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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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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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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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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Minnie Mouse and Knights Thursday, Jul 2 2009

It is July, and you know what that means? Ren Fair season 2009 is right around the corner. August is opening days for both the Pennsylvania Ren Fair and the Maryland Ren Fair, which my husband, my friends, and I will be attending.

This seasons project is a new nobles gown made of lightweight sliverish/periwinkle fabric, with a black emroidered trim, and a black underskirt, and that is for myself. For my husband, I will be making black crushed velvet tights for him, a new black mens shirt, and a doublet out of the silver/perwinkle fabric with matching trim.

The only thing I will not be making is a new hoop skirt, which I so desperately need. I have a “wedding” type hoopskirt which provides very little hoopness lol, I wore that last year when I converted the wedding dress into a ren fair dress.

So in other news we just came back from Disney World, and it was an awesome trip. I don’t think I showed you guys my “minnie mouse” dress

I’m thinking about whipping up a new dress for the 4th of July weekend, but my house is a mess, and before I start sewing I need to clean. So we shall see

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