Kbatz Kraft: Goth Parasol Upgrade

Last year I picked up an old cane umbrella at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for half the $1 sticker price. Yes, fifty cents! Though functioning, this decades-old umbrella feels delicate. Areas on the black canvas are faded and there are a few pinprick holes in the fabric. However, with the right details, this for pennies find can become the perfect goth parasol!

While the honey-colored wood handle and point are superior to modern plastic, the color doesn’t match any of my summer straw hats and bags. Fortunately, a day’s work with 80 grit sandpaper, a generous coat of Jacobean stain, and a semi-gloss topcoat create a fresh, dark finish. Rather than a recognizable bamboo or cherry, this wood smelled sweet when sanded – perhaps a good old hickory. For walking, this all-black exterior cane is sophisticated, but I left the interior stem its original warm wood color. When opened, the vintage shaft advertises old fashioned craftsmanship compared to cold contemporary metal, and inside the canopy where the notch locks there’s a piece of tape with the previous owner’s name. Instead of destroying such unexpected history, I stuck the price tag next to it, embracing a fifty-cent, fifty-year conversation piece with a story to tell. Thanks, Joseph!

After the rough stuff comes the expected parasol lace. Gathered straight lace from that three dollar cumbersome clearance roll last seen on my Victorian Bonnet became a delicious flounce sewn around the end point easily enough, but this was not going to become multiple tiers of bridal shower ruffles or baby bows and cutesy swag. More time-consuming lace both hand-gathered and machine sewed on a black ribbon was glued down to cover the faded canvas edge – just enough romanticism without being twee or too heavy. Although I couldn’t do much about the overall faded fabric, those pinprick holes could be disguised with sequin ribbon from my stash. Trails of sequins were glued over the imperfections, which when open, reflect some sunshine for a final ooh la la. Did I forget to mention this has a cute little button closure instead of lame modern Velcro? Oh yes!

With on hand craft supplies, $4 stain, and sandpaper found in the garage, for under $12 I have a priceless looking parasol with history and craftsmanship that can’t be found in those tiny yet expensive and not made to last Halloween knockoffs. Certainly, there are much more involved ways to do a complete parasol retrofit, but with the right affordable materials and glam vision, anyone can ritz up an umbrella for a sunny day in dark times. The most difficult thing here was waiting on fair weather to work outdoors. I’m too superstitious!

Revisit more Kbatz Krafts or Frightening Flix including:

Gothic Thrift Alterations

Upgrading Masquerade Masks

Gothic Romance Video Review

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When Things in your Household turn Spoopy

by Mimielle

Kasa-obake (Japanese: 傘おばけ^?) are a mythical ghost or yōkai in Japanese folklore. They are sometimes, but not always, considered a tsukumogami (“that has reached their 100th birthday and thus become alive and self-aware” ) that old umbrellas turn into.

According to the Yokai wiki, they are generally umbrellas with one eye and jump around with one leg, but sometimes they have two arms or two eyes among other features, and they also sometimes depicted to have a long tongue.

 

 

Not to be left behind, Second Life avatars are a very easy way to try out quite a lot of fairytale, ghost and monster avatars and Pandora Wrigglesworth of Curio Obscura made these Kasa-Obake avatars so we can hop about and even dance like these Japanese fictional characters!

 

Here is what she has to say about them:

(Male) Marvel at this strange and exotic spirit of Japanese folklore, the Kasa-Obake, also known as the“Umbrella Ghost!” Why do these traditional Japanese umbrellas come to life when they reach one hundred years of age? What strange thoughts hide behind its wide grin and waggling tongue? Who will solve the mystery of the traditional Kasa-Obake?

(Female) Even more strange and inexplicable than the traditional Kasa-Obake, when a Japanese EGL Parasol reaches one hundred years of age, it comes to life as the Kasa-Obake Parasol! What mysterious motivation drives this spirit of lace and ribbon to bat its long, feathery lashes? Who will solve the mystery of the Kasa-Obake Parasol?

One Leg Included with each!

 

Do you dare to ever BECOME the monster and dress up as a fairy-tale character for a convention, gathering or on Halloween? This year I did in Second Life as well as Real Life, and it was great fun both places even though I just wore a kimono in the outside workd, not quite so fantastical as Second Life!

Here I am resting in our virtual apartment at Angel Manor after the Dance Party.