Custom Costumes and playa wear

XARAKITTY · Post by **XARAKITTY** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:10 am

Attention: Burners, Freaks, Mutants, Techno Hippys, and New Bohemians.

Custom costumes and creative festival wear is available at www.terrapinthreadworks.com , for those who appreciate fun and functional clothing or want the costume of their dreams.

I have been making my own clothes and attending burning man with the Xara camp since 1999. Now I want to offer my designs and sewing skills to the burner community at large.
Custom wrap pants in your choice of fabric start at about $50-$65 depending on the cost of fabric and accessories you want.
Techvests with your choice of velcro or zippered pockets run $35-$50
Custom costumes like my velvet "xarakitty" suit are around $80-$100, again depending on fabric cost and complexity of outfit.
Also, fondle gloves & pleasure mittens, hats, loin cloths, pipe pouches, limited edition t-shirts, and merit/beauty sashes.

Got a dream? I can make it a reality for you.
Need new festival gear? This is the spot.

Email me at: [email protected]
or check out the website: www.terrapinthreadworks.com
You can learn about The Grand ARAX Lounge: www.terrapinthreadworks.com/arax

PLURTLE
-Casey Rosenbach
"some rise, some fall, some climb, to get to terrapin"

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 10:58 am

Ummmm XARA...

I take it you didn’t read the Eplaya Community Guidelines, huh?

Now I can really dig the fact that you're creating things and making a go of using your skills for self support. That's a noble effort and should be encouraged in the correct context, but...

"The ePlaya is a no-commerce zone. Recommending a good deal you found is acceptable, gifting is always encouraged. Advertising items or services for sale or trade will not be tolerated."

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:04 am

By the way, dear kitty...

Don’t take my making you aware of this as me being grouchy. No, not at all... I’m one of the least grouchy you’ll find here. I just thought I’d tell you rather than leave it to another because I remember one thing LastRealBurner told me once

“Here there be dragons”

XARAKITTY · Post by **XARAKITTY** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:07 pm

Sorry about that. I don't read a lot of things.
I tried to delete the post after your kind note, but couldn't.
mabye admin. will do it for me.
Again, sorry.
Namaste.
-Casey

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:36 am

Last night I finished a red cordoroy robe for my "Pottie Santa suit". It's gorgeous but e-NOR-mous. Now I'll have to make one to fit me, and hopefully some lovely extra-large gentleman will meet me on the Playa and it will fit him perfectly. (Hmmm, the fantasies ensue)

I make Playa pants each year, they are lightweight muslin cotton, loose fitting with elastic waistband. They are the BOMB! out there. I also bring several katheas -- this is just 1 yard to 2.5 yards of unbleached muslin to tie around my head and face to keep out the dust. Thousands of years of technology can't be too far off base. Generations have been wearing these to live in the deep desert, and they work beautifully.

This thread should probably be moved to Tips and Tricks.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 1:42 pm

I'm surprised the anti-commerce dragons haven't lumbered over here yet. But the thread does touch on an undercurrent that's been out there for some time. The event pushes self reliance and doing things yourself but there are some people who are "sartorially challenged" when it comes to playa fashion. It would be nice to have access to other burners who could help out with such things....but I also realize this is a slippery slope situation from a TOS point of view.

I hope if and when those dragons find this that they hold their fire a bit. And regardless of what else is said, Xarakitty, I liked your work.

(Something else came to mind....does anyone remember the survey that was going around at Playa Info? It asked about the LLC setting up a "store" for Burners to buy essentials and what people thought of it. That survey illustrated that the LLC realizes a few people need help with things like the basics, and it could be expanded from there to include things like basic costumes, glow sticks, etc. What would happen if the LLC lifted the no commerce rule? Could it happen? It's something to think about...at 20 years old the event is bound to change and this could be one of those changes! (/soapbox))

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 9:24 pm

You raise a very valid point, Kinetic, and one I’ve thought about before...

At one time, the Transformus website (Southeast regional burn) had a dedicated area where you can recommend burner run/friendly businesses, though I can’t find it now. With the recent article in the SF Chronicle about how many burners are taking their ideals into their working lives, I think this is something that, placed in the right context, would be good and should be addressed at some point. Perhaps sooner than later?

I’ve been pondering that article. I'm thinking about posting my musings on it at some point and it’s broader than this specific topic, but it touches on how it seems important to discern direction and intent behind actions. Getting back to the commerce thing, I like the idea of the eplaya being a no commerce zone. I see enough of it everyday, even without having watched a television in over a year and a half. It’s surprising how much it makes up our society, so I like the idea of it not pushing in here. But... as more and more Burning Man participants invoke their ideals into their work or even begin working for themselves, I think it important to help them make a living, if I can.

I am constantly amazed at what can be accomplished when people pull together, and I think making a living not need be any different. That is, after all, what communities do isn’t it? Help each other make it through life? Perhaps there’s a better place to do it? A spinn-off eplaya type site? Tribe or Craig’s List, maybe? I don’t know. Either way, I think this should be talked about, since the idea of being responsible to each other while making a living is something I have a hard time thinking of as bad.

But I guess it’s all about context. If you and I are on a thread about glow sticks, and I say to you, “This website has lots of them at a fair price and they’re burners” then assuming it’s not my website, that seems to be cool with the TOS. There again, what’s the intent behind my actions?. If it were a website I found in my searchings, then my intent is to help you get what you need and help others too. If it were my website, then my intent is to get you to spend money with me... and I’d be advertising on eplaya.

Hmmm...

Last Real Burner · Post by **Last Real Burner** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:14 am

I think Le did one hell of a job.... Firm but not condesending. Direct but not inflaming. And thankfully XARAKITTY got the message and made a bunch of new friends. Sounds like drinking time... this rounds on me.....TO THE BAR!!!!....

I only pretended to Lie about lying.

repeatedly,
the rebbi

Elemental666 · Post by **Elemental666** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:01 am

robbidobbs wrote:I make Playa pants each year, they are lightweight muslin cotton, loose fitting with elastic waistband. They are the BOMB! out there. I also bring several katheas -- this is just 1 yard to 2.5 yards of unbleached muslin to tie around my head and face to keep out the dust. Thousands of years of technology can't be too far off base. Generations have been wearing these to live in the deep desert, and they work beautifully.

pants linkage? or picage? I wanna see I wanna see!!

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:18 am

For my first burn in 'o3 I hastily constructed a faux-Utilikilt since my penny jar wasn't full enought to support the purchase of the real deal...(I have since emptied it, and rewarded myself.) The homemade model was pretty easy, although it lacked the panache of the UK and had no pleats- I took a pair of REALLY big Carhart work shorts, so big that they were on closeout, and took a seam ripper to the inseam until it was opened up like the bluejean skirts that my hippie sister wore in the 70's. I then trimmed the edges to suit me, and crafted a separate front panel from a second pair of shorts that I had envisioned cannibalizing for fabric and readymade pockets but never got around to....Hemmed everything up on the old Elna, added some snaps to the front panel, and voila! It can also be worn without the front panel for additional air conditioning, although the result is somewhat suggestive......

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:29 am

Elemental666 wrote:
robbidobbs wrote:I make Playa pants each year, they are lightweight muslin cotton, loose fitting with elastic waistband. They are the BOMB! out there.
pants linkage? or picage? I wanna see I wanna see!!

I use a Butterick pajama bottom pattern. Nuthin special, they just need to have wide legs and lots of room at the elastic waistband.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:10 am

A postapocalyptic equivalent is chemical warfare pants, found at surplus stores....(They make two-piece suits roomy enough to go on over BDUs and gear, which are then sprayed with anti-chem agents.) The pants are HUGE, and light, with drawstring waist and either elastic or drawstring cuffs. Don't pay much for 'em....the government dumped them by the ton. Five or ten bucks USED to get you the whole suit.

Custom Costumes and playa wear

Custom Costumes and playa wear

Sorry

......Shit I'm Outta Spells. Here, Throw This Rock...