Mandy asks…
How do you make your own fabric from raw materials?
I want to make my own clothes but I want it to be “mine” from sart to finish. If I could grow the materials I would.
Anyway, I read that the big clothing companies use machines to make clothes. Is it safe to assume then that these machines are factory assembly line style and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, or is it more like sewing machines?
I want to make myself a hooded sweatshirt and a t-shirt.
Also, if it’s not obvious from the question, I hardly know the first thing about sewing.
admin answers:
You could purchase raw wool from a grower. You’d need to learn how to wash it, dry it and then card it. Then you’d need to learn how to spin it into thread. There are spinning wheels available – look in specialty craft stores. You’ll probably have to look through magazines catering to hobbyists who like to use them and order one – and you find those magazines in the craft stores – sometimes even in your local JoAnn store.
After you’ve spun your thread, you can leave it natural or dye it. Again, you’ll have to learn how. Then you can learn to knit your own hoodie and t-shirt. Or you can invest in a loom, weave your own woolen cloth and then sew your hoodie and t-shirt from that.
There are hobbyists who make their own linen and their own cotton cloth, too. As you might imagine, that would require a lot of hunting for information on your part, as well as a lot of work.
But – there are young ladies who happily learn those ancient skills and just blow us old farts away with the quality of their work. Three teen-age sisters live a mile up the road from me – the middle one is 15, owns her own spinning wheel and has been spinning her own woolen thread and crocheting and knitting with it since she was 10. Her sisters are equally skilled at some of these old crafts. Their parents did NOT make the girls do this – they simply took an interest and realized it could be a fun and unique hobby.
Are you ready for all that effort? I bet you could do it. Heck, you can even take a college degree in this sort of thing – Cazenovia College right here in upstate New York offers such degrees! What would you do with such skills? Craft theatrical costumes – which does pay fairly well. Plus, of course, make your own clothes uniquely yours.
Robert asks…
Where can I find ideas for a 1920s Costume Party?
We have a costume party coming up and the theme is 1920s. We want to have unique costumes and not just the same old “Flapper” stuff like everyone wears. Please keep in mind that this will be myself, my husband and our 17yr old daughter. Any help will be great! Thanks
admin answers:
1920’s costumes are so much fun to dress up in.
I am sure your family will find the perfect combination from our extensive line of 1920’s costumes.
Although there are a few flapper dresses, they are very unique and cute just in case
Here’s the link to our 1920’s costumes for men and women:
http://www.brandsonsale.com/1920s-costumes.html
We also have a wide selection of accessories to complement your costume:
Boas-
Fedoras/Gangster hats-
http://www.brandsonsale.com/gangster-hats.html
Or you can choose from our variety of 1920’s accessories:
http://www.brandsonsale.com/20s-costumes-accessories.html
Please call us if you need help with sizing or shipping.
Hope this helps,
Dania
Lisa asks…
Can I start my own jewelry line?
I’m thinking about starting my own jewelry line and selling the things online. But what I’m wondering is about the stuff I wanna sell. I buy the beads, the chains and everything I need to make the jewelry and I put it together to make my own creation. But since there not my beads and chains and that, can I sell them? Please help!
admin answers:
Yes you can sell them. I was in the costume jewelry business for nearly 30 years. Remember the bead makers and the chain makers are selling their products to you so you can resell them. The more you sell the more you will buy from them. I sold most of my products to small stores doing wholesale trade shows in the US and Europe from 1970 to 1997.
Good luck. Contact me if you have more questions.
Steven asks…
What should me and my friend be for halloween?
I know it’s a little early but we need ideas!
Both of us are going to be the same and match. But not like the everything kinda match like we’re gonna wear different colors.
We were thinking of being
Fairies or cavewomen
What else should we be??
By the way, we’re 15.
So nothing funny like a fat suit, thanks!
admin answers:
You could be puppets. Not like ugly ones like cute ones wear tank tops skinny jeans suspenders and tutus over the the jeans and maybe draw lines from the corners of the lips to your jaw if you know what i mean. My friends dressed up like this together one year. It turned out really cute its kind of a diy thing but it wont add up to much money if you car. I loved this costume so i hope i helped!
Could you answer my question? Http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhsVzc0kGYvjLp30LGQxtwfsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090806173556AA7zgNo
John asks…
Costume ideas for a boy to go to a glitter themed party?
My boyfriend and I have to go to a Lady Gaga, glitter, paparazzi, crazy themed party. I won’t have any trouble finding a costume for myself but finding my boyfriend something to wear has been difficult. I was think maybe like a bedazzled tie and sunglasses, something along those lines. Buuuuuut any suggestions would help.
Maybe a way for us to match? Thanks!
admin answers:
Jagger? Or maybe Slash or some old rocker they were always wearing glitter? Ha
Thomas asks…
What evidence is there that the Steampunk genre is increasing or decreasing in popularity?
Or is the growth graphed as a straight line?
admin answers:
Steampunk/alt-history has of course been around and popular in scifi for years. But was a small section of the total fandom.
Go to the roots, look at the number of books over time multiple ongoing series in the genre at the moment.
I regularly go to Dragon*con (since early 2000s) and speaking on just it: It has grown by small amounts every year but really took off around 2009.
In 2007 a group I am in had a small private Steampunk themed party on Friday night. A private wedding, then open party. There was about 40-50 people steady through the evening, great costuming.
-I did not know the party location, walked up to someone else dressed in steampunk *that I did not know (weren’t a lot around) and they told me exactly where it was.
-We met an unrelated group of very nice people from primarily a Canadian group that promptly schooled most of us and joined our party. Pics of some from that year http://steamfashion.livejournal.com/112798.html
2008 – lot more.
Was it this year that (DC*TV or Voltaire) said something about goths discovering brown?
2009/2010 (?) 4 Days at Dragon*con documentary was filmed released and it is talked about a large amount and how popular it has become in the alternate history track. Large sections of it are specifically about steampunk
10 minute preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQcW65nzQUY
Beat Down Boogie’s great DC Costume vid from 2010. About 37sec for first steampunk roughly a minute for the next
Beat Down Boogie’s costume vid for 2011 – Starts with several beautiful flying ladies, about another minute in for another SP and then it is pretty constant throughout the rest. Even Buddy Christ in Professor X’s wheelchair (a lot of detail on the chair and the maker in 4 Days at D*C)
and the long version with lots more of the crowds
This year I believe you were more likely to bump into a steam/diesel*punk than a Stormtrooper.
And the costumes get better and better every year.
Daniel asks…
What is too early to take your child to see Santa?
I am due with my first baby on December 10th and live in Michigan. I’m not so much worried about the cold, more the germs. I know children don’t remember their first Christmas, but parents still want to make it special. My husband thinks it will be fine if we get in line before the mall opens so we won’t be in line with a lot of kids or be there too long. Trying to find the balance and be a good mom without being overprotective.
admin answers:
My daughter was born November 20th, we took her to see Santa about a week later. I got her a beautiful little dress and chose a time when there would be very few people in the mall (since it was before Christmas break, we went during school-hours and then watched the Santa line until there was no one there.) If there had been a line, the plan was for my husband to stand in line while I kept her off to the side where she wouldn’t be around as many people and then I’d come up when it was his ‘turn’. Santa was using hand sanitizer between every child and that really helped any fears I had. I handed her over, she nestled against him and went to sleep, he decided to do his sleeping Santa pose and posed asleep behind her while holding a boardbook of “Night Before Christmas” like they had been reading it together. It was ADORABLE.
After, I scurried her away, while husband took care of paying for things and details. The only things I touched were her. The only things she touched were Santa (who gave himself a double hit of sanitizer before touching her) and he faced her out so that she wasn’t really touching his suit except the back of her. I changed her out of that outfit almost immediately, and we went home.
Honestly? I am SO happy we did it. She didn’t get sick. She wasn’t exposed to hardly anything. And the picture is so beautiful as one of her very first. It made me wish that my second could have had such a little baby picture with Santa (he was born in June, so he was 6 months old and freaked out the first time with Santa. This year should be even more funny.)
Add: I should also point out I love our Mall Santa, real beard. Very friendly. Wonderful suit. He’s not a dime-store and you can take a picture with him, but they prefer you to buy one (and they take good pictures.) We did find out last year though that the Zoo also has Santa and Mrs. Claus at the zoo (along with a reindeer.) His beard was long and flowing (real thing too) and Mrs. Claus was very sweet, however the line was a bit more busy and I was more nervous about it. The setup was a cuter place, but I’d feel less comfortable with a newborn (though Mrs. Claus did help some handicapped and special need children be able to wait nearby but not in the actual line. She probably would have helped us with a newborn, but it was cold out there, and a bit of a walk.)
I love the idea of Dad being a Santa, or Grandpa, or something like that. But we never had access to a costume like that.
Linda asks…
What are 3 fun themes we could use for teen night at the library?
I’m apart of this program called T.A.G and we are teens who organize events and such for teens at the library, and we are having a teen night and I was wondering if you could help me find 3 unique themes for the upcoming event.
Maybe something along the lines of people coming dressed up as their favorite book character or I don’t know whatever you can provide would be appreciated!
Please and Thank You.
admin answers:
It sounds like your suggestion of coming dressed up was really pounced on, so definitely go with that one in one form or another. It seems that the problem with it is that costumes generate a little talk and then what else do you do? So, I’d suggest selecting a theme with an activity that naturally follows the idea – such as “Twilight, dress like a vampire”, might lead you to a homecoming dance with a disco ball or “Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Decorated Jean Night” you might have a girls soccer competition.
My favorite minister not only read from the Bible, but always brought up something that was current history or might involve someone we knew, and would try to get us to think about the Bible’s message in that story, too. Sure, it’s fun to think that everyone is going to read the same books and all understand them and enjoy them in the same way, but that’s not really how it works. Few girls are like Bella Swan nor do many meet someone who loves them but fears being with them, but does that mean that few girls can get into the book? I think girls are magnetized by the romance because she’s klutzy and is really surprised when she moves to Forks and gets all this extraordinary attention and complements. If Edward had been a handsome western outlaw, it would have been just as popular. Of course, that means that the prom is out, you know, because Bella hated the prom and had to be tricked into attending so what was I even thinking in suggesting it? Will I suggest you have a slip on the ice game next?
You organize events at the library, you’re not a minister, but when you organize something around a book, look for what enjoying the book says about the reader and organize activities accordingly. If you don’t organize an event around a book, your community, or your educational agenda, then I’m sorry to be elitist but what good does it do the library? Game nights? Came on? Pizza making contests? Puh-Leez. Do it yourself henna tattoos and toenail painting? You’re just being scary now.
Those have all been “successful” or at least well attended teen library events and none of them have led to the town mayor supporting more library hours or any participant attending college that hadn’t thought of attending it before. They have successfully used library resources that could have been used elsewhere, so calls would have been returned faster or librarians might have been able to put more time in helping someone who later votes against a library bond because “librarians are losers who can’t even help me but they can play around with toenail painting.”
Joseph asks…
My friends and I want to be sexy disney princesses for halloween. Where can I find cute costumes?
Theres four of us and we were thinking about being, Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, and we can’t think of another. Does anyone have any opinions? We cant seem to find cute Belle costumes and we were thinking Jasmine or sleeping beauty for the other. HELP!
admin answers:
The closer it gets to Halloween, the more that will be available. Just start checking online and at your local Halloween stores. However, I don’t think you’ll be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll have to use your imagination and create something yourself. Buy a regular Snow White costume, but shorten the hem lines and make it strapless or something like that. Have fun.
Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty and Ariel are the other princesses (I had to go look at my daughter’s princess book collection). I’m sure there are others, but those are the main ones.
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