Hello Gang!!!
Past time.. and overdue.. Costumer’s Notes is getting the attention it has sorely needed and greatly deserves. As some of you know, I’ve had a great deal of trials and tribulations over the past four years. So now is the time to get things cooking. And like any good cook, it’s time to assemble the ingredients.
We’re going “old school” with Costumer’s Notes…
I’ve been producing a ‘zine – on and off – since 1988. That year solidified my path as a costume designer. I won a title in the Comic-Con masquerade for most humorous, was chugging through my third year in the Fashion Design program at Mesa College in San Diego, and dreaming of a career in theater. I had some fashion illustrations appear in the local newspaper, I was producing costumes for the Living History Center in Old Town San Diego. I was also making beautiful ballgowns, and even had the pleasure of appearing in the Society Column in the local newspaper. Costumer’s Notes made its first appearance, a thin six-page tips sheet for wearing and caring for Victorian hoops.
Now – literally 20 years later, I’ve produced dozens of volumes on a myriad topics. Through my BA in Visual Arts and Theater at UCSD, to my MFA work in Art History and Design at UCD, I’ve managed to squeeze out these small publications here and there, responding to the needs of my diverse group of clients, friends, associates and fans. Costumer’s Notes provided the original foundation for my first book Costuming from the Hip, and articles have grown and spun off, appearing in magazines, on other websites and integrated into the fiber of other reasearcher’s work.
After a four year hiatus, I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get back to work!
Old Concepts – New Features
Now that the .pdf is dominating the world of print and I’ve been producing all of my books in .pdf for years, it’s common enough to place on the web and have it downloadable. So, instead of a big bulky website with lots of individual pages devoted to articles, columns, photos and advice, we’re simply going back to our original concept of the ‘zine. However, instead of sending it out for printing, then shipping via the mail, we’re simply going to deliver the newsletter to the world as a .pdf that is easy to download and print.
When is the next issue coming out?
I’ve just paused for a moment as I work on it, and will be taking some photos in a moment. I’m hoping the first edition of this “third cycle” will be online before May 15. It will appear at Rakkasah West, just days away, in a crude form, to show around and get feedback from my friends and co-conspirators. The title? Spandex Fusion Pants
What else will be on the Costumer’s Notes website?
So the new slimmer, sleeker website is reduced to a few simple elements.
– Main Page – Welcome, schedule and current issue.
– Archive page – A list of available back issues.
– Links Page – For dancing accross the web.
– About us – Every Page Needs a Mission
– Sign-Up – Basically, our policies page with information about signing up for our opt-in montly mailings. Also – links to the Costumer’s Notes Yahoo Group – A way to connect to a bigger community of like-minded costuming types!
We’re shooting for simple, clean, and user friendly.
Jakob Nielson would be proud! (And if you know what that means, e-me and we’ll talk!)
Thanks to everyone who has supported my adventures. Keep the mail coming in, let me know what topics you would like to see in future issues. I look forward to hearing from you!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Author • Costumer • Dancer • Historian
http://www.costumersnotes.com
http://www.davina.us
http://www.ibexa.com
