It’s a truth universally acknowledged that I don’t embroider (except recently by machine). But I sure can trace! So I drew out three sets of gauntlets to be embroidered by Mom (henceforth known as the Fockett & Cox Sweatshop ;-). Adorable Elizabethan designs based on two embroidery books I bought for her at Costume College
Buying clothing second-hand is very well-documented in the 16th century, and really, in most eras. Clothing and fabric were big investments before the post-World-War-II manufacturing boom that lead to our current state of disposable fast fashion. If a garment could be used again, it was. Best dresses became second-best or everyday dresses, garments were altered
In one of my insomniac moments last night, I fantasized about making a new black 1570s gown to wear to Much Ado About Sebastapol. *sigh* There are many things stacked against that happening, the biggest being I’m critically low on time, and second, I’d need a new pattern draft, ideally fitted by someone better than
At the San Jose Renaissance Faire this August, Sarah and I finally came up with a fantastic idea for what our renfaire personas and gig would be. This was the first renfaire either of us had worked in a million years, and the first one all of us were working together under the “guild” of
After the initial wearing of this gown, I added more trim (because really, everything in my world needs more trim). And then I wore it again, several times, and with different accessories. And when our household, the Chateau Rose, participated at the first-ever San Jose Renaissance Faire in August 2011, I wore the gown and
This article is an accompaniment to a lecture and demonstration class I taught at the SCA West Kingdom’s Collegium Occidentalis XLV in November 2010 and at Costume College in July 2011. It’s intended as a practical lesson in how to recreate the look of upper-class hair fashions of late 16th-century England. The first half of
Wherein I cross-dress to portray part of Marie-Antoinette’s court as we frolic at the Petit Trianon…,
I haven’t updated the design of my costume website since 2006. So, um, perhaps it’s time … and while I’ve resisted this whole ‘move costume sites to blogs’ for a while, what the hell. I already double-post my dress diaries & have been doing so for years. I first blog them on LiveJournal, friends-locked, &
I’ll wire the hat to the wig and then c’est fini. The event is tomorrow!
I think instead of covering shoes for Leonard (because the buckles arrived while we were gone), I’m going to make a tiny tricorn to perch atop his wig. Should take about the same amount of time and most of the same materials (all of which are in The Stash). Inspired by my decision to use
Back to work — but not in the office. I luckily have today off as part of the July 4th holiday! So I’m sewing (tho’ it’s pretty dang hot, even in our insulated bungalow). All 30+ buttons that I covered on the drive up to Oregon are now attached to Leonard’s coat. Still have to
Leonard’s coat has sleeves and cuffs. Button shapes are all cut so I can cover the forms on the drive to Oregon. Will sew them to the coat and pants when I get back. Only other thing left to do is hem the coat’s skirts, which are wildly uneven and a small part of me
Leonard’s pants are done, or as done as they’re going to get for now. I plan to make the buttons in the car ride to Oregon, so I’ll sew them on last minute. Also, I may just safety pin the fly closed bec. it’s weird. Kinda needs smaller buttons to lay flat and I don’t
Gah, I’ve been SUCH a slacker this week. I have so much work to do on Leonard’s outfit, yet I utterly failed to work on it after Tuesday night. Partly, I blame illness, mostly, I blame laziness. It’s worse than laziness, actually. It’s that horrible overwhelmed feeling I get when a project has so many
Because I’m feeling a little daunted by how much I have to do for Leonard, especially since I’m going to West-An Tir War and I won’t have the 4th of July weekend to sew, let’s make a to-do list! Pants: –Hand-sew waistband facing/lining. –Make buttonholes. –Make eyelets for back lacing. –Hand-sew leg linings down. –Make