Check out one of my pirate frock coats that is being sold on eBay, new condition:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200165834345&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123
It was made on request of my client because we had gotten so much extra fabric, I decided we had enough to make a whole another coat! And just barely, too!
Auction ends in 3 days!!!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
My project box is empty...hooray...for now
Feels good to have an empty project box AND a fairly neat sewing corner for a week or so...but I think after that I'm going to get a bit antsy, as I like to keep busy, especially on days when I don't have work. Can't help but be a little excited at the thought of having finished a bunch of very large projects...I think a few small ones might be in order....and maybe some more organization boxes for thread too.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
hmmm....Dickens Ball
Been contemplating on going to the Dickens Ball this year. The only thing is, it's another project (I kinda need a vacation after all this!) and it's been taking more time for research than I thought.
I really want a simple yet elegant 1862 cranberry/wine/dark red taffeta ballgown with black trim, black gloves, and fan (two of which I already own). The only thing is, it seems like light colors and white gloves and fans were much more popular, and the only dark red gowns I've found were from modern "reproduction" seamstresses on eBay and such. I really am a big fan of red, and would really like to use it. But I guess it'll have to go if I can't prove otherwise.
I also need a good corset before going, since the other cheap modern eBay one had to be worn with a bra for any amount of decent support. I found an awesome kit using a Laughing Moon Mercantile pattern (very good I hear for the well-endowed lady!) and the kit is only about $85 with s & h from www.corsetmaking.com . And, the best part about the Silverado design is that is is period appropriate and comes in a variety of large sizes. Sure beats $200 and up for someone else to make it, but then if it takes as much effort as I think it does, that might be a fair price.
Also found out what ladies wore for dancing shoes: leather ballet flats, with leather (not rubber) soles for twirling and such. No high heels. This is looking better and better, since I'm a wide width, and it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to find comfortable high heels. Also these are easy to find (I know Payless sells them) and fairly cheap (about $20-$30).
The main thing is talking my fiance into it.
Tickets are $90 a couple. And jeez, it doesn't even include dinner, just light refreshments.
He has a black Ralph Lauren suit to wear, but I'm not sure if everyone wears tuxes or whether people dress in regular suits. It says of course virtually nothing online, and no one evidently talks about it, since it's not very Googleable. I made a chart on Excel listing all the things he needs (e.g. cane, top hat, vest, gloves) and I'm not sure if we can swing so much in so little time, as Ren Faire season ends the day of the ball (Nov 30). Kinda wish Dickens could be pushed forward a week or so. These deadlines are so hard to make with everything going on in the fall.
So far, I've found out that The Gentleman's Emporium (www.gentlemansemporium.com ) has the best prices overall and the best variety for civilian men's costume, compared to Thickity Creek Sutlery (www.thickitycreek.com ) , River Junction Trade Company (www.riverjunction.com ) , and Fall Creek Sutlery (www.fcsutler.com).
Hope this all works out, because if this is the only thing I got for Christmas, I would be a very happy lady indeed...
I really want a simple yet elegant 1862 cranberry/wine/dark red taffeta ballgown with black trim, black gloves, and fan (two of which I already own). The only thing is, it seems like light colors and white gloves and fans were much more popular, and the only dark red gowns I've found were from modern "reproduction" seamstresses on eBay and such. I really am a big fan of red, and would really like to use it. But I guess it'll have to go if I can't prove otherwise.
I also need a good corset before going, since the other cheap modern eBay one had to be worn with a bra for any amount of decent support. I found an awesome kit using a Laughing Moon Mercantile pattern (very good I hear for the well-endowed lady!) and the kit is only about $85 with s & h from www.corsetmaking.com . And, the best part about the Silverado design is that is is period appropriate and comes in a variety of large sizes. Sure beats $200 and up for someone else to make it, but then if it takes as much effort as I think it does, that might be a fair price.
Also found out what ladies wore for dancing shoes: leather ballet flats, with leather (not rubber) soles for twirling and such. No high heels. This is looking better and better, since I'm a wide width, and it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to find comfortable high heels. Also these are easy to find (I know Payless sells them) and fairly cheap (about $20-$30).
The main thing is talking my fiance into it.
Tickets are $90 a couple. And jeez, it doesn't even include dinner, just light refreshments.
He has a black Ralph Lauren suit to wear, but I'm not sure if everyone wears tuxes or whether people dress in regular suits. It says of course virtually nothing online, and no one evidently talks about it, since it's not very Googleable. I made a chart on Excel listing all the things he needs (e.g. cane, top hat, vest, gloves) and I'm not sure if we can swing so much in so little time, as Ren Faire season ends the day of the ball (Nov 30). Kinda wish Dickens could be pushed forward a week or so. These deadlines are so hard to make with everything going on in the fall.
So far, I've found out that The Gentleman's Emporium (www.gentlemansemporium.com ) has the best prices overall and the best variety for civilian men's costume, compared to Thickity Creek Sutlery (www.thickitycreek.com ) , River Junction Trade Company (www.riverjunction.com ) , and Fall Creek Sutlery (www.fcsutler.com).
Hope this all works out, because if this is the only thing I got for Christmas, I would be a very happy lady indeed...
Finished both pirate frock coats!!!
I am soooo sooo sooo happy that I finally finished my client's two pirate frock coats. It has been quite a long haul, since I was making them concurrently with other projects for TRF. That being said, they came out FANTASTIC!! I will post pics once they go to TRF this weekend because it is PIRATE WEEKEND!
Wish me (and them!) good luck in the costume contest....this could mean a big break for me if they win 1st or 2nd place...and they do have my business cards :)
OK, maybe I'm a little overly excited...but hey I'm the one who spent 7 hours on Tuesday finishing up the black and gold one. Those gold thread lines coming from the buttons took forever, but it was well worth it.
The other frock coat is from the extra fabric from the first comission I made, so it will be posted on eBay early next week.
Thinking of making a few for PirateCon this spring, since I could easily sell a few on eBay before then.
Thank you Disney for making POTC....
Wish me (and them!) good luck in the costume contest....this could mean a big break for me if they win 1st or 2nd place...and they do have my business cards :)
OK, maybe I'm a little overly excited...but hey I'm the one who spent 7 hours on Tuesday finishing up the black and gold one. Those gold thread lines coming from the buttons took forever, but it was well worth it.
The other frock coat is from the extra fabric from the first comission I made, so it will be posted on eBay early next week.
Thinking of making a few for PirateCon this spring, since I could easily sell a few on eBay before then.
Thank you Disney for making POTC....
Pictures Posted on my Webshots
Photos taken of my finished costumes (as well as others I found intriguing) can be found on my Webshots:
http://community.webshots.com/user/craftgirl71683
Currently the albums include Dickens on the Strand and The Texas Renaissance Festival. I will be going to the faire again once it cools off (if it ever does!) and I will be sure to take more.
http://community.webshots.com/user/craftgirl71683
Currently the albums include Dickens on the Strand and The Texas Renaissance Festival. I will be going to the faire again once it cools off (if it ever does!) and I will be sure to take more.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
All ready for the Faire!!!
I just got the belt that one of my clients made for Christian, and it looks fabulous. The black was a good choice, and he even tooled a straight line that boarders the belt as a little bit of detail. I just finished his chaperone (hat) 2 nights ago, and he loved it!!! (He wouldn't even take it off!)
These items also went well with his poulaines - so almost everything is either red, black, or blue. I'm really liking the color combo.
I made the mistake of thinking the hat could be stuffed with scraps of fabric (which took an hour to cut into strips) but it became much too heavy. Guess that's why they used fluffed wool or "the hair of dead women" as one source claimed! It's meant to be light, not heavy as I had thought - so light that he can put the liripipe over his shoulder and have the chaperone hanging off in the back, just like they did back then when they didn't feel like wearing it.
It was really easy to make (although the instructions on length were wrong in The Medieval Tailor's Assistant) so I had to make 2 tubes, one like 5 inches or so longer than the first because it was too small. It was an easy fix though, and well worth the effort.
Now all he needs is a sword...yes, he's exited about that one. We didn't order one online since he likes to see them in person and handle them first, as quality is a factor in arms and armor. So most likely he will be buying one as well as a scabbard and frog at the faire this weekend. Especially since swords are his undoing, and he never had an excuse to really have one till now.
I also have been working on mom's headdress, which was made from a large square of extra linen from my chemise. It turned out quite nicely, and the fillet works with it pinned on in 3 places. I'll take pics of her final outfit tomorrow.
I also bought a belt at Macy's for my kirtle. Not historically accurate, but it's brown and designer and was on sale! (Can't go too wrong with that one!) I decided I really needed one with the fan and the purse. Pinning them on would just look silly, and if I wanted the fan often, it would be inconvenient as well. Plus, I heard that belts were way overpriced at the faire, so I doubt I could afford one with all the money we'd be spending on food and any small things that would catch our eyes, as well as priceless entertainment, as I always throw something into the hat.
My mom's neighbor found out about my dilemma with the wire on my hennin - should I leave it as is or cover it with something white? (e.g. tape or paint) I was at a loss, since I DEFINITELY did not want to use paint. So he gave me some plasticy stretchy white non-stick tape used for plumbing of all things (ok, I am not a handyman so I forgot its name!) and it worked! Now they can't say that I'm the Roach Queen! The tape makes the "antennae" look a lot less noticeable! Although, I still wonder what the hell they did back then to make the wire less noticeable, but since absolutely no hennins of any type from that period exist today, there is no way of knowing, since artists tended to leave that detail out of their paintings.
Now I'm definitely happy that I chose the silk organza - I was kinda worried lately that it was too see-through.
All I have to do tomorrow is a "dress rehearsal" for mom, take some pictures, and hem Christian's sleeves (the pics we took that night were right after his final fitting).
I'm not all that thrilled with Period Pattern's sleeve pattern for the gown - I must've cut at least a foot off them, and Christian is no pint-sized guy - he's 5'8" and about 180 pounds!
These items also went well with his poulaines - so almost everything is either red, black, or blue. I'm really liking the color combo.
I made the mistake of thinking the hat could be stuffed with scraps of fabric (which took an hour to cut into strips) but it became much too heavy. Guess that's why they used fluffed wool or "the hair of dead women" as one source claimed! It's meant to be light, not heavy as I had thought - so light that he can put the liripipe over his shoulder and have the chaperone hanging off in the back, just like they did back then when they didn't feel like wearing it.
It was really easy to make (although the instructions on length were wrong in The Medieval Tailor's Assistant) so I had to make 2 tubes, one like 5 inches or so longer than the first because it was too small. It was an easy fix though, and well worth the effort.
Now all he needs is a sword...yes, he's exited about that one. We didn't order one online since he likes to see them in person and handle them first, as quality is a factor in arms and armor. So most likely he will be buying one as well as a scabbard and frog at the faire this weekend. Especially since swords are his undoing, and he never had an excuse to really have one till now.
I also have been working on mom's headdress, which was made from a large square of extra linen from my chemise. It turned out quite nicely, and the fillet works with it pinned on in 3 places. I'll take pics of her final outfit tomorrow.
I also bought a belt at Macy's for my kirtle. Not historically accurate, but it's brown and designer and was on sale! (Can't go too wrong with that one!) I decided I really needed one with the fan and the purse. Pinning them on would just look silly, and if I wanted the fan often, it would be inconvenient as well. Plus, I heard that belts were way overpriced at the faire, so I doubt I could afford one with all the money we'd be spending on food and any small things that would catch our eyes, as well as priceless entertainment, as I always throw something into the hat.
My mom's neighbor found out about my dilemma with the wire on my hennin - should I leave it as is or cover it with something white? (e.g. tape or paint) I was at a loss, since I DEFINITELY did not want to use paint. So he gave me some plasticy stretchy white non-stick tape used for plumbing of all things (ok, I am not a handyman so I forgot its name!) and it worked! Now they can't say that I'm the Roach Queen! The tape makes the "antennae" look a lot less noticeable! Although, I still wonder what the hell they did back then to make the wire less noticeable, but since absolutely no hennins of any type from that period exist today, there is no way of knowing, since artists tended to leave that detail out of their paintings.
Now I'm definitely happy that I chose the silk organza - I was kinda worried lately that it was too see-through.
All I have to do tomorrow is a "dress rehearsal" for mom, take some pictures, and hem Christian's sleeves (the pics we took that night were right after his final fitting).
I'm not all that thrilled with Period Pattern's sleeve pattern for the gown - I must've cut at least a foot off them, and Christian is no pint-sized guy - he's 5'8" and about 180 pounds!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)