Garden Gazebo

Sometimes I get to make objects other than costumes. This is a gazebo project I was asked to make a canopy for. The structure existed when the owners bought the home. I made a pattern, dyed fabric ( nylon tent type fabric and canvas ) and installed the new covering. The owners were adding curtains and more metal decorations around the bottom strip. It ended up being a wonderful place to sleep in the summer.

Doc's Funeral

Doc Eastly was a big animal vet. He had a farm with BIG horses. Doc was a beloved member of the community  and every Christmas he hooked up the horses to a BIG wagon and drove it full of kids and bells and hot cider. When he died I was asked to build a horse for the memorial, for the alter and final goodby. We filled the horse's belly with stories, prayers, last words before the family set the horse on fire to a 21 gun salute. Beautiful, sad and wonderful.

Zen Tales

I built Zen Tales for The UMO Ensemble. I love mask work and this was a chance to do animals and hand dyed linen clothing. The stories were all parables that were geared for children. I loved the clown aspect, the simplicity and the reaction of the kids.

Nymphs at The Sheraton

Towards the end of the summer I worked with En-Joy Productions on a party/celebration at The Seattle Sheraton. The Client was creating a specific atmosphere and the Nymphs were part of the vision. I worked with En-Joy to get the basic look, picked fabrics and design line, dyed some silk fabrics, shoes and ribbons and made the wings. I then worked with Val Mayse ( U.W. Costume shop ) and Christine Smith (a wonderful freelance costumer ) to make them. They are a popular look and have continued to be used for other events.

 

Corporate Event, Edward R. Murrow style

I worked as costume designer and wrangler for an event created for a client by En-Joy Productions and The Workshop of Seattle. It was a big party put on by the owner of many retail stores and a mall or two. Part of the entertainment was actors and circus performers actually producing a modern ticker tape of the evening's events while hanging, swinging and entertaining. Michelle Bates took photos and captured the feel of the show.

Artist in Residence Felt hats

During the winter I worked with Carolyn Buehl, the Art Specialist at the elementary school on Vashon Island. She had the crazy idea that we could make felt hats with 225 kids in classes of 25ish. It was controlled chaos and great fun. We all survived and the kids all ended up with a hat they made. They learned to wet felt on a ball, hard felted, shaped and embellished. Carolyn Candy took photos and lots of parents and friends came to help. I loved the day I was leaving the school and saw kids getting on the school bus with hats on heads. It was joyful!