Costume Journey
Aug. 1st, 2008 01:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grnvixenSo this is the time of year when I used to be immersed up to my eyeballs in costuming. Haven't had the horrible crunching deadlines for many years now and I definitely do not miss it. There are some aspects of that experience that yeah, I do miss but they are really very few.
Cut for lengthy costuming journey I think I've always enjoyed costuming but 3 things really focused that interest into historic costume and helped me get serious. The first was being exposed to costume collections in two local museums, one of which I helped to start the cataloguing on when I was in college. I really enjoyed holding a garment from another era, seeing how it had been made, the stitches and fabrics used, and sometimes contemplating the puzzle presented when it had been remade for another purpose, or fashion, and trying to pull the original origin out of a few clues. Then I got involved in the local renfaire and SCA :).
Renfaire actally came before SCA but only by a year or so. Both were then, as compared to now, fairly casual in their historic authenticty. Ooooo, research! Not surprising to find I really enjoyed that part, having been a history major. I have to admit I kind of puttered around in both for awhile though, sometimes being distracted by embroidery (oooo, shiney.....) I discover through both however that I also enjoyed teaching. That lead to starting an event here in our local area that has now been going strong for 22 years, and getting in just a bit over my head at renfaire.
I had participated in a lot of areas at our local faire so when Himself decided to go the performer route I volunteered to help on costumes. By the second year (his first as King) I somehow ended up the costume coordinator (then and now a volunteer position). Ok, not to bad a first, got to help folks find the right fabrics, here's a better silhoutte, good place to find pattern or how-tos, etc.. I like to think I helped some folks discover a joy for costuming but as time wore on, and the faire's commitment to authenticity became a lesser priority, it seemed there were more and more expectations for the Costume Coordinator to, somehow, just get good looking clothes on everyone's back. Oh yeah, and most of these folk's were not being paid enough for the fabric of their required costumes, let alone getting them made. All those poor confused mothers/aunts/grandmothers/neighbors that got dragged into helping, Oy!
Kind of took the fun out of it.
I will be the first to stress however that it had been my choice to stay involved as long as I did, and my choice to finally step aside. I might have done it a year or two longer but I was hit with one of life's realities (thyroid cancer) and gee, you start thinking about your priorities a little bit differently.
I had gotten really burned out on costuming however. I didn't leave it completely, Himself still need costumes, but some of the fun had gone out of it. More health issues also interferred and it wasn't until about 3 years ago before I had the time, and the energy, to even think about enjoying costuming again. And you know what? My priorites have changed :).
A couple of local theater gigs helped too. I realize I really don't like the production aspect of some costuming, I much prefer the research and experimenting. Oh I'll keep doing Himself's costumes but as he has needed new shirts, or a doublet, I find I get more enjoyment from making it if I can apply some new research or technique I am learning. Hand-sewn shirts hold up better than most folks may realize in a washing machine :). I don't really like sewing for myself but have actually been thinking about a new style, late 14th century. It would tie in with the information I have been researching on medieval silkwomen :). I really enjoy handwork too, both sewing and finishing, very relaxing. Kind of like zen like, which embroidery is not as I am usually always checking the original pattern.
Research is still one of my favorite parts and with the internet soooooo many new resources have opened up! Twist my arm and make me sit at a computer over lunch to cruise the Web Gallery of Art for new portraits that might have blackwork on them. Or just put random costuming or embroidery terms into google images and see what undiscovered treasure might come up. And all those museums with online collections; costume crack!!! And with the internet the are so many more folks to be able to share it all with. Hi Guys :)!
So, might not seem like much of a journey to some but I'm comfortable without deadlines or feeling driven to produce/prove something. This is what I enjoy, it brings me pleasure, satisfaction and relaxation. What more could I ask.
Cut for lengthy costuming journey I think I've always enjoyed costuming but 3 things really focused that interest into historic costume and helped me get serious. The first was being exposed to costume collections in two local museums, one of which I helped to start the cataloguing on when I was in college. I really enjoyed holding a garment from another era, seeing how it had been made, the stitches and fabrics used, and sometimes contemplating the puzzle presented when it had been remade for another purpose, or fashion, and trying to pull the original origin out of a few clues. Then I got involved in the local renfaire and SCA :).
Renfaire actally came before SCA but only by a year or so. Both were then, as compared to now, fairly casual in their historic authenticty. Ooooo, research! Not surprising to find I really enjoyed that part, having been a history major. I have to admit I kind of puttered around in both for awhile though, sometimes being distracted by embroidery (oooo, shiney.....) I discover through both however that I also enjoyed teaching. That lead to starting an event here in our local area that has now been going strong for 22 years, and getting in just a bit over my head at renfaire.
I had participated in a lot of areas at our local faire so when Himself decided to go the performer route I volunteered to help on costumes. By the second year (his first as King) I somehow ended up the costume coordinator (then and now a volunteer position). Ok, not to bad a first, got to help folks find the right fabrics, here's a better silhoutte, good place to find pattern or how-tos, etc.. I like to think I helped some folks discover a joy for costuming but as time wore on, and the faire's commitment to authenticity became a lesser priority, it seemed there were more and more expectations for the Costume Coordinator to, somehow, just get good looking clothes on everyone's back. Oh yeah, and most of these folk's were not being paid enough for the fabric of their required costumes, let alone getting them made. All those poor confused mothers/aunts/grandmothers/neighbors that got dragged into helping, Oy!
Kind of took the fun out of it.
I will be the first to stress however that it had been my choice to stay involved as long as I did, and my choice to finally step aside. I might have done it a year or two longer but I was hit with one of life's realities (thyroid cancer) and gee, you start thinking about your priorities a little bit differently.
I had gotten really burned out on costuming however. I didn't leave it completely, Himself still need costumes, but some of the fun had gone out of it. More health issues also interferred and it wasn't until about 3 years ago before I had the time, and the energy, to even think about enjoying costuming again. And you know what? My priorites have changed :).
A couple of local theater gigs helped too. I realize I really don't like the production aspect of some costuming, I much prefer the research and experimenting. Oh I'll keep doing Himself's costumes but as he has needed new shirts, or a doublet, I find I get more enjoyment from making it if I can apply some new research or technique I am learning. Hand-sewn shirts hold up better than most folks may realize in a washing machine :). I don't really like sewing for myself but have actually been thinking about a new style, late 14th century. It would tie in with the information I have been researching on medieval silkwomen :). I really enjoy handwork too, both sewing and finishing, very relaxing. Kind of like zen like, which embroidery is not as I am usually always checking the original pattern.
Research is still one of my favorite parts and with the internet soooooo many new resources have opened up! Twist my arm and make me sit at a computer over lunch to cruise the Web Gallery of Art for new portraits that might have blackwork on them. Or just put random costuming or embroidery terms into google images and see what undiscovered treasure might come up. And all those museums with online collections; costume crack!!! And with the internet the are so many more folks to be able to share it all with. Hi Guys :)!
So, might not seem like much of a journey to some but I'm comfortable without deadlines or feeling driven to produce/prove something. This is what I enjoy, it brings me pleasure, satisfaction and relaxation. What more could I ask.
