something exciting about being in a space with a bunch of other people who are all there to enjoy themselves. And you never know what will happen with a live performance…

Live entertainment was hit really hard by the pandemic and is still struggling. Your ticket supports performers financially and your attendance supports them emotionally.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! B.A.B.E classes for January and February are open for registration! We’ve got Introduction to Burlesque classes, of course, floorwork with Devastasia, and two burlesque routine classes! I’m teaching a one-shot workshop at Deacon Giles in Salem at the end of January and a two-part class in our usual studio in February.

Here’s your tip!

This is a hectic time of year — lots of gigs, lots of parties and other social events, lots of family obligations. Remember to build in some down time. And I don’t mean on January first. You need to rest to be at your best!

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

I had a different tip for you, but we’ll get to it some other time.

Tell those you love that you care about them.

We’re getting into the dark part of the year and it’s always good to spread a little light.

Dear Constant Reader,

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving, if you celebrate. We didn’t do the traditional dinner…

Scratch planned a simple meal of British favorites that was excellent. Betty brought Devils on Horseback (dates stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon, and broiled). Scratch made the mains — cullen skink (finnan haddie (smoked haddock) chowder) and steak, mushroom, & ale pie. I contributed dessert: trifle (layered with home-made sour cherry preserves on home-made vanilla cake sprinkled with sherry, strawberries macerated in vanilla sugar, home-made custard, Italian macaroons, topped with almond whipped cream.

And now here’s your tip!

Leftovers are not only good for Thanksgiving. They’re good in burlesque too.

You’re working on a routine. You come up with a combination you like, but it just doesn’t work in this act. Record it. Use it in a different act.

You’ve finished a costume and you have some fabric left over. Make a storage bag (you’ll know which costume pieces are in it because it’s the same fabric) or consider what accessories you could add to the outfit or if it’s just small bits, add it to a costume repair kit.

I’m sure you can think of other examples! Let me know how you use leftovers.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again! Have a tip!

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to measure something and you didn’t have a measuring tape?

A quarter is about an inch.
A dollar bill is about 6 inches.
Your arm span from fingertip to fingertip is about your height.

This is good for rough estimates, not precision measurements, but better than nothing!

A quarter or a dollar is a good way to show scale in photos too.

Thanks to Scratch for reminding me of these little tricks.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.