Sunday, April 24, 2011

4/24/2011 and we have dragons!

Aren't they cool?



Not even pinned down at the moment, but since the green man's body, arms and all the greenery below his hands *are* sewn on I'm not complaining.

I still need to attach his head, and all the dragon/greenery parts above the hands, then do the outlining and detailing in couched thread (black) as in the bottom section of the pavilion. Maybe another week or two of work since I currently quite distracted by the Italian Ren. Costuming Challenge. Which I am off to work on now (Red and white trapunto sleeves, here I come!)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Blog ate my post!

Weep with me.

Somehow, while I was editing the "What Holds Breasts Up?" page last night, Blogger ate 2 1/2 of my posts!

They were someting about elfin magic...the Italian Renaissence Costuming Challenge...Bella's site "The Realm of Venus"...and pointers from the universe.

Blaaa! Bad Blogger!

(In other news I started attaching the applique pieces to the roof last night. That went considerably beter. :) )

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Wow. Will you look at that? It's almost roof-like!

This weekend was mainly devoted to:
A) lazing around, and
B) doing our taxes

So I didn't get as much done as I had hoped I would. (What else in new?) Still, I revised my SCA name registration paperwork, did a lot of thinking about what comes next on the project lists, got some fanfic read, and managed to get the essential center portion of the roof applique ready to go. Not bad, really, for a girl who laid around in bed all weekend.

(Which was great, by the way.)

To show off the fruits of my labor here is a picture of the

Progress on the roof


(Photo: updated as of 4/23/2011)

Think I'll get this side finished this week?

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Addendum: Photos after all

Apparently my pattern is to complain on the blog about how little I've gotten done...which then spurs me on into a burst of working on projects...and then I have something to post! I still have a long way to go but look at the roof of our pavilion!

The long view...



and a close up!

I'd rather forgotten...


how long it takes to prep applique pieces when they are full of itty-bitty curves and curliques and tendrils. Which is to say that I am still working on the front roof of the pavillion. Yes, I haven't even finished all the applique pieces. Yes, I haven't even pinned it all together, let alone started attaching the applique. Yes it feels like it is taking forever.

I started laying out the pieces I have finished because I was going to take a picture to prove that I was still working on the pavillion but right now seeing all those bits scattered in all that white space is making me rather depressed. So, maybe not.

In other news I have finished my first pair of slippers, updated the pictures on the 50 pairs of slippers project page, and started the artwork for my next pair. I find I continue to be facinated by moorish tracery so my next pair will continue the theme. I'm thinking to do an embroidered motif across the vamp of the shoe.

Something like this:


Thursday, April 7, 2011

Some of my gondola inspirations

From Vittore CARPACCIO, The Healing of the Madman, c. 1496


From Domenico TINTORETTO (ROBUSTI), Battle of Salvorec. 1605 both found at the Web Gallery of Art

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

My Venetian Gondola

Ok, I was playing with this idea prior to my discovery of Sketchup 3-d, and I haven't had time to upgrade the illustrations, but since we have been discussing bow-tops or portable bender tent wagons on the Medieval Encampments list (yahoo groups) I thought I'd go ahead and post my gondola idea.

Clarence didn't like how open feeling it was, but I think it might be the perfect combination of a tent and a bed you don't have to fret about carting about or setting up. I may have to make one for weekend events...

Make of it what you may!

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B03dpx-ypMHfYTAyODg2YzgtM2I0OC00OTFmLTgxODUtOWMxNjZkYzA4YzMw&hl=en&authkey=CLujr7gM

Click or cut and paste the link above and it will take you to the PDF in googledocs.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

I finished the Butter Dress!

I've been re-working a kirtle I made several years ago into a dress I would actually be willing to wear in public. The kirtle was only good for an under-layer, if that, but I undid several of my earlier bad decisions (like removing a forepart panel made of entirely unsuitable material) made some better choices (adding banding in a complementary material was one of them) and I am now the proud owner of a casual lightweight gown I won't be mortified to be seen in.

That's four dresses and counting. Pennsic here I come!

I've been really busy, and I've got something to show for it!

I've prepped numerous bits of applique for the roof, stiched 27 of the 28 eyelets in a light cotton gown for Pennsic (the butter dress), I've learned two new embroidery stiches, and, oh, my shoes...my shoes are stunning! If you look at the 50 pairs of slippers page you'll see what I mean.

Pretty, Yes?

They say the best is the enemy of the good. But, in my experience, the good is not the enemy of the best. I can hardly wait to finish this pair and try for something even better!