Not motivated… Thursday, Jul 16 2009

I’m feeling unmotivated lately, and that is not a good day. While I have had two sewing dates with my friend Megan over the past week, I have yet to make a major dent in any of my projects. Megan completed her pantaloons, underskirt, and overskirt for her ensemble, she moves fast! I on the other hand am still working on my bodice. Today I inserted the grommets on one side of my the back of the bodice, and I still have to do the other side. Once that is done, I try it on, then pin the wide straps for where I want those to go.

I just realized I made a boo boo. When I worked on my bodice, and placed the middle panel of an alternating fabric than the rest of the bodice, I applied a green 1/8″ velvet trim, and I totally forgot that I ordered another trim from ebay.

The whole purpose of ordering the trim was to use it as the trim for my bodice. I suppose I can still do that just place it on the outside of the green velvet. But the annoying thing is I like symmetry. So if I place the new trim on the outside of the green velvet, then I would want the green velvet trim to go down the opening of my over skirt, and I do not have enough left over for that. Blah!!!

Tomorrow, I seriously plan to bite the bullet and at least get the bodice and sleeves finished (excluding) trim. Then I will work on the over skirt, and underskirt.

Other projects I have to do are:

1-My husbands new ensemble:  Which includes a doublet, and pants, possibly a new shirt

2-A friends ensemble:  Doublet, pants, shirt, hat, belt, and pouch (he already purchased the fabric and supplies for me)

3-Finish off my ensemble:  Detachable sleeves, overskirt, underskirt, pouch, possibly a hat (not sure yet)

well I suppose I should hit the bed, it is quite late. happy sewing!

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I did it! Tuesday, Feb 17 2009

I finally made my cute circle skirt. The pattern ended up being odd, because it was supposed to be 4 panels, but I did three because of lack of fabric yet it fit perfectly. So therefore that means that I measured wrong again, but it turned out to be awesome, especially with the fabric that I have. here are some pictures.

so i am going to make more to put up in my etsy store to sell. i got a couple of requests, and since i am home all day, i can make them, and sell them, and all will be good.

i am going to Disney World for my birthday! with Wesley-this is our 2nd year going on my birthday and it is going to be so much fun. This time, based off of last years weather experiences I am going to make a bunch of 50’s style sun dresses-because they are my favorite and they are comfortable and while I am walking I dont have to worry about being blah. So after I finish cleaning I will be working on the first dress tonight.

tata

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Working on my cat tail.. Thursday, Feb 5 2009

As I have stated before, I am going to AnthroCon 2009 this year with Wes (my husband) and some friends (who invited us).  I always get excited about things like this, basically all I need is an excuse to sew, and I am there.  So Wes and I discussed what my “fursona” should be, we decided that I am a liger (liger/tiger mix).  I am an exotic liger (I needed an excuse to wear hot pink and  black).  So here is what I worked on

This is the fabric and stuffing used to fill it. It is a hot pink/black tiger print, both items are from JoAnns

So the first thing I did was fold in the fabric about 3.5″ and cut.  That left me with a folded piece of fabric, approx 42 inch long.  After that I folded it the other way, with right sides facing eachother, and sewed a 1/4″ seam

Seems basic enough. So after I did the seam. I then laid the fabric out so that the seam is in the middle of the fabric, I needed to do this, so I can sew the bottom edge together.

That white line you see is my attempt to make a curved line, so that when flipped inside out, instead of being straight, it will have an actual curve to it, just like a cats tail. Didn’t work out…exactly the way I wanted it, but it was ok.

So after all that, I flipped the tail inside out, and started stuffing it using the poly fill. I was able to slip my hand and wrist in there, and basically I would hold the poly fill and then scrunch the tail. I didnt over stuff it, I just stuffed it enough to be full.

Then…I took a hanger, straightened it out (to the best of my ability) and CAREFULLY worked the hanger into the tail, leaving about a 1 inch space from the bottom so that it doesn’t pole through.  I bent the top part of the hanger, stuck it into the poly fill, and then sewed the top close, and then flipped the over lap over and sewed that close to create a basic loop to slip the band through.  Here is the finished product..

It just so happens that my sheets have a tiger pattern going on. I also have a black and white tiger print blanket, and a tiger print bag, and other countless tiger print things (I love tigers, can’t you tell ?)  So the resulting length of the tail is about 37 inches, and with the hanger in it, I can curve it any way I want.

Tomorrow I am going to basically do an elastic band using 1 yard of elastic and the same fabric. I am just going to make a belt, slip it through the loop of the tail. And I can wear it around my waist. I am also going to do the ears/headband.

And I have designed my dress for opening day-here is a quick sketch of it

Sorry that it is on the side. But I basically want a bodice, overskirt, and underskirt.  The bodice and overskirt will have black trim. For the main color I wanted a light gray/silverish fabric. It has to be lightweight (opening day is usually a scorcher).  I will be wearing a white chemise, and detachable bell sleeves.  So once I go through my existing fabric (I think I have some light gray/silver fabric lying around) I will start working on it .  I am adding black to make a stark contrast, and black is usually a color associated with nobility.

Well that is it for tonight. Feel free to share your comments and questions! tata

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Some of my past garb Wednesday, Feb 4 2009

Here are pictures of some of my past garb for the ren fair. I made all of these by myself!  I either reconstructed garments, drafted my own patterns, or just freehanded it. Enjoy!

Wes and I

My friend Tim and I-with alot of Ale in our systems

Me in my red and black pirate garb-I didnt sew a waistband to the skirt!

Wes & I-Pants, pirate coat, bodice, gloves-We were going to use this picture for our wedding invites-say "till death do us part"

Simple 1 peice Irish Dress-black chemise-made 4 hours before opening day for PARF 2008

Wes and I-my first attempt at a nobles gown. Reconstructed from my ex-sister in laws wedding dress. I think for a first time, it came out very well

My closing day gown (and cloak) Gown is a navy blue velvet, and the cloak is from Half Moon

So these have been what I wore to the ren fair. As you can see, I have progressed fairly well, if I must say so myself. Stay tuned!

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Huzzah! Monday, Oct 6 2008

I am so happy. My boyfriend is going to pay off my cloak at the MDRF, so I will be able to wear it closing day at  both the MDRF and the PARF! I am excited! I love that cloak.  This is what it looks like :

wool cloak from half moon

So basically it is a two layer wook cloak, that is lightweight enough to wear both pieces seperately, and warm enough to wear both pieces together.  The colors are Dark navy blue and Ivory.  My boyfriend has a navy blue and grey cloak from them, so he really wanted me to have this cloak because we will match! that is the benefit of having a rennie spouse! lol

here are some pictures of the bodice (now completed) when I was working on it. It was my first bodice!

actually i dont know where the pictures are lol.  So it looks like i will have to put my whole ensemble on and take pictures. i completed the bodice, the chemise, the skirt, and the kirtle.  the outfit was ready for last weekend at the MDRF but it rained so we didnt go.

but we will be going on closing weekend. so that gives me a chance to add sleeves that match the kirtle, and better hem my skirt-it is a bit long

oh, i also completed a bum roll! i love making my dress poofy.

well that is it for now. i have alot of random things to do, so i have to get back to those

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I got it! Friday, Sep 12 2008

A new sewing machine! And I am so happy

I also have been to like every Goodwill located in Newark and got some great steals on fabric. I have this dark/navy blue velvet (curtain panel) that is wide (didn’t measure it yet) and VERY long. enough to make a bodice and the gown! Huzzah I am happy.

I also went to Joanns and Walmart, I purchased Muslin, duck cloth, and some other things to get to work on my bodice. Today I will be going to Home Depot to get the boning for my bodice. And today I will work on folding clothes and washing clothes so I can get a clean area in my room set up with the sewing machine.

I will do a mock up of the bodice, if that turns out good I will use that as the draft for the bodice pattern. and get to work on the whole dress.

But for now I must go!

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new projects Monday, Aug 25 2008

so i was so excited to work on my first nobles gown.  i am now ready to work on my second one! i dont now what color scheme i will be choosing, but i do like my navy blue and ivory color scheme.  it works well as to matching my boyfriends color scheme.

i also need to work on his doublet.  i dont really sew according to patterns, but for a doublet i think i will need one.  also i have never made a real bodice, so i think i may have to make one, my boyfriend suggested a great idea about how to interchange my pieces of garb, but im not sure how to work on that yet.

but what i do need is a new sewing machine. i saw a singer “simple” at walmart for $100.  this is the same sewing machine that i used to work on my recent outfit, but it was my friends, and i cant keep having her tote her machine to my house or me back up everything to go to her house.

i also need more fabric. i love fabric, and when i go to the fabric store it is a wonderful trip.  i have no problems with making the skirt part of my nobles garb, but to actually work on a bodice will be a bit hard

i also found some great hoopskirts at a great price. as some of you may know, my current dress is a reworking of an old wedding dress. so my next project will be a full dress from scratch, and a bodice. 

it’s funny, i spend so much money on fabric and supplies and such, but will never spend so much on my regular clothing. thats the mindset of a rennie, lol

well i need to go look up some free patterns, and such. so till next time

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at last…it has begun Saturday, Aug 16 2008

so i worked on the foreskirt of my dress, here is what the fabric and trim (up close) of my foreskirt looks like

now here is the fabric that will be the under part of the forskirt, and the middle panel of my bodice (which i will begin working on today)

and here is the headband that i soooo fell in love with that i will be wearing with my snood

now working on the foreskirt was a bit hard, my sewing machine DID not want to work with me, so i basically used fabric glue and glued down my seams, which in turn i burned my thumb at 2:30 in the morning, my friend (who is also working on a renaissance outfit) and i went to walmart in which she purchased a new sewing machine. that worked fine. i was able to hem my foreskirt, and then add it to the waist band, she was able to hem her skirt, but the sewing machine (or it was just us) decided it didnt want to thread properly anymore. now keep in mind i have been making garb for the past two ren fair seasons, but i throw stuff together, and never actually learned how to properly use a sewing machine, i know the basics, and a hot glue gun has definitely become my best friend

so that is it for now. i need a much needed nap. we worked on our stuff from around 11pm to 6 am, and i still had to wake up early today.

i am going to work on my bodice today, add the trim and such to the fabric

later on i have to work on a pouch, a fan, and decorate my basket

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