Hokuto Sumeragi - Mad Hatter #63

my beta-tested teacup holster (in cork canvas), and the buckles,
D rings and stud buttons. plus the burgundy leather for the Hokuto holster.

Went shopping again. Needed to go downtown to sort a few things, so I decided to go to Domingos & Nogueira, to fetch a custom zipper I ordered them for another project (not ready yet), and get the hardware I needed for the teacup holster. I bought double the needed hardware, already thinking of the second holster and, while I was waiting at the shop for them to get me the buckles, I decided to check their leather scraps shelves. There they were, these nice burgundy leather scraps, and because they were quite cheap, I decided to get them. And then I forgot to get the thread...

At first I was thinking of getting fake leather, as usual, but they usually only carry neutrals and primary colours, only bright red, no cerise or burgundy, my costume's colours. Besides being cheap, these were scraps, so they're sort of sustainable too. And no plastics involved, so maybe, it's better. I prefer to take a sustainable route for my crafting, but sometimes it's very complicated. I usually shop locally and at traditional shops, like Domingos & Nogueira. I do this for sustainability reasons, but mostly to keep the traditional commerce going and because I can see and touch the materials live. Besides, their service is usually more personal, the shop people tend to be very nice to customers, especially in these pandemic times, when they were forced to close for months.

Now to decide if I want the suede or the leather side on the outside.

+ a cool but cheap addition to my costume. The holster isn't in the original artwork, but the teacup is, and sometimes it's not very practical to have to carry a two piece prop all the time. Besides, a teacup holster is a rather cool piece.

- I forgot to get the thread, but maybe it's the universe telling me to make the other more important pieces of this costume first. Using real leather isn't usually my first choice, but using fake (plastic) leather probably is even worse for the environment.

THE CUNNING PLAN 

Get back to the to do list, and try to finish more costume pieces. Maybe make the shirt's button holes, and the bloomers. Or hem the skirt, things I can quickly machine sew.

Hokuto Sumeragi - Mad Hatter #62

Me, beta-testing the Hat.

I beta-tested the Mad Hatter's hat. On the 3rd of October, there was a small meet, Steampunk Wonderland, organised by a bunch of nice people, the Liga Steampunk de Lisboa. It was something close to my performance idea for my art project, a picnic with the Alice in Wonderland theme, where each guest was invited to wear something theme related, should bring their own teacup, for health reasons, and something to eat or drink. I made cucumber sandwiches, the British recipe (just white sandwich bread, butter, slightly marinated sweet cucumbers), and took my cute red flowers teacup.

As for the outfit, I haven't been working on my Mad Hatter for the last few months, and the only finished, but the most iconic, piece was the hat, so I decided to beta test it. I also thought about finishing the button holes on the shirt and wear it, but it was still (it is still) very hot, and I didn't want the shirt to get all sweaty before its time. So, I wore my Biba pinafore, Ialso made myself a few years ago, with a peasant blouse, and decided to make a teacup holster, in cork canvas and golden vinyl. Because that was a very busy week, I ended up not finishing the teacup holster, and didn't have time to go buy the buckles and D-rings for it. I took it to the picnic, and finished the main seams while there. The plan is to make another one in burgundy pleather, to match the Hokuto costume.

The hat keeps its balance well, but it needs some way to stay on my head, especially while wearing the wig. I think I'll add a ribbon to tie it, or some strong hair clips, as I don't think wig clips will be strong enough. Every time there was a stronger wind, the hat wanted to tip. I also didn't put anything inside, which may unbalance it even more.

Meanwhile, I wanted to buy the laser cut satin lace, for the skirt and bloomers' hems, but it was sold out... I don't think I'll make the embroidered hem as I previously thought, but I'll make some tests with the rolled hem foot, and simply hem it that way. If I ever manage to buy the lace in the future, it's easier to replace it, with less fuss.

I also made a dress for myself, the Sewing Woes dress, and it turned out very cute and fun. But it took me about 2 weeks, to make a dress I'd make in two or three days... And I have plans for 4 more dresses for myself.

+ It's always a good idea to beta-test any newly created piece, especially those with a different design and engineering. Steampunk Wonderland was perfect for that.

- Still need to add to the hat, find another solution for the lack of that perfect lace, and find the motivation to go on making the costume.

THE CUNNING PLAN 

Find the motivation, finish the costume! The shirt is already near me, so I can make the button holes.