Costumes! Costumes! Costumes!

Technorati Tags: costumes, Easter Bunnies, Plus Size Costumes, Sexy Costumes, theatrical productions, valentines day costumes

Genealogy and Halloween Costumes

Last evening, as I was watching the PBS special “Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” on the genealogy of several famous personalities, I began pondering my own lineage going back several generations.  As it was noted on the special, that I am (we are) a direct descendant of hundreds of thousands; nay, millions of ancestors.

NBC will host a series along the same lines commencing this week called “Who Do You Think You Are?“.

How does this relate to Halloween?

Halloween is only 239 days away and it’s time to start thinking about what you are going to wear to your annual Halloween party this season.  Where will your ideas come from this year?  Or will you be content to wear the same old Sexy Witch  or  Gorilla costume as you did last year?

As I costumer, and to somewhat prepare for the next Halloween season,  I always looked at new (in the year) TV shows, movies, politics  and other lifestyle trends to see what might be popular later in the year. This year the above mentioned shows might be the stimulus for new Hall

oween costume ideas.

We ar

e but composites of hundreds of t

housands; nay, millions of ancestors.  As we go back many generations, each one had a tale to tell.  Wow!  That certainly opens up the possibilities for Halloween costumes for this October.

Hmmm….where did I come from…..who were my ancestors?  Can I dress like one of my ancestors this Halloween.  Am I from European ancestry, or African or Asian?  Or a blend? 

A native of Germany, my great  grandfather was a bootlegger during Prohibition selling an illegal potent potable (bathtub gin, I would assume)  to local hotels.  He was also in the military in the post Civil War era.  For Halloween, I could dress in a gangster suit, or an Army uniform of the period?  Maybe lederhosen to reflect his country of origin ?   And he is just one person in my upline (that sounds like a multi level marketing term, doesn’t it?).  The possibilities are nearly endless. 

A little research (which will be informative, if not rewarding) is the starting point on this.  So talk to a parent or an older relative and see where it goes from there.

Technorati Tags: "Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, "Who Do You Think You Are?, genealogy, halloween, Jr.", NBC, PBS

This is a blatant pitch to sell something. As a result of overbuying a quantity of Aunt Lydia’s Rug Yarn for a manufacturing project, we are now in possession of ‘about’ 2 gross skeins (288) of color Red 0120. If there is a little old lady out there who is making one huge shawl, this might be just the thing for you. FYI, Aunt Lydia’s Rug Yarn has been discontinued and is no longer available except in smaller quantities on eBay. If you have any interest, please contact us at: costumes3@gmail.com or russkampmann@gmail.com Celastic. If you don’t know what ‘celastic’ is, we will be doing a series of videos later this Spring or Summer on how to construct cartoon heads with it. In any event, we have a little of this to sell as well. The term ‘celastic is being used generically in this frame of reference, but has the same properties (more or less). No firm prices at this time on the yarn, but are willing to negotiate.

Technorati Tags: aunt lydias, aunt lydias red rug yarn, celastic, form fast, yarn

Celastic!  

Celastic, you say!  What is Celastic?

For me, Celastic (a trademarked name) and it’s variations have been godsends to my business.  When I was a mere lad in my first few months in the costuming business, I learned some of the old paper mache techniquess to build cartoon character heads for our shop.  You know…a much less sophisticated version of the type of cartoon characters you see might  see at a Disneyland or Kings Dominion.

In layman’s terms, Celastic is a sort of plasticized lightweight canvas or heavyweight fabric, which when softened in Acetone or MEK can be shaped into any  number of objects (using a mold).    Actually in comes in various thicknesses.  We used to buy it in rolls, but it now comes in 40″ x 55″ inch sheets.  

Cut into strips and/or sections, it is laid over a form or mold and assumes the exact shape and dimensions of the form.  After it dries and is cut off, it has become a clone of the form, except minimally larger.

In the masqueade, theatrical, performing arts arenas, it’s used for puppets, scenery, props as well as costumes, but it may even have practical applications.  At one time, I owned a 1965 Ford which had developed a rather large rusted out hole in the

passenger side door.  I previously attempted fiberglass repairs, but to no avail.   I simply placed a piece of Celastic over the gapping hole (after have saturated it in MEK) and ‘Bwala’, I repaired the hole.  It was ugly because it couldn’t be sanded, but it eventually outlasted the life of the car.

What I especially like about Celastic is that is impervious to the elements (waterproof), is lightweight enough to be able to be supported on the head/shoulders, and when dented, can easily be snapped back into place.  Paper mache, although lightweight, could easily become misshapen during a rainstorm; and dents required repairs.

Keep tuned for some videos in a few months, as I walk you through the process of building a cartoon character head.

NOTE:  For more information about Celastic, please contact us at russkampmann@gmail.com or costumes3@gmail.com

Technorati Tags: cartoon characters, celastic, costumes, form fast

It’ll be Christmas 2010 before you know it! 

Your plan is to pack away your Santa outfit for another year, if you haven’t already done it.  The Santa wig and beard is a little tired or a little shabby, and one of Santa’s gloves is missing, but not to worry.  You’ll order a new set of each before Christmas next season (2010). 

But you’ll open your Santa suit four days before Christmas in 2010, and find that you still have a shabby wig and beard and are still missing a glove; but not enough time to order replacements. 

Why not do it now? 

Not only is it fresh in your mind, a few costumers might be having sales on your needed items.  So is it better to buy now when the prices might be a little better, than to find out next year it’s to late to order and have Santa still wearing that same old tired wig and beard?

Where to look?  Your local phone book will list all of the all-year-round costume shops in your area.  They will be listed under “Costumes” in your yellow pages.

If you don’t have a shop near you, there are numerous online shops that can accommodate your needs to include Santasuits.com listed at the top, right column.

Technorati Tags: Christmas Costumes, costumes, miss santa, mrs. santa, Santa Beard and Wig, santa costume, santa costumes, santa outfits

2008…2009…2010…

And yet another countdown.  This time to the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010, whichever you prefer.

We’ll talk about the cleaning and storage of Santa in a few days; but in the meantime, we have another masked ball to go to on December 31.  

Gone are the heydays of the Night Clubs and Supper Clubs and their  formality of wearing tie and tails, top hat and cane, black and white, formal dressware.

Although much more informal in this new century, there are still a few costumed parties.  But it might be a little more difficult to dress in costume than at Halloween, where anything is fair game.

For New Years Eve starters, there are the robed Father Times, and diapered Baby New Year costumes.  A long white wig and beard, similar to Santas might be in order, but the scythe might be a bit dangerous to the other party goer’s.

What happened in 2009 (events and celebrities as in who died and who did what) might be starting points for your costume; and politicians are always fair game.

Or maybe, just wear the glitz and glittered shiny cardboard hat, and have a blowtickler (aka snake blowout) handy to make a little noise at midnight.  

Have fun, because the next day is the beginning of a new year.

Technorati Tags: costumes, Plus Size Costumes, Sexy Costumes

For the Newbie Santa….A Few Last Minute Tips…

Your suit is ready. Your belt, boot tops, glasses and gloves are lined up, and show time is very soon.

Some children love to sit on Santa’s lap and chatter about how good they’ve been and what they want for Christmas.  Then there are those children, who love Santa from across the room or at a distance, but want nothing to do with him at a close up range. 

Don’t take it personally.  It’s not you.  It’s your persona.

And what to do about those little guys who want to tug on your beard to see if it’s real or those looking for clues as to who you really are.  From my experience, I never really let them get an angle on me where they could try to tug a beard, or look for any telltales signs that might provide them with a clue that you are not really Santa.  I sit them on my lap facing a little bit away from me, and a little more towards the audience (family, parents, whatever).  They then have to turn their face a little to the rear to see me, but their body is angled away from me so as to prevent those grabs and deeper glances.

If you are a newbie, and concerned about the forthcoming interaction, your questions are probably less about the suit, and more about THE conversation.  And conversing with a 4 year old is always interesting to say the least. 

After plopping the child on my lap, I ask the usual questions such as ‘Were you a good little girl or boy?’, and ‘What would you like Santa to bring you?’ and offer a little advice on a few of their shortcomings (as provided by Mom or Dad). I might speak of my home at the North Pole or about Mrs. Santa or the Elves or the reindeer.  My needing to feed my reindeer or needing to see other children was always my exit line.

As to how to field the children’s questions?  Out of the mouths of babes come the least expected questions.  Either answer the question with a simple answer, or dazzle them with your intellect (G).  Basically brother, you’re on your own on this one.

How long should you hold the child?  Sometimes it seems like an eternity, and I’ve never been timed, but I would guess the average child is on my lap for only a couple of minutes.

Lastly, beware the Santa challenged child, though, for they might dampen thy suit.

Hmmm, maybe a backup pair of pants just in case.

Technorati Tags: Christmas Costumes, costumes, miss santa, mrs. santa, Santa Beard and Wig, santa costume, santa costumes, santa outfits

Christmas is only 1 day away! 

Technorati Tags: Christmas Costumes, costumes, miss santa, mrs. santa, Santa Beard and Wig, santa costume, santa costumes, santa outfits

Learn how to be a bad Santa when in a Santa Claus costume for a Christmas party in this free holiday video clip on holiday costume ideas. Expert: Matt Cail Filmmaker: randy primm

Duration : 0:1:27

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Technorati Tags: Christmas Costumes, costumes, miss santa, mrs. santa, Santa Beard and Wig, santa costume, santa costumes, santa outfits

Learn some great tips on how to act like Santa when you are in a Santa Claus costume for a Christmas party. Expert: Matt Cail  Filmmaker: randy primm

Editors Comment:  Good advice!  Look for bad advice in our next video coming soon to a theater (Or computer)  near you.

Duration : 0:1:24

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Technorati Tags: Christmas Costumes, costumes, miss santa, mrs. santa, Santa Beard and Wig, santa costume, santa costumes, santa outfits