Monday, March 26, 2007
NZ Trip on hold
Oh, in case I didn’t tell people, we can’t go to Midwinter Coronation any more. :( Sam and I both encountered difficulties when it came to getting our leave approved, so we have decided (after much deliberation) to give it a miss. We will try for Cantebury Faire next Feb instead. On the up side, we might be able to go to May Crown now as a sort of consolation prize.
Slight miscalculation
Oh dear. I have realised this morning that of the (now) 9 evenings remaining before I go to Festival I am out on 5 of them, and fairly busy this weekend too. And yesterday I thought it might be a good idea to make Sam and I each a hood for keeping sun/rain/cold out. Eeeek, hope I can find enough time to at least hem and affix closures to my 2 frocks, otherwise I will be a site to behold.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Don't panic - 10 days til Festival
Wow, what a productive weekend. In additional to the plentiful going out and socialising, I also got a reasonable amount of sewing done. First cab off the rank was the red wool roman cloak for Maximus to keep him protected from the elements at Festival. I had cut and pinned it last weekend so it just a matter of a few straight stitches, then cutting and attaching the hood. The cloak is now all in one piece and is hanging in the bathroom so it can ‘drop’ before I hem it. It’s looks really impressive, like there was a lot more involved than sewing 3 panels together.
Next project was the burgundy dress that is supposed to be a cotehardie. I made it for 1st Coronation and have worn it maybe once or twice since, I was never really happy with it, and it serves me right for trying to do it all myself instead of asking for help with the trick bits. Having come to the realisation that I don’t have time to make a new dress for festival (which is now literally 2 weeks away), and feeling anxious that I don’t have enough to wear, I decided that a remodel was in order.
I have unpicked the sleeves to the elbow, cut off the 2 ½ inches excess length, and was thinking about putting on buttons or lacings to close them again. However, when I put it on it it’s unpicked state, I quite liked the effect of the sleeves hanging open – sort of like over grown tippets. So now I think I will leave it this way.
It looks little bit like the pale blue dress to the left of this picture, taken from http://vieuxchamps.com/persona/wgarb2.php.
Next project was the burgundy dress that is supposed to be a cotehardie. I made it for 1st Coronation and have worn it maybe once or twice since, I was never really happy with it, and it serves me right for trying to do it all myself instead of asking for help with the trick bits. Having come to the realisation that I don’t have time to make a new dress for festival (which is now literally 2 weeks away), and feeling anxious that I don’t have enough to wear, I decided that a remodel was in order.
I have unpicked the sleeves to the elbow, cut off the 2 ½ inches excess length, and was thinking about putting on buttons or lacings to close them again. However, when I put it on it it’s unpicked state, I quite liked the effect of the sleeves hanging open – sort of like over grown tippets. So now I think I will leave it this way.
It looks little bit like the pale blue dress to the left of this picture, taken from http://vieuxchamps.com/persona/wgarb2.php.
The description is “ 1338-44, French. From the Romance of Alexander; fol 138rLeft to right: 1) dark blue long-sleeved undergown, buttoned sleeves. Paler blue short-sleeved overgown with fichets and tippets. “
Next to address the overall fit and comfort. The front never fitted properly – I think I put the curve in the wrong place. And the back lacings were just impractical. So I unpicked the front seams to about navel level, and plan to fit lacing rings so that the dress laces up the front (meaning I can dress myself). Once I had opened up the front seams I then sewed up the back seam, relegating my beautiful ribbon loops for lacing to the inside back seam. I still know they are there, even if no-one else will see them. So all that is left is to finish the front opening with the lacing rings. I will re-shape the neckline at the same time. The current neckline is a bit high and awkward to wear. I have come to the conclusion that, unless I am wearing a tabard or surcoat, I look better in a lower cut dress. High cut dresses with no top layer tend to hide my shape and make me look too sack like – hardly the elegant lady about Festival look I am going for. Rather than cutting it and re-stitching it, I think I might just fold the excess fabric under and tack it down.
I have also cut and ½ sewn a basic smock/chemise for under the Moy, which is still waiting to be hemmed. The smock is cut from a white sheet bought at an op-shop, which means that is has been washed a number of times and is pre-softened and snuggley.
I am SO looking forward to Festival.
Next to address the overall fit and comfort. The front never fitted properly – I think I put the curve in the wrong place. And the back lacings were just impractical. So I unpicked the front seams to about navel level, and plan to fit lacing rings so that the dress laces up the front (meaning I can dress myself). Once I had opened up the front seams I then sewed up the back seam, relegating my beautiful ribbon loops for lacing to the inside back seam. I still know they are there, even if no-one else will see them. So all that is left is to finish the front opening with the lacing rings. I will re-shape the neckline at the same time. The current neckline is a bit high and awkward to wear. I have come to the conclusion that, unless I am wearing a tabard or surcoat, I look better in a lower cut dress. High cut dresses with no top layer tend to hide my shape and make me look too sack like – hardly the elegant lady about Festival look I am going for. Rather than cutting it and re-stitching it, I think I might just fold the excess fabric under and tack it down.
I have also cut and ½ sewn a basic smock/chemise for under the Moy, which is still waiting to be hemmed. The smock is cut from a white sheet bought at an op-shop, which means that is has been washed a number of times and is pre-softened and snuggley.
I am SO looking forward to Festival.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Moy Gown Update
If I have done this properly you should be able to see a photo of Sam and I at 12th Night back in January. I am wearing my Moy Gown. At that stage it was pinned together in front, unhemmed and the bias strips around the neck and front opening were pressed but not stitched down. [And my hair looks rubbish, but you can't have everything]
In the last few weeks I have stitched down the bias strips, marked up where the buttons will go on the front and sewn the first of 8 buttons in place. I have also stitched down the excess fabric behind the tip of one of the gores by way of reinforcing. I will do the other 3 eventually also.
What’s left: sew on 7 buttons; construct and sew on 8 button loops; stitch down the reinforcing on 3 gores; hem.
I then need to figure out what will go under the dress. In this photo I am wearing an old cheesecloth chemise I made for festival years ago. When I decided to wear the Moy to 12th night I didn’t have enough time to make a new chemise so I re-cut the neckline of the cheesecloth to suit this gown (the neckline had been quite high before). I was quite pleased with my ingenuity, but as a long term solution it’s just not quite right. Some of the literature suggests that an Irish Leinte (also known as a saffron shirt) is appropriate, but I printed out a few more articles last week to read which might have different views. I will keep you posted.
In the last few weeks I have stitched down the bias strips, marked up where the buttons will go on the front and sewn the first of 8 buttons in place. I have also stitched down the excess fabric behind the tip of one of the gores by way of reinforcing. I will do the other 3 eventually also.
What’s left: sew on 7 buttons; construct and sew on 8 button loops; stitch down the reinforcing on 3 gores; hem.
I then need to figure out what will go under the dress. In this photo I am wearing an old cheesecloth chemise I made for festival years ago. When I decided to wear the Moy to 12th night I didn’t have enough time to make a new chemise so I re-cut the neckline of the cheesecloth to suit this gown (the neckline had been quite high before). I was quite pleased with my ingenuity, but as a long term solution it’s just not quite right. Some of the literature suggests that an Irish Leinte (also known as a saffron shirt) is appropriate, but I printed out a few more articles last week to read which might have different views. I will keep you posted.
Monday, January 29, 2007
TWO Blogs?!?!?
Yes, well, clearly I am far more susceptible to peer pressure and bandwidth envy than I thought. I created this blog some months ago and quickly lost interest. Then KT created her blog on Yahoo and it looked so cool I wanted one too. Now there are a few people around with 2 separate blogs – one for general life stuff and one for specific projects or activities. And KT has discovered one can feed an outside blog through the Yahoo site – very nifty.
So, here it is, my SCA/sewing/looking pretty blog.
Now all I have to do is:
1. Remember to bring the disks with the photos to upload (or whatever it is); and
2. Keep making things in which to look pretty!
So, here it is, my SCA/sewing/looking pretty blog.
Now all I have to do is:
1. Remember to bring the disks with the photos to upload (or whatever it is); and
2. Keep making things in which to look pretty!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Overview of Our Trip
As a test posting I am repeating here what I previously posted to the Ardorans email list and the Notebook: forum.
I will try and keep this brief, but how do you cram a month into a few lines?
Paris was fantastic. I am so glad we went there first. We found it overwhelming being surrounded by such beauty all the time, and if we had gone at the end of our trip we may have not appreciated it or just had a complete melt down. AS well as seeing (some of) the tourist attractions we spent lots of time eating pastries and drinking coffee and just walking around Paris. I managed in French most of the time, and found it exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. Being understood in a foreign language is just an amazing feeling, I was so proud of myself. Hubby thought I was amazing and kept telling me what a great job I did.
Belfast was great. We stayed with friends and hung out with their friends doing normal things. There is a lovely brewery just out of town, I think it's called Hill End or something, If you are ever near by do drop in for a meal and a beer. We will have to go back and spend more time in Dublin. By the time we got there we were worn out and although we visited lots of places I don't think we got the most out of it. It was also quite hot and I got sunburned walking around on the first day there which made me a bit cross at myself.
From there we went by Ferry to Liverpool. It was a great way to travel, far more relaxed and refined than flying or going by train – as long as you don't get the same rowdy neighbours we had! It's actually quite a funny story now, but when we only got 3 hour sleep because of them it wasn't so funny.
We spent a wonderful 32 hours in Liverpool doing the Beatles tour and museum, then watching the first few games of the World Cup at our youth hostel.
Then it was on to Manchester and – oh bliss – 5 days staying in a self-contained apartment. With a washer. Clean clothes are wonderful things. And after a few weeks travel it was great to cook meals in the flat for ourselves. The town we stayed in is called Cheadle and the locals are just lovely. We adopted a local pub within hours of arriving, and they took great joy in supporting the Japanese in their game v Australia! But we had the last laugh when the Aussies won in the dying minutes of the game.
Then it was London to stay with 2 sets of friends. Again we didn't do as many things as we would have liked, but catching up with friends and doing 'normal' things with them was great. If you ever get the chance to visit Camden markets, go. It's huge and full of sites, sound and smells I am sure are unique. I ended up buying a gorgeous skirt from an Aussie who is selling her designs at the market and via internet. She was so nice, and her designs so suited to my figure I plan to buy more off her and have her post them to me.
We were sad when it was time to come home, but I was also glad to be back in my own bed and not on such a tight schedule all the time. Next trip we will spend longer in each place, as the constant packing up and moving on was stressful for us both.
I will try and post some piccies in the next few days.
I will try and keep this brief, but how do you cram a month into a few lines?
Paris was fantastic. I am so glad we went there first. We found it overwhelming being surrounded by such beauty all the time, and if we had gone at the end of our trip we may have not appreciated it or just had a complete melt down. AS well as seeing (some of) the tourist attractions we spent lots of time eating pastries and drinking coffee and just walking around Paris. I managed in French most of the time, and found it exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. Being understood in a foreign language is just an amazing feeling, I was so proud of myself. Hubby thought I was amazing and kept telling me what a great job I did.
Belfast was great. We stayed with friends and hung out with their friends doing normal things. There is a lovely brewery just out of town, I think it's called Hill End or something, If you are ever near by do drop in for a meal and a beer. We will have to go back and spend more time in Dublin. By the time we got there we were worn out and although we visited lots of places I don't think we got the most out of it. It was also quite hot and I got sunburned walking around on the first day there which made me a bit cross at myself.
From there we went by Ferry to Liverpool. It was a great way to travel, far more relaxed and refined than flying or going by train – as long as you don't get the same rowdy neighbours we had! It's actually quite a funny story now, but when we only got 3 hour sleep because of them it wasn't so funny.
We spent a wonderful 32 hours in Liverpool doing the Beatles tour and museum, then watching the first few games of the World Cup at our youth hostel.
Then it was on to Manchester and – oh bliss – 5 days staying in a self-contained apartment. With a washer. Clean clothes are wonderful things. And after a few weeks travel it was great to cook meals in the flat for ourselves. The town we stayed in is called Cheadle and the locals are just lovely. We adopted a local pub within hours of arriving, and they took great joy in supporting the Japanese in their game v Australia! But we had the last laugh when the Aussies won in the dying minutes of the game.
Then it was London to stay with 2 sets of friends. Again we didn't do as many things as we would have liked, but catching up with friends and doing 'normal' things with them was great. If you ever get the chance to visit Camden markets, go. It's huge and full of sites, sound and smells I am sure are unique. I ended up buying a gorgeous skirt from an Aussie who is selling her designs at the market and via internet. She was so nice, and her designs so suited to my figure I plan to buy more off her and have her post them to me.
We were sad when it was time to come home, but I was also glad to be back in my own bed and not on such a tight schedule all the time. Next trip we will spend longer in each place, as the constant packing up and moving on was stressful for us both.
I will try and post some piccies in the next few days.
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