What, This Old Thing?

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

I wrote the other day of how I had the sniffles on Friday and was planning to take it easy. Indeed, I lounged on the daybed with Albert, watching old Law & Order episodes. But it’s not easy for me to just lie around doing nothing. When the inactivity got too much for me, I ransacked my sewing room, found some fabric I’d bought on spec, and tossed it in the washing machine.

Then I set up the guest room (where the daybed and TV are) into my auxiliary sewing room and ironed, cut, and sewed a new dress, periodically lounging, snuggling Albert, sipping soup & tea, and, of course, watching Law & Order.

Trashy Diva makes a fabulous style of sundress that I love to wear in the summer. I’d wear nothing but this dress all summer long, if I owned more than 2. They’re made of comfortable cotton and have great bust support, so no bra is necessary (a boon on muggy days). Sadly, I can’t afford a whole closet full, because, while Trashy Diva dresses are worth every penny, they require a *lot* of pennies.

My plan is to make a similar comfortable summer dress based on the Folkwear Blonde Bombshell dress. The one I whipped up was just to see how the pattern worked and how fast it goes together. Answer — fast. I started the washing machine at 11 am and probably could have been wearing the dress by 11 pm, if I hadn’t taken 2 hours out to watch a movie. As it was, I needed maybe another hour the next morning for the hem and hand finishing the bodice facing. Your milage may vary. My friends call me The Fastest Needle in the East for a reason.

I did wear it to the wrap party Saturday night and Stella snapped this shot. It doesn’t show me at my best, but the dress looks pretty good.
Bombshell dress

M2

Published in: on 5 March 2013 at 10:16 am  Leave a Comment  
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Not the Original Plan

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

No sooner had I written yesterday’s missive about our show, the client called to reschedule it due to the snow. Now I had an unexpectedly free Sunday. What to do?

Into the sewing room I went and this was the result. Pray forgive the terrible photos, my camera is just not very good and it’s so hard to shoot oneself in a mirror and look stunning doing it. To make up for it, you can see Albert, the Manor cat, snoozing on the day bed.

top hat img_2426The bra and skirt are from an old circus-themed fan dance. I thought the outfit needed a little top hat. Usually I make hats from buckram & millinery wire, but I wanted something quick & dirty. This is made with a paper cup, some cardboard, and hot glue. Tutorial may be forthcoming.

panel img_2438If you saw The Wrathskellar this year, you might recognize this as the “Blue Angel” costume. That version has skirts made from silk veils. I wanted a panel skirt with less volume and had this great embroidered fabric. Sewing hand-rolled hems takes a long time, but it’s worth it.

I didn’t plan to work on *two* blue costumes; it just worked out that way.

M2

Published in: on 18 February 2013 at 8:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Teasing

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s your daily reminder to nominate The Boston Babydolls for Best Burlesque. You can vote once per day per email/IP address. Thank you!

And lest I only exhort you to nominate us, here’s a little tease of some upcoming writings.

* I have one last book to review before I’m out again.
* The Bod of Avon opens on Friday. Opening weekend is completely sold out!
* I made some lingerie this weekend. There will be pictures.
* B.A.B.E. had to add a second February class to keep up with demand. It starts next week, so don’t wait to register.
* I’m working on some new costume pieces.

Stay tuned!

M2

Published in: on 28 January 2013 at 12:33 pm  Leave a Comment  

Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s your daily reminder to nominate The Boston Babydolls for Best Burlesque. You can vote once per day per email/IP address. Thank you!

If your budget only allows for limited rhinestones for your costume, put them close to your face.

M2

Published in: on 25 January 2013 at 11:26 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday! Time for a tip!

Nude fishnets or sheer-to-the-waist pantyhose worn under your undies instantly improves your legs.

They’ll smooth and shape and even out the color. And from stage, they’re basically invisible.

You’ll want to snip the waistband to avoid muffin top, and pin the hose to your under-g to make sure everything stays in place.

The Boston Babydolls really like Capezio fishnets. They’re very sturdy and can be mended. Brigitte sewed hooks onto her under-thong and just hooks into the net.

M2

Published in: on 18 January 2013 at 11:48 am  Leave a Comment  
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Babydollmas

Dear Constant Reader,

This past Sunday the troupe celebrated Babydollmas. It was a little late, but everyone had scattered hither and yon for various family obligations and wild trips to Vegas (I’m looking at you, Evie Sphinx!).

We assembled for a festive meal (at a restaurant near B.A.B.E. — Scratch wasn’t cooking a third holiday feast) and exchanged gifts. Everything was rather appropriate to the gift-givers personality: Evie gave everyone wine, Brigitte handed out gift cards to that very restaurant (it’s a favorite for Babydolls to retire to for drinks after extra rehearsals), Betty picked out fun books, Devora stuffed cute socks with all manner of whimsical (yet useful) items, I made lotion bars & lip balm, Scratch selected vintage or handmade items from local artists, Stella made us all nuts*. Ba-dum-dum.

And what did I wear to this festive occasion? I know you’re all dying to know, O Reader.trousersThese lovely 1941 trousers in navy wool twill. Sadly, because it’s a dark color you can’t really see all the charming details, like the pleats in front (darts in the back) or the side zip (balanced by a pocket on the other side). You might just be able to make out the wide belt loops because of the contrast against the leopard belt. And they’re not vintage, I made them my very self. Hence the pleased aura that surrounds me. That and they make me feel like Katharine Hepburn.

You have requested more photos in my missives and I’m going to try to make that happen. My camera is a bit of a relic these days and the flash is balky. Still, I will do what I can to make you happy, Dear Reader.

M2
*As much as I’d like to leave it at that, and Stella does make fine spiced nuts, these were actually from a local company, and Stella picked the perfect flavor for each of us.

Published in: on 8 January 2013 at 9:42 am  Comments (1)  
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Happy New Year!

Dear Constant Reader,

I hope you had a lovely New Year’s Eve celebration and 2013 is a wonderful year for you!

At Stately Babydoll Manor, Scratch made a sumptuous feast, as is his wont. [EDIT: Scratch points out that I neglected to mention the hors d’oeuvres of artichoke tapenade on rounds of Persian cucumber and broiled shrimp wrapped in bacon. Albert, the Manor cat, received a single plain boiled shrimp, but he turned up his nose in favor of cat food. He’s weird.] The main course included a pork roast braised in cider with pears and quinoa mixed with sweet spiced wild rice. But the highlight was a ratatouille galette.

Scratch took slices of zucchini, tomato, and onion, and alternated them in concentric rings in a cast iron frying pan that had been lightly coated with basil-infused olive oil. He sprinkled more onions on top and seasoned it (I know dill was involved and seasoned salt. but I’m unsure of the details). It baked for about an hour and everything caramelized. I wish I’d taken a picture, but your Faithful Correspondent is not in the habit of photographing her dinner. That may change this year. You’ll just have to take my word for it that the dish was beautiful and delicious.

Also, beautiful and delicious (and similarly undocumented for posterity) was the dessert I made: blackberry clafouti1. Clafouti is a sort of fruity custardy baked pancake. And it’s so easy to make —  just put the fruit in a pie pan, pour the batter over it, and bake until it puffs up and turns brown around the edges. In early July I make it with sour cherries from the Manor’s orchards. As a bonus, the recipe I use is quite light & healthy, despite it being for a French dessert.

At midnght there was peach prosecco, as there should be.

New Year’s Day was spent working on my new costume for The Bod of Avon, which you should all come see, either in previews or the real thing. No photos of the costume, although I desperately want to show you — the fabric is just stunning. Come to the show and see it!

And how did you spend the holiday?

M2
1Technically, clafouti is made with cherries and if any other kind of fruit is used, it’s called flaugnarde, but I’m not that much of a stickler for accuracy.

Published in: on 2 January 2013 at 11:07 am  Comments (1)  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Today’s tip comes from my good friend, master costumer Rae Bradbury-Enslin, the one who taught me most of my costume MacGyver tricks.

If someone is close enough to see a mistake in your costume and comment on it, they’re close enough to punch in the nose.

P.S. And don’t forget to vote for me for The MacGyver Award !

Published in: on 21 September 2012 at 10:00 am  Comments (1)  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

We’re getting closer to The Wrathskellar and, among other things, are putting the finishing touches on costumes, which leads me to this tip:

If you have limited time, money and/or materials, invest them in the bottom layer of your costume. It’s the last thing the audience is going to see and you want to leave them with a dazzling impression.

P.S. I’ve been nominated for a Golden Pastie Award! Please vote for me for The MacGyver Award (For the performer who can fix any costume malfunction anytime, anywhere, and with anything).

Published in: on 14 September 2012 at 11:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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Pasties!

Dear Constant Reader,

Along with t-shirts, hair flowers, and photos, we sell pasties at our shows. I make them all by hand. All sequins and tassels are securely sewn on and the pasties are lined with comfy ultrasuede. But that’s not really my point.

In A (Re)Movable Feast there is a banana number. It’s really the whole reason we have a food & drink themed show. Backstage during Unlucky in Love someone (who will remain anonymous) said “Scratch will never let us wear banana costumes!” Boy, was she wrong!

In honor of our banana act, I made these pasties:
banana-pasties
They’re just waiting for the right customer.

These were made out of leftover fabric from the ruffles on Betty’s Carmen Miranda-style dress:
betty-relic-pasties

You have 4 chances left to see the Boston Babydoll Banana Dance — July 13th and 14th in Portland, ME and July 27th and 28th in Portsmouth, NH!

P.S. Don’t forget to vote for The Boston Academy of Burlesque Education (search on our name or amongst businesses in Allston, MA).

Published in: on 26 June 2012 at 12:09 pm  Leave a Comment  
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