Chimera by HOTS

[heartofthesunrise]

Ah, the sweet smell of success! I've just returned from my sci-fi convention in NY where I presented my costume (It's a hobby for those who are shaking their heads right now) and have brought back two awards: a workmanship award and the coveted Best in Show!!! After eight years of doing this, it's the first time the honor has been bestowed on me. And it feels gooood!

The costume is called Chimera, and it's constructed of thin foam scales (about 1600 of 'em), horsehair, feathers, black and white lycra, and a boatload of glue. I started cutting and painting the cales back in September, and finished the darn thing Friday morning. Without the help of my roomies, who were responsible for the assembly (I did the grunt work), this wouldn't have been done. They worked for scale pay. Heh heh heh. (That got a real good groan at the end of my presentation)

So here's the thing that has taken away my social life for the past month. Hope you like it.

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Holy congratulations Batman!

Nicely done. Must give you an appreciation for what goes on in Hollywood when they do this stuff year round, I'd imagine. 'Course they get paid for it . . . . :D

[spocksfan]

that is AMAZING!!
Congratulations!

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

Picking my jaw off the floor,I'm in awe! Have no idea how someone can do something that incredable. HOTS congrads on the well earned awards. This should be displayed in an art musium. And you made the toast of the town. I hope you can make it to Grumpys' Saturday 27 . Bring photos You concoured New York , Boston should be an easy win. Horay for you We know you poored your life into this costume for some time. Plus the model looks "NICE"! You must be an alien right now because you must be flying high in the sky. Great surprise HOTS! Amazing!
Starrship Trooper :clap:

[Sheerah]

Dayum, HOTS!
Nice work! Very, very nice!
Beautiful actually.

My gosh, I can't even imagine how hard you had to work on that.

Congratulations on the awards! You most certainly deserved it.

And now, the thigh high boots are making more and more sense ;)

[Silent_wings]

Wow Yvette that's very cool.

Bet it took a lot of Starbucks to get through that one. ;)
Look at all of those scales. Goodness!

You certainly deserve those awards.

[SisterBluebird]

Yvette, it is absolutely gorgeous. And congratulations on the well-deserved awards. Is it based on a particular sci-fi charcter?

Laura

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

After my computer crashed yesterday, I managed to salvage most files includeing photos.I saw your photo of your last design and came back here to compare. the first with the bellowing sleeves and high boots is just remarkable. Still can't figure out how you would sew something like that. Now this new one.I couldn't even begin to guess where to start something this complex. How did you move around? the dress bottom Mortica Adams foot work must have been requirered? Oh is it machine washable? LOL!!!!!
cograds again HOTS, such talent! You look kind of alienish?

Starrship Trooper

[therifferoo]

WOW, Yvette ~
All I can say is AWESOME!! and congratulations!!
What an amazing piece of art you created!

[heartofthesunrise]

Thanks, everyone. SB, the design was actually from a fashion book that I came across when I was looking for 18th century dresses. It was done by a French designer named Thierry Mugler, and, believe it or not, was shown on the runway in Paris in 97. It was called Chimere, and I knew it was mythological, so I told everyone this weekend 'yeah, the chimera is a combination bird, serpent and horse'. Found out last night that it is really a combination of a lion, serpent and goat. D'oh!

Starrship, moving around was an adventure. I cut slits in the bottom of the dress (the hair hid them, but I think I have to cut them a little more) and I managed to shuffle very well. Sitting was out of the question, but I stood for nearly all of the assembly, so it was more like training. Washing? HAH! No need--I'll probably wear this thing two more times: once for the big Worldcon in September, then definitely for Halloween. Find someplace giving $1000 for best costume and waltz in there wearing this. Bwaa-haa-haa!

[deelovesyes]

Wow Yvette, love it

Congratulations on your awards.

Dee

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

It's time again to wish heartofthesunrise wishes of great support. I don't say luck because I don't think she is going to need it. Hots will be at the international SIFI convention in Boston this weekend. And will be entering this award winning costume in the compation. She will miss seeing Yes with us but our hearts are with her. Go win Girl!
Starrship Trooper :hearts: :yesbird:

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Right on! Best wishes & vibes, Yvette!

[yesyadda]

Neat! Way to go girl!

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Oh BARAV OH! HOTS. Well done, well done! You must be strutting like a peacock! hahaha pun intended.

My heartfelt congrats to your creation. It is magnificent and great use of color and pattern.

[swib]

oh my god! That is beautiful Yvette, you should take first prize.

Diane

[Silent_wings]

Yvette
Have a wonderful time.
I know you'll do great. It's truly lovely.

[deelovesyes]

You will do great Yvette!!

We will all be thinking of you.

Dee

[umgekehrt]

The scales... are they inspired by Chris Squire? LOL
Oh and BTW the picture, is it a mannequin or a real person in heavy kabuki make-up?

Great job! Very artistic.

[Sheerah]

I'm sure you will do amazingly!!!!
The costume is just absolutely incredible!
Good Luck!!!!

[heartofthesunrise]

The scales... are they inspired by Chris Squire? LOL
Oh and BTW the picture, is it a mannequin or a real person in heavy kabuki make-up?

Great job! Very artistic.

That's all me, no mannequin required.

Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes. I kind of do wish I was going to see Yes with y'all but the drive from Vermont to Boston would play havoc with my tender sensibilities, then to add the pressure of competing against some first class costumes--I'd need a whole lot of Starbucks to get through Sunday (luckily there's one right in my hotel :sneaky:)

I hope to do respectably and fill everyone in on Monday. Have a great time, Vermonters! Hold Sisiter Bluebird's banner way up high so they can't miss it! Pity the poor people behind you.

[Bugeyes]

Oh, come on HOTS, do we get a clue at this year's costume? Well, I can wait for pictures after this weekend, cause it probably won't be finished until hours before competition anyway.

Go, kick their @ss, women! Best of Show again maybe?

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

Ah? Peggy Pal. Read the first post, you'll see the costume and this is her second event. I'll tell no more grab a coffe and check out the photo
SST

[Bugeyes]

Ah, your post from the other day is the clue, STARRSHIP. March 04 was the unveiling Chimera and probably not the international sci-fi convention, just a regional event? So, now Chimera moves on to the international event this weekend? Doing it for eight years? Must be a blast!

Oh hey, you know I'm greedy. I wanted to see another costum! I was trying to figure out what Yvette had up her sleeve this time. And she's missing YES for it too. Timing is everything, bummer.

[SisterBluebird]

I hope to do respectably and fill everyone in on Monday. Have a great time, Vermonters! Hold Sisiter Bluebird's banner way up high so they can't miss it! Pity the poor people behind you.

Thanks Hots, we will be thinking of you. I hope Chimera wows the judges!

Laura/SB

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

Have a great time this weekend HOTS and let us know Sunday night what you won. Wish I was going. A golden opertunity to pick on you and then laugh as you try to catch me in that dress! HA! LOL! We will be thinking of you in Vermont Saturday between 6:45 and 6:58. Ya thats enough time for you. Don't whant to spoil the membership.
But you know we're all rooting for you.
Best wishes,
Starrship Trooper :hearts: :yesbird:

[heartofthesunrise]

6:45 thru 6:58? Okay, I plan to meditate at that time (more than likely I'll be on a treadmill) so as I can soak up all the good vibes from Vermont.

13 minutes? Geez, I thought membership had its priveleges.

[heartofthesunrise]

Report from Worldcon: I got my butt kicked. :crybby:

Wouldn't you know, the first time I do one of these major things, they have the most entries ever? I was totally outclassed, not to mention my costume started to molt and drop scales and hair all over the place. I did have a big disadvantage: one of the judges was a woman I competed against in March, so she probably thought "She's already won a big award, let's give the awards to someone who hasn't won" (and there were a bunch of novices that were way beter than me). So I've unceremoniously put the damn thing in a trash bag, for now, until I can get a big enough Rubbermaid container, and can now start planning for the next Worldcon I can go to, which is in 2006 in California (Kathy, I'm gonna need a map of all the Starbucks in the LA area).

The weekend wasn't a total washout: I did pick up a pair of the neatest purple suede knee-high boots that looks killer with a mauve-ish mini skirt I also got to wear at the late night parties, not like anyone cared (again with the boots, Sheila! I think I have a problem..)

And Peggy, I do have my next costume for March all lined up. Think nude body suit.

I'll post some pics I took so you can see what I was up against, or if I find the Worldcon website and see that they've put up photos, I'll direct you to it.

Thanks again for all the well wishes, everyone. I knew I could count on you to keep my spirits up. :hearts:

[yesyadda]

Hey- you're still first place in my book! The competition MUST have been horrendous... your outfit still blows me away.

[SisterBluebird]

Awww, what a shame! Those other costumes must have been beyond extraordinary to have beaten yours so soundly. Being beaten by someone who has done truly excellent work, "your's is no disgrace", of course.

At least you had a good shopping trip and hopefully enjoyed the rest of the convention. Those things must be great fun, I'd love to take one in sometime myself. You were in our thoughts and conversation this weekend, but you already knew that.

Laura/SB

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

Yvete you never cease to put a crack in my heart. Did the judges have canes and guide dogs? High boots and a mini. Don't sell yourself short the wolves were probably tied up and the nice guys were silently wishing they could meet a girl like that. She must be here with someone. You must have raised a lot of guys blood pressure! Howe come you don't dress like that for us? Kidding! Your hot enough! Now just give me the names of the winners and I'll get your trophy for you. They like si fi then they'll love an allien abduction.
We played heart of the sunrise in your honor on the way to Vermont.
To our Champ, see you soon,
Harry / SST :hearts: :yesbird:

[swib]

oh sis, I am sorry to hear about this mess. Hey at least you could look like a YES hooker to the next show!!! Chris would dig those boots. hehehehehe.

Diane