SNEAK PEAK!!!!

Here is a little sneak peak of what I've been working on.... the Kansas City Ballet's World Premiere of Tom Sawyer, a Ballet in 3 Acts!

Tonight is the World Premiere of this amazing all American ballet. We have been working on building these costumes, designed by Holly Hynes, since July, and I am so excited to finally see them in action, and on stage!

The other exciting aspect of this big event is that we are performing in the brand new, world class Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts

I snapped these photos of the theater yesterday on my way to rehersal

this is a costumers dream, a full rack of finished costumes!

JEWELS! even a ballet set in the 1800's needs some bling!

some swirly goblin hats!

...now that I've whetted your Tom Sawyer appetite you should all come to the show and see the costumes, beautiful sets, and amazing dancers!

Union Station

I've mentioned it before, but just as a recap,I'll let you know that I am lucky enough to hold a great job as a costumer for the Kansas City Ballet.... along this vein there is a lot of new and exciting things happening in my world of work (and in Kansas City) The first being that there is a brand new Performing Arts Center, that we (the ballet, as well as the Lyric Opera and the Symphony) will be using! It is a lovely and innovative building and I can't wait to use the new space for our fall show! The second exciting news has been all consuming for me and my co-workers for the past month, the ballet itself has a new home, The Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity! This is the space where all of the pre-performance magic happens. There are studios where the dancers rehearse, offices from which the business is run and (dumdumdum) a lovely costume shop! Where yours truely is priveliged to work!

Our new building is adjacent to our city train station, Union Station, which makes a lovely backdrop for photos, what with the trains zooming by and all. I've had fun exploring the area on my down time and can't wait to take some romantic/nostalgic feeling outfit+train photos, but for now, alas, you get my moving clothes (shorts and a tee) and some trains zooming by!

outfit details: shirt: Target, shorts: thrifted, shoes: Steve & Barry's

...whew...

finally wrapped up Giselle at the KC Ballet! here are some of my favorite costumes from the show (seriously decadent velvet and fur ball gowns)

I am now taking some well deserved days off! reading and napping are on the schedule! xoxo

is there something on my head?

... haha, yup, actually it's a half finished classical tutu that I am making. very haute couture!

have a happy weekend (mine doesn't start till tomorrow, boo)

peasant past.

I've been working on "peasant" costumes recently at the ballet for our upcoming show of Giselle and perchance they have inspired my outfit today?

outfit details: dress/ boots/ belt: thrifted, tights/ socks: Target

On a weird side note.... I realized that I've owned and consistantly worn this dress since I was 18! thats 9 years... and I am still wearing it! I don't know if this fact just makes me feel old... actually I thought, man, I haven't changed in 9 years, but truthfully I've always had the same taste,hopefully, it's just been refined and fine tuned over the years, I am just glad that Ino longer wear jelly bracelets. tehe.

p.s. big props to my buddy T-Lex for taking my outfit photos, you're a peach!

a little work...

so, as I've mentioned earlier, this is show week over at the Kansas City Ballet (where I work making costumes)  and I  thought I'd share some of the beautiful images of a piece that was designed in house by my boss, Jennifer Carroll, and of course built by the two of us!  remember that "mock-up" post from a while back?  well this is the finished product!  the lights were beautiful and the dancing is really great (its my favorite piece on the bill)  if you wanna read some reviews of the dancing head over to the KCB facebook page, its been a pretty great season! 

all graduated.

I wore this outfit over the weekend to my fiances, cousins college graduation.  Looking back it is a biiit short, but c'est la vie!  when you are 5'10" everything is short on ya (especially items purchased from Forever 21.  what is that?  are their fit models munchkins or something everything at that store runs on the tiny size!  sorry, slight rant...)  It was really funny taking these photos, here were all of these grads around me, having their photos taken, to honor their GREAT achievements, and there I was just some schmo, having a mini photo shoot....hehe!  

Well, we went into the theater yesterday for the KC Ballet's Spring Show.. Who Cares, so lots of late nights and boring black/utilitarian clothing in my future!  

outfit details: jacket, shoes: thrifted, dress:Forever 21

squish-squeak.

well, I finally got around to taking some photos of my outfit today ( I've had some cute ones this week, just zero time to take pics...bummer)  Alas it was drizzly and super muddy this morning, so this photo session was AWKWARD to say the least, especially since I was wearing my one pair of heeled boots, which are definitely a challenge for me under normal/dry/ flat grounded situations.  

I felt like this outfit was perfect for today, it was so gray all day, but every time I looked down and saw these big pink flowers on my dress I felt like spring must be just around the corner!

here' a funny treat for you all... I've been remaking the linings in our mouse heads (for the Nutcracker performance)... I give you... mouse girl!  runaway, runaway!

outfit details: dress: Target, cardigan: Urban Outfitters, boots: Target, tights: old,old,old

a ballet sneak peek...

Outfit details: jeans: bdg/thrifted, socks/shoes: Target, shirt: ATC, sweater: thrifted

haha! so I woke up all early and took these photos and then I just got home and uploaded them to my computer and I realized that the shadow from my tripod is in every photo!  woops, I guess I wasn't really running on all cylinders this morning....

I thought I'd give you all a peek at one of my favorite parts of my job.  For those of you who don't know I work as a costumer at the KC ballet.  This means I pattern, sew, construct and alter everything that the dancers wear.  I really love what I call the "mock-up" stage of the costuming process, when we are creating costumes ourselves we work from a design (done by a professional, hired-on designer, or designed by our shop)  So we make a mock-up, which is the 

first "draft" of our pattern.  

design by Jennifer Carroll

In this instance I created a flat pattern based on some other good leotard patterns that we have in stock, so I drew out the shape that I thought would work ....

I placed the pattern on some scrap fabric and cut around the pattern, then wham bam ...thank you ma'am...  

...we have a leotard!

I like this aspect of my job because it takes a lot of problem solving, but then  it is really rewarding when I have an immediate product.  (It gets a bit more tedious later on in the process when I have to make 12 versions of the same leotard)  

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my job!  If you have any queries about any of this, feel free to ask!

mish-mash

I've been wearing all black all week while I was working at the theater, so I really wanted to wear some color today and minus the goofy pictures, I loved this outfit, it was warm and super comfy.

outfit details: cords: BDG, Urban Outfitters, shirt: American Apparel, belt, sweater,scarf, boots: thrifted

I've been working like crazy lately, packing up Nutcracker and working at the theater, here's a picture of some tiaras and hair accessories, that we were cleaning/ airing out before they were packed up for the season.

And, on another random note....Since I got engaged in December I have kind of been ignoring the whole wedding thing until I was done with  Nutcracker and the Holidays and such, so... now I have the time to think about it and, whew, talk about overwhelming.  Any of you married gals have some helpful advice for me?  I'm hoping to have an outdoorsy ceremony and party and I'm definitely trying to do it on the cheap.  I have a feeling I'll be sharing a lot of this wedding planning adventure here on the blog, so readers beware, sorry if I get too bridezilla on you!  but here are a few looks that I am loving...

angel math...

I'm tired and worn out from a great, fun-filled labor day weekend, so this one is gonna be short and sweet! I thought I'd give you a look at one of the projects I've been working on a lot lately over at the Kansas City Ballet...I am refurbishing the childrens angel costumes for the nutcracker performance by removing a worn out layer of black/gold netting and adding some seriously needed bling!  so....

this....

minus this....

plus this....

equals this.....!

work patterns

some of you may know that I started a new job this summer at the Kansas City Ballet.  My official title is "assistant wardrobe designer" but what I do is work in the costume shop making and altering costumes for the ballet dancers.  Each day is different, some days I am dyeing fabric, some days I am altering costumes that have already been made, or making brand new pieces by draping and patterning; most days I do a little of everything... I am surrounded by fabric and costumes and I've been noticing lots of beautiful patterns that I wanted to share with you!