Rocking Germans

So I am German heck? I am most of the world, but I am part German. But, truly I have never really thought about making Germans.  A year ago we had a lovely lady come out and tape up people for German bodices, and I did it, just was not really that interested, then our Barony went for our Yule to have Germans, and well why not? I have an abundance of fabrics, so why not knock one out so that I can say I made them? Plus? I could use them at 12th Night as well.  I have a Venetian, and an Elizabethan so why not add a German to the whole?


So I am beginning with the Men! Awesome no? Hubby and I picked up some German shoes back in the day so that is not something I need to worry about.  I just need to play with what I have  so here are some sexy Germans from Ring-A-Ding from Deviant Art, I think Hubs will look smashing in this!

I know I am obsessed with Purple, but look at this Czech Site!

I love her sleeves, & the simple gown, that pops, I do have 8 or so yards of mulberry silk velvet, and 5 yards of silver gray, I have another of a plum, so I could really knock this out of the park.

Here is a someone's Photo, whom I met in the SCA and I hope to see him again, his photos are wondrous! From my home shire of Lyondemere.

Another Czech Costumer doing German I think she rocks this! 
The Hat Neck piece it is really a lovely thing!

This lady is from Dark Horse from Deviant Art,    She used Reconstructing History's Pattern for the Cranach and this is a version of the portrait known as the Magdalena.  I love the bold colors

I can not attribute this as I could not gain access to the actual version, this was taken I am sorry from Pinterest.  Giving a good showing of many many Cranach styled gowns!

So now to go through my fabrics, I think I might end up with my Shot Silk in Pink/Grey and Grey silk velvet, or the plum or I could go with some Silk I have in plum as well. I don't have any blue silks right now, and I want to use the stuff I have on hand to lower my STASH. 

So here is my next obsession and I will tell you all how it comes together!

Northern California Renaissance Faire

So we went on Sunday to the Faire, I think next year I will end up at Much Ado about Sepastapol instead, heat wise it will be a better place to be, and I have people I know there as well.  Here I am in my new French Hood I made myself! So excited when a plan comes together it has moved a bet during my sojourn about the shire, but it is lovely!  I have to get pictures of the hubby as well!

12th Night Thoughts

As the season changes and it finally gets cooler here in Northern California, my thoughts run to 12th Night.  For those who are not part of the SCA, this is a Coronation to strut and shout.  Since we are in doors, it means we can wear the more costly fabrics, you satins and velvets of silk and wool.  With all of the Vigil Ceremonies going it is nice to look good so this is 1 set of Garb, during the day on Saturday I will typially wear a set and then at night a different set of clothing.  Sunday is optional since most people are just leaving.
 This is a huge thing, I plan at least 2 weeks prior to have everything done and ironed and put into packing.  

 This year we have a Rowenta Professional Steamer, so I can make sure all of our garb is wrinkle free. So for my Garb, Let me break it down:

Friday Evening Garb- Purple/Silver/Gold Venetian, I don't know if I will get the standing ruff done but if not that is okay I have girdle and fan and hat to complete.

Saturday Day  Garb- Elizabethan Fitted Gown- Black Damask in Fleur de Lys gown and Lilac Damask Kirtle.  Ruffs and French Hood to complete the whole look.

Saturday Evening Garb- Blue/Gold French Round Gown, with escoffion and Italian hat. Ruffs to complete the ensemble.

Sunday Morning Garb- Loose gown with coif.

However my things are mostly done, I have been working on them for the past months.




Friday Night Garb- Florentine 1545, Eleanor of Toledo, a Lady of taste and fashion!

Design on this Gown:


Camisa

Linen for the body of Camisa         Stash
Lace for insertion                             Stash
1/2 Pearls                                          Purchase

Partlet
Linen                                                   Stash
Trim in White                                   Stash


Polished Cotton                                Stash   
Couched Silver rope                        Stash
 
 


Saturday Day Garb-  Venetian in Aubergine, Gold and Silver with Murrey Sleeves.
 


Saturday Night Garb-

I have been working on several outfits for the Hubs so he can look spiffy as well, but I have one that I hope is over the top!

 



Husband's Garb

He has nothing, because he keeps losing weight (Creep, I know right?)

In Progress


Grey Velvet with embroidery


Black Linen with Green Jacquard
Black Velvet with welts with silver couched.

More Design and Study Needed for these.
Blue Linen with embroidery and pink'd sleeves
Grey Wool with Black Velvet Gards, welts and Laid on Lace.



 

16th Century Hats and Costume College

You Know what? French Hoods have been about for a long time, I have been attempting the Hood thing, but have been failing as I did not know how to attach and how to place.  I go to an intensive convention created by and run by people just like us or at least me!  People who love costuming, or creating clothing from different periods of time and space.  We call this lovely place Costume College  every year we gather on the first weekend in August, in Southern California, to learn, teach, get inspired and party and have fun.

This year I was happy to get into 2 closed classes on Hats of the 16th Century,
"The Unshakable 16th Century Hat" and "French Hood".  This year I also made a pact that I would finish every class project and increase my hat collection of course, I truly believe that if you don't do the knowledge by putting it into practice you will then move it into wisdom.  

The Bongrace Workshop ~ Hand sewing! I have issues and I wish I had brought more of my 'helpers' like the locking scissors that will hold a needle going through 2 layer buckram.   I am going to try this with plastic canvas which will be easier to get the wire on at least for me!



The French Hood Workshop~ I think it should have been 4 hours, mostly because the first part is hand sewing and I am horrid at it, and since I had done a lot of hand sewing Saturday for the Bongrace Workshop.  As soon as I got home it was back to work and then setting up for my youngest Son's back to school and birthday ( he is 15 now!! Yikes)




                               Here I am with my BFF, in our Gala Garb at Costume College!

June Crown A.S. 48~ Time for the Stirlings to SHINE!!!

So I said I was going to work on my Husband's Garb, because he needed it so badly, here is the progress I have made on this front!!!!!

)O( Elizabethans )O(

Tourney Garb
Set 1
Non Waled Corduroy in Grey
Doublet ~Done!
Pannions ~Done!

Set 2
 Linen Black with Green/yellow/black Damask
Doublet ~ Cut out and attaching trim
Pannions ~Done!

Set 3
Linen Blueberry with trim in Silver and black
Doublet ~ Cut out Attaching Trim
Pannions ~Cut out 

Set 4
Cotton Velveteen Black
Doublet~ Cut Out
Pannions~ Done!

Feast Garb

Silk Taffeta Strap work
Doublet~ Cut Out
Pannions ~ not done

Silk Dupioni with Blue Silk to show through pinks
Not begun ;0(

 For June Crown:

We are planning on using our new Pavilion from Panther!! It is a Regent, because I needed something I could feasibly put up on  my own, and with the BCC, we did not need the space of our older pavilion. So for Crown I want to have done for the camping space:

A)  4 Chair Covers ~ Purple with Fleur de Lis stamped all over to cover our mundane new chairs that are too large for my other covers.                                                                               

B)  Dutch Oven table~ I will show you all what I mean when we get it and then take photos, it is tall, and allows me to use the dutch oven without bending too far down all the time.                                                                                                         C)  2 Boxes~ We need a box now to carry Hubby's Garb, and 
another to hold various washing things.  If we are really good? Perhaps we can knock out 4 but I am not holding my breath!!

Banners, water carrier, and those types of things will be next on my list.  Once we save up some from this purchase, I want to pick up 2 benches that seat 2, and I will make pillows for them so that people can come and sit in the BCC and hang out.  Still looking for a really awesome brazier, I think I will have to check out An Tir, I will ask my friends up there about that.

That is all for now!  I will keep you all posted on the Hubby Garb Journey!! LOL

   


   
                                                         
 

Goodbye Sam

Do you all know that song? It is a song about the end of a woman named Suzanne,  the person who sang the song wrote it from his grief of a life that was cut short, that he always thought they would get together again. I did as well.  I thought perhaps one day, I would see my person and we would be able to deal with the issues we had that brought an end to our friendship.  You don't know how many times something from the past would come up and I would laugh and think wow Sam would think this was funny....

Soon someone will make plans to end Sam's life on this plane, they will take her I know who is of the same name, they will make the plans to do the same, she lay in a hospital bed many miles from me, and she is dying.  If you knew this woman you would know how full of life she is, how she is only less than 6 months older than I am.  How we were inseparable for most of our 20's and 30's and how our friendship ended, perhaps because we were too enmeshed in each others lives.

We became fast friends when we met in a Summer Sign Language course.  It was supposed to be for people who actually knew some ASL but I misread and decided to stick it out, best choice I ever made.

We made a promise to grow old together and she is breaking that promise.  We are old I guess at 50, but that is the new 30 so we should have time, even though we don't speak, it does not matter, she is leaving me behind Dammit!  I knew something was going on I was having obsessive needs to speak with her, when I had not spoken to her since 2000.  Why after all of these years was I dreaming of speaking with her, or having bits of our fun times come forth?

She was one of the Maids of Honor at our Wedding, we lost the Best Man 2 years ago.  He was 40.  Why could she not go the doctor? Why?

We worked Renaissance Faires together, laughed and cried together, she was there for my children's births.  She is my 20's and 30's, she had this vibrato that was horrid, but she would belt it out no matter what because she was SAM.  The world will be smaller when she is gone.  I was not part of her life for her or my own 40's.  She turned 50 in February of this year, and I did in July, I thought of her on my day and I thought of her on hers.  Sam died November 23rd at 1:23 am.  I never had the chance while she was alive to say good bye.

Fire and Rain from  James Taylor:

Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone.
Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you.
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song,
I just can't remember who to send it to.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain. I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again.

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus, You've got to help me make a stand.
You've just got to see me through another day.
My body's aching and my time is at hand and I won't make it any other way.
Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain. I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again.

Been walking my mind to an easy time, my back turned towards the sun.
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around.
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come.
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain. I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend,
but I always thought that I'd see you baby, one more time again, now.

Thought I'd see you one more time again.
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now.
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain, now.

UFO List is Getting Accomplished!

2 years ago now, in 201o I had 20 projects in various stages of completion.  I don't know if every costumer is like me? But if I don't have the expertise to finish something? I put it aside until I do! Or sometimes another project will take precedence because of various reasons.  I have 3 projects that are just hand work, which hurts my hands so I am very slow at completing. 

Then I was out of commission for a while so most of those 20 projects have just sat in my house, getting pieces lost. Now I am finding said pieces, and putting the things back in place so that I can complete them!  Thus my Unfinished Objects are becoming finished!

A. Raisin Tourney Gown  90% complete
I have lost the sleeves with their glorious Fleurs! I have no idea where they are or if I will ever find them, I wore the gown at Purgatorio 2012 and people really liked it! Do I have pictures of said completed Gown? Nope, because I take the photos I rarely remember to have someone else take them of myself.

B. Lovely Fabric made into Jacobean Jacket Re-do
85% complete I am trying to finish adding the trim by hand so who knows how long this will take? LOL

C. Spanish Purple & Cream Gown with Cream Kirtle.  75% of the Beading & Pearling is done I now take this with me all over I am hoping to get this done while we are at GWW. Kirtle is in pieces, so it is only 40% done.  

D.  Spanish Woolen Gown in Aubergine 85% done, I need to add the lining in the jacket and put together the skirt.

E. Men's Jerkin and Pants in Black  90% done, will need to have this done for GWW. 


F. Men's Jerkin & Pants Blue Damask 30% Must be done for GWW. 

G. Men's Jerkin & Pants Gray Velveteen 0% done  Cut out

H. Men's Jerkin and Pants Black Velveteen 65% done 

I. Men's Jerkin & Pants Blue Linen 0% done Cut out