sept 2012 issue.pmd

Transcription

sept 2012 issue.pmd

The official publication of the National Costumers Association, Inc.
LEADERS
AND TRENDSETTERS OF THE COSTUME INDUSTRY
September 2012
Volume 88, Issue 3
Established 1923
P ublic
atio
ns Manag
er
ublicatio
ations
Manager
The Costumer
Diane Sheibley
31 Bramblewood St.
Bridgewater, MA 02324
800-NCA-1889 • 774-217-9381
Fax 508-819-3013
[email protected]
Administr
ativ
ecr
etar
dministrativ
ativee S
Secr
ecretar
etaryy
Jennifer Skarstedt
121 N. Bosart Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46201
800-NCA-1321 • Fax 317-351-1941
[email protected]
© 2012, National Costumers Association.
The Costumer is published by the National
Costumers Association, Inc., with headquarters
located at the above address, a nonprofit and
incorporated association of costumers located
in the United States, Australia, Bahamas,
Canada, India, Ireland, Mexico, and Great
Britain.
No responsibility is assumed for the opinions
expressed or claims made by the authors of
articles or by advertisers. Appearance in the
magazine does not consititute endorsement by
the National Costumers Association, nor its
officers or represenatives.
www
.costumers.org
www.costumers.org
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NCA Administration
President’s Letter
This Issue’s Advertisers
Organization, Member, and Industry News
From the Board Room
10
10
11
12
12
NCA Elections
Time & Place: Upcoming NCA Events
Spring Fling Wrapup
Membership Recruitment Committee Update
Annual Business Meeting Recap
14
18
21
2012 National Awards
Member Profiles: Balloons N Parties,
PrivateIslandParty.com, The Wizard’s Chest
More Cleaning Tips
22
26
Steampunk 101
A Day at the Faire: A Photoessay
28
2012 National Convention WrapUp
About the Cover
Pictured here, G. D. Falksen is an author, lecturer,
and MC. He has written an article entitled
“Steampunk 101,” which is reprinted in this issue.
Photo by Anna Fischer.
Cover design by Rob Lehr
The Costumer • September 2012
NCA Administration
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Janie Westendorf
Curtains Up Costumes
100 Kramer St
Sigourney, IA 52591
641-622-3991 • Fax 641-622-3992
[email protected]
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Debbie Meredith
Akron Design & Costume LLC
3425 Manchester Road
Akron, OH 44319
330-644-0425 • Fax 330-644-7425
[email protected]
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Linda Adams-Foat
Camelot Costumes
1321 S. Demeter Dr.
Freeport, IL 61032
815-233-1861
[email protected]
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Nancy Cox
Acme Costumes
2604 Highway 80
Garden City, GA 31408
912-966-0201 • Fax 912-966-0824
[email protected]
DIRECTOR
Marion Bradley 2014*
Balloons-N-Parties
1300 Watson Blvd.
Warner Robins, GA 31093
478-328-1414
[email protected]
DIRECTOR
Karen Grizzard 2013*
Main Street Party Station
10749 Jefferson Ave
Newport News, VA 23601
757-597-7069
Fax 757-591-0692
[email protected]
DIRECTOR
Lorraine Brown 2013*
Fabian’s Upstairs Closet
South Main Street
Fair Haven, VT 05743
802-265-3545
Fax 802-265-3843
[email protected]
DIRECTOR
Terri Greenberg 2014*
Halco
723 E. Railroad Ave
Verona, PA 15147
724-929-7300
Fax 724-929-7301
[email protected]
DIRECTOR
Julie Gump 2013*
Make Believe Costumes & Dancewear
1855 Parental Home Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32216
904-645-6337
Fax 904-645-5564
[email protected]
DIRECTOR
Jane Powell 2013*
Costumes Etc.
2138 Faulkner Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30324
404-728-4598
Fax 404-728-4599
[email protected]
*indicates end of current term
ADMINISTRATIVE & MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY &
NCA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Jennifer Skarstedt
121 N. Bosart Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46201
800-NCA-1321 • Fax 317-351-1941
[email protected]
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Diane Sheibley
31 Bramblewood St., Bridgewater, MA 02324
800-622-1889 • Fax 508-819-3013
[email protected]
WEBMASTER
Rob Lehr
c/o Akron Design & Costume LLC
3425 Manchester Rd., Akron, OH 44319
330-224-4121 • [email protected]
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2012 Standing Committee Chairs
Buyers Group
The Costumer
Disaster
Grievance
Historian
Membership
Memorial Fund
National Awards
Nominations
Parliamentarian
Plot Service
Policy & Procedures
Publications
Roster
Source List
Time & Place
Web Site
Gary Broadrick and Glenn Alexander, Performance
Studios
Diane Sheibley, Publications Manager
Debbie Meredith, Akron Design & Costume LLC
Debbie Meredith, Akron Design & Costume LLC
Rachel Godollei-Johnson, Landes Costumes by
Rachel
Lorraine Brown, Fabian’s Upstairs Closet
Nancy Cox, Acme Costumes
Debbie Lyn Owens, Debbie Lyn’s Costumes
Ken Epperly & Ken Fox, Magic Makers Costumes
Adrienne Anderson, Past President
Joy Galbraith, Costume Gallery-Newport
Linda Adams Foat, Camelot Costumes
Rob Lehr
2013 Event Committee Chairs
National Mini-Convention
Awards
Convention Chair
Convention Host
Convention Program
Creative Costume Event
Education/Shop Talk
Hospitality
Membership Forum
Market
Newcomers Orientation
Opening Night Party
President’s Banquet
Registration
Show and Share
Janie Westendorf, Curtains Up Costumes
Joy and Elizabeth Galbraith, Costume GalleryNewport
Linda Adams Foat, Camelot Costumes
Kathy Dowd, Costume Holiday House
Janine Caufield, Caufield’s
Terri Greenberg, Halco
Lorraine Brown, Fabian’s Upstairs Closet
Crystal and Jacob Locklar
Kathy Dowd, Costume Holiday House
This Issue’s Advertisers
Alan Sloane & Co. ................................................................ 19
Beauty 21 Cosmetics .......................................................... 36
BodyFX ............................................................................... 24
Caufields ............................................................................. 31
Disguise ............................................................................... 17
Fanfest ................................................................................. 8
Flashback & Freedom ........................................................ 23
ForumNovelties .................................................................. 19
Fun World ................................ Inside Front & Back Covers
Halco ................................................................................... 7
Halloween & Party Expo ................................................. 13
Junk for Joy ......................................................................... 31
Paper Magic ........................................................................ 31
Premiere Props ............................................................... 2-3
Rubies .................................................... Outside Back Cover
Sunnywood ......................................................................... 16
Zagone Studios ................................................................. 21
President’s Letter
C ”.
The theme of this President’s letter is the letter “C
C onvention is over and now is a good time to consider
many things. How did c onvention meet our members’
needs? What should we consider changing for the
upcoming c onventions or mini-cons to make them more
beneficial? How do we thank those who contributed so
much to make this c onvention great?
My list of people to thank is VERY long – there were
many volunteers that worked VERY hard to get ready for
convention and also during each event. Those people
include: Jane Powell & Frank McKinnon - our Convention
Hosts; Joy and Elizabeth Galbraith - Education co-chairs;
Janine Caufield along with Glenn Alexander and Gary
Broadrick – Hospitality; Lorraine Brown & Linda
Emerson – for co-chairing Market; Dwayne Ibsen Nominations Committee chair, Memorial Committee chair,
and Presidents Banquet chair; Kathy Dowd - for chairing our
brand new Show & Share event; Linda Adams-Foat - for
chairing our new Student Creative Event; Terri Greenberg Membership Forum chair; Ron Thompson – Auction; Cindy
Catanese - for organizing the Porpoise Club; Pat Coppock
and Dan Pugh - for counting ballots; Howard Swain and
Cheri Sanwick - for making sure our banquets ran smoothly.
Linda Adams-Foat chaired the new Student Creative
event this year, with help from her committee. I feel they
started something great, that should enrich the association
and the lives of the students who entered the event. It is
our hope that these new student members will be active in
the future of the association. It was very exciting to see
what the four applicants came up with for their entries.
This event was also a new way to distribute some
scholarship money to deserving student designers. The
committee agreed they want to continue this event, so you
will see it again in the schedule for the 2013 mini-con next
year and Linda has again agreed to chair the event. To
further support the event, Linda Adams-Foat designed and
created a Civil War dress that went to the highest bidder
during the auction, with the money to be used specifically
for the student creative event. The dress was purchased for
$400, an additional gift of $100 was given, and Marilynn
Wick of Costume World also donated to the fund with
checks totaling $1,000. So this quickly growing fund to
date totals $1,500, which will be used for this event as it
gains momentum.
One of the people on my “thank you list” that had
quite a few duties behind his name is Dwayne Ibsen.
When Nancy Cox, NCA Immediate Past President, knew
she couldn’t be at Convention this year she asked Dwayne
to take the reins, and she obviously made a very good
choice! Not only in planning the President’s Banquet and
our “Night on Cleopatra’s Barge”, but also with his work
on the Nominations and Memorial Committees.
With C onvention merely a wonderful memory, it
makes me wonder what each c onvention attendee c aptured
from the time we spent together. Was it possibly a new
acquaintance or a renewed friendship with an old
c olleague? Was it a new concept to use in your business?
Maybe a creative idea or two? For me it was a great sense
of gratitude - gratitude for all the curious, crazy, creative,
c apable, constructive, c onceptual, c ool, comical people who
made the convention the success that it was!
Janie Westendorf, President
National Costumers Association
Curtains Up Costumes, Sigourney, IA
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Organization, Member,Industry News
Some of these items have appeared in the weekly e-contact, but bear republishing here for the benefit of the entire
membership.
R UBI
E’ S RECE
IVE
S 2011 MONST
ER
UBIE
ECEIVE
IVES
ONSTE
HIGH® ROOK
NSE
E OF TH E
OKIIE LICE
ICENSE
NSEE
Y EAR AWAR
D
ARD
MELVILLE, NY (May 15, 2012) –
Rubie’s Costume Company Inc., has
received the 2011 Monster High North
America Rookie Licensee of the year
award from Mattel, the worldwide leader
in design and marketing of toys and family
products. This coveted award was
presented to Rubie’s at Mattel’s Global
Brand Summit on April 29th in Miami,
Florida.
As one of the most successful children’s
licenses of 2011, characters from the
Monster High Costume Collection
include: Frankie Stein™, Lagoona Blue™,
Cleo de Nile™, Clawdeen Wolf™ and
Draculaura™. Available in children’s,
tween and new adult sizes in 2012, each
character comes to life with unique
designs, intricate detailing and
coordinating accessories. In addition to the
colorful costumes, the line also includes
wigs and make up kits.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the
Monster High phenomenon.” said Howard
Beige, Rubie’s Executive Vice President. “It
is truly an honor to receive such a
prestigious award and we look forward to
developing even more fun and fashionable
products for Monster High fans this
upcoming Halloween season.”
With the expansion of the 2012
Monster High Collection, Rubie’s
continues to create costumes that reflect
the characters’ unique personalities while
paying homage to their cool monster
heritage. As they say at Monster
High….freaky just got fabulous.
A MAZ
ON. C OM PUR
CHASE
S
MAZON
URCHASE
CHASES
For every purchase you make through
the NCA Amazon.com bookstore, the
NCA will receive a small commission
based on the sale. What better way to
support the NCA and purchase books?
There is a direct link on
www.costumers.org, along with featured
books, so as we get into the gift-giving
season, as well as the theatrical costuming
Fall and Winter seasons, check it out, and
support the NCA!
USPS E VE
RY DOOR DIRECT MAI
L
VER
AIL
By Rob Lehr
The United States Postal Service has a
new exciting program called Every Door
Direct Mail. This new service allows for
you to micro-manage what zip code and
what residential route you would like to
target with a postcard. This is the perfect
service for Halloween, and every holiday,
because you can solicit specific areas you
want to bring to your store.
There is no need to print on labels or
buy mailing lists with this program
because USPS will deliver to Every Door
in the mail routes you choose.
To get a postage quote based on your
target zip code, click TRY DEMO at
https://eddm.usps.com/eddm/
A LEGAL NOTICE FROM FRANC
O
ANCO
Dear Franco customers,
The owner of the name “Moulin Rouge”
has requested that Franco discontinue the
use of that name, and accordingly Franco
has changed the name of item #33922 to
Cabaret Diva Feather Mask. We ask that
you also change the name of that product
on your website and other media. Thank
you for your cooperation.
Michele Oumano, Vice President
Franco American Novelty Company LLC
Gregg Kerns of Costume Holiday
House, Fremont, Ohio, got married to
Cathy Miller at Barndiva on May 26th,
2012 in Healdsburg, California. The
celebration dinner was held immediately
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C ONGR
ATS!
ONGRA
after at Seghesio Winery. Julie & Jeff
Gump from Make Believe, in Jacksonville,
Florida, joined the other 23 friends and
family for the week long celebration.
HUR
RIC
ANE ISAA
C
URR
ICANE
SAAC
The NCA sends its concerns and good
thoughts to those members along the Gulf
coast affected by Hurricane Isaac in
August. Contact has been received by just
one member so far, Josette’s in Biloxi, MS.
The store fared well, but the homes of
owners Josette Locklar and Jacob &
Crystal Locklar sustained flood damage.
We hope that other members weathered
the storm with minimal impact, and we
encourage anyone whose business was
affected to contact NCA Disaster Chair
Debbie Meredith at [email protected].
I N MEMOR
IAM: MAR
K A NT
HONY
MORIAM
ARK
NTHONY
F ERRAR
O
ARO
Mark A. Ferraro, 50, passed away
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 in Crystal Lake,
Illinois, surrounded by his loving family.
Born July 24, 1961 in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, he was the son of Ronald
and Bernice (nee Orszulak) Ferraro of
Fantasy Festival Costume & Magic
Center, Algonquin, Illinois.
Mark was a loving husband who
cherished the time he spent with his
family. He served as president of the
Italian-American Club of Marengo and
enjoyed a good meal with family and
friends.
He is survived by his wife of 18 years,
Antonia “Toni” (nee Pecoraro); children
Mariah ( Joe) Ruiz, Mark Jr., Jamie, and
Tyler; grandchildren Olivia, Natalie, and
Aiden; his parents; brothers Joe, Dan, and
Phil; and his sister Amy.
A memorial service was held on June 29
at Davenport Family Funeral Home,
Crystal Lake.

We would like to thank all who offered
their sympathies at the loss of our son Mark.
We would have liked to do so in person at the
convention, but unfortunately, that wasn’t
possible.
–Ron & Bernice
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From The Board Room
“From the Boardroom” has become a regular
contribution to The Costumer magazine…but I’m here to
tell you that the semi-annual summer meeting was
anything but regular! This one could probably more likely
RO OMS
be named “From the BoardR
OMS” as our location
changed more than once and was twice the fun!
As the NCA Board of Directors and contractors made
their way to Biloxi, Mississippi, Hurricane Isaac was a
tropical storm off the Florida Keys. But as I’m learning
sometimes happens with hurricanes…that changed! The
board arrived at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St Louis,
Mississippi on Sunday night, August 26, and not knowing
what the future held, began the meeting that evening.
Monday was originally scheduled to be the day when
the Executive Director interviews were to be held; there
were 3 candidates present on location, and 3 who were
going to be interviewed via Skype. Board member Jane
Powell was not able to attend the meeting onsite, so she
suggested that she take part in the meetings via Skype.
While we were in the process of interviewing candidate #4,
8
we got word that there was a mandatory evacuation
happening at the hotel where we were located. We had
already been given an emergency plan by the hotel staff,
with numbers to call if we needed rides and the directions
to the nearest emergency shelter.
When no one answered the emergency phone number
we had been given to get a ride, a call was made to
Enterprise Car Rental (as none of us had any personal
transportation there at the hotel). Three members were
picked up and taken to the Enterprise airport location
where they rented two vehicles to get the board members
and contractors to a safe location. We gathered our
belongings and took off to find a hotel that was open.
Luckily, we found a Residence Inn near the airport, which
turned out to be the best place for us for so many reasons.
First we discovered that the majority of the emergency
personnel were staying in our hotel, so we felt pretty
confident in that, if it was safe enough for them, surely it
would be for us.
After making an emergency run to buy bottled water,
EXECU
TIVE DI RECT
OR
XECUT
ECTOR
flashlights, food, gas, and other essentials, we were back at
the hotel to finish the interviews. Although the board
business was often interrupted by bad phone and internet
connections, power shortages, wind, and rain, the meeting
continued. The major business was interviewing the
Executive Director candidates and that info can be found
in the box to the right of this article.
The meeting was difficult for many reasons, but it was
also an amazing time. I want the membership to know
what an incredible board they have elected. These
individuals were stressed because of the weather concerns,
whether and when the airport would re-open, how and
when they could return home for important events, not
knowing if we would be evacuated from this hotel at any
moment, and where we would go and what would we do.
But even with all those worries, they were focused on the
business of the association and worked hard to make good
decisions for the continued growth of the organization. So,
many kudos to the board and contractors - each one of
them played a part in making the best of an unpredictable
and unsettling situation.
– Janie Westendorf, NCA President
Those attending the board of directors meeting near Biloxi, Mississippi in August pose with
the stormchaser vehicle, undoubtedly there to chase the impending Hurricane Isaac as it
rolled through! left to right, Lorraine Brown, Debbie Lyn Owens, Linda Adams-Foat, Janie
Westendorf, Diane Sheibley, Karen Grizzard, Debbie Meredith, Terri Greenberg, Marion Bradley.
And not pictured, acting as photographer, Rob Lehr.
The Executive Director job posting was advertised
in the e-contact, on the NCA website, on Facebook,
and on monster.com, and along with the handful of
candidates that had a connection of some sort to the
NCA, this organization was very fortunate to receive
24 resumes for the position.
The executive committee reviewed all 24 resumes
to discover that roughly half of them did not seem to
be a good fit for the association. The remaining 12
were given much consideration by each of the members
of the executive committee. From those 12, 6 were
selected to be interviewed during the board meeting in
Biloxi. They were each given the choice of attending at
their expense or being interviewed by Skype; three
chose to attend and three to Skype.
It was an exciting time for the board. We had
talked about using Skype in other instances when it
wasn’t feasible to physically get everyone together, but
never had - so it was great to see that happen and to be
able to determine how and when to use this process in
the future. It served us well, and we were also able to
Skype more than one person, as board member Jane
Powell determined that she wouldn’t be able to attend
as originally planned, but could be available to Skype
into most of the meeting.
With the search for a candidate to fill the
Executive Director position, this is also an exciting
time for the NCA. Seeing such competent candidates
gives hope to how the NCA will grow with the help of
someone dedicated to the job of the Executive
Director. Since the NCA has operated throughout the
years with mostly volunteers (the exception being the
contractor positions of Administrative Secretary,
Webmaster, and Publications Director), it is exciting to
think where we might go with more guidance in the
areas of finances, membership building, strategic
planning, and event planning. Because this will always
be ‘our’ association, we need to continue to be involved
in making it function as ‘our’ association and so this
will not lessen the need for volunteers. It simply means
we will have a professional to help guide us in the
decisions we make.
After much deliberation and careful consideration,
the board chose to enter into negotiations with an
association management company based out of Denver,
Colorado. Some members of the executive committee
will make a trip to Denver to actually meet the
manager we will be working with in order to develop a
more personal relationship. More info will be shared,
likely through future e-contacts, as we continue with
the negotiations process.
9
nca business
NCA Elections
At the annual business meeting in July, held in conjunction with the National Convention in Atlanta, two new board
members were elected by the membership, each for a two-year term. They are Terri Greenberg of Halco, and Marion
Bradley from Balloons-N-Parties.
As president of Halco, Terri
has been involved with the NCA
since 1977. (“I know, I look
much younger!”) Her summer
vacations with her family were
NCA conventions. She served on
the board in the ‘90s and again
the past five years. She is
passionate about this
organization, as she watches
positive changes take place.
Although times are complicated now she believes that the
NCA is a significant part of our industry.
Marion Bradley is the coowner, along with her husband
Jerry, of Balloons-N-Parties and
The Costume Shop in Warner
Robins, Georgia. This is Marion’s
first time on the NCA Board of
Directors. [see the member
profile article later in this issue
of Balloons-N-Parties].
Time and Place: Upcoming NCA Events
The 2013 Mini Convention will be held in Covington,
Kentucky. Our hostesses will be Joy and Elizabeth
Galbraith of Costume Gallery-Newport, LLC, and they’re
already busy preparing for your arrival. Our dates are July
12-14, 2013. Our hotel, the Radisson Hotel Cincinnati
Riverfront, will be the site for this exciting event. The hotel
is circular and is a prime location on the riverfront,
providing spectacular views of the Cincinnati skyline from
the fresh air balconies.
The hotel is conveniently close to local attractions and
shops – the charming boutiques and restaurants of
Mainstrasse Village are within walking distance, and the
fun-filled Newport on the Levee is just minutes away.
Numerous bars and restaurants are also within a short
walk of the Radisson, and the hotel is conveniently located
on the Southbank Shuttle line with transportation to
downtown Cincinnati and Newport on the Levee.
The hotel provides many complementary amenities
including free wifi, free indoor or outdoor parking, free
transportation to and from the Northern Kentucky/Greater
Cincinnati International Airport, a newly renovated fitness
center, and an indoor pool. One of our meal events is
planned in the hotel’s 360-degree revolving restaurant atop
the hotel. Join us in Covington for a fun filled and
educational weekend! Mark your calendars now!
Our next National Convention will be held in Bay St.
10
Louis, Mississippi, on July 11-14, 2014. This event will be
hosted by Josette’s and the entire Locklar family. The
Hollywood Casino is awaiting our arrival, and the hotel is
right on the bay, and features magnificent water views. Just
an hour away from New Orleans, the hotel also features an
onsite golf course and an onsite campground. The conference center is attached to the casino for easy access without
walking through the casino floor. Flight arrangements
should be made to the Gulfport airport, but for those who
want to see a few more sites, you can also fly into New
Orleans, rent a car, and take a leisurely drive along the coast.
The coast region has made a tremendous recovery from
Hurricane Katrina and by the time we visit most of the
damage will be completely repaired. Additional sites in the
area include the George Orr Museum and the carved trees
that line the ocean parkway.
A Midwest regional meeting is in the planning stages
for 2013. Watch your e-contact and next magazine for
more information on this.
We are now accepting bids for the 2015 MiniConvention. One proposed site was mentioned at the
convention in Atlanta in July, however no action was taken.
Are you thinking this might be your opportunity to host an
event? This may be your chance. Contact me, Linda
Adams-Foat, for more information on how to begin the
process, and we’ll help you all along the way.
NETWORKING
SPRING FLING WRAP UP 2012 - 20th YEAR
Again we began the weekend Thursday night at
Zinck’s Inn in Berlin, Ohio. And again, Tina Lorenzoni,
Change of Face Costumes, won the “Best PJs” competition
with her cowgirl PJs, complete with slipper boots with
spurs, and a holster with a
toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
She was thrilled with her
Talking Toucan Trophy! The
meeting room provided by
the Inn is well-equipped and
has plenty of tables and chairs
for sharing, catching up, and
relaxing. We had ample
snacks and drinks, as we
always do. The party ended
early (10:00pm or so) as
several had traveled long
distances to be there. Word is
that Kathy Thomas, Rainbow Party Rentals, went home to
“tidy up” at the store (until 4:00am) in case anyone stopped
by the next day. Kathy’s store is about 20 to 30 minutes
from Zinck’s.
We had a relaxing complementary breakfast Friday
morning. The dining room is very pleasant, and has a
beautiful view of rolling pasture land. Of course we were
ready to shop at Zinck’s Fabric Store by 9:30. The store is
conveniently located just down the block from the Inn.
Once again Alan Zinck gave us an excellent discount,
beyond his regular good prices. Rumor has it that some
costumers went in on Thursday, and had bolts of fabric set
aside, waiting for the extra discount on Friday. However
that was not confirmed, and I will not reveal my sources.
But Noah and I are good friends.
Most of the group then went on to a great Amish
lunch at Mrs. Yoder’s in Mt. Hope. This is always a fun
trip, as we travel through beautiful country and get a
glimpse of everyday Amish life. Though Mt. Hope is very
small, it still boasts some interesting stores, and a large
Amish auction held that same day, just across the street.
After lunch several people went to Zinck’s wholesale
warehouse in Sugarcreek for more bargains. Others went
to the Amish thrift stores in Berlin and Sugarcreek to
purchase authentic Amish clothing to rent. Hopefully they
were discreet about the purpose behind their purchases.
The rest of the afternoon was free for shopping and
traveling back to Cuyahoga Falls. Rainbow Party Rentals,
in Dover, and Akron Design and Costume were open for
visitors on the way back. We ended the day with a cookout
at the Pocock’s with Gary Broadrick, Performance Studios,
flipping the burgers and dogs.
Saturday morning we had our annual flea market in
Mr. Fun’s warehouse. After lunch we had “a state of the
organization” address from President Janie Westendorf,
Curtains Up Costumes. That was followed by an informal
discussion of websites, covering many areas of concern to
all who maintain some type of web presence. That
discussion was ably lead by Carol Easly, Easly’s Fun Shop.
After lunch Tina hosted a group that went once again
to the Kent State Fashion Museum to see the Civil War
exhibit and A Day at the Beach. Others went back to the
house to visit and enjoy the beautiful day.
We ended the day with dinner at the house, featuring
Andy Pocock’s grilled turkeys, and assorted yummy side
dishes from all who felt inspired. This year the weather
cooperated, and we were able to offer outside dining.
Tables and chairs for the flea market and dinner were once
again generously provided by Stan and Kathy Thomas,
Rainbow Party Rentals.
Most people started home Sunday morning, and we
were sad to see them go. We are amazed every year that
some will come from so far for a weekend in Ohio. This
year was especially bittersweet for Al and me, as we have
decided we cannot continue to host this event. It has
become such a part of the pattern of our lives, I can’t quite
imagine spring without it. We have hopes that other
costumers will commit to continuing what we began, but
you will have to wait and watch for more information on
that.
Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous Halloween
season.
– Carol, Al, Andy, and Meralie Pocock, Mr.Fun’s Costumes
W hat ar
our solutio
ns
aree yyour
solutions
and tips?
Email [email protected]!
11
nca business
Membership Committee
We have lost some member shops due to the economy
and some to retirement. It is not easy to find buyers for
these shops; liquidation seems to be the trend.
Yet there still is a need for costume shops. We just have
to reinvent ourselves and work together to make our
industry be successful again. Membership to our organization is a step in that direction. The stronger our presence,
the more we work together, the more successful our shops
will be.
Membership recruitment is an ongoing process that
every member should be working on. Last year we made an
effort to make the organization attractive to students.
Toward that end, we included a special student event in our
national convention this year. The talent that was evident
in the student competition was encouraging. There are
young people out there that want to create, that are
interested in history, that are experimenting with new
products, and are eager to show their work.
Each one of the student competitors is now a member
of our organization. They are our future. You might even
want to hire one of them in your shop.
This year we are going to work at getting Vintage
stores involved. They will be a great resource for current
members and we could become a market for them. And
networking with them will help give us perspective on a
specific segment of our market, and more input and
collaboration on the challenges of retailing in our markets.
The membership committee wants and needs your
input and suggestions as to where we look for new shops
to become involved in the NCA. Thank you in advance,
and I look forward to hearing your ideas!
Lorraine Brown, Chair
[email protected]
802-265-3545
Annual Business Meeting Recap
There are many facets of the annual convention that
are of importance. One of those is definitely the business
meeting. It gives the membership a chance to determine
the future of the association. Through the votes taken
during the business meeting, the board of directors charts
the path of the National Costumers Association. This year
the annual business meeting of the NCA was held on
July 14, 2012 in Decatur, Georgia.
Preceding the business meeting, board member Terri
Greenberg led the Membership Forum, which gives the
members a chance to discuss a variety of topics and ask
questions of the board of directors, specifically as to any
changes that might be presented at the upcoming business
meeting.
Through discussions held during the Membership
Forum, the following items were clarified prior to the
business meeting voting: 1) whether or not to lessen the
number of board members by two people, 2) approval to
have the Second Vice President also act as Treasurer, and 3)
approval to have a corporate secretary named from the
board. At the business meeting all these bylaw changes
were approved by the membership.
During the business meeting two new board members
were elected, Terri Greenberg of Halco, Verona,
Pennsylvania, and Marion Bradley of Balloons-N-Parties,
12
Warner Robins, Georgia, who will both serve two-year
terms.
Linda Adams-Foat, as chair of the Time and Place
committee, entertained a presentation by Debbie Lyn
Owens, Debbie Lyn’s Costumes, Sunnyvale, California, to
invite the association to California for a mini-con in 2015.
As there were no other bids, it was decided to table the vote
for a convention site for 2015 until the mini-con in 2013,
where there will possibly be additional bids for that year so
members will have a choice. Joy Galbraith announced the
dates for the mini-con hosted by Costume GalleryNewport in 2013, which will be July 12-14 in Newport,
Kentucky.
Stay tuned to The Costumer magazine and future econtacts to find out what’s happening throughout the year
with the NCA!
www.costumer.org
Amazon.com purchases to benefit NCA
Member locator
Vendor member contact info
Buyers Group discount listing
nca AWARDS
Dennis “Rocky” Torrence
Honorary Life Membership
The Officers and Membership of the
National Costumers Association, Inc.
Extend and Confer
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP To
Dennis “Rocky” Torrence
In Appreciation for His Many Years of Loyal
And Faithful Service to the NCA
July 16, 2012
Dennis “Rocky” Torrence was born and raised in
Allentown, PA. He served in the Navy and the Reserves for
years and was even a milkman and worked at Bethlehem
Steel. After Rocky and Louella were married, they
purchased “Drop Me A Line”, a retail greeting card store. It
soon became a costume rental store as well and grew to its
current size and location in Allentown. In 1993, the firm
joined the NCA. Rocky has been a loyal supporter of the
organization and was elected to the Board of Directors in
2005. “Drop Me a Line Costumes” hosted a Regional
Meeting in 2006. He served as Sunshine Chairperson for a
number of years and has been a willing volunteer in a
variety of events at annual conventions. He has always
represented the organization in a very positive manner. The
NCA congratulates Rocky on receiving the Honorary Life
Membership award.
Thank you NCA!
I would again like to thank you for the Honorary Life
Membership Award. I want to especially thank Jack
Anderson for the letter of recommendation.
20 years ago Bill Sudor of Franco American Novelties
insisted we needed to go to the Halloween show in
Chicago and stop by the NCA booth. There I met Lamar
Kerns. He convinced me we needed to join the NCA, but
we lacked a sewing room and we did not meet the
qualifications. Had we been able to sign up the first time
we applied, we would have been off to the San Antonio
convention, one convention I really regret missing.
However, we were able to join in 1993 and our first
convention was in Cleveland. When I asked the girl at
14
AAA for maps
to Cleveland,
she wanted to
know why. I told
her we were
taking our
vacation there.
Photo by Richard Morris, Digital Creations 4 U
She wanted to
know if I lost
the lottery or something. Besides being a beautiful city, the
convention hosts Al and Carol Pocock made us to feel part
of the NCA family. So a big thank you to Bill, Al, Carol,
and Lamar.
The plaque is proudly hung in the office at Drop Me A
Line Costume Shop. It shares space with numerous awards
that Louella has received and the only other award I have
ever received. That award was given to me by Louella and it
reads:
To Rocky Torrence
‘HOO’ Husband of Owner
Thanks for the Kick in the Ass
I mention this because I am sure that a great deal of
this honor bestowed upon me could also been shared by my
wife, Louella. In case you’re wondering my other award was
given to me because it was my kick that convinced Louella
that we needed a card and gift store that morphed into a
costume shop.
Again, thanks to our extended costume family for
showing us how to build a costume shop. Without your
shared knowledge we would probably be out of business.
– Dennis (yes I do have a first name) Rocky Torrence
NCA AWARDS
Daniel Pugh
Honorary Life Membership
During Daniel Pugh’s 30 year membership of the
NCA he has generously presented some 25+ educational sessions sharing his extensive expertise and
artistry. He has won several Showcase awards for
Landes Costumes over the years, including 2 Grand
International awards. In 1991 he started work on what
was to become the International Flat Pattern Repository and Exchange (IFPRAE), which, though on
“hold” for some time, Dan hopes to get the work of
acquiring, conserving, scanning and preserving antique
and vintage patterns underway again—finally establishing a website for the sale and exchange of patterns and
pattern pieces.
Born in 1945 and raised by his loving parents in
Montpelier, Indiana, Dan took on many odd jobs during
his high school days—mowing lawns, washing business’
windows, sorting leather for the glove factory, and
unloading boxcars for the lumber yard and feed elevator.
Eventually he moved on to learning to “spot” clean and
press at the neighbor’s dry cleaners.
Graduating from
high school as
Valedictorian in 1963
he went on to finish
his BA in Drama at
Butler University in
1968. After graduation he put his
high school work
experience to good
use pressing pants at
L. Strauss and then
was hired as “Fittertailor” in the Crystal
Room at L.S. Ayres,
the “high end”
department store in
Indianapolis. Due to
an unexpected offer,
he took off for
Chicago to be
“Faculty Assistant in
charge of Costumes”
The Officers and Membership of the
National Costumers Association, Inc.
Extend and Confer
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP To
Daniel Pugh
In Appreciation for His Many Years of Loyal
And Faithful Service to the NCA
July 16, 2012
at Northeastern Illinois State College.
An earlier Butler friend at The Goodman, a School of
the Art Institute of Chicago, recommended him as extra
help on a large production of “Tom Paine.” They seemed to
like his work by offering a “full ride” to complete his MFA
class work in 1971 and thesis and design projects in 1974.
In the summer of 1969, before starting classes at The
Goodman he was hired to dress and wardrobe the
Goodman Summer Children’s Show, “The Canterville
Ghost,” the ghost acted by Joe Mantegna. Dan then went
on to design the summer children’s show in 1970.
Butler had contacted him in 1970 to come back to
teach and costume as well as finishing his MFA at Purdue
“in his spare time.” Dan answered back with something
like, “If I’m supposed to be there, the job will still be
available next year when I finish with my “full ride.” Had he
gone back to Butler he would have missed the opportunity
of designing “The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail” for the
Goodman Professional Company featuring a young
Christopher Walken as Thoreau. For whatever reason, the
job at Butler was still open in 1971 and that determined
the better part of the next 29 years of Dan’s life.
In the meantime he designed and built costumes for
the University of Chicago Summer Court Theatre for 7
summers, designing and building some 20 shows, many
Shakespearean, interrupted after the first season by a
summer spent in Mundelein, Illinois, writing several
chapters for the National School of Dress Design for
Americana Corp., a division of Grolier.
In his 29 years at Butler University he designed and
built well over 125 shows and musicals of great diversity,
directed some 20+ of those same shows.
Photo by Richard Morris, Digital Creations 4 U
continued...
15
Daniel Pugh, continued
Above all Dan was a generous sharer of his extensive
expertise to NCA groups at conventions and to individual
NCA stores helping out where he could. The NCA
congratulates Dan on receiving the Honorary Life
Membership award.
A Big Thank You!
Since I was so overcome by the presentation of the
Honorary Lifetime Membership Award, I would have gone
on way too long in thanking, or just stood there and
blubbered some more, unable to say anything. So now I
want to more fully express my gratitude to all who were
instrumental in giving me this cherished award.
Firstly, I have to thank Dwayne Ibsen for the selection
of the beautiful plaque. If you really want it done right, just
contact Dwayne!
Though Joe, Diane and Mary Lou have gone on ahead,
I was extremely proud to have their brother, John Landes,
present for the occasion. It was the Landeses that became
my extended family who then introduced me to my NCA
extended family.
My first real awareness of the NCA was when I helped
16
Joe create his German Renaissance Showcase entry for the
Salt Lake City convention in 1980. Then Mary Lou took
me to Cincinnati for a day at the 1981 convention, and
becoming a member of the NCA, my first full convention
was Wilmington in 1982. This isn’t to say, but I hadn’t been
hanging around the Landes’ shop after I went to Butler for
college in 1963, and after I went back to teach at Butler in
1971. Actually, I visited the shop for the first time in 1962
while still a junior in high school when I visited a high
school friend who had preceded me to school in
Indianapolis, and we tromped around downtown
Indianapolis checking out Indianapolis Costume in their
second floor store when Harry’s folks were still alive, and
then Landes Costumes.
Greeted by Diane on that Saturday, Diane always swore
that she remembered me from that first brief visit. Now
that’s the beginning of a real family!
Thank you to Rachel Godollei Johnson, too, for
“keeping me on” so I could continue my membership and
work in the costume industry.
I sincerely thank you all for this great honor!
Best Regards,
Dan Pugh
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17
member profile
Balloons-N-Parties
Warner Robins, GA • Joined NCA in 2006
Mrs. Marion Vance Bradley and
her husband, Jerry, own and operate
Balloons-N-Parties, along with The
Costume Shop, in Warner Robins. She
is also the newest member of the
NCA Board of Directors.
After growing up in Warner
Robins, Georgia, Marion became
interested in owning her own business
in 1982 after working for another
company that specialized in singing
telegrams. She acquired a few mascot
characters and balloons from a
company going out of business in
1985, and from there she moved into a
base-sponsored program (located at
Miller Hills Shopping Center) where
rent was based on incoming sales. At
that time her primary business was
balloon bouquets and singing
telegrams, which she named Balloons
We Luv.
From 1987 until 1991 she
continued to sell balloons out of her
home and made costumed balloon
deliveries. In 1992, she began offering
costumed character entertainment at
children’s parties. After becoming a
divorcee’ she moved with her young
daughter, Sierra, to Macon,
Georgia. There she worked
fulltime during the week, but still
ran Balloons We Luv on the
weekends. In 1995, she decided to
follow her passion and take a leap
of faith – she quit all her jobs
(three at that time), making the
home-based business her only
source of income. Balloons We Luv
was officially changed to Balloons
and Parties We Luv, offering
costumed characters, clowning,
balloon bouquets, and deliveries.
She attended Ballooniversity in
Bogart, Georgia – a 3-day event –
to learn professional balloon décor in
order to give her business an
additional stream of revenue. She was
living in a very tough neighborhood in
Macon, but feeling very blessed that
she was able to support her family.
After marrying Jerry in 2000, they
decided to move from a home-based
business to a facility that had once
been a dance club. Jerry continued
with his Air Force career while
Marion worked full time at that
location. They relocated to a more
central location, and added
moonwalks, signing the lease
on, of all days, Sept 11, 2001.
Jerry retired from the Air
Force as they continued to
thrive and they were able to
purchase their current location,
on Watson Blvd. in Warner
Robins, at which time they
added costumes to their
product mix. At present, this
particular store is one of the
premier entertainment
companies in middle Georgia,
offering carnival games and
treats, clowns and other liveactor characters for hire,
18
inflatables, “message grams,” “yard card
lawn greetings”, and balloon bouquets
and decorations. The name also
changed one more time to BalloonsN-Parties.
Because of the nature of the
business, many local charities within a
50-mile radius have called upon her
company to donate her services and
product. From fundraising for the
Susan G. Komen Foundation and the
Alzheimers Association, to donations
for Jays Hope 4 Kids With Cancer
and military appreciation efforts,
Marion graciously lends a hand
whenever she is able.
Last year, the Bradleys extracted
the costume division from their store
and opened up The Costume Shop,
about a mile further down Watson
Blvd. from Balloons-N-Parties. They
offer a large assortment of retail and
rental costumes, along with wigs,
makeup, and accessories.
Marion’s two daughters, Sierra and
Amber, both work at Balloons-NParties, and her son Austin lives in
New York and is pursuing an acting
career. The Bradleys also have two
grandchildren, Chloe and Olivia.
Member Profiles
Snapshot Profile
In an effort to foster networking among NCA members, as well as create more awareness and resourcing amongst the
membership, a “5-minute survey” was sent out to a few members. Following are two of the responses.
If you’d like to fill out a 5-minute survey and have it appear in an upcoming Costumer magazine, email the editor at
[email protected], send an inquiring fax to 508-819-3013, or click on the link on the publications page in the members section of
costumers.org.
Name of stor
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store:
PrrivateIslandP
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Ne w Yor
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ork,
Owner’s name(s): Jonathan Glatt
Year founded: 2008 • NCA member since: 2012
our in
A br
ief ba
ound of yyour
industryy : The owner
brief
bacckgr
kground
invvol
olvvement in the costume industr
of the business has a background in film. He has translated his skill sourcing for film
M E M B E R
and television into the company you see today.
S tor
y(s): Costume accessories
toree specialt
specialty(s):
The fav
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ou do: We love the idea of people dressing up every day and taking on different
partt about what yyou
favor
orite
personas to escape the drudgery of everyday life. Who wants to be the same all the time? That’s boring! There is an
exploratory factor involved in the customer matching our products together in order to make a perfect disguise that
is completely about their self-expression. Are you feeling mysterious? Whimsical? Dangerous? What you come up
with is only limited by your own creativity.
W hat yyou
ou ffeel
eel yyour
our “secr
et to success” is: A sense of humor.
secret
19
member profile
The Wizard’s Chest
Denver, CO • Joined NCA in 1999
The Wizard’s Chest is not
"just a costume store," but a
well-known specialty store with
a thirty-year history. The store’s
beginning was in an 850-squarefoot space in 1983.
Originally inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the
Rings trilogy, the store capitalized on the idea of an
imaginary world in a place called Middle Earth - a
fantastical escape from the cold concrete of the 'real
world'; a place where the childish spirit could run free.
The Wizard's Chest was off and running with a lifesized wizard who has become as well known as the store
itself and the spirit of fun and fantasy waiting inside. The
store has grown over the years into its current two-story,
multi-sensory, fantasy-inspired castle with over 8,000
square feet of space. A metal sculpture wizard and a
drawbridge now greet customers as they enter the store.
Inside, the original wizard stands adorned in purple velvet
holding a staff tipped with a crystal ball amid the
exquisite fantasy decor in fuchsia, turquoise, and purple.
The entire second floor of the castle is devoted to
costumes, make-up, and accessories. There are hundreds
of complete costumes for customers to buy, as well as a
complete theatrical make-up counter, four
completely filled hat racks, 200+ wigs to choose
from, and 200+ masks to draw your attention.
Dress-up for younger children and
renaissance costumes have become an area of
focus. Ballerinas, princesses, knights, and super
heroes are in good supply within the land of
make-believe that exists upstairs.
A hands-on play environment exists
throughout the whole store. Chessboards sit out
on tables and invite friendly games between
customers and/or the staff. A wind-up section is
especially popular, as well as bins full of every
color and size of ball, handheld puzzles, and
games. New games are open for perusal, as well as
magic tricks, books, jigsaw puzzles, puppets,
stuffed animals, and science toys. In-store
tournaments for collectible cards games such as
“Magic: The Gathering” and “Pokemon” have
20
become a weekly ritual in our
open-play area.
At its current location,
juggling, yo-yos, and other skill
toys have become a popular
feature of the store. For over a
decade, the store has hosted the Rocky Mountain Yo-Yo
Championships, bringing hundreds of spectators to the
Cherry Creek North area during the event in June.
The store continues to have weekly Yo-Yo and
Juggling Clubs, which meet on Sundays and are well
attended by young and old alike.
Over the past twenty five plus years, the store and its
customers have literally grown up together. Three
generations of customers grace the store with their
laughter and joy.
The success of The Wizard's Chest is the result of the
willingness of the owners, managers, and staff to listen to
their customers and give them what they’ve grown to
expect in the way of products and service.
tips & tricks
More Cleaning Tips
The following is in response to a question asked some time ago
in the NCA E-contact regarding cleaning challenges and
solutions.
For 30-plus years Costumes By Patti Jo has laundered
costumes in Amway’s S.A.8, with their bleach-free additive
of Triazyme. The soap is biodegradable and safe for ALL
fabrics. For a tough stain, we soak the item in a solution of
Triazyme, possibly overnight, and put complete solution in
wash when ready to wash.
For the unknown spot, we make a paste out of the
Triazyme and use a soft brush to scrub the spot, let stand
one hour to overnight and wash. If spot is not gone
completely after washing, do not dry, but repeat. If you have
any spot at all, Triazyme will take it out. Just be patient. I
just took black marker out of a white cotton blouse with
Triazyme and a little patience. For heavy make-up on collars after a show, we use a brush and Armour All. It takes
fire to fight fire and the Armour All being an oil base is
perfect for the collars. If it’s not too bad we’ll just spray it
on before washing. We also clean our masks with Armour All.
I just finished Bye Bye Birdie, with 85 costumes and a
huge amount of collar make-up, and since I’m such a
staunch believer in Amway products I thought I’d try
Triazyme on the collars in the washing machine. I did not
pre-spot or scrub anything but soaked my load in a 1/4 cup
of SA8 and a 1/4 cup of triazyme for an hour, turned on
the machine and walla: no make-up.
The great thing about this is the wear and tear on your
costumes. No scrubbing, no fading, no bleach, no extra
work, and great results.
For a heavy sticky stain, if you will, we’ll use Goo
Gone. Amway’s SA8 can be used as a spot remover also by
making a paste. Don’t forget this soap is completely safe for
all your costumes. We use Fresh Again and Fabreeze to
freshen costumes that do not need to be dry cleaned
between wearings. I use Lysol spray for shoes and hats.
Patti Jo
21
Steampunk
1
0
1
by G. D. Falksen
Photographs by Anna Fischer
What is steampunk?
In three short words, steampunk is
Victorian science fiction. Here “Victorian”
is not meant to indicate a specific culture,
but rather references a time period and an
aesthetic: the industrialized 19th century.
Historically, this period saw the
development of many key aspects of the
modern world (mechanized
manufacturing, extensive urbanization,
telecommunications, office life and masstransit), and steampunk uses this existing
technology and structure to imagine an
even more advanced 19th century, often
complete with Victorian-inspired wonders
like steam-powered aircraft and
mechanical computers.
Where did steampunk
come from?
In some sense, steampunk has
existed since the 19th century. The
Victorian period had its own science
fiction, perhaps most famously
embodied by the works of Jules Verne
and H. G. Wells, and throughout the
20th century there have been laterday science fiction stories set in the
Victorian period. However, the term
“steampunk” was not coined until the late
1980s, when author K. W. Jeter used it
humorously to describe a grouping of stories
set in the Victorian period written during a
time when near-future cyberpunk was the
prevailing form of science fiction.
Where does the sci-fi come in?
The line between steampunk and period
Victorian is extremely narrow, and often the
two are indistinguishable. They are separated
only by steampunk’s status as science fiction,
albeit heavily inspired by the historical fact of
the Victorian period. This is generally
accomplished in one of two ways. The “protosteampunk” stories of the 19th century can be
seen as a parallel to our own science fiction; that is, a view
of the future from the present. For the Victorians, this
22
meant imagining a future that looks
dramatically un-modern to modern eyes.
Submarines, space travel, aircraft and
mechanized life were all imagined by the
Victorians, but while some of these came very
close to the mark they still differed from
where the future actually went. For modern
writers, with the benefit of modern science,
steampunk becomes a re-imagining of the
19th century with a view of where science will
one day go. In this way, steampunk often works
to translate modern concepts such as the
computer revolution, spy thrillers, noir
mysteries and even the Internet into a
Victorian context using Victorian technology.
Steampunk becomes the perfect blending of
alternate history and science fiction.
Where does the steam come in?
Steampunk’s steam references more than simply
the technology itself, although steam engines are a
vital aspect of life in a steampunk world. Steam
more generally signifies a world in which steam
technology is both dominant and prolific. During
the Victorian era, steam power revolutionized
almost every aspect of life. The steam engine made
full-scale industrialization possible and produced
mechanical power more efficiently and to greater
degrees than human and animal labor
could manage on their own. Mechanized
manufacturing and farming caused an
upheaval in the structure of working life,
but they dramatically increased society’s
productivity and freed up an entire section
of society to form the modern class of
professionals and office workers. The
changes in society brought on by steamdriven industrialization allowed for the
unprecedented developments in sciences,
society and goods that came to be
associated with the Victorian era.
Steampunk takes inspiration from these
changes and applies them to whatever
culture it influences.
continued...
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STEAMPUNK
continued...
Where does the punk come in?
Ironically, it doesn’t. As was mentioned
earlier, the term “steampunk” is a tongue in cheek
reference to the cyberpunk genre rather than a
reference to the punk subculture. Moreover,
“punk” in the context of punk rock was the
product of very specific circumstances following
the Second World War, which makes it
fundamentally distinct from the Victorian
aesthetic that inspires steampunk. However,
individuals interested in exploring a
steampunk equivalent to 20th
century punk can find a wealth of
material in 19th century
counterculture groups ranging from
the Luddites to utopians to
hooligans. Add a dash of Victorian
street culture and a sprinkling of
ragtime, and steampunk “punk”
comes into focus.
What about gears?
The gear is an easily recognized
symbol of steampunk, but it is not
unique to the genre. It was invented
long before the 19th century and it
remains in use today. The gear in
steampunk joins related devices such as flywheels and
pistons as the “power lines” of the steam age. Steam power
is mechanical power and its transmission de-mands a
network of moving parts in the same way that electrical
power transmission demands wires. The gear on its own is not
especially “steampunk” but when put to use in 19th century
machinery it becomes a key icon of the genre.
What about goggles?
Goggles are often encountered in steampunk clothing
and imagery, and this can create the misleading impression
that they are somehow fundamental to the “steampunk
look.” Certainly, goggles are associated with both science
and mechanized travel, both of which are common themes
in steampunk. However, this does not mean that everyone
in a steampunk setting wears goggles; in fact, only people
who have a reason to wear them do so, and then only while
it is useful. As with scarves, driving coats, aprons and
overalls, goggles are a piece of fashion that can help give
life to a steampunk world when used properly and in
moderation, but can rapidly border upon the ludicrous
when turned into an end rather than a means.
What is the appeal of steampunk?
A genre as large as steampunk has a wide-ranging
appeal. Some people are drawn to it from a love of the
Victorian period. Others enjoy
steampunk’s unique approach to
technology: re-imagining modern
capabilities with 19th century machines.
Many people are drawn to it in light of
its fashion aspects, which allow them to
sample and even combine a range of
clothing styles and accessories from
across the 19th century world. One
critical aspect of steampunk is the
tremendous diversity of appeal it
presents, which allows it to offer
something for just about everyone.
Steampunk is also aided by a more
general neo-vintage movement, which has been
steadily progressing through mainstream fashion,
film and aesthetics, but even this cannot wholly
explain steampunk’s appeal. The genre possesses a
life of its own that draws in fans from countless
directions and backgrounds into a world where
fashion is tailored to the individual, goods are made
to last, and machinery is still regarded as a thing of
visual majesty.
Steampunk sounds great!
Where’s an easy place to
start?
The basic rule of thumb for steampunk is “start
period and then add.” One of steampunk’s great
advantages is that the period it is inspired by, the Victorian
era, saw the invention of photography and cinematic film.
These in turn allowed for a visual record of people from all
different classes, cultures and backgrounds, providing an
unprecedented amount of reference material. People
looking for fashion ideas, character inspirations or scenes to
describe can find a wealth of starting points in the
countless vintage photographs and film reels left over from
the 19th century. All that remains is to add to or modify
the depictions to taste, though it must be remembered that
many aspects of a steampunk world and its people will
likely remain virtually indistinguishable from the period
that inspires them.
G. D. Falksen is an author, lecturer, and MC. He is the author
of The Hellfire Chronicles: Blood In The Skies and the
forthcoming Ouroboros Cycle series. His short and serial
fiction includes “The Strange Case of Mr. Salad Monday”,
“Cinema U”, “An Unfortunate Engagement”, and “The Mask
of Tezcatlipoca”. He has appeared as a guest at various
events, including New York Comic Con and Montreal
ComicCon. He has appeared in The New York Times, The
San Francisco Chronicle, the Hartford Courant, Marie
Claire Italia, BoingBoing.net, Time Out New York, and New
York Magazine, and on MTV, NHK, VBS.tv, Space, and
io9.com. He is a blogger for Tor.com and ComicMix.com. For
more info, please go to www.gdfalksen.com
Photos by Anna Fischer. Pictured from top to bottom, starting on opening page: (a)
Juli Abene; (b) Evelyn Kriete; (c) Evelyn Kriete; (d) Yaya Han; (e) G.D. Falksen.
25
A Day At The Faire
Need ideas for a renaissance-themed wedding, or costuming the high school
madrigal choir, or attending the local renaissance fair? Here’s a peek at what
we saw at the Georgia Renaissance Festival in Spring of 2012.
Text by Sheila S. Hudson. Photos by Tim Hudson.
Roxanne and Igneous the 3rd
(Iggy) are new to the Faire. They
appeared to have just stepped off a
cathedral wall. This gargoyle couple
mingles with the crowd displaying
their greystone costumes, sharp pointy accessories, horns, and silver painted toes
complete with talons and moss.
Roxie curtsied and opened her metallic umbrella as the sprinkles threatened. In a
respite, she spread magnificent stone colored wings for everyone to admire. Iggy’s feet
and wings were just as ornate. As they turned, we caught a glimpse of silver ridged
and spiked tails uncurling under their cloaks.
Aydin Budala, the Ottoman Turk, is also a newcomer to
the Faire this year. He has spent
considerable time assembling his
unique costume from many lands.
Aydin’s handmade leather vest and
shoes are from the Arabian Desert.
His lamp and birdcage are not only
for adornment but also serve as
communication and guidance
devices. The Turk’s various swords,
scythes, and daggers are of the
finest steel. His jewels and rings are
gifts from the varying tribes of his homeland. The Turk is the
Nazir of Diplomacy under Suleiman the Magnificent, the grand
Kanuni King and Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He shared
that his name “Aydin” is Turkish for educated and Budala is
Turkish for fool. So his name translates to “educated fool.”
26
The fairy trio trilled anxiously barely
containing their enthusiasm to display this
season’s new costumes. Terra Earthkind
mischievously pounced upon a boulder
alternately blowing kisses and sticking out her
tongue as she coerced attention from the crowd.
Her diaphanous wings held clusters of grapes.
Terra’s costume was fashioned of buttery leather
woven with leaves, vines, and biota of every kind.
Her impish grin reminds me of Puck from
Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Nissa, the baby fairy, wore her signet color blue
defining her realm of water. Her wings were the tiniest
and most delicate wings reminiscent of a butterfly
kissed by the proverbial Blue Fairy.
Glorianna, the fairy queen, had her hands full
keeping her two wards in check. Her regal costume
evoked the splendor of a peacock with vibrant blues
and iridescent greens, the sheer wingspan with painted
eyes, and crowned with a metallic no-doubt fairywrought headpiece.
Sheila Hudson is a freelance journalist based in Athens, Georgia.
27
Pictured, Marilynn Wick speaks about the Costume World collection; Gene Flaharty of Mehron
demonstrates old age makeup on Sara Locklar; Frank McKinnon prepares the Eddie’s Trick
Shop table at Market; Crystal Locklar works on her “Sculpt or Coat” chest armor; a “friend” points us to the party!; Judy Smith
and Kara Shearer of Rose Costumes are ready for the Carnival on opening night; Marion Bradley and Terri Greenberg
accompany the unknown porpoise in yellow as they prepare for their pool performance; Magic Makers shows off Treasures
from the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Auction; a table decoration from the President’s Banquet entitled “A Night On Cleopatra’s
Barge”; Debbie Lyn Owens, Lori Hammes, Janie Westendorf, Glenn Alexander, Terri Greenberg, and Gary Broadrick look like they
stepped right out of Egypt to enjoy the Cleopatra-themed President’s Banquet.
2012 NATIONAL CONVENTION • JULY 13 - 16 • ATLANTA (DECATUR), GA
28
National Costumers Association
National Convention 2012
Atlanta (Decatur), Georgia
Costumes Etc. • Eddie’s Trick Shop
Convention Hosts
As we all arrived for the 2012 NCA National Convention in Atlanta it was easy to see right off the bat why
this was going to be a fabulous convention. To begin with,
the hotel was only about 3 blocks from a town square with
a nice variety of restaurants and pubs, and lots of shopping.
On Friday afternoon, costumers from all over the US
took the opportunity to visit the store of one of our
convention co-hosts, Frank McKinnon. The retail store
location of Eddie’s Trick Shop is in the middle of beautiful,
quaint, friendly downtown Marietta, Georgia. The staff
was great, the food delicious, and the store impressive. So
before the downtown traffic got too crazy everyone headed
back to the hotel to register and grab their goody bags. The
theme for the Opening Night Party was “An Old Time
County Fair” and that it was – complete with popcorn,
peanuts, a cotton candy machine, and many carnival games.
A number of vendors donated “NCA bucks” for the cash
cube, prizes were won at several old time games, and many
people attended in costume. There were even bearded
ladies present - FIVE of them to be precise!
Linda Gravett was the Keynote Speaker Saturday
morning and she really got us thinking, even at 9:15 in the
morning. The business meeting was next on the schedule
and it was pretty much full of business, as is to be expected
at that sort of thing. There was a by-law proposal change
made to lessen the board of directors by two members and
the vote passed favorably, so when it came time to vote for
directors to the board there were only two seats open and
four people running. Terri Greenberg and Marion Bradley
were elected to fill those seats. The rest of the afternoon
was filled with a very nice variety of education classes. At
6:00 pm the bus arrived to take the first set of attendees to
the shop tours at Costumes, Etc., our other co-host for
convention. Jane Powell and her staff hosted another great
affair with delectable food and a remarkable store – do you
see the repeated theme here?
Sunday started off with Janie Westendorf hosting the
President’s Breakfast. Of course at the strike of 10:00am
people promptly dropped their plates and ran to Market, in
hopes of being first in the door for some really great
bargains. The afternoon was full with the Show and Share
costume exhibition, and the Student Creative Event, which
was very impressive. There were four students that
presented costume entries and it certainly would have been
tough to judge that group – they were all unique and
beautiful pieces! Following the student event, Marilynn
Wick of Costume World shared some information, along
with a few pieces of her historical Broadway collection.
Thanks to the generous support of our Platinum level
NCA members, the meal prior to Auction was
complimentary. Which gave us that much more money to
use to outbid one another on a lot of great items – and also
get some really good deals!
Monday started off with classes, classes, and more
classes - a nice mix of business-related and creative handson. At 12:30 it was time to head to the pool to see those
amazing creatures that we have all come to love so
much...the Porpoise Synchronized Non-Swimming Group,
which was a rather thrilling display of talented ladies
clowning around. Since there was no need for a second
business meeting, Shop Talk was next, followed by more
education. The evening concluded with a magnificent
President’s Banquet hosted by Dwayne Ibsen - “A Night
on Cleopatra’s Barge”.
The only thing left off this list was all the eating that
took place. We are very lucky in that we have designated
DONATED monies to be used toward hospitality
sponsorships. We had snacks provided at least once a day
and twice on Sunday!
Thank you to everyone who had a part, big or small, in
planning and executing a wonderful convention!
– Lori Westendorf Hammes
Photos by Richard Morris, Digital Creations 4 U, Bethlehem, Georgia • www.dc3ullc.com
29
Market
Daily Events
Friday
• NCA Board meeting
• Shop Tour at Eddie’s Trick Shop
• Opening Night Party: “An Old Time County Fair”
Saturday
• Newcomers Orientation
• Keynote Speaker Linda Gravett, Ph.D., SPHR, CEQC:
“Know Your Emotional Intelligence”
• Membership Forum
• NCA Annual Business Meeting
• Class: “Making An Armor Chest Plate with Sculpt or
Coat” Part 1
• Class: “Marketing Makeup: How to Get Your Makeup
Backstage”
• Class: “Small Fish in a Big Pond: Diversifying Your
Business”
• Shop Tour: Costumes Etc.
Sunday
• President’s Breakfast
• Market
• “Show and Share”
• Student Creative Event
• Marilynn Wick of Costume World: An Exhibition and
Conversation
• Auction & Dinner
The Market in Decatur was very successful. The room
layout was ample and giving everyone space to move about
comfortably. The vendors had some super bargains at the
market. Cash and Carry is always a big draw for buyers as
we never have enough items to schlep home!
The participants were:
Tabi’s, Rubie’s, Eddies Trick Shop, Sunnywood,
Costume Holiday House, Ghoulish Productions, Andy
Anderson, Curtains Up, Forum, Junk for Joy, Premiere
Props, Mehron, and Franco-American.
Costume Holiday House won the drawing for a free
booth at next year’s market.
Many of the vendors donated their leftover items to
the auction. As always, we are thankful for the support of
these vendors and encourage everyone to remember their
support when you are placing further orders.
– Lorraine Brown, Market Co-chair
Monday
• Class: “Innovative Craft Product: Inspire”
• Class: “Old Age and Theatrical Makeup Tips”
• Health Care Reform & Small Businesses”
• Porpoise Revue
• Class: “Making An
Armor Chest Plate with
Sculpt or Coat”, Part 2
• Class: “Toxic Issues:
The ABCs of Costume
Cleaning, Bugs, &
Chemicals”
• President’s Banquet
Tuesday
• Board Meeting
• Shopping with Jane!
Membership Forum
Membership Forum was held on Saturday, July 14th. We
had a small time frame as the convention was jam packed!
But, as always there was exhilarating discussion.
The NCA appreciates the input of its members, and has
provided the Membership Forum session to allow members
to engage in discussion of topics involving the running of the
NCA. Information that comes out of the MF sessions is
relayed to the board of directors for consideration and/or
action, as appropriate.
Topics this year included updates on the Bylaws,
Memorial Fund, Mission Statement, and Executive Director
position. If anyone has a topic they would like to include for
our next meeting, please call me or send an email to
[email protected].
– Terri Greenberg, Membership Forum Moderator
30
Opening Night
Party: An Old
Time County Fair
Costume World
Exhibition
32
Eddie’s
Costumes
Etc.
Shop
Tours
Education
Show and Share
Free Food at National
Convention
If there is one thing we as costumers have learned
T ... At this
about ourselves it is that we LOVE TO EA
EAT
year’s National Convention, we were be able to enjoy
food and beverages scattered throughout the weekend
at no cost to the attendees. These complimentary treats
were sponsored by various vendors and fellow NCA
member stores. Our treats during the days were
generously sponsored by: Gold Vendor Members:
Ale
xande
umes, Ca
uf
ie
lds N
alco
lexande
xanderr Cost
Costumes,
Cauf
ufie
ields
Noovelt
ltyy , H
Halco
alco,, West
Bay Imp
or
ts, Tabi
ag
one
Impor
orts,
abi’’s Char
Charaa ct
ctee rs, Z
Zag
agone
one,, and
lan Slo
ane and Co
.,
Sunny
w ood Inc. along with A
Alan
Sloane
Co.,
Sunnyw
Ghoulish P
udios. They
Prroductions, and Tr ick or Treat St
Studios.
umes Et
c.,
Costumes
Etc.,
were joined by fellow NCA members: Cost
Feat
ur
es Cost
umes, Easle
umes, P
mance
eatur
ures
Costumes,
Easleyy’s Cost
Costumes,
Peer f or
ormance
St
udios, F
un Shop Too, Long Island Cost
ume and
Studios,
Fun
Costume
Ballo
on, and Pibs Ex
Excchang
hangee .
Balloon,
EE dinner served during this year’s
There was a FR
FRE
NCA auction sponsored by our Platinum Vendor
or
um N
Members: Be W icked
icked,, Disguise Inc., F
For
orum
Noovelties,
ubies Cost
ume Comp
any
Pa pe r Magic G
any.
Grroup
oup,, and R
Rubies
Costume
Company
We thank these sponsors for their generosity.
Without them we would not have been quite as full as
ve ttoo eat
were at the end the event and we know we lo
lov
33
And the winners are...
It is my pleasure to announce the winners of the first NCA Student Creative event. These amazing young designers
produced incredible costumes for the membership to view on Sunday, July 15th at the 2012 National Costumers
Association’s National Convention in Atlanta. The students presented their costumes in a runway show and then
displayed their work product for the audience and judging panel.
The judges for this event were: Dwayne Ibsen, Ibsen Costume Gallery,
Omaha, Nebraska; Judy Smith, Rose Costumes, Denton, Texas; Kathy Dowd,
Costume Holiday House/Heritage Rose Costumes, Fremont, Ohio; and
Vincent Martinez, guest judge, Atlanta, Georgia.
The judges were impressed with the designs and the designers. Each
finalist received a student membership in the NCA as well as a scholarship to
the school of their choice.
Congratulations students! We are
honored to have these talented young
people in our organization.
– Linda Adams Foat, Student Creative
Event Chair
The winner of a $1500 scholarship is J.
Scott Hennessy, American Intercontinental
University, Atlanta, Georgia. His entry was
entitled “Alien Hunter.”
The winner of the $1000 scholarship is
TracyAnn Wallace, Savannah College of Art and
Design, Atlanta, Georgia. Her entry was entitled
“Woman with a Head of Roses.”
To help support the student event in the future,
Linda Adams-Foat designed and created a Civil War
dress that went to the highest bidder during the
auction, with the money to be used specifically for the
student creative event. The dress was purchased for
$400, an additional gift of $100 was given, and
Marilynn Wick of Costume World also donated to the
fund with her checks totaling $1,000. So this quickly
growing fund to date totals $1,500, which will be
used for the event as it gains momentum.
Two $500 scholarships were given to Mary Margaret Hall, Calhoun High School, Calhoun,
Georgia (“A Christmas Rose,” left) and Jessica Springer, Siloam Springs High School, Siloam
Springs, Arkansas (“The Duchess of Moscow,” right).
34
President’s
Banquet
The President’s Banquet was entitled, “A Night On
Cleopatra’s Barge,” and as tradition dictates, was the closing
party of the convention. Guests were greeted during the
cocktail hour by Cleopatra herself, and two attendants
(Ariel Ibsen, Cheri
Sanwick, and Howard
Swain, all of Ibsen
Costume Gallery,
Omaha) who guided
the way to the
entrance. The
ballroom was
decorated with
identical Cleopatras
on giant risers who
loomed from the
corners of the room.
Additional decoration was provided by Ken Fox of Magic
Makers Costumes in Huntington, West Virginia, and
included pieces of his Egyptian collection plus a specially
created feather fan, new for the occasion.
Dwayne Ibsen, Past President, graciously standing in
for Nancy Cox, Immediate Past President, called for a
moment of silence before the dinner was served and
became the Master of Ceremonies for
the evening. The program began with
the introduction of the special guest,
John Landes, brother of the late Mary
Lou and Diane Landes of Landes
Costumes in Indianapolis. Following a
brief tour of NCA Past Presidents as
far back as Murl Daniels, Ken Fox
entertained the group with his passion
for Egypt. Ken’s knowledge of King
Tut and Egyptian history is both
humorous and amazing.
Installation of officers followed
and the evening concluded with the
presentation of two Honorary Life
Memberships – Dennis “Rocky” Torrence, and Dan Pugh.
Both deserving recipients also had moments to address the
group. (see article on page 14)
President Janie Westendorf spoke briefly of the state of
the organization and she and Pat Coppock, Past President,
accompanied Rocky and Dan to the podium. It was a fun,
flashy, night on Cleopatra’s barge. There were many
Cleopatras in attendance, many wonderful costumes, and
even a few archeologists hunting the room for archives!
– Dwayne Ibsen, Past President
35
NCA Marketplace
BLAZERS
ROYAL, GOLD,
RED, BURGUNDY,
KELLY, ORANGE,
PURPLE, WHITE,
AUGUSTA, GRAY,
HUNTER, CAMEL,
NAVY, BLACK
BLAZERS-R-US.COM
Call for prices
36
MEN’S • LADIES’
14 COLORS
+ PINK (Ladies’ only)
SELL TO:
Organizations,
Schools & More
YOU NOW HAVE
THEIR COLORS!
Advertising in the NCA Marketplace is $35 per issue (10% discount for
NCA members). Deadline for ads is 30 days prior to issue date. Issue
dates are February, May, September, and December, so deadlines are,
respectively, Jan. 1, April 1, Aug. 1, and Nov. 1. You can submit a readymade ad, or just send text and we will place it in a box. You will be billed
upon publication of the ad, and payment is due upon receipt. Full details
are listed on the advertising contract available on www.costumers.org, or
you can contact the publications office at [email protected] or 800NCA-1889.
561-265-0065
412-273-3416

sept 2012 issue.pmd

Transcription

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