wow I really am sorry

ummmm wow I didn't realize how long it had been since my last post. I am terribly sorry. If it helps at all nothing terribly exciting as happened and my computer is being incredibly difficult.
We just got back from Uprising and had a good time. I am newly resolved to finishing sewing projects long before the event I wish to wear them at. But my children were beautifully dressed, well behaved and happy. I must say that the children's activities especially the boffer are really improving slowly but steadily. There was some amazing boffer armour and I will post pictures soon. Aroura and I have both noticed the loose teen problem but are divided on what to do about it. I am going to work on a few things she suggested and see what I can make happen. I need to help because after 4pm Aurora turns into a pumpkin. Any parties or anything for the teens would be at night and after a long day of keeping the children entertained Aurora just can't do it. Any parents of teens with suggestions will be appropriately interrogated for constructive information.

I have been too busy to make a list, which is very busy indeed

Estrella was amazing. I have been lacking that magic feeling and kinda bummed out about it. But it is okay because I felt the magic again. It is such a rush and reminded me all over again why I devote endless hours, blood, sweat, and tears to this hobby.

• We processed HRM Tianna in on her dragon and it was amazing.
• I got all but the hand sewing in on my clothing and that gave me something to do at the event.
• I got some of the books that I have had on my reference book wish list.
• I have amazing friends and was able to be a good friend right back.
• I had scolding from Laurels as to my choice in classes. They were very disappionted that I didn't take more classes with them. I wasn't even aware that they knew I existed.
• The class I taught went well though I wish there had been more attendees. The children were for the most part dressed horribly.
• We got a lot of people drunk and they got us drunk too.
• The weather behaved itself when we finally got there.
• I bought into the best kitchen ever!!

I can't wait for the next Estrella I get to attend. I learned so much and it was worth every penny for the memories I brought back.

An addition to a very short list

An addition to a very short list or......... what happened at 12th Night.
So one of the shortest lists in my life is my list of awards I have received in the 12 years I have been in the SCA. Up until yesterday it had only two, my AOA and my DUCK. Well the list got a bit longer yesterday at 12th Night in Gryphon's Lair. I received my Golden Maple Leaf, a very cool arts and sciences award, from the coolest king and queen in the world. I have disliked how short the list is but not being someone who does things just to get an award and deathly afraid of appearing to be a buttkisser what could I do about it? I have done my best to notice those around me in the same situation and mention the problem to certain adorable brass hats I know. (As well as griping to my best friends about it.) Folks please please send letters to your royalty about your friends and other people you notice doing cool things. The letters don't have to be long or brilliant and if you want help grab your seneschal or ask your friendly neighborhood baron or baroness, show them what it looks like so far and ask for feedback. At the very least recognize the person yourself, mention how cool such and such was, send a thank you card to a seneschal or autocrat after a particularly enjoyable event, or invite them to teach your guild or local area a class. This ends the soapbox portion of my blog, please save your applause for the end of the show.

I have been working on the getting ready for Estrella non sewing list.

• Ask for time off work. Done
• Beg grandma to take your kids for a week. Insert happy dance image. Done
• Preregister for Estrella ($135 including parking fee) Done
• Beg cool people to let you camp with them. Done
• Beg amazing cooks to feed you ($12 a day per person and shrimp, steak and roasted chicken are included on the menu, I am drooling already) Done
• Get a friend to share a table at the Arts and Sciences display. I luv you B and Ash. Done
• Sign up to teach a class. (Garbing your SCA child) Done
• Research local motels along the route for some real rest and a hot shower.
• Call AAA and get additional coverage. Worth every penny, trust me.
• Tune up and fix car. Our axle joint is badly damaged and we need two tires. $200+
• Check tent and camping boxes to start supply shopping list.
• Check armour for any weak spots or problems.
• File taxes so there is shopping and emergency money.
• Renew SCA memberships that expire end of January. $60
• Get everything packed into the car and pray you don't forget anything.

I am sure I am forgetting a few things and I will add to the list but for now those are the important things. I included amounts to inspire fellow crazies to plan ahead because it is expensive. Getting your taxes filed early for that refund helps a lot and so does the recent cut in gas prices. I have saved enough from not spending $80 on a tank of gas lately to pay for all the crucial things to get us there and keep us alive. The tax refund will pay for the fun stuff. Classes cost a bit, and don't even get me started on the shopping. One month to go and I am cautiously optimistic. I can't wait to spend a week in Arizona getting into trouble with a few hundred friends.

And the first post of the new year is....

So I survive ringing in the new year. No parties this year. Instead I worked at the only convenience store crazy enough to stay open that night. It was insane. But after a lot of sleep I was able to get a lot done. I finished enlarging the gussets on my hubbie's blue tunic. It also has split triangle gores at the sides.

Here is a close up of the neckline. Steve handed me an old red tablecloth and said can this go on it. Very viking. The blue is navy flannel from Joanns at $2.50 a yard and the trim I have had around for a few years.

I also took some pictures of my full chemise with the lace collar. there is no ruffle on the cuffs and the neck stays open cuz I like it that way. Thin white cotton muslin from Walmart $1 a yard. Lace from an old dress shop that used to be on Center street in Provo. Bought 20 yards for maybe $3.

And some pictures of my pink corset with the red binding. I used wide plastic zip ties from the Home Depot as boning and canvas as the lining and interlining. Straight all around boning channels that took half a lifetime to sew and then the other half a lifetime to bind. I usually don't mind being a big girl. This made me want to diet big time. My petticoat and an apron are made from the same pink fabric. This fabric was a major find. Clearance table 12 years ago. Made it into a large canopy drape over the baby's crib. Took it down and used it to cover tables for displays. Took a class on Roman garb a few years back and thought this would work, made matching stola's for me and my daughter. The fabric was too stiff and uncomfortable so it sat for a bit more. Decided to make an outfit from stash fabric and out it came again. Made the corset, petticoat and apron and still have enough left over to play with. The ultimate fabric that keeps on giving. All eyelets are handstitched around metal rings. Use stainless steel so you don't cry when they rust through.

I made a black kirtle for Coronation this year. I love the fit both with and without my corset. It is very comfortable. Used the same pattern as the corset and added straps. Double pleated the skirt which was tricky because I had to have the pleats in back unfold as a placket for the side back lacing on the bodice. Funny thing is the corset was too big and the kirtle was almost too tight but made from the same pattern. Lined just the bodice. Super secret for friends only..... the black linen is that horrible sequined glitter rainbow butterflies stuff Joanns sold a couple summers ago and I just flipped it and used the back. Yep there are crazy butterflies flying around the inside of my skirt. The only thing I would change is the bottom front of the straps is too narrow. I will fix it on the brown kirtle I am working on. I still have to cover the eyelets on this one.

Last blog of 2008

I always am a little weirded out by myself at this time of year. I am aware that I am OCD personified. I am ultra organized in some very strange ways. I take the time the last week of each year to go through my purses and various project bags and drawers to collect all the little bits of paper I scribble on. And yes in keeping with the title of this blog they are mostly lists. Lists of everything under the sun like websites, magazines I like , menus, magazines I saw something cool in, books I want, music I want, goals, shopping lists, budgets, songs I need to upload to my MP3 player, clothes I fit into, people who might fit into the clothes I can't wear, things to watch for at yard sales, my friends favorite things, my friends food allergies, phone numbers, and most importantly to do lists. The stack is huge.... I sort out the things I no longer need to remember and need is a very flexible term. I enter several of the lists into Excel charts I keep and file all the rest into files sorted by year and subject. Folks I think I am totally nuts. I love my lists, I love the information that a list represents, I love the organizational power that I hold on those little slips of paper. I have friends that scribble on paper and it is usually creative like a cartoon or design for something. I have a lot of creative friends and I usually envy them until I remember that I am organized. They may get lots of attention for their beautiful creations but I am the one they all call when they need to figure out their taxes or pack things neatly when they move. When they are scrambling at the event to find things, I have what we need at my fingertips or in totes with yep you guessed it lists of whats inside the totes securely attached. I know that I am strange and different but someday you will need my bizarre quirk and I will happily help you. Or not.....It all depends on what list you are on.

Now on to the next thing on the list

Solstice was wonderful. Everyone looked gorgeous. Except me because I stitched my little heart out but didn't finish the dress. And Ashe'el even made me the most gorgeous beaded girdle in the entire world!! Here is the list of things that need to be finished....

• Gather underskirt (its all sewn together)
• Finish beading forepart (its about 2/3 done)
• Attach forepart to underskirt
• Attach waistband ribbon to underskirt
• hem underskirt
• make pretty bloomers (because we will be lawn bowling in our underwear)
• sew hooks to chemise sleeves
• finish stitching waistband to overskirt (4 #&*@*$* inches left for heavens sake!)
• stitch skirt to bodice
• add boning to bodice if needed
• hem overskirt

I will make a last push to finish as much of my court gown as possible before the new year. And I will post pictures of what I've done regardless by Dec 31. But I may delay finishing the dress in order to get ready for Estrella War! Stephen needs to have almost a whole new wardrobe for the event and I need at least two more kirtles and a couple more chemises. We will be going sans kidlettes and taking all the seats out of the van to haul all our stuff down. This will be our second vacation without kids and I can't wait. I plan to teach classes and take classes and help wow the Known Worlde with the beauty and power of our King and Queen and make pretty things for the largess baskets. Aggie and his lovely lady are rumored to be running a kitchen and I am hoping to add us to their list of starving devotees. I am also considering entering my blackwork into the Arts display but I need some more information. If there is a minimum number of entries that is much higher then my completed peices of blackwork for instance.

On another fabulous note my costuming guild Occulous Candide had announced their quarterly projects for 2009 and I am interested in all of them!! I felt terribly left out of the projects for 2008 and a complete failure because they were not things I was particularly interested in making or couldn't really afford to make. It was definitely my own choice and I love my guild to pieces. They are an amazing bunch of ladies and 2009 promises to be a ton of fun. Gas prices are down to a reasonable amount and I can now afford to drive to the meetings even if they end up in Logan! Yeah for mass insanity disguised as sewing guilds!! I want to challenge my very quiet embroidery guild to help me with the largess goal. Must think of something sneaky and inspiring to motivate them.

The post of the first

Thanksgiving was good. Managed to get through both family dinners sober. Friday shopping was disappointing as I only got half of what was on my list, but I didn't have to ram anyone to get out of my parking spot this year and only had to yell at two idiots. Pretty great if I do say so myself.



The corset is coming along great. I have almost half of the eyelets sewn and the entire bottom binding done. I received my Margo Anderson pattern two days after ordering it!! Wow that is some speedy service and it looks amazing. My list of costume to do's this week is huge since Ash is coming over next weekend to help me fit the bodice of my new Solstice gown.



Costume To Do list

• Finish rounding off boning ends (102)


• Finish handsewn eyelets (19)


• Cut yardage for forepart, chalk outline


• Handsew lace to shirt collar


• Make pretty white pantaloons (because we will be lawn bowling in our underwear)


• Cut and sew skirt, begin cartridge pleating

Now if I get everything done it will be time for pictures so keep your fingers crossed.