Andrea Schewe Design
  • Home
  • Costumes
    • Reader's Gallery
    • Fantasy Costumes
    • Theatrical
    • Historic >
      • Easier to make
    • International
    • Costumes for Kid's and Babies
  • Crafts
    • Home Decor >
      • Pillows
    • Fashion Accessories
    • Doll Clothes
    • For Kids and Babies
  • Blog
    • Past Blogs by subject >
      • My patterns by number
      • Sewing basics
      • Personal sewing Projects
      • Fashion History
      • Fun and funny stuff
      • Guest Bloggers
      • Crafts and Home Dec
  • Links
  • Contact

Meet Marietta Greene - Guest Blogger

8/4/2014

5 Comments

 
Picture
You never know when or where you are going to meet your next friend.  About ten years ago while I was at my local Hancock store picking up a few things, I overheard the person in front of me in line.  It sounded like she ran a theatrical costume shop and I had PILES of left over fabric I didn't know what to do with. (I will not throw fabric out!)

So, I introduced myself, got rid of the fabric and made a good friend.

Some of you may remember her as the Saucy Wicked Witch at Costume Con 27 in Balitmore!
Picture
And at this point, I turn the microphone over to Marietta ...

As Andrea said, my name is Marietta Greene and I first met Andrea about 10 years ago while we were both shopping at Hancock Fabrics. When we first met I admit I was a bit star-struck. I had been using her patterns for personal or professional costuming for years and it was kind of like meeting a Rock Star. At the time I was the Costume Shop Manager for Imagination Stage in Bethesda MD. I also had the opportunity to sew samples for Andrea and be her plus size mannequin every once in awhile.
Picture
Like Andrea, I learned to sew from my mom. Unlike Andrea, my mom was not a professional. But she did make me some fabulous Halloween Costumes, like this Snow White one above and Dorothy below.
Picture
Halloween, of course, was my favorite holiday growing up. I began planning next year's Halloween costume before the night was over on the current one. 

By the time I was 12, I had created many original Barbie designs (stolen by the mean girl down the street) and for myself.

Since I grew up actively involved in Community Theatre, I had access to the costumes for 2-3 community theatres and 1-2 high schools stored in our basement. As a teenager, if I couldn’t sleep, I would repurpose a costume or two or create something new from scratch to wear to school the next day (to be borrowed and never returned).

I majored in Theatre and German as an undergrad and learned how to properly draft and drape patterns in grad school (before that, I just pretended I knew what Iwas doing). I have worked in larger regional theatre costume shops (Arena Stage, Minneapolis Children’s Theatre) where we would never use commercial patterns and other shops where there just wasn’t the time or staff to always draft from scratch (Imagination Stage, various community theaters).

I do enjoy drafting my own patterns but sometimes you have to “borrow” elements that you know will work and will save you time. Andrea’s patterns have been great for that. I tend to use her Colonial men’s pattern quite often for that purpose. I don’t think it is available anymore – I have had it in my stash for quite awhile.

Picture
THE NEVERENDING STORY
I created this particular costume by altering the original pattern. I cut and slashed the jacket bodice to accommodate the built-in belly, added a revere collar and added lots of fullness to the legs of the breeches. It was also built all-in-one to accommodate the quick changes in and out of the costume.

Picture
I used the same pattern for Prince’s and the King’s jackets and waistcoats in a production of CINDERELLA. Instead of altering it to expand it – I altered to make it more
historically accurate based on research (primarily Norah Waugh’s THE CUT OF MEN’S
CLOTHES). We tailored it as much as time and staff would allow and fully lined the jacket and sleeves. For the yellow jacket upstage, we had to lengthen the jacket quite a bit as the actor was 6’4”or taller.

I currently like to describe myself as a recovering Costumer (taking a break from the professional life of costuming but will probably go back to where my true heart lies). For now, I sew for my 7-year-old son, mostly shorts and t-shirts for him and Dirndls for me. (I lived and worked in Germany and Austria and always have loved the look of the many types of Trachten - Germanic traditional dress).

Picture
Picture
I used the Burda patterns for the both of these different dirndls, but added my own
elements. You can find these and many other Trachten patterns on the Simplicity
webpage).


Andrea here again ... Marietta neglected to mention she is a super professional knitter and managed a couple Hancock store for a few years. I would really like her to talk about that experience sometime in the future.

But, now you know a little about her. She will be guest blogging from time to time on a variety of subjects. 
5 Comments
Jeff Martin
8/6/2014 06:37:54 am

I have to agree, she is a very talented and dedicated costumer. I was lucky to have her work on a few costumes for me.

Reply
Diane McDonnell
8/7/2014 01:47:30 pm

Marietta is an AWESOME and prolific seamstress. Terrific knitter (and great teacher). I was lucky enough to work with her as a fellow Hancock manager and blessed enough to become a friend.

Reply
shirley Phillips
3/5/2015 12:03:43 pm

I bought a bunny with Marietta Greene's name on it. Can you help me anything about it

Reply
Marietta Greene
3/6/2015 02:47:26 am

Shirley - I just realized u did not reply direct to your comment but to the blog see below
Marietta

Reply
marietta greene
3/6/2015 02:18:55 am

Hi Shirley, Marietta here oh my goodness! Are you in IL or NJ? Wow! That bunny would date back to around 1980 or so, if it really was mine. Same time as that Snow White costume. Now I need to go see what pictures I might have of me with it......

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

    Archives

    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Archives by Subject

    To search for blog posts in specific categories, use the drop down menu above by hovering over the word "Blog"

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Andrea Schewe participates in Amazon's associates program.