Wendy Ross Kaufman
Wendy Ross Kaufman received her BS in Apparel Design from The University of Maryland in 1985. Since then, she has had her hands in bridal design, theater props and costumes, children’s clothing, teaching, performance art, fiber art, graphic design and writing about costume for The Examiner.com from 2009 until it closed in 2016.
Nowadays, all of these disciplines find their way into everything she does, and she finds that she is having an increasingly difficult time distinguishing why they were ever separate in the first place.
Her fashion audience is anyone who wants fun and fine clothing. Her clients want original and show-stopping outfits. They want the bridal dress that will be talked about for ages. They want the cocktail dress that will not be lost in the sea of little black dresses that have been de rigueur in the fashion world and held special events in a monochromatic choke-hold for ages. She was dubbed “The Betsey Johnson of Baltimore,” and revels in the title.
Upon moving to the San Francisco Bay area, Wendy immersed herself in the theater world as a costume designer. Her productions have included: Lucky Duck, Little Mermaid, Starmites, Shrek, Mulan, Sound of Music, Mere Mortals, Alice in Wonderland and Triassic Parq, with her The Wiz grabbing the Best Costumes award from Broadway World San Francisco in 2013. Triassic Parq won her a coveted Best Costume nomination from The Critic’s Circle the following year.
After a a short time living in the beautiful Emerald City of Seattle, she now finds herself residing in the beautiful and historic city of Dublin, Ireland, where as ever, she continues to costume and write.
Among other publications, her work appears in three coffee table books: “The Costume Maker’s Art”, ”Fiberarts Design Book IV”, and “The Costume Book”. You may also see her on Bravo’s Project Runway DVD, season one, and TLC’s “DC Cupcakes.” She sells her work at http://www.etsy.com/shop/sithich.
Dear Wendy, I read yoir article on ‘The best sewing machine to buy . . . ‘
I am impressed with your knowledge ln the Berninas.
I would like to know if one can still find motors for ‘old’ Berninas. I’m in South Africa, and according to the technical guy, Bernina does not make the old motors anymore. Is there a solution?
Hope you will be able to help bcs it is sad to think a whole machine goes to waste just because a new ‘heart’ cannot be found.
I’m stilll working on my 707, which I bought in 1972.
Regards,
Francel
First, replace the motor brushes. The Bernina motors go through motor brushes, and require check-ups so that the motor brush springs do not damage the commutator. This may fix your problem. There are after-market motors made, but they are a last resort. My suggestion is to find a parts machine and take the motor from that.
Hi Wendy!
I really appreciated your post on sewing machines. It was a nice read. 🙂
I was wondering if you can recommend places to buy a Bernina? Do you think online sources are ok?
Also, do you think Brother sewing machines are the best modern sewing machines? Do you think it is better to buy a new Brother or a Bernina online?
Thank you so much. Happy Holidays!
Hello, Wendy!
I think I was that “golden cherub” person you referred to in your post on the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters.
Sorry that it took me four years to come across your website.
Here’s what I recall about our encounter, let me know if it matches your memory:
It was, as I remember, at a CostumeCon sometime in the 1990’s – I don’t recall exactly which, rather than at the WorldCon. (I did see your performance at the ’89 WorldCon.) You had graciously brought your “Music Box” costume for the exhibit display there. You happened to come by as I was admiring it, and I may have complemented you on it. It came to my mind that there was a similarity to the artistry of the Pageant’s living statues, and I asked you if you had ever seen the Laguna Beach show.
You replied that it was a favorite of yours, and we may have discussed it a brief while. I told you how I had been a cast member years before, as solid gold cherub, in a statuary group with several gold maidens, and originally made for French kings. I might have mentioned that they shaved my entire body, from my eyebrows on down, to remove any peach-fuzz hair, to make sure the statue could look smooth & shiny.
When I said that I had to be a nude cherub, you told me that it was considered to be a honor to be chosen for such an experience — something which made my day, too!
My appearance then: I was a typical Science Fiction geek, size XL, bearded, with strawberry blonde hair and suspenders.
(I’m not a costumer myself, but often traveled with my costumer friend, Capucine, to WorldCons and CostumeCons. I love the SF cons, the masquerades, and things that remind me of my experience in the Tableau Vivant at Laguna.)
Anyway, if this sounds that I was the person you chatted with back in the day, please let me know. The memory of our brief meeting remains a treasure, as does being in the Pageant and watching great creativity and fine craftsmanship in the theater arts, such as your work. I’m honored that it may have meant something to you, too.
Sincerely,
Dale S.