Recycled Fairie Shirt

There's a short story behind this project. Friends of mine opened a boutique in New Hope, PA. with some very expensive clothing and accessories. I think the only thing I ever bought regular price was soap because I was just out of my league there. Unfortunately, they closed the shop but it gave folks like me an opportunity to hit up their sale. There was skirt in black and in white that had my eyes on. It was around $200 originally and so on sale, I still spent way more than I normally would have on my "Old Navy" budget and got the white one. The skirt, like most other things off the rack, was too long for me but I didn't have the confidence to hem it. It was worn twice and whenever I walked I just hiked it up. It still got a little muddy.

The skirt was silk with an organza overlay. For years, this skirt had been in my closet doing nothing while I pondered ways of turning it into a wearable item. First I thought about altering it to have a more ragged look but then I decided on saving it for a shirt. I finally did just that. I found a cheap commercial pattern that needed a lot of customizing but eventually I got something I really liked. As a thank you to my mom who bought me a dress form for my birthday six months in advance, I wanted to make this shirt for her and kept the original feel of the silk with overlay foundation.

If you're like me and love to cut up and recycle old clothes, you should check out this great little vidcast on YouTube called Threadbanger.

The Ivy tote bag

The Ivy is completed but I think I might add some colorful ribbons because it's seems like so much green. However, I did make the inside a nice bright orange floral which makes me think of the character Poison Ivy with her all green coloring and luminous orange hair. She is designed with a lot of green (except for rare occasions like a Halloween tale in the Batman: TAS series where she wears black). The only other colors that usually come from her are the orange of her hair, lipstick and the flowers she controls.

Blog settings updated

I just had to update some settings for this blog because some posters were rather filthy or just plain rude in their comments. I had wanted it to be open so that people could express themselves but there's seriously no place for some of the garbage I had received. I only allow anonymous comments because I know what a pain it is to have to be registered on every single site however I have added word verification for one thing to prevent spam; and I've added a note that if you plan to post anonymously don't expect to be taken seriously. Warren Ellis will not allow users to create screen names on his web blogs because you need to own your words. The power of anonymity on the internet quite frankly gives people the balls they don't really have if they were face to face.

One particular comment regarding my Black Cat suit exclaimed that I somehow designed a black cat suit (lower case letters) only to show off my cleavage. Well, I didn't create the character of Black Cat. Marvel Comics did. She's one of Spider-Man's girlfriends and yes, she's very sexy. Artists have always drawn her with a voluptuous figure and plenty of cleavage exposed. I merely designed the pattern to create a real suit to be worn. To learn more about the character named Black Cat, visit ComicVine or Marvel.com.

Hero/Villain Accessories

I've gotten back to creating the superhero/villain bags that were part of my original goal over a year ago when I began sewing. After experiencing several conventions, I picked characters that I find are most often seen in the cosplay arena. Mind you, I'm not choosing from the Slave Leia or Jedi designs, only traditional superhero based comics.

1. Harley Quinn
2. Rogue
3. Poison Ivy
4. Black Cat

I have huge list but this is where I'm starting off. Take a look at what I was able to create based on the Harley (DC comics/Batman) and Rogue (Marvel/X-Men) characters.

The prices will be based on difficulty and expense of materials. While the Harley materials weren't very expensive, it wasn't the easiest bag I've ever made. Both of these designs have original machine embroidery designs as well. The Harley actually has two because the other side not shown is the reverse red/black. The back of the Rogue is merely solid green. Each have linings and one interior pocket.

The plan is to create a bunch of these and be a vendor at the Super Show in Scranton (September). I've already registered so I have to get my butt in gear. The bags will also be available on etsy at some point or through me directly using PayPal.

Launching new videos

I've been mucking about with this nifty MS program called Movie Maker and having a lot of fun. I've since upgraded my written comic book reviews (ComicVine.com & DynamicForces.com) to audio reviews (on mevio & stickam) and now to video reviews on YouTube. Hopefully I'll be okay with the workings of YouTube and have that as my new focal point. There are more changes to come so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you get all the updates!

Writing is still a whole lot quicker so Comic Vine will have more of my work than any other site but for the most stimulating, you'll probably like YouTube better.

Here's my latest on Buffy Season 8.

Invitation to Met Museum June 22

Most of you have heard about the exhibit but I'll recap...
The Met is having a special exhibit of fashion until September. It's all about fashion influenced by comic books.

I told the organizer about the League Of Heroes group (costume designers) - that we love to dress up as superheroes and would love to have their permission to visit the exhibit without causing random disturbances that costumes can. The organizer invited us to come on June 22nd which is a day that they will be hosting several interesting panels about the folklore of comics.

Please let me know if you are interested in coming along or meeting up there. Admission is around $20, I think but if there's enough of us we can get a group rate.

I'm thinking with this group of speakers, DC is best represented. If you want to go sans costumes, that's cool too; DH won't be dressed up and will my designated photographer as usual.

Photography is not allowed in the exhibits but at the panels should be fine. Look for signs.

Here are the juicy details:

Media Alert
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Communications Department
1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028-0198
tel (212) 570-3951 fax (212) 472-2764
communications@metmuseum.org
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Costume Institute Presents Panels and Lectures on Superhero Costumes in Comics

When: Sunday, June 22, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

What: Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy – Sunday at the Met
This all-day event of lectures and panel discussions brings together leading international scholars, critics, and designers to discuss the world of costumes and comics. Themes include the appropriation of the uniform, the adaptation of superhero costumes for the screen, the creation of modern mythologies, and the role of the superhero as metaphor in contemporary society. Free with Museum admission; reservations and tickets not required. The exhibition, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, which has been seen by more than 100,000 visitors in its first three weeks, runs through September 1, 2008.

Who: The program, hosted by Peter Coogan, Director of The Institute for Comics Studies, is presented in conjunction with Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy curated by Andrew Bolton, Curator, The Costume Institute. The schedule includes:
Peter Coogan, "E Pluribus Unitard: Notes Toward a Theory of Superhero Costuming"
Writers Panel: Danny Fingeroth (author, Disguised as Clark Kent), Richard Reynolds (author, Superheroes: A Modern Mythology), Paul Levitz (President and Publisher, DC Comics)
Scott Bukatman (Associate Professor, Art and Art History, Stanford University), "The Boys in the Hoods: The Costumed Vigilante as Urban Dandy"
Costume Designers Panel: Geoff Klock (Assistant Professor, Borough of Manhattan Community College), Adi Granov and Phil Saunders (costume designers, Iron Man)
Artists Panel: Alex Ross (comic artist), Stanford Carpenter (Assistant Professor, Visual & Critical Studies, School of the Art Institute of Chicago), Arlen Schumer (comic book art historian, Dynamic Duo Studios)
Michael Uslan (executive producer, The Dark Knight), "The Gods of Greece, Rome, and Egypt Still Exist - Only Today They Wear Spandex & Capes!"
Where: The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street

Contact: Nancy Chilton or Elyse Topalian, 212-570-3951, or communications@metmuseum.org. For more information and a schedule of events, please consult the online Calendar at www.metmuseum.org


The exhibition is made possible by Giorgio Armani.

Additional support is provided by Condé Nast.


**Super Heroes is a registered trademark jointly owned by DC Comics and Marvel Characters, Inc.

# # #


Beth Delaney
ComicFusion.com
DynamicForces.com
herofashions.blogspot.com