The first thing that comes to mind right now is that I want to yell about the stupid parts of the first night of the new semester...however, it's just not worth it! So let's look at the good side instead...oops...is having a stack of work to grade after the very first meeting considered a good thing? hehehe Well, I did it to myself, but on the other hand, they actually accomplished something big on their very first night! So I guess that's a good thing. So many classes, the first meeting is at least partly a waste - hours are scheduled but students can't do anything the first meeting except get their syllabus and instructions on how to be ready for the second meeting, and go home early. I don't like wasting that first meeting, so I had everything that we needed for them to work on samples and stay for the entire class time, and they did! So that's a YEAH!
I've got an awful lot to do before that second meeting, to be properly ready for it, but I'll manage. It's actually feeling kind of fun.
The whole semester-class-teaching thing timed itself rather badly though...I'm right in the middle of getting ready for Estrella War. How can I take time for teaching? lol...oh, yeah - the pay check, which helps make Estrella War possible for me...shucks.
But my preparations are progressing. I have my first "Dame Angele's Very Warm Coat" mostly done - built anyway - embellishment will happen down the road a ways. I have a second coat - a light-weight, Viking caftan inspired coat - in the works too. Have cut 2 shirts for Chris, one 12th C. gown for me, and have made the first of 2 or 3 hats. Also have one chemise, 2 or 3 veils, and one half-circle cloak in the works.
Fabrics are on the cutting table for 2 more shirts for Chris, several assorted gowns and sideless gowns for me, Chris' warm coat, and a few other pieces. And yes, somehow I'm going to build garb and teach classes, all between now and Estrella....and build my tent.
Pictures soon, I promise!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Aarrrrrghhhhh...
I've got pictures of the new hat in the camera, but I can't get them out. The cable has disappeared! Figures.
Spent yesterday with Dame Angele and friends, making our new Really Warm Coats for Estrella. Mine is together except for the hem. Of course, embellishment is another story and will take some time. I'll cut Chris' this week and should be able to have them both done in plenty of time for war. Embroidery will happen when it happens.
I've got two shirts cut for Chris and ready to sew up. Will try to get one more shirt and a couple of gowns cut this evening. I have far too much fabric pulled and matched to patterns, all for garb for war - way more than I can hope to get done between now and then, but it is fun to actually be excited about sewing again. It's been a while.
I'm thinking about crop-circle-inspired motifs to embellish my coat. Many of the crop circle designs were probably inspired by much older, even ancient designs, and so could be quite appropriate! I'm thinking of designs with lots of circles, and wool circles like they're using for the penny rugs that are 'back in' in the crafting & sewing world. The circles are available die-cut from a variety of on-line sources...and some are pretty reasonable. I can't imaging cutting very many circles by hand, but die-cut might make this project happen.
I bought a gorgeous piece of home dec fabric for a Persian-type coat, but after this weekend's coat class, I'm going to make it the same as the other new coat, so it will happen a lot sooner.
Sheesh, I need to take a lot of pictures.
Ok, back to work!
Spent yesterday with Dame Angele and friends, making our new Really Warm Coats for Estrella. Mine is together except for the hem. Of course, embellishment is another story and will take some time. I'll cut Chris' this week and should be able to have them both done in plenty of time for war. Embroidery will happen when it happens.
I've got two shirts cut for Chris and ready to sew up. Will try to get one more shirt and a couple of gowns cut this evening. I have far too much fabric pulled and matched to patterns, all for garb for war - way more than I can hope to get done between now and then, but it is fun to actually be excited about sewing again. It's been a while.
I'm thinking about crop-circle-inspired motifs to embellish my coat. Many of the crop circle designs were probably inspired by much older, even ancient designs, and so could be quite appropriate! I'm thinking of designs with lots of circles, and wool circles like they're using for the penny rugs that are 'back in' in the crafting & sewing world. The circles are available die-cut from a variety of on-line sources...and some are pretty reasonable. I can't imaging cutting very many circles by hand, but die-cut might make this project happen.
I bought a gorgeous piece of home dec fabric for a Persian-type coat, but after this weekend's coat class, I'm going to make it the same as the other new coat, so it will happen a lot sooner.
Sheesh, I need to take a lot of pictures.
Ok, back to work!
Friday, January 14, 2011
I'm making a tent....and my life keeps getting stranger....
Well, first things first in the land of strangeness...I have a licensed teenager living under my roof. What on earth happened to the tiny baby that we brought home such a short time ago? Whoa....where did the years go? Well, clear the sidewalks people - he's driving!
Back to the tent thing. Yup. I'm building the cover for an old carport frame, canvas, waterproofing, the whole darned process. I got the fabric cut today. Guess what. Forty yards of fabric weighs just as much in a pile of folded pieces as it did as one piece on a roll...darn it. This thing is going to be heavy! Fortunately, the finished cover will be in 3 pieces, so hopefully not too heavy for me to manage on my own.
With the tent cut, and waiting for thread to arrive, I'm moving on to cutting garb. I should have been doing this back in November, but that's water under the bridge...or some other such cliche. Anyway, regardless of how short time has gotten until Estrella begins, I WILL have enough garb to get through the week - somehow!
I'm ready to cut 3 or 4 shirts for Chris, 2 very warm coats (at a workshop on Sunday), some gowns, sideless gowns, a couple of chemises, the lining for the viking coat that is waiting, and whatever else I can squeeze in. Oh, yeah, at least one more hat - with a big, fluffy fur band. I'll try to get a pic up of the hat pattern test run...more on that story in another post...it's cool.
So, back to the cutting table.
Back to the tent thing. Yup. I'm building the cover for an old carport frame, canvas, waterproofing, the whole darned process. I got the fabric cut today. Guess what. Forty yards of fabric weighs just as much in a pile of folded pieces as it did as one piece on a roll...darn it. This thing is going to be heavy! Fortunately, the finished cover will be in 3 pieces, so hopefully not too heavy for me to manage on my own.
With the tent cut, and waiting for thread to arrive, I'm moving on to cutting garb. I should have been doing this back in November, but that's water under the bridge...or some other such cliche. Anyway, regardless of how short time has gotten until Estrella begins, I WILL have enough garb to get through the week - somehow!
I'm ready to cut 3 or 4 shirts for Chris, 2 very warm coats (at a workshop on Sunday), some gowns, sideless gowns, a couple of chemises, the lining for the viking coat that is waiting, and whatever else I can squeeze in. Oh, yeah, at least one more hat - with a big, fluffy fur band. I'll try to get a pic up of the hat pattern test run...more on that story in another post...it's cool.
So, back to the cutting table.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Back in the groove...or...the same old rut? hehehe...what's the difference?
I don't know. Some days it does seem like I'm stuck in a very unproductive rut, but maybe not.
I'm cutting the canvas to build my 'tent', a cover for a carport pole set to be used for SCA camping events. I really hate sewing large objects. That's why I passed on starting a slipcover business many years ago, and why I don't do wedding gowns, well, that and the fact that wedding gowns are usually accompanied by brides' mothers.
I'm also plodding along with the cutting and building of enough garb to get through a full-week-long event - Estrella War - it's getting here too fast! I'll have garb, just not sure how much.
I had decided, after Southern Crusades, that I would definitely have a good hat for Estrella, something with a gorgeous band of thick, plush fur, faux fur of course. I started looking for faux fur options...wow. FAKE fur is expensive! However, I did find a reasonably priced coat on e-bay, some interesting fur trim from the fabric store, and a couple of other fur pieces. That just left me with the pattern...sheesh...how can something so simple be so difficult. None of the big 4 have a hat pattern that is right for this. I did find one on-line, and have been experimenting with it, with 3 different versions partially assembled.
But then the newest issue of Threads arrived and they have a new column in which they pick an old article and do a review of it in a condensed version. Back in Issue #56, Dec/Jan, 1994/95, they had an article on EXACTLY the hat that I'm trying to make! YEE-HAW! The review version of the article is NOT TO SCALE! It's been reduced down considerably, which I figured out because the hat pattern pieces just looked so wrong. I pulled my copy of #56 and took a look at the original version of the article, over more pages and with the pattern at 100%. Yay! It works! Test run in some fake sherpa from JoAnn's - a short, slightly sparse sherpa on one side, brown faux suede on the other. Not quite finished, but it looks pretty good! Maybe one more test version before I go ahead and start cutting up the coat.
Cloak class on Saturday. Yes, I know how to make a cloak, but I'm curious as to what the class cloak will be like and will enjoy time with others with this same costuming interest. Then on Sunday, the Warm Coat Class - a tunic-like coat suitable for medieval and for the COOOLLLLLLDDDD weather at Estrella. Yes, I could probably manage it on my own too, but I'm going at least partly for the fun!
As I'm cutting surcoats and gowns and such, I'm eyeballing my fabric stash with a slightly different thought process. I guess I've seen enough interesting garb at events to be able to see my fabric differently. Maybe some of my pieces won't be exactly period correct, but they'll look good and be fun to wear, not to mention that my stash will shrink a tiny bit - always a good thing.
So, I guess I should get off of here and get back to my scissors.
I'm cutting the canvas to build my 'tent', a cover for a carport pole set to be used for SCA camping events. I really hate sewing large objects. That's why I passed on starting a slipcover business many years ago, and why I don't do wedding gowns, well, that and the fact that wedding gowns are usually accompanied by brides' mothers.
I'm also plodding along with the cutting and building of enough garb to get through a full-week-long event - Estrella War - it's getting here too fast! I'll have garb, just not sure how much.
I had decided, after Southern Crusades, that I would definitely have a good hat for Estrella, something with a gorgeous band of thick, plush fur, faux fur of course. I started looking for faux fur options...wow. FAKE fur is expensive! However, I did find a reasonably priced coat on e-bay, some interesting fur trim from the fabric store, and a couple of other fur pieces. That just left me with the pattern...sheesh...how can something so simple be so difficult. None of the big 4 have a hat pattern that is right for this. I did find one on-line, and have been experimenting with it, with 3 different versions partially assembled.
But then the newest issue of Threads arrived and they have a new column in which they pick an old article and do a review of it in a condensed version. Back in Issue #56, Dec/Jan, 1994/95, they had an article on EXACTLY the hat that I'm trying to make! YEE-HAW! The review version of the article is NOT TO SCALE! It's been reduced down considerably, which I figured out because the hat pattern pieces just looked so wrong. I pulled my copy of #56 and took a look at the original version of the article, over more pages and with the pattern at 100%. Yay! It works! Test run in some fake sherpa from JoAnn's - a short, slightly sparse sherpa on one side, brown faux suede on the other. Not quite finished, but it looks pretty good! Maybe one more test version before I go ahead and start cutting up the coat.
Cloak class on Saturday. Yes, I know how to make a cloak, but I'm curious as to what the class cloak will be like and will enjoy time with others with this same costuming interest. Then on Sunday, the Warm Coat Class - a tunic-like coat suitable for medieval and for the COOOLLLLLLDDDD weather at Estrella. Yes, I could probably manage it on my own too, but I'm going at least partly for the fun!
As I'm cutting surcoats and gowns and such, I'm eyeballing my fabric stash with a slightly different thought process. I guess I've seen enough interesting garb at events to be able to see my fabric differently. Maybe some of my pieces won't be exactly period correct, but they'll look good and be fun to wear, not to mention that my stash will shrink a tiny bit - always a good thing.
So, I guess I should get off of here and get back to my scissors.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Almost there...
The semester is almost done. I am so very ready.
I've pretty much put all costume construction on hold as the mood just hadn't been there. I've got some linen and wool orders ready to place, for garb to build for Estrella War. Also sent my bowed psaltery for repairs so I can play it around a camp fire during Estrella.
Costume-wise, once I get the fabrics ordered, I've got tons to build. First up are some sideless gowns and the undergowns to go with them. I've got wool gabardine - not period but gorgeous shade of red, a more period woolen, cotton velveteen. Most are red, though I'll probably do an undergown in dark brown. Those are for me, naturally.
For Chris (14), I'm going to build 3-5 shirts - more fantasy pirate than period, but they are what he likes. I'm ordering linen in dark green and in natural. He really needs more than one shirt to get through an event and he does not seem to like the tunics.
We'll also both be getting some very warm, fairly period coats - wool lined in polar fleece because sometimes warmth is more important than total period accuracy! I'm also going to be building the canvas cover for my new, not-very-period yet not-mundane camping structure. It certainly won't be a pavilion, but it won't be a Coleman dome tent either. I'm using the old pipes and connectors from some of the carport shade structures that we've had in the past. Making do with what's available, which is a very period concept!
Lots to do in the next 8 weeks and I don't know if I can get it all done. I do love to over-load my to-do list! But it's always worth trying for it.
I've pretty much put all costume construction on hold as the mood just hadn't been there. I've got some linen and wool orders ready to place, for garb to build for Estrella War. Also sent my bowed psaltery for repairs so I can play it around a camp fire during Estrella.
Costume-wise, once I get the fabrics ordered, I've got tons to build. First up are some sideless gowns and the undergowns to go with them. I've got wool gabardine - not period but gorgeous shade of red, a more period woolen, cotton velveteen. Most are red, though I'll probably do an undergown in dark brown. Those are for me, naturally.
For Chris (14), I'm going to build 3-5 shirts - more fantasy pirate than period, but they are what he likes. I'm ordering linen in dark green and in natural. He really needs more than one shirt to get through an event and he does not seem to like the tunics.
We'll also both be getting some very warm, fairly period coats - wool lined in polar fleece because sometimes warmth is more important than total period accuracy! I'm also going to be building the canvas cover for my new, not-very-period yet not-mundane camping structure. It certainly won't be a pavilion, but it won't be a Coleman dome tent either. I'm using the old pipes and connectors from some of the carport shade structures that we've had in the past. Making do with what's available, which is a very period concept!
Lots to do in the next 8 weeks and I don't know if I can get it all done. I do love to over-load my to-do list! But it's always worth trying for it.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Oh, the agony, the agony....
Forced myself to go through my closet - ouch. At the moment I do pretty much have 2 complete wardrobes - wearable and too-small. I will not give up on myself, so I'm not willing to get rid of the too-small collection. It is motivation of a sort.
I did go through both sets of clothing, looking for anything that has not held up well through a few wearings and washings, anything that did not thrill me when looking at it. I asked myself, regardless of size, if I could wear it right this moment, would I want to? There were 3 kitchen garbage bags of things for which I could not answer yes. A few were things that I just did not enjoy wearing, even though I could right now. I probably could have removed another bag-full, but that was enough for one difficult day.
On a side note, how many skirts constitute too many? Mine are on those 4-5 skirt hangers, and I have at least a dozen of those hangers! Why do I love skirts so much? They really are my favorite type of garment!
So, a little space cleared. The walk-in closet back to being the main storage for all hanging, mundane clothes, wearable or not. The additional jury-rigged hanging space in the dressing area now usable for garb and the ugly, cheap garment rack returned to storage for use at camping events or (reluctantly) a garage sale. The garb had been in the sewing area, but that was getting unmanageable, and besides, I like finished work to get OUT of there!
Tomorrow's goal - yup, a goal for Thanksgiving day, since 1/2 the household went camping this afternoon...mine my way back into the studio - seriously. The entry is blocked! Once in, restore the mess I made before the last camping event and the last mad garb scramble, as well as the prep for the hat class last weekend. Once I can work again - back to building garb, and working on the new camping structure. Have poles - need cover. Lots of sewing and for the first time in a long, long time, I'm feeling motivated and excited about getting some things done. Yeah!
I did go through both sets of clothing, looking for anything that has not held up well through a few wearings and washings, anything that did not thrill me when looking at it. I asked myself, regardless of size, if I could wear it right this moment, would I want to? There were 3 kitchen garbage bags of things for which I could not answer yes. A few were things that I just did not enjoy wearing, even though I could right now. I probably could have removed another bag-full, but that was enough for one difficult day.
On a side note, how many skirts constitute too many? Mine are on those 4-5 skirt hangers, and I have at least a dozen of those hangers! Why do I love skirts so much? They really are my favorite type of garment!
So, a little space cleared. The walk-in closet back to being the main storage for all hanging, mundane clothes, wearable or not. The additional jury-rigged hanging space in the dressing area now usable for garb and the ugly, cheap garment rack returned to storage for use at camping events or (reluctantly) a garage sale. The garb had been in the sewing area, but that was getting unmanageable, and besides, I like finished work to get OUT of there!
Tomorrow's goal - yup, a goal for Thanksgiving day, since 1/2 the household went camping this afternoon...mine my way back into the studio - seriously. The entry is blocked! Once in, restore the mess I made before the last camping event and the last mad garb scramble, as well as the prep for the hat class last weekend. Once I can work again - back to building garb, and working on the new camping structure. Have poles - need cover. Lots of sewing and for the first time in a long, long time, I'm feeling motivated and excited about getting some things done. Yeah!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Back from Southern Crusades
And boy were the nights cold! Of course we knew to expect that going in, but still...I'm a wimpy city girl and it was cold! So today I'm coping with stuffy nose and ears, grungy throat and general sense of needing to have a quiet day, in my pj's with my coffee and some time to contemplate things that I saw at Southern and things that I want to get busy on, once I'm feeling better.
For Chris, 3-4 shirts just like the one that we bought back at Highlands War. He loves it so why not? Also a doublet or two in fabric, maybe one in leather. He needs boots, but I'm looking on line for those. Also a pouch to go on his belt, along side his arsenal! hehe
A pouch for me, as well as a hat or two. Saw a real beauty at one of the merchant's shops, but over $150 is way, way over my budget. And besides, supposedly, I know how to do this stuff...get busy me!
All of the things that I wanted to finish BEFORE Southern . . . the Viking caftan, the gray cloak, the reds and browns in the gowns and sideless surcoats.
Today I can just contemplate all of it from the cozy warmth of a blanket on a sofa.
For Chris, 3-4 shirts just like the one that we bought back at Highlands War. He loves it so why not? Also a doublet or two in fabric, maybe one in leather. He needs boots, but I'm looking on line for those. Also a pouch to go on his belt, along side his arsenal! hehe
A pouch for me, as well as a hat or two. Saw a real beauty at one of the merchant's shops, but over $150 is way, way over my budget. And besides, supposedly, I know how to do this stuff...get busy me!
All of the things that I wanted to finish BEFORE Southern . . . the Viking caftan, the gray cloak, the reds and browns in the gowns and sideless surcoats.
Today I can just contemplate all of it from the cozy warmth of a blanket on a sofa.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
In the Home Dec department....
Following up on the post about Vogue 2908, the bedroom decor pattern, here's my bedspread - almost finished and already in use!
I didn't want to get much of the room in the picture as it is a bit of a mess at the moment - and nothing unusual there. I can't wait until the rest of the new fabrics are sewn up and in place, with the walls painted Vanilla Delight. The room is going to be so fresh and opulent at the same time.
There will be lots of decorative pillows, miles of fringes - some beaded, some tasseled. Maybe I can have it done by Christmas and say Merry Christmas to me!
I didn't want to get much of the room in the picture as it is a bit of a mess at the moment - and nothing unusual there. I can't wait until the rest of the new fabrics are sewn up and in place, with the walls painted Vanilla Delight. The room is going to be so fresh and opulent at the same time.
There will be lots of decorative pillows, miles of fringes - some beaded, some tasseled. Maybe I can have it done by Christmas and say Merry Christmas to me!
PICTURES!
Well, not here...they're on a blog page all their own. Look to the right of the screen for Projects and Camping My Way. I will take time to move them to appropriate posts later, but for now this was fast and easy! Explanations are included with the pictures.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
WHERE ARE THE PICTURES???
Well, some are in the camera and some are waiting to get in....hehehe...
I will do pictures soon! Meanwhile though, I'm in garb and encampment land - and scrambling like crazy. With Southern Crusades coming up in just a couple more days, I'm trying to get a bit more versatility into my garb wardrobe. Estrella War is coming up in less than 3 months and these shorter events have been my motivation to get enough garb going to be able to do the whole week of Estrella...or so I hope.
Today though, was encampment improvement day, or so it seems. I made a maroon canvas/duck cover for the banquet table, and a brown canvas/duck cover for one of the very modern camping chairs. Those chairs are hard to get out of, so I made a matching cushion to give myself a little boost. I wanted to get something made to cover the First Up canopy, but need more time on that. Also used a coarse, uncomfortable, cheap cotton sheet to re-upholster an old but still solid Coleman sleeping bag. The inside flannel and batting were good, but the cover was shot. It looked like a heavy cotton voile - way too thin and light, and tore like crazy. The uncomfortable sheet is perfect on the outside and the bag has a new lease on life. Yes, it was a lot of work, but I think it was worth it. The bag was far too good to throw away. Mostly, I use it as a mattress topper, on top of my 5" thick, high density foam. Yup, I camp in comfort!
I'm seriously considering taking a real bed on this trip. It's very old, having been my grandmothers; she was born in 1894. It's a 3/4 bed, so no mattresses or sheets available except by custom-order. I used it as a guest bed for a couple years, but it's been in storage for many years. Now I'm thinking that, even though it's not in any way period, it is easy to break down and would get me up off of the ground. There'd be storage space underneath. If it doesn't work out for camping, then I need to look at having a carpenter take the pieces and make a bench or hall bench out of it...something that would keep the basic look of it, but perhaps with storage under a hinged lid. Really can't keep storing it any more.
So...I'll take lots of pictures in my encampment, as well as of everything else that I've mentioned in the last few posts...and get them up here SOON!
I will do pictures soon! Meanwhile though, I'm in garb and encampment land - and scrambling like crazy. With Southern Crusades coming up in just a couple more days, I'm trying to get a bit more versatility into my garb wardrobe. Estrella War is coming up in less than 3 months and these shorter events have been my motivation to get enough garb going to be able to do the whole week of Estrella...or so I hope.
Today though, was encampment improvement day, or so it seems. I made a maroon canvas/duck cover for the banquet table, and a brown canvas/duck cover for one of the very modern camping chairs. Those chairs are hard to get out of, so I made a matching cushion to give myself a little boost. I wanted to get something made to cover the First Up canopy, but need more time on that. Also used a coarse, uncomfortable, cheap cotton sheet to re-upholster an old but still solid Coleman sleeping bag. The inside flannel and batting were good, but the cover was shot. It looked like a heavy cotton voile - way too thin and light, and tore like crazy. The uncomfortable sheet is perfect on the outside and the bag has a new lease on life. Yes, it was a lot of work, but I think it was worth it. The bag was far too good to throw away. Mostly, I use it as a mattress topper, on top of my 5" thick, high density foam. Yup, I camp in comfort!
I'm seriously considering taking a real bed on this trip. It's very old, having been my grandmothers; she was born in 1894. It's a 3/4 bed, so no mattresses or sheets available except by custom-order. I used it as a guest bed for a couple years, but it's been in storage for many years. Now I'm thinking that, even though it's not in any way period, it is easy to break down and would get me up off of the ground. There'd be storage space underneath. If it doesn't work out for camping, then I need to look at having a carpenter take the pieces and make a bench or hall bench out of it...something that would keep the basic look of it, but perhaps with storage under a hinged lid. Really can't keep storing it any more.
So...I'll take lots of pictures in my encampment, as well as of everything else that I've mentioned in the last few posts...and get them up here SOON!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
On the costume-building front...
Snuck into JoAnn's today, wanting a piece from their very limited selection of 100% linens. Unfortunately, their selection of linens has shrunk drastically from where it was back in June. No luck there. Headed over to the suitings. What a mess. I wish that they would separate the 100% wools from all the rest. Almost missed some 100% wool gabardines - not perfect for costume purposes, but on sale for even more than the 40% off of the rest of the suitings - $10.00 per yard. A rich red and a soft brown should be useful for something, as should the red wool - non-gabardine and feels like a regular wool.
Still wish I could have gotten some linen though. My linen stash is so limited. Will have to shop online.
Still wish I could have gotten some linen though. My linen stash is so limited. Will have to shop online.
UFO Alert! They're in my sewing room!
If there is such a thing as anyone of you out there having a UFO-free sewing space, I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT!
UFOs abound in my studio and I suspect that they always will. However, motivated by the coming of cooler weather and the desire to sleep under a bed cover that actually fits the bed, I pulled a UFO out this weekend and blasted through as much as I could, given the fact that weekends mean family at home! And of course there was the whole "let's see how late we can do costumes this year" thing.
Anyway, probably around 5 years ago, give-or-take, I found a pattern that gave me a really big AH-HAH moment. Vogue had developed a pattern, indeed an entire decorating scheme just for our master bedroom. It was 2908, and was already discontinued when I found it, but they had some in their discontinued stock and I got one of the last. The pattern contains everything a room could need in the way of textile decor. Several trips to SAS (local fabric store - manufacturer's overstocks, etc.) and I was able to come up with fabrics to fill in for every fabric in the picture on the pattern cover, which is here:
This picture isn't very good, but I'll replace it when I get a chance. Still, I think you can see the details well enough.
I have the floral for the spread, or something amazingly similar, a nice plaid - pink and tan on cream - for the bedskirt and tablecloth, a jacquard weave for the 26" french square pillows, and several other pieces for all of the other pillows and such. I have all the trims too, miles of fancy fringes, chunky pipings and more. And it's all been sitting in the studio, waiting quietly, waiting forever.
I had started the bedspread, to the point of having the top layer pieced. Of course, it took two attempts as the first time I cut too small for the kind of covering that I wanted. I was able to salvage that as the backing layer for the top layer. I also added a layer of polar fleece, pieced to the spread size, just to complicate things...I mean...to make it more quilt-like and warmer for our frigid AZ winters...yeah - right. It will be plenty warm anyway. It will also be large enough, the first time I've had a large enough cover for this bed since we got rid of the waterbed several years ago.
I was really so inspired by this pattern. Back when I first found it, I found a headboard at a local thrift store, awful pink and white thing, but several cans of spray paint turned it to a wonderful piece in dark, dark green. It doesn't have the scrollwork like the one in the picture, but it turned out pretty cool.
I'm still looking for tables like the small one in the corner next to the bed (nightstand position). They're not visible in this picture, but there is a slightly different view on the actual envelope. The tables are tall enough for the mattress, round with a lovely edge detail. Someday....
I wanted the crown mouldings and the crown moulding shelf, but for now the budget is saying no. I will have the creamy white walls, Vanilla Delight from Home Depot. In lieu of the crown molding shelf, I've just lucked onto 3 5'-long shelves, similar to the long crown molding shelf, but very light weight, probably a molded product, brand-new, in their wrappers, at the thrift store. They won't be quite the same as the elegant shelf in the picture, but I think they'll do just fine.
So eventually I'll have my version of the room in the picture - and a lot of left-over fabrics too! I'm thinking that there is enough of the floral for either pinch-pleated draperies in the place of the white sheers, or a summer-weight bedspread with a fringe finish. I already have the fringe...urgh.
The window toppers are cut as are the French square pillow pieces. If I can get the spread done this week, maybe the rest will follow.
P.S. Here's the back view of the pattern, in case anyone is curious.
UFOs abound in my studio and I suspect that they always will. However, motivated by the coming of cooler weather and the desire to sleep under a bed cover that actually fits the bed, I pulled a UFO out this weekend and blasted through as much as I could, given the fact that weekends mean family at home! And of course there was the whole "let's see how late we can do costumes this year" thing.
Anyway, probably around 5 years ago, give-or-take, I found a pattern that gave me a really big AH-HAH moment. Vogue had developed a pattern, indeed an entire decorating scheme just for our master bedroom. It was 2908, and was already discontinued when I found it, but they had some in their discontinued stock and I got one of the last. The pattern contains everything a room could need in the way of textile decor. Several trips to SAS (local fabric store - manufacturer's overstocks, etc.) and I was able to come up with fabrics to fill in for every fabric in the picture on the pattern cover, which is here:
This picture isn't very good, but I'll replace it when I get a chance. Still, I think you can see the details well enough.
I have the floral for the spread, or something amazingly similar, a nice plaid - pink and tan on cream - for the bedskirt and tablecloth, a jacquard weave for the 26" french square pillows, and several other pieces for all of the other pillows and such. I have all the trims too, miles of fancy fringes, chunky pipings and more. And it's all been sitting in the studio, waiting quietly, waiting forever.
I had started the bedspread, to the point of having the top layer pieced. Of course, it took two attempts as the first time I cut too small for the kind of covering that I wanted. I was able to salvage that as the backing layer for the top layer. I also added a layer of polar fleece, pieced to the spread size, just to complicate things...I mean...to make it more quilt-like and warmer for our frigid AZ winters...yeah - right. It will be plenty warm anyway. It will also be large enough, the first time I've had a large enough cover for this bed since we got rid of the waterbed several years ago.
I was really so inspired by this pattern. Back when I first found it, I found a headboard at a local thrift store, awful pink and white thing, but several cans of spray paint turned it to a wonderful piece in dark, dark green. It doesn't have the scrollwork like the one in the picture, but it turned out pretty cool.
I'm still looking for tables like the small one in the corner next to the bed (nightstand position). They're not visible in this picture, but there is a slightly different view on the actual envelope. The tables are tall enough for the mattress, round with a lovely edge detail. Someday....
I wanted the crown mouldings and the crown moulding shelf, but for now the budget is saying no. I will have the creamy white walls, Vanilla Delight from Home Depot. In lieu of the crown molding shelf, I've just lucked onto 3 5'-long shelves, similar to the long crown molding shelf, but very light weight, probably a molded product, brand-new, in their wrappers, at the thrift store. They won't be quite the same as the elegant shelf in the picture, but I think they'll do just fine.
So eventually I'll have my version of the room in the picture - and a lot of left-over fabrics too! I'm thinking that there is enough of the floral for either pinch-pleated draperies in the place of the white sheers, or a summer-weight bedspread with a fringe finish. I already have the fringe...urgh.
The window toppers are cut as are the French square pillow pieces. If I can get the spread done this week, maybe the rest will follow.
P.S. Here's the back view of the pattern, in case anyone is curious.
It helps to put the bobbin in the machine....
Or, why was I making Halloween costumes 2 hours before trick-or-treating, especially given that the wearers are 13 and 15 (for a few more days/weeks) and really don't do the trick-or-treat thing anymore?
And yes, I tried to sew without the bobbin in the machine - can't really recommend it as a sewing technique....lol.
The old Scream robe was too short everywhere and too tight, too. Luckily, the stash yielded some costume-type faux suede, similar to the robe's original fabric. Added a 6" wide strip in each side seam, from robe hem to sleeve hem - plenty big and then some. Lengthened the sleeves 6" and the robe 11". That was perfect, as long as I didn't want to sew any hems. Good since I was short on time anyway.
Of course, both guys had been planning on wearing the Scream robe...but had forgotten to tell each other or me. It was 90 minutes too late for an emergency run to the neighborhood costume shop, so one kid got the robe and the other said, "I'll just go hang out at the party - no costume needed", follow about 15 minutes later by, "Could you make me a red shirt that says 'Thing One'?" Duhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....
But I'm a sucker...so, whip out a chunk of red cotton knit, free-hand cut a t-shirt, front and back identical except for the necklines, and a couple of sleeves. Well, the sleeves were ok, but the armholes were rather tight, which I figured out after I'd altered the sleeves to fit the armholes. It worked ok though. Just had to scramble to get 'Thing One' painted on the front, graffiti-style, and dried in time to wear. It hasn't exactly been heat-set, but it got worn!
So Halloween came and went, with costumes salvaged and created at the last possible moment...not how I intended to end the weekend, but what the heck...
And yes, I tried to sew without the bobbin in the machine - can't really recommend it as a sewing technique....lol.
The old Scream robe was too short everywhere and too tight, too. Luckily, the stash yielded some costume-type faux suede, similar to the robe's original fabric. Added a 6" wide strip in each side seam, from robe hem to sleeve hem - plenty big and then some. Lengthened the sleeves 6" and the robe 11". That was perfect, as long as I didn't want to sew any hems. Good since I was short on time anyway.
Of course, both guys had been planning on wearing the Scream robe...but had forgotten to tell each other or me. It was 90 minutes too late for an emergency run to the neighborhood costume shop, so one kid got the robe and the other said, "I'll just go hang out at the party - no costume needed", follow about 15 minutes later by, "Could you make me a red shirt that says 'Thing One'?" Duhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....
But I'm a sucker...so, whip out a chunk of red cotton knit, free-hand cut a t-shirt, front and back identical except for the necklines, and a couple of sleeves. Well, the sleeves were ok, but the armholes were rather tight, which I figured out after I'd altered the sleeves to fit the armholes. It worked ok though. Just had to scramble to get 'Thing One' painted on the front, graffiti-style, and dried in time to wear. It hasn't exactly been heat-set, but it got worn!
So Halloween came and went, with costumes salvaged and created at the last possible moment...not how I intended to end the weekend, but what the heck...
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