Happy Beltane, May Day, or whatever y'all have!

     So, today, my insurance finally kicks in. Apparently, same for everybody else. Because the phone machine tried to fob me off on the website. Sadly, I prefer to talk to a real person. Also, sweet mother of muzak, the hold music is loud as hell and terrible to boot. I feel like I'm shopping in run down fabric stores with my mother again, circa 1990. Can't y'all at least play some swing or classical or something that doesn't sound like The Chipmunks trying to a cappella their way through progressive jazz.

     They must really want me to go to the website. They just hung up on me. Boo, hiss.

     Here, have some better music, at least:

     On the costuming front, I'm very glad I decided to place my Spoonflower test order so far in advance of any time I might need them. I now know if I want to get fabric I'd better order it rushed, so I'll get it before the next Ice Age. 15 days feels longer than expected. I'm half tempted to start ordering the rest of pieces of my coords, but that might be counting my chickens before they hatch.

     I might want to order a white blouse to dress my Doctor lolita outfit up a bit. I'm going to put white lace on the bottom ruffle, so a black blouse might look wrong. For my first choices of casual tops, this, this, and this, from RedBubble. I'd LIKE to order them in scoop neck, but I don't know if RedBubble's sizes will fit me (are those measurements only for the front have or all the way around?).

"Boo, Tornado Season", Health Grumbles and Plotting a Pink 1490's Italian gown

     Today was not a good day for work. The weather report was calling for tornado warnings, so I wasn't as eager to stick to the schedule as usual. It's kind of hard to focus on things like interaction when, at any second, you're going to have to hide in a closet and cover your head and that of a wriggling, confused, upset child. Luckily, no tornados nearby, but I think the air pressure has been affecting both of us. Youngblood has been sluggish and forgetful, as have I. Plus, I have a pressure headache now. Boo.

     On top of that, it's apparently time for my semi-annual fever blister. I've been doctoring it with Herpecin L and a lack of salty, scratchy foods. But, it's still uncomfortable and unpleasant. I feel like I  ought to be shambling around a marketplace in rags with a bell, howling "unclean! Unclean!" I hate mirrors right now. Ah, well, first world problems, I guess. 

     I've been collecting links and such for my pink garb experiments. I don't know if wild European strawberries would dye the same as the cultivated American ones, but I'm going to try over-dyeing the linen with just a little strawberry juice. I'd like a pink that's around this shade or this shade. Definitely more of a rose color than the baby pink it currently is. Coincidentally, the second one is what I'd like to make a Giornea out of, and, adding to the theme of blue and pink (and water and feminine things), have it reverse to this, or this, or maybe this. 

My Latest Obsession: Doctor Who Lolita coords

     So, I've recently gotten a wild hair up my butt about having more Lolita clothes. I'm not sure why. I don't have a lot of places to wear these things. I sure as hell can't wear them to work. Youngblood is a sweet child, but his love of running hell-for-leather through all manner of bracken is murder on clothing. So, I really wanted things I could wear at conventions. It hit me while I was toddling around Spoonflower: Doctor Who Lolita.

      Now, I know that Spoonflower has an awful reputation for fading. Vegan dyes are tricky like that. I've ordered some swatches of the material I want to use and I'm going to try the old "soak them in a mordant" trick. Also, I'm only wearing this skirt (I haven't got the patience to try making a Jumper Skirt just yet) maybe three times a year: MAGfest, Darkover and Shevacon. So, hopefully, that will minimize fading.

   
(Description of Image: The material in question. Blue striped background with a row of jam sandwich cookies and sugar packets, a row of sponge cake on a plate, a fork, a teacup with a banner reading "A Teaspoon and An Open Mind", a spoon, and a pair of crossed sonic screwdrivers, and a last row of sonic screwdrivers, oranges, pocket watches, cream jugs, message cubes and sugar packets.)

     I figure I can extend the life with separates. RedBubble has numerous designs on t-shirts. If I order them big enough, I can tailor them into cut-sews. ThinkGeek has more shirts and sells a "Doctor Whooves" backpack purse that looks like a plush toy (he comes with his own sonic screwdriver and magnets so he can hold them). That, and the SeV cardigan, which, to me, is essentially a TARDIS that can be worn. Etsy, of course, has tons of bags, jewelry, and shirts to use. So, I've been using my other obsession (Polyvore) to assemble coordinates. I feel like the girl in the story who had a hundred dresses, each one a drawing to make up for what I don't have.

Doctor Who T-shirts by brennalarose featuring vintage rock tees

Pennsic Planning: Pink and Pretty

     So, I'm an SCA brat. Have been since I was three and my mother brought me to Pennsic. I don't get to make it to very many events any more (LARPing consumes my weekends). But, I had better be deathly ill before I miss a Pennsic. Yes, it's miserable, wet, hot, dirty, stinky, and expensive, but I really honestly can't imagine what to do with those 2 weeks that doesn't involve late night walks by torchlight, falling asleep to the sounds of parties, and really damn good chocolate milk.

     However, I'm also a grown-ass woman, so I have to do things like pack and pay my own way now. I can get into all the cool parties, but I hate crowds, can't be on my feet much, and don't drink much. Most of my socializing is purely during daylight hours or in visits to merchant friends. So, now, I have some sewing to do.

     Most of my garb these days is borrowed, so I'd like a few things that are actually mine. About a year ago, a fellow in the local group was getting rid of some fabric to make space in his attic. I managed to get my hands on a humungous bolt of pink linen. Originally, I planned to make a Civil War ball gown, but that fell through. Now, with four months to Pennsic and a need for handwork to keep me occupied (I can sew while I wait for things), I think perhaps I need new garb.

Pros:
--Lots of fabric to make lots of clothing
--Linen breathes
--Linen lasts
--I don't have to return it to anyone

Cons:
--It's a very pale shade, might look bad on my skin tone (can be over dyed to a darker shade of pink, rose or fuchsia might be more becoming)
--Not sure if it's actual linen, or blended with other material (simple burn test)
--It's a pretty tight weave, might not breathe as well as other linen (might loosen up in pre-wash)
--Not actually certain how much is on the bolt.

     This is also partly an offering. My sister-in-spirit, Coyote, is undergoing treatment for cancer. As of this posting, she's in the latter half of active treatment. The cancer has been trying to kick her ass, and failing. Before the diagnosis, she had converted to Catholicism. It seemed an odd choice, but so far, her faith has helped her. I can't pretend to always understand Catholic spirituality, but, I can make an offering to God in my own way. I'm not a priest, nor am I rich, so saying or paying for masses to be said is out (do they still do that? I don't know). I can offer up the sweat of my brow and use the symbolism to make these outfits a prayer. I want to see her healthy again and able to come with me to Pennsic. She wouldn't wear pink, she wants nun's garb, but the symbolism of pink can be turned to her advantage. I wear the outfit, charge it with my health and my strength and love, and then, when I go to make her garb, I take some threads from the seams of the dress and place them in the hems of her garb. Thus, maybe I will pass my prayers for her health to her.

     Because of that, I'm going with a theme that, to me, is all about feminine strength and health, as well as signifying something that brings Coyote and I spiritually together. I was born under the sign of Libra, which, while being an Air sign, is ruled by Venus. Venus the planet is named after the goddess, known to the Greeks as Aphrodite, a name which is said to mean "foam-born" or "shining foam". She was born from the sea and, as such, has deep connections to the ocean, as well as being a matron goddess of women. Coyote was born under Cancer, the Crab, another watery thing. So, the two things make me think of mermaids.

Dress #1: 14th Century Gothic Gown

     Often called a cotehardie, this dress is designed to fit closely to the hips, at which point the skirts are very full and swirly. Add to this a sleeve design made of half circles and buttons down the front, and it does look very glamorous. I'm thinking of trimming it with the Greek wave trim from Calontir Trims, which is blue and white. If I over dye it, I'm going to aim for a rose pink, with pearl buttons, and make an under dress out of a sea foam color.

Dress #2: Roman Tunica

     Something simple, with the same trimming. Easy to throw on for days when I need to get out of camp.

Dress #3: Italian Gown

     Easy-going, but fancy enough to make me feel a little glam!

     Here I go!