Random links: Parasols and dyeing and misc

[labricoleuse]

Whoo, been in tech for a show at work (i'm on my tenth straight day in a row, with two more til i finally get a day off), so i haven't gotten to the other three parts of the shop setup series. Today i've done a whole mess of online research and i thought i'd share some of what i've come across.

I'm putting together a bid for making a parasol for this ballet for which William Ivey Long is designing the costumes. I have a whole guest lecture seminar dealy that i teach on parasols, and it'd be cool to have one of his designs in my portfolio of stuff that i show in the PowerPoint on that, so i hope they accept my bid. I have no idea if anyone else is bidding on it or not. [1]

The trouble is, the design for this parasol has 8 panels and a long shaft. I've been asked to source the frame and literally all modern "costume" parasols and sutler shops' parasols that have the longer shaft have a 6-panel canopy. I've been scouring the web for a source to buy a new 8-panel long-shafted frame with no luck. True, i could buy an 8-panel frame with a short shaft and just lengthen it, but that would jack my bid a lot higher because i'd have to be doing powertool crap instead of just patterning and sewing a new canopy.

So, with today's glut of parasol research, i present to you a series of fascinating links for your perusal and enjoyment.

Shooting Star Enterprises' great page on the construction of the parasols for the film Cold Mountain.

This child's mourning parasol is a good example of how silk as a parasol cover tends to shatter pretty spectacularly. I love how the seller describes it as having "some tears" in it. I suppose "a huge rent in every panel" constitutes "some."

Can we bring back the paper parasol as a merchandising product? I can picture a band like Rasputina or the Dresden Dolls selling these at their merch booths on tour.

This eBay seller has a lot of really cool old photographs of African-American historical interest.

Check out this Victorian prostitute's parasol with concealed blade in the handle. I would do a whole host of seriously crazy things to own this. Alas, no spare 50GBP.

Edwardian girls' day camp looks pretty fun if you are age 8-12. I would have loved that as a kid.

The carved ivory ferrule on this folding parasol is really impressive.

How awesome is this mod Selfridge's parasol? Quite.


And a couple unrelated to parasols and such:

Griffin Dyeworks' annual retreat looks like it could be pretty cool. Not for me this year, though. Too late to plan for it with work.

Their site map also has a lot of really useful info on chemicals and dyestuffs and what sorts of hazards they pose.


[1] For those unfamiliar with the bid system, this often happens with productions and organizations that don't have an on-site dedicated costume shop--the designer or costume coordinator will contact artisans or independent shops to solicit bids for the work. You evaluate the design(s), put in your bid for how much money you'd want to do it, then hope you get the gig.

Comments

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

WOW, that prostitute's parasol is amazing. If I'd seen it in "Gangs of New York" I would have thought it was a figment of the costumer's imagination.

[labricoleuse.livejournal.com]

I know. It's pretty jawdroppingly cool. It's the sort of thing that makes me want to do something like write a short-story about the original owner, or series of owners.

[daft.livejournal.com]

If you are seriously considering the Griffin Dyeworks retreat some year, let me know and I may try and go as well. I knew the people who ran it & some regular attendees back in L.A.

Did you happen to stumble on any sites selling all-wood parasol frames? I've found several with wood shafts/handles, but nothing with wood spines that's not a cheapo chinese paper thing. My last resort might be to try and dissect one of those and cover it with fabric. :/

[labricoleuse.livejournal.com]

I've never seen any frames with wooden ribs for sale that weren't of the Chinese style with the 293847 narrow canopy panels. If you're wanting to dissect one of those for recovering with fabric, check out these that they've got on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Cloth-Parasol-Ivory-Color-Flowers/dp/B0006IY41M/sr=8-2/qid=1160772662/

At least they are more likely to have some small holes in the rib tips for securing the fabric cover with stitches.