Tag Archives: burning man

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RECYCLED GOLD TOP HAT

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I am so gloriously busy finishing up projects for Burning Man that I really shouldn’t be starting any new ones. But in the middle of working on one new costume I realized that I needed a pink and gold top hat. Yes, I could have definitely found one at the Beautilities store around the corner, but I also knew I could make it myself. And so, voila, the $1 top hat!

top hat top hat top hat

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I made it out of scrap cardboard, which of course I got from Fabric Planet (EVERYTHING I make comes from that store, even if it’s using trash). I used hot glue and some packing tape to keep the cardboard together. The base was a little rough–you could see the seams and bends of the cardboard very easily– so I covered it with some foam shelf liner I had lying around.

top hat in progress top hat

The hat was then covered in this AMAZING mirror gold that I suspect is actually vinyl wallpaper (wouldn’t it be fabulous in a powder room?). I can’t get over how beautiful the reflections are, but unfortunately it scuffs very easily. For the top I cut out a spiral from a gift bag, which I just can’t wait to see under the lights of the Sensatron on the playa!

top hat garnish

The pink glitter lycras are scraps from a new bodysuit I’m making, as is the ruffle gold. I added on some Mardi Gras beads, and the flower applique came from Fabric Planet as well.

top hat top hat top hat

Now that I’ve got that lagniappe project finished, I’ve realized I need a pink and gold light up cane. We’ll see about that one.

VOTE FOR MY PROJECT IN THE CRAFTSTER REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE CHALLENGE!

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SEWING BANDOLIER

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I’ve been sewing for Burning Man 2010 since September of 2009. I’ve improved last year’s costumes, made plenty of new ones, and have been making wonderful things to gift on the playa. I wanted to continue this personal sewing theme at the event and share my love and skills with Burners in need, and so I made this renegade mending bandolier.*

sewing bandolier sewing bandolier sewing bandolier

Just call me Rainbo.

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I really love the idea of taking something that is normally made out of animal hide to hold bullets to kill humans and completely changing it around. Instead of bullets I’m packing thread and safety pins! My bandoleer* is for helping people by mending their costumes for free. It’s rainbow and beautiful but also completely functional. Admittedly, it was largely inspired by the Mad Hatter’s thread bandoleer, but I feel like I’ve made it my own.

sewing bandolier sewing bandolier safety pins

I bought rainbow webbing at Joann’s, as well as the spools of thread (there was an awesome notions sale many months ago) and the plastic vials at the top. Everything else was taken from my stash. The belt is adjustable and attaches with an overall-style hook. The green shank button holds the hook very securely, but it’s also easy to take off (or I can slip the whole thing over my head). On the back I’ve got a row of gold safety pins to hand out to burners in need.

sewing bandolier sewing bandolier sewing bandolier

The plastic vials are actually glitter containers that I emptied out (no glitter on the playa!). I’ve got pins, needles, and buttons handy, and the loops are also the right size for a Chapstick.

The spools were from a basic cheap-o sewing kit that I wound with my own thread. They are attached to the belt with some heavy gauge wire that has drops of hot glue on the cut ends to prevent them from scratching me. The wire loops aren’t attached to the belt, but the tension of the wire keeps them from moving around on their own. It was important that the spools can spin when I pull thread, and I placed them on the belt so that the notches face me, to secure loose ends.

sewing bandolier pocket detail sewing bandolier pocket detail

The pockets are made out of scraps from other projects. One is the perfect size for my fleur de logo stickers, while the other holds my folding scissors, tape measure (not really necessary but fun), and any other little tools I might need.

sewing bandolier vial detail sewing bandolier pin detail

In addition to walking around doing repairs in the wild, I will also set up at a table in Center Camp with a sign advertising my free repairs. For this, I’ve got another bag with larger buttons and some gold patches. I can’t wait to wear and use this on the playa, and I’m really looking forward to all the people I will meet through this project.

Thanks to my blue eyed man Jason for taking such rockin pictures on his new camera!

sewing soldier salute

SEE YOU ON THE PLAYA!

*Both spellings are correct!

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mardi gras mambo

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Although I grew up in New Orleans, I’ve never costumed for parades before. Since this is my boyfriend’s first Mardi Gras we decided to go all out for the full experience.

our costumes, before the Endymion parade after Endymion, loaded with beads

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I call Jason’s costume the Psychedelic Dream Coat, and mine is Rainbow Peacock. As soon as we saw this amazing rainbow tinsel eyelash fabric we had these costumes in our minds. I can’t wait to see them under the lights of the Sensatron 5000 at Burning Man!

psychedelic dream coat psychedelic dream coat psychedelic dream coat psychedelic dream coat

Jason designed his ringmaster jacket and I made it, working in all his requests. It fits him like a glove (I had a blast measuring him) and looks amazing. Since he’s always warm, the interior is just a thin lining, and the trim is violet stretch velvet. I also made his red velvet pirate pants for the SF Decompression, and I have a matching bodysuit.

rainbow peacock rainbow peacock rainbow peacock cape rainbow peacock after Endymion

I wanted to have a little cape to be warm and snuggly in the frigid Nevada nights, so mine is lined with fleece. It can be worn many different ways so it will be just as great for dancing in the streets as for cruising around the playa in the art car. The velvet plackets at the arm holes keep them from opening up when I don’t want them to, and I made some fingerless gloves that I wore with green fringed arm warmers from my 2009 BM costumes. The cape looks great with all of my bodysuits!

rainbow tinsel

Although these costumes are made in time for Mardi Gras, we also had Burning Man in mind when we designed them. When we first found the rainbow tinsel at Lincoln Fabrics we thought it would be too MOOPy, but changed our minds after testing the fabric in the Fashion District. Plus, we figured that the fabric would get all its MOOP out at Mardi Gras, making it safe for Black Rock City.

rainbow peacock mask magic rocket mask our masks together

Mardi Gras masks often have fabulous feathers, but as we are both vegetarians and feathers are against Burning Man’s MOOP policy, we decided to find an animal and environmentally friendly alternative. My peacock feathers are made on recycled cardboard bases that were first painted in the Rainbow Peacock theme, then embellished with scraps of fabric, jewels, and shiny pieces of trash (the translucent green stars are from a plastic cup and the violet paper ribbon is from a bow I found on the street). Since they are mounted on spiraled pipe cleaners they move with me, similar to real feathers.

cardboard peacock feathers i can wear my glasses under my mask

Best part about the mask? I can wear it over my glasses!

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