Make room, make room

OK, it is getting really crowded around here at the Lombard store, and we need to make some room.

That means that stuff has to go, and that includes a lot of rental costumes.

We have a girl posting items at Josie O’Kain costume shop at Ebay stores check it out  http://stores.ebay.com/Josie-OKain-Costume-Shop?_rdc=1

And I am pulling much much more from all sections of the rental stock, parade/Mascot costume, period costumes, 60′s, 70′s, 80′s style dresses and suits as well as sewing machines fabric and supplies.

I will post more pics on Ebay as well as at http://josieokain.com/, so keep checking or give us a call if there is something you are looking for to buy.

Remember the rentals we are selling are not packaged costumes these are very nice quality that we just can not use any more.

Since we have mainly shifted our attention to show rentals there are just some things that do not work for plays and Musicals.

I am putting up a few pics here just to give you an idea what we are trying to sell. If you are serious just make an appointment to meet with us and we will give you a tour of the shop and what is ava for purchase.

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New Mannequins

OK, not exactly new new, but new to the shop.

So, our local county fair was looking for a new home for a pair of mannequins, which works out great for us because we sold off our mannequins before the move in march .

So, now we have two beautiful mannequins to dress up at the store or for photo shoots when we cannot find models.

Now we just need to name them and we are always open for suggestions just leave them in the comments.

Renn Faire

So, it is that time of year again and time for us geeks to make a run to the Renaissance Faire

Laugh all you want, but it is good family fun at the faire, well maybe just avoid the joust for the ones out there with the Tender Tummy’s.

it has everything, out doors, food and drink, shows, food and Drink, shopping, food and drinks, Knights that are so good-looking it hurts sigh…………where was I? yes food and Drinks.

There are lessons of history as well( yes there are story tellers, musicians, craftsmen and more who share their knowledge of the period, I can sit and listen for hours)

a group of friends and I try to go every year, we are a mix of costumers, photographers and professional make up artists, so our group comes up with some wild costume ideas ranging from your typical Renaissance wear to a group of Fairy folk pimp and whores kicked out by Oberon.

Our line of thinking for a groups this year include, lepers, a renaissance grunge Band, characters from the Wizard of oz, or some random dignitary, with body guards (sunglasses, ear wigs, shoulder holsters and all)

Well enjoy some of our past endeavors, I could not find all the pics we have done

 

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Going to the chapel

So, last friday my youngest sister was married to her love of 8 years.

since time was in short commodity while working on shows, we made a compromise I will go shopping with my sister for a gown and if she found something even close to the style she wanted she would buy it and I would alter till it was the dress of her dreams, if she did not find anything then I was going to be busy this show season with making it from scratch.

after 5 or 6 shops, tons of magazine and internet searches,  in just a few short weeks she found something as close as she was going to get. so I ended up with some hemming, size alterations, bustling and a last-minute chiffon overlay where I had to take apart the whole dress to add an extra layer to the skirt………should of just made the dress.

   

  the first pick is the original style of dress with a satin skirt cut on the bias, what you see is where I pinned it to keep the train up at the reception, but 2 days before the wedding she said the way the fabric was draping it showed a little more of her figure then she wanted , so that is where the layer of chiffon comes in to play and a whole new way to bring up the train.

 The brides maids were postponed a few days after the last post because of last-minute changes in wizard of OZ, but they were finished in plenty of time even made a little dress for my niece.

as with her contract with the store Izzabelle helped with the sewing process of finishing the dresses.

   

one more thing, at her last fitting of the grown, she mentioned that she still had no other nice dress to wear for the honeymoon except her bridal gown, so off we went though rental stock and after trying on a few styles she settled for this lovely blue silk and chiffon late 50′s or early 60′s dress, she loved it alot.

 perfect example where old is new again.

Retro Bowling ball bag

So in my humongous, relatives across the country family, It seems that it is only my mother and I who can sew, so when anyone needs something they will sometimes ask for my help.

This project is a request from my sister, she had joined a bowling team and bought a used bag, shoes and bowling ball.

The bag looked liked crap and was even broken.

 

the outside wa OK, but the inside lining was gone and the bracket to support the bowling ball welds were broken, so we fixed it with good old duct tape and then finished the inside with new fabric and pom-pom trim.

 It is hard to see, but inside there is also a battery operated led blinking light, she was extremely happy and her friends were jealous…….just wish we were able to get the music card to work when she opened it.

Last Minute to Wizard of Oz

So, last night we get a call from the director of the current production of OZ.

There are a few missing items that she needs for the character of Mr. Marvel/OZ. Spats, a 2nd hat, and new this year she wants a full green coat for him to where while in the land of OZ.

Last night from about 7pm till midnight I worked on a new coat/robe and hat for the Wizard of Oz. this is the work of no sleep for 2 days.

 

Now I am off to deliver the last of the costumes.

Garage door Squee!!

I promised a few weeks ago the picture of the garage door of the new store.

We are all so happy to have one.

Hey when you have unloaded 167 costumes through a simple single door carrying 3 at a time because that is all that will fit (remember the costumes are also eventually returned and process is repeated), You would be excited also when you  find that there is a roll up garage door at your store.

Now we load up a clothing rack or two and bring it to the door then roll it out to the vehicle that is to pick it up.

So much easier, the only problem came when I found this doors counter weight sends the door up a little out of my reach, but my nice neighbours put a rope on the door for me to reach and be able to close the door without getting out the ladder…….I owe them a Pepsi…..maybe doughnuts.

Spring Musicals Part 10: Jitterbug/Hairdressers

This will be the last group of new costumes I have created for the Wizard of Oz.

 There are 6 girls that have to change from Emerald City hairdressers to jitterbug singers back to Emerald City hairdressers, so it had to be a quick change.

The director also had a few specifications, large pocket or apron for the Hairdressers to put stuff in, the look needed to stay within the 1940’s theme of the Emerald City residents and these particular Jitterbugs were modeled off the Andrew sisters. 

The design I came up with is a reversible wrap around dress, green and gold one side for the Emerald City and a mix of bright colors on the other side for the Jitterbug scene.

 I am quite happy with how they turned out, but I did run out of one of the fabrics and had to compromise by using a pink base fabric and some shoe dye spray (the stuff really smells bad, so no huffing children). It balanced out, 3 have the original fabric and 3 are painted.

 I will tell you though with it raining outside I had to paint inside for the last hour with the door open and the fan on, it did not help much, the smell is overwhelming and I think I might have damaged my brain, but I can still read, write and work the sewing machines so all is good.

Spring Musicals part 9: Emeraled City

Green, a lot of green, green, green greeeeeeennn.

No wonder Glinda hangs out with the munchkins and wears pink.

Took a whole pile of Green and turned it into a dozen outfits for the citizens of the Emerald City, did I mention they like green.

Have here a few shots of some new outfits, hope to post at Josie’s web site the rest of the show.

Enjoy GREEN.

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the uses of a store mascot

You may ask what is the point of a store mascot?

 Well every one who owns a business knows that having something living in your work environment helps with moral.

 It can be as simple as a plant on the desk, a bouquet of flowers at the receptionist desk, a large tree in the foyer of the building, or an animal like a bird, cat or even dogs.

 Do not laugh there are plenty of places with cats or dogs mingling amongst the workers of America and not just search and rescue units.

 Izzabelle is one such cat, she actually lives at the store, she really hates going to my house in fact she will complain all night including jumping on the bed so no one has a good night sleep, so the store is her home.

 She does not always lie around; she helps out here to, like collecting anything that comes over the fax machine or helping in the office.

  

Keeping guard at the door

 

Showing off costumes

 

Making sure my office chair is secure.

  guess I sit on the floor again

She even helps in the sewing room…Bringing me sewing supplies

  I have not seen that tape measure in ages

Here she uses her weight to press some items that are being glued.

  she stayed for the aloted 4 hours for the glue to set

Yes, the store mascot is a good thing, and brings smiles all around,

 

See how happy she is.