Upcoming Additions to my Medieval Wardrobe!

It's been a while, I know. Most of my spare time is spent on furthering my art business, which does actually include sewing new garments for the faire at which I work in the late winter/early spring! Since last year, I have made quite a few new additions, mostly medieval in design. I should just photograph them and post, and not worry about grand photoshoots. Ah well.

My wonderful Grandmother has given me over 20 bolts of fabric in the last few months (after giving me a fantastic stock of trims/cords/tassels and FABULOUS LACE). She was cleaning out her house. She used to be an interior decorator and liturgical designer for the Catholic clergy, so her taste is impeccable! I have had some designs in mind for a year now, and her fabrics have come in handy in bringing me closer to completing those designs! I am eternally thankful for not having to shop and spend the money on the yardage I need :P

Today I have decided to begin on these three garments, all will be fairly quick to construct, except for the one which will require trim and a belt to be made. So far, none will be lined, though collars and edges will of course have a facing. I do not choose to line these because I live in Texas, and the weather is wishy-washy. I have things already that I can layer with these costumes if I need warmth.

This maroon gabardine will be used for this design, which I have seen featured in many renderings from medieval costuming books. Well, the skirt and bodice, at least. The dress I have seen similar to this usually has long, fitted sleeves, and not the flowy. The trims I purchased last fall at the International Quilt Show. The shop owners don't have a website, and got miffed when I inquired about a website or online shop. They only do shows, so you just have to happen up on them, and shop when you happen to find them. They also tried to overcharge me for the trim, so you need to be on top of them when making a purchase. The man that owned the business was a Grumperstiltskin.

This is a polyester shantung-look I had purchased a couple years back, because the price was so good. It looks like silk, is a little more substantial, has good texture, and was $2/yard. Don't judge me. I purchased it with the intent of making a sideless surcote to go with a white gown with gold trim I already have. Because I have a larger bust, it is very difficult for sideless surcote designs to sit well on the bust, in my opinion. I love them, but they make me self-conscious. A's would make medieval costuming so much easier. 

This design I saw Maid Marian wearing in the Robin Hood film with Patrick Bergin and Uma Thurman. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend! Great costuming! It came out at the same time as the Kevin Costner film, and was made in Europe I believe. Anyhow, the dress slid over Uma Thurman perfectly, and then tied, but because of her chest size that was easy. For myself, I will make the gown fitted to my bust and a few inches below the bust, and then have the diamond cut-outs tie at my waist to my hips in 3 sets. I'm long-waisted, so I expect this to work as it is drawn.

Now, the color in the image is not accurate to the real life color. For some reason, now that I look at the real fabric, it is more of a warm dark gold.... >.> Sneaky cameras on phones are sneaky.

I have a Mirkwood Elf costume in progress. In July, I finished sewing a sleeveless doublet that laces up the front, and has petal-shaped hemline, knee length in front, tea length in back. It was made with navy blue velvet, velveteen, and a dark green velvet. I wore it with boots, tights and tunic that I already owned, but I'd like to make a new tunic and tights, and a gown to go under for a more feminine look. So, this fabric is a poly/cotton mix of AMAZING WEIGHT AND DRAPE, (it's a light fabric, but hangs deliciously, perfect for Texas!) and the color is much darker forest green than this image. I will first make a gown of the design pictured to go with the Mirkwood Elf costume, and this can also be worn alone on hot days at Sherwood Forest Faire, or layered with a fairy costume design which will be put to fabric in future... After I make the gown, I'll make a tunic with the leftovers. I believe I have 7.5 yards.

The lacing on the dress will be made of the same fabric, because I want a more texutral feel with this design, as opposed to making the lacing detail on center back and sleeves stick out.

Okay...I'm off to sew, now.

Busy, busy, busy!

So, for the last 7 months I have been living in a party house with some friends. The internet wasn't working in my room---thus, I haven't used it much until now.

I'm still working at the costume shop, fulltime, and its great! I learn so many new things, and I get to work on great things. Downside, we're understaffed, so I serve as the graphic designer/marketing/tech person as well. Tech. Hah! It's interesting though. I have also been hard at work on my art, finishing the Men in Kilts Calendar series (only 1.5 to go!) and other pieces. Starting on February 11th, I will be selling prints and originals of my artwork at Sherwood Forest Faire! It will be 8 weekends, and I only hope to make a bit of profit :)

So, until then, I am hard at work on the art and a corset mock-up for my bride customer. BUT, as it is set in the time of the Crusades, I am STOKED-AS-FECK to jump on some new medieval costume pieces. I want a hooded mantle, hooded peliçon, surcote of my own special design, bliaut, and another gown. For the peliçon, I found a fantastic navy/black/grey mixed wool that I will edge in brown fur. I would love to line it in fur, but in this central Texas weather, that might get too hot too fast! But then again...we tend to have sporadic weather, and apparently where this faire is located, it gets chilly. I bought some horn toggles at a Viking Market in Germany last summer, and I plan on using those as well...I only bought two, so I may just have the peliçon open from neck to navel, and use the toggles under the bust. I think it will be easy, and the hood and low neckline will create a nice fold.
First things on the list will be the peliçon, mantle, and gown. :D I plan on making them all in one weekend!

Star Wars Episode IV, V, VI Costume Details

I went to the Star Wars Exhibit last week at the Museum of Health in Houston. I was so elated to find many of the costumes/models from the original trilogy that I didn't see in one of the past exhibits! Excuse the poor quality in some photos, I was trying to keep an eye on a 4 year old at the same time! So, in taking detail shots of some, I discovered some interesting things about the following costumes:

Princess Leia's Episode IV costume:






The design on the bottom point of the Stormtrooper's pelvic guard is very bulbous, which draws A LOT of attention there. I'm wondering why they didn't just make the design flush on the outside..?







Darth Vader had an odd detail in his codpiece, we couldn't figure out the function but my 7 year old cousin said it was perhaps for a cell phone...:

New Bellydancing Belt!

The first belt I made got lost somewhere in the sandy grounds of Sherwood Forest Faire, so I made a new one!! I spent about $52 on the kuchi pendants and coin chain that I stitched on, and the trim and fabric I had laying around.

Cernunnos - Completed.

It has taken me a year and a half on-and-off to complete him, but he's done. I started this in 2009 as a class project, and never had the time before the deadline to do what I wanted to the background. In a way, I'm glad I waited because I think he came out better with time. Last week I finally buckled down to complete him, after months of going back and forth changing small details on the figure, ignoring the background. I am relieved that I am finished! Overall, I believe I have spent close to 50 hours on this, all those pine needles were a hassle!

New belly dance costume pieces

I finished quite a few costume pieces for belly dance back in March. In total, I embellished a bra and changed it to halter, made a simple kuchi belt, accent skirt, and two pairs of harem pants.







Next I need to upload photos of a medieval chemise and surcote I made!

Costuming Goals for 2011

Faeries. Yes. In July I came up with a concept for a Forest Queen faerie, with her costume more early Renaissance inspired. I want to make her, as well as two other faeries (that I designed in 2008 or 2009) by October this year. I am planning on forcing some of my friends into my faerie costumes for TRF's Faerie weekend in mid-October, for advertisement. :D

Also, I have three costume commissions for this year!! All due by October as well. >.>

1.) An Italian Renaissance gown
2.) Russel Crowe's Robin Hood costume (minus chest plate)
3.) peasanty Renaissance Costume


Updates will come as I work on stuff. And as for right now, I am busy at work helping my boss and coworker make 1550s Spanish Renaissance costumes for Opera in the Heights' Don Carlo production in late January.