Elizabethan Costume Update...

After completing my bum roll last month, I had decided that the next piece I needed to work on was the Farthingale. When I got to the point of starting it, I realized that I would need a pattern. When I went online to purchase the pattern, I had to think really hard about spending the money on it. As I started thinking about it, I started having doubts about whether or not I wanted to keep making the costume.

Here were my concerns:
1. It will cost a lot of money to make and only be worn once a year.
2. I already have costumes that I could weat to Ren Fest if I wanted to, but I haven't worn one yet.

I called Maria the next to talk about it and she made a very valid point. If I was truly passionate about the costume, I wouldn't even have doubts. So clearly, it was not something I TRULY wanted to do. She is my voice of reason...sometimes...amazingly. I love her...but she is not exactly the most rational of the two of us. But she was right...why would I spend my free time doing anything that I don't LOVE doing, and if I LOVED this costume, then I wouldn't have any doubts about buying the patterns.

So, we cleard that up. But I still want to improved my skills as a seamstress. To that end, I have decided that I will create a wearable garment (by today's standards) each month that incorporates a new sewing skill, that I can either wear casually, or to work, or I will donate to a charity .

Therefore, the Elizabethan costume has been put on hold...perhaps I will pick it up again at a later date. Adieu...parting is such sweet sorrow...

Music To My Ears

First, I want to say that I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe holiday (however you chose to celebrate). I think that I had one of, if not, the best I have ever had. And I will tell you that I think part of it had to do with the fact that there were some suprises. Some very wonderful surprises.

It was completely unexpected. In fact, I was told only a week or two ago quite emphatically, that I was NOT getting a keyboard for Christmas. So I had begun trying to figure out ways of getting what I want (it's what I do).

I had received several gift cards to Target and an American Express gift card, not a ton of money...but enough to get myself what I thought would be a respectable keyboard to at least attempt to determine if I even wanted to learn to play. After sharing my idea with Doug on Christmas Eve morning...I was promptly told that we would not be purchasing a muscial instrument from Target.

This was going to be harder than I thought. I dropped it for the moment.

Enter Christmas morning...

None of us got very much sleep because we were all too excited about what we had gotten for everyone else. We all jumped up at 6a.m. and started with the stockings. I wanted Doug to start opening up all of his stuff, but there was a note in my stocking from "the big guy". It said that instructions had been left with Doug in regards to my present. Doug said we had to go into the garage...okay.

I'm not stupid, clearly my gift was in the garage, but what the hell was it. When we stepped into the garage, Doug and my Mom where hot on my heels, there it was plugged in and ready to play. I can not tell a lie...I started crying. It was amazing. I don't think that I have ever been completely surprised like that. It was great!!

I will tell you that I am such a musical genious that I can already play "Mary Had A Little Lamb"...Mozart is shaking in his cold, unmarked, poverty stricken grave...

The Birds

This is the view from my vehicle at one particular intersection on the way to work:Keep in mind, this is only one side and yes, all three rows on each line is full (there are just was many birds on the other side and even more in the trees). It is amazing. The other morning I saw a very brave woman walking down the sidewalk under one of the trees. I wonder how many showers she had to take when she got home.

Betty Crocker Ain't Got Nothin' On Me

I'm going to tell you a little secret.

I hate surprises...and I hate waiting to find out what gifts I am getting for Christmas. Now, in all fairness...I also hate making other people wait too.

My thoughts are, if you have something that is going to make a person happy now...then why make them wait?

That being said...for some reason I wanted to be different this year...maybe I'm getting old and sentimental (don't worry...I'll get over it). So, in my delusion, I decided that I didn't want to know what I was going to get for Christmas. Unfortunately, that is really hard to do...when you have been giving presents early every year.

My husband, he tried...but he wanted so badly to make sure he got what I wanted (this is part of the reason why we don't do surprises). We would rather let the person know what we are getting so that we get the right thing and avoid any extra, torturous trips back to the store to return things. We don't do shopping. I am the person that goes grocery shopping at 7AM on Sunday morning in order to avoid possibly running into any other human being other than the cashier.

I digress...so in his desire to make sure he got what I wanted, Doug took me last night to the store to get my new best friend:I love it.

Since purchasing it last night, I have made sugar cookies, a cake and chocolate frosting from scratch and two loaves of bread. I just love the sound of the motor, and watching the ingredients going around and around...it's mesmerizing. And while I did have another stand mixer it was not a Kitchenaid (and was not purchased by my wonderful husband) and therefore did not receive my undying love and affection. Oh yeah...don't even get me started on the optional accessories and attachments I can get. Can you say pasta maker? Doug is thrilled that he has given himself gift options for the next three years!

All joking aside I am so glad to add this item to my kitchen arsenal, except that I am now burdened with the task of having to figure out which child to give it to in my will...when we finally have kids.

Right now, though, I have more important things to worry about...like what will I whip up next?

How To Make A Bum Roll

No...this is not a new dance move. It is a piece of Elizabethan costuming. It is actually the accessory that give the appearance of really big hips...not that I need any help with that...but I still need one for my costume, and I am going to show you how I made it...

First you must find a pattern to use. I chose this one:

Now you must cut out the pattern piece and place in one your fabric. Make sure that you lay out the pattern as shown in the pattern instructions.
Now cut out the fabric:
And make any markings in the fabric that are marked on the pattern. In this case I need to mark two points on the fabric that mark the start and stop point for machine sewing:

Now we need to pin the straps onto the fabric, so that that they will be stitched in the seam (but not get in the way of the other seams). Then lay the other piece of fabric over it and pin everything together:

Now sew the two pieces together between the two marks you made previously.
Cut triangles in the curves to that the material will fill out correctly:

Turn the bum roll right side out:

Now stuff it...the bum roll that is.
Once you have stuffed it, you will need to hand stitch the opening closed:
And there you have it...your very own bum roll to impress your friends with:
To be continued in our next installment...the farthingale.

Hi!!

My name is Melissa and I started this blog to...

Oh wait...I already did that part. Sorry...I guess it's been so long, I figured I had better start over.

Clearly, I am having an issue with maintaing consistant posts. Don't worry...I will be bringing this issue before a council in order to receive sage advise on how to correct the issue.

Or I could just blame it on the holidays...