renna_darling

Uggg... So I'm contemplating the future again. I got another vote from a textile conservator in favour of a Masters and I just went over the graduation requirements for my degree. I'm really wishing I had had the big picture view that I have now when I was in first year. I took courses I shouldn't have bothered with and were basically a waste of time. I'll make all my requirements but I thought I'd only have to take 4 courses a term in 4th year since I took 2.0 credits on my summer field school but it turns out that I'll maybe be able to have one term with only 4 courses.

I'm tempted to look into taking a chemistry class this summer just to lessen the work I'd have to do in the term. I almost wish I could stay here for the summer just to fit another term in. *sigh* I'm thinking about going to see one of my profs just to talk things over and get some perspective.

Its really irritating that I just noticed a note in the academic calendar stating that a combination degree is a bad idea for students planning on continuing to grad school just as I decided that was the path I should try to take. Hopefully my interdisciplinary degree is appropriate for an interdisciplinary graduate field of study.

I recently watched the movie The Village. I really enjoyed it. I'm not usually one for horror movies... ever... but The Village is not your typical horror movie. Sidenote: I would totally run off and found a village where I'd get to wear 1880's style cotton dresses ALL THE TIME. My favourite scene is about 3 seconds long and at the very beginning where there are two girls sweeping a porch and they start spinning around their brooms. The one girl's dress swirls really prettily!

I am done, done, done the 1780's zone-front dress. I tacked the ruffles on to the sleeves a couple of nights ago. I'm really into finishing things lately, hopefully I can hang on to that urge for a little while. Inspired by demode 's post a little while ago about her wig styling I decided to give it a try. It didn't turn out completely horrible! I'll post pictures of the whole look once I get around to taking them.

Reading week is coming up! I have a ton of stuff to do before I leave but clearly lj is much more interesting...

So I just got back from looking at a prospective house. uuggg.... It was a basement apartment which the girl on the phone neglected to tell me. It had all the negatives that goes along with being a basement apartment. I seriously think that if I had lived there I would have become clinically depressed. Plus tile bedrooms = cold feet in the mornings. The only positive side would have been that there was only 2 other roommates and from the look of the one girl I met I doubt that would have been a picnic either! So moving on now....

I want one...

So I've been holed up in my room for like a week and as a result I'm sick of all my music. Music suggestions anyone? I'll listen to just about anything at this point as long as its new!

I think this is pretty awesome! Yay noodles!

So I've been doing some sewing lately and thought I'd post a few pictures. ( see under the cut )

Life seems pretty crazy right now. I don't have as much time for sewing as I'd like so little progress is being made on my projects. But that's the way it goes I guess! Thanksgiving is in two weeks (wooo! get to go home). I'm really looking forward to all the turkey festivities. Plus I get to fly home which is always exciting. Yay for no 7 hour train ride! Anyway I should probably toddle off to bed. stuff to do tomorrow and all that...

So I managed to put in all the reed into the boning channels yesterday. It took far longer than I like to think to finish that step. Especially considering my growing fears about fit! I've my fingers crossed that it will all work out! Today I got all the eyelets done on the back and marked the eyelets for one side of the front. All this hand sewing is starting to get to me. It's frustrating because I now have all the materials I need to complete this outfit but my fingers won't sew quickly enough! I also left my camera up at my field school so all I have are crappy phone camera pictures. Oh well!


Oh and I also rediscovered some pictures on my phone that I took of the buckram form I made for my 1860's bonnet


I really need to finish that essay of mine thats due on Tuesday... Think stock buckles, not sewing!

P.S. I have no idea what I should lace this corset with, anyone have any suggestions?

Look I bought dome pretty fabric for my polonaise! I'm going to trim it in dark blue satin and make a middling blue petticoat. I also have some lovely blue wool that I'm going to make cloak out of. The two examples I'm using for the cloak are both red but just love the idea of an entirely blue outfit!

I'm making an 18th century corset. Oh and I'm hand sewing the whole thing! It will be three layers of linen: a blue-gray for the outer layer and white for the interlining and lining. I also got my hands on some thin leather to bind the edges with. Its a bit yellow for my taste so I'm going to see if I can bleach it a little. ( picture and description )

Since school ended I've been doing quite a bit of sewing... like A LOT. Today I took a TON of pictures of stuff that you can see ( here )

Whew! Alot of stuff in there. I'll post pictures of more stuff when I finish it.

Every Summer my Mom battles against critters in her garden. Usually groundhogs are the culprits who actually chow down on her plants. She and I and our neighbour Bill were sitting in our backyard on sunday when this groundhog comes along wandering through our garden. My Mom and Bill manage to corner him and then bait this trap so that they can take the groundhog away and release it far from anyone's garden. Lo an behold the none-to-smart critter is trapped and then released in the wilds off by the ski trail and we all come back to enjoy our critter-free backyard. As we're settling in again, Bill spots ANOTHER groundhog crossing his backyard. It eventually moves into out yard the same way the first one did and we trap it in the same spot as the first one. It to is trapped and set free in the same spot as the first. This is quite the record for my family! I'll never forget the image of my Mom herding groundhogs towards a trap with a spear-like tomato stake. She looked like an African warrior or something!

So I made a hoop skirt! Its pretty awesome. I also made a bustle pad to go underneath to make it lie nicely. And then I just kept working outwards with a petticoat and a skirt. I have had the hardest time with chemises. For some reason the easiest garment of this outfit has been the hardest for me to make! Finally last night I found a free pattern and managed to make up a comfortable one. So I have left to make:

-a shirt
-a jacket
-a bonnet/headgear of some kind
-a reticule
-arrange for shoes(this might not happen)

Pics under the ( cut )

So I made a ( dress )

Its cute and I like it! It's made from McCall's pattern M5313 view B with the straps from view A and C. I had to alter it quite a bit because I used stretch fabric. The bodice is really quite different because I made it pretty fitted. I think its super cute and really comfortable and I love the fabric! I basically made the dress because I found the fabric. Yet another modern piece of clothing finished! Oh and
( here )
is a picture of the fabric because the picture is super crappy.

I made this ( shirt )

I made a coat! Yay for sewing things I can actually wear in real life! And it has pockets!( pictures )

Hey check out what I made!
( Read more... )

So.. I said I would post my sketches but my sketching skills suck so instead I'll post some of my inspiration ( images. )

So this is a fun thing too. Its an animated version of the bayeux tapestry. If you know what that is chances are you would enjoy watching this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDaB-NNyM8o

So I brought back the materials I needed to start an embroidery project that I've been planning for awhile now. I made a practice sampler where I experimented with stitches and such. I've decided on a form so now I"m going to begin on the garment itself. I'll be putting this pattern on the neckline and wrists of the blue gown that I just posted pictures of. It should turn out nicely ^_^

I found this entry on this woman's blog about her experience working at a clinic that offered abortions (among other health care). It was a really interesting personal story so I think you guys should take a look: http://yarnpirate.blogspot.com/2006/01/stories-from-front-lines.html