Friday 2/4
I gave up on Maybelle's dress. I just didn't think I was going to have time, so I decided to cut my losses and begin perusing the plus size racks. I ducked into Fashion Bug for a few minutes, but only a few minutes. Partly because the selection for plus sizes was not very large, but partly because of the concerned salesperson hovering around me. She finally worked up the nerve to confront me, and inform me that "people your size USUALLY shop on the other side of the store."
I told her I was looking for costumes, and I think she was offended by the suggestion of such a base use for her fabulously fashionable plus sizes. She suggested checking Goodwill or Salvation Army instead, and hovered until I took her up on her suggestion, and left.
I told her I was looking for costumes, and I think she was offended by the suggestion of such a base use for her fabulously fashionable plus sizes. She suggested checking Goodwill or Salvation Army instead, and hovered until I took her up on her suggestion, and left.
CJ took me out to eat at Biggs Barbecue. After we finished I wiped my face, and announced, "I'm going to Salvation Army to shop for some goooooorgeous laaaaaaaaarge clothing. Wanna come?" I threw in an eyebrow waggle for effect. CJ declined the opportunity to accompany me.
My search yielded a magenta polyester skirt suit, a lovely flowered blouse, and a silk dress. The skirt suit is actually rather attractive on my 2X-size test subject. The dress, however, was a misshapen, ill-fitting no-go. Maybelle was less than impressed with his/her clothing options, but I convinced him/her that he/she looked quite 60s-fabulous, especially with the bow tied on the blouse's neck. We're still working on Maybelle's bra stuffing skills, however. Hopefully by the first performance Maybelle's faux-busoms will be looking less lumpy and more realistically droopy.
Wednesday 2/8
I schlepped my sewing machine and accessories to school, and set them up on my language lab next to my desk. I would be spending most of the next 48 hours in my classroom, thanks to parent teacher conferences, leaving me little time at home to finish costume construction before Friday's first dress rehearsal.
I should be complaining and concerned about the very few parents on my PT conference schedule, but instead I was very grateful for the hours of uninterrupted time to sew finishing seams and feather boas onto Edna's dress and skirt suit.
At one point a wandering dad stepped into my room, which I naturally assumed was the beginning of a walk-in conference. "No, no," he explained, "I just wanted to see what that big purple thing was that you just held up."
Thursday 2/9
I had marked off two hours of my afternoon to devote to Hairspray rehearsals. One hour of that time was actually used for Hairspray directly. I met with 1/3 of the cast to try on their costumes for the first time.
This is the most stressful part of the process, because 10 excited high schoolers have LOTS of questions and needs to be met. By the time that we got everyone's concerns dealt with, I decided I needed a more methodical way of collecting a to-do list while working through a first fitting. Hopefully I will remember everyone whose pants need to be smaller, larger, more green, less brown, etc... Disorganization really annoys me, especially when it is my own fault.
The other hour of my blocked off time was spent not in the theater department or on costumes, but on a theater-related effort: attending a rally at the Kansas State Capitol in support of the Kansas Arts Commission, which our governor has deemed an unnecessary drain on the state budget.
I would argue that the arts are neither optional nor a drain on the economy, and encourage anyone reading this to check the facts on the Kansas Arts Commission, and personally contact state legislators urging them to vote for an upcoming resolution in support of the Kansas Arts Commission.
My search yielded a magenta polyester skirt suit, a lovely flowered blouse, and a silk dress. The skirt suit is actually rather attractive on my 2X-size test subject. The dress, however, was a misshapen, ill-fitting no-go. Maybelle was less than impressed with his/her clothing options, but I convinced him/her that he/she looked quite 60s-fabulous, especially with the bow tied on the blouse's neck. We're still working on Maybelle's bra stuffing skills, however. Hopefully by the first performance Maybelle's faux-busoms will be looking less lumpy and more realistically droopy.
Wednesday 2/8
I schlepped my sewing machine and accessories to school, and set them up on my language lab next to my desk. I would be spending most of the next 48 hours in my classroom, thanks to parent teacher conferences, leaving me little time at home to finish costume construction before Friday's first dress rehearsal.
I should be complaining and concerned about the very few parents on my PT conference schedule, but instead I was very grateful for the hours of uninterrupted time to sew finishing seams and feather boas onto Edna's dress and skirt suit.
At one point a wandering dad stepped into my room, which I naturally assumed was the beginning of a walk-in conference. "No, no," he explained, "I just wanted to see what that big purple thing was that you just held up."
Thursday 2/9
I had marked off two hours of my afternoon to devote to Hairspray rehearsals. One hour of that time was actually used for Hairspray directly. I met with 1/3 of the cast to try on their costumes for the first time.
This is the most stressful part of the process, because 10 excited high schoolers have LOTS of questions and needs to be met. By the time that we got everyone's concerns dealt with, I decided I needed a more methodical way of collecting a to-do list while working through a first fitting. Hopefully I will remember everyone whose pants need to be smaller, larger, more green, less brown, etc... Disorganization really annoys me, especially when it is my own fault.
The other hour of my blocked off time was spent not in the theater department or on costumes, but on a theater-related effort: attending a rally at the Kansas State Capitol in support of the Kansas Arts Commission, which our governor has deemed an unnecessary drain on the state budget.
I would argue that the arts are neither optional nor a drain on the economy, and encourage anyone reading this to check the facts on the Kansas Arts Commission, and personally contact state legislators urging them to vote for an upcoming resolution in support of the Kansas Arts Commission.
