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Lora Skywalker () Detachment XO


Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 6589
Medals: None
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:30 am Post subject: Ewok Village Leia build thread
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Okay, so I guess this is the official start of my WIP thread for this costume.
So far I have found a pair of sandals, some extensions for the braided part (too light, so I'll have to see if I can darken them), and a fabric for the long sleeves.
Now, my first question. The fabric I've found has a gorgeous texture and feel to it, but it's bone white. Is bone white acceptable or should it be snow white to be accepted? If it has to be snow white I'll have to see if I can find the same fabric in that color. (Sorry, no pictures of the fabric right now). I would prefer it if I can go with the bone white fabric I've found since it really is just gorgeous.
I'm still looking at options for the dress fabric. So far I'm leaning toward goat skin, since none of the artificial fabrics I've looked at have the right colors/look; they're too shiny on the backside.
And a pic of the sandals. I know I posted this in some other thread, but I've lost track of it.
The sandals are not an exact match, but they do have the X pattern and no high heel.
I'll see about taking some pictures of the other stuff. _________________ DXO of Royalty & Senatorial detachment
Detachment website: http://www.senate.rebellegion.com/ |
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RebelSenator () Active Legion Member

Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 1214
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:35 am Post subject:
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Nice find on the shoes.
Yeah, I think a pic of the fabric would help.
Looking forward to seeing your build! _________________ Stay on Target |
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Lora Skywalker () Detachment XO


Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 6589
Medals: None
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:21 pm Post subject:
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And that's why I made sure to take a pic!
The fabric with natural light on the left, and yellow artificial light on the right. It was a cloudy day. A bone hairfork for color comparison.
(The out of focus floor is light grey)
The kanekalon hair and my hairband:
Anyone have any suggestions for darkening kanekalon hair? Otherwise it's back to looking and buying hoping to find a color closer to my own hair color.
A comparison photo:
(For some reason my hair looks very red here...)
I do have some other hair lying around, but it's too red. Or too dark.
It may be a while until I update again, but I hope to soon start on the pattern. _________________ DXO of Royalty & Senatorial detachment
Detachment website: http://www.senate.rebellegion.com/ |
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Trishaleam (Trisha Morace Borne) Active Legion Member

Joined: 12 Mar 2012 Posts: 219 Location: Jackson, MS Medals: 2 (View more...)
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:52 pm Post subject:
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I just recently submitted this costume myself. I have all kinds of natural highlights in my hair from black, to brown, to red so it was impossible for me to match the braid exactly to my own hair color. I ended up using a black shade of hair for my braided piece and I think it blended in pretty well. Once the hair piece is braided and laced with the suede cord it might match better than you would think. I would try the shade(s) you have with the hairstyle you are planning to use and go from there.
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Lora Skywalker () Detachment XO


Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 6589
Medals: None
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 4:08 pm Post subject:
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Nice costume. Your's do blend pretty well. For my other Leia I use the before mentioned darker hair. It works with my roots, but not with my lenght.
But I have some cord lying around that I could try wrapping around the different hair pieces and see how it works with my hair. I also have a fair amount of highlights and lowlights ranging from black (or near black) to silverwhite.  _________________ DXO of Royalty & Senatorial detachment
Detachment website: http://www.senate.rebellegion.com/ |
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RebelSenator () Active Legion Member

Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 1214
Medals: 1 (View more...)
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:41 am Post subject:
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The fabric photo is great! Putting the bone hairfork nx to it was a fantastic idea. I think the fabric is very close but I'm not a costume judge so it would be good to hear from one of them. I would think that they should be able to answer very easily with the great photo you took.
All you ladies with gorgeous long dark hair...jealous sigh. _________________ Stay on Target |
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Mieal Deneb (Rachel Orange) Active Legion Member

Joined: 06 Oct 2002 Posts: 2137
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:17 am Post subject:
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I'd like to see the bone color fabric next to the suede fabric you'll be using for the rest of the dress (if you have it yet) to get a better idea what it'd be like. I used pure white for my sleeves.
Doctored Locks has a color matching service, if you send them a small swatch of your own hair, they'll choose a Kanekalon color for you that best matches your hair color. That's what I had them do for me. My headband/braid is Kanekalon from them in the color they suggested.
http://www.doctoredlocks.com/ _________________ ~Mieal |
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Princess Leah () Detachment XO


Joined: 20 Jul 2002 Posts: 614
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:18 am Post subject:
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Hooray! I'm starting on this one this year as well. I came across some great hides the last time I was at Denver Fabrics. Likely wont start until after I get my bridesmaids dresses made...
The sleeve fabric you have there, is it the right type? I can't see a weave in the picture, so I can't tell for sure. It looks like suede.
Edit: I just stared at some hi res images that show the sleeves. I think ivory will photograph white, look white in person, and all without the harshness of white. So you're fine there.
The texture of the sleeves looks almost like a crepe, with no real discernible weave. So you're good there too. I'd still be interested to now where you picked up that fabric. _________________ Corellian Base |
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SoloYT1300 (Robert Kohn) Active Legion Member

Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 5804
Medals: 5 (View more...)
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:21 pm Post subject:
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Advise to hair color matching... use a hackle to blend to the right color. It's a rare day when you can find the exact color right off the shelf. Your best bet is to blend the hair to get to the right color. Not to mention nobody has naturaly one color to their hair. Your natural state of hair is a mixture of blends. So when your buying hair that will be something you will want to consider.
Here is a tutorial put together by one of our own Wookies on the boards to help if your interested... How to make and use a hackle _________________ RL Han Solo Archive and information
Han Archive via Photbucket
My Holster |
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SongofAmazon (Jenna) Detachment CO


Joined: 09 Aug 2008 Posts: 2938 Location: Silver Spring, MD Medals: None
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:18 pm Post subject:
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Huh. I'd never heard of a hackle before. I've tried blending wig colors by hand before and it always came out a mess. I am totally making myself one of those now!  _________________
In planning and progress:
Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden
Charter Committee | Galactic Senate DCO | RLGS FaceBook | RLGS Web Site |
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RebelSenator () Active Legion Member

Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 1214
Medals: 1 (View more...)
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:42 am Post subject:
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First I'm hearing of a hackle as well. That is really awesome. Thank you for sharing. _________________ Stay on Target |
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Lora Skywalker () Detachment XO


Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 6589
Medals: None
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:36 pm Post subject:
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The hackle looks interesting, Rob, but since I'm lacking a workspace making one might be a bit hard. I'm wondering if you could buy one cheap or use some other everyday stuff instead. Hmm, possibilities.
Rachel, thanks for the link! I'm definitely going to look into their prices seeing they ship overseas.
Right now though I'm not buying anything for this project, as I am out of money. I don't have the fabric for the dress bought so can't do a comparison pic with the ivory sleeve fabric. But when I do get that fabric I will take a comparison photo. I can only give you a paper comparison if you want it. If the ivory should turn out to look too dark I will start looking for another sleeve fabric, but until then I'm sticking with what I have. Oh, and it was a chance find in a local fabric chain called Stof 2000. The fabric is called Prada. It is a cotton fabric with a velvet surface according to the description tag. It has a bit of stretch in it and is incredibly soft to the touch.
I'm hoping things will look up next month, but there's no garanties. So far I'm trying to see where I can save money, so I can afford the fabric I'll need. Meh, the problems of a costumer.  _________________ DXO of Royalty & Senatorial detachment
Detachment website: http://www.senate.rebellegion.com/ |
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GotWookiee (Matt Pfingsten) Active Legion Member

Joined: 30 Mar 2001 Posts: 4309 Location: Nashville, TN, USA Medals: 2 (View more...)
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:20 am Post subject:
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Hackle's can be purchased from wig making supply houses for about $70
Mane Depot
They are relatively easy to make even without much space. All you really need is a sheet of plastic or wood (which can be picked up and cut for you at Home Depot or Lowes) and a simple battery powered drill with a drill guide (a tool that helps you drill holes that are perpendicular to the surface you are drilling, like you could do on a drill press), and some nails. _________________ Chewbacca Costuming Resources | Chewbacca Costume Guide (under construction)
Matt Pfingsten - Film & Video Editor |
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LeiaYT1300 (Beret Balestrieri Kohn) Active Legion Member

Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 464
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:47 pm Post subject:
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Regarding sandals, I do recommend with a sandal that has the most pancake flat sole you can find and with thinner straps versus thick. Looking at the few images we can have, the more straps the better.
I went with what is known as a lyrical dance sandal or Hermes sandal:
Places to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Danshuz-Womens-Hermes-Sandal-6243/dp/B004BFK84S
http://www.discountdance.com/dancewear/style_6243.html?camp=Froogle_6243&utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=6243&utm_campaign=Products
http://www.dancecitydancewear.com/6243-by-danshuz-hermes-dance-sandal-review-sizing/
They have a nice thin but sturdy sole, and it's a snap to change out the crappy vinyl straps with either purchased suede laces or what I did, which was cut straps from the leftover suede of my gown and add them, weaving over and around in a fashion similar to the original sandals.
For $30, they look pretty darn close to the original and it's nice to have sandals that match the gown fairly well, too:
Hers:
Mine:
As for the sleeve fabric, I wanted to recreate the rough nubby homespun look of the original and I agree that it's not a bright white, so I went with a natural color (or undyed) raw silk noil, which turned out rather nice.
As for the main gown fabric, well, I've always been an advocate for real suede - nothing beats the drape and feel of the real thing, and honestly, the cost is comparable to good faux suede fabric, so I recommend looking into the real thing before settling on faux suede.
Good luck with the hair matching - I know that can be a difficult situation. _________________ Beret
LeiaYT1300
Costume Portfolio
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Lora Skywalker () Detachment XO


Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 6589
Medals: None
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:11 pm Post subject:
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Thanks Beret, for the kinds words and advice. Yeah, I'm definitely interested in buying the real thing. My eyes are on some goat skin I saw in a leather shop, but I'm keeping my options open for other things. I have not found any faux suede that was right anyway. I really should start looking at that mock-up so I can figure out how much I'll need for my dress.
Since I already have a pair of sandals I'm sticking with them, but it's good advice for others looking to do this costume.
But buying is for next month (hopefully). This month's budget went to new jedi boots.  _________________ DXO of Royalty & Senatorial detachment
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