Adventures in Ushering and Then Some

So, a lot has been going on lately. MY Biggest news, sadly not as exciting as it sounds, is that starting tomorrow I am head usher at the theater for a week! This does mean some extra work and responsibility but it also means higher pay. And let's face it, I love getting more money (especially on rent week). The job title mainly entails that I schedule all the ushers and make sure everything runs smoothly, I am definitely up for the challenge!

A highlight of this week included seeing NON-BIRDIE theatre!! Exciting! First, I saw a 'scratch night' at The Barrow Group. Scratch night is when local artists get together a present works in progress to get an audience reaction and feedback. I am not going to lie, it really let me down. I was excited about upcoming works, new young artists, an accepting arts atmosphere. You'd expect edgy, raw, risky works right? WRONG! It seemed mostly to be popcorn entertainment. Most of the acts were comedians who did safe material. I did talk to some people and generally enjoyed the presenters but it wasn't what I was hoping to see. I wanted to see passionate, daring, driven theatre that would in turn motivate me to create passionate, daring, and driven theatre.

However, last night I saw Cymbeline by Fiasco Theater Company at the Access Theater. It was a very different experience. The piece was adventurous and passionate. The play was performed by 6 actors playing a variety of roles all except the actress playing Imogen. The concept culminated at the moment when King Cymbeline announces "everyone appears to be someone else," when not only had each character proved themselves and others false but also each actor had been playing multiple roles, all except Imogen. Imogen throughout the story holds true to her beliefs and to her moral character, since she never waivers neither did the actress. I also enjoyed the simplicity in the sets and costumes. Although they were not extravagant, they wowed the audience with their dynamic use and function. I was highly impressed and hope to find more theatre groups that inspire me like this one.

Lastly I have three crafty projects in mind. If I write them on this blog maybe I will actually complete them! First, I have been working to turn this sixties style go-go dress that barely fits around my hips into a cute tunic style night-on-the-town top. I have already made slits on the sides up to the hip, I still need to hem it and create a keyhole or V-neck (haven't decided which yet, but it definitely needs something). Second, I need a new purse! I have so much scrap fabric I can easily create a cute patchwork type purse. Third, I need to knit again! Winter in NY is bound to get cold so I am going to knit my first hat! The hat will be stripped with knit and purl stitches.

Lastly, I have been baking lately! My chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are easy and quick, not to mention delicious! I took a recipe and changed it a bit. Since we just moved in we don't have all the baking necessities yet, so I picked one that cut a few corners.

ingredients:
1 package of yellow cake mix (so flour, sugar, milk, salt, and baking powder aren't needed)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 cup of oats
3/4 cup chocolate chips
--I add cinnamon and a bit of cocoa powder

Bake for eight minutes and enjoy!!

:) Kosmo

PS hope you like the new layout!

New Place, Same Fun Crafts

Hello Blogger! I have missed you the past month and a half. That's a lie; I am sorry to say it is the crafting I have missed not necessarily the blogging. I am happy to be posting none the less. Currently, I am typing from my new apartment in NYC. My day has been spent awaiting the gas company and the super (for general maintenance) so I had plenty of time to settle in. Naturally, instead of unpacking and organizing, I got crafty.

For some reason our hallway light was green upon moving. Since I need to get through the hallway to get to my room, one of my first missions was to find one of my desk/table lamps to light my way. Last May when I was moving out of my previous residence we found a box of goodies left behind by past tenants. I took a plain black desk lamp from this box and is now the lamp that is lighting my hallway. Since the most important and interesting part of any lamp is the light that come from it I spiced up the shade to enhance the light and mood of my hallway.

I first took silk ribbon and whip stitched the bottom border of the lampshade. The top border I painted using gold liquid leaf and framed in the same purple silk ribbon as the bottom border. Then I found vintage stage and theatre pictures using google images. Using preview I slightly altered the pictures by cropping and changing the color balances. I did a simple collage of five pictures on the lampshade using rite-aide brand glue. My final touches were designs painted with black fabric paint and a fine bristled brush and accents of tiny holes poked through the shade to let more light escape through the pictures.

Here are the pics. I hope you enjoy! I really like how it turned out!

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Love from the Big Apple
~Kosmo

Project 1 complete and Upcoming Projects

I finally finished my dress! It really should not have taken me as long as it did but I have had a lot on my plate lately. I know it seems I should be simply sitting on the couch eating cereal and watching cartoons... not that I haven't been doing that part of the time, however, I have been organizing, cleaning, and running around to get ready for the summer. My major accomplishments have been arranging my room, so it feels like someone actually lives there, and writing lesson plans for the summer.

Anyway, what you have all been waiting for:

Upcoming projects: last weekend there was a Hillsborough County Public Library book sale. Since I got there in with only one hour left in the sale they were basically giving the books away; I got a bag of craft and theatre books for only $1. I am going through the books this weekend and I will post the projects I am interested in. We will see what I accomplish by the end of the summer!

Kosmo out!

Project #1

For my first project I will be finishing a dress I started a couple weeks ago but put it aside as quickly as I picked it up. I got the pattern from the costume shop I used to work at. The pattern is a little too big for me so I will need to take in the side seams and I think I will embroider on the collar. Here is the pattern (the long dress):


and here is the main fabric:

-Kosmo!