Kimono Sleeve Robe

For "Ariadne" my team constructed a blue velvet, blue satin lined, robe with kimono style sleeves and blue floral embroidery details. It's stunning. The picture you see to the right is me trying on the muslin mock up....which I get to keep! I plan on first finishing all of the seams and then hemming it. Next step will be to wash it because I want to try my hand at dying it. I think I want a rich maroon color, but we'll see what happens. I plan on adding some details like the embroidered flowers or some strips of patterns. I might even throw a lining in for the heck of it since we have the patterns still. But I might be starting a different project before doing all of this to the robe.

Projects Update

Since work in the shop is slowing down I've decided to start up a project. Hancock Fabrics is going out of business here in St. Louis so I went and got some cool things to start working on during my last few days. I did buy a dress pattern and I'm think about trying to go ahead and do that, but I might make a shirt instead with a visible zipper down the back and save the dress for when I can just sit down on a weekend and do it all at once. I bought black fabric with red hearts for the dress and a black with deep red roses for a blouse. I of course then caved when I saw a black and white plaid hounds-tooth with thin pink stripes and bought 3 yds to make a skirt & vest combination. I'm pretty excited about getting back into making my own things and I have a LOT of fabric and materials at home that I can use when I get settled in IL.
I plan on starting a project tomorrow so when I do I'll take pictures and do a step-by-step post with tips and such. So stay tuned for actual exciting posts. Work has been unexpectedly busy these past few weeks so it'll be nice to return to blogging and getting new material for my blog and my website!

What Does A First Hand Do?

The real question is what doesn't a first hand do?
So far with my experience at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis I've learned a tremendous amount and I think I now know what the role of a first hand is in the shop setting. It's a little bit of everything. I do some small patterning (for example cape hoods), a lot of cutting out fabric, I do hand sewing, sew garments together, do alterations, help in fittings, keep everything organized and make sure it's all labeled, and there's a lot more. It's hard to narrow it all down but it really is a little bit of everything- whatever the team needs done.
I'm enjoying my time here with OTSL. It's very fast paced, you're always working, and the people are fun. I'm still leaning towards becoming a costume designer (ideal goal is costume design for movies or TV) but working on operas is pretty wonderful.

Going on Week 3

I'll keep it short this time, but it's been amazing working for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. I'm insanely grateful to my professors who have allowed me to pursue this wonderful opportunity. I am loving working here and I enjoy seeing all of the progress. I've been very busy between work and the extra classes, finishing up my regular classes at Purdue, and then the regular adult life stuff such as grocery shopping, working out, and making sure the apartment is tidy. I'm hoping to post a lot of progress stuff this coming weekend. It's rough to stay up to date with having only 1 day a week off but I shall do it and write some neat posts. 

Opera Theatre of St. Louis: Being a First Hand

I've finished my second day as a first hand for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. It's been pretty great and very busy! For my first day we had orientation and then I spent the next few hours working with my draper at collecting fabrics and getting information on different pieces. I patterned a cloak piece and then cut out 3 of them! Two of the cloaks needed extra pieces so I cut those as well. I did manage to get a hood cut out as well using an already constructed hood as a pattern. For today I managed to get the other cloaks' hood cut out and even the 4th cloak's hood cut out after we washed and dried the fabric (it had majorly shrunk).

Working on Macbeth.

I also pressed and rolled a lot of fabric today since my draper didn't have more patterned. I did mark and cut out a tunic for Macbeth. I also helped cut some other fabric to get ready for our last cloak. We had meetings after lunch so I didn't have a full day's work. I did hand sew some tags in one of the cloaks that have an unattached hood. It was how I spent my last 10ish minutes at work. 

Overall I'm really enjoying working as a First Hand. I don't think I would enjoy being a costume technician as a full time career, but this is pretty exciting and I like working on multiple productions at once. It's fun and keeps things going. I'm excited to participate in the apprenticeship program here as well. It'll be a very busy 2 months and I'm really glad I have this opportunity in my life. It's just a great experience!