And there was much rejoicing; yay.

So the convention was great, all of the bodices were boned in time (Gabriel's being boned on the drive down but finished before first wearing). It was amazing, we went to the panels, the karaoke, the cabaret, and got to meet a few of the actors. We won second place in the costume contest, mostly because Osric Chau personally pushed for us because despite an unenthusiastic response from the crowd he could see how much work went into it. The person who won first place totally had a novel concept behind her idea and was utterly deserving of the first place position. But I'll take it next year ;). I'm still waiting on photos to be able to post shots of the costumes, but they will be coming soon.

It was amazing to be able to spend a weekend with friends. So often when we hang out other things end up happening. Samifer has to go out to the ranch to tend to horses. Gabriel has work to do for school. There was an emergency at the cat shelter and Crowley wasn't able to make it down like she hoped. Castiel has to cover someone's shift. For the first time in ever, the five of us were able to just hang out. No one else, no priorities, no emergencies to be handled, no one to hold ourselves accountable to. We decide to skip a panel and sleep? No big. We all realize we're hungry? There was a fast food village across the street that we tried and graded and ate at when we felt like it. We decided to find a geek shop and pick up new dice for the Dungeons and Dragons game that I was running (only my third time ever GMing) and got to laugh about the faces the men who were there made when almost a half dozen women walked in and made a bee line for the dice. (We did not get the 'women in a comic book store' discount, so they obviously get female patrons, but they were still kind of shocked to see such a large group without any menfolk in sight.)

When I got back my husband had hoped I'd take a break from sewing for a while, but I'm not as burnt out as I thought I'd be. So my piece for the next Sew Historical challenge is already finished, and a post will be forthcoming. A co-worker who went to a Supernatural convention in 2013 said she was already planning to attend this year before the previous con had ended. With my friends, it was the same. By Saturday we were already making plans as to which tickets to get for 2015, things we need to bring, things we didn't end up using, and what the costumes should be.

I'm feeling viped and want to do more. Of everything. And even with working the holiday season and the stress that brings, I'm finding my energy. And it feels good.

Historical Sew Fortnightly #10

So, I didn't make anything.

Like, at all.

I was sick for a while, and didn't even meet my May goals, but since I did do some research, I figure I can at least present art-based costumes I hope to make in the future, starting with Amazzone Perugina:

Amazzone Perugina, by Cesare Auguste Detti

Although this is a late Victorian painting in the style of the 18th century, I intend to make this a proper 18th century habit. Unfortunately, that will not be for some time. To date, this is what I've accomplished on this costume:

This is half of the front of the stays to be worn underneath. I also made a shift, but that's as far as I got before I went back to my main project. Since I'm hand-stitching it, do not count on seeing this costume any time soon.

Pinterest recently inspired a search of painting by Alfred Stevens, who focused on painting women in the late Victorian era. His work shows off clothing to a stunning degree, and caused me to fall in love with this beauty from the end of the Natural Form era:

La Parisienne by Alfred Stevens 1880. Also, look at that sass. 'If that bastard doesn't show up in the next five minutes, I am done with him.'

 

I love the different shades of green, the lace trim, the sharp pops of black that bring the whole thing together, that matching parasol. So much love. Not to mention that at first glance the olive green appears to be velvet, but if you click through for the larger image, it actually has textured stripes. So either it is velvet with some striped texturing going on, or it's corduroy. I can do corduroy. Olive corduroy with chartreuse silk and a lifetime of happy feelings. And since my current project is approximately 1884, my basic undergarments (combination, corset) will work for this project. No idea when it will happen, but I will keep the dream alive.

And lately, having nothing to do with art or the HSF, I got a Victorian button hook for $6 at an antiques fair today.

It's small, only about 3.5 inches long, but it was too good of a deal to pass up. Happy!

An Excellent Beginning

Some days just start off right. It's a great morning, you wake up on time, and everything comes easily. And as the day progresses the morning stays with you, making everything happy and relaxed. Those kinds of days should start with pie for breakfast.

Pie is a breakfast food. Totally. It's full of fruit, can be eaten hot or cold, and depending on the filling can be portable. Think of other things considered to be breakfast. Pie is way better for you than a jam-filled donut, and has more vitamins than a fast food sandwich. The only time I eat pie for dessert is the night I make it. After that, it's all breakfast from there.

The pie I made was a pull-together of fruit that needed to be used soon-ish. So it was cherry/peach/pluot pie. Besides, healthy foods are considered to be "bird food" and as my cockatoo Ali demonstrates, birds like pie.

Afterwards I went to my friends' house, where I ate blueberry pancakes. Then some grocery shopping, eating gelato out of the container with a tiny spoon, and Joy the Baker's fantastic Lavender and Toasted Walnut Scones with a cup of Earl Grey.

It was every bit as wonderful as it sounds. Also my mom sent me an Edible Arrangement. Once my husband gets off work it will be consumed.

Homemade Pie

Crust:
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup butter
4 tbsp water

Filling:
4 cups fruit
0.75 - 1 cup sugar
5 tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon

To make crust: Mix salt and flour together. Cut in half the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse meal. Then cut in the rest of the butter until it resembles peas. Add the water one tablespoon at a time until you have a nice dough. Knead lightly, divide in half, and roll one half out as the bottom crust and reserve the other half in the refrigerator until ready.

To make filling: Pit and chop fruit and add other ingredients. Use less sugar depending on how sweet the fruit is. Mix until combined and pour into crust.

Top with rolled out upper crust, seal edges, cut slashes or design in top, bake at 425 degrees for 35 - 45 minutes.