Because... You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile....

Hello Dhaaarlings...

And I'm Smiling... Smiling like the cheshire cat darlings... No wait that was in Alice... I'm Smiling like a load of Munchkins somewhere over the rainbow... Or flying monkeys hauling off that pesky Dorothy... No... that was Oz... Erm... I'm Smiling like a little awful Annie that's been adopted by a gazzillionaire... The main thing is that I'm smiling again and all the hard work has been worth it... tho all tooo soon i'l be smiling like a walking talking teapot or candelabra.... either that or snarling like a Beast.... but that's a whole other story.... 

I'm over the worst of a nasty little bout of Manflu thanks to a course of Antibiotics... And these from my GP whom... I might add... doesn't usually believe in prescribing them (without pleading and almost begging him for them) but this time around took one look at me and said

"So Princess... You're here for some antibiotics by the look of you"

The thought crossed my mind to make him beg to prescribe them for me...

Any way it is opening night tommorow (Wednesday)  Hurrah! Ther will be 5 performances and if rehearsals are any indication then it's mor like 7 performance nights....
My work is done and dusted early for a change and the last few days have left me just sewing a button here or replacing elastic there... No Major dramas...

There were the usual artistic arguments and an attempt to usurp Princess by the 16 yearold Understudy for the Head Costumier

(Who just happens to be the daughter of said Head! And having worked hard at developing a good working relationship with her I was't about to let this little upstart attempt to screw things up)

Well... Princess was not going to tollerate being told what to do by a 16 year old and quickly put a stop to her upityness in attempting to order me about in "Mummy's" absence. I let her know very quickly and much to her shock that in "Mummy's" Absence... which was most of the time...

I, Princess was head of costumes and that unless "she pulled her head in" and started to treat me with some respect then I would quite happy to walk and leave her to it...(Fully knowing that if I did that then absolutely nothing would get done)...
She attmpted to continue the behaviour so I called a meeting with both "Mummy" and the Director to discuss 16yo's rudeness and over bossy behavior and lay dwn the law...

After some sulking on her part she got the message... Very loudly and Very clearly.
Mummy also got the message and appologised on behalf of daughters behaviour! I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when they got home that evening....

After this intervention things ran very smoothly... Though I remain unconvinced that "Mummy" was not the root of the problem to start with... after overhearing just by chance... whispered discussions between the pair of them over costume choices for certain characters when they thought I was busy elsewhere then denying that that was what was being discussed whan I called them out... My suspicions confirmed by instant denial and reddening faces on the pair of them.... Nuff Said!...

Anyway here are some pics of the costumes... Many were foundlings from op shops... but many were also made for the show...

Enjoy...

The foundling "Hartnell" on stage... In the "Warbucks" Mansion

Maids and servants costumes all created for the Previous production of the show... Along with "Sandy's" dog suit... Recycled for this show...

Lilly St Regis, Rooster and Miss Hannigan... Lilly and Rooser created by me... Miss Hannigan... Foundling...

 
NYC... Most of the support cast dresses made by me along with capes stoles and hats... and male support cast sourced by me from stock or op shop finds

 
The "OXIDENT" Hour of Smiles... Hosted by "Mrs Healy's little boy Burt"

"Never Fully Dressed" Orphans... All mine... but done with some help for last years production of "Annie Junior"

President  Rooservelts Cabinet... All sourced from Op Shops! Apart from the guard which is a reproduction of the original uniform created by the head costumier...

"The Mansion" Grace's Yellow number is one of mine! Warbucks suit is a foundling altered to fit..

And that's about all the photo's managed to take as I was so enthralled by the talent these kids bring to the stage I forgot that I had my camera with me... No... Seriously! You would be hard pressed to see a better porfomance by an adult cast. These kids are 13 to 18 year olds... and they are truly brilliant! I'm so proud of them all.

Take a bow kids.....

And now that Annie is done and dusted on my part... Princess can sit back  and enjoy the show... Well until next week when I have to start designing an Egg Whisk, a Bottle Opener and Salt and Pepper shaker costumes for the school's production in December of "Beauty and the Beast"... Along with goodness knows how many other costumes that might be required...

I'm Still Smiling Darlings...

Winter Blue's... or... When the Weather's Cold and Daylight is in Short Supply...

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Pass me a tissue will you please... Achoo! Thank you darling...

Princess has been feeling a little under the weather of late

Personally I feel like I'm slowly freezing to death but my GP assures me that It's just a simple case of "Manflu... Suck it up Princess"...

But... I get like this every winter... No energy, feeling lethargic, stuffy head, blocked ears, sneezy runny nose, achy joints and a coldness that leaves me feeling chilled to the bone... regardless of the layers of clothing applied... And often the only way I can really warm up is to climb into bed with the electric blanket turned up on to high....

(Perhaps a better solution would be to climb into bed with a nice warm man turned on to high)

The worst part is the chronic lack of motivation that I'm suffering... and it is not from a lack of not having anything to do...

Currently the production for "Annie" is in full swing an although the bulk of the costumes were completed for the production of "Annie Junior" at the end of last year there have been lots of adjustments to make to most of the existing costumes and many more new costumes to create than I had anticipated having to develop...

This time around it is the full stage production of the musical with more chartacters and many more scenes.... all requiring additional costume changes for the leads... 

Consequently it has been quite a struggle to keep on top of things... and with opening night rapidly approaching ( the last week in July) I still have several costume pieces to complete from scratch along with other bibs ans bobs to source... Thus the lack of photographic evidence...

Apart form the production work... I'm still on the process of creating "Duck" costumes for "the farmers" travelling animal show and in the middle of all this have been offered a contract with a local designer on the throws of launching a new product. It is piece work.... involving filling and sewing closed "designer" wheat hot packs.  It is a potentially lucritive side line but at present am awaiting the arrival of a new presser foot for my machine that will make sewing the faux fur packs easier and hopefully quicker to complete... The Empress hopes to be involved in this latest venture and is quite looking forward to some extra pocket money...

Speaking of the Empress her health problems have finally been sorted for the moment... It turns out thet the dizzy spells and blance problems have in the main stemmed from high blood pressure...

The most recent review of her brain tumours has revealed a lack of any change in size (which is miniscule anyway) or symptoms that might be associated with it... so as a result the specialist does not want another review for 12 months.  The specialist did say however that there are signs of mild ischaemic damage throughout her brain which she feels are not entirely uncommon for someone her age but are possibly related to her recent high bloodpressure... A stern letter to her GP has remedied this via an increase to her dosage of anti-hypertensive medication and the dizzy spells appear to have lessened.

The last review with the bone doctor went well and the Empress has opted not to have further surgery as her hip pain is curently quite managable and she was reluctant to experience another 6 weeks on crutches while recovering from the surgery along with the fact that during the last few times of having proceedures done under a general anaesthetic she has stopped breathing while on the table... So any further surgery is a risk!

Fortunatley the daylight hours are now getting longer so hopefully i'llbe feeling better soon and the motivation will return...

In the meantime Darlings... Bottoms Up!

And No... I haven't forgotten the FGES caption compo... I just can't be arsed getting it organised for the time being... Fortunately, they remain contained within their pickling jar... Thank goodness the Empress was on the ball and acted so quickly on their arrival... Who knows what my "Fabric Stash" would look like by now?