Thursday, October 15, 2009

mini post

So i have begun working on the Italian inspired outfit for m'love. I will again have yo apologize for the lack of pictures. I am still not seeing eye to lens with my digital. That should be fixed tonight. As for an update, i have begun cutting out the circles needed for the buttons.. all 30 of them. So hopefully i will have something to keep me out of trouble this weekend.

Speaking of this weekend I have joined a new L.A.R.P. (Live Action Role Playing) group near me. the game is based on vampire the masquerade and i will be getting pictures of my outfit in game this Saturday. Hopefully everything is dry by then

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Part 2 from last night/this morning

So I achieved sleep, kind-of and after a lovely breakfast debate he has chosen the official "you will copy these" pictures. I cant wait.
The first on is a slashed doublet made of silk. I will be making it in a dark gray faux suede. Not period i know but hey, it's free and in my stash. I will line it with a bright blue silk (also ala stash) so the blue shows through the slashes. I think that some hand made buttons and I think he will be good. Since this has to be legal for rapier fighting i will make a pair of venetian style breeches to go with it. I don't have enough of the gray fabric so they will probably be black. (m'love is a medieval johnny cash) I hae to admit though I do like the color combo if these trews. I might just copy them.


The second piece is a from a little earlier, Italian style. I found a fresco titled Constantines'
Dream. I love the look of it and I believe that if i made a lighter weight doublet and trews he could wear them under this. It looks, to me anyway, that could function as a robe or a coat. So the colors are a lovely deep navy blue linen blend for the main part of the coat with matching fabric buttons. Since the lining is visible I decided to make it scarlet red. I thought it would be lovely. The sash belt will also be of the navy linen, I hope. I just need to find the right shade of scarlet to line it with, luckily there is a fabric store not far away. I hope i linked the right picture so you can blow it up to see the detail. It is a truly beautiful piece.

I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED

It usually takes something really cool to inspire me tot he point that I am blogging about it at 3 in the morning. But oh well. My lovely husband, whom I love with my whole heart, has made a request of me. He needs new garb for next event season. As he fights rapier he wants....A FULL ELIZABETHAN ENSEMBLE! Holy cow! Doublet, yes. Hose, yes. Ruff, yes. Pretty slashed pumpkin breeches....still debating. The second request was for something for cooler events, only requirement is no Norse, viking, Anglo Saxon or whatever. I have a late period man.
He really wants me to pretty him up. So other than doing a little happy dance around the living room I dove face first into the fabric stash. I have some ideas of what i can make him. So here are some pictures of the inspirations.


Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Blah

Sooooooooo. It has been a while since I have gotten on here and posted something. Quite a few things have been happening since i was last on. Most important of them is that I am now married. Yippieeeeeee! Hold on.............. had to do the happy happy joy joy dance around my computer.
I will upload some picture as soon as I get them from the photographer.

In other news I last posted that I was trying to enter the iron dress contest. Well, I put in my bid about 1 day to late so I was unable to enter. All the more time for me to plan about next year. Since you have to use what is in your stash I can completely root through all my fabrics and see what all is there instead of grabbing something off the top layer. I have to clean my stuff out of mom's garage for me to officially move so there will be much rooting.

I did discover something that I think I will be taking on though. It seems like something I would like to do since I am at home most of the time. This was the part of the email I copied.

Lady Albreda Aylese of the Mountain Freehold in the East Kingdom has issued forth this challenge to all Knowne World Artisans. She has challenged us to undertake the making of 50 things by the Society’s 50th Anniversary (2015 by current reckoning). She has made knownthree approaches the Depth Challenge, which is to simply make 50 things from your favorite art or science. The Breadth Challenge tocomplete 50 things from a variety of arts and sciences. Finally, the Persona Challenge to undertake 50 things that your Persona wouldhave done/made. There is also an option for a group to complete the challenge together. If we wanted the guild could participatetogether, or we can participate individually. Any Guild specific challenge projects can be completed for this challenge as well!

50 may seem like a daunting number, but can definitely be accomplished in the time allowed. Your challenge items must be madebetween 1 May 2007 and 1 May 2015, that’s 8 years! Surely we all complete 6-7 projects each year. If you are looking to push yourself in a particular area or to learn new arts this is a way to accomplish that goal!

Those who are interested in more information may consult the A&S Challenge home page. I would encourage everyone who will be participating in the challenge to join the Blog community and make yourselves known!

So I have to join that blog community and work my little behind off. I will enter the planning stages and post what i intend to do soon.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Packing

So I am yet again making a trek to the states for wedding stuff. Almost everything is done. YEAH!!!! My mom rocks and she has been a huge help with everything. Just have to finish up a coupe of odds and ends..oh and yep my dress. Got the correct binding last night (this was take 3) so I will have it whipped up in no time. I really don't think the corset with be 100% accurate, but it will fit and stay on. That is what matters. I have also dug out a bunch of fabrics to make banners out of. They are going to look so cool. Most are the 1-2 yard pieces of brocade that I have no clue of what to do with, I just had to own it. So that is enough rambling for now. Another update on thursday of next week.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Grrrrrr

So, I got my reply today. I didn't send my message in soon enough to take part in the Iron dress contest. I can sen them pictures to oooohhhh and ahhhhh over. But I can't take part in the actual contest. So I will make my dress and wow them BIG time.

What has begun already, I picked through my stuff and found my wood blanks for buttons and small beads to top them off with. SO the will be wrapped in steel grey pearl cotton and topped with a small white pearl bead. The trim will be braid, the same grey pearl cotton braided into a cord and whipped stitched down.

I still plan on doing blackworked sleeves, or I should say redworked sleeves. I plan on plotting out the embroidery when I get to my moms house. But I have a picture of the portrait I will try to replicate. This is a portrait of Bess of Hardwick. I will try to copy this dress as far as the general shape and sleeves go. I am not very big on the fur accents. I might end up doing that... someday. But for right now I will trim everything with grey braid.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Costume Plans..I am nuts

So i know I have a wedding to finish, but I am planning on making a new outfit. The 2009 "Iron Dress" Competition for Margo's Patterns is on again. I think with all the crap I have I can pull this off. The rules are simple. As of July 1 you have until September 15 to make a dress using on of Margo's patterns. You have to use fabric in your stash only and have $25.00 to get any extras; trim, a little extra fabric and what not. Also if one of the items is entirely hand made you get the iron needle award. So I think I will go for the whole thing.


Sooooo this is the plan.

Pattern: Margo's Elizabethan loose gown, closed front with short sleeves.

Fabric: stuff left over from the wedding and whatever I can get from my stash. Thinking of Black dress with a white underdress.

Handmade Items: Embroidered sleeves (similar to some portraits seen) in blackwork or red work with cuffs, also I will need buttons for the dress, i think about 40 of them. So that will mean going crazy making those.

Good thing I have plenty of time.I will start on the buttons asap and graph out the sleeve pattern when I get back to the states. The rest is simple sewing. I will have a photo update as soon as I can. Wedding stuff included in that. I have to finish arguing with my camera and convince it to work properly.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Rock on Baby

So my fiend Jackie is having a baby boy in a month. I took that as my cue to create a totally awesome blankey. I love it and am very happy I have enough fabric left to make myself one.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

TJ Hat

So I have been working on this for a while. I am on the finishing stretch for it. I have the fur band cut and ready for facing. I just have to make the edges a little sturdier. Just picture white fox fur on this. Oh, and yes it did take me almost 20 hours for each applique and yes they are solid split stitch. The colors are white, gray and tan wool thread on red wool coating for the applique on a black wool ground for the hat lined with black linen. I should have it done in the next week or so. I will post a picture of it fully trimmed. Also thank you to my red bear for a lovely modeling job with the hat.

Photos

PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS... I got the point. So I have some here to put up. I hope you like them

So these are some of the pieces of hand work that have gone into the wedding. Each of my bridesmaids has cuffs of their dresses for the four elements. I haven't finished the fourth set yet, but here are fire, earth, and air.

The other great feat of the wedding. The blue embroidery is by myself for my smock, the trim with the pearls however is my mothers doing. I think she will be blind by the end of this. She has about half of the bolt of trim done. WAY TO GO MOM! I am eternally thankful I have a great mom who is willing to help me sew.

So this is my sewing mess. Lovely isn't it. I don't think it is as bad as it could be. So far... it has been contained to the basement with small pieces sneaking upstairs.


Our sweat shop is my old kitchen table set outside. A lovely place on warm days to sit and sew.


My smock is a mixture of hand embroidery and hand sewing. i think it one of the finest things I
have made.


These are the only pictures of my wedding dress that will be seen. The trim lovingly beaded by my mom on my navy blue brocade. The sleeves and gown are loosely based off the portrait of Eleanor of Toledo with he son Giovanni de'Medici by Bronzino in 1550. Love that dress. I love most of the gowns she wears in her portraits, but this one won the coin toss


Thursday, May 28, 2009

I'm Still Alive

So I am still here, alive and kicking. I have been in the states working on wedding plans/clothing. -pictures to follow shortly- So most of the wedding party is done, Yippiee. I have to still make my dress. But if you consider how much handwork has gone into me gown I have gotten a lot done. My mom (thank you!!!) has been working on the hand beading for my trim. It is only a little 12 yards chunk that needs a pearl about every inch or so. If she isn't completely blind by the end of it I will be amazed. The gown will be beautiful, I know that. I should also give a big thank you to the Gathering Grove in everett. It is the coolest coffee shop EVER! Steve lets me sit in there on wednesdays working on my handsewing and email all day on thursdays. Only for a small fee of a couple of drinks. I love it. I will have to give him a picture of my smaock when it is finished so he can stt how creative I get in his shop. Personally I think it is the chai.
I will plaster my blog with picutres as soon as I dump them off my camera.

Laterz

Friday, May 1, 2009

Heading Home

So I am going to be heading back to the states tomorrow. I am excited and nervous. I have a list a mile long to work on for the wedding, if I get half of it done I will be amazed. But I also get to see my friends and family, spend mother's day with mom and go to Eva and Andy's B-day parties. The boy is planning on coming down with his family for the long weekend. That is another matter, we are having the official meet and greet with my family. I hope everyone gets along and there are no disagreements about wedding plans. We shall see.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Music

So my love got his tax return and promptly spent it. He and I now have matching I POD's. Yippieeee!!!!!! So I have a while 16 Gig to fill up with the "evil noise" I call music. Well there is a slight glitch.... I have a LOT of music. So if the 16 i now have about 9.3 Gig filled. Hopefully there is enough room for my pod casts and my audio book. We will see. I might have to up-grade to a 32 gig. If that happens I think Jay will kill me.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Reality Check

So it has become apparent to me that I need to re-think things with my wedding. I have stepped back and realized that I am probably nuts for doing an entire Elizabethan theme for my bridal party. I have never made the dress the girls will be wearing and I need to do mock-ups and numerous fittings. I will only have a month or so to do this for 3 people along with make my dress. Well I am working on things for a friend's wedding right now and reality hit about 4 am. I was still up making finishing touches on simple tunics. The thought cam to me that I will be doing this for most of my stay at mom's making my dresses. HELL NO! Sleep is a good thing I have become accustomed to getting. So my plan has changed a bit. The same color will be used. Now I just need to buy simple cotton for the under dress and make up some trim for the sleeves. Easy for me. Now I can spend more time figuring out what I am going to wear. This is what the new dresses will look like.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Freedom Gift

So, I have been working on quite a few things in the past week. One is a freedom gift for my friend Ryan. Freedom gift... explanation. In my household we have a thrall system. You are bid on for a certain number of hours of service. When these hours are finished you are given a freedom gift. I have been planning this for almost a year. I have gone the early period route for Ryan.The fabric is a sage green cotton, the trim bands area linen/cotton blend. The embroidery is done in a deep green and pale blue. I plan on putting trim on the sleeves, it is still up in the air as to if the rest of the trim will be on the neck or bottom hem. I might do both and make it a court tunic. I have a few other things to add to his wardrobe. another over tunic, 2 under-tunics, some pants, and a coat. Hopefully he likes all I have done. I have a few pictures to share and I hope for some comments.






Sunday, March 29, 2009

Blah

So the cuffs are almost done and I have about 5 pearls left to put on the collar. I had a great time at the local SCA group's meet and greet. Re-met some old friends and made some new. Diring the meeting I met the nicest lady who will help me witht he corset for my weddign dress. YIPPIEEEEE! Now I can put the Costco bottle of Advil away. It seems that everythign is going well exceptfor the corset. I am a little more lumpy that curvy so fitting one by your self is difficult. I hope to thave it done within a month or so.
I think I volunteered to head up the costumers guild here too. GAH! Do you know how hard it is to pry your foot out of your mouth. Nut I think I will try to do it. It will give me something to do and I really enjoyed planning classes.
So I will post more picutres tomorrow when I get the things done. I will also incluse the cuffs for Jay's shirt. I am proud, he picked out the pattern himself.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Hark, hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,
And Phoebus 'gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chaliced flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes:
With everything that pretty is,
My lady sweet, arise!
Arise, arise!

From Cymbeline
W. Shakespeare

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Not Sleepy

So I am having one of THOSE weeks. I can't sleep. I lay down and shut my eyes and think I have been there forever getting a little sleep, nope about 15 minutes have gone by. So I decided that is I wasn't going to sleep I will do something constructive with my extra time. So I have finished on embroidery project that was rescued from the bottom of my "get it done someday box" and have been working on another wedding project. The one from the box was a needle book I began a month or two ago. I put it aside when things got busy and forgot about it. Well it looks like I will have it for this eventing season. the other is the sleeve cuffs for my smock for my wedding dress. I highly doubt that they will ever be seen, but I will know that it is there and that makes me happy. Took a couple of pictures before the camera battery died. Hope you like. So it is 3:45 am and I think I will have a cuppa tea and do a bit more embroidery.



Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Reading

So I have recently poked my nose into a wonderful book, again. I would suggest it to anyone. Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley. Set in the sixth century, Gwynneve, a nun at the monastery of Saint Brigit writes her memoirs.. It was one of those books that painted a full picture for me. When I finished it I just had to sit for a few moments and reflect.

After that i re-discovered a fabulous book on one of my boxes. Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: women in classical antiquity by Sarah B. Pomeroy. It is amazing and opened me to areas of study I hadn't thought of before. Ancient female poets and lyricists I have begun to search for and admire. Of all of them Sappho, born in approx. 600 BC on the island if Lesbos. Not many pieces of her work remain intact. There is mostly fragments of her work along with others.

In the first century BC, Antipater of Thessalonica, wrote a catalogue of the most respected and famous women poets, whom he called the nine earthly muses. The nine were: Praxilla, Moero, Anyte, Erinna, Telesilla, Korinna (or Corinna), Nossis, Myrtis, and Sappho. Each scrap of writing I uncover by these women the more amazed I am of their abilities.


I am more tremulous than shaken reeds,
And love has made me like river water.

Thy voice is as the hill-wind over me,
And all my changing heart gives heed, my lover.

Before thy least lost murmur I must sigh,
Or gladden with the as the sun-path glitters.

Sappho
Have you ever had one of those images that you can look at again and again. Each time I see this one it makes me think. it is a stone in a retaining pool of a fountain in Seattle. Taken on a beautiful day.
Well I finished a nice week home with mom. Shopping for the wedding and visiting family. So far so good, everything is going well. I cam home to plenty of work, cooking, cleaning, and helping my flatmate's sister with her wedding. So all of her things will be ready for delivery by Easter and I will only have mine to worry about. It seems my life in entirely dictated by sewing projects. Good thing the weather is so yucky I have no desire to go outside.

As a side project I have been designing a crocheted blanket. Hope to put up pictures soon. Just need to finish the directions and the border.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Photos






Just a few pictures of my trip to mom's. I am thinking of taking her advice and taking a photography class. Maybe someday

It Has Begun

So I have had a lovely trip to the states to visit my mum. Most of the shopping for the wedding is done I just have to get started on all the sewing. Luckily I have been able to work on the embroidery part for the last few days. i should have the partlet finished by Friday and be able to begin on the rest of the dress. Pictures to follow as soon as I get batteries in the camera.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

My Shiney


Well it is completely official now. I have my ring and begun planning the wedding. I am very excited about he whole thing. I now have a picture of my ring on my little paw. i really love it but the best thing about it is that I can finally say I wear a size 8.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

She Said Yes

So, it is official i am going to get rice thrown at my head. I can't believe that I have found a man dumb enough to let me make him miserable for the rest of his natural existence. giggle. But really he has a special place in my heart and I know that without him my life wouldn't be the same. SO I now will be posting pictures and notes about me going wedding nuts. I know i will go crazy but it will be the fun kind of crazy.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

SNOW

So it is snowing again. I have changed my mind about it, no longer pretty or peaceful. Not it is like a downpour of flat maggots barricading our car and making the roads nuts. So I hope this weather ends soon. I am planning on going to the states for a holiday within a week and I hope that all will be well when I do.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Happyness

So I have arrived home safely from the states and visiting my family. It was really good to see all of them, especially my new cousin Hunter. A very handsome man if I say so myself. So I have looked out my window as I sit down to write this and I realize it is snowing AGAIN! It's not like the other 4+ feet were nothing. So I have to realize the my other half will be home from work tomrrow and We will be snowed in again. Goodie.