Twin Roses Designs - Costumes and Clothing from all time periods!

09/01/2025

This guy has been resting since 2014, time to rise and shine. Costume was based on Assassin's Creed IV's Adewale character.

New custom order discussion and acceptance now paused until some of the existing orders are completed. I'll update when I can take on new custom orders again. Stay safe and have a good day!

07/01/2025

How to Tuesday: New Year exercises for your sewing machine (and you). https://youtube.com/shorts/qu84_g64B1U

06/01/2025

Snow Day! I know this is an old photo from 2015, but I couldn't resist posting it before shoveling the walkway and making it safe for USPS/UPS deliveries. Stay safe and warm out there. Photo by the awesome@degasbonnard

03/01/2025

Raising a mug to Professor Tolkien's 133rd birthday! From the summer of 2002, here are two of the first LOTR inspired clothes I made. I'm still grateful that Bob and Kim took a chance on a fledgling internet based costume company (I started Twin Roses Designs in fall of 2000). Hope you all have a great weekend!

02/01/2025

Continuing with dragons: here's a look at the Dr. Strange inspired custom ordered cloak project. Outside is tone on tone red dragon brocade with cut embroidered gold metal mesh trim, lined with fire colored swirl batik cotton.

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! May your 2025 be full of good adventures, treasure, and friendly dragons.

31/12/2024

How to Tuesday: tie a sash and hide a modern belt buckle. https://youtube.com/shorts/53fVewqDZRo Stay safe out there, and I hope the New Year is awesome for you!

A couple of ways to tie your pirate or High Republic inspired sash, and use a loop of the sash to hide or 'disguise' a modern belt buckle.

30/12/2024

Still buttoning up 2024 and getting ready for 2025!

23/12/2024

2024 was fantastic: thank you all for the variety of geeky and historical projects. Looking back at the posts with the most 'engagement', the top post on Instagram was a reel starring in a mashup Dr. Who/Star Wars outfit, followed by .kenworthy 's behind the scenes peek at filming in the snow for the Wychwood Cycle. Other top Instagram and Facebook posts included custom ordered themed Jedi, Gilderoy Lockhart, High Republic Jedi, a moth cultist, and a LOTR inspired costume posted on Tolkien's birthday. I started a YouTube channel in March, mostly focused on the Shorts format. The top videos there were "How to Sew a Button with a Shank" with 11282 views and "How to Sew a Button with 2 Holes" with 9684.

I'm taking a break this week from social media posting to focus on year end business tasks, and making plans for projects in the new year. Happy Holidays to one and all!

20/12/2024

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive... (from The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper)

19/12/2024

Flashback to 2004 and nostalgic for the 'golden age' of LOTR. Trimmed black wool cloak with oversized hood and pewter knotwork clasp, embroidered white tree surcoat with trim, ring belt, leather and wool tunic with quilted and embroidered linen half sleeves under chain mail sleeves made by Michael Ashby. What is today the 'golden age' of, I wonder? This is a stressful time of year for a lot of people, I hope today is good to you.

18/12/2024

Here's an example of a past custom ordered Jedi based on Clone Wars Baylan made from all brown linen. My website stock tunic sets, cloaks, and robes are generic, but they ship quickly. Embellishment details, size, style and color changes are possible through custom orders, but these can take a lot longer for me to make due to longer consultation/discussion and labor times.

17/12/2024

How to Tuesday: Geeky Mashups. How I choose elements for mashups and crossover characters, etc. Keep those questions coming, and let me know if you'd like to see more examples like this. Do that 'like and subscribe' thing (which I know you all know how to do already, thank you). Safety first out there, and have a good day today! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SuB7uqoAPlc

16/12/2024

Another work week begins! Here's a look back at a Jedi Master Sol inspired outer robe made from raw silk that I made several weeks ago. His robe was an interesting pattern drafting challenge.

I'm still recovering from being sick last week, communications will happen asap. Hope you all had a great weekend!

13/12/2024

Silver themed Featured Friday: ready to ship elegant 1930's gown and steampunk "Mercury" waistcoat.

This Art Deco 1930’s style dress is made from shimmering silver fabric shot and backed with black threads, creating flashes of bright silver highlights and deep pewter lowlights as it moves and catches the light. Mannequin shown with gown measures 36” bust, 28” waist, and 38” hip. Gown measures 38” bust, 36” waist and 38” hip. Center front base of neck to hemline is 53”(just above the floor on someone 5’6” tall) and the back streamers are about 4” longer. The waist belt features silver and rhinestone Art Deco style metal pieces, and the belt will be adjusted to your specific waist measurement after purchase to securely hook together under the faux clasps at the front. Regular price for this one of a kind gown was $285, on sale today for $180 including regular domestic shipping.

The Mercury neo Victorian style waistcoat is made from shot black and silver taffeta fabric that resembles the color and reflectivity of a bead of mercury. Features two working pockets at the front, and solid pewter steampunk watch mechanism buttons. Back waist tie allows some adjustability for smaller sizes. Waistcoat measures: 46" chest, 44" waist (full torso). Regular price $105, on sale today for $65 including domestic shipping.

Will prorate shipping cost for either faster delivery times or international customers.
Thank you and have a great weekend!

12/12/2024

A look waaayyyyyy back to 2006 or so to a Pre-Raphaelite gown set. This gold embroidered royal blue wool flannel gown with red silk sleeve lining and red linen inner gown was inspired by a series of paintings created by John William Waterhouse. Waterhouse's "The Tempest" from 1916, "Ophelia" from 1910, and "Fair Rosamund" from 1916 seem to all be wearing the same clothes. Waterhouse's "Destiny" from 1900 may be the red undergown by itself. Studio photo by (Nina Rizzo).

11/12/2024

Custom ordered hunter green twill robe with green and gold trim. The cut outs for the dagged edge became embellishments around the shoulders.

All these year end 'top 10' lists have me taking a moment to both look back and ahead to what I hope to accomplish in the new year. Is there anything you all would like to see more of? Hope you all have a good day today.

10/12/2024

How to Tuesday: faster thread changes for sewing machine and home use serger.

https://youtube.com/shorts/OkzWuDSpzrM?feature=shared