Custom ANSA outfits, Mego-sized

One set of Mego-sized custom outfits done. Yay me! Whoot! This was VERY difficult. One outfit is hard enough, but to create three? I doubt I will do it again...

Custom ANSA outfits

I am 90% complete on the tops now of three of them. I just have to embroider the chest pocket, and I also have to embroider one of the sleeves because I forgot to do a topstitch before I put it together. Then, onto the pants and I can send them on their merry way.

I am also thinking about customizing for 1/6 scale the astronaut outfits that the three chimps wore when they first landed in the Escape movie...or perhaps make one for the Megos. I found some great material for this...although it's not a bright white but rather an antique white.

Going through my closet as well for clothing I can re-make into costumes. I haven't found the perfect blue fabric for Burke or Virdon (I keep forgetting who wears the blue shirt)...but I am on the lookout.

THIS IS EXCITING!!

Found at last! The perfect chimp green fabric for me. My future costume. Wow. Maybe in a year or so I will be brave enough to make it. It's taken years to find this perfect color. Whoot!!

New Project!!

I am simultaneously working on several sewing projects at the same time.

Just for yucks, I have started to try my hand at sculpting. That's the big news. I am going to post the finished project when I am done. Check back in five weeks...maybe by the end of May I will have accomplished what I want to do with my sculpt. I am SLOWWWWWW with sculpting.

Last of Zira's Portraits

I don't know, but her jacket is starting to look like Christ Child or Santo Nino to me...

Zira Portraits with Swing Jacket

Some Zira Portraits

More shopping photos

Shopping!!

Forgot to post this favorite photo

testing #2

Testing #2...

Testing

1, 2, 3....

Testing 1, 2, 3...

So many projects, so little time...

To complete the swing jacket, I will need to finalize the frogs and attach the hook and eye closure. The jacket is quite heavy, being 100% wool, so the hook and eye closure will keep the jacket closed when needed. And then the lining of the skirt and a finish to the bottom edge of the jacket. I can cross this off my list. I will probably try to take more photographs before submitting this outfit to mark, just so I have something to remember the outfit by. Hope the sheer enjoyment I experienced costumizing the figure shows.

Then onto my other Mego projects: ANSA suits, soldier ape

Then onto other 1/6 projects: Virdon & Burke (two sets)...gotta look for fabric which means a jaunt to the fabric shop--yay!!

Then may finish up Cornelius and repaint him. Hope I find his ape's new suit.

New and improved jacket lining

This is a photo of the old one.

This is a photo of the new and improved lining in place! What a difference it made, from looking home-made to store bought !!

I cut out a new facing, sewed that facing right side to right side along the top and sides of the jacket, and ironed the seams open and flat. Of course, I trimmed the two corners before turning right side out. This was then ironed flat and a top-stitch was added as close to the edge of the jacket as possible. I kept the same lining I had used earlier, but tucked this under the maroon material. Impressive, is all I can say. I can't believe how clean it looks.

Future Cornelius Mens Suit

Found at long last? Fabric that is appropriate to make him a complete mens outfit?

Dr. Zaius 1/6 scale

Future Minister of Science and future Armageddon Outfit cloth. The panel of cloth to his right is an old jacket of mine that really is too big. The fabric to the left of the photograph is an orange cloth purchased at a fabric store, but I think is still a little off the pumpkin fabric that I am after.

Zira

One last photograph of Zira in her human garb. The chair is an awesome sculpt and a surprise from Mark. It's the only 1/6 scale furniture that I own. The other one also from Mark, is artwork from the Tribunal Scene.

Cornelius and Zira Portraits

I love the last photograph. I captured Cornelius looking directly at the camera. If you move your head around, his eyes follow you. I just wish I had bounced some light to eliminate the harsh shadows on Zira's face, but the day was ending and I was trying to rush the shots so I could post.

Portraits of Zira

I particularly love the composition of this photograph. I'm going to try to re-take this particular shot and try to get her eyes to look directly in the camera. It would make such a strong statement..

This photograph is ok.

Swing Jacket

The jacket now sports a lining, although I may remove the top stitching to make it more "real." I haven't decided what to do with the frogs yet, so I will leave that up to Mark. If I make them working frogs, then when the jacket is not shut they will stand up and look strange. I had such a bad headache when I was taking these photos, so I think I will need to retake more with just her outfit minus the jacket. Maybe I should use the clear plastic snaps for underneath her frogs, and also re-sew them with invisible/plastic thread.

Not only was my head threatening to split open, the wind kept knocking her down so I had to pose her leaning against the wall.

Swing Jacket

I had to sew her jacket twice, because the first time I ran out of fabric and didn't want to drive out of my neighborhood to get more. The second time I used a 100% wool jacket I purchased from Goodwill, but it was tough because every time I needed fabric, I had to take the jacket apart first.

Surprise Present for Bill

This is a surprise present for Bill. He really loves Megos, and he wanted to know if I could sew him one. I said no problem. I hate it. It's ugly, and it's totally not screen accurate, but I hope he likes it. I really hate the gloves. I also am disappointed with the color I picked, because I have this inability to remember colors. Oh well. You can't say I didn't try. I might try to straighten out the front of the vest a little before I send it to him. I have to keep reminding myself that mens clothes button from the other side...it was perfect the first time, and then I realized it was buttoning from the wrong side.

Mini Break

Taking a mini respite from working on Zira's Escape costume, in preparation for the weekend. In the meantime, I am trying to think through some problems that I have encountered when sewing the 1/9 scale version of the Escape outfit. I think I have a plan...let's see if it works.

I also swung by the thrift store today and found a womens jacket in 100% fine wool suiting that could serve as a backup fabric in case the velvet is too thick for the 1/6 scale. Whatever fabric I end up using, I know that the Escape outfit will be stellar.

Back view of Escape costume

Still need to hem the skirt and I am thinking of adding a lining.