Kitty Plague

Tabby on the left and Jasper on the right

Well no progress made on Tudor/Elizabethan gowns due to illness, not mine or Justin's though. Been nursing two sick cats that caught themselves a virus, which manifests itself like a cold.  Symtpoms: clear mucus from eyes and nose, sneezing, some tiredness due to cold kicking their butts.

Basically given them some steam treatments in the bathroom, some robitussin very minute amount to get rid of phegm once a day, a drop of nasal spray in morning and night with steam treatment to keep air ways open, vicks on nose as needed to keep them breathing through nose at night, and wiping eyes and nose when discharge has appeared. So sort of like treating a human cold but the patient is totally unwilling for meds, assistance, and can't blow their nose.

Tabby caught this first and she had it rough but kept drinking water and trying to eat a little. Jasper ate for the first three days mostly liquids and then stopped.  I have been assisting feeding and watering him every few hours in addition to medication for the cold that I administered just the same intervals at Tabbitha. My schedule between work and nursing the Jasper is exhausting and no sewing has occurred

Got little sleep last night since I had to wake up and administer meds and vicks, when they feel especially crappy they sleep with me and I wake up and monitor their breathing. Said to Justin that if this is any indication, I think I got what it takes to be parent.

I do get breaks and go out do things, this allows Jasper to sleep and rest between medication and food. Went to the gaming store and got sleeves for a new Magic the Gathering deck, which match the nifty deck box I found at Books a Million.  Though the deck itself needs some modification, I will look and see for good replacements from my sideboard. Did sell one gown and had alot of interest in the other, hope it goes too.

Well got to get back to it,

Maureen

Feathery Puppet Fantasy Magic

      

Simic Guild

Izzet Guild

With the tax returns in and refund back, Justin and I found a few things to purchase. We already got one box of Magic the Gathering: Return to Ravinca to add to an already interesting compilation of decks. I have an awesome Dragon Izzet blue red deck that is pretty mauling. I dabbled with Azorious white blue deck, though its has some kinks that need to be worked out yet. My green white centaur Selesyna deck was tweaked by Justin to be a populating nightmare for those facing it. Return to Ravnica has proven to be one great set for multicolor or theme deck builders like myself.  We also got one box of Magic the Gathering: Gatecrash and are planning to buy a second. Which I am making a blue green deck based on the Simic guild and its array of interesting. I am hoping buying a second box pays off and I am able to get a legendary blue green merfolk creature, guess we will see. I love the artwork and challenge of strategy even-though I have to improve my skills with deck building.

I also found the most beautiful phoenix from Midsummer Knights Dream(MSKD), one that has peacock feather accents. I wanted to get a Jhari's cat with these accents but have not had any luck seeing them in the inventory to pick up. Though I would love to get a custom peacock puppet from MSKD, I am not sure how that would work and if it would be worth it now that I will have a peacock accented phoenix. Its purple, blue, and green the color combo I really like and will be opposite from the yellow, red, and black in my Phoenix, Miracle. She was at one of the renaissance fairs for sale down south, somehow no one bought her. A few folks on the fan site say it was meant to be, so Fate is her name. I also picked up at bright colored gryphon, which I named Keylime after the color of her fur. Tooks some pictures for you to enjoy.

Aso got some terracotta fabric for the gown I am working on commission finally found the color at the right price. Now just waiting for it to come in from India. In the meantime I will finish the undergarments and be ready to cut the pattern by the time it gets here. Excited to see it all come together for this commission.  Well I better get back to the sewing machine.

Regards,

Maureen

Learning Something New, Lessons Anyone?!?

To further more elgant persuits, I am learning some new crafts. One is learning to play the lute, though I have the grand instrument, I need to find time and get the lessons from local friend. Though my theory is its like a guitar but different. Which I already play guitar, so this should be challenging. Mine came in this nice hardcase to protect it and store while not in use.

Second is learning to tablet/card weave, always wanted to learn to do this to make trim, garters, and belts. Guess we will see how it all goes, here is my progress so far. This loom I made last week with the help of my good friend, Lady Aibell. She has been doing tablet weaving for sometime, we wanted to make a simple learner rig for people to get a grasp with, been lots of fun to work with.

I also wanted to let folks know that I am available to give sewing lessons to the public. We can start with an small easy project and work to make challenging crafts. Contact me if interested, we can discuss ideas and cost:  faerydustcollector@gmail.com

Veni, Vidi, Vici!

Well last week I came in fourth in the wacky sealed deck tournament, it was a mix of some old and standard cards from the current block of Magic the Gathering. Waiting for the next shipment of the new set. Last week I won got prizes and did almost the same the weekend before. This week only made it to the third round in the losers bracket. Its very interesting how things change when you have an influx of people with different deck stradegies. At least I held my own for a few rounds, thugh I am going to see how I can improve the speed and more so the lethalness of my Elf Centaur Green White Return to Ravnica Deck. I also have a vicious Dragon Drake Blue Red Izzet Return to Ravnica Deck. Just have to come up with better stradgedy to make this all the more interesting. Though for me and stradegy this is great improvement.

Roleplayging is turning out interesting with Winter Court in L5R Rokugan, its a pretty gathering but full of danger and pit falls. We are looking at changing our game on Tuesdays to Promethean the Created, a White Wolf System game that works with created humans to discover more about humanity. Not sure the type of character I am thinking of this, will have to see.

Right now I have made an Elizabethan Loose Gown. Still in progress of adding frogs buttons and trim. Will post photos soon. I finally used the majority of the wool crewel embroidered fabric I had at home. Wondering if I want to make foresleeves with the rest of the fabric left. Not sure right not but I think could be fun, though not totally period correct. I will ask my costume group and pick some brains to find out ;-)

Lost my embroidred gloves and one set of sleeves done for my jacket, I think I misplaced them when I packed up from the Taber Museum Demo. I have an idea where they may have gotten, will check when I get home, this is what happens when I rush to pack things up. Heres to hoping I find them.

I have been daydreaming of making garb alot lately, though I don't know if I have the time to get what I want done. I think right now I will work on the skirts for both gowns and get them all squared away, then agonize over bodices when I have more concentration.

Well waiting for the lute, lol. Should be in the mail now, just have to see how long it will be till it gets here. Coming UPS, hope the neighbor can get it. Looking at making a set up to cardweave myself some belts and garters. Wondering if some of the silk floss I have may be used to make some neat pieces, I have lots of the stuff.  I leave you with a picture of me from the Taber Museum Demo, I am talking about my Tudor Dolls and how they look like real people from the era, I have a picture of a painting in my hand, besides my embroidery.

Regards,

Lady Mairin

A Foxy Woodbaby, Concert, and Life Off Topic

I have a wonderful news this week, my fox woodbaby puppet is done finally. I ordered the custom sculpted puppet over a year ago, there was a backlog of custom order with the company. I sent a full fox pelt with an idea of making a full fox puppet to their office and had other repair and refashioning of other puppets done at the time. Thinking about peacock woodbaby puppet in the future, but its going to be a while.Looking wonderful and very realistic, including some photos for your enjoyment.

Going to Mayhem Music Festival, in Camden NJ soon. Looking forward to hearing some of the main stage bands that I haven't heard before. Not planning on buying anything unless I find some CD's I really like or an T-shirt, and paying for food of course. Though the ticket and hotel room are paid for and such, so that helps. Will let you all know how it goes.

I have 5, M13 mixed decks, they are mixed with  M12 and Avacyn done for the current block of editions. I am pleased with how they are working but I know they will need some improvement. Though since the concert is coming up, I don't want to put much more cash into the decks.  With my liking of theme decks, I was able to make the ones I wanted to try on my list. I have a white knight and soldier deck, a blue merfolk and drake deck, a red blue drake dragon deck, black blue wizard deck, and a white green elf cat deck. Though in Avacyn edition, I made a white angel deck, and a red green werewolf wolf pack deck, and green treefolk deck. They are all good fun though they win infrequently.

I do find a challenge in making a theme decks and make them work properly. Though I know changing my approach with some of my tatics and theories will help them work alot better. Sadly I find that the random draw of the cards is one factor you can't change regarless how awesome of a deck your create. Going back to the shop to play today, but that is just for something to do in the afternoon.

Well that is all for now,

Maureen

Quit Hitting Yourself...Quit Hitting Yourself!!!

I pinned on all the lovely trim on the Turquiose gown yesterday, oh my it looks rich. Posting pics when its all sewed down, which will be a while. I am finally running low on some of my gold trim, but that is expected that I have trimmed 5 gowns now. Still have to rework the black doublet gowm, the coral fabric is going to look smart against the black and gold. Oh so excited to get it done, but patience will make it work out, no rushing!  Also have to figure out a plan for the billoughy sleeved black gown, though I have time to ponder.

On a modern note, I love sun dresses! Its been humidly warm and I have been uncomfortable, silk sundresses are the best keeping cool and comfy. Plus they look good too ;-), the husband says.  Oh wedding announcement is in the newspaper today, May 13th.

http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/578161/Benfer-Plotts.html?nav=5018

Though on a life note, our roleplaying gaming store is back in the area! Our good friend reopened his store now that life and his personal econmy have worked themselves out. Yay! We have visited twice and just amazed with the selection of vintage gaming books, supplies and all over cheer we feel with hanging with our good friend.

I bought some big dice for my card games as life counters and for roleplaying. Picked up two cards for Magic the Gathering. I still have 4 decks from my college days back in 2005. I am reworking them since they are older just to get some older rares in them for spice. Been playing against myself and kicking my own butt, lol. They are all pre 10th edition but hey that is fine, the whole name of the game for me is theme decks. So the newest cards I could really careless about. I might get some newer decks down the road, but I am just happy playing my revamped older decks. Afterall don't want to blow alot of cash getting back into it. Only spent $7 at the store, so nothing earth shattering. I found cards online to work up my decks without going broke, nice when no one wants the older stuff. Never been a tournament junky, just not my thing.

So that is how I have been beating myself, lol. Though I am sure more trips to White Knight Game Room are in our future. Well that is all the crafty and gaming things for now, updates as things get done. Looking forward to somemore gaming fun.

Busy as a Bee,

Maureen

Getting Things Done, Finally!

Well being productive this week so far, I was able to finish my book about Mary Queen of Scots. It ends sadly of course though happy they way they finished it off with pazazz and talking about how her death effected the course of history, all very intersting. Hoping it doesn't take me another three years to finish off my other books I just purchased;-) I am starting the three book series on the Legend of the Guardians: Owl of Gahoole. I love the movie so I want to try the books. Yes more youth level reading but I love being able to get a good story and plow through it. Harry Potter was a complex enough story and world to keep my interest, hope this is the same. I was also told the Eragon Dragon series is pretty good too, that will be after my owl books though. I have had alot of adult reading so something soothing on the brain certianly helps. My Owl series is another thick book but this is a omnibus of three books so it will take some time. Just wanting to read something else other than renaissance history for variety sake. I found there can be such a thing as history overload, shockingly.

Off the topic note, I was able to make two decks for my Legend of the Five Rings Card game at home. Revamped my exhisting Mantis deck to be a Raid effect deck and made the other to be my Tsruchi Archer deck, all very cool and these are diamond editon. I have to make a Nezumi deck, which are humaniod rats and a Phoenix deck which are elemental magic users these are gold edition. The editions have to be kept separte though there are transition cards that can be used with both. I have two unicorn decks one gold one diamond editions and looking into a third possibly. Still have to find something to do with my Lous edition L5R yet have 20 booster packs and two premade decks, though this may take some time.

On a garb note I have taken the time to start my light blue french hood, looking nice so far, I have to attach the front and back pieces, sew on the veil, bead and trim it too. I am also looking to start a mens renaissance shirt on Thursday, so smaller projects. Tip toeing into my two Tudor gowns, though the suspense is killing me about getting them started;-) If the vision in my head is as beautiful as they turn out, I will be one very happy lady.

Well got to go,
Maureen