Hello to all my friends. I’ve been asked to write a little bit about myself as part of “Know Your ICG Officers.”
I’m Karen Heim from the St. Louis Costumers Guild. You may not recognize me, but I’m usually found hanging out with (and costuming with) Nora Mai. She recruited me to be ICG Corresponding Secretary many years ago when she was ICG President, so in a way this isn’t a new job for me. On the other hand, my predecessor, Anne Davenport, has put a lot of things in place to define the job more exactly (which I truly appreciate) so it’s like a whole new experience.
Although I was already doing a variety of crafts (sewing, knitting, embroidery) from childhood, I really started making costumes when I was introduced to the SCA in 1980. I mostly focused there on 15th and 16th century clothing, but as time went on I wanted to work with periods outside of the SCA mandate.
At the same time, I also found out about Archon, the large regional SF con held in St. Louis, where people were making outfits I couldn’t imagine recreating myself (I am mostly self-taught).
Eventually I met people from the local Doctor Who fan club, and through that became one of the original members of the St. Louis ICG chapter, marking my transition from the restrictions of the SCA to the anything-is-possible world of masquerade costuming. In this friend group I brought my historical costume focus to their SF/fantasy costume world, and we all benefited from the exchange of ideas.
Although I have entered masquerades as a solo act, I generally prefer to be in groups bringing an idea to life that can’t be realized alone; this often means I’m working with Nora Mai on concepts as varied as frogs in kimono to historical arsenic poisoners. We’ve been pretty successful, and I’m always happy when what we do is appreciated regardless of whether an award is given. Listing said awards seems embarrassingly egotistical, but I have been part of groups which have been Best in Show at both the regional and international level.
I still feel I have so much to learn about costuming techniques, but I’ve learned through painful experience I can only pick up one new thing per costume – otherwise I get overwhelmed and the result is not something I can be proud of. Even though I’ve slowed down a bit as I’ve gotten older, I never want to give up challenging myself; I believe that’s a feeling we all share. As we move towards a return to an in-person Costume Con, I look forward to seeing what everyone will bring to the table, and I’ll try to be worthy of being in such a group of talented people.
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