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Costume Construction
Costumes I created or helped in part to create.
 Cetus the Sea MonsterMaking the wearable puppet for Cetus in 'Olympian Bob'! The base was a backpack and bike helmet which we added chicken wire and foam to. Plymouth Playshop Olympian Bob Directed by Michael Sheeks |  20160720_172320The kids at the camp helped with the costume added on fabric and spikes to cover up the chicken wire and the gap between the form and the actor. Plymouth Playshop Olympian Bob Directed by Michael Sheeks |  Cetus the Sea MonsterCetus's head, a bike helmet covered in wire and foam. Plymouth Playshop Olympian Bob Directed by Michael Sheeks |
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 Cetus the Sea MonsterCetus is wearable! I added a neck piece to create the bottom jaw and arms were made by adding hands to dowels rods and connecting the wrists to the shoulders with long drapes of fabric. Plymouth Playshop Olympian Bob Directed by Michael Sheeks |  Cetus the Sea MonsterCetus is finished! And oh so scary! Plymouth Playshop Olympian Bob Directed by Michael Sheeks |  Mimi's CoatWorking on Mimi's coat Opera Theatre of St. Louis La Boheme Costume Design by Emily Rebholz |
 Mimi's CoatWorking on Mimi's coat Opera Theatre of St. Louis La Boheme Costume Design by Emily Rebholz |  Mimi's CoatWorking on Mimi's coat Opera Theatre of St. Louis La Boheme Costume Design by Emily Rebholz |  Mimi's CoatThe finished coat onstage Photography by Ken Howard Opera Theatre of St. Louis La Boheme Costume Design by Emily Rebholz |
 VestsWe added on silver stripes to these black vests by stitching on each piece of trim individually. Most were sewn on by machine, but around the pockets and collar it was stitched by hand. Opera Theatre of St. Louis Ariadne on Naxos Costume Design by Amanda Seymour |  VestsWe added on silver stripes to these black vests by stitching on each piece of trim individually. Most were sewn on by machine, but around the pockets and collar it was stitched by hand. Opera Theatre of St. Louis Ariadne on Naxos Costume Design by Amanda Seymour |  Dancer ShortsI put in an invisible zipper! It is for a pair of dancer shorts that we added a gold drape to. Opera Theatre of St. Louis Ariadne on Naxos Costume Design by Amanda Seymour |
 Dancer ShortsShowing off how little of the zipper can be shown when the fabric is pulled taught. Opera Theatre of St. Louis Ariadne on Naxos Costume Design by Amanda Seymour |  Dancer ShortsThe backside of the zipper. There was a lot of excess fraying fabric because of all the layering so piece of bias tape was stitched on to clean everything up and hold it together. Opera Theatre of St. Louis Ariadne on Naxos Costume Design by Amanda Seymour |  Dancer ShortsThe draped dancer shorts in action! Photography by Ken Howard Opera Theatre of St. Louis Ariadne on Naxos Costume Design by Amanda Seymour |
 Dancer ShortsThe draped dancer shorts in action! Photography by Ken Howard Opera Theatre of St. Louis Ariadne on Naxos Costume Design by Amanda Seymour |  Leg Lamps DressesLeg Lamp dresses constructed for "A Christmas Story: The Musical" at MNSU Mankato, Fall 2015 Costume Design by David McCarl |  Morticia's DressDraping Morticia's iconic dress from "The Addams Family Musical" Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |
 Morticia's DressCutting out Morticia's dress after the initial fitting. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Morticia's DressCreating the ring of 'tentacles' at the bottom of the dress. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Morticia's DressFitting progress photo of Morticia's dress. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |
 Morticia's DressFitting progress photo of Morticia's dress. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Morticia's DressFitting progress photo of Morticia's dress. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Morticia's DressMorticia's iconic dress from "The Addams Family Musical" onstage! Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |
 Morticia's DressMorticia's iconic dress from "The Addams Family Musical" onstage! Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Morticia's DressMorticia's iconic dress from "The Addams Family Musical" onstage! The real challenge with this piece was it needed to fit her like a second skin, while also needing to allow movement during the tango. We achieved this by adding a zipper along the left princess seam and hooks at the bottom of the zipper and at the small of her back so the bottom could hook up and out of her way for the dance scene. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Morticia's DressMorticia's iconic dress from "The Addams Family Musical" onstage showing the hidden zipper in action! Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |
 Centaur LegsThe base of the legs was two foam sheets carved and wire tied to an old laundry basket. This was made by Joellen Olari and I did the finishing work on it. On the table in front is the board with castors that would get put between the legs to allow for movement. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Centaur LegsAdding a layer of soft green foam to make it look more natural. Also, the wheel board has been attached. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Centaur LegsI added a foam piece to the tail to add height and volume without having to use a ton of tinsel. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |
 Centaur LegsAfter adding the gold tinsel covered fabric to the body. I attached it with a light layer of spray adhesive. The wheel bar was also painted black so it would blend into the floor better. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Centaur LegsAfter adding the gold tinsel covered fabric to the body. I attached it with a light layer of spray adhesive. The wheel bar was also painted black so it would blend into the floor better. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Centaur LegsAfter adding the gold tinsel covered fabric to the body. I attached it with a light layer of spray adhesive. The wheel bar was also painted black so it would blend into the floor better. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |
 Centaur LegsThe centaur legs onstage! We made him a pair of pants and shoe covers to go with the legs as well. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Centaur LegsThe centaur legs onstage! Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Centaur LegsThe centaur legs onstage! Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |
 XanaduThe colorful siren capes onstage, I made two of these. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Xanadu CyclopsI made the cyclops eye and draped his toga. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Xanadu CyclopsI made the cyclops eye and draped his toga. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |
 Xanadu GodsThe Cyclops with the Gods of Mount Olympus. I draped these togas as well. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  Xanadu GodsThe Gods of Mount Olympus. I draped these togas as well. Costume Design by Catherine Schmeal-Swope Highland Summer Theatre 2015 |  "Life is a Dream"CapsBand pattern in buckram. We didn't have any heavy weight buckram on hand so I sewed together two layers of medium weight to create a heavy weight. |
 "Life is a Dream"CapsBands and caps are assembled, now to add standing crown portion. |  "Life is a Dream"CapsBands and caps are assembled, now to add standing crown portion. |  "Life is a Dream"CapsCrown portion added. |
 Rosaura's Headdress OnstageWinter 2015 |  "Life is a Dream"CapsBeginning embelishments |  "Life is a Dream" CapsFinished cap for Rosaura |
 Estrella's Headdress OnstageWinter 2015 |  "Life is a Dream"CapsFinished cap for Estrella |  The Ladies in Waiting OnstageWinter 2015 |
 "Life is a Dream"CapsFinished cap for a Lady in Wainting |  "Life is a Dream"CapsFinished cap for a Lady in Wainting |  "Life is a Dream"CapsFinished cap for a Lady in Wainting |
 'Spring Awakening' DresesWinter 2013 |  'Spring Awakening' DressWinter 2013 |  'The Mandrake' - Ligurio's OvercoatFall 2012 |
 'The Mandrake' - Ligurio's OvercoatFall 2012 |  'A Chorus Line' VestsFall 2012 |  Self PortraitShirt distressed with bleach. Spring 2013 |
 Self PortraitHoles were cut in the shirt to give it a punk rocker feel and so we can see the tattoo shirt underneath a bit. Spring 2013 |  Self PortraitShirt in action. Spring 2013 |  Self PortraitBeginning to paint/draw on the tattoo shirt. Spring 2013 |
 Self PortraitFront painting finished. (The body suit was made from an old semi-opaque unitard.) Spring 2013 |  Self PortraitOnstage. Spring 2013 |  Self PortraitBeginning to outline the back. Spring 2013 |
 Self PortraitSkull done, now to shade the wings. Spring 2013 |  selfportraitcloseup2.jpgIn action. The snakes were added after the first dress rehearsal to bring together the front and back more. Spring 2013 |  Floccus ShirtsThese shirts started as regular crew neck t-shirts and underwent extensive alterations to turn them into the textured and layered crop tops they became. Fall 2012. |
 Isabelle from Animal CrossingCosplay. I constructed everything myself, and patterned the vest myself. Summer 2014 |  Isabelle from Animal CrossingSummer 2014 |  Isabelle WigThis wig was made in three parts. The base is a shoulder length bob from Arda Wigs, curled, trimmed and styled. I sewed and stuffed the ears, then sewed them onto the wig cap. The top bun was a long bangs clip in that I wrapped around a stuffed base and then sewed into the wig cap. Summer 2014 |
 Isabelle WigSummer 2014 |  Isabelle WigSummer 2014 |  Demon Jeez from "Lo"Just an old suit I decorated to be for the demon Jeez from "Lo" when I directed a scene from this movie in my directing class. Fall 2013 |
 Demon Jeez from "Lo"The back. Fall 2013 |  River Song DressPattern I draped for my replica of a dress River Song wears in Dr. Who, all laid out and ready to cut out. Summer 2013 |  River Song DressFinished! Summer 2013 |
 River Song DressSummer 2013 |  River Song DressSummer 2013 |  River Song DressSummer 2013 |
 Oddish DressDraping the pattern for my Oddish cosplay. Summer 2013 |  Oddish DressDress in action! Wig close up shots can be found in my arts and crafts section. Summer 2013 |  Oddish WigStyled by myself. Base wig purchased from Arda Wigs. Summer 2013 |
 Oddish WigSummer 2013 |  Women's Trench CoatMade for my costume construction class. Spring 2013 |  Women's Trench CoatSpring 2013 |
 Women's Trench CoatSpring 2013 |  R2-D2 DressA quick 50's style R2-D2 dress I made for Halloween. Fall 2012 |  Flareon CosplayCommission for a friend, bodice was made from a Simplicity pattern and skirt was patterned by myself. Spring 2013 |
 Hermione's Red Dress ReplicaReplica of the dress Hermione wears in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1." Made from an altered Simplicity pattern. Summer 2011. |  Hermione's Red Dress ReplicaReplica of the dress Hermione wears in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1." Summer 2011. |  Mad Hatter CostumeA steampunk-esque Mad Hatter coat I made. Spring 2011. |
 Mad Hatter CostumeA steampunk-esque Mad Hatter coat I made. Spring 2011. |  Mad Hatter CostumeA steampunk-esque Mad Hatter coat I made. Spring 2011. |  Pirate CostumePirate costume I made. The coat, shirt and pants were made by me, other pieces were purchased. Spring 2011. |
 Pirate CoatFront. Spring 2011. |  Pirate CoatSide. Spring 2011. |  Pirate CoatBack of the coat. Leather applique is hand stitched on. Spring 2011. |
 Tsubaki Yayoi Cosplay (right figure)Cosplay from the video game BlazBlue. I patterned and constructed this costume entirely myself. Sword was constructed by Bob Stamm, shield by myself. Spring 2010. |  Tsubaki Yayoi CosplaySpring 2010. |
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