Sep 27, 2021
Reading Tarot at ‘Florence Night Out’, Florence MA, Sept 25, 2021. I did 10 readings in 3 hours, 5 of them after the fair was officially closing for the night. I was a very long day and the Wizard was very tired.
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Reading Tarot at ‘Florence Night Out’, Florence MA, Sept 25, 2021. I did 10 readings in 3 hours, 5 of them after the fair was officially closing for the night. I was a very long day and the Wizard was very tired.
John’s Wizard Costume - Completed! On Video!
Finally - a day without rain when I have someone to photograph me! After 30 years of use, my wizard costume had tarnished and faded bling, so I worked to retrofit, re-bead, re-work, re-embroider, and re-bling my costume (see my archive for some of the re-working in progress). I also made this non-pointy hat to wear; the pointy one always made my head sweat!. After 30 years, the collar is still standing! I posted this video on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/i7_lXomqlcQ
Now to work on some wizard-appropriate footwear to go with it!
The Next Phase of Bling Starts
I probably just barely have enough gold gimp left to finish this one cuff; next delivery should be Monday or Tuesday. The design does not encircle the bottom since the other half of the frog and cuff would cover it. Once I finish the bottom of the cuff, I can always add more gimp pieces if there is too much of a gap.
Comparing the Bling
Top completed today; bottom yesterday I have to move one of the jewels and re-set another I had to move to use an embroidery hoop Each motif is approx 3″ wide X 2″ deep, and this represents about 10 hours worth of work. I only have about 4 feet of gold gimp left, but might still be able to complete the next section I have in mind; if not - order off eBay should be here by the end of the month. This was taken in natural, indirect sunlight - the background is navy.
Sleeve - Blinged!
I finally got back to working on my Wizard, once the french wire arrived from India! Am currently working on the right shoulder/collar. Once I finish the french wire I will be adding the last of the rhinestones - and also adding some to the hat, too! Once I get them all done, I will have to take a video in sunlight, since a still shot does not reveal all the blinging in the robe! Rocaille beads, bugle beads, holographic sequins,star sequins, rhinestones, french wire (or gimp), and anything that would sparkle!
THE BLINGING IS COMPETED!
(Of course, I said that 30 years ago when I first made the costume - and you can see where that has taken me!)
Yes, I finished blinging the robe this week, and now I have finished blinging the sleeves. All of that 'vine work' (heavily inspired by 'Versailles', 'Marco Polo', and 'Rise of Phoenixes') is done in French Wire, or gimp, so it is metal - not bugle beads - and you would be surprised how heavy that little bit of decoration can be!
So, you are probably asking; "So when do we get to see the entire costume, John?". Probably later this week, because there are two things I need: 1) someone to photograph me in it, and it will probably be a video, at that, and 2) Sunlight - which has been a rare commodity this month in these parts!
You may also be asking: "So after all this work, what do you wear on your feet?". In truth, I found the perfect footwear to go with this costume:
https://yeswevibe.com/collections/sneakers/products/sneakers-sparklingsunandmoonblue?variant=13561208733771
but they really just don't make anything that I think will fit my wide feet, and they have a NO RETURN policy.
Enjoy!
Blinging - the ‘Maharajah Effect’.
Today I started Phase 2 of the blinging - adding heat-set jewels that I bought last week with a $15 off coupon at JoAnn’s. I had to wait until this week to buy the heat-set tool off sale when I could use a 60% off coupon and get it for $17 off! I had looked at a cordless one - but didn’t see how 3 AAA batteries would have any kind of life to heat the tool, so opted for the twice-as-costly one at 60% off. Only buy the best - ON SALE! LOL!
Next, I will outline the row of jewels with more gimp roping. If I run out of gold, I have to wait until at least 3/25 for the gimp I ordered from India (free shipping) on eBay to arrive ... so there could be a delay in seeing the finished results, folks! I only have about 4 feet of gold gimp left to play with.
Wizard Costume Sleeve Bling
Top: un-blinged - Left; start of bling - Right
Bottom: Closer-up’
No - these are not bugle beads, they are ‘Gimp” - otherwise known as ‘French Wire”. It comes in long tube as a tightly-coiled spring, and you cut it to length, Some crafters use a super-fine tool that looks like an embroidery hook, but I am sewing it down with beading needles and beading thread. Search ‘Zardozi’ on YouTube and find videos of it being used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYhp6HkgKMM
Oh - this is just the base - it will be enlarged from here with heat-fix jewels and more gimp!