A good day for baking bread

Today's rainy weather gave me an opportunity to bake a little bread.  Montana is so funny in the summer, with 90 degree weather one day, followed by rain, hail, and the furnace clicking on the next.  Conrad and I have become addicted to our homemade bread, and store-bought simply won't do any more. You know it's simple if two lazy folks like us do it.  I use the "Artisan Bread in 5" recipe, but modify the instructions a bit to save time.  I just put a silicone sheet on a cookie sheet, pull out a wad of dough, form the loaf, score the top, let rise for about 15-20 min.  Then I throw it in a hot (450) oven for 40 min.with a pie tin half full of water underneath.  I don't fool around with my pizza stone or cornmeal, because it makes a mess in the oven. Here's the recipe, in case you haven't tried it yet...

In a gallon ice cream bucket, stir up 3 cups water, 1.5 Tablespoons of yeast, 1.5 Tablespoons of kosher salt, and 6.5 cups of flour. 

Cleopatra

So, one of my little buddies needed a Cleopatra costume for her 

biography wax museum project. 

 I made her just the simplest little tunic, sash, and headdress.  

Isn't she so cute?  

Here she is, posing with her asps!

Undersea Jacket

 One of my colleagues has a son graduating from a local school this summer, and they have a "under the sea" theme for their commencement celebration.  He wanted a jacket to wear for the event.   I had a lot of fun decorating this one for him.  

To make the background scene, I sponged various shades of green paint on a sprig of juniper bush and pressed it against the fabric with newspaper.  To make the "coral", I used a sprig of lambs-ear with fuchsia and white paint.  The fish are actually cut from fabric that was designed to look like peacock feathers, with pieces added on to make fins.

  

This was a really fun, fast project!

Front view

Back view

March Hare

March Hare

Here is my friend Richard, graciously modeling another costume for Alice In Wonderland. I wanted him to look like he has been rolling around in someone's garden, so I distressed the jacket with a little spray paint, and gave him a carrot boutonnière, as well as one tied to his ear with a little raffia. His tail and cheek puffs are made from fuzzy "homespun" yarn.  I dyed the fur unevenly, to give him a somewhat scorched and frazzled look.

 

 

mad hatter

 My darling neighbor boy agreed to model all my costumes so I could get a few photos prior to shipping them all off.  I told him I would make him some cookies in exchange.  The Mad Hatter turned out pretty well, althought I should have thought to have him put on some mismatched socks and some funky shoes.  I bought the wig commercially, and it was a disappointment.  I should have had the confidence to make my own.

 

frog footman

Here is my fabulous froggy footman for Alice in Wonderland.   I like him quite a lot, but if I were to start over again, I would have given him an articulated jaw.  Perhaps he doesn't have any lines in the play, I don't know for sure.  The photo at the lower right is my inspiration.

Cheshire Cat

This is my slightly scary Cheshire Cat.  She has light up eyes and teeth!  I had to dye the fur gray, and it turned out more blue than I had intended.  Then I added turquoise and black stripes, as well as bleaching some areas for contrast.  The jaw is fully articulated, so the mouth moves when the actor speaks.  The claws are actually fake fingernails from the beauty supply shop... Flexible, shiny, study and cheap!

Hooka-smoking Caterpillar

I'm working on a few costumes for Alice In Wonderland.  This is my rather large caterpillar suit.  He will be sitting on a toadstool, so the actors' legs won't show.  The arms move in unison, thanks to the fishing line.  I sort of wanted to put shoes on all his feet, bit I didn't want to spend the money.  Wouldn't he look great in hightop sneakers, though?  I have sent him off to spokane, so now it's too late!

Mandy's wedding dress

My friend Mandy asked me to make her wedding dress. She designed it herself, with lots of pleats and bling... I had to make up the pattern as I went along, based on a sketch.  It ended up looking beautiful on her.  It fit pretty well, considering that I couldn't do any fittings (she lives on the other side of the continent).

Serious bling!



Lots of pleats!



Slightly distorted photo-  she's tall and lean

caterpillar costume

This is a caterpillar costume I made for children's play at school.  I love the way the arms all move together, thanks to fishing line. It's actually a child's size 10, but one of my adult colleagues couldn't resist trying it on, thus the 3/4 length sleeve effect.
I used some magnificent striped fleece, with a children's jacket pattern, cut extra-long.  The eyeballs are holographic stretch lycra. It looked great on stage!