Summer Lull and Plans of New Things

I haven't posted in several weeks, but believe me, I'm hard at work...doing...pretty much nothing, for the time being.  I've been hitting the yardwork and the housework pretty hard, but project-wise, I haven't been all that active. 

July is always just kind of a lull. It's too hot to play outside, so there are no SCA events going on, - that won't start happening around here until the end of August, so things are kind of at a standstill right now. 

However, I do have plans that I'd like to get into as soon as energy and finances will allow: 

• There are materials for a Regency ballgown that I've had sitting on my work table ready to cut out for weeks now that I'd like to get started on soon 
• I have [another] Big Viking Project I'd like to get into as soon as I can get the wool for it
• I have several plans for small improvements around camp - like a cooler refit and a change to my bedding situation
• I really want to get back to making glass beads, but it's 105º right now, and nearly that hot inside the garage - too hot to sit over a flame to make glass!  (Although, part of me says, if I can mow the grass when it's 90º at 9:00 in the morning, I can probably sit in the garage and make beads? I dunno, I may try it soon)

I have been crocheting like a fiend for the past few weeks, though.  This blog is not about that, but if you're interested, you can check out my crochet projects on Ravelry, here: https://www.ravelry.com/people/s1ren  I just recently finished a blanket for a friend of mine, and I'm working on a sweater now.  

Anyway, see you again soon!  Hopefully I'll have something to show in the next couple of weeks!  

No BAM for Hrefna - What's Next?

 So it turns out that I can't make it to BAM this weekend after all.  My ride got very sick at the last minute, and I can't make the trip on my own or find another ride.  So I'll have a nice, long weekend off work to myself, to rest and work on various projects around the house.  Here's what I've got going on right now, which I'll be posting about in the coming weeks: 

• SCA:  I'm crocheting a new Hedeby bag (yes, crochet, I'll tell you all about it soon) - I need to finish it and then dye the finished product
• SCA:  I've decided to update the male Viking tunic I made for myself over a year ago, which will involve changing the neckline and sleeve cuffs
• Regency:  I'm in the middle of working on a new hat for myself, which I need to finish and then trim up with ribbon and floral elements
• Regency:  I have a new outfit planned, and some accessories to go with it.  That'll be a lot of pattern drafting and engineering patterns from pictures I've seen online

Plus I have about a million other little projects around the house to get done, some of which I'll post here and some I won't (you don't care about the doorknob on my pantry, right?)  I have plenty of things to keep me busy over the long weekend, as well as a birthday dinner for my best friend and roommate; and lots of projects to plan and work on over the coming winter.  

One of the many crochet things I've been working on

It Goes "Ding" When There's Stuff!

 MAN I have been busy the last few weeks.  I haven't been blogging much, because I've been too caught up in my work.  I went to two SCA events in a row, and then threw a big Halloween/birthday party at my house.  So the past three weeks or so have been spent spiffing up garb and costumes, cleaning the house and getting ready for the party like a crazy person, and decorating for our local Baronial event, which was last weekend.  Our decorator got sick, so I took over for her, and made fences and flags and tablecloths and all sorts of neat stuff.  

Now that it's all overwith (all three events were awesome and made my heart full!), it's time to turn to the next set of Things: 

1. BAM (Bordermarch Autumn Melees, now called War of the Rams, in Gleann Abhan on the 17th) 
2. More Regency stuff
3. Prepping for next Halloween - yes, already

For BAM (War of the Rams, whatever, we all still call it BAM), I need to delve into my Viking wardrobe and see what fits and what doesn't.  During the pandemic, I made like five new apron dress outfits, but then quickly grew out of them and had to replace them with two more in a hurry before this fall.  But in the past two months, I've lost some weight, and I think my "old" new dresses might fit me again.  So I've got a lot of trying on and possibly altering to do, in order to have enough to wear for a five-day event.  I also need to repair my camp chair, as the seat blew out at baronial two weeks ago.  Whoopsie! 

For Halloween, I wore my white Regency round gown and the teal cap I made a couple of months ago.  Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get any decent pics of me in the dress for you.  A few friends have recently expressed a desire to get dressed up in Regency finery and go to tea somewhere.  The local English-style tea house is very expensive, and booked up months in advance; so I decided that next Spring I'll just host my own tea party and invite all my Regency-costume-minded friends.  I just happen to have a heap of teal cotton, so I'm planning on making this dress to wear: 

Elizabeth Lisee Vigeé Le Brun, by Tatiana Potemkina, Met Museum

And for next Halloween, I want to change up my decorating scheme, so I'm starting with my collection of (8?) brass candlesticks.  I got them at a thrift store for a couple of bucks each many years ago, and smeared them with black paint to make them look gross and tarnished.  I decided for next year (and for the tea party) I want them gold again, so I tried to take the paint off, but it's been stuck on there for so long that it wouldn't come off no matter what I tried.  Rub N Buff to the rescue!  

So far, so good.  I'm still not finished with them.  

So there's a very random, stuff-filled post for you.  I'll show you my progress as I work towards getting my wardrobe ready for BAM; and I'll certainly be back with more Regency stuff soon.  Ta! 

Blue Velvet

wait...

You know how long I've been lusting over a blue velvet gown, yes?  Well, GUESS WHAT!  Last time I was at Ikea, I happened across a pair of their SANELA curtains, in the as-is fabric bin...for twenty bucks.  Yes, that would be two blue cotton velvet curtain panels, 55x118" each, in perfect shape (aside from being a tad dusty from having been on display).

Can you say...

"Mariana" by John Everett Millais, 1850.

I thought you could!

And, actually, in the week since I got the curtains, I've been fleshing out the half-assed design I've had floating around ever since I got the idea:

...and I've changed like eight things since I posted this.

Blue velvet, olive-green silk lining with a gold printed design (sleeves, neckline), a gold (a) band around the bottom *or* (b) underskirt (or faux-underskirt), with bright silver buttons - I'm thinking with pearls or glass crystals, but I haven't decided yet.

At this particular moment, I'm thinking my sheer silk veil (which has yet to be hemmed, actually), and cauls...or not.  I'd have to make a set of cauls, and while it'd be easy and probably pretty fast, I really have enough on my plate right now.

Buttons...?

I like all three.  Hm. 

*squee*


But when, and....?  Hmm.


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Random & Sundry

*covet*

Sheer natural linen batiste at my local JoAnn's...for only $24.99/yard.  Sigh.

A pair of half-sleeves I whipped up last week to wear with a dress I ended up not getting time to change into.  Blue/teal/gold with a teal lining. Good sleeve practice. And practically free, since the brocade came from a shower curtain. Heh.

Wow.  I can't decide what blows me over the most about this painting: the gorgeous dress, the beautiful green sleeves underneath it (surprise!) or that blue and gold tablecloth.  I covet that tablecloth.

Isabella of Castile, artist unknown

I love sketching clothing ideas and working out pattern logistics on paper.  My BFF gave me this nifty little grid-lined notebook that I carry with me everywhere for when I feel like drawing.

I have this navy silk...hm...

I really should get some underwear and cold-weather layers together before I start any new dresses.  Hoods, cloaks, buskins, shoes, braies...and I need a long-sleeved chemise, too.  Drat.












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