Yay! For Good Finds

How long until Spring Break? It'll be so much easier then. I can't wait - especially since there is a week and a half. Plenty of time to write the better part of the final paper (only 12 pages! So happy) and to work very hard on the next couple projects. I do have my Regency Cinderella almost finished. She just needs her apron. Which I will have finished after Monday.

Now in my boredom at work and perhaps associated with a touch of over studying, I mistyped a web address and managed to find the best website for linen. It even has the colors I wanted originally for the Damsel Gown as well as a green that will be b-e-a-u-tiful for outlaws. The website I found is www.fabrics-store.com. It has varying weights of linen in beautiful colors. All of them screaming to be made into something. Needless to say I bought fabric. There was a sale and free shipping for over $50! 

I bought four yards of this lovely yellow. It looks so springy!

(http://www.fabrics-store.com/first.php?goto=big_fabric&menu=f&menu=f&fabric_id=1227)

Then I bought a one yard piece of black linen

(http://www.fabrics-store.com/first.php?goto=big_fabric&menu=f&menu=f&fabric_id=103)

And then I bought a half yard piece of this pretty blue. 

(http://www.fabrics-store.com/first.php?goto=big_fabric&menu=f&menu=f&fabric_id=1211)

I also brought their swatch card for the linen colors which shall be very useful because I'm in love with several more colors. The black is going to be my new pirate shirt. To go under the blue brocade corset. Then the yellow will become a simple 1190s/Medieval gown. I want to put embroidery on the neckline and sleeves. This is the doodle. 

I want it to be simple. With back lacing and a little lacing at the sleeves by the cuffs to tighten them at the wrists. The gown is one of my work in progress that I will finish one day. It is worn by a young noble maiden as she is undercover in a market. She is described as wearing an apron, shawl and veil with it. I may make the whole thing, I may not. I do know it will be part of the Historical Sewing Fortnightly. Somehow. Now I just need linen for lining and linen thread. Yay!

Cheers

Merlina

Marian, Outlaw or How I Lost My Mind Stitching Eyelets

Before I begin this, I must explain. Maid Marian is one of my favorite characters of all time. And Robin Hood was an early crush. I grew up watching the Disney Robin Hood. Then watched all the other Robin Hood Stories (Prince of Thieves, BBC's, the Adventures of Robin Hood). To me, Marian was never the way I viewed her. So I wrote my own version. It's a wish of mine to get it published one day. Which brings us back to the costumes.

My friends and I wanted to go to the Renaissance Faire in our area back in 2010. It was then I designed an epic Tudor/Elizabethan/Fantasy gown based off one out of Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett. (Which calculated out would have been upwards of $300, it was made of historically accurate fabric and such. Just don't ask....) That crashed and burned and the topic was revisited in 2011 after I had written parts of my Marian novel. We decided to give life to the characters and thus this doodle was born, (forgive poor art skills), heavily influenced by BBC's Robin Hood from 2006 I think and the movie Your Highness

After much plotting, and several trips to the fabric store, I had my fabric and a redesign. (All my friends were wearing skirts, I wanted one too.) I had my garb. Keep in mind there are about 90 eyelets on the pants alone, and another 24 on the sleeve cuffs. As well as another 18 on the corset. I used metal eyelets and covered everyone with thread. After sewing 80% of the garb by hand because Edy, my 1930s sewing machine, decided she was not working. Oh and that Hurrican Irene kept me out of the sewing room for four days. After that, I had this.

My Lady Marian Fitzwalter, Outlaw

The skirt and pouch were made the night before after a frantic trip to the fabric store and a lucky shot at matching fabric. I made the sleeves so they roll up and I can wear my leather bracers. Despite the corset, this is one of my absolute favorite costumes. I've worn it three times to Faire and I never want to take it off. It feels like Marian, or at least the Marian I created in my mind.

In the first shooting picture you can see the eyelets. The second to last one is with Lover. His garb is another post and the last one is one of my absolute favorite pictures of all time.

So there you have it. Inspiration from a fox and an unfinished novel.

Long Live Robin Hood! And a pox on the phoney king of England!
Merlina