Costume & Crafting Help

[theCryptofishist]

So, I'm thinking "fur hat". I like the idea of some outrageous fake fur... I don't sew. How does one go about finding someone who does, and what's a reasonable amount of money to pay for their services?

[Savannah]

DAB - I think my mental blocks with washing it are: I don't trust my ironing skills much coupled with we also have cats in the house so I try to prevent from letting the fabric touch the floor. I will see what I can do once I get to that specific project.

Fishy - I won't be able to wash it even if I want to since it will have LED lights attached and wires running through the lining. So yeah no washing for this coat unless I want to become a dark twad

You could sew removable guards (same color as the lining) into the underarms of the coat, if that's a concern, and rip them out to clean periodically. And spot clean the other parts with a damp cloth & a thorough airing outside (2 days in the breeze usually does it).

There's also the vodka cleaning trick--buy some truly cheap vodka & a spray bottle. Lay out flat (the coat, not you) spray carefully and thoroughly (avoiding the electronics) and let dry. Repeat.

[Drawingablank]

Had an epiphany yesterday - Much of the stuff at Joanns is over priced unless you use a coupon or they run a sale. I don't know why it took me so long to realize it since I've been in business most of my life, and in the craft business for 21 years.

My local Jo's was out of the #10 snaps I use on coats so I was shopping online for some. The snaps were about 40% cheaper (coincidentally the same amount they cost at Jo's when you use a coupon) and even cheaper if you bought 6 packs of them. So I did some more comparison shoppong.

I'll have to be more conscious of this in the future.

[theCryptofishist]

Well, retail is more expensive than mail order/internet. Building costs, employee costs. This gives me pause, and I think it's something that I should have reasoned it out. The basic brutality of our economy is startling, frightening, disturbing... and I don't know what else.

[Drawingablank]

Well, retail is more expensive than mail order/internet. Building costs, employee costs. This gives me pause, and I think it's something that I should have reasoned it out. The basic brutality of our economy is startling, frightening, disturbing... and I don't know what else.

Well, as the owner of both a mail order and retail store I understand that. In this case though, much of their pricing structure seems to revolve around needing a coupon or sale to get stuff for basically list price. A common enough strategy among mass marketers - more or less double your price, then run constant huge sales. Oddly enough I found quite a few small businesses offering these for precisely 40% less.

The warehouse article is pretty easy to believe. In my 20's I was a teamster and the warehouse I worked in was not much different than that article describes. Although we had better pay (way better since that was about what we made back in the early 80's), benefits, and job security - the working conditions were pretty much the same. And by job security I mean from being terminated for attendance and such - we were constantly harrassed and they ended up closing all their warehouses, laying us all off, and farming the warehousing out to an independent company which I have no doubt was even more like that article.

I sometimes wonder if this economy wasn't some conspiracy cooked up in part to help break unions and drop the average wages in this country even further.

[theCryptofishist]

I have to agree with pretty much everything that you said. Although, if I went to a local independent craft or art store (presuming I could find one), I think that on some things, it would be more expensive than the chain. And those coupons, since they are out every week, through the newspaper and the internet, have got to be compensated for in the price. A possible evening out of the price though, with the coupon being a loss leader. No way am I going to Micheal's every week, so I do buy other stuff at the same time.
And they run different discounts every week, too.

[Drawingablank]

This sticker came with my snaps and I thought I'd share it:

[EmilyD]

Although I always prefer to help local small biz over mega-corp in every arena it is more difficult with fabric and findings these days. That said, yesterday I went in to Joanne Fabrics looking for something small but ended up finding a gob of fabric that would work perfectly for a new costume/sculpture thingie I have brewing in my mind. The fabric cutter, a very cool, woman told me if I bought this magazine she pulled out of a cupboard (for $2.99) I would get six coupons that were on the back cover. I followed her advice and was able to save over $100 on over 50 yards of fabric! So, comparison shop and dig deep for bargains at both local and corps.

[EmilyD]

Soooooo, maybe I need to give this thread a poke!

Even if you're pining for a ticket (like me) there's no reason to hold of making something weird and wonderful to wear and share.

Whatcha working on? What do you wish you were making? What do you need help with? Let's get our creative juices flowing!

Any effort put into costumes or good,freaky craft projects is NEVER wasted!

[Drawingablank]

Soooooo, maybe I need to give this thread a poke!

Even if you're pining for a ticket (like me) there's no reason to hold of making something weird and wonderful to wear and share.

Whatcha working on? What do you wish you were making? What do you need help with? Let's get our creative juices flowing!

Any effort put into costumes or good,freaky craft projects is NEVER wasted!

Like you I'm in ticket limbo, but have been trying to make some interesting stuff. Made a few mini hats lately working on some interesting vests and coats.

On an unrelated note, I had some brocades and other synthetic fabrics with really obnoxious wrinkles that just were too stubborn to iron out (at least on any heat setting that wouldn't kill the fabric). I borrowed a Tobi steamer and they came out in seconds - I can't believe how well that thing works, although I find it works better on an ironing board than on hanging fabric. I think I'll be retiring my iron except for bonding interfacing. The only hassle is having to drain it out after each use to prevent mineral buildup.

[FIGJAM]

Use distilled water and there won't be any minerals.

[Drawingablank]

Use distilled water and there won't be any minerals.

Great idea, wonder why they don't mention that in the instructions. I should have remembered that from ironing, but our water here has such low mineral content it takes about 20 years for it to cause an issue so I have never bothered as it is cheaper to buy a new iron every so often than it is to use distilled water. the steamer is too expensive to sacrifice though, so I guess it will be getting distilled water.

[SquirrelHead]

Does anyone have a place that sells stuffed animals really cheap? Should I just hunt around at garage sales and thrift shops? I am mostly looking for squirrel stuffed animals. I could change the design to include all kinds of stuffed animals if needed.

[Drawingablank]

I get them at http://www.joissu.com/

[Ratty]

I would hit up all the second hand stores. They throw out tons of them. Tell them anything and they'll load you up. "I'm doing an art project. I'm making a quilt. I need them for my lonely dog". Any excuse to give them away will make them smile. You can also post an ad on craig's list 'Items wanted'. Those animals are only loved by kids for a short time. The Moms are really tired of granny forcing more beasts into the house at every occasion. (I managed a thrift store for 5 years).

[theCryptofishist]

Freecycle then, too.

[Ratty]

I'm the 'Queen of money management". (Free, cheap). Get all your paint, cleaning supplies and garden stuff at the Hazardous Waste Drop off. Need fabric? All the thrift stores are anxious to give you buttloads of unwanted clothing. Those electronic recycle places will sell you a TV or metal lawn furniture for next to nothing. Packing materials are in the dumpster behind the furniture store. Get a 'hook-up' with the garbage company and find out when 'Big garbage pick-up' is happening. Yes! It's legal. (Well maybe the guy at the recycle place isn't gonna tell his boss. But his boss would sell it to you also.) DON'T PAY RETAIL. Live on thin air. I can camp for free all summer. No fees. No buying ice or much food. Blah, blah, bah....

[EmilyD]

Does anyone have a place that sells stuffed animals really cheap? Should I just hunt around at garage sales and thrift shops? I am mostly looking for squirrel stuffed animals. I could change the design to include all kinds of stuffed animals if needed.

SquirrelHead you could also post an item at Craig's List asking for people to send you stuffed squirrels. Just be really clear to describe exactly what you want (or who knows what you'll get!)

[theCryptofishist]

[EmilyD]

[quote="theCryptofishist"][/quote] Oh yes...of course, Archie McPhees! There's a local artcar in the SF Bay Area called Squirrely Whirly and it has a bunch of squrrels (some with underpants) along with nuts and pinwheels all over it. It's my friend Tre's car...and it's a hoot!

[tattoogoddess]

Hey don't know if anyone had thought of this but im sure walgreens fleece blankets will be going on sale soon. Why not use those to make "costumes". Im going to but not sure what animal. Fun and useful at night! they are 50x60 and I was told they are $2.99 so yeah about half the price of a yard and bigger then one!

[lucky420]

and those would be warm and toasty at night tg

[Drawingablank]

Those do look pretty cool, but keep in mind that if you are dancing or something and get too warm they are difficult to shed just a portion of being one piece.

I find that being able to regulate your temperature with layers of clothing is more practical - especially if you are active.

[tattoogoddess]

I would figure you could just roll them down and tie is around your waist?

[Drawingablank]

I would figure you could just roll them down and tie is around your waist?

Sure, but wouldn't that negate the whole point of having a cool looking outfit?

Guess it really depends on how active you plan to be - personally I would find a fleece onesie too warm, but YMMV.

[EmilyD]

I would figure you could just roll them down and tie is around your waist?

Sure, but wouldn't that negate the whole point of having a cool looking outfit?

Guess it really depends on how active you plan to be - personally I would find a fleece onesie too warm, but YMMV.

You could definitely make a some heat vents in these (love the bat) and/or make the sleeves, and torso velcro-off-able. But...depending on what you have under the fuzzy...rolling down could show off an even "cool" looking layer.

As for the price of those fleece blankets...it sounds pretty damn good.

There's also a good (though not necessarily cheap) online fabric store I've gotten stuff from. They ship very quickly and usually have something on sale. There are a couple of deals on furry fabrics right now in fact: http://www.distinctivefabric.com/clearance.php

[wh..sh]

I would figure you could just roll them down and tie is around your waist?

Sure, but wouldn't that negate the whole point of having a cool looking outfit?

Guess it really depends on how active you plan to be - personally I would find a fleece onesie too warm, but YMMV.

Actually, my friend wore a fleece monkey suit last year at night and she was frozen. I thought it was pretty thick until later in the night, when it got cooler.
She didnt have any layer on the inside, just the suit. Hot or cold, just have some plan to deal with it.

[Savannah]

I would figure you could just roll them down and tie is around your waist?

That is precisely what I did when I was wearing a fleece onesie last year, I kid you not. (I was a bunny). It got too warm when I danced.

I also had a playa coat with me, and I did need that on top of the fleece after 2:00am. Sometimes you will need it sooner than that, sometimes you won't need it at all (having a sweater in your pack is a nice option for warm nights).

[theCryptofishist]

(I was a bunny).

Do you have a picture? You could post it in the bunny picture thread.

[Savannah]

(I was a bunny).

Do you have a picture? You could post it in the bunny picture thread.

Dammit, I forgot to get a picture. I'll have to fix that this year. That degree of ridiculousness requires documentation.