Cactus Needles has been the official newsletter of the Southwest
Costumers Guild since 1994.
Here are all of the issues as Adobe Acrobat .pdf files. Feature
articles are noted.
Click the link to view the issue or right-click to download the file
to your computer.
The oldest five volumes are contained in one file each. Since these
files are quite large, it will probably work best to download them
before opening.
31.12 December 2024
Pictures from our meet and greet table at LibCon West 2024 and our
visit to the historic Peterson House.
31.11 November 2024
Museum visit. Thanks from Glendale Public Library Halloween
ComicFest. Fairy Godmother and Godfather picture.
31.10 October 2024
Local AZ Haunters member must sell his collection. Link to recent
Silicon Web Costumers Guild webinar recording. Some Halloween
pictures from John.
31.09 September 2024
Minutes from August chill-out meeting. SWCG will participate in
LibCon West December 7 and Tempe FanCon in January.
31.08 August 2024
Photos from Tasha's visit to the state of Washington, including
clothing of the Nez Perce. Meeting minutes. Notes from John.
31.07 July 2024
Pictures from Barony of Sundragon Fabric War.
31.06 June 2024
Plans to participate in Barony of Sundragon Fabric War.
31.05 May 2024
Pictures from our April and May meal get-togethers. RIP John
Trimble. Link to recent GBACG webinars.
31.03 March 2024
Lots of pictures from our visits to Butterfly Wonderland and the End
of Trail cowboy action shooting tournament.. RIP Gary Swaty. Mahala
review the new Shogun TV series.
31.02 February 2024
SWCG meet & greet booth at Tempe Fancon. John comments on
Phoenix Fan Fusion.
31.01 January 2024
Pictures of the challenge bears. New ICG chapter. ICG Lifetime
Achievement Award nominations open.
30.12 December 2023
Story and pictures from LibCon West 2023 and Peterson House holiday
visit. News from AZ Haunters.
30.11 November 2023
Pics from our October ice cream social. John's review of Furcon.
Congrats to Richard Man for his Hugo win with link to his recent
Silicon Web presentation. First entry in our teddy bear challenge.
30.10 October 2023
CoKoCon picture & review. Link to Silicon Web's recent Zoom
seminars. AZ Haunters online map of local Halloween attractions.
Mahala's Halloween Play List.
30.09 September 2023
Randall's June visit to the Baron of Sundragon's "Fabric War."
Harmon Library costume drive. Links to archaeology articles on ship
building, dyeing and Egyptian knitted socks. Work on your Christmas
bears!
30.08 August 2023
SWCG visit to Tempe Historical Museum. Tasha's pictures from Topkapi
and Venice. RIP Bill Laubenheimer. Evolution of maternity styles.
Upcoming celebrations from GBACG. Visit to the Musical Instrument
Museum.
30.07 July 2023
Brief recommendation of Netflix "Merpeople." Pet jokes.
30.06 June 2023
ICG annual meeting minutes. May 28, 2023 meeting minutes. Upcoming
activities through September.
30.05 May 2023
ICG awards announced. Nola on natural fibers.
30.04 April 2023
Pix from Dark Ones, End of Trail, AZ Renaissance Festival. Link to
Silicon Web Costume Guild's recent webinars.
30.03 March 2023
Randall wins concert tix (with pix). Link to wedding dresses from
around the world. Flyer for cosplay crafting classes at Reynolds
Advanced Materials in Tempe and upcoming Con-Fusion events at
Phoenix Public Libraries.
30.02 February 2023
Pix from SCA War of the Phoenix. Review with picture of Tempe
FanCon. ICG Lifetime Achievement Award nominations open. Review of
SiW's "Cosplay: A History" Zoom presentation from author Andrew
Liptak.ICG International Costumer newsletter transitions to online
blog format.
30.01 January 2023
Phoenix Public Library maker space seeks volunteers. Archaeological
discoveries.
29.12 December 2022
Photo from TusCon masquerade. SWCG at LibCon West in Glendale.
Communicator pouch. Product review of a simple snap setter. Minutes
with some upcoming meetings.
29.05 May 2022
Pix from Free Comic Book Day at Glendale Public Library.
29.04 April 2022
Some online images of old time Russian costume. Ancient clothing
discovered in Morocco.
29.03 March 2022
Photo from February lunch meeting. Mesa Public Library has sewing
equipment you can use. Czech egg dye recipe. Ancient Egyptian socks.
29.02 February 2022
A bit about the Krampus. Randall's Pictures from Tempe FanCon. Some
information about sister chapter GBACG's upcoming Costume Academy
event.
29.01 January 2022
Images of Saint Nick plus a few family friendly jokes.
28.11 November
2021
Randall's cell phone pouch pattern. Tasha describes Jean's memorial
celebration. Events calendar for Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild https://www.gbacg.org/
28.10 October
2021
Remembering Jean Palmer photo collage. ICG Google group for casual
costume chat. Mahala's germ costume. Tasha's rocheted soap turtle.
TARDIS dress.
28.08 August
2021
Picture from germ-themed social. Worldcon masquerade video
rediscovered.
28.07 July 2021
Picture from our first in-person meeting in months. Beware scam from
identity thief posing as SWCG officer. Mahala reviews Dover fashion
on costume books available from Amazon. Megan's recycled socks
weaving project.
28.06 June 2021
Dyeing with bleach. Mahala reviews PBS documentary on shoes.
28.05 April
2021
ICG Costumers Gallery, the largest collection of costume photos, is
back online. Review of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody mysteries.
28.03 March
2021
Photos requested for Jan Price memorial. Walpurgisnacht explained.
28.02 February
2021
Font humor. John reviews www.retro-stage.com/xmas online costume
display. Looking for ICG memorial and Lifetime Achievement Award
nominations. New google-based costume e-mail chat replaces the
former ICG-D e-mail listserve. Go to
https://groups.google.com/a/costume.org/g/cos-chat
28.01 January
2021
Tasha muses on 2020. Randall's obi-wanderful sewing project.
27.12 December
2020
Tasha muses on games. Laundry hints from the 1930s found by Mahala.
27.11 November
2020
Tasha's new grandson! ICG election results. Threads trial
subscription.
27.10 October
2020
Event idea for Peterson House holiday celebration. Historical
costume map link. Sleeve suggestion.
27.9 September
2020
Links to articles on greco-roman clothing. Renaissance Magazine
ceases publication. Maricopa County Libraries virtual convention.
TusCon postponed to 2020.
27.8 August
2020
Not much going on during the lockdown, so here are some costume
pictures from the Yokohama Worldcon many years ago.
27.7 July 2020
Laundry and stain removal hints from Mahala. Creative mask making
from Megan. Lots of events canceled.
27.5 May 2020
Unintentionally macabre surgeon mask. Hunting for mask materials at
local stores. Canceled conventions. Haunted Swap Meet becomes AZ
Halloween Marketplace.
27.4 April 2020
Pretty much everything is canceled for the duration of the COVID 19
pandemic.
27.3 March 2020
Reviews of Winter Range, Estrella War, Arizona Renaissance Festival.
26.12 December
2019
Pictures and review of LibCon West. Randall builds "The Best Little
Cathouse in Arizona." ICG member survey. Peterssen House in Tempe.
President's letter to ICG members.
26.11 November
2019
Pictures from Enchanted Island. Some Halloween costumes. Neck
gaiters.
26.10 October
2019
Pictures from Haunted Swap Meet and Tie Dyeing workshop.
26.09 September
2019
Pictures from August ice cream social and September brass etching
demo. CoKoCon review with mermaid pictures. Upcoming workshops at
Reynolds Advanced Materials and Heatsync Labs.
26.08 August
2019
Picture from July pool party. Humorous badge ribbons. Witches'
regatta at Tempe Town Lake. (Did someone just invent water
quidditch?)
26.07 July 2019
Spoonflower discount for ICG members. Does your credit card come
with a museum free pass benefit? Costumer epigrams from badge
ribbons.
26.06 June 2019
Book review of Creating Celtic Knotwork by Carl Buziak.
26.05 May 2019
Kitten picture. Randall explains drysuits for diving. "Victorian
Secrets" masquerade photo from LepreCon.
26.04 April
2019
Mahala reviews color hair sprays. Randall warns of an e-mail scam.
Minutes from Potluck of the Irish and hat/bag making meetings.
Medieval Times coming to Arizona.
25.05 May 2018
Local craft store relocates. Review of Arizona Fun Services (good
source of professional makeup) in Tempe.
25.04 April
2018
Pix from Dala's Viking Dress demo. Reynolds Advanced Materials class
schedule.
25.03 March
2018
Winter Range Brings Out My Green. Estrella War is Going to the Dogs.
Molding Workshop and Demos at Reynolds Advanced Materials.
Masquerade Repair Kit Wish List. Tiger mask & doggie pix.
25.02 February
2018
Pix and thank-you letter from Tempe Library Con. Prepping for
Estrella War. Quilt Show review. Class list from Reynolds Advanced
Materials in Tempe.
24.10 October
2017
Eulogy for SWCG founder Patti Cook. Interesting purchases at
WesterCon 70.
Photos from Baroness Dalla's Viking Apron Dress tutorial.
24.09 September
2017
Oh what a tangled web we weave when we try to get yarn from Sharan's
knitting sleeve.
More pix from Westercon 70 masquerade. Tasha schools to be a
mermaid. (or is it pods?)
"Costume Trek" is Nola's costuming Youtube channel.
24.07 July 2017
Shiny silver pix from WesterCon71 and Moscow's Central Museum of the
Great Patriot War. Cosplay information for the upcoming LibCon West.
24.06 June 2017
Pix from our spray makeup and lighted costume meetings.
23.08 August
2016
Paula's hair wreaths. Pic from LepreCon 2016 masquerade.
Prescription dive mask.
23.07 July 2016
Link to images of 14th Century statuary at the Church of San Fermo
Maggiore in Verona, Italy. Folded Business Card Display Stand. The
Evil Hanger (reverse-engineer that hanger from "Raiders.")
23.06
June 2016
Link to Clare Danes illuminated gown. Intro to LibCon West.
23.05 May
2016
Flying Spaghetti Monster mash-up mask. Advice from 1949 sewing
machine manual. Follow-up information from boot moccasin talk,
Huntsman: The Winter War review.
23.04
April 2016
Tasha reviews Barony of Twin Moons' Mideast Drum & Dance
Symposium with pictures.
23.03
March 2016
News (with photos) from your Estrella War correspondent. "Gods of
Egypt" movie review. Pix from Mardi Gras social.
23.02
February 2016
Tasha's first issue as editor. SWCG at Tempe Public Library ComiCon.
23.01 January
2016
Remembering this year's holiday dinner. Randall retires from
newsletter editor job.
22.12 December
2015
Tasha presents "No Sew Costumes" at Tempe Library, with lecture
notes. Robin's TusCon costume. Make a Dive Skin. Get ready for the
holiday potluck.
22.11 November
2015
Randall presents "Capes by Chalk and Line" at Tempe Library, with
lecture notes. Tasha's Viking Shoes pictures. Wedding picture.
22.10 October
2015
Frances presents "From Concept to Pattern" at Tempe Library, with
lecture notes. New bookmark flyer.
22.09 September
2015
Welcome L.A.C.E., the new ICG chapter for southern Arizona.
20.12 December
2013
Help Nola's video project. Pix from Steampunk: An Exquisite
Adventure. Jean is moving. Poppy Dog passes. Yahoo Groups explained.
Picture from TusCon Masquerade.
20.11 November
2013
Pictures from The Browncoat Ball. Field trip to the AZ State Fair
and Star Trek: The Exhibit
20.10 October
2013
Upcoming winter events in Globe. Pix from Phoenix Art Museum cape
exhibit. What's a Rash Guard? Local fabric and craft shop reviews.
20.08 August
2013
Marty Gear remembered. Crocodile Hat. Dalek Cupcakes. Robin's
"Magenta" costume.
20.07 July 2013
Literature Display Display Banner. Much Ado About Nothing review. In
Stitches Fine Fabrics store review.
20.06 June 2013
Robin's lacy masks. Elaine reviews Costume-Con 31. Randall reviews
Funtasma Captain's Boots. How to make a display stand for bookmark
flyers.
20.05 May 2013
Ninety Degrees of Robin Hood (hat pattern). Animal Hats Workshop.
20.04 April
2013
Pix from Wild Wild West Con 2. David's review of Digital Print
Fashion exhibit at Phoenix Art Museum. Cathie's Trailer Trash Tour
in Globe.
18.12 December
2011
Silk Painting Workshop pictures, Dorito Gown picture, Phoenix
Fireland Faerie Festival pictures, Victorian Fantasy Fashion Show
pictures, Farewell to Evermore Nevermore
18.10 October 2011
Steampunk Tophat Fascinator Hat Pattern, Preview of Silk Painting
Workshop, AZ Centennial Quilt Revealed, CopperCon Costume Show
reviewed, Make your own pre-loaded coffee filters for camping, local
haunted house attractions for Halloween
18.9 September 2011
New Bookmark Flyer, Sister Organizations proposed standing rule,
CopperCon Masquerade group picture, Fabric World new location,
Mike's Renovation (WorldCon) pictures
18.8 August 2011
CopperCon Costume Show Preview, Second North American Discworld
Convention reviewed, Duffel Bag pattern
18.7 July 2011
Sash Bag first results, Invitation from Heatsynch Labs
18.6 June 2011
ICG Gallery offers Photo Display space to chapters
18.5 May 2011
Michael Holland's pewter Dinosaur Skull pins, Mesa Second Friday
Steampunk street fair reviewed, Make a Belly Dance Hip Scarf/Belt
18.4 April 2011
Pix from Festival of the West, Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention
reviewed
18.3 March 2011
Guild Sash Bag Project begins, Winter Range group photo
18.2 February 2011
Joe's Farm Grill restaurant review, Lovecraftian pillow picture,
Merry Merchant Musketeer (cloak/change apron), Stage Ninjas are the
Real Ninjas!
17.12 December 2010
Mini-Time Machine Miniatures Museum reviewed, TusCon pictures,
One-Hour Hat workshop picture
17.11 November 2010
Pix from Plastic Painting workshop, Construction Site Costuming
17.10 October 2010
Materials and Advice for Plastic Painting workshop, Membership
Cards, Prescott Western Heritage Days reviewed, Fezzes are Cool!
(with pattern), Man-Bra?
17.9 September 2010
Jewish History Museum reviewed, iPod Origami (fold a display stand
from cardboard), Pool party pix, Bits and Pieces from Costume
College
17.8 August 2010
Confirmation (Pasadena WesterCon) reviewed, Vintage Clothing Fashion
Show at Matilda's Closet, Save Your Sole (hint for comfy historical
faire shoes), Grand Canyon Renaissance Faire and Medieval Mayhem
reviewed, Begin The Biggin (medieval skullcap pattern), Trek-Themed
Wedding, Grand Canyon University Costume Shop Rebuild
17.7 July 2010
Stand for Duct Tape Dummy (reprint), Steampunk Style Jewelry book
review, The Function of the Masquerade Repair Table
17.6 June 2010
Duct tape sock and boot pattern, Review of the new Musical
Instrument Museum, SWCG Incorporation announcement, Costume-Con 28
review, Pix from Apache-Style Beading Workshop, Fry Bread Recipe,
Phoenix ComiCon reviewed
17.5 May 2010
A Bolt from the Past (Reviewing SWCG's first newsletter from 1987),
Lep 36 stage plan, Meeting minutes become a regular column
17.4 April 2010
Duane & Kathryn Elms Museum Exhibit, Photo EZ Stencil reprint,
LepreCon 36 Masq Preview, New Jester Cap pattern
17.3 March 2010
Remembering Nancy Webber, Renfair & Estrella War pix
17.2 February 2010
SWCG to host Costume-Con 30 - Elaine is Chair, Skullduggery
(skullcap patterns), Costumer' Guide to the 20th Street/Camelback
Neighborhood, Pix from DarkCon
17.1 January 2010
Steampunk 101: Get Schooled, We Came We Saw We Glittered
16.12 December 2009
Chemistry: A Love Story, Pictures from AZ State Fair and Clown
Makeup Demo
16.11 November 2009
Nightfall at Old Tucson Studios Halloween event reviewed, Yipe! is a
new online costume magazine!, Cherry Frequency store review (now
closed), inexpensive chef jacket as base for costume?
16.10 October 2009
Fantasy Fete Fantastique reviewed, The Pause (restarted), Kayak
Rack, Water Jug Cover
16.9 September 2009
North American Discworld Convention Maskerade reviewed, A Quick
Rolled Hem, Molas - A Turista in Panama
16.8 August 2009
Bead Crown Demo, Review of Bead, Steampunk classes
16.1 January 2009
Freeway the "Cat Burglar" remembered, Zoolights pictures
15.12 December 2008
KikiCon and Maui Wowie Dance reviews, Forrest J. Ackerman
remembered, Faerie Festival reviewed, Yule-Gi-Oh cartoon Christmas
card
15.11 November 2008
Domino Delivered in Less than 30 Minutes (quick mask pattern),
Electric Renfaire Camp Light, More on Cell Phone Covers, Steam
Punkin photo
15.10 October 2008
Conjecture 2008 reviewed, How do you Sell Your Cell (cell phone
cover contest)
15.9 September 2008
Some basic advice on Costume Design, CopperCon 28 Masquerade
reviewed
15.8 August 2008
Devention Masquerade reviewed, Gothic Lolita patterns reviewed
15.7 July 2008
Stage Plan for CopperCon 28 Masquerade, WesterCon Masquerade
reviewed, Renfaire tent lighting system, Guildsters at West Valley
Art Museum
15.6 June 2008
The Halfling Pavilion (medieval pup tent disguise), First
Saboten-Con reviewed
15.5 May 2008
Pictures from "Steampunk for Dummies" roundtable, Sunacosu first
meeting, Living Libraries and Living Jewelry web reviews
15.4 April 2008
Stargate Arizona photo cartoon, Photo EZ Stencil silkscreening
technique
14.1 January 2007
Easy Cutting Table, Randwulf's Swag Bag (collapsible backpack)
13.12 December 2006
Costume College class notes part two, Western repro eyeglasses,
Full-Size Belt Pouch Pattern
13.11 November 2006
Costume College 2006 classes reviewed, Frank McShane remembered
13.10 October 2006
Adventures with Captain Tightpants (Costuming for Firefly and
Serenity), New banner, Propeller Beanie Cartoon
13.9 September 2006
Costume College 2006 reviewed, Los Angeles Opera Company tour, new
Cabela's store reviewed, The Complete Fashion Sourcebook reviewed,
CopperCon 26 reviewed
13.8 August 2006
Belly Dance Shoppe reviewed, Preview & Rules for CopperCon
Masquerade, Facing Jeopardy!, More pix from Devonshire Luncheon
13.7 July 2006
The 42-Year-Old Costume-Con Virgin, You Know You're at Costume-Con
When. . . . , Tour of the Iowa Amana Colonies historic woolen mill
13.6 June 2006
The Science of the Round Hat, Ice Cream in 1890, LepreCon costume
events reviewed, Consider a Cooler Cover
13.4 April 2006
A History of the Parasol, Language of the Fan, Glove References
13.3 March 2006
Estrella War 2006 reviewed, The Cadys do February, Hobbyist's
Paradise web site reviewed, Resources for Glove Making
13.2 February 2006
Choosing a Pattern Size for a Woman's Garment, How to Find the Bra
Size You Should be Wearing, Glendale Glitters and Glows reviewed,
Spectacles Through the Ages reviewed, Parasols are Period! , Diane
Ribbon & Notion Company reviewed
13.1 January 2006
"Of Kilts and Yardage" online article reviewed, Working with Silk
Taffeta, Beads: Vintage vs Contemporary, Get Medieval on Your Popup
(altering a modern tent for medieval/renaissance events)
12.12 December 2005
Mike's Photo Art (artfully doctored costume photos), Antiquing Silks
with Bleach
12.11 November 2005
The Pause (Make your costume presentation more friendly to
photographers), Truly Victorian French Vest Bodice pattern reviewed
12.10 October 2005
CopperCon 25 Masquerade Wrapup, The Jedi Belt Project, Barry Bard
remembered
12.9 September 2005
Swap 'til You Drop, We Make History reenactment group reviewed
12.8 August 2005
Remembering Ray Gish, Propeller Beanie cartoons, Pix from July photo
shoot, A Visit to the Pendleton Woolen Mills
12.6 June 2005
Cosplay Cosplay Revolution one-day convention reviewed, Thrift Store
Costuming, The Finished Costume: How to Accessorize for the Complete
Look, Valley of the Moon: Tucson's Historic Fantasy Land, LepreCon
masquerade review
12.4 April 2005
Lessons I Learned from Sewing, First AniZona Anime convention
reviewed, 5th Texas civil war reenactors
12.3 March 2005
Optimo Custom Hat Works reviewed, Hat Stretcher, Stretch Glove
pattern reviewed, Duct Tape Dummies, Stand for Duct Tape Dummy,
Cosplay Comes to Arizona -- Cosplay: The Illegitmate Child of SF
Masquerades, Costuming a World Apart: Cosplay in America and Japan
11.10 October 2004
Coppercon 24 Masquerade reviewed, Some Thoughts on Hall Costumes,
Family Halloween party photo from 1890
11.9 September 2004
Wild West Mercantile moves to Mesa, Build a garment rack from swap
meet parts, "35th Avenue Fabric" store review, Online wig supplier
review
11.7 July 2004
WesterCon 57 Masq winners, Open letter from Carlos, "Knit One Felt
Two," "Felted Knits" book reviews, A2Z Beads & Sportsman's
Warehouse store reviews, Family cane photo
11.6 June 2004
Kim & Rick wedding, Pirate Soft Wear, "419" e-mail scams
hit the costuming community
11.5 May 2004
Egypt part 2, Needles & Pins (bowling)
Volume 5 1998
Official Guild Cloak Pattern reprinted, Cloaks Provide a Dramatic
Costume Accessory
Volume 4 1997
War!,The Official Guild Cloak Pattern, Quick Tip on Shoes, Victorian
Beaded Hat Pin Workshop, Kumi Himo Braid Workshop, Silk Ribbon
Emroidery Workshop, Hall Costumes and Atmosphere
Volume 3 1996
Victorian Corsets workshop reviewed, Working with Stretch and
Metallic Thread, Some Hints on Trains, Ribbon Embroidery at the
Quilt Club, Sewing with Glued-On Sequin Fabric, Scalloped Ruffle,
Short Button History, Gores, You May Be a Costumer If, Costumes for
Fun & Profit, Estrella War, The Fang Master, Working with
Feathers, Get On With It (costume presentation), The Business of
Costuming, Beads & Buckskin, Quick Alterations for Rounded
Shoulders, The Adrian Empire
Volume 2 1995
Silk Dyeing and Undyeing, Costuming by Simplicity (pattern buying
guide), Suggestions for Better Masquerades, Victorian Bathing
Costume, Keep it Simple (3-part article on lighting and sound for
stage costume presentations), 12-Step Program for Beginning
Costumers, Making Beaded Appliques, Proper Care of Weapons, Sewing
Through the Ages (inventions timeline 1100-1992), Disneyland Costume
Shop Tour, Hunting Costumes.
Volume 1 1994
Randwulf's Quick & Dirty Cavalier Gloves, Making Tassels,
Slipping Shoulders Solved, Costume Accessories of the Sharp Pointy
Kind (knife and sword etiquette)
