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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NOOOOOOOOO, this is why you order early… Friday, Jul 10 2009

Got my fabric swatches in! So the fabrics feel right, the only issue, the silver fabric that I wanted, is apparently out of stock . So my whole silver and black scheme is shot, and now I am thinking of something else. I am really trying to aim for the $3.99 fabrics because I honestly don’t have a lot of money for this. But here are the selections:

https://www.800fabrics.com/index.php?cid=305&type=Fabrics&gid=1

I’m thinking that this is the next candidate:

It will still look good mixed with black

And then I was thinking this:

But I’m not too sure. Not really feeling the green. So most likely I am going to go with the red. But I have to wait till Friday-to order since thats when my hubby gets paid and he will be buying the fabric for me.

Well on that note, I must go. Got some organizing and sewing to do.

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Fabric Fiasco!!! Monday, Jul 6 2009

So ren fair is about a month away, and I have yet to work on my gown. The main issue is the fabric crisis I am having. I have yards and yards of this gorgeous silver fabric, but upon further investigation, it turns out the fabric is way to thin to do anything with. So I visited JoAnns where I always see lots of fabric I want, but surprisingly nothing I wanted.

So I ordered a couple of swatches from https://www.800fabrics.com/new_home.php, and hopefully when they get here I can make up my mind. I did find this great silver drapery fabric, on sale for $3.99 or $4.99, can’t remember, so if the swatch is perfect, then I will be ordering it asap! I hope it is perfect though, because the pattern looks really pretty.

i think it is absolutely perfect for what I wanted. I was going to go with a black underskirt, since I have a black chemise already, and black trim.

There was this PERFECT dark gray/blackish pearl trim at JoAnns, but at 24.99 a yard I definitely had to put it back. Hopefully I can find something similar, because it was perfect!

The fabric is not only for my dress, but for my husbands doublet that I will be making. I know I have to get started soon, but I need the fabric to get here!!!

I typically do two gowns a season, I mean I could wear the two gowns I wore last season, but as my sewing skills expand, I love to create new things, that and being that I am at home since I am on disability, lol. It gives me something to do. For the second gown I was thinking of this

my husband loves blue, so I figured he would enjoy this. we are trying to go for a matching theme this year. I also have to get some black crushed velvet to make him a new pair of tights. there is nothing wrong with his old tights, but he is looking for something new, and I can understand that lol. ren fairs are the only time that i can get him excited with clothing.

well i need to finish laundry and cleaning, then i have to visit my mother

oh wait, here is another fabric i was considering

im not too sure about using it as a fabric for my ren fair gown, or any ren fair item for that matter. but i do absolutely adore the pattern, and i was thinking about getting it anyway, just so i can make a really cute corset. add some frilly lace along the bottom. yes? no? we will see!

happy sewing!

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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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