Today I went up Angel's Landing with Alex Riehl. I didn't make it to the top because I have a massive fear of falling, and the pathway narrowed down to about a ft width with only a chain to hold on to. So I sat on a rock and waited for Alex to finish her hike to the top. It was only later that I found out that people have died on that hike... glad I didn't go that high!

Tonight I worked Much Ado About Nothing and then, straight after, there was 'BARDWAY BABY' which was like a mini concert: 11 equity actors performed songs from Broadway Musicals. The money raised from this and other fundraising this week (talks after every show this week in which the crew also had to go on stage) will all go towards making a better Shakespearean Festival. 

Congratulations to Ellie Kingsley and Michael Cotey - Michael proposed on one of these 'crew on stage' days, in front of the whole audience, crew and cast.

No matter what kind of game you find yourself in,

no matter how good or bad the luck,

you can change your life completely with a single thought or single act of love.

For this is what we do. Put one foot forward and then the other.

Lift our eyes to the snarl and smile of the world once more.

Think. Act. Feel.

And our little consequence to the tides of good and evil that flood and drain the world.

Drag our shadowed crosses into the hope of another night.

Push our brave hearts into the promise  of a new day.

With love: the passionate search for a truth other than our own.

With longing: the pure ineffable yearning to be saved.

For so long as fate keeps waiting, we live on.

Shantaram

Today, I was meant to go to Snow Canyon. But my alarm didn't go off again so instead I went to Zion with Jen, her mum and step-dad, Casey and Sean. The views and beauty of the Canyon are breathtaking. 



Saturday 31st July 2010


Double Day - Much Ado About Nothing Matinee
                     - Macbeth Evening.

After work was an around the world party - about 10 different appartments were open and decorated as different countries with drinks from that country. Everyone else at the party would walk around and tip the different appartments as a way to give money towards their alcohol.
This is the second party I've naughtily ended up jumping in the pool when it's closed. Should stop that really... don't know what's America's put in me!




Friday 30th July 2010

Today, Emma, Amber, Erin and myself went on a hike to Cascade Falls which is a waterfall flowing in the middle of mountains. Then we went to the 'ice box' which is a natural cave room that's so cold inside you can see your breath.

This Sunday, we went to Las Vegas for Amber Scott's birthday. Our day:

• We left at 8 in the morning because I was late at getting up after the 80's party the night before. Amber shouted through me window to wake me up. 
• Got a buffet breakfast when we arrived to Vegas.
• Went to watch a belly dancing competition that Gail (who works the costume builds for USF) was entered in.
• Checked in and looked at the moving animal display in the centre of the hotel.
• Saw the volcano at the Mirage.
• Saw the fountains at the Belagio.
• Went to the Hello Kitty store... dear God i've never seen so much girlyness all in one store!
• Ate dinner at Panda Express in our hotel.
• Got a $40 alcohol drink each (mine was strawberry margarita)... totally not worth it!
• We went to Fromont Street... the 'badass' side of town. 
• Danced on a bar.
• Went back to the hotel after eating at Chequers.

Fortune Cookie: You will gain admiration from your peers.

Monday 26th July 2010

• Came home from Vegas. 
• Had Sweet Basil (Thai) for lunch for Amber's 30th!
• Exhausted - I slept until I had to work.

Much Ado about Nothing

Fortune Cookie: Don't look back. Always look ahead.

I know I'm going to write in a few quotes from the book, Shantaram... this is because it had been a very influential book for me...

It's forgiveness that makes us what we are...

Without forgiveness, there would be no history.

Without that hope, there would be no art, for every work of art is in some way an act of forgiveness.

Without that dream, there would be no love, for every act of love is in some way a promise to forgive.

We live on because we can love, and we love because we can forgive.

This is a dangerous job! Haha!! Today, I accidently slammed my singer in the dressing room door. Big, fat OUCH... with a ton of extra swearing on the side. Doesn't help with me changes much but there's not much I can do but put up with it.
I'm a complete baby when it comes to hurting myself, because it never happens. I've never so much as broken a bone in my body!

One of the biggest things I've noticed about America... FOOD!!! There's lots of it, and everywhere, and all times of the day. Everyone's always making food, which I think is amazing because I can barely cook at all. But I need to start resisting more, because I can already feel me starting to put the weight on. Less food... more hikes!!

Much Ado About Nothing Matinee
Macbeth Evening

Today's been very busy with having to do the Matinee performance. The Matinee is in the rain stage so we had to get used to going through the pipe tunnel to get to the other stage. It also meant that all but 2 of my changes had to be taken over to the rain stage dressing room or backstage. It was a bit daunting - but as per usual, I got slightly nervous. But of course, everything was fine as it happened.

Las Vegas completely knocked it out of me yesterday. I slept in til 1pm, read Shantaram for a little while (possibly the best book I've ever read, if you haven't read it before then I highly recommend it!) and then went back for another nap.
Shantaram keeps coming out with a lot of knowledgeable phrases, such as:

Dream is the place where a wish and fear meet.

When the wish and the fear are exactly the same,

we call the dream a nightmare.

I have a lot of dreams and nightmares so the phrase definitely inspired me. I really want to get a dream catcher to stop the nightmares but then I debate that I don't want to get rid of the nice or weird dreams, And even the nightmares, though half the time they're scary or upsetting, are usually interesting at least.

Sunday 11th July

Happy Birthday Jack!
Today we went to LAS VEGAS!! It was absolutely AMAZING! There's definitely too much to do in just one day so hopefully we'll be going back another day. We walked all around the strip, saw a couple of the fountain shows outside the Belagio, got drunk in the afternoon, ate a really nice dinner in New York New York. It was a really fun day, even if outside was unbearably hot, and I can't wait to go back again!!


Saturday 10th July

Tonight was Macbeth, then after we finished it was the Opening Night Party for all the actors and crew and everyone involved in the Shakespeare Festival productions. There was a good excuse to dress up and mingle and meet new faces :)


Friday 9th July

Today was my first experience of sushi, at Ninja Japanese Restaurant for lunch. Probably not the best first experience, I'm open to try it again but the idea of raw fish still creeps me out. Otherwise lush lunch.
Tonight was Merchant of Venice and then for my birthday we went to Karaoke at Mike's Tavern afterwards. First time i've been to one of the bars here, they seem pretty fun but mainly if you stick to your group of friends.

John Oswald is one of the Actors that I work with in the Adams Theatre. He is probably one of the most sweetest, intellectual and quirky people I've ever met in my life.
He got me a card for my birthday which contained some poetry which we had spoken about:


From WORDWORTH's "Intimations" ODE -


"Then sing, ye birds, sing, sing a joyous song!
And let the young lambs bound
As to the tabor's sound!
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of spendor in the grass, of glory in the flower
Thanks to the human heart by which we love,
Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears,
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears"
(1807)

SAROYAN - Time of your Life

"In the time of your life - LIVE"




SHELLEY's "Hymn to Intellectual Beauty"

"As summer winds that creep from flower to flower
Like clouds in starlight widely spread
Like memory of music fled
Like aught that for its grace may be
Dear, and yet clearer for its mystery
Thy light alone - like mist o'er mountains driven
Or music by the night wind sent
Through strings of some still instruments,
Or moonlight on a midnight stream,
Gives grace and truth to life's unquiet dream."
(1817)

I've been so excited to open my 3 cards and my present this morning. A card from Lysette that I promised I'd leave until today, a card from my Grandma and Grandad that had a cheque and a letter in that instantly brightened my day by making me laugh:

My dear Shelley,

We are sending your birthday pressie early this year as you will be away on the day.

Hoping you will have a lovely holiday - sorry, sorry! This is work experience, not a sun, sea and booze holiday. But lets hope you get some fun while you are there!

I would life to give you a long list of Dos and Don'ts such as

Do blend in and make friends

Do respect their way of doing things

but

Don't get caught up in their funny religious beliefs

and please Don't bring home a Yankee boyfriend!

I could go on for pages like this but would you listen? -Well I am your Gran and I am entitled to worry a bit.

Have a lovely trip and a Happy Birthday.

Love from Grandma and Grandad

I also had a card from my mum containing a beautiful crystal guardian angel, and what I looked forward to the most, the present from my mum - a beautiful gold and silver claddagh ring.
I treated myself to eggs and a cup of tea this morning - usually it's just cornflakes. And then I went to Main Street Grill for lunch with Eric, Emma, Erin, Ellie, Jen, Amber, Elizabeth and Krissa. After that we went to the Renaissance Fair across the road which I loved! And intend to go back again on Saturday. When we got back, a few of us went and chilled out at the pool until we had to go to work.
Tonight was Much Ado About Nothing - my busiest night, and then me and Amber had to do laundry. But when I got back, I went to Ben, Kristen and Richie's flat below me because Ben cooks every Thursday. Tonight was doughnuts, but when I walked in, Ben and Chris had also made me a HUGE birthday cake! It was amazing! I went to Erin's after to watch a film and Ellie had also made me a cake as well :) I'm taking that one to work tomorrow :)

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY TIFFANY!!!

Happy Independence Day America.

Today we (Me, Eric, Erin, Kym, Cassie, Amber and Jen) went to the Great Basin ('Big Bowl' cause for some strange reason I could never remember the name). We hiked around a little then went on a 90min cave tour. That was the main feature of our day. It was interesting to see and an amazing day out, and it was our guide, Ranger Steve's 62nd birthday.
We then went to Baker Village where there were very little remains left from an archaelogical dig of where there used to be a little village in the middle of the desert.
We stopped off for dinner in a tiny town on the drive back to Cedar City; I hadn't had a proper burger in ages.... so good!! :D
Then further down the road back, we stopped at a ghost town that was nothing but rubble left from a 19th century mining village.
We drove through nothing but mountains and desert; I don't think I'm ever going to get over how beautiful  this place is. My battery camera dies halfway through the day though :( so I'm planning to take photos of facebook to make up for the rest of today :)

Friday 2nd July

Today was the last day in the Costume Shop, which was sad to see people leaving who were only here for the costume build. At lunch time I walked up the Canyon path with Erin and Sam which was beautiful to see how close we are to the beautiful, multi-coloured mountains. We walked about half way and then walked back again, wading through the cool river on out way back.
I was very impressed with my purchase of $3 trainers today so that i can go hiking :)
And I had my first experience of a RootBeer Float (root beer mixed with ice cream) It was OK... but I couldn't finish all of it.
Macbeth in the Evening.


Thursday 1st July

Today I saw the afternoon showing of Great Expectations and absolutely LOVED IT!! The actors were amazing, the accents were well done with a few dodgy parts but nothing overly noticeable to anyone who isn't English or studied English, and I was shocked by the standard of singing.
We had Much Ado About Nothing on in the evening, then I had to do laundry, but being a Thursday, Ben in the flat downstairs had made yummy food for everyone. This week, pasta :)


Tuesday 29th June

I saw the first dress of Pride and Prejudice today, which proved excellent English accents. They don't even try to put on accents in the Shakespeare plays which took adjustment when I first heard a Shakespeare in American... it was strange.
I had to have a quick change rehersal today with Chelsea Steverson, so that we can get her quick change for Merchant of Venice done to a schedule and without panic.
Tonight was Merchant of Venice.


Monday 28th June

Pie day at the shop. I cheated and bought a pie from Walmart.
I had a quick change rehersal with Caroline Crocker for her quick chance in Much Ado about Nothing.
Tonight was Much Ado About Nothing

Friday night was wardrobe for Merchant of Venice again. This will start to get very repetitive I expect so I wont post it every time I work on a show, it's the same 3 shows in that order: Much Ado about Nothing, Merchant of Venice and Macbeth.
Then I went to a party tonight, Ugly Dress party for a couple of the hair girls birthdays. It was the first time I've had a chance to drink since leaving England. Utah's not quite the dry state I expected it to be, there's expected to be a lot more parties happening as the shows start to settle down into a routine.

Yesterday we went to Groove Fest, which was a mini festival where people were performing on stage and there were loads of little stalls selling things. It was in a fiel and was really cute and relaxing. I then had to buy a load of ingredients for Sunday's Southern Pot Luck meal.
Last night was Macbeth and then after (finishing at about 12:30) we went for a midnight hike in the full moon. The hike was to Cedar Breaks; we drove up there (an extra 1000ft above sea level, we're already 3000ft up) then walked about a mile along a path that led through forest and along side the cliffs of a canyon. Absolutely terrifying but such a beautiful sight. I've never seen anything like it before in
my life. I'll have to go again during the day so that I can get pictures because it was too dark. Scary but immensely beautiful.

Today: Sunday's are always a relaxing day here, so I usually relax by the pool for a while. Today though we had a Southern Pot Luck party where a group of us got together and cooked Southern American food. I don't really know what southern food is, so I decided to cook something English that no one here had heard of... Toad in the Hole :D It was my first time cooking it and other than getting stuck to the bottom of the pan I was super dooper impressed with myself for how it turned out! It was really nice getting to taste everyone else's southern food, there's a lot i've never heard of before.

Today was pretty much that same as Monday. I worked wardrobe for Much Ado About Nothing rehersal
. I had 3 extra changes added for Chelsea and 1 extra added for Caronline. Thank God Michael's pretty much OK dressing himself for this show or it'd be a nightmare. But all went fine, but I definately need to learn to calm down a bit because when I saw the paperwork and that I had 3 extra changes I did panic maybe minutely. As soon as this starts getting into a routine then it'll all be dandy :D

Today was the dress rehersal for Macbeth. I went into the costume shop this first thing this morning as usual. I've always said that I prefer sewing to working in wardrobe, mainly because I don't like the thought of having to wash clothes after every performance, but already working in wardrobe is a kind of buzz. Today there wasn't really any changes so there wasn't really much to do, but the general atmosphere is more exciting than sitting in a quiet workshop. There's so many people to meet. My british accent is the starting point for a lot of conversations and it's fun when people do their impressions of an English accent. I will fight of gaining an american twang in my voice for as long as possible.

Day two of working in wardrobe, this time for Merchant of Venice. Already I'm starting to get the hang of things, such as understanding the sheets that I use to keep track of what costumes go on what people at what time. After yesterday's major rush and panic I honestly thought it would take me forever to get used to. One major accident that happened today was in the middle of my final quick change with Chelsea Steverson... some spiritgum (used for sticking on facial hair and wigs) got spilt, managing to get onto 2 cloaks and a dress (and into a cut on my thumb which was unbelievably painful but not as important). It was a really big accident that caused panic but luckily Jeff found a solution that would get it out. I was sewing in the costume shop this morning which I like to do, but I sewed the bottom hem of a skirt wrong and it wasn't fully explained how I did it wrong other than sewing it too tight. I'll learn for next time, as that's what I'm here for :)

Yesterday I woke up at 8:30 naturally. No one else was awake so it was really boring. I just read my book until I got so bored that I went to the shop. When I got back, Carl and Daniel were awake and ready to go to Sand Hollow. That place is absolutely gorgeous... it's a lake in the middle of orange mountains where you can swim, sunbathe and even cliff jumping... i didn't quite have the guts for that though.

Today is my Grandma's birthday :) Happy Birthday Grandma!!

It's been a very busy day today. I spent the morning from 8:30 sewing. Come 3 o'clock we had to take all the costumes for Much Ado About Nothing over to the Adam's Theatre for dress rehersal this evening. This is the most intense show I've worked on so far and the first time I've ever had to do a quick change so that was a new experience. With help I managed to get through it all fine. One quick chance was a rush, from one complete costume to another.
I finally finished at 11:30, it's been a very long and painful day but all in good spirits and experience. :)

Yesterday was my first day in the wardrobe shop. It was fun to get back to sewing again. I was only given small jobs like slip stitching, which I enjoy, but I was still nervous and felt slightly inadequate compared to the others who have several years experience with the company. I'll get better and more confident as my time with the company progresses.
I got shown around the backstage of the Adams Theatre... If I went around on my own I would undoubtably get lost! Working with wardrobe will definately take some getting used to. Last night I watched the run through of The Merchant of Venice. It was a really good performance, made me laugh and I had to hold back tears at one point as well. It also gave me the opportunity to cheat a little - I sat with the cast sheet in an attempt to learn all the actors' names.
Today's my 3rd day here and it's been constant days of meeting new people so names will definately be a struggle for me to remember.
I went into the costume shop to work again today, but generally it was more chilled out, I got to sit by the pool and enjoy the sunshine. Also our second housemate Liz has moved in so it's a full house and a bit more lively which is good!
Like last night, I'm viewing a run-through tonight, this time... Macbeth!

It's hit me today how lonely this place might be. I don't want to get homesick and I don't think I will, but it's very difficult to get onto the internet unless I borrow someone else's computer or use the one in the costume shop. Not having my phone isn't helping either. So my addiction to texting and facebook has had to go almost cold turkey.

I met my flatmate, Jen Seluznow, today, which made me feel more comfortable. And I went to the costume shop to see where I am going to be working and met everyone there as well, including Daniel Mathews who will be coming to Bournemouth next year. Everyone else here is from different areas of the US so they've all been in the same place that I am now, but its still scary, and in a way intimidating to meet so many new people all at once, without the luxury of being able to call home.  An hour on facebook this afternoon made happy :)

The show that I will be working on this summer are Macbeth (apparently 'Macbeth' can't be spoken in the theatre because it's bad luck and so it's called MB or Moose), Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing. All being shown in the Adams Theatre, built to look similar to The Globe Theatre.

Generally it's been a chilled out day, but with lots fitted in. I had a look around the area, did a bit of food shopping and went to the costume shop for cupcake day and to meet everyone.

Flight to Utah

I woke up first thing this morning at 6 o'clock. Got to the airport for 8 and had a nice breakfast with my mum before a slightly teary goodbye despite spending longer times away at uni than I will on this trip. The only thing that i've been nervous about is that my visa's OK and that I'd get through customs OK. England looked beautiful as I was leaving. The sky was clear so I could see the miles of the country, glittering as the sun caught the tops of the cars or windows.

Continental flights are amazing and definately recommended by me. They were always the cheapest flights so I was expecting some crap like Ryanair flights. Nope... TV with a wide range of films and games that I could watch what I want, when I want (The Proposal, Casablanca, Alice in Wonderland and How to Train a Dragon are the films I watched) and free meals. No need for all the food I brought.

I met a girl called Rebecca Griggs who was sitting next to me on the flight from Heathrow to Newark, who was going to an american camp in Pensilvania.

My first impression of New York as I was flying in was that there were a lot of baseball grounds. That's probably a strange thing to think but it's the first thing that stuck out.

The second flight wasn't as posh as the first but I still got another meal... I'm officially full to the brim of airplane food. Las Vegas airport is HUGE! I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find Marilyn and Jerry Leider who were picking me up, but as I waited to retrieve my bag from baggage claim, a florescent orange sign appeared over the crowd saying 'shelley calvert'... imagine my excitement to know my fears of being stuck in Las Vegas not knowing what to do were silly imagination :) It was such a great greeting to America, they're wonderfully lovely people. They drove me the 3 hour journey to Cedar City (I fell asleep in the car because by this time it was about 3am British time and all I'd had was a couple of little naps) where I got to see the appartment I'm staying in. The bedroom is big with a double bed and I'll be sharing with two other girls. When we got to the appartment it was 1 o'clock in the morning (8am British time) so I was absolutely SHATTERED!! Goodnight for me! :D

I leave to go to America tomorrow so I thought this would be the opportune moment to begin this part of my blog.

I'm travelling to Cedar City in Utah to work as part of the costume department for the Shakespearean Festival, which puts on several theatrical shows throughout the summer. I'll be there for the whole summer, from the 16th June 2010 to 20th September 2010, working on all different areas of costume such as dressing, wardrobe, alterations and making.

This experience is going to be ideal in order for me to gain more experience in the Costume industry; to further my knowledge and hopefully get my mind set on which area of costume I would like to make for in my 3rd year of University at The Arts University College at Bournemouth and in future work placements.

I've no idea what it's going to be like when I get there. At the moment I'm very nervous and excited about being there, but definately not looking forward to the 15 hour flight via New York.

Final Pictures

Final Evaluation

I began this Self Directed Project intending to develop my knowledge of tailoring and working in the music industry. I've created a final costume following these guidelines which isn't fully completed but that I have made to the client's requirements to the best of my ability and will continue to complete it after assessment.
This project has been non-stop. I began very early with research and designs and got onto making as soon as possible, partially because I was very keen and excited about this project and also because I knew it was going to be difficult. I underestimated how long every piece of this costume was going to take to complete. My lack of knowledge on how to make a suit and several other obstacles occurred making the process take a lot longer than expected. I feel that after this project, I’ve now bettered my knowledge of making Jackets, but other than the lining and following patterns out of a book, I don’t feel I’ve ‘tailored’ it in the same way we did tailoring in Defining Practice. I feel I could have done better in the making but now with this practise behind me, I will do better next time.

I feel I’ve coped fairly well to a time plan and that my organisation skills have been on top. There have been areas that challenged the time plan, such as the embroidery took a lot longer to do than I had expected and because it wasn’t originally planned, it had to be fitted in. We had to arrange fittings in London with all makers and all band members which I felt were planned very well. Considering these fittings were also unsupervised by a tutor, I feel we all coped extremely well under the pressure of nerves and fitting costumes that we weren’t completely sure how they were supposed to fit. We had to be extremely critical of our work in order to make sure it was right and we worked strongly as a team in these fittings to help each other.

We’ve done well to work as a team throughout the making process as well; we’ve always asked each other’s opinions before any changes to costumes were made and we tried our best to keep similar themes within all of the costumes so they will all look different but still link together.

There’s a few areas that I felt could be improved. At the beginning of this project I made sure that it would be possible to create a full suit with no previous experience and was informed that it would be fine. Although there were tutors to ask for help when we needed it, it would have been better if there had been structured work-shops alongside the one-to-one tutorials. This way we would have worked together a lot more and learnt the correct way to make each part, instead of going in different directions and at different paces. And it means that we would also have been learning the proper tailoring techniques as we needed to do them.

I feel without work-shops, a lot of what we created was based on guesswork, the lining and the jacket pleats especially, which results in wasted time. But I feel that by making these mistakes, the correct way to make will now stick in my head more than if I had just been told how to do it. The downfall of putting the lining in wrong has resulted in the lining not being great quality as it now has a few marks and tiny sewing holes in some areas of the fabric.

The benefits of this project have been the chance to design again, researching into a new era that I haven’t studied before, and learning how to make a costume that I’ve had next to no previous experience with. These are all aspects that I’ve loved and I will benefit from them.

I still have to finish the costume for Joseph Fielder, and will do when I get the costume back after assessment before The Riley’s next gig. I will need to finish the trousers – putting in the zip with a placket, herringbone stitching up the bottom of the trouser legs and possibly putting in pockets. And I need to finish the jacket by sewing button holes and the buttons on. I’m glad I haven’t had the time to put on the buttons, this way I can put the costume on Joe again and double check that I’ll be putting the buttons in the right places. For the gigs, I might also change the waistcoat. The one that I’ve bought didn’t match the trousers, so I attempted to dye it black but the dye didn’t take. I will either re-dye it again using a synthetic fabric dye from the University, or find another waistcoat suitable.

At the beginning of this project I was adamant that I wanted to continue studying tailoring in Level 6 and after University. I’m now unsure whether I would enjoy tailoring as much as I thought I would and therefore need to get more information on what next year will involve and where I can work after University before I make that choice.

Finally, I feel I’ve created a good costume that meets what the client has asked for, and despite being unfinished, it will be completed before it is needed for any performances. I don’t feel the costume is perfect, but I think I’ve done well to get it to the point that it’s at. In time as my knowledge and understanding of making garments develops I will find a project such as this easy, but for now, as my first attempt at a suit, it’s been extremely difficult and stressful and I will seriously contemplate how much work I can realistically complete before I take a project this big on again.

10th - 16th May

This is the final week of this Self Directed Project and I've really been feeling the pressure.
Last week I put my Jacket together and put the lining together in preparation to put into the jacket. However, this week we got told that this way of putting the lining in is incorrect and so we had to take out the jacket sleeves and unpick the shoulders so the jacket could lay flat. Then unpick the lining into the front piece, the back and side panels and the skirts.
Having to do this really set me back out of my time plan, and despite trying very hard this week to get everything done, I know that this costume won't be completed in time for the hand-in. I'm hoping this wont effect my my final mark too much, and I know that i'll be able to complete the costume before it's needed for the next Riley's gig.

Budget

This is a rough outline of how much my costume cost to make. Only rough because there were other things that I bought and haven't included. And because some reciepts that I've got are unclear as to what cost what price.
I estimated spending about £150 on this costume. Therefore, with the little extra I have left over, I could find a hat and make a cravat if Joe wants it.

Tailcoat top fabric and the trouser fabric cost - £50
Black cotton - £6
Lining cost - £4
Buttons cost - £12
Canvas' cost - £13
Thread - £5
Gems cost - £4 (I bought over £20 worth of gems but none of it is getting used in the final costume)
Ribbon/Bias Binding - 4.50
Stayflex cost - £3
Calico cost - £7.50
Shirt cost - £4
Waistcoat cost - £13.00

Total = £126

Lapel within a Lapel

On the lapel in my original designs I've drawn an extra lapel on top of the main lapel. This was originally designed to look like part of the shirt coming out over the jacket. But then I thought it would look better if it was still part of the main jacket and that I would make it black and red.
I made up a sample, but after putting it against the embroidered lapel, I decided there would be too much going on and that it partially takes the eye away from the embroidery. So i've decided to leave it out of the final jacket.

AMERICA!!

I've recently found out that after applying for a making work experience out in Utah, USA, offered to us through the course, is now my placement if I want it. I've jumped at the opportunity and so now I'm arranging to go over there for 3 months over summer 2010 to work as part of the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, UT, to make costumes, work with alterations, dressing and wardrobe.
I've been applying for my Visa alongside this project. And although it adds to the work load that I've got to do and it's difficult and complicated, my excitement is getting me through. It is a great oppotunity and I expect that benefit me in many ways of costume making, people skills and preparing me for the working world.

4th - 9th May

This week's been a difficult week. I planned to have the embroidery completely finished my Friday (30/04/10) but didn't quite manage it as the studio closed at 4.
So I finished off the embroidery as quickly as possible monday morning (with the added rush of fashion needing the machine back) and moved onto the rest of the construction.
This week I mainly worked on adapting the sleeve pattern and adapting the trousers as the lines that I had marked in the fitting had created very strange shapes. I also adapted the sleeves so that they would be gathered at the top to sit on the shoulder.
I wanted to move onto making a placket but by the time I got round to wanting to make it, help was no longer available to show me how. So instead I carried on with making the waistband of the trousers.

Because Graham wasn't around this week, the realisation of being to able to complete this Jacket without tutor help has hit. It's so complex and it's not like anything I've made before, so I'm struggling to lead myself through this project. I find myself making something how I feel it should be made and it turns out to be wrong or slightly off course.

I would have liked to get more completed this week but I had trouble with my essay subject and therefore took some time extra time out of my timeplan in order to get that completed.

Embroidery

As the main decoration for this costume, I'm embroidering some of The Riley's song lyrics onto the Collar, Lapels, Decorative flap, and Cuffs.
I've borrowed the embroidery machine from Fashion within the University. However, despite having the machine for 3 years, there's no one who really knows how to use it. I got slight guidance on how to set up the machine and begin from a 3rd year Costume student, but that's as far as she got and therefore as much as she could show me. I've had to learn almost everything else that I needed to do on my own.
It's a very complex machine and so took me a while to figure out. And then the whole process is a very time consuming process.

I had to type in the lyrics that I wanted, change them to the font/size etc that I wanted (Kuntsler Script. Height - 11.90mm. Width 80%.) and then fit it inside the hoop otherwise it wouldn't transfer over to the sewing machine. Once I did get it over to the machine, there were some times that I would just let the machine carry on without me having to mind it (on these occasions I would put something heavy onto the pedal and carry on with something else at the same time). However, quite often, there were times when writing needed to be matched up, and I couldn't let the machine carry on otherwise it would overlap the embroidery I had already done.

Matching the writing up is what took the longest and stopped me from being able to carry on with anything else. Because of this, despite the result being a fairly effective decoration, I'm very far behind on everything else that I should be doing and now don't feel as though I'll get the project finished in time.

Because the embroidery wasn't part of my original time plan, I've now struggled to keep to this original time plan and will have to adapt.
I'm now behind on my time plan, but I will not rush to get this finished. I do not want this project to look rushed, I would rather finish this project properly after hand-in for the client.

In that last couple of days of having the embroidery machine, for some reason, it no longer sewed 'h's. This is just something I've just had to continue through because I couldn't change the font after already having embroidered some areas that were fine, and I couldn't stop because it needed to be finished. I tried to find out why it was no longer sewing 'h's but after rebooting the machine, starting all over again and it still continued, there was nothing else I could do.

Song Lyrics

Joe sent me the song lyrics for 12 of The Riley's songs. I didn't need to use all of them, but these are the song lyrics that I've chosen to put onto different parts of the costume:


Not Like you - Collar

You can smile in defence against the worst things
You say love is all that counts it's written in your skin
You can see the light when the sun goes down
But you're not around.

You hold things together when they crumble away
You can talk all night when you've got nothing to say
You can see the light when the sun goes down
But you're not around.

But I'm not like you
I can't pretend we're gonna pull through
And I'm not like you
Well haven't you noticed it's true?

You will try your best to cover my mistakes
You will realise too late to hit the brakes
You will only ever want a smile on my face
But it's not made that way.

And I'm not like you
I can't pretend we're gonna pull through
And I'm not like you
Well haven't you noticed it's true?
And not like you
I can't pretend we're gonna pull through
And I'm nothing like you
Well haven't you noticed it's true?

No no no no no no....

You are the compromise
You opened up my eyes
You are the optimist
You take all the risks


Victory Cigary and P.A.R.T.Y - Right Lapel

The night is young, wrecked by defeat
We don't go far, follow our feet
Out of the crowd, down to the river
I need your warmth, to stop this shiver

I sing oh my song

He's been here lots, for us its new
He likes us and we like him too
He shares the wine, the river too
I'll take this night, share it with you

I sing oh my song
We sing these songs we sing these songs we sing these songs
You sing oh your song
We sing these songs we sings these songs we sing these songs

The night is young, wrecked by defeat
I'll take this night, share it with you

I sing oh my song
We sing these songs we sing these songs we sing these songs
You sing oh your song
We sing these songs we sings these songs we sing these songs




P.A.R.T.Why why why why why do we need a reason?

Every time the beat drops
Her body's moving like a dance freak se wont stop
The dancefloor burns under moves that are too hot
The snare hits you like a gun shot
Like a gun shot

P.A.R.T.Why why why why why do we need a reason?

Flashing like a strobe light
Her eyes catch me and I can't fight
The rooms packed with odds stacked against me
With only the music to defend me
To defend me

P.A.R.T.Why why why why why do we need a reason?

Slipping down the shots quick
Feeling hedonistic, hedonistic x 4

P.A.R.T.Why why why why why do we need a reason


I Know What You Came For - Left Lapel

Feel the blood sweat dripping wet love on the dance floor
And we're here for just one night
Get down to our sound there's alcohol on the ground
But in my glass there's more than enough
Look at the girl with the curls at the bar in the red dress
I wonder who she's with tonight
Your heart beats move your feet to the bang of the bass drum

Because we're here to rock your soul
We're to rock your soul
We're here to rock your soul.

She looks at me I can see that she's more than your average
Girl from off the street
She licks her lips moves her hips and I know she wont be leaving
With anyone else tonight
I wanna know whats her name is she game for some more fun

Because im here to rock her soul
Im here to rock her soul
Im here to rock her soul

I know what you came here for
Nobody could give you more
What are you thinking right now?
You came here to show me how
Came walking right through the door
To rock my soul x2

She wants to rock my, she wants to rock my, she wants to rock my
She wants to rock my soul


Turning Point and Skin and Bones - Decorative Flap

Suck it up and hold it down
I lick the wounds that you have found
Outside a smile inside a frown
But im not proud but im not proud but im not proud
Im just not proud

So dont turn back now
We've only just found out
The world wont beat us down
Just look into my eyes
And I will tell you no lies
So dont turn back now
Theres no surprise theres no surprise theres no surprise theres no surprise

I think that you will never know
It only rains it never snows
I take the weight of us both
On my own on my own on my own
Just on my own

Under the gaze of the suns blaze I lie here
Stay in my arms you can come to no harm its safe here
So lay here, its safe here
Just lay here, its safe here

My skin is white like the moon at night
And you touch it I love it
And your hair it shines like the light in the sky
And I touch it, I love it

You uncover me, discover me
You fulfill me and thrill me

Do you wanna know how we got this close how we came this close?
You're iny skin and bones
Do you wanna know how we came this far how we got this far?
You're in my skin and bones

The mystery that surrounded me it was a smokescreen
You wiped it clean
The truth in your eyes was as cold as ice
I coulddnt melt it, I felt it

You control me and console me
You amuse me and confuse me

Do you wanna know how we got this close how we came this close?
You're iny skin and bones
Do you wanna know how we came this far how we got this far?
You're in my skin and bones


Jimmy is a Lunatic and Tragic - Cuffs

I think he's sick, I think he's sick, I think he's sick
Jimmy is a lunatic

Jimmy, he's smoked too much shit
He's locked away in his pit
Writing down what he thinks

Jimmy, his mind is out of shape
He's never really awake
His body starts to shake

I think he's sick, I think he's sick, I think he's sick
Jimmy is a lunatic

Jimmy, he's running out of ink
Barely manages to blink
Think we should call the shrink

Jimmy, he's locked away on his own
He doesn't feel the cold
Think we should send him home

I think he's sick, I think he's sick, I think he's sick
Jimmy is a lunatic

Just take the pills, just take the pills, just take the pills




Tragedy, his slight of hand made the girl believe
When expectations are not achieved
He took a breath but he still can't breathe

Drama queen, she shagged her way to the top of the league
Her mother told her not to be deceived
She left the men down on their knees

Whoa oh oh oh
And yeah they'll do it again
Whoa oh oh oh
They don't need any friends
Whoa oh oh oh
And yeah they'll do it again
Whoa oh oh Whoa oh oh Whoa oh oh oh
And they deserve each other

So hats off to you
She had an It Girl attitude
Her dress came off quicker than her shoes
You'll never see the girl cry
And thats why

Whoa oh oh oh
And yeah they'll do it again
Whoa oh oh oh
They don't need any friends
Whoa oh oh oh
And yeah they'll do it again
Whoa oh oh Whoa oh oh Whoa oh oh oh
And they deserve each other

She was undecided about her life
He was finding husbands and stealing their wives
The drugs and the alcohol was pain relief
With all of their feelings buried underneath
She saw right through him just as soon they met
But he showed her a time she could never forget
He might wanna change her and there's those who've tried
But soon he'll realise it's just a waste of time.

Whoa oh oh oh
And yeah they'll do it again
Whoa oh oh oh
They don't need any friends
Whoa oh oh oh
And yeah they'll do it again
Whoa oh oh Whoa oh oh Whoa oh oh oh
And they deserve each other