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Topic:
Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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kreleia
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
9/21/01 12:46am
Subject:
Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
- Date Edited:
6/26 12:00pm (5 edits total)
Edited By:
Strilo
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The old thread on this subject is now locked, so I decided to start it up again, since there are still people out there trying to do these (like me). 
Surlygirlie, KvanB, and anyone else!! I hope you're still interested in discussing this! BTW, the black travel gowns (both surlygirlie's *and* Quincy's) turned out FANTASTIC!! Loved the DragonCon pics (posted recently on one of the other threads here).
And surlygirlie, I need to pick your brain some more about the pre-senate headpiece, if you're willing.
Hope you two are still around!
kreleia
S_S edit: just unlocking
ophelia edit: unlock #2!
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surlygirlie
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Aug '00
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Date Posted:
9/21/01 6:52am
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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I'm still here! Just not posting all that often... (too busy sewing!)
Thanks for the compliment on the travel gown... I had a great time at DragonCon running around staging mock catfights with Queen Quincy -- which my husband refers to as "Duel of the Fakes"
Feel completely free to keep picking my brain on the pre-senate headpiece. I actually did some sprucing up work on mine not too long ago and it looks better -- I managed to solve some problems I was having with the brush of hair at the top. Woooohoooo!
-sg
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Love Moulin Rouge costuming? http://forums.delphiforums.com/diamonddogs Surlygirlie's Costume-o-Rama: http://homepage.mac.com/halfmoth "What's that star?" "It's the Death Star." "What does it do?" "It does DEATH!"
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kreleia
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
9/22/01 10:18am
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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**laugh** Cool!! That's exactly what I was going to ask you about, actually. How on earth did you do it!? I think I read somewhere (on someone's page) that you used a wig - and now is the perfect time of year to find one. My big question is, how did you get it to stand up (and stay up)?
Also, how do you keep the headpiece on? My last attempt utilized a standard plastic headband, and man did that hurt. So I've been trying to think how else it would stay on without using an entire card of bobby pins. I've thought about a bridal veil form (one of those round cap ones), or even an elastic band that somehow wraps underneath my hair... but it seems too complicated. Blah. Please share!! 
Thanks much!!
kreleia
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kreleia
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
9/23/01 11:51pm
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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I finally got pics up of my still-not-quite-finished White Parade Gown. You can see them on this page down towards the bottom. Click on the thumbnails. ^.^
kreleia
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surlygirlie
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Aug '00
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Date Posted:
9/24/01 7:04am
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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Great pics of your costume! It looks wonderful!
Here comes a looooooong post:
Okay, on the pre-senate headpiece, from the base of the brush up to the top edge of the tope silver arc the hair is all backed with black cardboard. Basically, I made a box the right shape to slide into the arc assembly, and then formed the hair around it, and then slid the whole thing together. It's all kept in place with sequin pins that run from the inside of the hair-backing box into the arcs themselves at various angles so they all cross-brace each other. (I reinforced the sequin pins a bit by putting dabs of jewel glue over the heads once it was all put together.) Does that make sense?
The hair that continues past the top arc to make the brush got a treatment with a combination of hair gel and fabric stiffener, mixed together and then combed into the hair. This worked great in terms of making it stand up straight, but not so good in terms of texture -- the hair starts to look very broom bristly in a hurry. This got fixed on a refurb session I did a couple of months ago. I took 2 pieces on black posterboard cut the same shape as the top silver arcs, and just a bit smaller so they could slip into the arcs, sewed a fringe of hair to each of them, and then, over several days, stiffened the hair using multiple light applications of hair spray. Once they were stiff enough, I added these pieces just inside the arcs so they conceal the less appealing hair, and did a little bit of hand stitching with monofilament thread to get things spaced and reinforced properly and voila! Infinitely better.
The headpiece is held on by a) its own infrastructure and b) luck and balance. The golden egg shaped earpieces are held on with velcro, so I put the headpiece on with one of them detached, and then set it into place once I have things balanced on my head.
So there you have it -- please let me know if this is unclear (which is entirely likely...)
-sg
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Love Moulin Rouge costuming? http://forums.delphiforums.com/diamonddogs Surlygirlie's Costume-o-Rama: http://homepage.mac.com/halfmoth "What's that star?" "It's the Death Star." "What does it do?" "It does DEATH!"
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kreleia
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
9/24/01 11:36pm
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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Actually, it *does* make sense. When I read through it the first time (at regular reading speed), I went "whaaaaat?" Then I read it again, slower, and tried to picture what you'd done in my head. And it worked! **laugh** Good job!! ^.^ Actually, that kinda sounds like what I originally had in mind two years ago, and ended up scrapping because I could never figure out how to get the hair to stay in place without gluing it to my fingers at the same time. I really like the sequin pin idea. I'm going to need to invest some serious brain power into this project - thank heavens I'm not shooting for Halloween this time. I'm going for the Ep II premier. ^.^
Surlygirlie, you're a god-send!! Thank you so much for all of your advice thus far! And, trust me, I'm not done. **grin**
Thanks for the compliments on the parade gown, too. That was more work than I thought I would be, but it was definitely worth it. Now I just need to finish the parasol piece - which shouldn't be to hard since I've been thinking about it for almost a year now.
Which reminds me - what's your latest project? Are you working on another Amidala gown? Or has sg-Amidala retired? (I hope not - I'd love to see what you come up with next)
Thanks again!
kreleia
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surlygirlie
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Aug '00
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Date Posted:
9/25/01 12:14pm
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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kreleia, I'm really delighted to help, and you can feel free to keep the questions coming!
As for what I'm working on these days... I spent most of the summer working on the embroidery for my Bespin Leia costume (which is thankfully done) and now I'm concurrently working on my husband's biker scout, a redo of my pre-senate kimono (never was 100% happy with it), and some Moulin Rouge costumes for myself and my husband.
And I'm just waiting for Ep. II to see what new yummy costumes I'll want...
sigh.
-sg
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Love Moulin Rouge costuming? http://forums.delphiforums.com/diamonddogs Surlygirlie's Costume-o-Rama: http://homepage.mac.com/halfmoth "What's that star?" "It's the Death Star." "What does it do?" "It does DEATH!"
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kreleia
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
9/25/01 11:17pm
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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The Bespin Leia costume, huh? You're definitely one for punishment. **grin** I had a friend do that one for the Special Edition ESB, and she ended up using... **wracks brain** I believe it was puff paint. **laugh** But I remember her saying that she just couldn't bring herself to hand-embroider all of it. Then I saw the original at the Smithsonian, and... O.O Hers didn't even compare! It's amazing how much detail there actually is in all of these costumes! I'm excited to see yours - I hope you'll post pictures!!
Ah!! One more question about the headpiece (and you thought I was done with it ^.~): Once you have the bead strands twisted and wrapped around the earpieces, what do you do/use to hold them in place?
Oh, and do you remember me saying a while back that I'd probably go with shantung for the kimono? Well, I was looking at some tonight, and I was rather disappointed. Maybe it's because it wasn't silk, but it definitely didn't have the right body for the gown (IMO). So I started checking out the taffeta **shiver** and realized that's probably the only thing that's going to satisfy me. My big problem is living in Arizona. Do you really want to be wearing three layers, topped with taffeta, in the desert, at the end of May, when temps are usually already starting to hit 100's? Er, no. **sigh** I'm willing to face the heat, but I don't want to kill myself. I remember that old taffeta high-school choir dress all too well. O.o; Maybe I'll stick with the shantung after all. Opinions? Suggestions?
kreleia ^.^
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ladyelwing
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
9/26/01 6:59am
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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Well, I'm currently constructing Sabe's
battle gown..that isn't too warm to wear.
I finished the headpiece and wig,
and I'm working on the underskirt
right now. I used an old choir robe
for the red part and just sewed the
black drape thingy and the sleeves.
It is actually nearly finished!
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surlygirlie
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Aug '00
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Date Posted:
9/26/01 12:10pm
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
- Date Edited:
9/26/01 12:19pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
surlygirlie
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LAYERS? We don't need no stinking layers!
I'm a big cheater, and I didn't want three layers, so the 2 "underlayers" are actually just collars and sleeves sewn to a t-shirt. Totally washable!
The underskirt is also one layer, a straight skirt with the pleated segment stitched on the bottom, and then an apron like item sewn on at the waistband to make the faux middle layer.
I am remaking my kimono, and lo and behold, I ended up with some irridescent gray taffeta. I'm waiting until the Ep. I DVD comes out before I start, so I can do a really hi res comparison.
ladyelwing, do we get pictures?
EDIT: YES I am glutton for punishment... I just decided that I really really wanted a BespinLeia costume, and I wanted it to look right. And I think there's a pic of it on KvanB's DragonCon photopoint page...
-sg
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Love Moulin Rouge costuming? http://forums.delphiforums.com/diamonddogs Surlygirlie's Costume-o-Rama: http://homepage.mac.com/halfmoth "What's that star?" "It's the Death Star." "What does it do?" "It does DEATH!"
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ladyelwing
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
9/27/01 4:04pm
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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The Collar on the White Petal Gown
It is really very simple. Just buy
some white tule (preferably stretchy)
Construct a wire frame for the collar
Sew the fabric to the frame by going
along the edge and cutting as you go.
Use glitter glue or something to add
some sparkle if you want.
Then look around for beads or peg things
to put along the edges where the wire
ends like Amidala has. You can paint
them silver. And there you go!
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kreleia
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
9/28/01 12:18am
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
- Date Edited:
9/28/01 12:30am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
kreleia
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Oh NO!! I didn't mean that I was actually going to do three separate gown layers!! **passes out just thinking about it** ACK!!! No, no, no! I meant the t-shirt (I got that one from you too... way back when... O.o; Do you remember this page?), the stuff sewn to it, and the kimono itself. That's enough layering to just about kill you here during summer. **laugh** Sorry - didn't mean to cause any panic. ^.^
As for the iridescent gray taffeta - that's exactly where my thoughts are heading as well. All of my reference pics seem to point dead-on to that, and looking at the other iridescent taffetas pretty much convinced me. Now if only I could find it at the remnant store. **sigh** I'll shell out for it if I must, though.
I'll go check out KvanB's pics - and I think I have a pic of the original Bespin costume somewhere too. I *know* I took one... it's just a matter of where that stack of pics is buried. If I find it, I'll scan it.
As for the parasol piece on the white gown - that's almost exactly what I'm doing, ladyelwing. ^.^ Of course, that's pretty much what I've tried before too, but I seem to have a much better start on the frame this time. The other times, I guess I just wasn't thinking right. Too much stress, and I was barely 6 weeks pregnant - no wonder I got sick sewing the petals onto the cape. **laugh** Thanks for the suggestions!!
Oh, and ladyelwing, how did you do the headpiece for Amidala/Sabe's battle gown?
kreleia ^.^
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surlygirlie
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Aug '00
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Date Posted:
9/28/01 6:49am
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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Whew! I was really worried about you there for a minute; I envisioned you passing out with heat stroke in that giant costume!
I just realized I neglected to answer you question re: bead strands and earpieces.
I put a teeny tiny pin sized hole in each earpiece, and ran a quick stitch with monofilament around each twisted rope of bead strands. The stitching is held in place inside the earpiece by passing through a medium sized bead. I also dabbed some jewel glue on the stitching on the inside for a little extra strength.
I managed to get my iridescent taffeta for fairly cheap at JoAnn's, of all places -- if you register for their mailer via the web page (www.JoAnn.com) they'll send you a coupon for 40% off any one item. So I got it for almost half price. Wheeeeee!
-sg
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Love Moulin Rouge costuming? http://forums.delphiforums.com/diamonddogs Surlygirlie's Costume-o-Rama: http://homepage.mac.com/halfmoth "What's that star?" "It's the Death Star." "What does it do?" "It does DEATH!"
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ladyelwing
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
9/28/01 7:42pm
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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Well I had an old wig of mine I've
had for years (bought it for doing
Nutcracker party scene of all things)
I took some foam and cut it into the
correct shape, then used several
cans of hairspray plus annoyed
noises and frustration and got it
to go over nicely. I also sewed it a bit.
Then I got some of this weird red
suff at a crafts store I have NO idea
what it was but I cut out the
things that go over the hair
(ovals) and sewed them on.
I then took my Amidala doll and
studied the design on them and
used some red fabric paint to copy
it. As for the crown piece in front:
I took some cardboard and moisened
it slightly (left it in the garage overnight)
and then cut it to a shape I liked.
Then I glued more of the red stuff
to the back of it, and sewed some
elastic to it (I tried a headband but
it just didn't seem to work, I might
add a comb to it though)
Anyways, I bought lots and lots of
gold glitter glue and red fabric paint.
I started with the gold and sat doing
these lines for half an hour when
they dried I filled in the red lines.
Hope that helped ...
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kreleia
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
10/4/01 8:36am
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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ladyelwing, that sounds great!! Little bit of ingenuity goes a long way. ^.^ I hope you'll post pics of the complete costume once you have them. I'd *love* to see it - I don't think I've ever seen anyone do the one you're doing. (not to say that no one's done it - just that I, personally, have never seen it)
Hey, surlygirlie, I've got a question for you. (no, not about the headpiece this time ^.^) You make dresses/costumes/wearables for other people, right? (or, you have) - how do you charge for this? by the hour, amount of work, difficulty... ??? The reason I ask is because a neighbor just asked me to do a costume for her daughter, and a friend just asked me to sew together a costume for her son. ACK!!! I've never sewed for other people before! Not that I don't want to - and I'm extremely flattered that they would ask. But, I need to know how on earth I would go about charging them. They, obviously, are supplying the material and patterns, I'm just doing the work. Help!
kreleia ^.^
P.S. I decided to do Padme's Ep. 1 Tatooine outfit for Halloween. SO easy! YAY!!! I'm still working on the parasol piece for the white gown too, and it's coming along nicely (finally!). I think I've figured out how to do the little silver accents on the ends of the spokes too. I'll let y'all know if/when they're successful.
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surlygirlie
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Aug '00
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Date Posted:
10/4/01 12:02pm
Subject:
RE: Amidala's Gowns (part 2)
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kreleia, I just sent you a PM.
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Love Moulin Rouge costuming? http://forums.delphiforums.com/diamonddogs Surlygirlie's Costume-o-Rama: http://homepage.mac.com/halfmoth "What's that star?" "It's the Death Star." "What does it do?" "It does DEATH!"
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