New Projects Friday, Sep 11 2009

So…there are always new projects  My next project is to recreate something very similar to this:

My next project!

I am going to attempt to follow the pattern.  GASP! I know, the dismayer of all patterns, I will actually try to recreate this.  The problem is, I am torn as to which one to do, view A (small inset upper left) or view B.  My goal is to have this gown look so awesome that this will be my final faire gown.  See each year, I get better with my sewing, so the gowns I have worn in the past, I may wear once or twice a season, but it is not something that I will probably wear into next season.  So this gown is really a big project for me, and I have all the way till October to complete it  The fabric itself is a light blue pattern with goldish accents. It is a really pretty fabric. I can’t wait to use it

So we may be going to the ren fair again this Sunday-woot!  I love the ren fair, met lots of great people during Rendezvous!  The weather says:

Low: 63 °F

High: 75 °F

So a pretty awesome day-not to cold, not to hot. I’m thinking about adding some straps to my black corset-basically convert it into a bodice

Black and Purple Garb

so I can wear my black and purple awesome floppy hat, that has awesome feather

purple and black floppy hat

And if I have time, I may actually add the ruffled skirt floofy thingy to the bottom of the bodice

But, I will not do ANY of it until I get my sewing area organized! Which is what I am supposed to be doing today.  And when I do, I will take pictures!

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Labor Day Weekend & Rendezvous 2009 at MDRF Tuesday, Sep 8 2009

Holy crap! That was a great weekend, perhaps the BEST weekend at Ren Fair I have EVER attended.  If I sound overly excited, it is because I was! I had an absolutely AMAZING time!!!  First was because it was Labor Day Weekend, and I have never been to the MDRF for Labor Day-and I happened to have met the Clan M’Crack-they are great people.  Secondly it was the big Rendezvous 2009-like the holy mecca for all rennies! lol.

So here are some pictures of my garb, my friends, and other things:

So yes, it was a very great time. Met lots of great people and had fun. I made all the garb that I wore. The red and black panel skirt was from 2 years ago. The purple circle skirt I completed the day before fair. My black corset was thrown together quickly, but I can secure it even more.

Now although I will not be going to another Ren fair for another month, my sewing urge is itching! lol. I told myself I was going to rest, and not sew at all. But I am already itching to make a new gown for October 4 and closing weekend. I know that I will have a lot of garb! I already did the green gown for opening weekend, but like I told my husband: each time I sew, I learn more and get better. And after I attend ren fairs I look at gowns and see new techniques and such, and I am drawn to it and can’t help myself! I have this fabric gorgeous light blue with a goldish tint jacquard type fabric, that I am SURE it is dying to be used as a gown   I even have the material for the underskirt/kirtle

We will see. I am supposed to go to JoAnns today with Dave today   So that as always is fun.  I need to learn some new techniques on gown making-I am not sure how to make the bodice of the gown stiff?
Happy Sewing

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On the grind…again! Tuesday, Sep 1 2009

So I am STILL trying to finish Blakes ensemble! Yesterday I hand stitched the trim to the cuff pieces while my husband was getting his hair braided. But I still have to do the following

• attach grommets to the sleeves
• attach cuffs to sleeves
• add trim to the bottom and the opening
• add 3 snap hooks to close the doublet
• pin and cut pants pattern/sew
• pin and cut hat pattern/sew

Like I said before, all this work..for free. booooo!  Once I do that I wanted to knock out a new corset for this weekend.  This weekend is the big Labor day/Rendezvous at the fair, and this is the first year my husband and I will go!  Big tailgate with the people from renaissancefestival.com, woot woot.

So anyway, yeah, I have a couple of yards of this blackish/silverish tafetta fabric that I got months ago, when my original gown was going to be black and silver.  And I was thinking about making a corset with straps out of that, then adding some extra fabric along the bottom, to give it somewhat of an attached skirt look, but it’s not really a skirt-feel me?  sort of like this:

Example Corset

This is by Damsel in this Dress (her stuff is amazing)-and I give credit where it is due.  But You see that bottom part with the floofy (technical term!) fabric around the bottom?  that is sort of what I want to do.  Now for a corset, the fabric seems perfect, but to make a skirt out of it, seems a bit weird, the fabric itself is somewhat stiff.  So I am not sure what I am going to do for the skirt.  I mean a simple skirt will do, BUT  I don’t think I have enough extra fabric! lol.  So we will see.

I must go now, another day of sewing, then picking my little sister up (who now loves the ren fair by the way) to bring her back to my house. Happy sewing!

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The AWESOME Corset! Monday, Aug 31 2009

So my sister in law had me make her a corset to wear to the ren fair this past Saturday. Unfortunately she did not show up, so my beautiful corset was not given the appreciation that it should have gotten. I am totally in love with it!  I think it’s my best corset yet.  I used a different sewing technique to put the channels in than I did with my first corset, and it looks fabulous!!!

Here it is!

Pink and Purple Paisley Print

Now..here are some pictures from the Ren Fair! I made my garb, and my husbands garb. My little sister is wearing the red skirt and the white tank top

My husband with the King!

My friend Kendall’s two daughters (she handsewed their dresses!!!)

from the left-Megan aka Megzors,Kellie, Amelia, Myself, and my sister Maya-and if you look to the left you see my husbands son looking like a stalker trying to get into the picture

me with the guys from fight school! finally was able to get ALL of them in a picture

and my husband and I at the end of the day!

It was a great day overall. But woe is me, my sewing is NEVER done. I am still trying to finish Blakes outfit. It is coming along very well. The doublet is about 85% done, with the major construction pieces sewed, now it’s just adding trim and buttons, and the grommets to tie the sleeves. Then onto his pants and the hat! Whew, after all of that, if ANYONE wants custom work from me, I am going to have to charge, this stuff take a lot of time!

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It’s crunch time…again Tuesday, Aug 25 2009

So today, I am going to get it going and sew…ALL DAY. I had to wake up early to accept a package from Fed-Ex, and while we waited for our friend to come to pick the package up, I started pinning the edges for the sleeves for Blake’s doublet. I realize that it’s not that actual sewing that takes forever. It’s the pattern laying, the pinning, the cutting, the pinning the pieces, and then the sewing. I have resolved that after I get the major projects done which are:

• little sisters renaissance dress
• sister in laws’ corset
• blakes entire ensemble
• rons cloak

I will get to working on clearing out that second room and turning it into my sewing room.  I need my own space to work, and the little section that I have off of our living room is not working.  So once the room is complete I can focus on the inventory for the opening of my new etsy store, and actually make my love of sewing and crafting into a business.
I figure this, while I was well and able to work full time, I complained about not having enough time to work on the things I love like sewing, crafting, and photography.  Now that I do not work anymore, and have been blessed to still receive an income (social security disability) I know have the time to do the things that I wanted to, and damnit I will!

So I am going to head off of here, and start working on my little sisters dress, since this is her first opening day at ren fair!

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COPA-Free patterns! Thursday, Aug 20 2009

I got an email in my facebook inbox from a friend of mine who knows I spend most of my time sewing. She sent me this link where COPA-Commercial Pattern Archive is opening it’s pattern archive to the public for one week!

So click http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/COPA/index.php and then for the username type in “guest” and the password is “pattern”

Oh, it is beautiful to see all those patterns, dated to the early 1800’s! And of cours

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Opening day of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire! Sunday, Aug 9 2009

Opening day was fun! The weather was great, not to hot and with a light breeze. The crowd was very nice, and the food and shows were great. I even talked to the Queen! So here, are pictures of my garb, and my husbands garb (which I am quite proud of) finally…

Allison and I

Fred (Allisons husband on left) and Wes-my dashing husband on right

My husbands doublet, I used a pattern. As I have said before, I HATE PATTERNS, and despise using them. perhaps its the fact that I am stubborn and like to do things my way, or that reading patterns confuses me, none the less i hate it. But for him, i used the pattern, and he was quite pleased with it. he received many compliments, as did I on my gown!

I do think that I am going to change the sleeves, and make them fitted, because honestly, all the bell sleeve was in the way! and I need to add boning to the bodice, because it frumped alot, even with the corset on. and for the corset itself, i have to reinforce the boning

all in all it was a great day! and I am tired!

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Almost there Wednesday, Aug 5 2009

progress is coming along

here is my awesome corset that i am so proud of. it is not laced yet, but when we put it on me, and had Megan pull it back, it looked good. i had an awesome figure!!!!

inside of corset, pinned and on the floor

Megan holding the corset out for all to see

And here is my awesome necklace that my other friend Meghan made for me to wear to the faire!

my awesome handmade necklace made for me!

So Megan is coming over today, again. Our goal is to have everything done by Thursday night, so we can relax on Friday.  For my gown I have left:

1. Add lace to bottom of gown
2. Cut and sew sleeves
3. Make pouches
4. Still debating on doing a French hood

Then I have to cut and sew the pants and doublet for my husband, and add the trim to the doublet.  And I should be finished.  So since Megan will not be here till about 8, let me get showered and get started now!

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Time to Bone! (Not that way!!! Lol) Monday, Jul 27 2009

So, I have finished sewing the channels into my corset to wear under my gown. I feel accomplished! That was a lot of freaking sewing. 34 channels all around it! Today my plan is to put the boning in, and finish it off.

I have not been feeling well lately. I just started a new medication to regulate my insulin, and unfortunately the side effect is: crazy stomach from the bowels of hell!!! I have been constantly dizzy and nauseous.

But in other news, if I eventually have enough money, then I am going to buy from here: http://www.damseldress.com/ They have amazing stuff!!! Her (Michelle-the owner) work is amazing, and I one day soon hope to make elaborate bodices/corsets as beautiful as hers

So here is my favorite piece:

All of her stuff is amazing, and high quality. You can check out her picture gallery to see how her items enhance the curves and makes anyone look goooood.

Well that is it for now, I am going to work on my corset, then possibly the hemming of my dress. Tomorrow my best friend Megan is coming over for another sewing date

Happy Sewing

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Too much bum? Friday, Jul 24 2009

For my bum roll? I have not tried on the gown in progress yet, but I do think that my bum roll is quite large in the bum department! lol. We shall see. My friend Megan is coming over tonight for a sewing date, and so is Allybutts (Alley) and Kayla.

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