Weirdest Piece You've Ever Built

[cryptozoology]

And how you managed to make it happen. Do tell!

[cdub260]

Granted, I don't actually make the costumes for the Pageant of the Masters, but I've been there long enough now that I have a fair idea of what our costume department does.

As our show involves the reproduction of paintings and statues, our costumes have to appear to be a part of the original piece. Sometimes this means they must look like something out of an oil painting. Other times they need to look like a part of a bronze sculpture.

In order to achieve this type of effect, most of our costumes are painted muslin. Of course the muslin has to be treated with a sizing compound before it's sent to the costume department. In short we pre-shrink it before we paint it.

Also, given what we're trying to do, our costumers can't simply pick up a pattern for a costume at there local fabric store. All but a handful of patterns must be created in house.

I'm sure I've overlooked a few things here, but try not to hold it against me. After all, I'm an electrician, not a costumer.

[cryptozoology]

I've always wanted to do one of those living art shows.

[Serendipity]

Well, when I was in Beginning level classes, I was required to take Costuming. (I still joke they let me skip Intermediate so I could chose classes and not torture the sewing machines for another year... )
We had to make a dress or shirt, and that was about all of the rules. Disneyland donates leftover fabric to us, and I found sufficient yardage of neon orange fur. (My guess is Monster's Inc.) So, why not? I made a short dress with a bright pink heart on the front, electric blue bows on the straps, and colorful pom poms hanging from the bottom.

It was hideous.
So hideous, the beginning costume teacher showcased it at the school's Season Finale performance at the county's performing arts center. Poor woman... Heheheheee.

How I made it happen?
I broke a ton of sewing machine needles. I also had to comb the fur (it was very long fur...) out of the way before I sewed. I didn't hem it, because if I had wanted to, I would have has to shave the fabric.



I think I still have it somewhere... If I find it, I could put on my purple stockings and silver boots, to snap a photo. (Assuming I feel like mortifying myself further.)

[cdub260]

Originally Posted by Serendipity

I think I still have it somewhere... If I find it, I could put on my purple stockings and silver boots, to snap a photo. (Assuming I feel like mortifying myself further.)

You could always pose with the dragon that lives in my office.

[cryptozoology]

That sounds epic.

My weirdest piece so far is a three-foot golden pretzel worn as a hat.

[gafftaper]

The children's theater here is one of largest in the US (two theaters running 9 shows in a season with 10-15 performances a week). I was on a tour a few years back when I found what may be the greatest job in the world. The costume prop creator for a children's theater. Think about all the crazy gadgets and devices that are built into costumes in children's shows. It would be SUCH a wild job. Every season would be one weird piece after another.

[bobgaggle]

I was standing in for an actor who was sick in my HS's fractured fairytale show. My director knew I couldn't memorize the lines, so she just told me to do whatever I could with the part. (I was playing a chick who escaped from an insane asylum)

So I got some rope and used my handy dandy boyscout knot tying skillz to fashion me a perverted straightjacket. I had one arm lashed over the top of my head, a leg behind my back and another hand in a funky place. Took two stagehands to get me into it...

[cryptozoology]

^

I had a friend make a straight jacket for himself in high school; he printed "Arkham" on the front, made it very epic.
Felt like sharing.

[Van]

Hmmmmm, Let's see, there was the old hospital bed I had to cut down and weld together then add leather restraints to, Bed had to be welded together so it wouldn't break during the scene..... There was the 3 foot long Greek Trireme made from twigs and lashed together with Hemp cord, but one of my favorites was a Prosthetic penis made so the actors could pee all over some garden plants on cue evernight. Since we are 3/4 round the director wanted som "realism". < weren't nuthin' real about that thing!>