3 more sleeps!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the countdown is in it's final days! We are three sleeps away from departing for Mississinewa! Things could not be more hectic!

Big D is on the road and fighting some sort of cold/flu bug as he tries to make his way home. It breaks my heart that I can't help him when he's away other than google things for him to try to get some relief. Hopefully he is home tomorrow night and can get some rest.

There is no rest for JM, Mr E and Mrs C. We set up the giant marquee today just to make sure we had all the parts. Big D's dad and step mom came to give us a hand with the setup and loading of the vehicles. Mr E and Mrs C are leaving a day before us to take a more leisurely trip.

JM and I have been madly prepping last minute items. Big D's shirts are done and his waistcoat is halfway there. 

We've also tried our hand at a historic vermicelli egg noodle recipe to add to soup. We found a video from Jas Townsend & Son on YouTube that gives a step by step of the recipe from "The Art of Cookery made Plain and Easy" by Hannah Glasse, first published in 1747. I can't wait to try out these recipes on site and make amazing campfire meals.

That's all for now. I probably won't get a chance to post again until after Mississinewa. Get ready for some picture heavy posts my friends!

I'm back!!

My dearly devoted and likely departed readers, I am back! What a whirl wind the last two years have been! Big D and I were married almost two years ago and since then our lives have seen some major changes. A new vehicle, a dog, career advancements, our own home and even a live in sewing buddy! Okay, the last one only benefits me as I now have JM around all the time to keep me company and help out while Big D is on the road but it's nice having the house full of life. 

We are once again preparing for a trip to Mississinewa in Marion, IN and Big D is tagging along with us! It will also be Mr E and Mrs C's first visit! As such, the prep around here has been crazy! Big D has none of his own costumes and I have been madly sewing to get him outfitted for the trip. There's also the matter of my 1810 day dress. Ya know, the one I posted about three years ago that was ruined by mud. Call me lazy, but I just haven't had time until now to handle it. I trimmed off the train but it was still gross and I didn't love it anymore.

See all the yuk? TERRIBLE! I came up with the plan to dye it to cover the stains and bring new life to the dress. It won't be fancy but it will offer me a middle class option for around town.

Last night, as we giggled at all of our awful puns, JM and I sat in the basement shining flashlights into the washing machine to see the transformation take place. I have a front load washer and I was hesitant to use the dye through the soap dispenser but it worked like a charm!

There she be, slowly turning from peach to red. I bought two bottles of Rit liquid dye in Wine and hoped for the best. I am extremely happy with the result.

Left is me circa 2010 for the Royal visit and to the right is my new beautiful day dress! I should have the alterations done tomorrow, then I'll be packing it away for our trip in two weeks!

Just for fun, here's a picture of Big D in one of the shirts I made him and his dad's waist coat. He really is enjoying it more than he's letting on.

I hope to post more this weekend as I complete projects. I'll likely cheat on the third shirt for him and his waist coat by using my machine. Two hand made shirts isn't too bad though. A solid effort!

Historic Underthings Part 2

With the wedding planning I have been doing, I decided it would be easier to commission JM to make my stay for me. I arrived at his place this morning for a costuming day and got to try on the almost finished product. I need to bind it and get something to act as a busk (hence me holding the small ruler in place) and it will be done!

Here are the lovely progress pictures! I put my chemise on underneath to get a better effect! Just ignore the yoga pants peeking out!

MRS. Crazy Crafting Cat Lady

Shortly after my last post, on Canada Day, Big D and I went to his mom's cabin.  He was on a reset from work so we decided to relax.  Little did I know that he was going to propose to me!  He didn't have a ring because he didn't want to mess it up.  He let me pick my own, so the next day we went and bought our rings together.

On the deck at the cabin just after he asked me! I look quite a bit 

on the awful side due to the heat, the few drinks 

we'd had and the half hour of crying after he asked me

My beautiful ring!

His ring, silver with black diamonds, and my engagement ring and wedding band set.

We quickly picked a date so that everything was said and done before we buy the house in the spring, and before the snow flies.  We have decided on October 5th of this year and the last 30 days have been jam packed of wedding planning and preparation.  Surprisingly, we are basically done aside from a few small items and loose ends!

The first pics were the venues to make sure they worked for our date.  My little country church is hardly ever booked for events and was very much available for that date.  We are having a small wine and cheese reception there for all the guests, then a buffet dinner for a few close family members.  We want to keep it small for budget and because neither Big D or I feel comfortable being in the spotlight in front of a huge crowd.

The little country church where it will all happen!

Next up were clothes for both of us.  Big D doesn't want to wear a tuxedo because he was very uncomfortable in the one he had to wear at one of his brother's wedding.  He decided to buy a suit because it was only a $50 difference from renting.  Even though he isn't wearing a tuxedo, he decided to get a vest in our wedding colours.  Yes, it's a mossy oak wedding!  Big D had mentioned it about a year ago, when friend's of ours were planning their wedding, that he wanted to have camo for ours.  After I said yes, and stopped crying, he asked if that was still what we were doing.

Big D in his suit with one of the groomsmen's ties.

His vest and tie combination that we ordered online.

Big D and his Dad ordered matching tie clips.

I was going to make my dress, but when I was trying on styles with JM and my mom, we found a very reasonably priced lace dress that needed NO alterations at all.  There was no way I could have made it for that price, so I bought it.  No pictures of it til after the wedding just in case Big D happens to stumble across it.

Getting my bouquets from a florist was just out of the question, not only for price, but I mean who wouldn't want to make them?!  My supervisor gave me the idea for broach bouquets which I was able to find on Pinterest.  My maid of honor, Leanne, and my bridesmaid, Becky and I weren't able to find enough broaches, so we mixed in some fake flowers in our colour scheme.  I think the result was pretty darn good!  We found their dresses and accessories this weekend at a department store.  They were regular price of $60 but ended up being half price when we went to buy them!  It was wonderful!

 L-R Top to bottom have all three together, Leanne's, Becky's and mine with the key on it.

Leanne and Becky in their dresses!  They are going to look so amazing!

My Aunt does lots of cake decorating and offered to make our wedding cake.  We found a cake topper on E-bay that we had seen at Cabela's a couple years ago.  This past weekend, with my Mom and Aunt, we found a cake my Aunt is going to try and replicate for me and Big D.

The cake topper!  We can change the flag to say "Just Married".

An idea for the cake.  We are going to add mossy oak ribbon/fabric 

on it  and hopefully covering most of the middle tier to add more of the theme!

Today I got fabric for a signature quilt we will be using as our guest book.  I cut it all into 5" squares and have them packed away.  Next is to construct blaze orange hankies for the Groom, Groomsmen and the Father's.  After that is matching clutches for me and my girls.

All we have to do now is sit back, relax and wait for October 5th and the reply cards to roll in.  OH! And get ready for Mississinewa which I will be leaving for 4 days after the wedding!

Historic Underthings

I wasn’t able to accomplish as much as I wanted to on my days off, but I usually want to do EVERYTHING so I never accomplish it all. Big D and I attended a wedding for friends of ours on Saturday night. I did get the pink dress finished in time to wear, and even installed the zipper first try without incident. A whole bunch of the wedding guests, including Big D and myself, came down with a horrible bout of food poisoning from the dinner. So my Sunday and Monday sewing days turned into lay on the couch with Big D while eating chicken noodle soup and drinking ginger ale, watching Netflix while we recovered. I was sad it happened on my days off, but at least I didn’t have to miss any work. Big D was delayed a day heading out on the road, but things seem to be working out okay.

I started feeling a lot better yesterday, so JM came over in the evening to saran wrap and duct tape me up for a pattern for my stays. For those of you new to the reenactment game, stays are a type of corset although not as restrictive as you would think. There’s a really good blog post here that explains quite a bit about them. She used a pattern from the same place I got my pattern for my spencer jacket. JM’s way makes things a little more custom to you and the style you want. Plus, the photographic evidence is just too much fun!

All saran wrapped up!

The duct tape, although hard to see in this picture, will be what the stay is.

Side view!  Things are popping up.  It's going to be scandalous in the dresses.

The t-shirt/saran wrap/duct tape mess is hanging on Roberta at home waiting to be turned into a pattern. Hopefully JM and I can finish it soon. Mine should look something similar to the pictures in the blog.

Tonight, after making myself some pad thai for dinner. I hope to have the pockets FINALLY put in the work woman’s jacket. I’ve decided not to go to Grand Portage this year because Big D and I will be buying a house in 6-12 months, and we decided Mississinewa was enough of a splurge. I feel a little more relaxed because now my deadline is back to a reasonable 105 days.

Happy sewing everyone!

Let the Rendez Vous Countdown Begin!

I have completed quite a few sewing projects in the last little while.  We had an event with the MLHS at Mr E and C's place and quite a few sewing days of just C and I.  as such, I finished my chemise, a bonnet, half of a low class work woman's jacket, a reticule to match my spencer jacket, started on a willow basket and embroidered one of my pockets.

Outer fashion fabric of my jacket.  

What the finished product should look like.

The embroidery on the first of two pockets.

My reticule with embroidery done by yours truly.

New bonnet.  I changed out the fabric from purple/grey to brown so it matches more of my outfits.  Looks quite nice over my day cap.

This is the type of basket we were working on.  Mine is more football shaped and not nearly done but in progress none the less!

In addition to the 114 days until Mississinewa, there is another event in Grand Portage, MN in August I'm going to try to attend.  If that's the case, I hope to finish my jacket, two bed gowns and a skirt.  It would be amazing if I can attend, although it does drop my deadline for finishing costumes down to 51 days.  We will see what happens.

In other news, there have been a 7 sheep born at Mr E and C's farm.  One had to be bottle fed and has become everyone's little buddy.  His name is Blue and he is just the most adorable little thing ever!

We also have a garden this year at Big D's dad's place.  Our tomatoes, cauliflour, peppers, peas, beans, carrots and even purple carrots are coming along nicely.  I can't wait to start enjoying some of the veggies!  I'm so excited for fresh peas. Oh, and lets not forget our bad ass, bobble head, gangsta gnome that Big D picked out.

Sewing and Thrifting

While I haven't done any sewing in a while, due to my participation in a fundraiser production of "Guys and Dolls", I do have a back up of pictures of the stuff I have in progress!

My making and refashioning of clothes has continued.  Here we have Roberta modeling my pink summer dress.  I started this dress a few years ago but it got stuffed away in a corner as my costuming for MLHS and quilting became more important.  I have to put in the dreaded zipper and hem it up.  I know it sounds silly for a Crazy Crafting Cat Lady, such as myself, to actually have a crafting kryptonite, but I do.  I'm forcing myself to do more with it and I have a pair of pants to make, complete with zipper, once I finish all the sewing jobs others have comissioned me to do.

Mine and Big D's soon to be sister in law, K-Ruf as we affectionatly call her, is the one that donated all her old clothes to me.  (That's where the black skirt with the ruffled kick pleat and the purple shirt came from.)  She gave me this lovely dress that someone brought back for her from Venezuela I believe.  It needed no alterations and has beautiful hand embroidery.  I thrifted the belt for $3 and the shoes for $12.  I am so in love with this outfit!!!!

(Not the best picture, but I cropped it from a bigger one of Roberta wearing the outfit)

I thought the shoes I thrifted were a good deal until I found these beauties on a trip to Walmart with Big D.  They were on clearance for $9 but rang through at only $3!!  You can see Kokanee eyeing them up in the background giving her approval for my deal of a find!!

Now its off to the theatre for a night of "Guys and Dolls".  It's opening night and runs until Sunday.  For those of you in the Winnipeg area, it's at PTE and starts at 8:00pm!!  Come out and see what a bunch of dentists can do!

Crafting Disappointment

I was going to take the opportunity to share with all of you some of the new things I've made, but I'm just a little too annoyed right now and I would like to vent.

As most of you know, I've been doing a block a month quilt with my Mom and her friends through the Quilter's Cottage quilt shop in Stonewall, MB.  Given my new job, I will be working on the days that we have to turn in our quilt squares from now until the quilt is done in October.  My mom called to inquire to see if she could turn in my squares for me or if we could come on another day.  The owner said that neither option was possible as they went against the rules.  The rules, that she came up with none the less.  My Mom advised her that I would likely not continue on to which she replied it was "not her problem".
I'm not saying to boycott the shop as that is unfair, but I will definitely not be spending my money there anymore.  I love to support local businesses, and I will continue to as there are other quilt shops in outlying communities.  I'm just shocked that a business owner would be so callous, especially her comment about not being accommodating to people experiencing a personal hardship.  That's what convinced me to no longer partake in the quilt a long.

I have a friend that lives in Morden, MB and I will be making my way out there to check out their quilt shop.  It's a lot farther away than Stonewall, but I haven't heard any stories like that from other customers.

I'm just so very disappointed at how this turned out.  I was very excited when this started.  I will make up a quilt of the squares I have and donate it to a local charity so at least something good can come from this.

Okay, vent over!  I feel like sharing now, so here is a shrug I made.  It was originally supposed to be a shirt but I lost the pattern for it.  I attached the sleeves to the bottom and voila!  A lovely shrug for work when spring finally decides to arrive.  Doesn't Roberta look lovely wearing it?

Another New Toy!!

What's the best gift to get a crazy crafting cat lady?  Why, more supplies to be an even bigger crazy crafting cat lady!!

Tomorrow is my birthday, so on Sunday evening, Big D and I had dinner at my parents place with them and my Grandpa.  We had my mom's famous home made pizza and a lovely home made cake.  It was a quiet evening but it was exactly what I wanted.  To celebrate my 28th year, and my obsession for all things sewing and crafting.  I was given this....


*drumroll*

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(Yes....its epic and deserves suspense!)
.
.
.
.
.
.
TA DA!!!



My very own adjustable dress form!!  I couldn't believe it! I was, and still am, completely awe struck that I finally have my very own!  We decided she must have a name, and a long time friend of mine said it reminded him of a lady Iron Man.  So, with his approval, her name is Roberta! (Robert Downey Jr...get it...get it?!?! Oh come on, I thought it was funny!)

So with Big D on the road the rest of the week after tonight, I should have lots of time to play with her.  I have a dress to finish that I will use her for.  Plus, this way I can hang clothing works in progress on it without them becoming a kitty bed.

Quilting and Refashioning

I'm not going to type a whole lot because its getting late and tomorrow is my first day at my new job.  This have been getting quite slow at MTS, so I picked up a second job at Bison, where Big D is working!  Tomorrow is my first day and I want to be bright and fresh.  That being said, I made some new items for my wardrobe.  I took a rather plain black skirt, shortened it and added a ruffle over the kick pleat.  I also used some left over red wool melton from one of my costumes to make a new scarf.  Not all of my sewing has been clothing related.  I finally finished the nine patch quilt and it has been gifted to my friends who treated Big D and I to a lovely dinner on Saturday night!!

I'll leave you with pictures to enjoy, but not before sharing the inspiration for the scarf here and here, and the skirt ruffles here.  Yes, of course, all of these inspirations were pulled from Pinterest.  Would you not have figured that out by now?

Before.  You can see the pins where I had to close up the front slit.

Re-sized and shortened.

A close up of the ruffle over the kick pleat.

The red felt rose scarf.  I am in love with how it turned out!!

The finished product!

I used packaged binding because I hate making it myself!

The back of the quilt. I love how it turned out!!