The Winner is….

Dear Constant Reader,

For the past week, I held a contest to pick the next dress I would make from my pattern collection. Thank you to everyone who voiced an opinion.

I’ll be posting updates as I make said dress and sharing triumphs and frustrations

The winner is….

Folkwear Fifties Fit & Flair

Now, as for The Teaseday Club race…

Brigitte Bisoux and Ginny Nightshade are basically neck and neck. Dagny Vanderlust is close behind them and Peril S. Curves is in 4th place. Betty Blaize and Beau Blush are tied for 5th. Scratch is in 6th and Sarah Blodgett is DFL.

You can change the outcome! Advance tickets are on sale until (I think) about 5pm today. You can always get tickets at the door tonight, but I don’t think they count in the contest.

M2

Published in: on 14 May 2013 at 11:14 am  Leave a Comment  
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Last Day!

Dear Constant Reader,

Today is your last day to vote for a dress or a performer!

Will the Fifties Fit & Flair be the dress I make? Butterick 4919, version B might jump ahead…

Will Brigitte continue her dominance of The Teaseday Club? Dagny Vanderlust is hard on her heels!

You have until midnight tonight to make your choices.

Happy voting!

M2

Published in: on 13 May 2013 at 10:37 am  Leave a Comment  

Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Before we get to this week’s tip, the voting updates!

In the dress department:

    Folkwear Fifties Fit & Flair, V-necked style — 3 votes.

    Butterick 4919, version B –2 votes

    Craftsy Bombshell Dress — 1 1/2 votes

    Butterick 5813, version B and Butterick 5556, version A — 1 vote each

    Butterick 4790, 2 tone version — 1/2 vote

Leave a comment on the original post to cast your vote. I’m collecting votes until Monday and I’ll announce the winner on Tuesday

And in the The Teaseday Club race, Brigitte Bisoux is still in the lead, with Dagny Vanderlust in a strong second. Betty Blaize, Scratch and Peril S. Curves are tied for 3rd. Beau Blush, Ginny Nightshade, and Sarah Blodgett are bringing up the rear. Want to help any of them out? Buy your ticket! Again, you have until Monday and you’ll find out the winner on Tuesday.

You been very patient, Constant Reader, and here’s your reward. A tip!

Start your show on time.

The only reason to delay the curtain is that so many audience members are pouring in that they can’t be seated immediately. But the cast and crew should be ready to rock & roll right on time. Ten minutes is probably the longest you want to hold. It’s helpful to have “doors at” and “show at” on your promo material in hopes of getting the audience in place on time. Give the cast & crew a reasonable call time. 2 hours before curtain works well for us.

M2

Published in: on 10 May 2013 at 10:03 am  Leave a Comment  
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In the Lead

Dear Constant Reader,

On Monday I asked for you to chose what dress I should make next. Read all about it here, if you missed my deathless prose.

So far, Folkwear Fifties Fit & Flair, V-necked style, is in the lead with 2 votes.

Craftsy Bombshell Dress has 1 1/2 votes (some people picked a 2nd choice. I didn’t explicitly say you could only pick one dress, but I’m weighting the 2nd choice as a half vote.)

With one vote each, Butterick 4919, version B and Butterick 5813, version B.

And a half vote for Butterick 4790, 2 tone version.

It’s not to late to have your vote count. Just leave a comment on the original post.

Speaking of voting, The Teaseday Club is meeting again on Tuesday, May 14th and they’re having a little contest. When you buy your ticket in advance, you get to pick a performer to support (and you save on the at-the-door price). The performer who brings in the most guests gets a fabulous prize. So far Brigitte Bisoux is in the lead, followed by Betty Blaize, and then Scratch. Beau Blush, Dagny Vanderlust, Ginny Nightshade, Peril S. Curves, and Sarah Blodgett are working to catch up.

So get out there and vote, whether it’s for my dress or a Teaseday performer. Or both!

M2

Published in: on 8 May 2013 at 9:35 am  Comments (2)  
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Dress Me

Dear Constant Reader,

I have a problem. I buy patterns and then they sit in my filing cabinet (or worse, are strewn all over the floor as I pretend I’m about to use them). They’re so sad when they aren’t being turned into clothing. I want you to help me with this problem!

For the next week, I’m going to let you pick what dress I should make next. Just leave a comment below and the dress with the most votes wins! I’ll make that one and keep you updated on my progress from fabric to wearable, hopefully with lots of pictures. Make sure to specify which version of the pattern you like; most have at least 2 variations. Click the picture to go to the full description.

Win-win: I get a new dress *and* lots of content for upcoming posts. You get to peek into my sewing room and possibly hear me curse a lot. With any luck, I’ll schedule a shoot or something so you can see the winning outfit in all its glory — not a crummy cell phone shot in the mirror.

The candidates are :

Folkwear Fifties Fit & Flair

Folkwear Glamour Girl Dress

Butterick 4790

Butterick 4919

Butterick 5214

Butterick 5281

Butterick 5556

Butterick 5557

Butterick 5813

Butterick 5882

Butterick 6582

 Craftsy Bombshell Dress (no picture because it’s a class, not a pattern)

So, you have until next Monday to leave a comment with your vote!

M2

Published in: on 6 May 2013 at 10:11 am  Comments (8)  
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Expo: Costume Exhibit

Dear Constant Reader,

Every year at The Expo we have a Costume Exhibit, curated by BettySioux Tailor, who is assisted by Blitzen von Schtupp. This year we tried a couple of new things. Besides costumes belonging to our winners and guests, plus the ever popular Wall o’ Pasties, people were invited to submit costumes with a theme relating to luck, gambling, Vegas, &c.


On the left, Betty Blaize’s “Luck Be a Lady” costume. On the right, “The Jack” from Blitzen von Schtupp. Card fans by Ruby Solitaire. Styling by BettySioux Tailor.

Here we have the right hand side of the exhibit. Usherette costume by Scarlett Letter, The Shanghai Pearl’s “Bird of Paradise”, Wall O’ Pasties (and a few bras & g-strings), and BettySioux’s rhinestoned TV playing a slideshow of past costume exhibits.

And the left hand side. Jo Weldon’s “Nightmare”, made by Fleur de Lys, a classic costume by Burgundy Brixx, and Corinne Southern’s “The Temptation of Eve”.

Then we had a second exhibit, of costumes from The Wrathskellar. It was accompanied by a loop of all the video diaries we produced for the past year’s show, so visitors could get a feel for the characters.
In the center is The Innocent with her cheery pink dress and “Fame or Bust” suitcase. Looming around her are:

  • The Lost Girl: her iconic “Creepy Doll” costume by Lisa Polito
  • The Broad: “Our Lady of the Underground” by Meredith Magoun
  • The Martinet (hidden behind The Innocent): “Smiling Undertaker” also by Meredith Magoun
  • The Countess: “Cantara” by Betty Blaize
  • Bücher’s patchwork coat, lurking above everyone. Designed & distressed by Scratch and constructed by Kristen Augenfeld
  • The Diva, ignoring everyone and gazing in the mirror. Coat designed by Scratch and constructed by myself. Unfortunately the picture isn’t angled to you could see the front view of the costume in the mirror.

    • I’m so proud of this coat and there’s such a story behind it that I’ll probably make that a separate missive. After I’ve finished with the rest of the Expo report.

    M2

    Published in: on 15 April 2013 at 9:50 am  Leave a Comment  
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    Questions Answered

    Dear Constant Reader,

    I’m running a little contest to give away a fun and educational book. All you have to do is leave me a question on this post before midnight on Wednesday.

    As you ask questions, I’ll answer them, as best I can.

    Red Snapper asks: Where do you get your bulk rhinestones? I tend to shop locally and mix the grades of stones, but I’d love to buy bulk Swarovskis online if it’s more cost effective. I assume your stones for the pasties were an online purchase.

    She’s talking about these pasties that we’re wearing at The Expo. I got the stones at Fire Mountain Gems. They’re a great resource for bulk rhinestones. You can buy by the dozen, the gross, and 10 gross. If you buy more than 15 units of anything, your price goes down. They don’t have every color, but their selection has gotten much better since I started shopping there years ago.

    For smaller orders, I like Artbeads. They frequently have sales on Swarovski elements (like right now).

    Always happy to do my part to make more shiny in the world.

    M2

    Published in: on 25 March 2013 at 11:43 am  Leave a Comment  
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    Friday Tip!

    Dear Constant Reader,

    Today’s tip was inspired by a burlesque performer who confessed that she didn’t wash her costumes much and her undies were really disgusting.

    Wear a Thong of Last Resort.

    That’s what I call it anyway. I’ve also heard it called an Under-G. It’s a wee, nude-colored garment just in case something slips, peeks or falls off. It also keeps your costume clean. The audience shouldn’t be aware of it, but it will bring you peace of mind.

    Let’s face it, your show panties are often heavily decorated and nigh unto unwashable, more akin to jewelry than underwear. Don’t let them touch your bare bits! Always have that barrier of the ToLR/under-g.

    Did you know that cloth-eating insects like to munch on bodily secretions? Icky, but true. And they chew up your fabric in the process. Clean clothes last longer (as well as smell better).

    What to do if you are wearing such a tiny, tiny g-string that you can’t conceal another layer under it? Removable linings. The g-string for my April March tribute act is made of velvet and therefore doesn’t wash well. I basted a red cotton lining to it, which I would unstitch and wash, dry, and sew back into place. I was performing the act so often that I got tired of that process and made a removable lining that snaps into place instead.

    Tidily yours,

    M2

    Published in: on 22 March 2013 at 9:26 am  Leave a Comment  
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    Costume Exhibit

    Dear Constant Reader,


    Please vote for The Boston Babydolls once a day every day! Voting closes tomorrow!

    One of my favorite parts of The Great Burlesque Exposition is the Costume Exhibit. BettySioux Tailor has been curating it for the past 4 years and always does a beautiful job. It showcases both historic and contemporary costumes and accessories (which includes the Wall O’ Pasties).

    In the past visitors have seen costumes worn by:

    Costume Exhibit 2010

    Costume Exhibit 2012

  • Angie Pontani
  • Ann Corio
  • April March
  • Betty Blaize
  • BettySioux Tailor
  • Blitzen von Schtupp
  • Catherine D’Lish
  • Dita Von Teese
  • Dusty Summers
  • Jo Weldon
  • Lady Josephine
  • Lily Ann Rose
  • Mara Gaye
  • Michelle L’amour
  • Midnite Martini
  • Mina Murray
  • Nita and Zita
  • Orchid Mei
  • Satan’s Angel
  • Scarlett Letter
  • Serendipity Galore
  • The Shanghai Pearl
  • Tiffany Carter

    • … and probably a few more that I’ve forgotten.

    This year, besides the hand selected costumes from some of the finest collections, The Expo is inviting performers from the greater burlesque community to submit their costumes for consideration. If you have a costume that fits with the theme of luck, gambling, money, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Monte Carlo, &c., fill out this form, and maybe your costume will be selected for display!

    Costumer or no, you should definitely come see the exhibit and a fan admission, which gets you into the exhibit hall on both days, is only $15.

    M2

    Published in: on 14 March 2013 at 9:42 am  Leave a Comment  
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    Shiny!

    Dear Constant Reader,


    Please vote for The Boston Babydolls once a day every day! We only have a few days left!

    I think I mentioned before that all the costumes for our Expo performance are brand new. I volunteered to be in charge of the pasties. Usually when working in such large quantities, we use a lower grade of rhinestone. In my research, the best price I found was for actual Swarovskis! Buying in quantity has its advantages. And the shipping was super-fast. They arrived on Friday afternoon.

    I spent Friday evening making a dozen pastie forms, covered in silver lame. They looked like wee UFOs. Despite my desire to jump on in, I waited until Saturday to start the rhinestoning. I restrained myself after one pair. I know some of the Babydolls want to do some of the work join the fun.

    And here is the result (and probably the only peek at the costume until the Rhinestone Revue):

    New pasties
    Tada! (or perhaps “ta-ta”)

    M2

    Published in: on 10 March 2013 at 9:04 am  Leave a Comment  
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