Had another weird dream the other night. I'm wondering if this is all pent up stuff I need to talk to someone about (the someone in my dream) but it seems too random and awkward. It would go something like this: "You make me hate myself for feeling inferior to you." Bleh. Maybe I need a talk therapist. I'm beginning to think it's a good thing I haven't been able to go to as many Civil War events. It keeps me out of trouble and from beating myself when things don't go the way I want them to. Faire is going to be such a refreshing escape... It's pretty much the only era that hasn't been "ruined" for me...

I made up a shopping list for tomorrow (supposing I can sneak out of the house). Lawn for 16th century shirts, embroidery stuff for attempting blackwork *fingers crossed*, and fabric for a new farthingale (going to salvage the boning from my old one). Would love to get linen for an 18th century working class outfit, but I don't think it's gonna happen until summer. Maybe I'll spring for some voile for a petti to go with my 1780s jacket. Yes... this sounds like a good plan...

Fabric:
*court dress
*black wool 1860s
*Emma dress
*pink silk 1860s
*1780s jacket
*plaid linen 1870s
*white cotton eyelet 1870s

Things I actually want to work on:
*black wool 1860s
*court dress

Things that are close to being done but aren't (hems and closures!):
*teen dress
*red wool paletot
*linen Regency

If I buy the black wool-- Okay, WHEN I buy the black wool (in like, 5 minutes...) I need to compensate by finishing one of the unfinished items. Like the paletot because I need it this winter for the Big Bear trip (CWW).

I think those bustle dress fabrics are going to sit in the stash for a few more years before I EVER get to them!! Sheesh... Not really in an 18th century mood either. Definitely a good balance between Elizabethan and 1860s at this point. Which are the eras I actually have lots of events for, so I guess it all works out. :]

Hokay... now I've got my thoughts all straightened out on the screen. Time to buy some wool...

Today I went on the "fabric safari" with the guild costume captain Mary and a couple other ladies, including one of my fellow Maids, Alicia. I was starting to get a little discourage because everything I found was already going to be worn by someone else! And there are only so many colors of cotton velvet in the world...

But then Mary found me the most amazing fabric for my forepart and sleeves. Unfortunately I was required to buy the whole bolt (5 yards) so I don't know what I'll do with all the extra, but I'm sure there will be some use for it! The cotton velvet was something I had walked past a couple times, not really caring for it, but then I took a much closer look and it REALLY grew on me. Paired with the forepart fabric, it seemed quirky but still very rich. Alicia called it my "mermaid" dress (and hers is the flower fairy dress!). She then took me to the beading and jewelry section, and I got some lovely freshwater pearls in a sort of pale orange gold color that will look very striking on the trim I got (from Michael Levine). Holding off on the jewels for now though, although I saw some Swarovski crystals that I think I'm going to use for the forepart and sleeves.

For all the guidelines and such, I still have an amazing gown and I can't wait to start working on it! I'm glad I already have a perfectly-fitted bodice to work with, so that will save me a lot of time and frustration. I have to wait until school is over in two weeks (stressed!!!) but then I'll be a sewing powerhouse!

The best part of the day was running into koshka_the_cat , sarahnucci , and twilatee in Home Fabrics! I saw Twila and my first thought was "Twila doesn't live in California...". Then I saw Katherine and knew something was up! I hope you ladies have a splendid time tonight at the ball!

 Because these past two weeks were completely abominable, I came home to some really wonderful surprises. Like lots of fabric!

Linen for a new late Regency dress:

 

I want to make this dress, without the skirt ruffles. I have yellow silk to bind the ruffles with too! <3

 

Then, the long lost striped 1780s jacket silk came!! 

I decided to just stick with Alice for Halloween. I attached the skirt to the bodice. Still need to put two tucks in the skirt and hem it, but for now I'm done. I hate being "over" a project before it's even finished!




 

MY FABRIC CAME!!!!

I know have my secret project fabric and paletot wool! YAY! I don't know what to do first!! :D I think I'll do the secret project first because I'll be wearing it for Halloween most likely, and I already have the lining for it. The paletot lining I don't have, and I just spent so much money on fabric that I think I need to hold off for a while. However, a nice big 50% coupon for Joann just came in the mail, so maybe I won't have to wait too long... ;-)

Also, the 20s dress I started this morning is well on its way to being done! I still need to pattern and cut out the sleeves and figure out the necktie, but the bulk of the work is done. Or almost done. The second skirt panel needs to be put in. I'm still deciding what if I want to put the tabs above the skirt panels like I had in my design. I kinda like the way it is plain! But then the dress might be too plain so I don't know... I'm also having issues in the shoulder area. It's just too big... I might be able to gather the neckline a bit to pull it in, and then have the neck tie cover it up. We'll see. Gotta play around with it.


Yellow silk twill for the secret project, red wool flannel for the paletot:


20s frock with one skirt side panel in and no sleeves... The fabric is striped silk charmeuse and looks less cheap in real life! The flash did bad things to it. :[

 I used my debit card instead of my credit card so that I didn't have to worry about making the payment later. Will it still work?

I'm so new to money matters... >.<

I did a sketch of my 1780s jacket ensemble and decided I need to make a new cream silk petticoat. I don't like my current one. It's of really cheap silk and it's not very full. Sounds like I need to buy more fabric! But it's not an immediate need by any means; I just need it before October for MTH when I want to go in 18th century dress.

Because I don't have a scanner:

 So my 20s fabric came this weekend, and my 1780s fabric will be in my possession this Thursday. I just bought my Frilly Friday fabric because I'm a good girl, and now I'm buying red wool for a paletot. Because... that's a necessary item for CWW and reenactments in general. I MIGHT have enough left over for the secret dress...

Either way, I have WAY too much fabric. :]

Found some more plaid silk that I liked on eBay. Seeing as how the seller of the other gorgeous stuff somehow managed to sell out before she/he could read Matt's email (which makes no sense; why would you list something and then sell it somewhere else?), I have so little faith in eBay right now. But it's the best place for inexpensive silk that I have access to at the moment.

The colors aren't as gorgeous as the other stuff, but I still love it! It's very innocent and youthful :]



I've been cooking away at faire things! I just CAN NOT WAIT! AHHHH!!!! :-D

Okay, outburst over. :]

Please keep your fingers crossed for me and the fabric! I NEED it!!

Ebay is wonderful.

And so is my boy.

Because together, I get this:



Mmmhhhmmm... now that's what I call fabric for an Elizabethan forepart and sleeves. :]
I can't wait until it comes! Faire is almost here....

*kiss for the boy*

The fabric gods hate me.

I now have yet another three yards of some tapestry/brocade fabric that will not work for my dress.

In essence, it's my fault because I did not bring my bodice with me to test the candidates against, but it's also the fabric gods' fault for not providing me with good choices. My favourite fabric store has failed me! I think I have enough money left over and enough change in my change box to buy something else, but it's getting a little ridiculous.

I didn't even like the fabric! Why did I buy it?!!!!

At least the paisley will be a nice underskirt for the day version of my red velvet bustle dress (the evening version is for CC Gala and Prom). But what do I do with three yards of this pale silvery grey greenish stuff?! I wonder if I can sell it on eBay... :-/

Well, I did get some nice sheer voile for an 1860s shirtwaist...

Event pictures and new fabric always make me feel a little better. My cold is going away, and my heart is starting to heal a little too...

       

And now for my new fabric. I actually need your help with this. I think I might want to use this for a forepart and sleeves for my new Elizabethan, made from the same gold silk as my 1860s dress. It's a brocade that's actually a tad redder than came out in the pictures. The colors and fabric are great, but I did some research that said that the pattern--namely paisely-- was popular during the 17th century. It was around before then, but I guess not as popular? Should I still use it? It's so lovely... but it was only $2 a yard on clearance, so I won't feel that bad about saving it for something else. I just really want an inexpensive new forepart and sleeves for this dress.

And yes, that's a real diamond ring on my finger :]
My boy loves me so!