First in a series of updates
Long needed updates!
Right now my life is revolving around Tafe! Though I'm almost finished for the year, and I should have more time free during production weeks, so yay! Anywho, what have I been doing at TAFE that has kept me so busy?
First up was my History of Costume assignment! Woah mumma, was that HUGE! 14 time periods covering historical costume from Ancient Egypt all the way up to the Early 20th Century - there's a reason we get given this assignment at the start of the year (oops, hindsight is a wonderful thing!). Sadly it wasn't 100% complete when I handed it in; I didn't have the title pages for each era finished (not such a big deal, more presentation than actual information) and I only managed up to Edwardian, so I'll be adding in sections for each decade from the 20's through to the 60's when I get it back. But for the most part, I'm very pleased with what I handed up, both the information that I included and the presentation. Of course there was heaps I left out, but it was huge enough as it was!
I debated between A3 and scrapbook size (30cm X 30cm) for quite some time, but the latter won out on account of easier storage and transportability. I also procrastinated for a while about the colour scheme, but ended up going with brown paper for the background, cream card for the printed text, and black and gold card for matting and extra background. It's kinda hard to explain, I'll have to wait to show pictures! But I was really pleased with it; it's simple but still creative and lets the images and text be centre stage.
To give you an idea of just how BIG this assignment was, here are some fun factoids:
- I covered 14 separate time periods, each including info on Male and Female silhouette, Fabrics, Colours, Trims, Hairstyles, Make up, Shoes, and Accessories.
- I wrote over 18 000 words in total; The Dark Ages was the smallest section with only 498 words and 4 pages; The 18th Century (predictably!) was the largest section with 2881 words and 16 pages!!
- It spanned 2 albums; 43 pages in the first (Ancient Egyptian - 16thC) and 56 pages in the second (17thC - Edwardian).
- I printed approximately 100 pages of images; some were 4 images to a page though most were about 9 images to a page. Though I actually didn't manage to fit them all on! oops! And yes, a lot of ink was used in this project!
- I honestly don't want to add up how much I spent on this project either. It was definitely over $100, once you factor in the scrapbook refills, paper and card, tape, and ink. Though I did overbuy, since Officeworks is a bit of a pain to get to, so I'm left with lots of supplies for other projects.
Cloudstreet. It's a VERY long play (4 hours long!), based on a very popular book by well known Aussie Author, Tim Winton. I'm not 100% sure on the exact storyline, but it follows the life and times of an Aussie family, starting in the 40's and going through to modern times. So the costumes are mostly bought and altered, but fortunately there have been a few scratch made pieces.
I was lucky enough to be given one of the makes, which I'm so utterly proud of! It's a gorgeous 50's wiggle dress which I'm fairly certain is based off a Stop Staring! dress. I was basically given a picture and the Designer's sketch and told to draft it! It's got a cross over front with pleated detail, princess seams, front split and a self belt with self covered buckle. I'm so insanely proud of this dress! It's seriously the best feeling to be able to see the dress on the actor and be able to say, 'Not only did I make that beautiful dress, but I also drafted it from scratch, did all the fittings, sewed it up, AND I even covered a belt buckle and made the belt too!' Oh yes, am I ever proud of that belt buckle! Of course I'm lucky to be making the dress for an actor who has the PERFECT figure for the dress, so that helps immensely!
I am rostered on for the opening night, so I'll be sure to take some photos of her in the dress for my folio and to share! I'm so proud of it, but I honestly had so many hassles making it! OMG! The Drama! I made the toile, did the fitting, and marked out the alterations. It was nothing too drastic, as it mostly fit perfectly. Did the alterations to the pattern, cut it out, sewed up the bodice and skirt separately and tacked them together for the second fitting. DISASTER! When she came out of the dressing room I was devastated. It was HUGE! The fabric was a cotton sateen, with stretch! ARGH! So what fitted beautifully in calico, was a baggy sack in the real fabric :( I basically had to pull the entire bodice apart and rework it to fit. But in the end it was totally worth it, as when she put the finished dress on today, it fitted her just the way a wiggle dress should! Huzzah! Ah the trials of Theatre :P
The wonderful thing about this production is that with all the 1st years working on it, we're only rostered on twice - once for maintenance and once for a performance. Which means after my major drafting exam next Mon/Tues (eeep! So nervous!), I only have to be at Tafe 3 times in the next 2 weeks (my 2 rostered days and Tues pattern drafting class). Though some of that time will be spent catching up on some drafting work, including the really cool pair of wide legged, 40's style trousers that I drafted.
Only 3 more weeks of TAFE left, WOOOO! Then it's 2 months of wonderful holidays :D
Right now my life is revolving around Tafe! Though I'm almost finished for the year, and I should have more time free during production weeks, so yay! Anywho, what have I been doing at TAFE that has kept me so busy?
First up was my History of Costume assignment! Woah mumma, was that HUGE! 14 time periods covering historical costume from Ancient Egypt all the way up to the Early 20th Century - there's a reason we get given this assignment at the start of the year (oops, hindsight is a wonderful thing!). Sadly it wasn't 100% complete when I handed it in; I didn't have the title pages for each era finished (not such a big deal, more presentation than actual information) and I only managed up to Edwardian, so I'll be adding in sections for each decade from the 20's through to the 60's when I get it back. But for the most part, I'm very pleased with what I handed up, both the information that I included and the presentation. Of course there was heaps I left out, but it was huge enough as it was!
I debated between A3 and scrapbook size (30cm X 30cm) for quite some time, but the latter won out on account of easier storage and transportability. I also procrastinated for a while about the colour scheme, but ended up going with brown paper for the background, cream card for the printed text, and black and gold card for matting and extra background. It's kinda hard to explain, I'll have to wait to show pictures! But I was really pleased with it; it's simple but still creative and lets the images and text be centre stage.
To give you an idea of just how BIG this assignment was, here are some fun factoids:
- I covered 14 separate time periods, each including info on Male and Female silhouette, Fabrics, Colours, Trims, Hairstyles, Make up, Shoes, and Accessories.
- I wrote over 18 000 words in total; The Dark Ages was the smallest section with only 498 words and 4 pages; The 18th Century (predictably!) was the largest section with 2881 words and 16 pages!!
- It spanned 2 albums; 43 pages in the first (Ancient Egyptian - 16thC) and 56 pages in the second (17thC - Edwardian).
- I printed approximately 100 pages of images; some were 4 images to a page though most were about 9 images to a page. Though I actually didn't manage to fit them all on! oops! And yes, a lot of ink was used in this project!
- I honestly don't want to add up how much I spent on this project either. It was definitely over $100, once you factor in the scrapbook refills, paper and card, tape, and ink. Though I did overbuy, since Officeworks is a bit of a pain to get to, so I'm left with lots of supplies for other projects.
Cloudstreet. It's a VERY long play (4 hours long!), based on a very popular book by well known Aussie Author, Tim Winton. I'm not 100% sure on the exact storyline, but it follows the life and times of an Aussie family, starting in the 40's and going through to modern times. So the costumes are mostly bought and altered, but fortunately there have been a few scratch made pieces.
I was lucky enough to be given one of the makes, which I'm so utterly proud of! It's a gorgeous 50's wiggle dress which I'm fairly certain is based off a Stop Staring! dress. I was basically given a picture and the Designer's sketch and told to draft it! It's got a cross over front with pleated detail, princess seams, front split and a self belt with self covered buckle. I'm so insanely proud of this dress! It's seriously the best feeling to be able to see the dress on the actor and be able to say, 'Not only did I make that beautiful dress, but I also drafted it from scratch, did all the fittings, sewed it up, AND I even covered a belt buckle and made the belt too!' Oh yes, am I ever proud of that belt buckle! Of course I'm lucky to be making the dress for an actor who has the PERFECT figure for the dress, so that helps immensely!
I am rostered on for the opening night, so I'll be sure to take some photos of her in the dress for my folio and to share! I'm so proud of it, but I honestly had so many hassles making it! OMG! The Drama! I made the toile, did the fitting, and marked out the alterations. It was nothing too drastic, as it mostly fit perfectly. Did the alterations to the pattern, cut it out, sewed up the bodice and skirt separately and tacked them together for the second fitting. DISASTER! When she came out of the dressing room I was devastated. It was HUGE! The fabric was a cotton sateen, with stretch! ARGH! So what fitted beautifully in calico, was a baggy sack in the real fabric :( I basically had to pull the entire bodice apart and rework it to fit. But in the end it was totally worth it, as when she put the finished dress on today, it fitted her just the way a wiggle dress should! Huzzah! Ah the trials of Theatre :P
The wonderful thing about this production is that with all the 1st years working on it, we're only rostered on twice - once for maintenance and once for a performance. Which means after my major drafting exam next Mon/Tues (eeep! So nervous!), I only have to be at Tafe 3 times in the next 2 weeks (my 2 rostered days and Tues pattern drafting class). Though some of that time will be spent catching up on some drafting work, including the really cool pair of wide legged, 40's style trousers that I drafted.
Only 3 more weeks of TAFE left, WOOOO! Then it's 2 months of wonderful holidays :D