Fabric Jewels Gallery

I recieved more fabrics to inspire my Tudor pallate. Some were gifts others were dollar finds. Oh my the stash is going to grow ;-) Well since I was showing the one fabric, I wanted to show the other fabric jewels from the past few events I have been to lately. Its amazing how fabrics just follows me home like a lost puppet. Those find their way to my house too, on a good note none named Jigsaw
 ;-) My friends do give me pieces they cannot use themselves for garb. Lady Aibell Diamarta keeps an ever watchful eye for handmade lace in its many forms for me to use with garb. I have used her various forms to make lace partlets, hats, and bun covers.

I love battenburg lace, its a tape lace and they are period but not woven into the shapes battenburg lace is done. Though its one of my few Anacronisms that I readily give. Though I do look to make my own lace soon. I have a lovely Mistress in the Barony of the  March Debatalble Lands (BMDL) to teach me bobbin lace. Which I should use for my projects, but just have not taken the time to learn. Was invited to take my supplies to her area at Pennsic for an impromptu class, sadly I am not going and have not gone to Pennsic for many years. Getting back to fabric, here are some shots to get a sense of the stash I am recently accumilating lately.

I have all my class information completed and ready for photocopying. Really excited also I received confrimation forn Sylvan Signet that my scroll will be delievered to AEacademy. So I will bring my scroll case to make sure that it can be protected, will have to locate a frame worthy of its maginificence. Which knowing Aethelmearc scribes oh yes it will be magnficent! Will post photos of it here just like I did for the Ice Dragon scrolls.  Keep this up and I will run out of wall space, but that is not a bad thing.

 With the comisson complete and mailed, I am working on more garb for me again. Am pleating a skirt for the teal and coral, cream and gold, and burgundy gowns. I am renewed and energized to make more Tudor gowns and French hoods. So I am going to roll with it and to figure out a plan of all this wonderful fabric.

Sewing Bee,

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.

Elizabethan Jacket- Panel 4 Completed

Well just finished Panel 4, all the sleeves are now done! Super excited and happy with the progress so far. Am using more filling stitches and less other decorative stitches to make more progress faster, though I look to add more detail when I assemble with some herringbone stitches, some more finishing stitches and such. So more things to come.

So total for this project I have all the collar, sleeve tabs, gussets, and sleeves all embroidered. Now on to the body panels. Right now I decided to work on the back and see how it all turns out. I still have assembling and lining the whole outfit yet to do, that will be a feat all in itself. So a few down and lots more to go! Though I am happy with now fast and unique each panel is and now awesome I know they will look when put together as all one unit.

I am thinking some of the cohesive colors and panel assemblage will make this very challenging and unique project, beyond me putting my own personal spin on the flowers, edged pattern pieces, color choice, and design decisions for individual pattern panels with nothing repeating from panel to panel expect trailing vines. Yeah its based on an Elizabethan Embroidered Jacket, though its taken on a life all its own in the embroidery process.  

Well time to get to bed for another exciting day of work, its been a busy night. Hope to make more progress tomorrow. Beginning to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Dreaming of stitches,

Maureen

Poufs, Pearls, and Trim

Well I have been working on one last gown to clean out the large amount of farbic in the stash. Right now I have large scrap pieces that will do well to make some accessories. We will see what I come up with. This gown has turned out like the picture, though there is still more work to be done. Though it is still in need of silk poufs added to the sleeves, pearls to adorn it all over and some trim to finish of the slashes on the sleeves.

This is the example drawing of the gown I made with marker and pen. I suprised someone who has seen my costumes, with the detailed drawings that I make before I even cut the fabric. Though if I do not make a drawing, my mind has a hard time calculating my pattern and steps to make the garment.

Here is my progress so far. As you can see I have alot of details to complete yet. More finishing than anything else. This gown I had to put a false front to the skirt, didn't have enough fabric to make a full skirt. The feature on this gown that really sets if off, is the trim bands on the sleeves. I am going to add more trim to isolate the puffs into three sections just like on the drawing for the sleeves. Then will add pearl details all over. There is delicate pink trim on the bands that is hard to see from this distance but its really pretty, just had enough to do the whole gown.

So that has been my project for the week so far. I hope to get a better photo when I make more progress and eventually with all these new gowns I can take pictures wearing them very soon. I am also considering several hats to make to match that would be appropriate for the period, would require me to get versed in the Heart Shape Elizabethan Hairstyle, will have to find some rats to pouf up  my hair.

Sew Crazy,

Maureen

P.S. I have no clue which gown I want to wear to FFF this coming Saturday. So many gowns and not enough local events to wear them ;-)

Elizabethan/Jacobean Gown Gallery

Here are some pics of my new gowns on hangers, they are heavy that they are starting to straiten the hooks on my over the door rack of hooks. I have one more currently in progress and am gonig to take pictures wearing these. When I am are all done with this last one. They are looking fantastic, I must say that I lean towards the floral ones the most.  Though  I think if the others were accessoried right you could really make them wow people easily.

Elizabethan Gowns for Sale, Need To Sell!

I listed and additional gown on Etsy today as well as their being another ready made Elizabethan gown on there too. Need to make some room so these have to sell, they are listed at 200.00 a piece, which is a bargain with the work I put in to make them more suitable for SCA events. Need to get some cash for Christmas coming up and running out of room at home for things. These would wow at a renaissance faire not doubt.

Here is the link to my shop, any questions feel free to contact me.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Faerydustcollector?ref=search_shop_redirect

Thanks,

Maureen

Etsy Listings Renewed Renaissance Gowns For Sale

Well I have renewed my listings for Etsy and have some new things available. Please take a look, the link to my shop is listed below. Also you can access it through the Etsy tab at the top of this blog. The lovely two piece gown is for sale, as pictured above

Faerydustcollector Etsy Shop

Thanks,

Maureen

Mending and Custom Orders

For the past weekend I have not got lots of embroidery done, though I have been making money. I had completed a Karate outfit for my sisters doll, which is a class room teaching aid. So super happy to help out.  I mended a skirt, made patches for jeans, mended a hole in some kahki shorts, and got this custom order. So lots of activity from 5 different customers. All in all I made profit and kept busy. Wish I could be this steady through the rest of the year. It was a nice financial boost.

Well I am currently working on a Custom French hood, black with silver accents and lace. Looking reallg good so far should have it done within the next few days. Though I wanted to let everyone know that I still have openings for custom Halloween and Renaissance Faire costumes!  Please think ahead, these take time to complile and I need time to sew also.

So if you are intersted  please contact me  for quote and time period to get the outfit completed.

Uniquely Yours,

Maureen

Mad Hatter of a Weekend!

Well not mad, but eccentric yes. I had a change of pace this weekend, trying to keep from being burnt out on embroidery. The current jacket skirt combo, I completed the skirt and these 4 above. Two are snoods one woven one embroidered on the right. The hat is a modification of a 1950's hat, snood added to back trim and rose decoration on front. The feathery hat on the left was a laundry mat creation, a great use of time. One way I get alot of embroidery done is while at the laundry mat, its a a grand thing. So the embroidery project is going well, started on the second panel, though not far along at this time.  Wanted to share my mad millinery skills with you all. Now to get back to the project at hand, the wonderful Elizabethan/ Jacobean Jacket. Though I have pictures of the shell detail on the skirt below and the total look on my dress form pinned up easier for a photo. The same shell detail is on the hat, so its going to be a very interesting ensemble when done.

Though I will be working on another french hood, I have a commission via Etsy. Super excited looking forward to getting it all together and done this week or so. The wonderful lady is good with
time for this project but I want to get it done in a timely fashion. No pun intended.

Well best to get back to all the work before I get to sleep. Hope to make some major progress over the next week.Millinery Madness will continue from time to time before all is said and done with this jacket project.

Back to sewing,

Maureen

Custom Orders are Open, Order Today!

Don't think its too early to think about halloween or too late for Renaissance Faires to get a great Renaissance or Medieval Costume! I am open for custom orders and most basic outfits can be completed in a few days most times over a weekend. So don't hesitate to contact me for quotes and information. I would love to complete your next costumed look and make it as unique as all my customers. email me faerydustcollector@gmail.com

Hoping to be Busy,

Maureen

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

Custom Gown Orders Open for the Summer

I have no custom orders open right now and am available to make gowns and costumes. If you have interest in having a one of a kind creation and wasn't sure how to go about it. Feel free to contact me, we can discuss options, prices and timing with a custom creation.

Contact me via email at faerydustcollector@gmail.com

I also have an etsy add for Custom Tudor Gowns if you want to take a look at pictures, sizing and time to make a gown. Here is a link  https://www.etsy.com/listing/97023974/sca-custom-tudor-gown

Also my Etsy link on my blog will take you to my online shop.

Thanks for Reading,

Maureen

Lots of fun at Pennsylvania Renassaince Faire

Well yesterday was like running a Renaissance marathon of sorts. Got up about 8am which is sleeping in for me and I got dressed in my fancy outfit. Figured out how to do an Elizabethan hair style just in time. It made me happy for once, my curly hair the body to kee[ in place all day without hair spray:-D

Stayed up late the night before though I had all my preparations and outfits all done in advance despite the finger injury.(See my last post for details on that)

Got dressed and out the door by 9ish and on the way, we got there by noon. Took some back roads part of the way and I thought I was going to get ill. For some reason sitting in the back makes me car sick though, when we hit the highway I did alot better.

As soon as we showed our discount coupons, paid and entered we headed for the gaming area. It was nice nice tree covered the section with Archery, gun range, and all sorts of "try me" medieval games. We didn't get to this part last year and it was lots of fun to see the rest of the faire as it was last year. Decked out in our Renaissance finest: Jason our long time friend and driver for the trip wore a kilt and shirt, which I made. Justin my fiance looking dashing in his matching outfit, which I made. I in my 1570's finest strolled though the park, getting lots of complements along the way. Though I find it interesting I got three complements in a row on my Tudor rose purse. I am thinking I might need to make a few for sale since there was quite alot of fuss over the idea.

The weather was a really nice balmy but slightly humid morning. I wish I had made lighter sleeves for this gown, though I was thinking it was going to be cooler by the end of September. Though at this point its a bonus on our heating for the winter so I don't mind the Indian Summer we seem to be having.

We saw the Falconry demonstration, the man have 5 lovely birds being a selection of hawks, falcons, and a buzzard. They had interesting personality and of course loved looking around. We saw a knife throwing show, the Sirens of Sin singing group, Tartanic Scottish pipe and drum group, Greyhound enclosure, Human Chess Game, and much more. On the way to the falconry demo, I picked up my drabbit at Imaginarium Galleries. Her name is Ruby and joins the family of gem named Drabbits I have at home. I hope to get some of the photos my friends took of me and our lot to give you an idea of the day.

My big purchase was my drabbit, though I also got a lovely metallic lace-like Mask, and a Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire T-shirt. I was looking at feathers for a new hat or just a new lip for variety but too expensive for what they were. Justin bought himself and nice leather studded sporan; which is a Scottish leather pouch. With Leather and brass buckled belt, a leather bottle holder with Blue glass rubber stopped bottle of drink he bought earlier, and a nice short sword with leather and metal finding scabbard. So he had a really nice year this year since we saved money for this year compared to last. I can tell he really enjoyed himself. Jason got a sporan pouch, some wooden shot glasses and two pewter necklaces. So all in all we got some RenFaire treasure and had a really nice time.

Well will post photos later as they come,

Maureen

I Suffer for My Art

Oh I had an accident last night. I impaled my finger in my sewing machine, as you can imagine it hurt. I pierced my left pointer finger twice through the finger nail and through the other side. I had to push the needle that broke in my finger out the other side. That really hurt, but didn't bleed much, I washed it, put Neosporin with pain relief and a band aid for an hour or so. Today the finger tip is slightly swollen, bruised, and the finger nail looks aweful. Its strange it hurts more around the edges than on the site. When I put pressure it hurts and sometime throbs on its own. The area on the pad of the finger tips where it punctured through is numb hope it stays that way for a while. This is not the first time I have done something like this, just feel so stupid for doing something so idiotic.

I do have lots of sewing to complete too, the timing is all wrong of course for my injury. I am almost done with Justin's Blue Jerkin, needs a collar. Almost done with the sewing for the Renaissance Faire on Sunday. I got my friends shirt done, and it fit beautifully. It will match up well with his kilt. Right now I have a hat that is in progress for my gown, but I am hot gluing alot of it right now for time and because of my injury. Though I know it will look smashing and will stay put very well. Well that is all for now on the sewing front.

I am looking for a drabbit at the faire, I want to find a lovely red one if possible. Guess we will see what is available at the stand. Well got to get back to finishing all these sewing projects before I go home today.

Feel free to leave comments, love to hear from my readers.

Smiles,

Maureen

Some Drabbits for Fun

Hi all,

I found a drabbit for sale from California on Craigslist. I am hoping he arrives in the mail soon. Looks like a nice fluffy one but seems to have angry expression on his face. Since this one seems to be so blackhearted. That is how I came up with the name Obsidian Black heart of Poe. For an interesting touch I added Poe as the area he is from, for a touch of gothic feel since that seems the emotion he eminates. He reminds of the bird vulture like creatures out of the dark crystal, though more dragon vulture conbination. Must be those eyes that give him the fierce personality.

I am also looking into getting three other drabbits from a fellow in Pennsylvania, he had advertised some drabbits from before. I am looking into a purple, green, and blue ones. I posted prvious pics of these characters but its good to show again so you know what I mean. These are all large drabbits, I feel lucky finding such nice ones for a good price and the man is nice enough to hold them for me.

As soon as I finish selling somethings on ebay, then I would be happy to buy the other three. I am not sure if I want to buy a red one at the Pa Renaissance Faire, it all depends if I can find one I like, guess we will see. Well that is all for now working in hats and we will see if I get them close enough to post photos.

Bye,

Maureen

P.S. Sold a dress and can get all three :-D excited as all get out.

Its a Good Day When You Get Fabric In The Mail.

I was delighted to receive my faux ermine fabric yesterday from the UPS man. Happen to be coming home from the gym and was no expecting my package so fast and such a large package. I had to ask myself what on earth did I buy that was needing such a large package, then it hit me that it was the 60 inch wide 2 yards of fur that I have been dreaming about for the past two months.

I have looked at Joann Fabrics for a faux fur like this, they have lots of lovely shag but nothing that looks like ermine. Way too much Zebra, Cheetah, Tiger, and other foreign prints for me to even try to validate that type of fur sleeve on a Tudor gown. Though I may be able to get away with a cool gray and white leopard print but that would be stretching the boundaries to the brink of costuming decency;-) Though I may have to look into what would be considered exotic and would it be used in court at this time. I know the Southern Russian mountains in modern Mongolia were distantly known as an exotic place at the time. Though I am not sure if a leopard fur would have been traded that far west in England, probably to the elite only is my guess. I know it would look smashing for sure with a Tudor gown but I want to be correct. It will take a bit of research to see.

In the meantime I will have loads of fun with my faux Ermine, its just as gores as the photos I have posted, against black and royal purple velvet for two gowns this will be awesome. Well this all the sewing news for now.

Thanks for Reading,

Maureen

Spooktacular October

Well lots to update since the last time I posted. Life was sort of busy and haven't have time to write it all down but that happens. So here it is as my memory serves it up and not in any particular order.

I got my crewel fabric in the mail, its gorgeous though I have been lazy in doing anything with it right now. Though the Elixabethan plans are still in the works, planning this for a winters day inside with snow falling, to give me a summery wink with the pretty floral on the fabric will give me lots of inspiration. Garb making is a great way of making the winter fly by. Still have the ruffs to do to match the gown, it will all work out in a jeweled embroidred leafy glory, eek I am excited. I have not done any hand embroidery for sometime even though I attend the embroidery guild locally every month, just have been working on small cross stich for a friend to give to deploying soldiers in a few months, its good to do my part even if its a little something.

The dollhouse is sitting on my shelf and not been touched, other than my accumilation of small aluminum pie trays to make into plates, bowls and silverware by hand. I am working on a set of aluminum armour too for the Tudor Dollcastle/house, thought it will take some time I should look neat when done. I have to get working on that soon, especially with Ice Dragon having a tendency to sneak up on me fast. My A&S paper is all edited and sent off to the editor for the Arts and Sciences edition of the Athelmearc Astel. It looks good and am happy that it flows better for readability sake, I made more dolls since the pictures in that paper but it still does the project justice.

The weather being spectacular, I want to get to soak it all in before the fall and winter sullen dreary takes over. Its happens sooner or later but at least Halloween is a concellation to the colder shorter days and colder weather looming on the horizon. Still haven't decorated for Halloween yet which is unlike me, though I will get the things out of the bottom of the closet soon, probably this week. Its so nice ourside my geraniums are still blooming and my ferns are happier than I've seen them in along time, too bad the indian summer has to end.

Justin looked smashing in his outfit for the PA Renaissance faire when we went on the 18th of September, and he said it was warm but comfortable, that is the way garb tends to be. He is thinking of wearing the whole set up for Halloween, which is good he won't be too cold. Though I hope he doesn't make a last minute decision for something else and expect a costuming miracle from me, that is a rarity and won't probably happen. I am not sure if I want to go in tudor this year or not, proably so it seems to work out nice when I do dress up. I will take my black and blue dragon shoulder puppet out for a spin when I dress up this year, afterall its Halloween. I am sure Black Sapphire will like it as long as its not raining, he is a woodbaby fantasy shoudler puppet that you can get at most renaissance faires, not really seen in the SCA but fun none the less. I plan on taking him to one of my shire meetings for fun.

The house repairs are working out, the bathroom is finished and is like stepping into a hotel shower, all clean and shiny. Its nice to have a little luxury at home, especially when dealing with an old tub that should have been replaced years ago, let alone the crack in the bottom that leaked. The deck and back steps is all finallly sealed for winter and looks good in the shade of redwood stain I picked out, I have some left for finshing touches next early fall. The windows have gotten a good test with the rain we had last week, no leaks so I know why the wall was messed up under the window. The repair man put in a new wall socket and firmed up the drywall it works wonderfully, no more sinking electrical sockets. Have an appointment for cleaning the furnace already. Still on the list are painting wall scuffs, get glass for the window pane and put in, and repair the dryer belt, and get a new wheel for the lawn mower so the honey do list is shorter and more manageable. I got one more or two mowings before the cold I think we will see, the lawn mower is the next thing on the list.

The sewing time as you can tell is being cut into by the house repairs, but that happens this time of year. That is all for now lots to do and very little time.

Wish there was more than one of me,

Maureen

August

Well here we are, just over the cupbst of the summer, all downhill from here. Lots been going on but not much going on crafting lately. Went to a Mayhem fest and had fun letting my metal side out.

Worked on the dollhouse lackadasically, just waiting for my muse to inspire more craziness later. Doesn't take too long for things to come around again. I am looking into woodbaby cable puppets. Seeing if I can use them as a modern interpritation for modern puppetry in my A&S research paper as a way to show how things progressed over the years. I did get lots of dollhouse books for research that contains lots of lovely documentable inforamtion and am looking for the same on puppets. The puppet community seems to like to keep the puppet construction and methods secret, just like the magician community. I will have to work hard to get good sources to for my A&S research. Though I like a good challenge.

So right now planning on going to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in September. This will be my first time attending. I expect there to be more of a fantasty slant compared to the SCA events I have been to in the past. Though I am able to get my finace into a garb like outfit with a robin hood hat, so there is a victory for me. He likes costumes but only if they are called for like halloween and such, practical to the end. I will wear something Tudor and WOW the socks off of everyone as usual. Proably will be one of my more simple outfit to be comfortable, and yes I will wear a proper hat. Just am not sure if I want to wear one of my wool dresses or go for something lighter like my cotton irish dress. I will check the weather first and that will judge what I will wear, in this case I must be practical too.

Till more detail arise and till i get more sewing crazy, this is all for now.

Blessings,

Maureen