Renaissance Dress FO

Today, my husband and I went to the Ohio Renaissance Festival! It was quite chilly (~60F) which means it was perfect for my new dress!

Please excuse the terrible photo quality. We only brought the little point and shoot this time and had really forgotten how crappy the pictures were. Never fear, there will be more (better) pictures of another Ren Fest outing.

Fabric: ~9 yds of red and gold, ~2 yds green, ~2 yds gold underskirt, ~1 yd felt, 2 yds canvas, >6 yds cotton broad cloth, ~1 yd jaquard, ~1 yd for veil
Pattern: Simplicity 2589 + Simplicity 2621 (supporting garments) + self drafted draw string bag
Year: contemporary/Tudor-esque
Notions: boning (12 yds), bias binding, grommets, ribbon, 3/4" flexible pvc piping, and a vast array of trimmings
Time to complete: practically the entire month of August and several weeks in July too
First worn: September 2011
Wear again? Of course! This was a major investment in time and treasure so this will get many years of use. I'm sure it will become more embellished over the years plus I'm already envisioning a cloak for those chilly days like today!

Total cost: you don't want to know

It's still a bit awkward in the chest area but I am a bit bustier than the average Elizabethan lady plus I didn't want to show off cleavage to all the world. Other than that, I really loved it. It was surprisingly comfortable even with the corset. Sitting was a bit awkward with the hoops. I took up a lot of space horizontally.

I also whipped my husband up a monk costume this weekend. After months of saying he didn't want a costume, he decided to tell me Friday that he wanted a monk costume. I was going to Jo-Ann's Saturday anyways so I said why not.

Fabric: 6 yds linen ($5.50 /yd)
Pattern: A McCall's nativity pattern and a McCall's cap pattern (heavily modified) because that was what was on sale for $.99 and no one had a monk pattern
Year: contemporary
Notions: thread, hook and eye
Time to complete: ~3 hours
First worn: September 2011
Wear again? He says yes. I say you better!

Total cost: ~$40

Best part of this project: We picked up 9 yds of this linen since I wanted 7 yds and they only had a 6 yd and a 3 yd piece so we got both. There was really nothing else even remotely appropriately. It was $9 /yd but I had a 40% off coupon. I only ended up using 6 yds so now I have 3 yds for the stash. I think perhaps a pair of pants are in order.

We did quite a bit of shopping and "costume accessorizing".

In addition to the staff and belt my husband has in his picture, he got these two cross throwing daggers with sheath. He really wanted to buy what I affectionately call sharp objects last year and didn't. So I kind of bullied him into getting something. He passed these lovelies up the first go around but couldn't part with them when we went back later in the day.

This is my haul minus the green bag which I made Saturday after realizing that I didn't have anywhere to carry my phone etc.

I picked up this lovely book locket at a corset store of all places. A lot of the jewelry there is more fantasy but this was one of the few pieces that could pass for at least semi-historically accurate looking.

I never thought that my husband would convince me to buy a sharp object (I'm more of the shiney things type gal) but when I found out that this "dagger" was actually a pair of scissors, I had to have them!

I got the choker on the right last year and went back to the same shop to get a matching piece and I ended up with this lovely bracelet. It's made by a company called Stillwater Chainmaille. Their pieces are lovely and the man who runs it is very nice and obviously passionate about his pieces. I'll definitely be back to buy matching pieces in future years. They're very good about doing custom color combos. The owner made this one from scratch for me today!

It was really lovely and we're planning on going back at least twice more this year. It was very busy and we didn't make it to hardly any shows or even all of the shops! Plus we're just nerds like that.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday weekend! See older Renaissance dress posts here.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a penny in your shoe

There's nothing wedding about this post, but the cliched rhyme just seemed like a good way to organize my post.

Something Old

I got to do a bit of thrifting yesterday! Woot! I did find some vintage and even some pieces that I could take home.

My catch!

I picked up two vintage scarves (top right and left), a wide neck striped shirt (bottom left) and a darling floral purse (bottom right). I don't have a date for any of these items, but I'm thinking 60s on the scarves due to the washing instructions on the tags. The shirt didn't have any washing instructions and it's also obviously made to be worn with high waisted pants or skirts due to the length. I'm think it is a bit old. The purse has no tags what so ever. I just thought it was cute. I also picked up some old sheet sets to scavenge the fabrics.

Something New

I also went out to a Jo-Anne's Superstore where they were having a fabulous sale plus I had a 25% off coupon! To my surprise, Butterick patterns were on sale for $1.99 too so I picked up a whole bunch of their repro patterns.

Most of the patterns were 50s dresses.

I love all of the full skirts. The only bummer is they take about 5 yds.

And I picked up one 60s pattern. I love the neckline!

Something Borrowed

The low point of the day was having my debit card lost/stolen. Not sure exactly what happened to it. I used it to pay for dinner and I'm pretty sure I didn't get it back from the cashier, but it was no where in the restaurant. :( So, I had to cancel it. Thankfully, there were no extra charges on it!

Something Blue

Summer sewing is going to be all about nautical-red, white, blue! There will be no problems dressing for Independence Day this year!

I picked up this lovely floral for one of the full 50s dresses. Not sure which one yet.

I also picked up this blue plaid for this pattern. I'm going to copy the dress on the cover. Is that cheating?

I also grabbed this peacock feather fabric to make this lovely evening ensemble. It doesn't exactly fit into my spring or summer sewing palettes but it was too fabulous to pass up.

And a penny in your shoe

I take surveys online to earn Amazon.com gift cards and I recently racked up enough points to get these 3 fashion books for $0.32!

These books are full of gorgeous, drool worthy fashions. There were also some surprises such as hoodies, plus sizes, and pointy shoes! I really want to get the rest of the series.

How has your weekend been?

Sewing Projects for the New Year: Fabrics

Thanks for the comments on my Sewing Projects for the New Year post! Yesterday, I went fabric shopping as I'm going to the mall with one of my girl friends today and I wanted to make sure a good hunk of my Christmas money was spent on sewing stuff! I opted to get fabric and notions for #1 Wearing History's Smooth Sailing pattern pants and shirt and #3 Vintage McCall dress that I've dubbed the Faux Button Dress.

Here are my goodies for the shirt. I just fell in love with this cute bumble bee and apple print. I love the colors! I picked out white daisy buttons, red rick rack and some white for contrast on the collar, sleeves and tops of the pockets.

Love it! Polka dots too! My husband is not so crazy about prints, but he hates prints. As a graphic designer, he's more into texture. And he lacks fabrical vision. But I know it will be too cute! I've never put in a button before but I'll figure it out.

I found some lovely navy linen to make the Wearing History pants! Woot! I had some difficulty with finding this. I found some nice navy suitings for $24.99 a yard. That was not going to happen for my first pair of pants. I wasn't too excited about any of the denim available either. But then I found this lovely linen for $8/yd plus 30% off! And linen was on the list of approved fabrics! If these turn out great, I might go for a cordoroy pair, but I did want to start with a blue pair and I'd like brown cordoroy.

Here's all of my stuff for the Faux Button Dress! I found a lovely forest green fleece. This was also a difficult pick. There were not fabric suggestions on the pattern. Gah! Anyways, this dress may be a complete fail, but onward I go! I also picked up an awl, coverable buttons and plastic rings to make Casey's covered buttons.

See all of my lovelies! (Although I just noticed that there is only 5 buttons in that pack.... guess I'm going to go get some more.)

I love the color! I was going to go for navy with this dress but I fell for this one at the store.

I also got a gift card to Barnes and Nobles! I bought this sewing book. It looks super cute. I love the author's whimsical, girly style and fabric selections. She designed three basic patterns- a skirt, a dress/tunic top, and a jacket- and makes quite a few different garments from each one. I'm hoping working with this book will help stimulate my creativity and ability to "see beyond the pattern".

I adore this fun, funky so-called "Mod Jacket".

This jacket so reminds me of a jacket of one of my friends I've been drooling over. Hers is made of a tapestry type fabric with a fur collar and cuff. Another pattern in the book has fur collar and cuffs so I may get creative.

Tomorrow, I'm leaving for New Year's with my family in Kentucky and then a week in Palm Coast, FL. Blogging maybe spotty for a while. I'm going to try and write some posts before I leave and post them during the week. There is supposed to be internet at the hotel, but one never knows. Well, Happy New Year all!

Plaid is Rad

I love shopping and sewing! And I've been doing both lately! I picked up a cute pattern for a dress and the cover had one made out of plaid material. I instantly fell in love with the design made by the plaid on the piece and set out to make my own. I finished it yesterday and wore it out for Thanksgiving today!

Dress: Handmade by me
Sweater: New York and Company
Cami: Banana Republic
Shoes: White House Black Market
Tights: ??? probably Walmart

My hubby also took me out shopping last night as an early Christmas present! I got some super good deals.

I got this red sweater for $20 and a white one in the same style. You can't see, but it has super cute rhinestone buttons! And it's super soft and warm. I actually got hot wearing it and that never happens to me!

I also got these *fabulous* oxford style booties for $30 at White House Black Market! AHHHH! Originally $108!!! I've been thinking about getting a pair of oxford style heals so these were just perfect. They make me super tall and I can actually walk in them as long as I'm on a firm surface (ie not in the grass).

Here is my dress sans sweater. Isn't the way the plaid lies just divine? It's far from perfect but I was very happy with it.

I felt quite stylish today. Did you dress up for the holiday? Or do you prefer comfy, more practical clothes for turkey day?

I love getting mail!

Coming home to a package outside my door is one of my favorite things. Yesterday I came home to two(!!!) and a note that I had one at the post office that I needed to sign for. Oh, happy day!

My first package was a pair of sunglasses that I bought from Super Kawaii Mama. I ordered them a while ago, but as they were coming from down under, they were a while in transit. I broke my last pair of shades a while ago and I've been searching for a new pair. This pair was just pink and fabulous and totally me. They had the added benefit of not making me look like Paris Hilton. (My hubby thought my last pair did.... :/ )

This picture is from Super Kawaii Mama's blog as these shades have already found a home in the car and I was too lazy to go out to the car in my pjs to get them and take pics.

My second package was a Lauren Maurer print I won in Bombshell Bettie's Vintage giveaway. It is even more beautiful in person. If I had I vanity, this picture would go right next to it to inspire me to look fabulous every morning. As I don't have one, I'm probably going to put it in my bedroom somewhere. My husband and I love art and our apartment is full of it. I also have a great Audrey Hepburn poster that needs framed and hung up.

This is a picture from Lauren Maurer's etsy. You can still buy this print in her shop!

The last package that I had to rescue from the post office was from Wearing History. I love Lauren's store and there were a couple of patterns that I daydreamed about making but was a bit nervous with my sewing skills. I decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and buy a couple.

My new patterns!

I love all things sailor and nautical and this playsuit is totally me! It originally was not released in my size and I was super excited when Lauren re-released it in my size.

The second pattern I purchased was a 30's style shorts, pants, and blouse pattern. I'm super excited about the possibilities for this pattern. It looks really tame in the picture but Lauren's made these two:

I absolutely adored this blue, pink and red shirt that flew out of Lauren's store.

I also adore this shirt that is currently available in the shop. The two colors of rick rack is so cute!

I also purchased a hand made retro bustier from Wearing History. It's so cute! A retro kitchen print with alternating vintage buttons.

How could you not love this! I may have to wear it tomorrow despite the 50 degree weather.

Close up of the print.

Another close up. Love those buttons!

Hope you've enjoyed my shopping! And don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Who doesn't love to shop?

Today I visited a local vintage store (The Look on Brown St). It was very fun! I'd visited there once before, but it was early in my vintage stage and I didn't really know what to look for. I had been wanting to go back and since I go back to school tomorrow, today was the perfect day.

I didn't take any pictures in the store but here are a couple of the things I found that were just not meant for me:

1. A fabulous red velvet dress perfect for making a statement at any party but teeny tiny.

2. An adorable summer dress with sport print featuring hockey sticks, shuffle boards, and a variety of balls but (again) too small and the fabric had uneven yellowing.

3. A brown dress with black diamonds that had a peter pan collar and a brown velvet bow that fit everywhere but the bust. :(

4. A simple blue shirt waist dress with a matching belt that I'd seen in the store window but too small.

5. A pale blue dress made in Hong Kong with an embroidered Chinese letter over the heart but it was missing a button. The rest were made of matching fabric much like buttons from Asian style dresses that were so popular. I didn't think I could make it work...

I did find two lovelies to take home with me, one of which I'll share with you today.


Top: New York and Company
Skirt: ?? I've had this forever.
Necklace: Banana Republic
Shoes: Payless
Hat: vintage

I love hats! I found this cute green one and just had to take it home with me. I don't have any vintage pieces that will match it but I think it'll look good with modern clothes too. (Or I'll just have to go on the hunt for a matching dress!) I do think I'll need a hat pin of some kind. I used bobby pins today. Maybe the U shaped ones would work better, but I only had the grippy kind.

What would you were this type of hat with? Do you love a fabulous vintage hat?