Threads

This is not goodbye.

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 22:17:09 GMT

I know that I haven't been around much lately, and I keep saying that I will be back as soon as my thesis is finished, but I think I'm going to have to modify that promise a bit. I'll definitely be back to sewing, but this blog is going to be moving. For about a year now, I've been paying for a blogdrive subscription just so that I could ban those pesky little students who were being jerks and leaving less than flattering comments on my blog. However, now that my subscription is about to expire, I've decided to take advantage of the blog program offered with my webhosting; it really doesn't make sense to pay here for something I'm already paying for over there.

Anyway, it will take me a little while before the other blog has a whole lot of content, so I'll go ahead and leave this one up for a short time. If you currently link to this blog or have bookmarks, you can change them over as soon as you like, since I'll only be posting to the new blog from now on.

Down with the galleries.

Mon, 29 Aug 2005 23:30:50 GMT

Sorry to those of you who were still enjoying some of my older gallery pictures. Unfortunately, they were putting me way over my bandwidth. Hope everyone got to see them who wanted to. I didn't realize this site got that much traffic--shows how well I pay attention--so I'll probably have to downsize the pictures and keep fewer events up at a time. I know that kind of sucks, but I really don't want to have to pay for more space; I'm sure you'll understand and hope you will continue to check back and enjoy the pictures for as long as I can keep them up.

Completely off topic.

Wed, 24 Aug 2005 20:15:40 GMT

Spammers' computers should die a slow, agonizing death! But really, are there actually people out there with nothing better to do than to post stupid comments (and web links) on people's blogs? I mean, come on! My blog hardly even has a readership, so why target me? Idiots.

No sewing news at this point. I'm at that awkward point where my work year and my summer school classes overlap, so I'm back to work full time, but I'm still trying to finish up the two classes I'm taking. Makes for some mean stress levels and absolutely no sewing time. Thesis should be done sometime in October, so look for Dickens Fair sewing to start up about then.

Let's picnic.

Wed, 17 Aug 2005 07:31:11 GMT

I can't believe it, but I'm actually going to make it to the Peacock Tails event this weekend. Of course, I don't actually have anything new to wear, but I'll be there, I guess that's the important part. Mom managed to put together an outfit for this one--her first Victorian. Well, it's still in progress, but it's looking like she will get it done on time. She even recruited grandpa to make a necklace for her. :) It's inspired me to try to get my parasol done, that way at least I'll have a new accessory if nothing else.

Costume College pics

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 06:34:14 GMT

I had a very different experience this year--I had so much stuff going on before hand, a project to finish once I got there, etc., etc., etc. I ended up shopping on Friday, since I wasn't going to be able to go to the fashion distric on Monday. Then I spent a lot of Saturday working on finishing my gala dress. I did go to two workshops that day...a Victorian trimmings class and a German Renaissance Bodice class. The gala was fantastic, as usual. (Kendra and Heather convinced me that I must go to Gatsby this year and bring Kevin along.) Then on Sunday I did some shopping at the market place and then went to an 18th century pocket hoop class; didn't quite get finished with the pocket hoops, but it'll only take a little bit more work.

Anyway, I didn't take as many pictures this year, but what I've got is in the gallery. Enjoy! And yep, that first one is the last minute gown.

I think I can.

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 07:48:48 GMT

Why is it that everything ends up taking longer than I think it will? The skirt is nearly finished...yes, you read right...not finished, only nearly finished. The good thing is that it's all pressing and hand work left to do, so that can always be done on the way or once I get to Costume College. So, the first thing on the menu tomorrow is to get a mock up done of the bodice. I've made this one before, but my size has changed so much that it's like making an entirely new bodice, so I definitely need to take the mock up stage seriously. Unfortunately, this only leaves me Thursday to actually get most of the bodice done on top of studying for my midterm. Maybe if I just keep telling myself "I can do it" then I'll actually make it.

Hee hee.

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 06:14:55 GMT

My lightsaber finally arrived! It took so much longer than I thought it would, and I'd kind of lost all the initial excitement I felt about it...then it actually got here. Now I'm all jazzed again. It looks and feels great. I wasn't going to bring my jedi costume to Costume College, but now I just have to; must show off the complete ensemble.

So, I've actually got three costumes planned now. Still not sure when I'm actually going to wear them. The 1890s gown I'm working on right now will definitely be worn to the gala, but I don't know when I'll wear my jedi costume or my regency. I wasn't planning on wearing a costume on Sunday, since we will probably be leaving early, which leaves just Friday and Saturday. Anyway, there's plenty of time to decide that stuff.

In the meantime, I need to finish the 1890s dress, work on my thesis and study for a midterm. (My midterm, BTW, is on Thursday night. Yes, that's right. I'm taking an essay exam at 6:30 pm and then driving the six hours to Van Nuys. Talk about bad timing!) Hopefully the weekend will actually feel like a vacation after such a hectic week.

Back to normal.

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 08:05:06 GMT

Didn't accomplish as much as I'd planned, but I'm still at the point where any progress is a reason to celebrate. The petticoat is about two-thirds done. I shouldn't have any problem finishing that up tomorrow and starting the skirt...maybe even finishing the skirt depending on how dedicated I am.

Corset is done.

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 07:47:54 GMT

Yep. That's all I've accomplished today, but at least I got that done. (High stress and emotion levels lately have seriously slowed me down. I'll try to do better the next few days though; I've got a LOT to get done.)

In other news, I'm changing my plans a bit in the hope that I'll actually get something finsihed before we have to leave for Costume College. I'm thinking that I won't really have time to get all the various pieces of the bustle dress done (especially since I was planning on working from a pattern that needs to be enlarged and I don't currently have access to an overhead projector. So, the new plan is an 1890's gown for the gala, and then I'll start on a naturalform outfit that may or may not get finished but will at least be started for the Peacock Tails event. (I figure with time being so tight, I should go with what I know, so no outfits that require entirely new under structures and no patterns that will need major tweeking.)

So, tonight I'll throw my fabric into the wash and tomorrow I'll start with a petticoat and then move on to the 1890's skirt. Friday, I should be able to wrap up the skirt and get a start on the bodice, which can then be finished over the weekend. Of course, somewhere in here I need to sqeeze in some work on my thesis and some time with my bf. At any rate, that will leave the early part of next week to study for a midterm and begin the naturalform outfit...hmm...I guess we'll see about that one.

Hiccup.

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 08:48:08 GMT

Okay, the corset is mostly finished. I got all the boning channels sewn, placed the eyelets, cut and tipped the boning, inserted it all, and then did a fitting. While the corset fits wonderfully, I am so incredibly frustrated with this boning I have. I thought it would be great for corsets, but it just isn't flexible enough and ends up addiing more bulk than the added support is worth. So, unfortunately, it looks like I will need to take a trip to Lacis before finishing this up. Until then, I think I'll start on the bustle. (Maybe I should start a poll...or a pool...to see who thinks I'll actually get this dress done in time for Costume College.)

Movin' along.

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 18:10:28 GMT

The corset layers are all assembled. Now I just need to cannibalize the old corset for the busk and boning. There are so many things I'm doing differently this time that I really should be documenting, but I just don't have the time. Maybe while I'm on vacation this week I can start a webpage...we'll see since I should also really be working on my thesis as well. How do I let myself get so behind on this stuff?

Snail's pace...but at least there's progress.

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 23:49:01 GMT

I finally dug out my Laughing Moon corset pattern and traced out my new size. Of course, I thought I'd get a lot further than that...like actually cut something out...but, hey, at least I've made some progress. Plus, there are still a few hours left in the day, so who knows what else I'll get done.

Slacker

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 00:43:55 GMT

I've been such a slacker lately. Actually, let me qualify that. I've spent most of my time lately doing things for work and school; what free time I've had has been given over entirely to my bf. Only problem with this is that Costume College is coming up in just over a month, and I have nothing to wear, literally! I've lost about twenty pounds since the last time I put any of my costumes on. I desperately need at least two great new outfits to wear this year, but it will probably mean starting from scratch. I have no idea when I'll get this done, but hopefully I'll manage to get started sometime in the near future. :)

The first task will be to make the early bustle dress, especially since I'll be able to wear it again later for the event later in August. I haven't decided on a second outfit, but it will need to be something relatively simple, since the bustle dress will be a lot of work. If I really do run out of time, I may still fit into my regency dress, which used to be a bit on the small side, induding the corset, so may still fit me.

Starting small...literally.

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:51:31 GMT

Okay, I've decided to get back to the basics and start sewing again with a few easy period underwear projects, for a couple different reasons.

1. I think my attention span right now will only handle short, easy projects, but I still need something to keep my mind and hands busy.

2. This is something that I currently have fabric for, so no need to spend any money.

3. I don't want to start working on something fitted that won't fit by the time I finish the project! There is nothing in the world so frustrating as finishing a project only to discover that it doesn't fit, and that is pretty much guaranteed at this point. I'm dropping weight rather quickly, but I still won't reach my target weight until the end of the year, so I'm not entirely sure that I want to do a whole lot of major projects in the meantime. I'll do a few, but only those that are abosolutely necessary (like Peacock tails and Dickens).

It's actually a little frustrating. I've spent the last several years trying to build up my wardrobe only to now discover that nothing fits anymore. While I really do enjoy this hobby, the idea of starting from scratch again is a little daunting. Maybe I should look at it as an opportunity to correct past mistakes, or something like that.

In other news, I think I conned my bf into agreeing to attend costume events with me; either that or he conned me into showing a little more than just a passing interest in politics. I agreed to start paying attention to political issues if he would go to events with me. Now that I think about it, he really did get the better end of the deal; he expends no extra effort, while my work more than doubles. Hmmmm. Lesson learned: Don't make deals with lawyers, even if they love you.

Back to planning.

Fri, 20 May 2005 17:31:07 GMT

Okay, I've decided that I really need to start working on another project. Things have been held up with my thesis again, and this whole degree is looking further and further away. Plus, I really need something to focus my spare time on now so that I'm not obsessing about something else...so, it's time to start planning.

I've decided to hold off on the spencer. It's really looking like I won't make it to the Regency event next month, so there is no point is trying to get something finished that soon. I'd rather start focusing on something that is a little further out and may take more time than I allot for it. So, that gives me either the very froofy Edwardian gown that I want to make for Costume College, my 1660's gown that got put on hold a while back, or the early bustle dress I'm planning for Peacock Tails event in August. I'm really excited about all of them, and partial to none, so I'm going to go ahead and open up a poll and y'all can tell me which you'd like to see actually get finished. :)

EP 3

Wed, 18 May 2005 16:16:22 GMT

Tonight's the big night. A little anticlimactic on the costuming side, since I've already worn this one at CC23. Then, on top of that, the weather doesn't look like it's going to give us a break at all. So, my brothers and I may be cold, wet jedi tonight.

Disappearing again.

Mon, 09 May 2005 17:46:26 GMT

I just have too much going on right now, so I'm probably going to disappear for a little while again...at least until the end of the month or so. While there are a lot of little things going on, my main concern is for my thesis. Unfortunately, progress on that has pretty much reached a standstill and I need to get going on it again. My goal is to have it pretty much wrapped up the first week of my summer vacation. In order to reach that goal, I really need to discipline myself to write a little bit every day. So, that means pretty much no sewing for a while, and not much blogging.

Wish me luck!

CC23 Report

Wed, 04 May 2005 22:36:49 GMT

Okay, I was going to write out this really detailed report and everything, and even got started on it but quickly ran out of steam. There is just too much going on right now to write something so detailed. So, all you get is this:

It was fun. The sci.fi masquerade was intimidating but the historical masquerade was very inspiring--got lots of cool ideas, half of which have already fled out of my little noggin. (That teaches me! Next time I'll have a journal with me for notes.) The workshops/panels...mmmm, definitely not the reason to go to con; while they were interesting, I didn't really learn anything new or significantly useful. Thus resulting in the major problem I have with costume con: I simply cannot justify taking two and a half days off of work to go to an event that is primarily social. If I decide to go to another con, I'll have to plan on going Friday after work and only taking Monday off for travelling home.

Okay, that's it. I know. Disappointing, isn't it? But I'm really very exhausted and have an early flight tomorrow for my friend's wedding. (For those of you keeping track, yes, this is the third weekend in a row I'll be out of town.)

The only sewing I currently have planned for this week at all is to alter my bridesmaid's dress and embroider some cotton handkerchiefs for the bride, and all of that needs to be done before I go into the city tonight!

More CC23 pictures.

Tue, 03 May 2005 16:34:24 GMT

Alrighty. Got the rest of the pictures put up this morning. Enjoy.

CC23 pictures.

Tue, 03 May 2005 06:45:40 GMT

I've only gotten about half of them up, but you can see my Friday and Saturday pictures in the gallery. A full report will need to wait until tomorrow.