The photo shoot for the Steampunk Circus Clown was a BLAST.  The lovely DangerKitty was our model.  The photos were shot at the Mantorville Opera House, which is an amazing building with the coolest stage:

Check out the painted curtain!

The excellent Jim Jordan took our photos.  All the photos here are ones I took using my phone – his should be available soon.

The lovely Jane Olive did her hair, and her daughter the also lovely Liz Olive did make-up.  She mimicked the checkered border pattern of the skirt in her make-up.

Creepy, yet pretty!

She had pink and clear rhinestones put along her eyes, and a copper gear on her face as a beauty mark.  Almost all the make-up came from Joann Fabrics, which carries a new line of face make-up.  They extended the white into her hair so that the wig would blend better.

Yes, that is a box of Junior Mints on the make-up table.

We were able to use the entire changing area of the theatre for our photo shoot, so we were able to spread out a little:

Bum roll…. please!

It took a bit to get DK into the costume.  I had forgotten to put the copper tube for the supportasse in first before the bodice, and I had figured out how to swag the front of the skirt to make it mimic stage curtains opening and had to adjust for that.

I still didn’t know how I was going to attach the front panel, but via the use of some wire and duct tape, Jane and I managed to hang it inside the front of the bodice on either side of the boning, where it stayed put the entire shoot.  I have figured out a better option now, but that will have to wait till the next wearing.

When I finally saw DK in her entire outfit I couldn’t believe how cool she looked:

Getting touched up.

The other thing I had forgotten to mention was that I needed to cover the battery pack on the back of the key turner.  I wound up using part of a cardboard box that I covered with leftover leather from the boots.  I wrapped more copper strapping around it, and stuck buttons to mimic rivets in some of the holes and attached them on the inside via wire.  Then I wrapped duct tape over the inside to prevent any wires from touching the battery pack.  I wrapped the copper strapping around the back of the key turner and duct taped it in place so as to give easy access to the battery pack.

Fancy battery cover.

You can just see the copper pole sticking out of the bodice that helps to support the supportasse.

And then?  It was show time:

Made-up and ready to go.

There was prancing about the stage:

Check out my pretty clock!

And sassing:

Let me blow you a kiss!

The only mishap was the key.  The stem broke, but can easily be welded back on:

Whoops!

I forgot to mention that DK wore my old square-necked chemise using my own personal design of a “shelf-bra” insert with drawstring so as to help those of us who are bigger busted to avoid the dreaded “sinking” of cleavage in Elizabethan corsets.  She wore her own Elizabethan corset that was made many years ago by The Chick and I using the Elizabethan Corset Generator for the pattern.  She brought her own fish-net stockings, and the partlett around her neck was one I made awhile ago and never used.  It is from Margo Anderson’s Elizabethan Ladies Accessories pattern, and ties under the arms.  Due to the mechanicals and harness it was safety-pinned into place.

We had an excellent time and I am so very thankful for all the people who gave of their time and talents for the photoshoot.  I certainly am not a make-up artist, nor an exceptionally good photographer or hair-stylist.  Everyone was so excited to participate and it was great fun for everyone.

Afterwards we had a great meal at the Hubbell House and made purchases at the Mantorville Art Guild.   After purchasing some chocolate we headed home.  With the exception of the four hours of sleep last night, it was a very fun day.

If you get a chance to get to Mantorville, MN, I highly recommend it!  Check out a melodrama at the Opera House.  Eat a hearty old-fashioned meal at the Hubbell House.  Or go to Old Tyme Days this coming June 29th, and participate in the costume contest.  The President of the Minnesota Society of Costumers (MNSOC) was a winner last year!

I hope to have Jim’s photos to display soon.  For now?  We’re out of energy over here…

Too tired to stand up.