Christmas Decorating and Early Gifts

Haven't made much progress with crafts, been helping Justin with his very strong cold. I had it last week so one reason for not being as busy as usual. He took a long nap after work, I took advantage and quietly decorated the kitchen, hallway, and dining room. When we woke up I just finished putting garland on the Christmas tree, Jasper likes to rub against it. Though so far the cats have the sense to leave the garland alone, fingers crossed. They went right for it and had to get scolded several times, I think they are learning. They like to pull the wired branches down and rub on them but its hard to catch them when I am asleep. All I can do is catch them in the act and correct the behavior.

I was able to get alot of mending that needed to be done, completed this week. Also made some small progress on embroidery. Justin, Jason and I exchanged gifts early, saved me from wrapping them. I got my Furby I asked for, Justin got a new board-game; Walking Dead, and Jason got a role-playing book. Furby really annoys the cats, Jasper especially makes low growling like noises at it. So Justin distracts him with lots of play and attention. All the presents are wrapped, finally! The cats liked the shiny paper as you can imagine, part of the reason for Justin working on distraction for them. Furby makes a great paperweight, especially like to talk to the Scotch tape. Really funny it was liking that particular noise. So yes lots of insanity getting all the shopping done but its complete.

After Christmas we got some money for buying of gifts. I bought 4 lace-making books, 24 lacing making bobbins, 1 large illustration book on Fashion though History, and bought supplies and made lacing making pillow and wooden cradle stand. Still have a few gift cards to spend but finding ways of getting them done too. Guess we will see how it all turns out, but for now here are pics showing the total effect of all my efforts with decorating.

Enjoy,  Maureen

Homeward Bound Gryphon

I wanted to share the newest member of the Plotts Gryphon Conclave! That is what I call my gryphon woodbaby collection at home, lol. This new one yet to be named, will be joining us after the New Year. Also in puppet news I decided to sell off all of my Imaginarium Galleries Drabbits! Even though I like Drabbits with their very interesting style difference, available my local renaissance faire, and Imaginarium Galleries has Drabbit giveaways. I discovered much more happiness and contentment with my Midsummer Knight Dream Woodbaby collection and the company that makes these wonders of art.

My reasons for the total switch to Midsummer Knights Dream Woodbabies are; better and wider variety of creatures, much better prices for the puppet you receive, much better communication to customers, and options to order a custom puppet without waiting weeks for a reply. Even though I cannot get them at my local renaissance faire and I adopt them online, my feelings have leaned this way for sometime.  The staff at MSKD is so more engaging, friendly, and attentive to answering questions and flexible to my needs. I guess customer service means alot to me and MSKD has it.  

Hoping the sale will help with Holiday bills and will make room for me to move my Woodbabies from the cold front sewing/computer room, to the areas in the living room on top stereo a place of real honor. I have lots of interest with folks wanting to adopt the Drabbits I have at home and space should clear soon.

Eminent Apocalypse.......let the Skyfall

Mayan Calendar Ending, Senseless Violence, Fiscal Cliff Eminent, 

and Apocalypse Impending on Dec 21st.  

My reaction.....let the skyfall, if the world is to end. Let it.

 Though I heard a rumor there was a miscalculation in the Mayan Calendar and the end was supposed to be last year. The United States Government is scrambling to find an answer to the "Fiscal Cliff", pushing through some sort of miscellaneous policies. There will always be people looking for the epic end to things, the world, government, and humanity.  Personally I think the ending of the "Reign of Men" it going to be sudden and totally unavoidable and unpredictable.

Though as it all unravels Dec 21st and people loose their minds over nothing. Enjoy the link to Adele's Skyfall and REM Its the End of the World videos.

Toasting Humanity,

Maureen

Back to Elizabethan Garb

Well I am more creative without my cellphone it seems. Instead of obsessing over Furby accessories and looking for them online with my phone. By the way, I found some at Walmart so done with them. Forgot my phone at home yesterday, so I worked on some gowns designs on paper. I wanted to use the metal roses I ordered online for accents on gowns but not sure how I wanted to go about adding them in. So here are the two designs I came up with for gowns.

There is still some yardage of fabric left in my stash. I was uncertain of their destinies as a gown or anything useful. Till I thought of what I had and what I could do with it. Working out some elements in my mind the other day, below are the fabrics I am drawing inspiration from.

What can I say, I'm a gown making machine.Though its going to be sometime before I get these done.
Got to get back to decorating the house and such, will post pics when done with that.

Garb is Great,

Maureen

A Look Back...And Looking Forward

Well looks like the sequential dates will be done for a while, which if fine though they were very amusing to post things on dates like that. Its 12/12/12 today, kinda funny how this year has come and gone. Its been one busy year, got married is my big event. Many friends and family had children this year, sister moved back to the states, lots of nice get together with friends and family. Hope 2013 is full of many more life milestones and improvements.

There was much crafting in 2012; may there be much more epic handicrafts in 2013. I like to get thinking early on these things even though there is still some 2012 left to finish. Like to keep motivated so here are the list of Resolutions for 2013; score new and better paying employment, score same great employment for Justin, find a place we can reasonable afford or make a large dent in saving to build our own, make final plans on family planning, buy a new to me car that runs and works well that isn't overpriced, spend more quality time with Justin, finish the Elizabethan Embroidered Jacket, make the Epic Late Elizabethan Gown, take Chancellor Minor office to new and better heights, train new folks interested in becoming Youth Officers, and get some kingdom award for my many toils in the SCA society. I hope that folks have noticed my efforts, though that is yet to be determined.

Well that is all for now I will post some sewing and crafting related things as I get them done. Which there will be some soon. Been working on needle and shuttle tatting, weaving, and embroidery all at once, its pretty neat! Can't say that I am bored.

Back to Work,

Maureen

A Furby for Christmas 2012

Voodoo

Greenman

      

Completely off topic, but its fun to find things that are fuzzy and amusing.I have a habit of collecting fuzzy non traditional pets, that affinity has led me to seeing these little guys and just gushing over them.

  Well found something really cute and fuzzy for Christmas, the new Hasbro Furby for 2012. They come in really cute textures and fur colors, have moving expressive glowing LED eyes, can more more than the old ones. They have the capacity to change personality depending on treatment, so the learning capacity is more developed. As well as they changed the design on how they look and interact. You can get a free app for Apple products and later aftermarket Android app for Furby. I hear the app works well to get Furby to try different foods and hear the reaction, though you can also feed the traditional way.

Totally remind me of the 80's flick Gremlins, but in more bright colors and missing arms or legs like appendages. Found out the resemblances had the movie production company considering a lawsuit back in 1998, fascinating. They are not the same though makes you think. Anyway I really like the "Greenman"  the most, reminds me of a baby abominable snow-monster. Told my husband and good pal about these though not sure if I will end up with one.

Not sure how the cats will react to a noisy moving ball of fur, theory is Jasper will run and hide and Tabbi will attack them. Would love to get two so they can talk, but they are pricey at 69.99 retail. You can find them cheaper but it takes work. Well guess I will have to see what Santa brings.

Still have to decorate the house, not motivated or in the spirit much this year. I think its melancholy left over from the new job not coming the way I wanted this year. Figured out what I am getting Justin, checked and he doesn't have what I am getting him. Looking forward to seeing his reaction on Christmas day.

Got to get Motivated,

Maureen

Wow another Milestone!

Lots of folks looking up Renaissance topics. Tudorosities has over 13,000 views! Thank you for all your support loyal readers/ followers. If you found my interesting corner of the internet and have an interest in Tudor/ Elizabethan History, Costuming, Housewifery, and much more period topics. Consider following this blog, always open to new members with ideas and am willing to answer questions on various related topics to the English Renaissance Era.

Thanks Again,

Lady Mairin O'Cadhla

Elizabethan Gown Available for Christmas

I have this gown available for sometime and its in need of a home. A home where someone can wear it without squeezing into it, just doesn't fit me right. For sale through Ebay here is the link, SCA Elizabethan Renaissance Gown . I have two days left and would really like to make some room for new creations that will fit properly.

If interested you can email me, faerydustcollector@gmail.com or message me through Ebay itself.

Hope to Make Someones Christmas,

Maureen

Productive Weekend Crafting

Well been busy with things I want to get done for a change. Besides getting the required chores done that need to be completed by weeks end, I was able to get some crafting completed too. I have had a collection of feathers meant for Elizabethan fans for sometime. I decided to finally make the hat pins and fans I was wanting, though not without complications. I had bought a finial to make a handle for one of the fans, thought to my misfortune  I cannot find it anywhere in my craft room. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention, so I modified some broken wooden handles from some household tools. Though I will buy some decoration for either side of the handle to give aesthetic appeal and cover my glue joint to the handle.

Also on the Tablet Weaving front, I have made some garters in a coral wool yarn. Wasn't sure how the much thicker yarn was going to hold up but it did well. I am now working with another yarn in lavender and using a metallic weft thread, sparkles on the ends of the weave. Looking really cool, hoping the rest of the weave turns out pretty. I am thinking of using my single ply wool on this and seeing how it all turns out. Hmm should be interesting. Thought I would share my progress so far with a few pictures...

Below is an Elizabethan Feather Fan

 Below is a Feathered Hat Pin

 Below is another Elizabethan Feather Fan

 This is the second Feathered Hat Pin 

 Last but not least Tablet Woven Coral Wool Garters

... well that is what I have been up to this weekend. I hope to get pics of the lavender tablet weaving and such when its done. I also started small leaves on the back panel of the Elizabethan Jacket, baby steps I suppose. The jacket is one long and daunting feat, though it will pay off in the end. Well back to the workweek and hoping for some evening time to work and finish the weaving and embroidery.

Crafty Thoughts,

Maureen