I had a rush order of sorts pop up and it's kept me busy. I say "of sorts" because I had been contacted last year about the possibility of being hired for this project but then heard nothing. Then suddenly three weeks ago I was contacted again and told what was needed and what amount of time I had.
Basically they asked me to design, make and ship a dozen costumes... in less than two weeks.
Cripes. Less than two weeks.
If this weren't a project I was really, really interested in I'd have said, "Sorry, that's simply not enough time." but it's a project I really want to see made and see done well. I don't know how well my work will go over but I can only do so much in the limited time with the limited budget and considering the limited design direction I was given.
I've been working every second of every day I could manage since taking the project. Last night I got 3 hours of sleep, partly due to working that late, partly due to a sick 2 year old who refused to sleep and only wanted his mummy.
Once I've got the bulk of it done I'll pack it up and ship it. Then weekend after next I have to pack up the rest as well as pack up myself and head off to be on location to act as costume mistress, keeping track of it all and making any last minute adjustments or beetroot with the emergencies of a wardrobe department.
Then I fly back and do any other costumes that pop up after the first shoot. The following weekend I hop another plane and come back for the second shoot. I'll come home once more and have a month or so of more work for the third shoot then fly off again to do it all over again.... and so on and so forth for the next few months as needed. If I get things set up properly they may well be able to function without me on some shoots. Whenever possible I won't be on set simply because I could better spend my time working on the costumes for the next shoot and not gallivanting all over the place just to baby sit actors and count clothing at the end of the day. That's what wardrobe assistants are for.
Already, I'm so tired and I'll stay that way for a while. As soon as the first two shoots are done I'm going to spend 24 hours solid sleeping if I can swing it. At the moment though, I have to get back to work. No rest for the wicked ;)
Tags: Seamstress Work
