One project finished

Now I can show you the costume I've just completed using the plate of sausages, see post below. Not real ones of course, phew, but dog toy sausages. These 4 "show girls" will be on stage next Monday evening at the regional theatre in Parramatta where the Performing Arts Studio is staging their huge end-of-year show. These costumes are made on a limited budget, but I'm fairly happy with them. The Sausage Lady was a real challenge since the hula hoops needed to be completely covered in a fabric before I could work with them, and they were full of water (I guess for balance?) which of course I had to drain out so I could balance my sausages. The skirt must weigh about 5 kg (that's more than 10 pounds for non-metric readers) because the waistband just kept on stretching with the weight. I should have realised earlier and made a buckram belt or such, but with deadline looming (that's the joy of theatre work!) I had to make do with tucks in the elastic all around. The fully hand sequined leotards under the costumes were made in Thailand I believe while the Principal was on holidays there, and are used frequently. Therefore all the costumes had to be built independent of the leotard. That explains the waistbands and neckbands on the model, my very slim daughter B. She's moved out from home by choice, but I think she needs to visit more often for a hearty meal by the look of these photos.

The second photo shows the Pretzel Lady, and comprises a frilly apron and large net bow with tails mounted on a waistband, separate elasticated puff sleeves, a pretzel on a neckband and of course the pretzel headpiece.

Next comes the German Opera singer. A gold lurex stretch fabric short tunic with an elastic waist also defined by a wooden beaded belt, a sword tucked into it, a neckband with a wooden bead on the front and a horned helmet. I heavily decorated the helmet with braid and ribbon, and paint. The long plaits on the tinsel wig were a Christmas tree tinsel fringe which I sewed into the wig and then plaited and tied with red bows. The red drape follows the colour scheme.

Finally the Beer Stein lady. A quick and dirty underbust corset with ribbon lacing on the back and poppers through the left side seam for quick change. A "table top" skirt in red and white checked fabric on a single hula hoop "crinoline" style, a couple of beer steins on the corset front in metallic stretch vinyl fused to vilene and then padded with wadding. Wadding "foam" over the busom, and a 3D beer stein in the same materials on a red and white checked buckram 1/2 cap.

The challenge was to make these costumes with a shoestring budget, as faithful to the movie and stage show as I could, but also practical for wearing in a show with lots of kids running around, so no lovely floaty trains or feather boas. Every item is "quick change" so poppers on left side seams, elastics, and bows pre-tied and sewn etc. I also had no measurments to work with, just a suggestion that the ladies are all size 8 - 10 (32 to 34 inch chest) so fingers crossed for no "wardrobe malfunctions" on Monday night next.