Ahh, I love that new machine smell...

Of all the things I've gone through in the last 6 months that have made me feel really grown up and adult (i.e. new job w/ benefits, car payment, big apartment on my own, etc.) I've hit a milestone today that makes me feel like a real, honest-to-goodness, grown-up adult woman: owning the sewing machine of my dreams!!

Now, I hear you say "But, Kat, that machine doesn't have a fancy computer-brain, or a pretty touch screen, or a gazillion embroidery stitches, or a price that's roughly equal to a 2012 Ford Focus! Isn't THAT the machine of your dreams??". To which I say "no". A sewing machine is not supposed to think. That's my job. It's supposed to do exactly what I tell it to, when I tell it to. Which is why I'm the proud owner of a new Pfaff Select 4.0: a relatively simple machine that will sew through a gazillion layers of whatever I want then adeptly sew through the finest silk. Built in walking-foot :) Handles beautifully and will last a good many years and projects to come... This is my dream-machine! And it's mine mwuahahahahahahhahaha!!!!

Ok, must go sew now.

Merry Christmas, Robert!

First completed project of the year!! 

Here's the hat I made for my brother as a Christmas present from our parents:

Again, sorry for the crappy pictures. 

 

I'm back!!...

..to our regularly scheduled programming.

As promised, I was able to get things set up enough to start back to work on projects this evening! Maybe it wasn't the best idea, as I tend to get into sewing frenzy and I was up at 3:45am this morning (i love my job i love my job i love my job ((sorry, I just have to keep saying that to myself))). And of course as you can see I'm still up at 11:30pm :( But it was a rather productive night!

I started working on a new hat for my dear brother, playing Sir Robert Sidney as a Christmas present commissioned by my parents :) I already had most of the fabrics and the concept, it just took me forever to sit down to the work.

Here's the base of the crown, which took a good deal of experimenting to find the right shape and proportions that I wanted, but I got to play with different materials and got even more ideas for future projects!
And this is what I ended the night with:

The crown and brim need to be assembled of course and finished. Then I'll be making a pretty silk band and throwing on that tuft of feathers. Sound good to you? Good. Make it so! (I say to myself in my best Jean-Luc Picard voice)

Also, I apologize for the poor photo quality lately. I cannot find my camera cord to upload/charge my camera and also I think I may have damaged where it plugs into the camera anyhow... so that's not good. Until I figure that out the best I've got is my crappy phone and my macbook air's isight camera.

Woohoo!! I'm going to bed now.

Episode Two: If You Find Yourself In: Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ

Hey all, I'm back! I've finally migrated enough equipment and tools to get back to stichering on my next days off so look for a regular update soon! Until then I'm posting from beautiful (and warm!!) Scottsdale, AZ. I found 2 fabric stores about 10 min from my hotel. I was asleep when I packed this morning and only had jeans (for 90 degree weather), tennis shoes (or sneakers, if you will), and no socks. But I battled the blisters and made it to Calico Corners and Interior Fabrics.

Now, Calico Corners has many locations all across the country and certainly isn't unique to Scottsdale. However according to the nice ladies working there, there aren't many fabric stores in the area at all, except Joann's; and as I mentioned before this segment is to help everyone find those unique (aka non-joanne) textiles that make a garment really pop!
If you go: most fabrics are pretty pricey, and they ask heinous amounts for silk dupioni (in-my-humble-opinion).
Highlight: check out the clearance corner and be sure to look at the remnant piles. Clearance are usually marked 50% off and the remnants are usually around $5/yard and always great for smaller projects like hats, sleeves, partlets, basket covers, pillows, trim, etc etc!
Here's what I got out of the clearance section, I'm thinking sleeves..

As for Interior Fabrics, they also have locations in Houston, Oklahoma City, Austin, New Orleans, as well as Scottsdale. Prices aren't great, but they too have a good sized "value-priced/discontinued" section as well as clearance/remnant 50% rack.
Highlight: Crazy cool trims! Really unique color combinations priced between $1.50-$5.00/yard for most of them.
I didn't get anything but I grabbed a couple trim swatches to keep in the swatch-book.

And that's all I've got! The Calico Corner folks were very sure (and disappointed to say) that there are few good fabric stores in the Phoenix area. So if anyone knows of others please let me know and I'll be happy to pass it on!

Ok, hopefully I'll see you all soon with a regular update!

New Segment! If You Find Yourself In: Berkeley/Oakland

Welcome back folks! The reason I haven't been blogging much recently is because I've become a flight attendant and I'm still getting my living situation worked out, leaving not much time for working on projects. The flip-side is that I'm getting to travel a lot and I'm finding great places to go fabric shopping.  Want to shop there too? Arn't you sick of Joann fabrics already? Wonder why you can't seem to find those great unique fabrics? Well I want to share my discoveries with you so check in here as I update a new segment called "If You Find Yourself In:"

Today I found myself in Oakland/Berkeley, CA

If you live in the area or find yourself there for any reason be sure to check out:

Discount Fabrics

http://www.discountfabrics-sf.com/

locations in Berkeley and San Francisco 

Highlights: Great selection, further discounts when purchasing whole bolt, monthly specials, 10% student discount

Special note: If you do a google maps search to get to the Berkeley location be sure you enter 3006 San Pablo Ave, BERKELEY NOT OAKLAND. Same address verrrrrrry different neighborhood. There's one cause for an "avoid ghetto" option on google maps. 

Look for these pieces I got to show up in future projects! 

Fall Update

Oh my! Where has the time gone?!

Apparently I haven't updated the blog since February! Life has certainly been busy but I will attempt to get the blog caught up.

Here are some highlights:

The Oxford look got its chance to shine at the Janesville Renaissance Faire in May of this year. Some friends assisted in giving advice on how to act more masculinely and I had many doubletakes from folks I knew from Bristol. I'm still a long way from passing but it was a lot of fun just to see people scratch their heads.

My brother's second Sidney look was finished and turned out very nicely I think. I don't have many more pictures of its construction but here's the finished product:

photo by William Dezoma

photo by Patty Smith

I also made doublet, cape, and sleeves for our Guildemaster's new look this year. Slops, and cape beading/jeweling were executed by fellow guilde-members.

photo by Freestyle Imagery

photo by Duchess W. Cortland-Canon

And in another adventure this summer, I had to have some minor surgery which made corsetting a nightmare. I couldn't bind up my chest as tightly as I need to for a corset/bodice look so I created a doublet bodice for my grey dress that was loose enough to wear comfortably but structured enough to maintain a proper silhouette.

photo by Kim Cleveland

photo by Ivan Phillips

 Just to compare to the first half of the summer where I wore the dress with the original English-cut bodice and puff sleeves with an open ruff:

photo by Emily Kirchen

I have several new projects underway including a new dress, fabric for another new dress, a first-set of men's court-wear for a special someone, and various fabric for other small projects. 

So sorry about the long absence! I hope to get back to more regular updates as we settle back into fall and winter. Thanks for tuning in!

Bristol Faire auditions

Hi all, thanks for reading. There will be a update coming soon costume wise, however I would just like to take the time to put this out there on behalf of the Bristol Renaissance Faire, where I perform:

-Bristol Renaissance Faire-
AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Auditions for the Bristol Renaissance Faire 2011 Season will be held February 26 & 27, 2011.

KENOSHA, Wisconsin … The Bristol Renaissance Faire announces Auditions for our 2011 season. The Faire is looking for performers to trod the boards and take to the streets on 16 open-air stages and in the shaded streets of a festive 16th century village. Jugglers and Jesters, courtiers and clowns, minstrels, beggars, and wenches, all are part of a Renaissance in entertainment and celebration.

The Bristol Renaissance Faire is casting actors, musicians, dancers, variety performers, and Kids Kingdom performers for the run of the Faire. See our website for detailed information:www.renfair.com/Bristol

Classes and rehearsals begin weekends starting Saturday June 4th and runs for the following 5 Saturdays. The Faire runs Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day Monday from July 9 - September 5th, 2011.

Performer Auditions: All performers auditioning must provide a
current head shot (photograph), performance resume and a copy of your photo identification (Driver's License, State ID, or Passport)and must contact the Faire to schedule an audition. 

To sign up - visit the website: www.renfair.com/Bristol - in the left column select "Join Us" and then "Auditions."