Miss Philomena

The PA Renn Faire yesterday was a lot of fun. I was feeling rather yucky in the morning, a growing migraine and some nausea to go with it, but I ignored that and went anyway, and I'm glad I did. By the time I got to the faire after the two hour drive I was feeling fine anyway. I'd never been to the faire before and it was huge. Lots of walking up and down hills, which actually reminded me of bing in Germany last summer, and all the walking tours I did there. And speaking of Germany, I was the token German of the group, and I even had the award to prove it. I got several comments on it from random people, cast members and faire visitors alike. I need to steal pictures from other people, still.

Now, as for my next project, I'm intending to make a new pair of stays for next Thursday. Pennsbury Manor has Harvest Days, which means too many school groups coming through, and I'll be demonstrating Dorset buttons for them. Can I make stays in nine days? I'm feeling hopeful, but I still need to figure out some type of boning too. Tonight's plan is to draft up the 1680s stays from Corsets and Crinolines.

Look at that, I really am back! I'm going to a Yule event on the 11th, and while I do already have a lovely pink linen gown made, I want something fancier for this. While the first plan was the red gown on the left here, I couldn't find enough of the right color taffeta, but I did find a lovely pink silk instead. So hey, I decided why not have a bit of fun and make the completely out there dress in this portrait.



I have a yard of green cotton velvet, which should be enough for all the trimming on the bodice, but I don't think I'll have enough for skirt guards unless they're narrow. And I don't know if I have enough time to run down to Philly and pick more up before the event either.

Not for a bit of technical talk. I've been poking around and looking at a lot of other costumers and their versions of this style of gown. And on most of them I've noticed gapping, either below the brustfleck/plastron, where the lacing doesn't start high enough or tight enough, or above there, where there is perhaps extra fabric at the armhole. I did notice in this painting, with detail that there's the almost sheer hemd, with what could be a second, opaque helm, possibly much shorter, since it's only visible under the bodice, so I'm going to play with that idea. We'll see how exactly things turn out once I get into fitting and sewing and all that.

Now to get back to patterning....

Alright, I didn't do a lot in 2008, but I also didn't start anything until September. I did knock out two complete outfits in under a week each, though, so that has to count for something.

September, 2008: The Red Stripy Bustle
While I'd had the undies sewn for a while, the dress itself I did in three days. I wanted something bright for Saloncon, and this definitely qualifies.

December, 2008: Revolution in a Week
Basically, the only parts of this I didn't make in a one week rush were my shoes, stockings, and hat blank. Upon extended wearing I've decided the front of my half-boned stays need to be recut, because currently they're a bit too short and wide across the bust. But that's for later.

And for 2009, I have quite the list.

• 1560s Teal Venetian
• Catherine-Charlotte de Gramont, Princess of Monaco(1660s), for charlesii. I plan to get this done for Costume Con in May.
• 1775 Pink Brocade Caraco
• 1780s Chemise à la Reine
• 1791 Purple Sari Pierrot Jacket and Skirt
• 1844 Grey and Lavender Plaid, for  the Poe Bicentennial events this month.
• 1872 Watteau Bustle Gown
• 1874 Light Blue Evening Gown (left)
• 1875 Winter Striped Walking Suit
• 1920s Print Silk Dress, adaptation

I have ideas for a few more things, and I need at least one Vampires, Villains and Vixens outfit, but this is most definitely enough for the first half of 2009.