I'm fast working on my Regency gown now because I'm going to be starting my Robe a la Francaise up again so I can get it finished by May. I'm undecided on whether or not I want to enter the Historical Costume contest at Costume-con 28, but either way I'm going, because it is finally in my state!!!

Here are some of the upcoming festivals/conventions I hope to attend.

Reenactor Fest - February 5-7 2010 [link] (I probably will only be there Saturday, but hopefully in my Regency gown.)

Janesville Renaissance Faire - May 2010 (dates TBA)

Costume-con - May 7-10 2010 (probably just Saturday and Sunday, possibly Friday.)

Bristol Renaissance Faire - July 10 - September 6 2010 (I will be there part time, specific dates TBA.)




PROJECTS IN PROCESS

Costume Work:

Regency Corset and Shift - 5%
Regency Dress, jacket, bonnet, and shawl - 0%
Robe a la Francaise - 10% (on hold)
Mistress Katherine Cooke French Hood - 100%
Sir Henry Pierrepont garb - 100%
Lady Pierrepont Brown dress rework - 100%

Christmas/birthday/presents in general:

Knitted hat - 50%
2 Knitted Scarves - 50%

Future Sewing Wish List:

Senator Amidala's Blue Velvet Renaissance inspired dress
Queen Organa Alderann Palace Dress
Queen Amidala's Black corseted dress (never actually in the movies)
Victorian Bustle Dress (1880s)
Civil War Ball Gown
Riding Habit (Era undecided)
1770's Man's Suit and Frock coat




* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Real Life Friends:



People I really admire:



MY CLUB:

Clubs I'm in:

*

So I picked up a "small" project for winter to console me that I can't take up work on my Robe a la Francaise again until spring. I'm going to start with long-line regency stays/corset with shift, and then hopefully a silk dress, jacket, bonnet, and shawl after that.

I ordered a corset pattern from Mantua Maker, which I've heard decent things about, though since I'm a little busty I'm told I'll have to alter the pattern a little to keep it historically correct. Corsets are probably the one thing I will do with a pattern now-a-days, just because they still scare me...but also because I am venturing into unknown territory by testing the Regency Era.

does anyone know of a good source for regency gowns? I'm going to be ordering Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 1: 1660-1860 [link] for help, hopefully along with Lucy Johnston's Nineteenth Century Fashion in Detail [link]

Other mandatory projects this winter consist of Fox hat and gloves, knitted hat and scarf, and quilt. Is that too much? LOL

I also updated the photos for my Renaissance clothing, thanks to my lovely friend Vicki Frami @ [link]




PROJECTS IN PROCESS

Commissions/Contest Prizes:

Fox hat and gloves for ~Chroias - 5% (shopping for fabric, nothing purchased yet)

Costume Work:

Regency Corset and Shift - 5%
Regency Dress, jacket, bonnet, and shawl - 0%
Robe a la Francaise - 10% (on hold)
Mistress Katherine Cooke French Hood - 100%
Sir Henry Pierrepont garb - 100%
Lady Pierrepont Brown dress rework - 100%

Christmas/birthday/presents in general:

Quilt - 5%
Knitted hat - 5%
Knitted Scarf - 50%

Future Sewing Wish List:

Senator Amidala's Blue Velvet Renaissance inspired dress
Queen Organa Alderann Palace Dress
Queen Amidala's Black corseted dress (never actually in the movies)
Victorian Bustle Dress (1880s)
Civil War Ball Gown
Riding Habit (Era undecided)
1770's Man's Suit and Frock coat




* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Real Life Friends:



People I really admire:



MY CLUB:

Clubs I'm in:

*

Just a short journal about the next adventure and some updates.

Now that Bristol is over for the season we are moving on to the next faire for the Guilde of St George, which is Stronghold Old English Faire. It's the weekend of October 3-4th, set in Oregon, IL around a Renaissance styled Castle. The Guilde will dance and play outside the castle on the grounds, but we will also feast and sleep inside the castle for the weekend. If you get a chance and are in the area, please come and say hi! Here's the website: [link]

Other random things:

My uncle died in a car crash over Memorial day weekend (friday morning actually) so I've been obviously behind on a few things. I also have been in and out of work for the past 6 months, so the money is always fluctuating. i finally found something that is working for my back, so i will be going back to work full time, and knocking out some projects. I will not be making my Robe a la Francaise this year however, since the time and mostly money (20 yards of silk plus undergarments) won't allow it.

I also recently learned how to knit, so I might be posting some of those pieces when they are finished.




PROJECTS IN PROCESS

Commissions/Contest Prizes:

Fox hat and gloves for ~Chroias - 5% (shopping for fabric, nothing purchased yet)

Costume Work:

Mistress Katherine Cooke French Hood - 100%
Sir Henry Pierrepont garb - 100%
Lady Pierrepont Brown dress rework - 100%

Christmas/birthday/presents in general:

Quilt - 5%
Knitted hat - 5%
2 Scarves - 1st @ 20%, 2nd @ 5%




* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Real Life Friends:



People I really admire:



MY CLUB:

Clubs I'm in:

*

So I'm finishing up Colin's costume so I can get working on some other stuff I'm long over due to start (fox hat and Halloween costume). And I don't have much left, (minimal bead-work, 4 buttons to attach, and some minimal hand-stitching) but there is one thing i haven't made and it's a male bum roll. It's really quite simple, and I had considered just skipping it, but the silhouette really changes with it on. It's noticeable to me...maybe not to other people...

And I seriously struggled with the choice of including it, because in Elizabethan costumes, the females bumroll is VERY noticeable, there is no question about going without it on her dress, its essential. But on a male, it's not, in fact I didn't know they wore one until I started working with more experienced Elizabethan seamstresses.

So I of course, being the perfectionist that I am, have decided to include this in Colin's costume. If I didn't, I'm sure my guilde costume directors would point this out to me, and with the amount of work I've put into his costume, it would be embarrass me for them to do so, because i knew about it and chose not to include it? bah! no way.

My rant really has no point. I've already made up my mind to include it, but I wrote this because the man's bum roll has caused me more anguish that it really should have. I suppose it baffles me how much I have learned from joining the Guilde of Saint George, going in knowing that I was far from an expert, but surprised at the simple things I was unaware of that changes the whole look of a costume, and raised you up from a good seamstress, to a great one!

sigh.

but pictures to come soon! I swear! no really!

Only three more weekends left at the Bristol Renaissance Faire this season!

I will be there in character on:

Sunday August 23rd

Saturday August 29th (and probably the 30th too)

Sunday September 6th (with the Queen)
Monday September 7th




PROJECTS IN PROCESS

Commissions/Contest Prizes:

Fox hat and gloves for ~Chroias - 5% (shopping for fabric, nothing purchased yet)

Costume Work:

Mistress Katherine Cooke French Hood - 100%
Sir Henry Pierrepont garb - 95% (some bead work left to do and sew bumroll)
Lady Pierrepont Brown dress rework - 100%
Michelle's Blue court gown - 75% - On hold, reworking
Red and Brown court gown - 100%
Colin's court garb - 100%
Colin's Dark Jedi/Sith Costume - 100%




* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Real Life Friends:



People I really admire:



MY CLUB:

Clubs I'm in:

*

This weekend we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Guilde of St George (the queen's court) at the Bristol Renaissance Faire (Illinois/Wisconsin border). There are already 50 people who used to be in the guilde returning for this weekend to dress up and join us. If you really like the noble costumes, this weekend would be the weekend to go! The parade is going to be reallllly long...




PROJECTS IN PROCESS

Commissions/Contest Prizes:

Fox hat and gloves for ~Chroias - 5% (shopping for fabric, nothing purchased yet)

Costume Work:

Mistress Katherine Cooke French Hood - 100%
Sir Henry Pierrepont garb - 90% (some bead work left to do and sew the tabs on the jerkin)
Lady Pierrepont Brown dress rework - 100%
Michelle's Blue court gown - 75% - On hold, reworking
Red and Brown court gown - 100%
Colin's court garb - 100%
Colin's Dark Jedi/Sith Costume - 100%




* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Real Life Friends:



People I really admire:



MY CLUB:

Clubs I'm in:

*