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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Progress… Monday, Aug 3 2009

While my mother was recovering at home from surgery in the hospital last week, I went over almost every day to see her, and dragged my sewing machine along. I managed to get the gown itself done, with exceptions to the sleeves and the forepart. But I am feeling quite accomplished now. I thought I was going to have an issue with the lace I was applying to the split of the overskirt, but some quick thinking of my older sister and utilizing the eager seam ripping talents of my little sister and her best friend solved that. So I will have pictures of that later tonight, as right now my sewing machine and gown are in the car, and I am not dressed to go outside.

I reviewed the pattern for my husbands garb last night, and once again I hate patterns. But I know that I will eventually have to start using them. Here is the pattern that I am using:

Men's Doublet

it’s not so much cutting out the pattern pieces, it’s more so of the instructions. and for some reason, the instructions for the pants, seem incredibly elaborate just for the crotch area! so we shall see how that turns out. If you notice in my past entry of Some of my past garb you will see that through the years of attending ren fair, and how I always have something different on, he does not. And I somewhat feel bad! Because I always make new stuff for me (thats more due to I get better at sewing each year so I like to see my handiwork) and nothing for him. So he WILL have new garb this year!

But for now it is still early. I am up because I had a couple of calls to make, but I am going to hit my wonderful bed now, nap, then awake again. Megan is coming over to sew tonight, and I promise to take pictures of our progress on our projects!

Happy Sewing!

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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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Bodice is Done! Saturday, Jul 18 2009

My bodice is done! Finished it last night. So today I am going to sew the overskirt to the bodice. Pictures to come later.

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My bodice Friday, Jul 17 2009

So I have a few friends coming over tomorrow to help keep me motivated while I complete my gown. It really should have not taken me as long as it has, like I said I am still working on the bodice!!! Here is a quick preview, sorry the pictures are not better, I do not have the best lighting:

The middle panel is of some home decor fabric that I got at JoAnns on sale, while the green courdoroy is from the stash I already have at home. My husbands doublet will match. Tomorrow I plan on finishing placing the grommets, attaching the straps, and making the sleeves.

But for now it is late, and although I feel wired I need to get some rest.

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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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Sewing day! Tuesday, Jul 14 2009

So sewing day with my friend Megan went well. I made a bum roll, and got about 85% of my bodice completed. She is coming over today again, so I plan to have the bodice fully done, well actually can’t have it fully done because I ended up ordering this awesome trim online from

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/zuke989_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_ipgZ they have amazing trims at amazing prices. Not necessarily a huge variety to choose from, but they satisfied my needs. So when she comes over I hope to have my middle panel of my bodice put on, the straps, an work on the sleeves. Not to sure if i am going to get to the overskirt part today, but we shall see.

After I complete my outfit, it is then to work on my husbands outfit this year. Which consists of new pants, a doublet, and possibly a new shirt. We will see about that one.

But for now I must go. My husband and I have an early Dungeons and Dragons game (the things we do or love-I HATE waking up early) to attend.

Happy sewing.

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Getting started.. Tuesday, Jul 7 2009

So my goals for today is to:

1. Clean my living room
2. Clean my sewing area
3. Straighten up kitchen and bathroom
4. Vacuum
5. Clean bedroom

Although it seems like a lot, it really is not. But for me, especially with feeling exhausted all hours of the day since we came back from Disney world, it appears to be a daunting task! lol.  Hopefully I can motivate myself to get it all done.  Because once those are done then I plan on doing the following things:

1. Make a new bum roll.  Last year’s bum roll was way to small, not enough roll for the bum to be noticeable!
2. Make a new, pretty pouch for my new pretty gown
3. Layout and cut the under layers for my bodice for my gown
4. Layout and cut the under layers for my husbands doublet.

Here is the pattern that I ended up buying, although I said I will never buy a Simplicity pattern unless it was on sale, I just couldn’t let it go! lol

Men's Doublet

Now, if you know me, and have been a reader of my blog. You know that I hate using patterns!  Not because I dislike patterns, but because I am the type of person that always wings it, and can figure out how to do things myself.  When I use patterns, it kind of throws me for a loop when following their directions.  So it’s not guaranteed that I will be using this pattern for his doublet, but it will be used as a guide at least.

Now for my dress this year.  Of course I am basically winging it once again, as I did all of my dresses, but here is the inspiration:

Inspiration

Now for me, I don’t think I am going to do the shoulder rolls, and not sure if my waist of the dress will have the pleated effect as seen above.  But that was basically my inspiration.

But I suppose that the only way to actually get those lists done is to stop blogging and do it!  I will be back later with pictures on my progress!

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