Zja Zja, The Steampunk Gypsy Of The Sky (planning phase)

I am at a bit of a loss. The Steampunk Symposium and Lunarmorph are on Saturday. I am busy tonight and tomorrow, which leaves only Friday night and Saturday morning to create my outfit. I spent the weekend foraging for outfit components – 7 hours of shopping at markets, op-shops and cheap stores on Saturday! *faints* and I was walking for most of that (we took a breather for 30 minutes at lunchtime). I went from Central, to Broadway, Broadway to Newtown, Newtown to Haymarket, Haymarket to Wynyard then back to Town Hall. I should have taken a bus from Haymarket to Wynyard, but no, I thought “it’s not that far” *facepalm*

Anyway, it was an adventure and a half! And while I had some small successes, I am still worried about my outfit.

My persona is Zja Zja, the (steampunk) gypsy of the sky. I tell fortunes, and I have a air-wagon tethered outside. I named it a zepvardo – a compound word for Zepplin Vardo (a gypsy wagon). I travel across the skies taking passengers, telling fortunes and having adventures. I do take long-term passengers if they can provide skills to help on the journey. My friend Ari and her baby Vin sometimes accompany me. He is a ragamuffin pickpocket, and Ari will cook any birds I run into (suffice to say I deliberately aim for flocks of geese!). She also sells her clothes when we land at markets and souks so I can tell fortunes and earn my living.

My envisioned costume was quite elaborate. I had wide skirts in marvellous colours, my black corset and a white peasant shirt. I was covered in gold jewellery (storage of wealth) including a belly dancing waist chain of coins. I had sturdy buckled boots and home-made goggles. I have a crystal ball, and a steampunk gun, made by my brother Matthias who is a metal smith and quasi inventor.

But I ran out of money.

So…

I bought:

• A  small crystal ball
• A wide skirt that is sizes too small for me – it is black with bronze rivets
• 1.5 m of forest green velvet to make the skirt wider (vertical darts I am thinking?)
• Dark brown boots with buckles
• Yoghurt (to use the containers to make goggles)
• Cheap sunglasses (to make goggles)
• Buttons for a shirt
• Fabric glue for the goggles

To buy:

• I need to find a large man’s shirt to turn into a peasant top after a Threadbanger tute I found. However, I am broke, and can’t afford a trip to an op-shop. I think I will have to see what I can salvage from my wardrobe. Everything I own is black….
• Gold jewellery (I am broke, so I think I will have to go without *sob*)
• A belt (not happening *sigh*)

The plan:

• Modify the black rivet skirt with the green velvet. I may add some underskirts to make things interesting
• Make the goggles. That requires me to eat one more tub of yoghurt, figure out a frame, cut up the sunglasses, cut and glue green velvet and find my black velvet ribbon
• Find a shirt and alter it to make an off the shoulder floozy peasant shirt. Sew on the buttons. Maybe add some subtle lace(?)
• Find some socks or stockings long enough for my new boots. Or both! I don’t want blisters
• Find enough bling to make me look like a gypsy! The problem is I am broke, so I will have to go for the ragtag waif look… Luckily I still have silver hoop earrings. Not sure what I will do about necklaces/bangles and bells.
• Collect the mail! My folks sent down the steampunk gun my brother created for me. I hope it looks good!
• Find an old tea cup and glue in some tea leaves. I may make them look like a black dog LOL Find a way to attach it to my ensemble
• Make a velvet pouch for my crystal ball

I am freaking out. I don’t have time or money…. Wish me luck! I will need it! To confound the issue, my housemate has his fiancé visiting from the Philippines, and I am not sure if I can use the dining room to sew. There isn’t enough room in my bedroom!! I think I need to start tinkering with the goggles first.

Edit: God I love my mum! I called her having a breakdown about money, and she dumped $50 in my account when I told her not to. I could have lived on rice for a week… Now I can get a man’s shirt and a belt! And food and my meds… LOL

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