The Blog of The Bride of Sesshomaru

Welcome


Welcome to my sewing, historical reenactment, and CosPlay blog! Here on this blog you will find all of my random thoughts about sewing, the SCA, manga, anime, CosPlay, costume making, embroidery, sewing historically accurate Japanese costumes, and my fandom of Lord Sesshomaru whom I CrossPlay as.

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Monday, December 28, 2009

RE: BurdaStyle: Where do you find sewing inspiration?


black birdfall leaves centerblack bird




Well as is one of my usual habits, I was zipping around BurdaStyle checking out the new stuff, when I found THIS. Well, as not my usual style I decided to comment. I rarely ever say anything over there, so no one even knows I'm there half the time! LOL! Anyways, here is my answer:

***Where do you find sewing inspiration?***

EVERYWHERE! My mom was a seamstress, sew I was already sewing at age 6. I was 16 when I graduated from a fashion design college. In the 20+ years since, I have created tons of patterns and sew all my own fashions.

I not only create my own patterns, but I also design my own fabrics as well. I paint up watercolors and than get short runs of the fabric printed up. I get ideas for a lot og my designs from nature: birds, cats, the sky, waterfalls, trees - everything inspires me to paint. Than the fabric made from the paintings inspire the flow of the dress pattern as well.


Erte is my biggest inspiration. Much of my designs are reinterpretations of his designs. I just love his art deco and flapper styles.

Also, Japanese Kimono, esp those from the Momoyama period (1500's). I love sewing kimono, because the lines are simple and allow for display of big bold fabric prints, which thus allows me to create huge print fabric designs as well.

***What magazines, websites, books do you look at for project ideas?***

Dover Books are my #1 source of inspiration. You see, I'm a life actor, which I means I CosPlay 24/7/365 and have for years. My daily wear consists of recreations of garb from the 1500's - 1800's as well as the 1920's. Dover reprints tons of French, fashion illustrations, vintage paper dolls, Goody Lady, etc. Of course they are the ones who reprint Etre's fashion prints as well.

National Geographic and Smithsonian Museum books are huge sources of inspiration as well. I get lots of ideas from cultural photos and antique paintings. I enjoy creating ethnic and historic bases patterns.

And than of course there's my #1 source of inspiration: comic books. Yep, you heard me: comic books! I'm a huge fan of comic books, manga, graphic novels, super heroes, etc, and well, like I said, I'm really big into CosPlay, so of course a lot of what I design was inspired by comic books. :)

What's your take on this? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!


Obsessed? I'm Not Obsessed... REALLY, I'm not!


When Next You See Me I'll Look Like This:





pawpawpawpawpaw



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If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:





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Blingo


Categories: About me · Anachronism · Anachronist · Business · CosPlay · Gothic · Life · Lifestyle · Maine · Old Orchard Beach · SCA · Wendy C. Allen · comic books · cosplay in public · costume making · costumer · costumes · creativity · cross dressing · crossplay · drag queen · dressmaking · fabric · fashion · fashion design · fun things to do · inspiration · interesting facts · life blogging · medieval · my thoughts on... · painting · pattern making · patterns · sewing · sewing a costume · sewing a kimono · sewing advice · theater

Tagged: About me, Anachronist, Black Bobcat Fashions, BurdaStyle, CosPlay, cosplay in public, dressmaking, EelKat, Erte, inspiration, Japan, kimono, pattern making, Purple Peacock Patterns, sewing, The Rabbit Hole, Wendy C. Allen

Waiting for Emmett to come.





http://twitter.com/EelKat
http://www.facebook.com/EelKat
http://eknano.blogspot.com
http://eelkat.wordpress.com
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/132659
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Monday, December 21, 2009

Copper Cockeral Info - 6th Anniversary


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Photography, Art, and Designs by Maine artist and photographer Wendy C Allen aka EelKat © 1978 - Present

The postage stamp choices below represent some of the different designs and themes created EelKat for Copper Cockeral Cards & Gifts A Twighlight Manor Company.

Please Click Each Stamp Below To View It In A Larger Size

Old Orchard Beach, Maine, USA stamp.Three Flamingos stamp.Marsh Marigolds of Bachelder Brook stamp. Stylized Peacock by Wendy C. Allen stamp. Eyes of India by Wendy C. Allen stamp. Gothic Skull & Hearts by Wendy C Allen stamp.A Car in the Garden stamp. Spooky Halloween Cat stamp.Purplr Peacock Twisted stamp.Spring Blue Bird stamp.Band Postage - Customized stamp.Day Glow Chalk Art by Wendy C Allen stamp.Pastel Rooster by Wendy C. Allen stamp.Pink Astilbe in Old Orchard Beach, Maine stamp.Red Tulips stamp.Orange Cat stamp.White Crocus stamp.The Rooster Gang stamp.

Daffodils 4 stamp.Abstract Computer Blue Stripe Art stamp.Sunflower, Old Orchard Beach, Maine stamp.Frogs Rock! stamp.

Nightmare invert stamp.Flamingo Love (blue) stamp.Red Chinese Dragon stamp.Big green Bug v stamp.Band Postage - Customized stamp.Cock o the Rock by Wendy C. Allen stamp.Blueberry Kitten stamp.Cool Cool Rooster by Wendy C. Allen stamp.Pastle Rooster by Wendy C. Allen, I Love Roosters! stamp.Halloween Witch stamp.Pink Flamingo stamp.Flamingo Sunset stamp.

Celebrate our 6 year anniversary with us! (Selling art on Zazzle since 2004!)

This is the sister gallery to The Pidgie Fund, both of which are owned by The Twighlight Manor Press.

Other galleries I run include: The Rabbit Hole and Old Orchard Beach, Maine Photography.

My mom and 3 brothers each have their own Zazzle Galleries, so be sure to check out their work as well @

Tiddledeewinks

FlashAllen

The Juiceman

Johnny 5 Allen


You can find out How I Became An Artist.

For those of you who have asked what I use to create my art work, here is info about My Art Equipment, and for those just starting out, I recommend using these books because they are the Best Art Instruction Books and the ones I use myself.

You can find out more about me @ Who is This EelKat Person Anyways?. And you can find out more about Copper Cockeral @Copper Cockeral Cards & Gifts

Thank you for visiting my sites.

~~EK

Like my designs? Want to sew cloths, tote bags, curtains, and pillows to match? Now you can using my line of custom fabrics created using the same designs sold here on Zazzle! http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/eelkat Fabrics available in clothing, quilting, designer, or upholstery weights. Prices starting at just $18 a yard. Do you see one of my drawings that you like and want made into fabric? Let me know. All of my paintings will eventually become available as fabric, but it's a long process, so if there's one you want to see come out sooner than others, just tell me. Thanks!





What's your take on this? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!


Obsessed? I'm Not Obsessed... REALLY, I'm not!


When Next You See Me I'll Look Like This:





pawpawpawpawpaw



-------------
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:





Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape


Blingo

More Places That Sell Wigs, Make-Up, Shoes, and Other CosPlay and Costuming Supplies

These guys have banners for me to display for you! YAY!
You know I love adding pictures to my blog! LOL!

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