The Gala and Fantasy Tea.

Yesterday as I stated, Costume college holds social events every day in addition to classes and workshops.  There are classes for fashion trends, designers, jewelry making, techniques needed to finish historical gowns, armor making, etc.  There are so many choices, it is sometimes hard to decide where to go and what to do while trying to fit lunch in. 

The Saturday night event is called the "Time Travelers Ball" which is a sit down 3 course meal followed by dancing till around midnight.  I do not usually stay till midnight because I have to be up early to man the information booth on Sunday mornings.  I'm a department chair so I am required to put in some time there answering questions.

Now to a couple of photos of the Saturday night Gala.

 

The theme of this year's focused on royalty so many of the attendees created magnificent gowns a queen or princess might have worn.  As you can see in the above picture, some of the folks spend a lot of time recreating detailed gowns for the Gala.  

This photo area was right behind me.  I love the color and detail of the pink dress.  They work on making sure their gowns are complete from head to toe.  Many of the hairdo's are actually wigs because a wig is so much easier to fix, especially if you have extremely short hair.

As you can see from the photo, not everyone gets super dressed up. The three people standing in this photo are in evening attire but it is not as decorated as the ones in the first photo.  The young lady in the front right is in a simple black and white Audrey Hepburn look she got from a local used clothing store.  The lady on the left is in something she made representing an outfit from one of the ancient civilizations.  Some men just come in suit and ties. 

 Then Sunday Afternoon, they have the Fantasy Tea where people gather for a high tea with scones,  sandwiches including cucumber, sparkling apple cider.  Each year is a different theme with raffles and time period appropriate entertainment.

If you look carefully, you'll see people wearing the gambit from quite modern to detailed historical.  One lady wore an outfit she copied from a card she found.  The 1880's dress was kind of a Alice in Wonderland Queen with ton's of hearts, chess pieces, etc and was breath taking.

The entertainment this year was of people being given something written they had to turn into a tableau. This one had to do with the four seasons. Several of the narrarator's in the group were pirates.  Everyone who went had fun.

Thank you for letting me show a few photo's from the events held this past weekend.  On Thursday, I fly back to work and then I will be going on a quick day trip Saturday where I'll take a ton of photo's to share.

Let me know what you think.  I am always happy to hear.  Have a great day.

Costume College.

I just spent the past few days attending a wonderful educational opportunity in Woodland Hills, CA.  It happens every year and brings attendee's from all around the world.  I spoke with people from Australia and England.  I think over half the attendees were from out of state including myself.  At this event, you can learn to do so many different things. They have workshops for hands on learning, and lectures.

I gave four lectures and taught one workshop over the weekend.  I also attended a few lectures including one on taking grid based patterns from books and enlarging them so you can make it for yourself.  In addition, there are vendors who have everything you need.  I bought tons of historical patterns for the 1870 to 1900 time period.

This event also includes four different social events. It begins with a pool party on Thursday Night where people go to have fun, show off bathing suits from the 1890's on up to now or they might wear something casual from a different time.  Friday night, they have a wonderful social.  This year, it was a night in Paris Theme with food and entertainment.

People create outfits worthy of being in a museum.  I've seen some I cannot believe and will never be up to that skill level.  I'm sharing some pictures with you from the Friday night event.  Over the next few days, I'll share some from the Saturday and Sunday special events.  I tend to take general pictures that are very relaxed because I do it when they are not posed.

 This picture has gowns from the late 1700's, early 1800's and Victorian around 1870 or 1880

 In the above photo the gold is from the 1890's but in the background there are a variety of outfits including regular evening gowns.

This outfit, the one with the snail shell is one of my favorites.  Her hat has two antenna to complete the outfit. It's in the style 

 Some one came as a flower.  The back of the headpiece is beautifully done.

There is a beautiful selection of periods and styles.

 Here you see some beautiful beaded dresses from the early 1900's.  Probably Titanic era.

 If you look carefully, you'll even see the little one in the background who is is costume.

 Many people choose to wear more modern fashions because they are easier to find and pack.  Look to the right and you'll see a late 1940's or early 50's dress.

Yes many of these costumes were made by the people wearing them but others bought theirs off of ebay or had someone else make it.  No everyone was in costume.  Some come in their regular clothing.  This even allows people to show off their creations to others who appreciate the work on it.

I will share more pictures from the Saturday and Sunday events.  I hope you enjoyed these.  Let me know what you think.

Out of Town

Out of town learning more about historical costuming and costuming in general.  Will share Monday and hope to have tons of pictures to share.

Next Lunar Eclipse

  I love astronomy.  I own a telescope I picked up at a garage sale for $20 but I have not had a chance to use it much for the simple reason that the best time to use it in the middle of winter when the temperatures are down around -40.  I do not like being outside for long periods when its that cold.

I can't use it in the summer because its so light, you do not get a chance to see the night sky.  I think we go from Mid April to Mid August with no darkness so we cannot see the stars.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll get a good chance to observe the next lunar eclipse because its visible to people who live in most of Europe and Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Antarctica, and the Indian Ocean.

Unfortunately, I'm in Los Angeles on July 27, 2018 when the lunar eclipse happens but people in this town are not going to see the event. I'm frustrated because it gets dark here and I don't get to see it.  This one is going to be the longest lunar eclipse in this century.  Fortunately, lunar eclipses happen about twice a year, usually in January and June or July.

For those of you who are not sure about lunar eclipses, it happens when the moon appears to go dark as it passes through the earth's shadow.  These are often referred to as a blood moon because as the moon enters the earth's shadow, it turns a deep dark red.  This occurs because the light rays are bent around the earth and hits the surface of the moon. 

The eclipse can be observed anywhere it is night time and its length depends on how close to moon rise or moon set it begins.  The best thing about lunar eclipses is that you do not need any special equipment to view it and your eyes are not at risk of being damaged by watching it.   For those who are able to observe it, the event should take up to four hours from start to finish.

Four days after this lunar eclipse occurs Mars is at its closest point to earth since 2003. The next lunar eclipse is due to happen on January 20, 2019 and there is a good chance people in the United States will be able to watch it.

Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Grace Kelly, The Name Says It All

Grace Kelly, the woman who married the Prince from Monaco to become a Princess.  Although she stared in 11 pictures over a 5 or 6 year period, she left her mark on the world.

She caught the eyes of the world in her second picture "High Noon" and became a star.  Over her short career, she stared in three Hitchcock films.  It is said she set the standard for future actresses who were cast in Hitchcock films.

She had a very distinctive style which was quiet, timeless, and understated.  She influenced fashion designers of her time and even to today.  She was beautiful in a classic way.

Its interesting to me that she was born into a wealthy family where her father was a former athlete and her mother was the first woman coach at the University of Pennsylvania.

When she was old enough, she left for New York to pursue a career in theater and while there she worked a a part time model before going to Hollywood.  Her parents were not happy she took up acting but it was actually a Pulitzer prize winning uncle who encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

Once she started acting, her career took off and exploded.  In 1955 she was chosen to be one of the American group who went to France for the Cannes Film Festival.  It was there she met Prince Rainer when she participated in a photo shoot.  They hit it off.  When she went back to the states, they continued talking and got together again when he came on a diplomatic mission.  Three days after meeting her family, he proposed.

She excepted the proposal but as part of marrying into royalty, her father had to come up with a dowry.  He came up with $2 million which helped pay for the wedding.  She wore a 10.47 carat emerald cut diamond ring.  She married her prince in April of 1956. The gown she wore inspired designers to create similar gowns even to today.

 Although Alfred Hitchcock tried to get her back to acting, her life as a royal princess precluded her from doing that.  She was one of those women who was as beautiful in her 50's as she was in her 20's.  All through her life, she maintained that wonderful look she began in Hollywood.

She died in 1982 of a stroke while driving.  Unfortunately, this caused her to crash, which killed her.  Almost 100 million people watched her being laid to rest via television.  Even after her death, she received accolades such as appearing on a stamp, a commemorative 2 euro coin, and a Sculling (rowing) even was renamed in her honor.

She may have had a short life, but she left her mark on the world.  I wish I could be as graceful as she and dress as well.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.

She Doesn't Live Here.

I believe I mentioned the other day that the State of Alaska has a major election coming up in November.  I do not usually pay attention to candidates because this state has either 5 or 6 officially recognized parties depending on the number of votes each gets during an election.

The parties include the Democrats,  two different republican parties, the Libertarians, the Green party, and the Independent party.  This many different parties can make life interesting.

Some of the folks who run provide so much entertainment such as the lady who often ran for office but was unable to win.  She accused the Anchorage City Council of sabotaging her husband's law test so he couldn't pass it.  At that point, he'd taken the test 25 times and had yet to pass it.

The latest issue is the woman who is running for the United States House.  She threw her hat in the ring running on the Democratic ticket for the primary.  The thing that has people upset is the candidate is not a resident of the state She has never even visited the state, yet she feels she can adequately represent the state in Washington D.C.

The Democratic party filed objections but apparently it was done after the time limit for objections so now she is on the ballot.   According to the Alaskan Constitution, must meet the requirements for citizen and age along with residing in the state at the time of election. 

Another odd thing about this candidate is that she has listed one address in New Jersey and another in South Dakota.  Apparently, she lives in South Dakota but the address listed there is a mail drop for transient seniors . She has spent a lot of time in New Jersey dealing with a family illness but the address listed there is for a business. 

Personally, I find it strange that someone thinks they can do a great job of representing the state without ever living there or even visiting.  In a previous senatorial election, someone who sort of lived here managed to get the backing of the Tea Party to get the Republican nomination but many of his electoral messages focused on his being from Nebraska.  He lost to a write in candidate.

In addition, she is relying on her website and used of social media for her campaign. According to one article, she doesn't even plan to visit the state unless she wins the primary.  It seems to me that if you want to represent a state, you should at least go up and check it out, meet people, and let them know you are running.

Although there are cases in other states where someone comes in just to run for a congressional seat and have won, Alaska tends not to have time with people who have not lived in the state.  I want to know how she thinks she could effectively represent the state when she's never been here.  She cannot understand the dynamics of living in a place accessible only by air or having a very limited set of roads.

The primary is next month.  I'll keep watch on things and report back.  Let me now what you think.  I'd love to hear.

Something New At the Farmers Market.

I shared information about our Farmers Market earlier this month but the other day when I got there, I discovered a new vendor who had an item I've never seen offered before.

The vendor offered freshly grown oyster Mushrooms.   As you can see in the picture to the left, the mushrooms are absolutely beautiful and mouth watering. 

We've had wild mushrooms such as freshly gathered morel's picked from local areas.  I enjoy morel's but its nice having something new offered.

I love mushrooms, all kinds.  I've even been known to buy them when I'm traveling to bring home since the varieties available up here is rather limited.

The owner returned this past Saturday with more Oyster Mushrooms, I bought more.  We do not get them very often at the supermarkets locally so of course I had to buy some to cook up.

The first bunch I purchased, I did two different things with.  I cooked some up in butter and garlic, then spread it over buttered pasta and topped it with a bit of fresh grated Parmesan cheese.  It was turned out so well.  I loved it.

The other portion, I chopped up with an equal amount of chopped eggplant.  Cooked them up in oil with a bit of onion and broth.  when the eggplant softened, I added a little taco seasoning to add a bit of flavor and served it in corn tortillas heated on a greased cast iron skillet.  I'd found the recipe but I don't eat the meat so I substituted the eggplant and it worked well.

Last night, I again cooked the mushrooms up with eggplant, zucchini, onions, garlic, and a bit of chopped up Napa cabbage.   I threw in a bit of enchilada sauce before making stacked cheese enchiladas with this stuffing, a bit of cheese, and a bit more sauce at the end to make sure the top layer wasn't too dry.

Ohhh I loved it.  Yes I enjoy cooking and eating well spiced and flavored foods.  I think tonight, I'm going to finish off the mushrooms by making a mushroom pate with part of them and fry the rest up with butter, garlic, and a splash of wine.  That last one, I'll savor it by itself.

I hope you have a great day.  Enjoy yourselves and let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.