Brass-Heeled Dollyboots
May. 4th, 2009 07:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wendyzskiReading 'The Difference Engine' that phrase stuck with me so when it came time that I needed nifty shoes for my new outfit, I decided to incorporate the idea.
These began life as a pair of women's ice skates that I got on Ebay for $5 plus shipping. I unscrewed/pried off the runners (A LOT more work that I had thought it would be) and filled the remaining holes with E-6000 cement.
They took 5 coats of Tarrago Self-Shine Color Dye (#26 Burgundy), which was about half the bottle. I then masked off the heel and toe caps and did 2 coats of #18 Black on those. The packaging that I got has a little bottle of the dye and a same-sized bottle of "Preparer" which you use first with a green scrubbie to take off the glaze/dirt/polish before coloring. There is a paintbrush-like thing that you can use to work the color into crevices and seams, and a sponge applicator for the main coloring. I'd never used the stuff before and was reasonably pleased with the results.
The dye took fairly well on the eyelets but ran a bit on the lacing hooks. I ended up using a black acrylic paint to even those out. Then 2 coats of Testors enamel for the heels. All in all, it was a bit more labor- and time-intensive than I had thought it would be - you really DO need the full 5 hour drying time between coats or the dye just starts to take off the previous coat - but I'm pleased with the results.
Also in the pic are my glasses. They were $5.95 on E-bay and I added the silver wire grid pieces to suggest goggles without actually being goggles.
These began life as a pair of women's ice skates that I got on Ebay for $5 plus shipping. I unscrewed/pried off the runners (A LOT more work that I had thought it would be) and filled the remaining holes with E-6000 cement.
They took 5 coats of Tarrago Self-Shine Color Dye (#26 Burgundy), which was about half the bottle. I then masked off the heel and toe caps and did 2 coats of #18 Black on those. The packaging that I got has a little bottle of the dye and a same-sized bottle of "Preparer" which you use first with a green scrubbie to take off the glaze/dirt/polish before coloring. There is a paintbrush-like thing that you can use to work the color into crevices and seams, and a sponge applicator for the main coloring. I'd never used the stuff before and was reasonably pleased with the results.
The dye took fairly well on the eyelets but ran a bit on the lacing hooks. I ended up using a black acrylic paint to even those out. Then 2 coats of Testors enamel for the heels. All in all, it was a bit more labor- and time-intensive than I had thought it would be - you really DO need the full 5 hour drying time between coats or the dye just starts to take off the previous coat - but I'm pleased with the results.
Also in the pic are my glasses. They were $5.95 on E-bay and I added the silver wire grid pieces to suggest goggles without actually being goggles.
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Date: 2009-05-05 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 12:42 am (UTC)I'm having fun with this new genre - more room for creativity without having to worry about "costume guidelines" or doing a specific reproduction.
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Date: 2009-05-05 07:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 02:04 pm (UTC)Yet another "there's no way you could pay me enough to do this for anyone else" project.
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Date: 2009-05-05 12:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 02:06 pm (UTC)I needed a project that would force me to be creative while also making it impossible for me to take myself seriously. I do so much historical and reproduction work that I tend to get bogged down in the research and the rules. I think this is why a bunch of other "serious" costumers that I know are getting into this - yes there is research and detail and stuff, but in the end it's all "Let's dress up and play pretend!"
no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:53 pm (UTC)wow, those are soo beautiful, good job! I am quite impressed.. and a tad inspired for someday in the future... and I love the colors and the way you combined them.. drool... and glad you went with the burgundy.. jealous we don't wear the same size lol... and very proud of you , as usual. damn girl!