Category: events

Posted on

Where I’ve Been

It’s not that I haven’t been around, or that I haven’t been sewing… it’s that I foolishly decided, “Hey, why don’t I just whip something up for the Guillotine Picnic?” So I’ve been doing a bit of offline sewing (because I thought it was just going to be this super quick thing!). Next time I decide to “whip something out,” remind me not the handsew the entire frickin thing. I win the genius prize! The event is Saturday, so you shall see the result of my madness then. Don’t worry, it’s not terribly exciting.

In other news, I have been hugely busy trying to stay on top of my life plus plan every little detail for the Guillotine picnic. To date, I have gathered music and lyrics for the song booklets, found dance music and steps for the dancing, typed up letters from soon-to-be-guillotined personages, found engravings of more guillotined personages, bought a bazillion yards of ribbon (yay for Bastille Day being after July 4th, and for after-July-4th sales!). Thursday night is assembly night, during which I have to make 60 cockades and assemble 60 song booklets (hopefully with a few helpers). Still need to burn music to CD, figure out the stereo, frame engravings, figure out the rest of the altar (we’re going to have an altar in memory of the guillotined), make a sash, sew some organza ruffles on my sleeves… Crikey!

In yet other news, this offline sewing has put a crimp in my Costume College sewing. I am itching to get cracking on the Daniel Deronda dress – Sunday! I shall get weeks of sewing done on Sunday!

Posted on

GBACG Hogwarts End-of-Term Celebration

… was Saturday night, and wow, was it amazing! Bridget and Trystan did an outstanding job decorating what was already a perfect location with house banners (and color coordinated table decorations), owls, candles, and lots more stuff. There was a TON of food, including chocolate frogs that Trystan MADE (both the frogs and the boxes), butterbeer, pumpkin pasties, you name it. Everyone looked great and really got into it (side note: interesting how much people played with characters at this event vs. at an historical event, where most people don’t!), including a completely-in-character Dobby who was hilarious. There was a graduation ceremony, Hermione gave the valedictorian speech, trivia dueling, and lots of silliness. Check out my pictures (most of which were taken by my husband – giving credit where credit is due! – who was hilarious as Hagrid).

Posted on

Costume College Thoughts

Got my limited class confirmations — I’m in Sarah’s French hood class, and the burn testing fabrics classes — yay! Got both of the ones I wanted. I’ve so scaled back on limiteds — I’ve found that I don’t really enjoy making things at College, and signing up for a limited commits your time. I’d rather be free to run around to whichever classes suit my fancy — plus the all important socializing!

I’m starting to think about my classes. I want to tweak the 18th c. overview class. In the past, I’ve done it very chronologically, but I’m thinking it might work better to show the basic elements and how those changed over time (ie sleeves, for example). Not sure if that’ll be more or less confusing! And I need to figure out how to work the models for the hair & makeup class (thanks to those who’ve volunteered, I’ll be contacting you soon!).

And then there’s the all important what to wear question! I’m thinking about something for Thurs. night, Fri. night, Sat. night gala, and Sun. tea — although crikey, that’s four costumes! Definitely the Daniel Deronda dress for the Sun. tea. The Gala dress could be either the Florentine or Lady Maud dresses — depends on which one turns out more fabulous. I don’t think I have time or money to get more done than the Florentine and Daniel Deronda dresses by August… So that means I need 2 more costumes. I love the bonnet on my Meg dress, but I don’t really want to deal with a hoopskirt so that one may be out — or I could wear it over my crinoline instead? Hmm, that’s only three costumes. Maybe I’ll make an evening bodice for the Daniel Deronda dress, and so get more wear out of that?

Posted on

Little Women Picnic

I had such a lovely, lovely time today at the GBACG Little Women picnic that I had to post my photos right away! The venue was just as lovely as the last time I was there — a beautiful 1870s home with a large lawn with HUGE shade trees, plus beautiful gardens with flowers, a gazebo… Everyone just looked a picture — such beautiful dresses and dapper suits. Lots of sheer dresses that were frothy and fluffy and bonnets you could have eaten with a spoon. The weather was perfect, the food was yummy. Best of all, I got to be Meg March for the day! My day was really made by my fabulous friends, who played the other March sisters, Marmee, Laurie (well, Laurie slept on the lawn all day but we still love him), Kate Vaughn, Belle Gardiner, and more. We played parlor games, lounged under the trees, wandered the gardens, and took LOTS of photos. Just the most perfect day ever. Yay!