Garment District!

Sorry it's so blurry - I'm still shaky from walking EIGHTY THOUSAND FREAKING MILES today through Midtown Manhattan! Oh my gosh, I just love it here so much! Didn't stop to eat or drink all day because I just want to spend all my time walking around looking at things, people, stores, etc. My haul, above, was purchased based on weight, as in, not much so I could carry it for hours. I scored three feet for my machine from what has to be the world's best sewing-machine-foot-only store. Buttons were purchased for a trench coat from a button-only store.

Also, while in town, I got to reconnect with SO MANY old friends!

Like Dave, whom I haven't seen since high school.

And one of my oldest friends, Sean! He is a world traveler and has also started his own NY-based walking tour company, the Gothamologist. I'd take his tour any day - he has an eye for adventure and an ear for unusual stories and urban legends.

I also got to hang with Jeff, another good friend from high school days. He now teaches at the Waldorf School in Manhattan and does a bit of spinning, knitting and sewing of his own!

All in all, a fabulous vacation. I'd move to Manhattan any day!

Birthday Gift

My daughter's best friend is turning eight today, and I wanted to whip her up a little somethin-something. Hope she likes it!

I just love these complementary prints - it's just from JoAnn Fabrics but it feels a bit more special somehow.

Quilt for School Raffle

this thing is finally DONE!!! Oh my gosh, I thought all the hand stitching was going to be the death of me. All the rickrack, handstitched. All the yo-yo's, handstitched. And the binding - don't even get me started.
It's a full size, but here's a corner:

Dickens Fair

Debuted a new costume this year, fresh off the sewing machine at the last minute! Please ignore my daughter's demented hair (green dress). She simply wouldn't go this year unless I agreed to the wig.

Xerxes In Progress

So Xerxes opened a few days ago to critical acclaim (whew!) and I'm faced with some downtime for the holidays.

Then on January 2nd, I get to ramp it up and prep for Carmen, which opens March 5th.

Here's Buffy Baggot, our Carmen, rocking her leather corset and a bullwhip.

Dang, it's been busy! But here's the feedback, so far:

San Francisco Chronicle Review

San Jose Mercury News & Oakland Tribune Review

San Francisco Classical Voice Review

I love opera people!

CostuMania!

More for Anything Goes, at the top we have the gangster girlfriend, the ship's purser in a vintage military uniform, and Hope Harcourt in her day dress with her 'mother', who will soon be wearing foxes slung about her neck and an obnoxious hat.

Anything Goes Costumes, round 2

Some try-on photos for Moonface Martin's sharkskin suit, Lord Evelyn's authentic vintage straw boater and plus fours. This is a show for Youth Musical Theater Company, performing at the Julia Morgan Theater in Oakland. I haven't worked with high school students before, but I have to say that these guys are awesome and super professional!